GarinFarm Pilgrimage Resort is a popular tourist destination in Iloilo province because of its unique features. Situated on a vast farmland owned by the Garin family (the… reigning political family of Iloilo’s First Congressional District), GarinFarm’s main attraction is its “Stairway to Heaven”, a 480-step stairway up the mountain to a viewing deck fashioned to look like heaven.
The resort’s version of heaven lets tourist enter a dark tunnel, a non-morbid representation of death, that leads to the view deck that’s painted white. The all-white pain gleams in the sun which gives the area a sort of mystical feeling, adding up to the “heavenly” effect. Also, George Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” blaring on speakers make for an authentic spiritual feeling.
Besides the religious aspect of the resort, GarinFarm is, at its core, still a farm and thus heavily features its farm animals to visitors. Goats, carabaos, chickens, doves, ducks, turkeys, and many more are kept in the resort both to serve as extra attractions for visitors and to be sold as produce as well (like all farms are wont to do). The staff has conditioned the animals Pavlov-style to respond to the sound of clanking metal — the animals associate this with feeding time; they form a line and parade all the way to the feeding area!
GarinFarm also has your typical resort amenities — day cottages, rooms for overnight stays, a canteen for snacks and meals, a swimming pool, and a small pond where you can row, row row your boat gently down the stream.
Is it a glamorous resort? Heck no, it’s a freaking farm. But GarinFarm is a great place to chill and feel the spiritual vibe if you’re into that. It does the job. I’ve been there four times and each time I still enjoy climbing up the Stairway to Heaven, no matter how tiring it is. You should visit, too.
Protip, though: Do not climb the stairway between 12 noon and 2PM unless you want a heat stroke.
Here is a video of my last visit to GarinFarm.
patrickkennan.com 