Healing Experts

In line with its mission to provide science-based, evidence-guided holistic healing and transformative lifestyle retreats, The Farm is home to internationally trained integrative medical doctors and licensed health professionals who work together to help guests lead a healthier lifestyle on their journey to optimal well-being.

OUR EXPERTS

Dr. Marian Alonzo

Medical Chief

Dr. Marian Alonzo

Medical Chief

Dr. Alonzo is a graduate of the University of the Philippines
College of Medicine. She did her internship at the Philippine
General Hospital.

As a child, she was diagnosed with a debilitating heart condition and her family’s search for what will cure her introduced her to natural forms of healing. Despite her illness, she graduated as valedictorian in her early school years, received recognition for Outstanding Clinical Work in medical school and graduated with distinction in post-graduate medical training.

She is fascinated by the principle of salutogenesis: “salut” – health, “genesis” – origin or creation… This inspired her to specialize in Anthroposophic Medicine from the Goetheanum in Switzerland. This looks into 1) the nature of the human as spiritual beings in physical form and 2) the factors that bring optimal health.

She deepened her clinical practice through Integrative Medicine. This field integrates
conventional and natural medicine and finds the governing healing principles that connect
different streams of ancient healing.

Dr. Alonzo has been with The Farm at San Benito since 2002, serving as its Medical Chief.

She worked as a frontliner during the pandemic and also helped COVID patients here and abroad especially in the early part (mid-March-April 2020) when not much was known about the virus; all have fully recovered. She co-authored the Home Care Guide for COVID and COVID-like symptoms for those who don’t have access to professional medical service. It has been translated to other languages.

She incorporates her training in psychotherapy, art therapy and eurythmy / shibashi and other healing physical movements in her advocacy on Dignified Aging and Embracing Cycles of Life as a preparation for healthy aging and in powerfully approaching other major life transitions.

Dr. Jocelyn Franco

Resident Doctor

Dr. Jocelyn Franco

Resident Doctor

Jocelyn is a Physician and has 36 years of practicing medicine both locally and internationally. A graduate of the Medical Program of Saint Louis University, she went on and completed her Master’s Degree in Public Health. She is also a Fellow of the Philippine Society of Venereologists, Inc.

She served as a Social Hygiene Physician for 16 years promoting her advocacy on Women’s Health and STD/HIV/AIDS Awareness and later on became a President and Board Examiner of the Philippine Society of Venereologists in 2000-2001.

Her international experience includes being a Ship Physician for 14 years at the Semester at Sea, an educational program by the University of Pittsburgh, University of Virginia, and the Colorado State University. This widened her experience to various traditional, alternative, and integrative medical practices done internationally.

She also spent two years as a Ship Physician for the Expedition Cruises travelling Australasia, New Zealand, and Antarctica focusing on varied illnesses and heath emergencies of guests onboard.

She was also engaged as a Consultant Physician for two years for a company in Malaysia specializing in organic medicines made of herbs and cultured mushrooms for the treatment of diabetes, HPN, chronic illnesses, cancer, and infertility issues for men and women.

In all these years of practicing medicine, Jocelyn has not wavered her passion to learn and become better each day.

She is currently The Farm’s Resident Doctor, practicing Holistic wellness and medicine.

Dr. Michelle Domalaon

Consulting Doctor

Dr. Michelle Domalaon

Consulting Doctor

Michelle is a Philomath – a licensed chemist, secondary education teacher, and physician here in the Philippines.

At The Farm, she guides guests on their journey to wellbeing. She believes that the body’s natural tendency is to be well and that if there is something in one’s body and mind that is not supposed to be there, then such is blocking one’s natural tendency for wellness. She also believes in the process of letting go to be well, the value of the body, the mind-cleansing process, and nourishing one’s body and mind in a sustainable and earth-friendly manner.

She is a Reiki Level 3 Practitioner. Reiki is a Japanese form of touch therapy which helps promote relaxation and wellbeing.

Michelle specializes on the following protocols like:

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Desensitizing Triggers and Urge Reprocessing (DeTUR) can help with anxiety, trauma release, addictions, and dysfunctional behaviors. In addition, DeTUR guides a person to uncover core traumas and reprocess them through completion.
  • EMDR Therapy guides a person to access and process trauma and other experiences which continuously generates a negative emotion to an adaptive resolution.

She also practices the Microcurrent Point Stimulation Therapy or (MPS Therapy) which helps to reduce the nervous system stress and results in muscle relaxation and pain relief. The MPS Therapy uses direct current (DC) microcurrent applied on acupuncture points. This procedure may also be used for people who want to have acupuncture treatment but have trauma with needles.

Dr. Homer Lim

Consulting Doctor

Dr. Homer Lim

Consulting Doctor

Dr. Lim specializes in complementary and integrative medicine, holistic cancer therapies, orthomolecular medicine, and energy healing & past life regression.

He began his journey in Thailand where he learned Chinese and Thai traditional medicine combined with conventional drugs produced better results and fewer side effects. He came back to Manila after 2 years and applied the basic principles of Integrative medicine. He became the medical director of the Farm in 2010, where he introduced therapies that would garner multiple awards from Spa Asia Awards.

His passion for excellence drove him to start educating other doctors who like him, felt there is a need to improve how to manage diseases by methods other than what conventional medicine has to offer.

He together with like-minded doctors founded 1the International Anti-Aging and Integrative Medicine Society in 2017 that introduced Integrative medicine in Southeast Asia. He has been regularly invited to speak in different conferences in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Dr. Ron Baldonado

Consulting Doctor

Dr. Ron Baldonado

Consulting Doctor

Dr. Rounville N. Bardonado is a Doctor of Medicine and Health which includes Life and Knowledge. He started his career in 1995 and has always been fascinated with how medicine causes positive change for the patient, especially the lifesaving type of medicines. After years of practicing conventional medicine, he was curious on why patients are always ill even at a very young age.

His inquisitive nature led him to realize that there is a deeper cause of diseases and not just attributed to the “Germ Theory” of disease.

In the latter part of 2004, Dr. Ron began working at The Farm at San Benito and started learning and using a holistic approach to healing. After a few weeks of seeing people’s improvement in their health, he became a believer and practitioner of natural healing.

His work helps a patient understand the importance of living a balanced life, being aware, and adapting to all changes, and challenges. To quote Dr. Ron: “Every moment of our life, we learn, and this gives us the opportunity to become a better person.”

Besides being a holistic medical practitioner, Dr. Ron completed a Sheng Zhen Gong Teacher Training Course in Tagaytay in 2011 under Teacher Li Jun Feng. He also teaches Tai Chi Chuan, Yang Style, and 24 Forms. Moving meditation such as Tai Chi and Qi gong are some of Dr. Ron’s passions which are very powerful practices that opens up our energy channels, and helps remove our blockages, and stagnation that hinder our healing process.

He completed a post-graduate course in Anthroposophic Medicine in 2008.

His international experiences include Hong Kong where he practiced Holistic Medicine in 2011 and the Middle East from 2014 to 2018 as Health Affairs Director and Advisor for an Oil and Gas Service Provider wherein he gave guidance to thousands of employees on how to live a healing lifestyle.

Dr Ron is also a Reiki practitioner since 2012 under Master Lilian Jarales Hewlett.

Dr. Susan Balingit

Wellness Doctor

Dr. Susan Balingit

Wellness Doctor

Dr. Susana M. Balingit has been working with various community health-oriented development programs and projects for almost three decades. She practiced medicine in several far-flung marginalized communities and focused her efforts in “rediscovering” indigenous knowledge and practices (IKP) that can be harnessed to promote health and wellness and prevent disease. The body of knowledge learned and the wealth of experience she has gained has provided people and communities with a more sustainable and accessible means to have fuller control of their health. Recommending traditional Filipino food preparations consisting mainly of locally-grown vegetables and unpolished brown rice from organically grown native varieties is a key component of her advocacy.

Dr. Susan launched the “Kitchen Klinik” segment as part of her advocacy to educate people on health benefits gained from sustainable local produce and functional food.

Dr. Susan firmly believes in healing through food and the importance of maintaining the diversity of regional food and agricultural traditions. The wisdom of local and indigenous communities can be maintained to protect the ecosystems that surround us and offer sustainable prospects for the future.

Dr. Radi Apostol

Aesthetic Partner

Dr. Radi Apostol

Aesthetic Partner

Conrada Veruasa-Apostol, M.D. or Dr. Radi for short, is a reconstructive and plastic surgeon with a passion for aesthetic enhancements that have a holistic touch. She graduated from Manila Central University College of Medicine in 1986. She is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, Asian Pacific Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, Association of Women’s Surgeons USA, and a fellow of International College of Surgeons. She has been a practicing surgeon since 1988 and had her residency training in Surgery at Silliman University Medical Center, Dumaguete City. She trained on Reconstructive surgery under Dr. Rajan Dulamal, (had fellowship training rotations at Vanderbilt University Hospital Tennessee, Mt. Sinai Hospital, and Beth Israel Hospital of New York). She did several charity surgical missions nationwide for which she received the National Lingkod Bayan Award in 1999 for doing more than thousands of free surgeries to less-privileged people. She never stopped undergoing training workshops and studies on holistic modalities in line with aesthetic improvements like Lifestyle Medicine for weight management at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Cosmetic Acupuncture for facial wrinkles, breast augmentation and weight loss at Wangjing Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Anti- aging and Wrinkle management at International Master Course on Aging Skin. She attended workshops on Stress management because she believes that Stress is the root cause of all diseases and pains which indirectly lead to wrinkles, aging and other problems which affect the general appearance of an individual. As a cosmetic surgeon, she offers patients whatever procedure that is less painful, less expensive, has less risk and considers surgical enhancement as the last option.

Dr. Radi Apostol’s specializations at The Farm:

  1. Psychoemotional clearing
  2. Health and disease prevention counseling
  3. Aesthetic / Cosmetic facial acupuncture
  4. Weight loss acupuncture
  5. Stress relief acupuncture
  6. Acupuncture for depression
  7. Neurogenic Release
  8. Lifestyle coaching for stress, depression, weight management
  9. Harmonizing flow
  10. Rejuvenating facial
  11. Sleep induction therapy
  12. Dolphin-electronic neurostimulation

Other services at The Farm:

  1. Medical emergency care
  2. Surgical emergencies at The Farm
    • Head injuries from fall or hit by falling objects
    • Closed fracture reduction – immobilization with casting or bandaging
    • Minor surgeries for injuries – suturing of wounds, incision and drainage
  3. Open and closed dressing of wounds
    • snake bite / insect bite management
    • Foreign body removals – in the ears, eyes, skin, GUT
    • Bandaging for sprained extremities
    • Burn management
Darwin Katigbak

PTRP, CAA CFMS

Darwin Katigbak

PTRP, CAA CFMS

ailments by releasing tight and often painful fascia that connects all the muscles and soft tissues inside the human body. He is currently the only Certified Level 3 Fascial Manipulation for Internal Dysfunctions practitioner in the Philippines, proving his broad knowledge and proficiency in pain management and the treatment of several illnesses.

Darwin finds fulfilment in seeing his patients recover from pain and debilitating illnesses, knowing that providing real effective results improve the lives of patients and their families. Prior to his current practice, he spent years bringing conventional Physical Therapy techniques and modalities to the rural outskirts in the provinces of Batangas and Quezon, providing services to patients who were not able to go to clinics and hospitals.

Seeing the impact of pain and disability on his patients, as well as the economic burden on their families, he researched on treatment techniques that would bring faster and more effective healing. This desire guided him to study Traditional and Complementary Medicine in the Philippines and abroad. His fascination with the human fascial system led him to specialize in modern manual treatments and exercise techniques. To supplement his treatment methods, he specialized in the therapy of conditions that affect the hand. He also studied acupuncture and is currently a Certified Associate Acupuncturist. He is a Certified Yin Yoga teacher, as well.

At present, he is the only Filipino member of the Fascial Manipulation Association, an international organization of researchers and practitioners that focuses on the fascia. He is also a member of the Philippine Physical Therapy Association and the Philippine Association of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists.

Darwin studied Fascial Manipulation under the Stecco Institute of Italy in the Philippines (Levels 1 & 2) and India (Level 3). He took his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy at the Philippine Rehabilitation Institute and his acupuncture course at La Consolacion College Manila.

Chef Marie Pagcaliwagan

Kitchen Head

Chef Marie Pagcaliwagan

Kitchen Head

Chef Marie Pagcaliwagan is the pioneer tastemaker of The Farm; while the resort formally celebrates its 20th anniversary, Chef Marie is already celebrating her 21st, as she came on board during the conceptualization stages to develop the menu of ALIVE! Vegan Restaurant, which has since won numerous international awards.

Chef Marie trained extensively under renowned vegan chefs Chad Sarno (founder of Wicked Healthy) and Felix Shoener (Raw vegan chef of Fivelements).

Following the success of ALIVE! Chef Marie continued her career deep into wellness cuisine as The Farm introduced PESCE, a pescetarian restaurant inspired by the Mediterranean Blue Zone Diet; and PRANA, an Ayurveda restaurant serving energy-packed Indian-vegetarian dishes.

Over the years, Chef Marie has worked hand-in-hand with The Farm’s integrative medical doctors in providing detoxifying, cleansing, and nourishing cuisine to guests dealing with various lifestyle diseases and health issues.

Chef Marie is known for her unrivaled knowledge of The Farm’s endemic agriculture, her mastery over raw vegan cuisine, and her passion for healing through food.

Lem Senillo

Healing SPA Director

Lem Senillo

Healing SPA Director

Lemoiel “Lem” Senillo is currently the Spa Director of The Farm at San Benito. Lem is a licensed international Naturopathy Medicine who has trained in different parts of the world such as Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Germany, and USA. He is also a spiritual guru who practices purest healing energy in a form of art.

Lem is one of The Farm’s pioneer healers, and was instrumental in setting the foundation for The Farm’s successful holistic healing practices. Lem provided care to the first guests of The Farm, many of whom were terminally sick individuals looking for alternative healing.

Today, he provides spiritual healing, intuitive spa consultation and wellness counseling to the guests. Being a herbalist and aroma specialist, Lem developed detox signature fragrance at The Farm to enhance the individual healing journey of body, mind and spirit.

He’s trained in Holistic Wellness, Energy Healing, Spiritual Healing, Intuitive Counseling, Intuitive Touch therapy, Body Talk, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Reiki, Myofascial Therapy, Etheric Nerve Impulse Therapy, Kinesiology, Deep Tissue Therapy, Yen and Yang Restorative treatment, Aroma Therapy, and Complementary Alternative Medicine.

Quote from Lem Senillo: “Energy healing is my life and the only way I can feel my real purpose and the glorious moment of my existence. Every person I’ve touched, talked and healed has become my family. The experience gives me a deeper emotion and contentment beyond temporary things.”

Jennifer Sanvictores

Global Head of Sales, Marketing & Communications

Jennifer Sanvictores

Global Head of Sales, Marketing & Communications

Jennifer Sanvictores is a luxury brand marketing expert who specializes in the fields of integrative medicine, holistic wellness, tourism & hospitality management.

She is a pioneer in the Philippine wellness industry with over 20 years of experience in medical wellness tourism. Her penchant for innovation and forward-thinking vision was applied as she co-founded the Spa Association of the Philippines formed by the Philippine Department of Tourism in 2004. As the PR and Marketing Head of the association, she led a milestone campaign that would catapult the ancient Philippine healing art of “HILOT” as the country’s official healing tradition. Since then, the country’s time-honored healing practice has been integral in defining the Philippine brand of spa treatments.

Jennifer is currently an active member of Philippine Medical Travel and Wellness Tourism stakeholder group, which was formed by the Department of Tourism. She is also a vital representative of the country to the Global Wellness Summit.

As the Global Head of Sales and Marketing for CG Hospitality Group, Jennifer lends her experience and expertise to 142 luxury hotels and resorts across 12 countries and 101 locations worldwide. She leads the Sales, Marketing, and Communications for the conglomerate’s health and wellness cornerstone and multi-awarded eco-luxury holistic medical wellness resort, The Farm at San Benito in the Philippines.

Having been with one of the country’s prime movers in the holistic medical wellness space, Jennifer was front and center in driving global recognition for The Farm. Her body of work helped to amplify the conversation around the property’s life-transformative retreats and its initiatives for eco-sustainability and socially responsible business.

To date, The Farm has garnered over 100 prestigious international awards and accolades, including “Best Medical Wellness Resort in the World” from SENSES Germany, “Best Medical Wellness Resort” from APAC Business Insider, and “Best Country Spa on a Global Level” from the World Spa Awards. Recognition from the world stage has firmly planted The Farm as a force to be reckoned with in the global wellness map.

Her work in hospitality wellness and experience at The Farm, informed and inspired the launch of a holistic skincare line, Lunas Living Oils, where she is a co-founder. Her passion and sense of purpose has guided the product development process, which saw the birth of locally-sourced, plant-based, all-natural wellness essentials.

At the height of the pandemic in 2020, Jennifer was instrumental in pivoting property’s business. This ultimately led to a swift recovery, significant growth, and sustained success for The Farm. Throughout her professional experience in the tourism, hospitality, and wellness industry, Jennifer has consistently looked to PURPOSE as both her North Star and anchor. For the wellbeing pioneer and prime mover, this impetus has guided her as a leader, innovator, and storyteller of the wellness journey.

Preet Singh

General Manager

Preet Singh

General Manager

Preet Inder Singh Preet Inder Singh is the General Manager of The Farm at San Benito since October 2017. He graduated from IHMCT & AN in India (1986), and from the International College of Hotel Management in Switzerland (1988). He also received certifications in Applied Food Service & Sanitation, Food Service: A Managerial Approach, and Food Service Supervision: Achieving Success Through People from AM & HA, USA in 1987. He also underwent various management and leadership training and certifications like TMTC PUNE’s Management Appreciation Program, EHL Switzerland’s course on Excellence in Food & Beverage, Cornell University’s Strategic Hospitality Management Program, and Harvard’s Manager Mentor Program to name a few. Prior to presiding over The Farm, Mr. Singh has already proven his capabilities working for more than 30 years in other high-profile hotels like Radisson Blu resort Hua Hin (Thailand), Carlson-Rezidor (Singapore), and Radisson Blu Hotel (Maldives), Radisson Blu Hotel (New Delhi), and others. His experience across Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America provided him with a deep understanding of the high standards in the international service industry. These, along with his outgoing personality and excellent management skills has led to noteworthy attainments such as achieving high scores both for customer satisfaction and employee satisfaction.

With his 30-year career in the hospitality industry, he brings with him a wealth of experience to execute The Farm’s evolution and growth – from global expansion, property enhancements, to bringing forward its wellness innovation to deliver the next level of luxury holiday and life transformative retreats.

The Farm management welcomes Mr. Singh’s leadership expertise in operations, guest experience, and management skills. “I want to do something that is meaningful and make a positive impact in people’s lives, something different than what I did in the hotel business,” Mr. Singh says. He adds, “There was also a strong attraction to be a part of the wellness industry. A niche market that has grown exponentially in recent years.” The Global Wellness Institute reported last 2018 that wellness is now a USD 4.2 trillion global industry.

Princess Altamirano

Fitness Coach

Princess Altamirano

Fitness Coach

Coach Princess Altamirano is the energy behind The Farm’s famed Pure Energy Gym. Coach Princess is an internationally Certified Personal Trainer by the International Fitness Professionals Association, and is a recognized Kettlebell Sport Coach by the International Kettlebell Sport Fitness Academy.

She has trained at Thrive Academy to specialize in Performance Conditioning and Strength, and has also been certified by the Aspata Academy to conduct High Intensity Interval Training and Functional Fitness.
Her bespoke fitness programs have become a cornerstone in The Farm’s world-renowned weight management programs.

Coach Princess has served as a vital component of The Farm’s holistic healing process and overall fitness program safety, being certified to conduct Fitness Assessments and Evaluations by FitMe and Basic Life Support and First Aid by the Red Cross.

She is a familiar face to The Farm’s regular guests, as she is also The Farm’s resident Zumba Instructor, certified by the Zumba Instructor Network.

Many guests frequently come back to The Farm to sign up for personalized fitness programs crafted specifically for them by Coach Princess, with the medical supervision of The Farm’s resident nutritionists and medical doctors.

LJ Navera

Resident Sound Healer

LJ Navera

Resident Sound Healer

LJ is an artist, multi-instrumentalist, yoga practitioner, wellness advocate, sound healer, an art therapy facilitator, professional tattoo artist, craftsman, didgeridoo maker and player, hand pan maker and player, entrepreneur, a recognized painter, and a featured artist in different media platforms.

He has been in recovery from depression for more than 25 years and now serves as a substance abuse awareness advocate, mental health awareness advocate, an addiction professional, and a life coach. He was also once a facilitator at a Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center.

LJ is a living testimony that recovery exists and that we are to survive, live and evolve and be in service to others that is why he, for the past several years, had been sharing his healing modalities which include sound and art. He loves the process of learning that is why he puts his hands on whatever platform is available. He is a very positive person and believes that nothing is impossible as long you put your mind and heart to it and that everything can be obtained with his basic formula: desire, learn, and execution.