News and Events

Coming up to serve you, Regina Rica

It is at this time when our world is scourged with noise, waste and haste, that we dare to start the REGINA RICA (Regina Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia). It’s a great risk we are taking, but with the help of all our members, benefactors and friends, this work will be done. . read more.

BK Village

With the western and European influences, today’s homes have separate rooms for parents, children and other family members. The concrete houses become a status symbol. However, we still find a longing for the good o’l days of closeness of the families. read more.

Praying with Trees

When we first arrived from our Holy Land Pilgrimage, I can’t help but marvel at the blessing of green earth, green grass, and green trees in the Philippines. Most parts of Dubai, Jordan, Egypt and part of the Holy Land are dry, desertified and depressing. But the first sights we have, especially upon landing at the air strip of Surigao, are the green trees and the green grass read more.

Adopt-A-Tree

“Oh the Lady is waiting on top of the hill”. . . . . .so goes the song of the devotees of our Lady, Regina Rosarii whose image lovingly gazes at us on the roof deck of the Regina Rosarii Center for Contemplative Prayer read more.

Adopt-A-Tree

Walking around Mama Regina’s Ricaland in Tanay gave me an idea. What is it? You may ask. Let me explain. read more.

praying with trees

When we first arrived from our Holy Land Pilgrimage, I can’t help but marvel at the blessing of green earth, green grass, and green trees in the Philippines. Most parts of Dubai, Jordan, Egypt and part of the Holy Land are dry, desertified and depressing. But the first sights we have, especially upon landing at the air strip of Surigao, are the green trees and the green grass. We are indeed so lucky. (I am writing to you in Surigao!)

If prayer is a relationship with our God, it is a good way to be creative in the way we pray. We spend time developing a relationship. Our spirituality is measured by the way we relate with God, with others, with our self, and with the earth.

Lately at Regina RICA, we developed a creative way to pray using the trees as a tool to develop a relationship with our God. There will always be trees around for as long as we plant the new trees. At the Regina RICA, we have almost 10,000 mahogany trees. It is so beautiful to pray with trees.

We invite you to adopt a tree and leave a legacy. Come to Regina RICA and tie a yellow ribbon of welcome around your tree. Our Lady waits for you. We will make our Lady stand on top of the hill and welcome her with thousands of yellow ribbons. It takes only Php 18 a day to adopt a tree for 13 months. Please be part of this movement. Adopt a tree while you still can see. Time will come, when we will be the earth below the tree, nurturing the tree in darkness and in stillness. Your name will be inscribed on your tree in a brass plate.

Here are things you can do when you want to pray with the trees!

1. Choose your tree. Get to know its texture, shape and size. Touch your tree and whisper your name. Get to know your tree.

2. Lean on your tree and let the tree support all your weight. Just close your eyes and breathe in the freshness of the air around the tree.

3. Be conscious that below the tree where you cannot see are the roots and rootlets. A whole gamut of network and interconnectedness. It is the place where growth starts. Be conscious that below the tree, at the bosom of the earth, it is dark, silent, still and simple.

4. Hug your tree; let your face feel the rough bark of the tree. Rest your face on it. Feel it with your forehead. Feel the tree respond to your care. The tree is alive.

5. Say a prayer from your heart. Gather the lessons you have learned from the tree.

6. Silently, lean back on your tree and stay there to rest for as long as you want.