Pilgrimage during summer? What else do you have in mind? A beautiful scenery, captivating replica of Christ’s life, and of course a flight of 400 stairs towards a gigantic Cross- that’s what in store for visitors at San Joaquin’s latest tourism spot, The Garin Inland Resort and Farm. A must-see for those visiting southern Iloilo, Garin Farm has lots to offer in relaxation, education, and of course, in meditation.

Come and join us on our pilgrimage at San Joaquin’s Garin Farm.

Right at the heart of the farm is the entrance to the pilgrimage site. A huge stone facade guards the entrance to the area leading to the steps towards the Divine Mercy Cross. It is a perfect complementary to nature as the pilgrimage site for the Almighty – high above the mountain where one can almost touch the heavens. A symbol of humility, the entrance has a low beam so that anyone who enters must bow down.

A tropical rendition of the Garden of Eden

Noah's Ark - complete with animals from bears, zebras to lizards

Once we entered, we were greeted by a beautiful garden – a representation of Eden perfect with life size sculptures of Adam and Eve with waterfalls in the background. This was followed by an interesting take on the Noah’s Ark, and later on the Ten Commandments with Moses.

Moses and the Ten Commandments

View of the Cross from the first step

At last, we took the first step on 456 stairs towards the Divine Mercy Cross. As you climb, take time to meditate on the different scenes of Christ’s life. The images were carefully crafted locally and a sight to behold. We took time in our way as we stop at each of the scenes and reflected on the life of Christ.

The Birth of Christ

The Baptism at River Jordan

Triumphant entry at Jerusalem

The Last Supper

The Agony in the Garden

Scourging at the Pillar

The Crucifixion

The Resurrrection

The Ascencion

At last! After ascending almost 60 meters from the first step, we finally reached the awe-inspiring Divine Mercy Cross. It was a satisfying moment – as if you had a spiritual aha! moment. The memory of the tiring ascent was dissolved once we saw the breathtaking view of Iloilo’s southern coast, and the view of the mountains at the back.

Take a deep breath and savor the breeze at the top. It will surely blow your stress away (click picture below to enlarge).

Mountains at San Joaquin

A realization of how beautiful and simple God’s creation is, it was as if you reconnected with His original plan upon gazing at this scene.

Definitely, a must-see on this Holy Week – you will surely love your visit at Garin Farm. Spiritual invigoration awaits you there. (Don’t miss the next part of our visit at Garin Farm, there’s more to come).

Getting There (from Garin Farm Website):

View of the Divine Cross from San Joaquin Plaza

From Iloilo International Airport:
- You can take the Shuttle Bus going to SM City, Iloilo.
- From SM City, Iloilo, take the SM Mandurriao jeepney and take a stop at the nearby intersection under the overpass and ride the Oton bound jeep going to the jeepney terminal located in Mohon, Oton.
- In Mohon Oton Terminal, there will be several San Joaquin jeepneys ready to take you to GarinFarm for 60 pesos only.
From Iloilo City Proper
- Take the San Joaquin bound jeepney from Super terminal, Iloilo City.
- You can also take buses going to Anini-y or Dao Antique in Molo Terminal. Tell the bus conductor to drop you off in San Joaquin.
From San Joaquin Town Proper:
- Take a tricycle ride and tell the driver to take you to GarinFarm, Brgy. Huna. Brgy. Huna is a 2-minute ride from San Joaquin town proper.

For Private Transportation:
- San Joaquin is the last town in the southern part of Iloilo.
- The 53.5 Km drive along Iloilo- Antique National Road would get you in San Joaquin in about 1 hour.
- There will be signage and billboards directions along the highway going to GarinFarm to guide you.

Tips in Visiting Garin Farm San Joaquin:

• Bring umbrellas, sunblocks, shades and other protection you can have against the sun (if you visit from morning til after lunch). Don’t forget to hydrate yourself while climbing the stairs going to the cross.
• If you plan to try the zip line, kayaking, swimming, etc., plan ahead and bring extra budget. The entrance fee is not consumable (literally it’s for the entrance only).
• Take your time. Enjoy the scene. Stay safe.
• Visit also the town of San Joaquin. It’s really beautiful. I recommend visiting the 19th Century church and the camposanto along the highway for a taste of Ilonggo heritage. The plaza is clean, organized, and perfectly manicured which faces their handsome People’s Center. You may spend lunch facing the sea at Tiolas.

Related Posts:

Agriculture? It’s More Fun in San Joaquin’s Garin Farm (Part 2)

Garin Farm at San Joaquin (Part 3): An Adventure You Shouldn’t Miss

Iloilo I LOVE! is presenting our recent adventure at Garin Farm in a series of posts. Watch out for the coming posts soon. 

Note: Iloilo I LOVE! is not connected in anyway to GarinFarm.