Pioneer Fishes in NUVALI Lake

The lake in NUVALI turns orange every morning and afternoon.

It's not magic. It's the scheduled fish feeding in the lake.

8,000 Koi fishes were introduced to the lake. When feeding time comes, they gather in the taxi boat docks and you can almost hear them say "feed me!" So buy fish food near the lake and start feeding them. The fishes clean the lake of algae and keeps water insects away. It's an effective move. The water strider insects I saw during the NUVALI Grand Launch last April are gone.

The clubhouse of Treveia NUVALI is almost complete.

Ballet Recital in SM Mall of Asia

When Hannah introduced herself on the stage during her Senior Casa Graduation in Montessori, she announced loudly and proudly to the audience that she wants to be a ballet dancer. It was a unique aspiration among tons of kids wanting to be doctors, nurses, lawyers, engineers, politicians and police men. It generated quite a positive stir in the audience that encouraged my wife and I to support her in her dreams. So we took her to a ballet studio to start training.

The first time she saw the practice going on, she whispered to her mom "Sana di na lang ballet dancer ang sinabi ko" (I should have not said that I want to be a ballet dancer). But those Barbie movies and the 12 Dancing Princess have such a huge influence that it did not take an hour for our daughter to change her mind and continue with her ballet lessons.

She took her lessons seriously and she never wanted to be late. She met a lot of new friends and every lesson was a fun experience for her.

After weeks of training, it was time for her first public performance. Where? In Center Stage theater of SM Mall of Asia.

It gave me a feeling of being back to when we watched Lea Salongga perform in Miss Saigon but this time with our little daughter on a similar stage. Performing in a real theater was a good experience for her - the final stage rehearsal minutes before the show, backstage makeup and chitchats, excitedly qeueing for their turn to perform on stage and performing in front of a fully packed theater. Hannah had absolutely no stage fright and she performed well.

Hannah with friends Shane and Louie.

Hannah with Jam-jam.

Seeing your daughter perform two ballet pieces on stage is quite a momentous event that makes you want to stand up and shout "That's my girl!"

Good job Hannah!

Video: SM Mall of Asia Recital

Encore In Robinsons Mall

After a few weeks, they had another full program, this time in Robinsons Mall.

She performed again two ballet pieces to a different set of audience free for all to see.

Here are some of the other performers.

Proud parents.

Video: Robinsons Mall Recital

Opening number - Waltz of the Flowers

Serenade

Thanks to coach Jonathan Terry of Dance Factory for teaching Hannah. He was previously a principal dancer of Dance Theater Philippines and partnered with Anna Villadolid, Maryanne Santa Maria, Lisa Macuja to mention a few.

Dance Factory
Robinson's Place, Dasmarinas, Cavite
(046)696-3275

What's at The End of The Rainbow?

What did Hannah enjoy doing this summer?
Aside from Ballet dancing, she enjoyed playing outdoors in the summer rain. I asked her to pull some small leaves and petals then drop them in the street gutter to pretend that they were boats on a white water rafting adventure. This simple game was enough to keep her jumping and running excitedly with a big smile in her face. When the rain stopped, she still wanted to play so she asked me to use the garden hose to make artificial rain. When I stopped after around ten minutes, she prayed and asked for the rain to come back.

The sun steadily shone brighter and the rain did not come back. But in return, my little girl was given a rainbow to look at.

One thing good about a rainy summer is that it gives you more opportunity to see rainbows.

And guess what was at the end of the rainbow that day? McDonald's and their tall golden arches. I'm loving it. Love ko 'to.

Dive and Trek Anilao

Before the sea got rough, before the first storm of 2009 hit the Philippines and gave people the feeling that summer was already over last April, we experienced Anilao.

Dive & Trek is one of the dive resorts there. For 1,100 PhP per head you can enjoy a whole day of snorkelling (day trip non-diving package). This already includes a round trip boat ride to the resort, buffet lunch, afternoon snack and free flowing drinks. Pay 50 pesos extra for the parking area in the main land. You will pass Ligpo Island on the boat ride which is surrounded by a deep reef. A good part of the reef is what divers call the Highway where many schools of fishes rush by.

Overnight non-diving package is 3,050 PhP per head. Intro dive package is 2,500 PhP.

This is us out of the water.

This is us underwater. Hmmm... mental note: someday buy a reasonably priced water proof, shock proof, freeze proof, dust proof, crush proof, pocket-sized compact camera with image stabilization, HD movie mode and ISO3200 or higher. The Olympus Stylus 1030SW is a good 2008 model that you can easily shove carelessly to any bag and bring along everywhere. I'll wait for the next generation. Even if they come out with a shock proof and water proof digital SLR it will still be out of the picture. It's just too big.

Lunch was good and there were plenty to choose from. Afternoon snack that day was turon.

The boat ride going home with Mount Maculot in the horizon.

Next year ulit!

NUVALI Grand Launch

Yesterday was the grand launch of NUVALI, the 1700 hectare property of the Yulo family that is being developed by Ayala Land Inc. They have a wonderful vision of making NUVALI a business, commercial and residential community that promotes green and healthy living where nature and technology meet.

A popular concept in the vicinity of Santa Rosa, Laguna is turning land into water - not by magic, but by engineering intervention to convert a piece of land into a man-made lake. Pramana Residential Park has a man-made lake. South Lake Village in Lucio Tan's Eton City also has a man-made lake with man-made islands where the houses are to be built. Cool. This is like what they have in Dubai. NUVALI also has a man-made lake and the area surrounding the 4 hectare lake is called the Lakeside Evozone - this is a PEZA zone so locators can enjoy the benefits of being in a PEZA zone. In the future, more buildings, shops and a central business district will be located here.

There are taxi boats that can be used to traverse the lake from one end to the other. The upper left end of the lake in the miniature model below is where One Evotech is located. By the way, Convergys is located in that building and they are now hiring. The Evoliving Center is in the other end of the lake.

This is us waiting at one of the taxi boat dock near One Evotech.

On our way!!!

Welcome to the Evoliving Center

One of the halls in the Evoliving Center explains the concept used by NUVALI to marry people, family, business, technology, health and nature to form what they call the evolved community of the future.

This explains how NUVALI uses two kinds of water as part of its water conservation effort - one kind of water for your plants and to wash your cars and stuffs, another kind of water for bathing, drinking, cooking and washing the dishes.

The miniature sailboat competition was just about to start when we got there.

One Evotech building as seen from the Evoliving Center.

Next was lunch in Treveia NUVALI exhibit hall where lunch was served by Conti's Pastry Shop and Restaurant.

This miniature model shows Treveia NUVALI on the lower part and Avida Settings NUVALI on the upper part. NUVALI is also the home to Ayala Land Premiere's high end residential developments Abrio and Montecito.

After lunch we went to the actual site of Treveia which is a 5 minute drive from the Evoliving Center. This is how the gate of Treveia looks like now.

The perimeter fence of Treveia is uniquely called the green perimeter fence. You know why?

It is made of alternate squares of concrete wall and squares of plastic plant boxes that gives life to the fence making it somewhat alive. Well, talking about being one with nature.

Treveia view of Tagaytay Highlands Peak (highest point on the left) and People's Park in the Sky (highest point on the right).

If you are interested in buying a residential property in Treveia NUVALI or Pramana Residential Park in Greenfield City, I can help. Text me at 09209137107.