ON THURSDAY, December 10, 2015, we visited a most beautiful place in Brgy. Sampaloc in Tanay, Rizal. This is the Regina Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia or simply Regina RICA.

Aside from being a very peaceful place for contemplation, one will appreciate how the sisters managing it have transformed a once brushland into a forest of mahogany trees and many other forest species. They also have exotic fruit trees, coconuts, flowering plants and many more.

What fascinated us no end were the very tame peacocks, peahens and Guinea fowls. We also saw a flock of Barbados Black Belly sheep that keep the grasses low without hurting the shrubs and trees.

It is no wonder, even people from far away places visit the place for their own very good reasons. At the time of our visit, there were three busloads from Manaoag, Pangasinan, one busload of Philippine Horticultural Society members headed by its president Dorie S. Bernabe, and others who went there with their own vehicles.

One curiosity we saw: A foot bath at the entrance of a coffee shop filled with citronella leaves. You step on it upon entering the coffee shop and you will sense the aroma of the aromatic herb.