A quiet sanctuary of prayer, hope grows in Mindoro
VICTORIA, ORIENTAL MINDORO—What began as a simple farmhouse meant for family rest has quietly grown into a sanctuary of prayer, healing and renewal in the heart of Mindoro.
Nestled in the rural village of Canaan in the town of Victoria, the Ilang Sanctuary of Prayer stands today not as a commercial retreat center, but as a deeply personal offering of faith—one that its founder, Fr. Arnold Magboo, believes was shaped entirely by divine providence.
“It was just a simple house where my family can stay whenever they visit the farm, especially during harvesting time,” Magboo tells the Inquirer.
He adds: “Eventually, it will also serve as my retirement house.”
The farm, planted with fruit-bearing trees like lanzones and rambutan, was originally named “Betania,” a place where the priest would retreat whenever he felt weary. Over time, friends began to visit—not just for the harvest, but for the quiet.
“At the beginning, only a few close friends would come with me, but they kept returning—not just for the fruits, but because they loved the peaceful and beautiful atmosphere,” he recalls.
A turning point came in December 2015, when Typhoon “Nona” (international name: Melor) devastated parts of Mindoro, toppling durian trees across the property. Instead of letting the damage go to waste, Magboo repurposed the fallen wood.
“I had them cut and used the wood to build a small gazebo. It eventually became a favorite spot for our parish youth and lay leaders,” he shares.
Why Ilang?
As more visitors came—for formation, camping and bonding—the idea slowly took root: the place could become more than a rest house.
“The idea came to turn it into a retreat house—or a house of prayer. Since I also enjoy planting and landscaping, I began developing the place,” he says.
The name itself, Magboo notes, was not his own idea—but an answer to prayer.
“One early morning, while I was praying in the adoration chapel, I asked the Lord, ‘What is your plan for this place? Do you want me to convert this into a house of prayer or a retreat house? What do you want me to call this?’”
What followed, he describes, was a moment of quiet revelation.
“After a few moments of silence, I randomly opened the Bible and surprisingly, it was in the Gospel of John. Three times, the word “ilang” appeared,” he recounts.
Magboo cites passages where Jesus invites His disciples to rest in a deserted place, prays in solitude and feeds the multitude.
“In that moment, I knew this was not coincidence—it was God’s clear answer to my prayer,” Magboo shares.
He adds: “The number seven also spoke—a gentle call to build seven houses and share this place with others.”
True to that vision, Ilang has become a place not only for silence and prayer, but for encounter.
“Ilang is more than a place,” Magboo emphasizes. “It is a space to rest, to pray, to relax, to encounter God in silence and be renewed.”
Open to all
For him, the experience of retreat is deeply personal.
“In all beautiful retreat houses I have visited, I always find rest—not only for my tired body but also for my soul,” he says.
“It is a deep joy that I cannot explain—a joy that cannot be given by material things or anyone else, but only by God,” he explains.
Yet what sets Ilang apart is its openness—especially to those who cannot afford traditional retreat centers.
“Many cannot afford to go to retreat houses—it is too expensive,” he says. “So I want others to experience this too.”
Visitors are not charged a fixed fee.
“‘How much is the fee?’ is a question many ask,” Magboo shares. “Our answer is always the same—give according to your means, from the heart, and not out of obligation. Those who have nothing to give are always welcome.”
‘All is grace’
“I always believe in divine providence,” he adds. “What matters most is that everyone may encounter God and receive the same grace, peace and joy that I have experienced.”
Magboo credits the growth of Ilang not to planning, but to faith.
“I truly believed that if that is God’s plan, everything would fall into place. All that is needed is to believe, to trust and to obey Him,” he notes.
Magboo shares his vision with the late Warlito Cajandig, then bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan, who gave his blessing.
“He was pleased and gave his approval,” Magboo shares.
Support came in unexpected ways.
“Without force, invitation, or even searching, He sent people who voluntarily offered their support,” he remarks. “They simply came—as if truly sent by God.”
On Aug. 27, 2018, the Feast of St. Monica, the first Mass and blessing of Ilang was held, presided over by Cajandig.
“Four days later, he was rushed to the hospital, and we were no longer able to speak with him again,” Magboo recalls.
In time, the vision was completed: seven houses, along with simple huts for visitors.
“Everything happened according to God’s will,” he said. “Truly, with Him, nothing is impossible.”
Stories of healing
Today, Ilang continues to draw visitors from across Mindoro and beyond—each carrying their own intentions.
“Some come only for a short visit—to kneel and pray in the chapel, asking for God’s help,” Magboo says. “Many come with special intentions: to pass the board exam, to have a child, to be healed from sickness, or simply to find rest and peace.”
Others come in groups for recollections, retreats and family gatherings.
But it is the quieter stories that leave the deepest mark.
For Magboo, Ilang is ultimately not about structures, but about transformation.
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