AFTER working eight hours or more a day, most people are looking for something that can eliminate body pain and stress and bring in the relief and relaxation.
While some de-stress by watching their favorite movies and television shows, pampering themselves in salons or spas, or indulging themselves with what is commonly known as stress eating, there are others who seek the magic hands of massage therapists.
And recently, an “express massage” just opened in Cagayan de Oro City. It’s not your ordinary express massage and spa as it does not only provide complete relaxation to its customers, but also empowers the persons with disability (PWD) of the city.
Mother’s Touch, located at the first level, East Promenade of Limketkai Center, is a pioneer express massage which started in Cebu that caters to on-the-go businessmen and professionals, athletes, senior citizens, tourists, and practically anyone who wants to feel better and in need of relaxation.
“I found that there was no decent place for an on-the-go massage, even inside malls. The therapist usually pulls a chair and does the massage in one corner. As more and more Filipinos discover the spa lifestyle, there was a clamor for delightful massage therapies that wellness centers could offer in their menu of services,” Myrna Cabrera-Ybiernas, the founder of Mother’s Touch Massage and Spa, said.
As a “trail-blazing” massage spa, Mother’s Touch uses the traditional “hilot” to blend with other modern ways of body massage.
Mother’s Touch also boasts of its empowered team of PWDs and at present, has employed close to a hundred hearing-impaired trained therapists in its branches nationwide, including Cebu and Butuan.
Its branch in Cagayan de Oro has 17 hearing-impaired employees and is still hiring more.
“We want to bring back the authentic hilot massage that originated in the Cordillera mountains. We are employing the hearing-impaired to help physically drained, on-the-go individuals relax,” Ybiernas said.
With “social enterprise with responsibility” as her one guiding principle in all her business ventures, Precious Jojie Lynne Lopez, a 30-year-old mother of two, said that through Mother’s Touch, she can help empower PWDs by providing them a decent means of living and promote equality.
“I, myself, am a massage enthusiast and I have always dreamed of owning a spa. When I learned about the concept of Mother’s Touch, I was really excited to own one because it’s a social enterprise, it’s not entirely profit driven,” Lopez, Mother’s Touch franchisee in Cagayan de Oro, said.
“We only employ Deaf massage therapists and we make sure we provide clients with high quality service at a very affordable price,” she added.
Mother’s Touch offers services such as:
- Signature Foot Massage (30 minutes). Mother’s Touch signature foot massage is a combination of traditional Hilot strokes and ancient Chinese reflexology. This method effectively releases tension, promotes proper functioning of vital organs, soothes tired muscles and alleviates pain.
- Signature Back Massage (30 minutes). Characterized by slow, deliberate strokes combining techniques of Shiatsu and traditional Hilot, Mother’s Touch signature back massage is proven to efficaciously remove blockages or “panuhot”. This massage therapy is highly recommended for individuals suffering from upper backaches and other stress-related pain and anxiety.
- Full Body Massage (1 hour). Ideal for clients who are in dire need for full body relaxation, our full body massage offers a full-hour of foot and back massage.
Mother’s Touch, according to Lopez, does not simply employ PWDs, it goes the extra mile in providing financial literacy to ensure that the PWDs they hired does not only make a living but also earn passive income and are knowledgeable when it comes to saving for a more sustainable future.
Despite staying in Cebu, Lopez said she finds Cagayan de Oro as a booming city where people are becoming busier and stressed out. She believes that these people need Mother’s Touch for pampering.
“CDO is close to Butuan and an hour plane ride from Cebu so it’s the most ideal area for expansion,” Lopez said.
With Mother’s Touch fast-growing presence nationwide, it is now becoming every mall goer’s favorite express massage and spa, which means more employment opportunities for PWDs.