The unforgettable Sierra Madre Country Club

Retreat 2009, everything about the activity was all set.  Sierra Madre Country Club in Tanay, Rizal was the venue.  

The place was atop the mountain. It was our very first time to hold a spiritual activity  in a place as vast as this one so I was really excited more than anybody else in the group.

When I first set my eyes upon it, I had a feeling that we would be having a great time in it considering that: 

Sierra Madre Country Club is really vast and it’s area is more than enough to accommodate all of our activities for two and a half days;

2    The amenities are wonderful. They have a huge multi-purpose gym at which we can hold our big group fellowship and games;

There is a hanging bridge which is very ideal for the group challenge.

The verdant lot will provide students a suitable place for stargazing should they decide to rise so early in the morning and engage themselves in such an activity or a really refreshing jogging and morning exercise venue for the figure conscious ones;

The  Spring Valley Pool downhill awaits  whoever desires a plunge;

3.       The surroundings as a whole is refreshing. It’s green everywhere and the sight of the mountain range is breathtaking. One would really feel nature to the fullest.

4.       A trail to the falls uphill will satisfy a trek craving for those who  love physical activities;

5.       Above all, the place’s temperature. It chills everyone to the core. There’s no need for an air conditioning unit or any electric fan.

Discomfort was never in my mind and as expected we went on and stayed there for two and a half days. Yes, we were able to accomplish all the things needed to be accomplished and were able to enjoy what the Country Club offers; however, I think we would have enjoyed it more if:

1       the housekeeping had regularly cleaned the toilets;

2    
            water supply had been abundant  (no water came out of the faucet between 1:00 – 4:00 A.M. and we were not informed of it, so we had to wait until 5:00 A.M.);

3    the person in-charge of the place’s safety had duplicate keys (When one of us left the key in the room and we called on a staff, he arrived with a box containing a lot of keys which he, one-by-one, inserted into the keyhole until the right one unlocked the knob eventually.  We waited for almost an hour before we entered the room. When I asked why he didn’t have the duplicate, he replied, “Kasi po dinadala ng mga bisita ang susi pag-alis nila." (Tourists who occupied the rooms bring the keys as they leave.)  He was so unfriendly that I was not given the chance to express what’s in my mind. )

4     the food served had been delectable (I think food doesn’t have to be expensive to be tasty);

5     and lastly but matters the most, had the people in the place been cordial and showed politeness as they were approached for assistance, whatsoever (I don’t  remember any of them smile as  they are approached).

Certainly, the beauty of the place awed me, only the place.