If you have read More of My Iloilo Travel , I have included this destination as one of the beautiful places you can drop by at Iloilo. Now, I will give you a quick tour of the place.
MORE OF THE GARIN FARM
This tourist destination spot in Iloilo integrates agriculture, leisure and pilgrimage site which caters everyone of all ages. The place has an enormous area. It has a farm area where they showcase agricultural practices, houses livestock and different crops. The produce were either sold or served in their restaurant. If you walk around the farm, you'll get to experience how it is to live in a real farm. The wide area, fresh air, the vibes of being in a farm. You will definitely feel it there.
The Garin Farm also boasts its recreational activities like the zip line, kayaking, fishing and the like. But, the one who owns the spotlight in the place is the Pilgrimage Hill with just 456-step stairs, just 456💪. Every stop while climbing the stairs features major biblical scenes. And upon reaching at the peak, you'll get to see their representation of "heaven".
Welcome to Garin Farm entrance gate. Visiting here would require you a minimal entrance fee to sustain the place ofcoruse. As I have mentioned already,this place is a combination of agriculture, leisure and pilgrimage area.
Your first stop will be this Green Vegetable Tunnel as they call it. You will be passing under this tunnel of vines. On the other side of this tunnel is where some of the livestock is being featured. It's either they sell these animals or make it as an ingredient in their restaurant.
They also feature this Bahay Kubo (Nipa Hut). This is actually a wide area where crops are grown. If you are familiar with the Filipino folksong Bahay-Kubo, you can just sing it and trace the different vegetables planted according to the sequence of the lyric of the song.
Quiet a big lagoon right? This is their boating lagoon. You can also enjoy fishing here.
The entrance going to the Pilgrimage area. Make sure to duck to avoid hurtinh your head 😁
Here's some of their human-sized statue you will notice while walking around the place. You see the scene of the movie Noah's Ark, Station of the Cross and even some rosary mysteries scenes.
Ready to climb the 456 steps going to the cross? We took the challenge and climbed the stairs under the scorching heat of the sun. Though, we took breaks in between and rested for few minutes. However, if you don't have the strength to climb up, you have the option to ride a Golf Cart for a fee. Ofcourse, you'll head to a different route and miss the experience.
Upon reaching the cross, you will enter another entrance that leads to the Dark Meditation Tunnel. It was literally dark, though there were few led lights placed on the floor which serves as your guide to the correct path to avoid accidents and the like.
This is the sign that you are already near to reach the end of the dark tunnel and finally see the light. You can also stop here for a minute or two and pray. They have provided few chairs if for you to sit while praying or while meditating.
Finally, the light! Everything here is white. Statues were placed around the area depicting a heavenly scene. See how the sky looks reachable?
If you now decide to leave, there is this message form the founder. Let me include it here for you:
**"GO BACK TO THE WORLD AND BEAR WITNESS TO THE TRUTH THAT THERE IS ETERNAL LIFE AFTER OUR TEMPORARY EARTHLY LIFE.
PROVIDED YOU HAVE FULL TRUST IN THE LORD THY GOD, COUPLED WIHT LOVE, KINDNESS AND GENEROUSITY TO THE LEAST OF THY BRETHREN."
-OCA GARIN**
And that's it. You can use the stairs in going down or ride the golf car to reach the exit.
Hope you like this🤗