Nestled at the western border of Cordillera mountain range toward the Ilocos Sur province is a 10-hectare property dedicated to providing alternative forms of healing for the body and the spirit.
Upon entering the highland property in Barangay Rosario in Cervantes town, which provides a bird’s-eye view of the southern parts of La Union and Benguet, guests are greeted with an atmosphere of tranquility, hearing nothing but the rustling of leaves and the smooth flow of water from the Abra River.
“The MDP Village is dedicated to self-mastery, it is something that does not just give a person success but also feeds the soul and awakens one’s mind,” said Master Del Pe, 60, owner of the Master Del Pe (MDP) Village.
Considered a “sacred destination,” the MDP Village is a retreat resort that offers healing sessions, meditation, martial arts, yoga, therapeutic hot spring baths, and special massage among others.
Pe said he originally designed the three-year-old village as the home for resident masters and world servers but eventually it became open to his students and disciples who visit for retreats.
“At first, we only want to build a small house because we have one in Manila. But since some of my students followed me, I decided to build guest houses for them,” he shared.
Modern sage
Known by his spiritual students as the “guru of higher consciousness,” Pe, a modern sage, was formally trained by four advanced masters in Asia and the Himalayas. He is also a martial arts master and a world expert in various types of yoga and meditation.
In his travels to 100 countries, he had taught 350,000 students globally which are mostly members of humanitarian groups, government leaders, religious missionaries, and individual spiritual seekers.
Moreover, Pe has been invited as a guest speaker in international conferences and groups such as United Nations Spiritual Society in New York, Texas Yoga Conference, and Academy of Science and Spirituality.
At the MDP Village, guests who avail themselves of its services receive various forms of alternative healing, depending on their conditions and illnesses—from self-healing meditations and revitalization strategies to martial arts sessions and therapeutic baths in natural hot springs.
Pe said the village has two decks of 1,200-square-foot space for studying and meditation, 600-square-foot hammock place for group activities, two mini-golf courses, and a 50,000-square-foot garden where fruits and vegetable crops are organically grown and served to students and guests.
Aside from the contentment, he gets from helping others overcome their physical and psychological illnesses, Pe said he is happy to lead his second retreat-convention this year on Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 at the MDP Village.
Called the 2nd International Convention on Higher Consciousness (ICHC), the four-day event will cover sessions on actualizing the inner awakening and consciousness and will feature a roster of international speakers from North America, Africa, South America, Europe, and Asia.
“The 2nd ICHC is perfect for individuals who wish to expand their consciousness, get healed, and experience balance in life,” he said.
It will also include 150 selected delegates from 30 countries composed of healthcare specialists, authors, and prominent figures from international agencies.
“We aim to equip our delegates with advanced tools to develop the conscience in entrepreneurship and wisdom in leadership,” he added.
Part of the proceeds of the event, according to Pe, will benefit six charitable non-profit programs such as the Compassion Fatigue Solutions Program and HIV/AIDS Research Program (HARP).
Thoughts on balance
For Pe, the best way to maintain good health is to balance all the levels of health—from spiritual and mental to emotional and physical. He also believes that mainstream medicine and alternative healing complement each other.
“I’m an advocate of augmenting the normal medicine in complement with the alternative healing,” he said.