Development Workers Meet at TRTC

Flags representing guests attending the week-long Transformative Economic Empowerment (TEE)
training conference flutter in the afternoon breeze at the Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center.
TEE is hosted by the CCT Training and Development Institute in cooperation with
ministry partners endPoverty.org, Hope International, and PEER Servants.  Participants are
development practitioners from Burundi, Cameroon, India, Korea, Malawi, Singapore, South Africa,
Uganda, Ukraine, United States of America, and Zambia.
The conference ends November 15. 

TRTC: Plenty to Offer

The Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center, built on six hectares of rolling terrain, has plenty to offer large and small organizations, schools, churches, companies, and families.  Blessed with a cool climate, excellent facilities, and hospitable staff, TRTC is the perfect venue for spiritual retreats, youth camps, marriage seminars, and the like. 

Five dormitories with a total of 80 rooms can sleep as many as 460 guests.  Each of the dormitory buildings has a ground-level function room equipped with sound system,  LCD projector, and water dispensers. Four guest rooms built specially for the use of guest speakers, senior citizens, and the wheelchair-bound are conveniently located close to the assembly hall, dining hall, administration offices, clinic, and parking area. The largest indoor gathering area, the assembly hall, can seat 1000. Meals are served across the paseo in a dining hall that can seat 600. 

Outdoor activity areas include basketball and volleyball courts, a children's play area, an obstacle course, an amphitheater, and a mini soccer field. 

TRTC is also just a few minutes drive from many of Tagaytay City’s tourist attractions.

A recent guest wrote to say, “Here’s a big thank you for all the help with our event which turned out to be a great success. The service and hospitality of your staff is worth mentioning! The food was very good both in quality and quantity. Overall we had a great time!  Our pastor and the entire committee join me in expressing our gratitude." 

For inquiries and booking information, please get in touch with Eva Lope, TRTC guest coordinator, at evaranlope@yahoo.com.ph, evamlope@gmail.com, 09192933157, 09232497605, and 8066912.

TRTC Has New Obstacle Course

Looking for a way to liven up your conference at Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center?  Need an idea for some plain and simple outdoor fun while at the retreat center?  Then make an obstacle course race part of your stay!

Youngsters and adults alike will love the challenge of TRTC’s new obstacle course consisting of a tire run, balance beams, horizontal bars, and low ropes.   

The course is also perfect for simple team-building exercises or friendly competition during couples’ retreats, family reunions, and similar gatherings.  It can even be used to teach a spiritual lesson or emphasize a biblical principle.

Be sure to consider making an obstacle course race part of your program when you come to TRTC!

"Excellent Staff" -- TripAdvisor Contributor

Foreign guests survey their surroundings right after Typhoon Glenda lashed Tagaytay
 on July 16.  Photo courtesy of Doris Cuaresma

Photo taken during the last week of September shows building with damaged roof in top photo
 now almost completely repaired.  

Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center staff earned a heartwarming review from a TripAdvisor contributor who describes herself as having traveled to 107 cities and 17 countries. In a review posted in September, williamsld83 of Lubbock, Texas wrote:

"I arrived at the CCT Retreat & Training Center for the Global Young People's Convocation and Legislative Assembly (GYPC-LA) event on July 16, 2014. We arrived during Typhoon Glenda. We did not get to stay in our rooms or finish our event at this facility, because it was damaged so badly during the storm."

"The staff made sure we were safe, had food and water, and were as comfortable as could be expected considering the storm raging around us. They took care of us instead of taking care of their own families and repairing their homes. The hospitality we received at this retreat center was beyond anything I have ever experienced. If the staff members are this good during a typhoon, I can only imagine what fantastic service they would provide during a normal stay.I would highly recommend this location and hope they can repair all the damage quickly."

About 400 international guests attending the GYPC-LA event had to be gathered in the retreat center's main function hall when Typhoon Glenda began battering Tagaytay city during the early morning hours of July 16. They waited out the storm praying, singing and worshipping the Lord and were moved to a resort in Kawit, Cavite later that day. Glenda ripped roofs off of dormitory buildings and broke glass wall paneling in the dining hall, requiring the retreat center's temporary closure. It re-opened on August 15, a month after the storm hit.

TRTC General Manager said Doris Cuaresma said, "I am so blessed to have worked with wonderful people like the GYPC-LA staff. I was teary-eyed after reading the guest's comments. God is to be praised!"


For stories from other participants in the convocation, please click on the following links: 

http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/church-youth-take-shelter-pray-for-others-as-typhoon-hits-philippines

http://www.gbod.org/resources/united-methodist-youth-attending-global-gathering-safe-during-typhoon-in-ph

TripAdvisor claims to be the world's largest travel website.  Its contributors review hotels, restaurants, and tourist destinations.

TRTC Kitchen Crew: National Certificate 2 Holders

Photo: Jeremiah Ahana 

The kitchen crew of the Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center are now holders of the government's national certificate 2 (NC2).  They recently attended cookery classes in a joint project of  the Center for Community Transformation Group of Ministries (CCT) and Bayan Academy sponsored by JP Morgan. All 10 attendees passed competency assessment given by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and were awarded the highly-coveted certificates soon afterward.  

TRTC serves both Filipino and international dishes. Its dining hall serves meals buffet style and has a seating capacity of 600.  

  

TRTC: As Good as New!

Some 350 real estate people attending an all-day team-building activity and 120 men on a two-day retreat were the first guests to use the newly renovated Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center when it re-opened on August 15.

The retreat center had to be closed for a month after suffering extensive damage due to Typhoon Glenda in mid-July. Included in the work done was the repair of caved-in ceilings, and the replacement of shattered glass panelings and blown-off roofs.

"We are overwhelmed by God's blessings and happy to be accepting small groups of guests again," said Doris Cuaresma, general manager. "This is actually just a soft opening because two of the towers (each with ten bedrooms) are not yet fully repaired.  We hope to be completely operational by October 1."

"It looks as if no damage was ever done," said one recent guest.

Opened in May 2011, the Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center has been an ideal, welcoming venue for youth convocations, couples' retreats, missionary and Bible translators' conferences, and similar activities.

It is owned and managed by the Center for Community Transformation Group of Ministries which ministers to the poor.  Many of the buildings were built by former street dwellers undergoing spiritual and social transformation.

Busloads of guests arrive at the Tagaytay Retreat
and Training Center on the day it reopens after being
heavily damaged by Typhoon Glenda in July. 

Generous meals are served at TRTC's newly-repaired
dining hall.  

TRTC Reopens August 15

The Jacob, Joseph, and Elijah dorms all as good as new again!

The Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center is reopening on August 15, exactly a month after it closed due to extensive damage caused by Typhoon Glenda.  "Seventy percent of the repair work is done, we are building back better, and we are counting down to our reopening day," said Doris Cuaresma, general manager, five days before the target reopening.

Typhoon Glenda ripped off roofing sheets, made ceilings cave in, and drenched bedrooms on the top floors of the retreat center's dormitory buildings when it hit Southern Luzon during the early hours of July 16. It also shattered glass paneling and damaged tables and chairs at the dining hall.  Nearly 400 international guests attending a Methodist youth convocation waited out the storm at the main function hall and had to be moved to another event venue.

The extent of the damage was assessed the same day and clean-up and restoration work were begun soon afterward. "We praise God for all that has been done and for all that will be completed within the next few days. We are grateful to all who helped with the rebuilding and clean-up.  We look forward to welcoming guests again," Cuaresma said.

The Moses dorm, now ready to accept guests again.  

Workers in yellow shirts are transformed former street
dwellers reached out to by CCT's Kaibigan Ministry. 

The Abraham, Isaac, Joshua and Moses dorms.

Elijah dorm: work ongoing.  

(Here and below) The north-facing end of the multi-purpose hall
with glass doors and windows restored.

Repair Work on Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center Begun

Repair and clean-up work has begun at the Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center which  is temporarily closed after suffering damage due to Typhoon Glenda (international name Rammasun).

Glenda battered Southern Luzon where Tagaytay City is situated during the early hours of July 16, damaging the roofs and ceilings of the retreat center's dormitory buildings, shattering windows and glass doors, and toppling trees.

CCT President Ruth Callanta said, "Through all this we rely on God's grace and heed his command in I Thessalonians 5:16 - 18 that we are to 'Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will  in Christ Jesus'."

"We will build back better, making TRTC a more comfortable and welcoming venue for a wide range of functions and activities."

Fair Trade Products Now Sold at TRTC

A few of the fair trade products now available for pasalubong
at the Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center.

Left to right:  Mr. Ueda Makoto, Alter Trade - Japan president, Mrs. Gilda Caduya,
Alter Trade - Philippines president, and Mr. Angelito Gabriel, CCT Inc. executive director.

Fair trade products are now sold at the Pasalubong Center of the Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center (TRTC) following the signing of a memorandum of agreement between Alter Trade Corporation, a fair trade corporation based in Bacolod City, and TRTC.

The products include muscovado sugar; banana chips; jams made from jackfruit, coconut, mangosteen, pineapple, papaya, and guava; juice concentrates made from mangosteen, guyabano, calamansi, and passion fruit; wild honey; lemon grass oil, syrup, and powder; cocoa and chocolate.

Fair trade, according to http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary is a movement whose goal is to help producers in developing countries get a fair price for their products so as to reduce poverty, provide for the ethical treatment of workers and farmers, and promote environmentally sustainable practices. 

Alter Trade Corporation was established in 1988 in response to the worsening situation of Negros sugar workers caught in an island-wide crisis caused by plummeting world sugar prices in the early 1980s.  After a series of feeding and relief operations to thousands of displaced families, women and children, progressive Japanese consumers and development organizations in the Philippines hatched the concept of ‘trade not aid’ as a sustainable intervention for the crisis victims. In 1988 the first shipment of Mascobado sugar arrived in Japan and  Balangon bananas began to be shipped to that country a year later.

Today, Alter Trade continues to combine business and social development, and its organic farming and fair trade practices are compliant with international standards.

Anjji Gabriel, CCT Inc. executive director, said  CCT is pleased to have a partnership with an organization that also serves the Filipino poor.

Mr. Makoto speaks of doing people to people
trade, specifically by directly linking Filipino
producers with Japanese consumers.   

Mrs. Caduya: "As Alter Trade continues to expand its partnership and
 relationship building  within the borders of our  country, we will do so
working with organizations that  put the interests of marginalized
people in the forefront of its operations."

Mr. Angelito Gabriel: "I sincerely hope and pray that this joining
of hands  will truly make a difference in thousands of  lives,
that it will have a deep and lasting impact
on needy families and in the communities
from where these products come."

A sampling of the bite-sized goodies prepared for the
MOA signing event by Chef Harlequin 'Queenie' Boloron
using organic muscovado sugar, jams made
from local fruit and other Alter Trade products.  

Photos: Michelle Taway and Myra Gaculais del Rosario

Happy Guests

Since the Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center opened its gates to the public in May 2011 it has been a venue of gracious hospitality for ladies' conventions, pastors' conferences, youth camps, singles' retreats, sales planning meetings, reunions, couples' retreats, weddings... even group weddings!

Here's what some satisfied guests have said about it:

Janice Galvez Zonio, who attended the Church of God regional convention late last year, described Tagaytay Retreat and Training  Center as a "Very peaceful and conducive place for spiritual retreats" and uploaded a jubilant photo of herself on the lawn  in front of the multi-purpose hall (above) as her Facebook cover photo.

Sheryl Ann Donato (below) who was at the retreat center after Christmas 2013 attending the New Southern Luzon District Youth Leadership Training Seminar of the United Pentecostal Church enjoyed lots of peaceful and relaxing moments there. 

Sheryl Ann Donato

And Meldyaf of Quezon City, Philippines wrote the following review in travel website TripAdvisor.com:

I joined a three-day training at the Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center in July 2013. Totally enjoyed the experience! This place is a great place for learning activities. The training rooms were nice and spacious. The individual rooms were quiet and relaxing. I liked the view of the sunset from the dining area. Food was great too! I would like to stay at this place again. I would definitely recommend this place for other seminars too. The lessons may be serious inside the session rooms but the beautiful nature just outside helps to relax my mind. 

From http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g317121-d2407125-r177083685-CCT_Tagaytay_Retreat_Training_Center-Tagaytay_Calabarzon_Region_Luzon