Villa Elma: A Beautiful Pilgrimage Site

Upon arrival in Lucban, we immediately asked around to get insight on places to visit. One suggestion was to visit Villa Elma, said to be an alternative pilgrimage site to the popular Kamay ni Hesus. So we set out, excited to be heading into the foothills of Mount Banahaw into what we hoped would be a quieter and less crowded place.

The beautiful Villa Elma at the foothills of Mount Banahaw

Leaving the town proper behind, we drove for just under 15 minutes to reach the gates of Villa Elma. We came inside and settled the entrance fees of PHP100 per person. We were told we can also dip and swim in the cold mountain stream for another PHP100 but we opted out.

The conspicuous sign outside the resort

After excitedly taking photos of the first sculptures we spotted, we set off towards the other parts of the resort. We didn't know how long it would take to cover the entire place or exactly what to expect but we just kept going. We saw halls housing a plethora of colors and artworks, pathways featuring sculptural collections, gardens decorated with animal and superhero figures, and accommodations designed after traditional log cabins.

One of the first halls in Villa Elma decorated with sculptures and various colors

Posts and beams are painted with patterns and vibrant colors

Ceilings patterns made of tree roots

The entrance to the Tree House

A hall featuring petrified wood

The garden showcasing animal and superhero figures

Rustic private cabins are available for overnight guests of Villa Elma

The log cabin accommodations at Villa Elma

We then found ourselves in a gazebo extending out daringly over a ravine. A hanging steel bridge was built to connect the gazebo to a small viewing platform. Here we felt our breath catch in our throats. Lush green foliage stretched out before us and we could make out some man-made structures below. 

A gazebo jutting out with panoramic views of the surrounding forest

The hanging steel bridge of Villa Elma

Concrete paths and stairs zigzagged its way down through the ravine. We started trudging downhill and found that it is marked by fourteen Stations of Cross in wayside shrines. At the bottom, there is a small garden with sculptures depicting life in the countryside. 

Wayside shrines of the Stations of the Cross zigzagging down 

We walked past another welcome sign and started hearing the sounds of birds chirping and water flowing. We followed the trail listening to the sounds when we reached a clearing wide enough for a shrine, huts, and benches to be built. There in the middle runs a spring-fed stream. On the other side are countless religious icons and a little upstream are animal and dinosaur sculptures. 

A place of devotion with countless religious icons

The spring-fed stream inside is open for swimming

The stream is a perfect spot to rest and take photos

We walked further and the pathway took us up steep stone steps with another set of Stations of the Cross. We climbed higher and higher, pausing once in a while to steady ourselves. In the view back down, the town of Lucban came into sight in between the slopes of the forested mountain.

The second Stations of the Cross

The crucifix is seen against the lush green vegetation of the mountain

We continued climbing and to our delight, the Cristo Rey tower then appeared before us. We headed towards it where we took shelter from the sun and bought bottled water from a lone vendor. We sat for a while and enjoyed the serenity of the forest and the views of the majestic Mount Banahaw. 

The Cristo Rey Tower

Walking for an hour and a half made us feel like true pilgrims and seeing the place made us contemplate the beauty of God's creations.  

Villa Elma is a fascinating place of solace and retreat

Know Before You Go:

• The entrance to Villa Elma is located along A. Mabini Street in Barangay Palola, Lucban, Quezon.
• Villa Elma was built by Justice Magdangal Elma as an expression of his spiritual relationship with God and love for family.
• It was built as a private rest house for his family and invited friends. It was only opened to the public in 2016.
• It covers an area of 10 hectares but more than half is covered by forest.
• Admission fees for a day tour are PHP100 for adults, PHP75 for seniors, PHP50 for children 8-12 years old, and free for children 7 years old and below.
• Villa Elma also has a bed and breakfast facility with room types ranging from glamping tents to log cabins. Prior reservations are highly recommended for overnight guests.
• Visitors can bring in their own food with no corkage fees. 
• To get to Villa Elma, visitors can take tricycles from the town proper or take a private car. Tricycle fare is PHP20 per person. Parking for cars is free of charge.

   
Also read: 
Lucban: A Travel Guide for First Timers
Cooling Down in Lucban's Batis Aramin Resort

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