Nestled in the serene hills of Caleruega Road in Nasugbu, Batangas, just over 100 kilometers south of Manila, the Philippines, is a place where hearts are not only joined in matrimony but also healed, renewed, and reconnected.
While the iconic Transfiguration Chapel has become a magnet for celebrity weddings, including the likes of Miss World Philippines 2013 Megan Young and actor Mikael Daez, a deeper, quieter mission beats at the heart of the Dominican-run compound: the Veritas Retreat Ministry.
Started in 2015 by the Dominicans at Caleruega, in response to the growing number of couples struggling in their marriages, the Retreat Ministry was born from a simple but profound conviction of the friars: “It’s not enough to marry couples, we must also help them stay together.” The ministry was spearheaded by Fr. Allen de Guzman, OP and Fr. Stephen Redillas, OP.
From Weddings to Witnessing
The first retreat for married couples was held on an experimental basis. “We were just trying to see if it would work,” he recalls. Feedback from participants proved invaluable. “One said an overnight retreat wasn’t enough,” Fr. de Guzman shared. The following year, they extended the program to three days and two nights. Soon after, they began inviting seasoned lay speakers, counselors, and psychologists to complement the spiritual guidance offered by the Dominicans. “We wanted to give people value for their time and effort,” he said.
More Than Just Couples
In its third year, Veritas expanded its reach to senior citizens, many of whom were quietly yearning for spiritual renewal. The response surprised even the organizers. It went very well until the pandemic hit.
The COVID-19 crisis forced Caleruega to close, as the government designated it a tourism site. “But we are not a park,” Fr. de Guzman emphasized. “This is a place for people to pray.” Undeterred, the ministry moved online. “We still invited speakers and continued retreats virtually,” he said. “We waited for the world to open again.”
A Psycho-Spiritual Approach
What makes the Veritas Retreats unique is their psycho-spiritual approach, a blend of faith, psychology, and real-life storytelling. “We start with ‘discovery’, understanding one’s personal story, identity, and challenges in the relationship,” Fr. de Guzman explained. Rooted in science, the retreat framework integrates emotional intelligence, relationship dynamics, and family systems, tailored to the spiritual journey.
“Science should be part of our retreats,” Fr. de Guzman says. “Even St. Thomas Aquinas valued reason and evidence.” The Veritas Retreat Ministry follows in that tradition, combining theology and therapy, spirituality and science. It’s a retreat not from life, but into it, with clearer eyes, fuller hearts, and lighter burdens.
In Fr. de Guzman’s words: “We don’t just pray for it, we try to learn how it becomes an answer to our prayers.”
Family Retreats
This year, the Ministry offered its first-ever family retreat. Initially expecting only a struggling child and a parent, they were surprised when entire families showed up, sometimes with children as young as eight. But the age of young retreatants was limited to at least 10 years old, as the young required a lot of babysitting while in a retreat.
Recognizing the emotional complexity of teenagers, Veritas is also working on specialized retreats for high school and college students. “These are years where failures, whether in love, studies, or at home, can lead to emotional breakdown,” Fr. de Guzman said, citing scientific studies that show emotional regulation does not fully develop until the age of 26. “Children feel deeply, but they often don’t know how to process their emotions.”
Real People, Real Healing
The retreat ministry has seen powerful stories of transformation. Fr. de Guzman remembers couples who found their way back to each other, sometimes without knowing their professions until later, one was a mayor, another a soldier assigned in the West Philippine Sea. “We don’t ask what people do. But when they heal, we learn who they really are.”
“In my experience of counselling people, the hardest thing is often forgiving oneself,” he said. Whether it's a wife betrayed, a child wounded by a parent, or someone carrying shame, Veritas creates a safe space for truth, forgiveness, and grace.
A Place, Not a Park
While Caleruega remains a scenic destination, the Dominicans continuously remind guests and authorities alike of their true mission. “We are not a park,” Fr. de Guzman reiterates. “We are a retreat house. And our doors are open to anyone seeking peace, not just pictures.”
The compound features dormitories for students, cottages for families, and private rooms for couples. Plans are underway to expand accommodations to serve more people. “Our retreats don’t just offer a sacred place, they offer a safe space where no one is judged.”
