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LORNA Valera Quisumbing was a campus personality at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. She was one of the glamor girls frequently seen at the basement Cafeteria in the College of Arts and Sciences. She never knew me, but when our paths crossed again many, many years later, we were both married and have settled in Cebu City. Besides her high profile in Cebu society, I got to know her since my husband Ed was their dogs’ veterinarian.
We met again when her family re-settled back in Cebu after living in Manila for almost two decades. My chance encounter with Lorna and her son Anton at the Ayala Center one afternoon was a key that opened a whole new world of healthy pursuits. Before I even realized it, I agreed to visit Lorna’s herbal farm where the family has a rest house up in the mountains of Busay. Anton, towering and good-looking like his mom, loves horses and the outdoor life. After acquiring a few hectares of rolling fertile land in Catinpla he designed and built a cozy and lovely house replete with a fireplace. He started his venture in farming by planting strawberries.
Sunday, in the aftermath of Ondoy, my husband Ed and I rode with Lorna and husband Tony to Cantipla to visit what Lorna calls a hideaway from the frenzy and pollution of city life. Lorna’s acquired discipline early in life from her Ilocana mother and her father from Quezon has obviously played a big factor in her life. Coupled with an education from the state university since high school, her no-nonsense bearing is reflected in her quest for what is good for her and her family. And being healthy is at the top of her priorities. During the ride along the winding road uphill Lorna related how she has espoused the use of herbs in all aspects of living.
Her fascination for the curative effects of herbs got her into aromatherapy. She works closely with a chemist-friend in Manila who’s continuously researching and preparing natural, healthy oils and toiletries as well as household cleaning solutions using herbs. She has also compiled guides for Aromatherapy and Herbs, which
are available upon request. Halfway, we made a stop to buy freshly boiled sweet corm, the aroma of which filled the air. We also picked up bananas and papaya. The mountain air was crisp and cool even at noontime. Lorna claims she has found her piece of nirvana here, a place where she can totally relax, commune with nature.
Planting herbal plants and seeing them grow in her own “little Baguio” gives Lorna a sense of satisfaction. I have not seen so many herbs growing in little terraces along the sloping terrain. The sun was shyly peeping behind the clouds so our walk through the herb patches was relaxed. I easily recognized tarragon due to its bright yellow flowers. Lorna pointed out more herbs: several varieties of mint and basil, rosemary, oregano, sage, thyme.
After a delicious lunch at their rest house, Anton lighted the fireplace, burning the wood his young son Franco collected. This is a rather unusual scene, but the warmth from the fireplace kept the cold wind at bay. With sprigs of fresh tarragon and mint seeping in hot water in our teacups, we just sat back and enjoyed the serenity the place offered.
