The Fasting Path

So here I am Sagada, Philippines.  20 hours in the air from Orlando to Manila, the capital of the Philippines, a 13 hour bus ride from Manila, around winding, single lane, rocky, muddy roads inches from death to Bontoc and finally, a 1 hour Jeepney ride into the Mountain Provence of Sagada.   And I am doing what here???  Trusting the signs.

In August 2008, Tom Coghill, owner of www.fasting.ws and author of 5 fasting books, met the Chief Medical Doctor of St. Theodore’s Hospital in Sagada, Dr. Clare Lawlet as he and his girlfriend, Divine were traveling to Sagada for a brief getaway.   The hospital, which is a part of the local Church, was in run down, broke and on the verge of destruction.  Dr. Clare and the board had some decisions to make.  Either shut it down or find a way to revive it.

Tom, with his sheer excitement for life and passion and extensive knowledge of fasting tells Dr. Clare that he is looking for a place to hold a fasting retreat.  After some discussion, Dr. Clare realizes that this is the same guy that owns the website that 2 weeks prior she was researching. Talk about destiny!  She immediately says, “Why don’t you work with us?”  Tom, looks around and immediately says, “why not?” and the St. Theodore’s Integrative Health Program was established.

Dr. Clare knew very little of fasting and was not very confident that people of Sagada would go for it as rice and Pork are a way of life here, but Tom’s enthusiasm won her over.  He immediately went to work, training highschool kids in computers and sharing his ideas with anyone who would listen.  The first patient that showed up on the desolate doorstep of the hospital was Juan Luig.  He was a terminally ill, prostate cancer patient, that was given two months to live.  Tom says, lets see what we can do.  Dr. Clare thought to herself…  Oh man,” what did I get myself into?”

Meanwhile… back in the states, I am surfing the web looking for fellow fasting websites and connect with Tom.  We talk over the phone, he tells me what he is up to and I ask him if he needs any help.  “Are you kidding, he says.”  “I would love to have you out here with me.”  “What we are doing has never been done.”  “My vision is to medically document and publish the benefits of Therapuetic fasting and have protocols in place for all terminal illness for every hospital in Asia.”  One week later I booked my ticket.

So, I have been here a week and the hospital is getting a complete makeover, thanks to St. Lukes and our program is being established.  But even more exciting are the results and excitement we are seeing with the patients.  Father Tuguinay, a 67 year old retired clergyman has a new lease on life, reversing diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and arthritis with a 40 day fast (read his story here). Many others, hearing about Father Tuguinay have started on our program and have experienced similar results.  (We will be posting a report of our cancer patient, Juan soon)

The seed is spreading and like any divinely inspired vision, is growing fast.  Since my arrival approximately two months ago, the vision has expanded beyond just healing the body to healing “the whole” (individual, community, enviroment).  Tom and I have no idea where all this is going, but the people of Sagada are curious about what is going on, and very hopeful that it is something extraordinary!  We think it is indeed!

Sagada is a very majestic place.  Words cannot describe the vibe here, but I found a video of my new home for now.  I am staying in a cute bed and breakfast (Sagada HomeStay) at the top of the mountain at $4 a day.  I wake up at the crack of dawn to the crow of roosters.  I look out my window to see the clouds rolling through the mountains, miles of rice fields off to my right and the tin rooftops of the town, below me to the left, the view is breathtaking.  And besides the sounds of pigs being sacrificed each morning, life is good!

This video is an unbelievable depiction of life here in Sagada… hope you enjoy!

http://www.lonelyplanet.tv/Clip.aspx?key=EAEE79A8AD672F93

I send you all love and light to you all during this time of global change.  As a Shaman once shared … “We must learn to be flexible.” “Noah did not build a damn to stop the floods, but instead an Arc so he could move with them.”

There is a divine plan in all of this.

Namaste.