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.

Knowing Taal Volcano

Countless Pinoys and foreigners have been been to Tagaytay or Batangas, set their sight across Taal Lake and looked at Taal Volcano. But many may have actually missed Taal Volcano. Because this is not Taal Volcano. This is Binintiang Malaki.

Binintiang Malaki is just one of the 47 cones and craters of Taal Volcano. It is undoubtedly the prettiest, most photographed, most painted and most volcano-looking part of Taal Volcano Island so it is understandable that many think it is Taal Volcano.

So where is Taal Volcano?

If you are on Tagaytay Ridge, in Josephine's Reastaurant for example, Taal Volcano is the relatively flat land formation just behind Binintiang Malaki. Farther away you see Mount Maculot.

Shown below is another view where you see Binintiang Munti, Taal Volcano's main crater and Vulcan Point - fondly called the volcanic island within a lake on an island within a lake on an island. Let's state that again more clearly: A volcanic island (Vulcan Point) within a lake (Crater Lake) on an island (Taal Volcano Island) within a lake (Taal Lake) on an island (the Island of Luzon).

Here is how it looks like in Google Earth when simulating a view of Taal Volcano from high above Tagaytay. At this height you can see part of Mindoro at the far back.

History of Taal Volcano

In old books (such as the 1906 book of John Foreman), Taal Lake is called Bombon Lake. This lake was believed to have been created after the upheaval of the 7,000 to 8,000 feet high mountain in its center. In 1749 the same mountain had a great outburst that lasted for 6 months and 17 days which tore to pieces its coniform peak thus creating the flat Taal Volcano we see today. A volcano that is not much taller than one of its craters known as Binintiang Malaki. The same old book says that Taal is one of those places in the Philippines which takes its name from trees and plants - Taal being a tree more commonly known as Ipil.

Imagine if today a volcano twice the height of Mount Makiling and almost next to Mount Mayon in height is in Taal Lake. Wow, what an awesome sight that must be.

So the next time you visit Tagaytay, take a photo with the whole Taal Volcano as your background and not only Binintiang Malaki. It's a fitting tribute to one of the most active volcanoes we have in the Philippines.

If you don't it is just like being given a photo op with president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo then taking a photo only of her mole.

Or taking a memorable photo with The Wizard of Enchanted Kingdom this way.

Wouldn't it be super nice and cool if you took The Wizard's whole photo? He'd be so much happier.
And I'm sure Taal Volcano will be too.