Benedictine Monastery

Monastery of the Transfiguration
Barangay San Isidro, Malaybalay, Bukidnon




By the time Malaybalay City wakes up to the chill of a December morn, I was already at the yellow box waiting for a Valencia-bound multicab. Manong the receptionist--who is from San Isidro where the monastery is located--back at the inn gave me directions and habal-habal rate from the highway to the Church of the Transfiguration--the church is the last project of the late National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin. After a series of adventures and misadventures, I was already two barangays beyond the junction.





Here now is the reason why I decided to spend two days and a night and a dawn mass (with the renowned Bukidnon Boy's Choir singing) inside this hundred hectare property in the middle of nowhere. The uber-friendly rate--hold your breath--of Php600.00 daily (it's actually called donation; and includes your room and three board meals, two snacks and 24-hour free-flowing coffee; meals and coffee all prepared by the blessed hands of the Benedictine monks) is beyond me.

More on breakfast with the monks next time.

Meanwhile...here is day ONE, away from all the worries and cares of the world and deep into silence and SELF and into a life of prayer. For one moment that eventually turned into days, I was at peace with the world and myself; and the call (..should i answer soon?) to the monastic life reverberates once more..and this time it's louder..








If heaven is on earth, this must be IT!