Volcanic stones provide health benefits in this Marinduque resort

Posted at 8:49 pm February 06, 2012

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By Nikka Garriga

BUENAVISTA, MARINDUQUE - The Marinduque Hotsprings Resort is popularly known among locals and tourists alike as a go-to place for a relaxing vacation made even complete with its natural hot spring facilities.

Located in the town of Malbog here, this 10-hectare resort boasts of about two to five swimming pools, three of which are supplied with geothermal hot water for both children and adults.

Its water source come mainly from Mount Malindig, an inactive stratovolcano and the island’s highest peak to which Buenavista stands at its foot.

Most of the rocks found in the resort’s exterior and its pools are also volcanic stones known for its health benefits when submerged in hot water.

But more than just a tourist attraction, owners Norma and Filoteo Arevalo thought about developing Marinduque Hotsprings Resort as a legacy to their fellow Marinduqueños.

“Even after 10 years since we opened its doors, our rate and entrance fees hasn’t changed. This is because we want our facilities to be enjoyed not just by foreigners but more importantly by the locals who has seen this resort grow,” Norma says.

Visitors shell out only P50 to enter while mainstay guests can choose from rates at P800 to P3,000 depending on the number of occupants.

They also give premium on protecting the environment by planting trees and maintaining gardens around the resort’s landscape.

“This is part of our measures to reforest Buenavista. We also plant mahogany trees around our land area which, eventually, can be used by the locals given that that they replant them,” she explains.

The resorts’ staff are locals who the Arevalos took in from its former proprietors. Most of them, Norma says, have built their own families who now help with the upkeep it needs.

“We may not be much of a world-class spot, but we take pride in the intimate, tranquil vibe of our resort and the cordial nature that the Marinduqueños are well-known for,” she adds.

How to get there: The Zest Air flight from Manila takes about 30 minutes. From the airport, hire a service that will get you to the resort. Via RoRo, take a bus headed to the Port of Lucena. board a RoRo or fastcraft to Boac. The resort can arrange for a vehicle pick-up in Boac.

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