Life in Nuvali Philippines

I got to attend the Avida Settings Nuvali Homeowners\’ General Assembly on November 25, 2012. Wish I could\’ve stayed longer– would\’ve been a perfect opportunity to interact with fellow homeowners and meet neighbors in the flesh. Imagine having over 1,600 families to get to know! Hopefully can do that at the Christmas party.

The room was packed, with about 400 people in attendance (that\’s just 1/4 of the total Avida Settings Nuvali population), and also present were Ayala Property Management Corp. (APMC) and Avida Land personnel.

Here are the updates I got to pick up:

Avida Land Corp. will turnover the management of the village to the Homeowners\’ Association by January 2013, with certain deliverables, such as completion/upgrading of parks and green ribbons.
The annual budget to maintain the village was discussed by Engr. Vic Angeles, and this was used as the basis for coming up with a working figure for the monthly dues.
Avida Settings Nuvali association dues will start at P7.16/sqm/month effective January 2013

Other relevant points raised:

Nuvali developments–whether residential, commercial– pay Nuvali Estate dues to cover common areas such as Nuvali Boulevard, etc. This is important because now we know that as part of ASNU, we are also paying regular dues for the management of Nuvail as a whole, and can therefore make demands/ask for accountability regarding the ways these dues are being used. Next step now is to investigate who makes up the Nuvali administration team, and who we can write re specific concerns when needed.
I also found out that the non-potable water supply for the whole of Nuvali is not yet in place, and will take, more or less, another 5 years to develop. This is unfortunate, especially since I redid the plumbing for my house to specifically accommodate the dual piping system in areas that were overlooked by my contractor. Better to have the provisions in place, I know, but it\’s frustrating to find out it was a hollow effort and will remain one for the next 5 years.

If you got to attend the full briefing, please do share other updates I missed.

The latter part of the assembly was to organize volunteer committees, and ahead of time I already advised Engr. Vic to include me in the Community Relations/Education Committee. I grew up in a friendly neighborhood in Quezon City (with about 400 households) and can vouch for the myriad benefits of knowing one\’s neighbors. I would love to get involved and develop community programs or gatherings to foster dialogue on our shared interests, including such topics as green living, gardening, community sharing, solid waste management. Admittedly I have very little information as to what programs are already in place, and am just very excited to get out there and join the discussion. Avida Settings Nuvali has a huge population, and although there is a high possibility of coming across neighbors who will just disagree and discourage, there is also as big a chance of finding like minds, and together creating a thriving, engaging community.

Hello, neighbor.

Life in Nuvali Philippines

$\"Nextdoor$

Spotted this pretty bird on a fallen branch next to the house the other day. Such a welcome neighbor.

On a similar note, have been getting real next door neighbors of late, with long time empty units in Avida Settings Nuvali getting leased out. Although it would be nice to preserve the peace and quiet here, I also welcome the influx of full-time residents in the village, especially in my immediate surroundings.

Btw, I have a friend looking to rent in Ridgeview Estates– if you have a unit there and are interested to lease your home, please email johanna@metrorealty.ph.

Christmas is here :)

Life in Nuvali Philippines

Been thinking of how to invite the Christmas spirit into the house this year, especially since it\’s my first time to decorate my own home. Yesterday, had this idea to raid our garden in Tagaytay for twigs or whatnots that I could piece together, and went home with this:
$\"Christmas$

Told our caretaker to look for a nice sturdy branch that I could use as a tree… I\’m super happy it fit in the car. The green leaves / branches are from grown pine trees (they\’re not the pine needle variety, but I assume they\’re from the same family) — will wait to see how long they\’ll stay green, but the dried brown version also looks lovely.

Couldn\’t help but smile when I saw my \”tree\” peeping in from the lanai doors this morning:
$\"Christmas$

There\’s nothing like green and nature to make one smile a wide smile

Also thought to set aside the twigs from my longgan snack to use as Christmas decor. Any tips? Was thinking gold ribbon then stick to the wall hehe.
$\"Christmas$

Time to start wrapping gifts and painting Christmas cards and balls for the tree!

Back exit via Carmelray Industrial Park

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesNuvali Services

Some time ago, we took the Nuvali South exit at the end of Parkway Settings and Avida Village to see where it would lead.
$\"Carmelray$

Because we had the Nuvali sticker, the guard let us through and told us we could use the same way going back.

$\"Carmelray$

Nuvali South\’s East Diversity Avenue is connected to Carmelray Industrial Park, a beautiful tree-lined area which houses various plants/offices such as Suzuki, as well as the San Sebastian College.
$\"Carmelray$

$\"Carmelray$

We followed the road and took the Gate 1 exit, which led us to the corner where Caltex is located (exiting Nuvali Central via the rotonda towards Silangan exit will bring you to this same place).

According to boyong, who left a comment on my previous post on Canlubang, another option is to exit via Gate 4, which will lead to Canlubang Main, Ceris 1, I-mall, Don Bosco, Mayapa. I asked the Nuvali guard about it, but he was wary to suggest that route unless I knew my way around the area/town. Will explore at another time, but many thanks to boyong just the same for the heads up!

Calamba amelyar payment process

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesGovernment in Nuvali

Calamba City Hall employees never fail to impress. Always giving efficient, quality service that comes with a smile and helpful tone.

Sharing below the step-by-step process in paying for one\’s real property taxes or amelyar, as seen outside the City Assessor\’s office:

$\"Calamba$

*Note: Although the main entrance of Nuvali is in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Nuvali Central and Nuvali South are further in and already fall under the jurisdiction of Bgy. Canlubang, Calamba City. Residents of the Avida and Alveo projects, as well as Montecito and Elaro are residents of Calamba.*

Again, bravo to the Calamba city government for a job well done!

Chocolicious champorado

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesRestaurants, Food and Dining in Nuvali

$\"Food$

Was very happy to see Max\’s Nuvali open for breakfast a few weeks ago. Store hours used to start at 11am if I remember right.

Was even happier to find out that the triple choco champorado was available at this branch, and happiest when I got to order and taste it — it\’s the thick, chocolatey version (vs. the diluted, non-malagkit ones I\’ve tried in some branches)!

Comfort food so close to home. Thank you.

Nuvali Wakepark opens the Little Bro Lake for beginners!

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesWakeboarding, Nuvali Services

$\"Republic$

Visited the wakepark twice in the past 2 weeks, only to wonder at the empty parking lot. Turns out they\’ve been working on a surprise:

TO ALL BEGINNERS! The loooong wait is over!!!
Republ1c Wakepark\’s BEGINNER\’S LAKE / LITTLE BRO will already be OPEN STARTING TOMORROW, Wednesday, October 10, 2012! 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. See you!!!

The Main Lake will be open again on October 20.

Visit the Republ1c facebook page for more info.

Nuvali Transport Terminal trip schedule (October 2012)

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesTransportation in Nuvali

I was very frustrated a few weeks ago when I visited the Nuvali Terminal to board the 8 or 8:30am shuttle to Makati, and was told that the last shuttle for the day had already left at 7:30am. I asked the guard if that day was an exception and pointed to the newly posted shuttle schedule, and he said usually there were only two trips every morning to Makati (as opposed to one every half hour from 6:30-9:00am).

I\’m sure there are others who were/continue to be equally frustrated, and I wish Nuvali management would be more considerate and responsible in posting signs.

I noticed early this week that the errant tarpaulin has been taken down.

Sharing the most recent \”sign\” I saw at the terminal for everyone\’s benefit:

$\"Nuvali$

Will try to get a clearer photo next time, but I hope the above already helps those who need to figure out a way in and out of Nuvali on a regular basis. I haven\’t taken either of these transport vehicles (there are Nuvali vans and buses servicing the North-Central-South route), so would be glad for feedback from actual users.

Canlubang side trip

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesNuvali Schools

Took the Canlubang exit on the way back to Nuvali from Calamba a while back, and was happy to drive around to check out the area for the first time.

Chanced upon a new retail center, iMall:

$\"Canlubang$

A cousin who lives in the nearby Ceris 1 Village said the iMall had just opened at that time (June 2012). Around the corner was also a Robinson\’s Supermarket, and next to it a Shell gas station, similar to the Nuvali tandem.

Across was Don Bosco College, which had a new course offering that was a welcome surprise: Robotics!

$\"Canlubang$

Also spotted another Salesian school next to it, Mary Help of Christians:

$\"Canlubang$

(I\’ve now added them to the list of schools in and around Nuvali I started compiling last year).

From I-mall we took the road to Silangan exit, passing through the Silangan Industrial Park, turned towards Nuvali (we paid a \”toll fee\” of P15.00), and voila! We ended up in the rotonda right before Nuvali Central.

Interesting to note that in Nuvali South, at the end of East Diversity Avenue (the road fronting Venare, the Wakepark and Avida Village), there is a gate that is still closed for the time being, but I think it\’s safe to assume that it will lead to this general area in Canlubang. What a great shortcut to Calamba from Nuvali that would be!

Jungle alert: grass everywhere!

Life in Nuvali Philippines Farming and Gardening Sustainable LivingAvida Settings Nuvali

Visited a Celena unit in Avida Settings Nuvali Phase 4 last week, and was surprised to be greeted by wild vines inside the unit!
$\"Avida$

This was turned over clean and with a visible perimeter in January 2012. Six months after, it\’s overrun with grass and vines, literally looking like a jungle.

$\"Avida$

I asked the ASNU admin re: grass cutting in the village, and was advised that not all areas have been turned over to them for maintenance, so they can only remind/call the attention of the existing landscaping service provider when certain areas remain unkempt. Also, Avida\’s responsibility only extends to trimming grasses on sidewalks and vacant lots that haven\’t been turned over to owners.

I think this policy can be amended to include all vacant lots regardless of status, if only for the safety of existing residents (we recently heard stories of snakes combing the village grasses). To date there are still no association dues in Avida Settings Nuvali, however, so we residents are actually in no position to be so demanding.

My own area has overgrown cogon, and we just decided to be proactive about it and replace it with manageable groundcovers ourselves:

$\"Avida$

In a few months, hopefully, we\’ll have blooming peanut shrubs instead of wayward cogon covering the sidewalks, much like the one shown below:
$\"Avida$

If I had the budget, I\’d plant frog grass– which supposedly never grows high and therefore has zero maintenance — on all sidewalks and frontage of vacant lots in the village. This was actually an idea I heard from my friend\’s dad, who sits as board director of another residential/farming community in Silang (bulk of their budget really goes to grass-cutting). Not only will it maintain the visual and safety standards of a premier subdivision, but it will also cut down on grass-cutting costs and save money for the community in the long run. We\’d also be doing future homeowners a favor– I remember it took considerable effort to uproot all the cogon on my lot before building could start.

Wet Nuvali

Life in Nuvali Philippines

My new fave thing to spot in Nuvali: rainclouds.
$\"Around$

Been seeing a lot of them lately– visible lines dividing the sky between sunny blue and rainy gray:
$\"Around$

$\"Around$

We only have two seasons in the Philippines– summer and rainy season — and although most prefer the former for its offer of beaches and outdoor-perfect activities, there\’s also a lot to cherish when the rains start coming.

The other day, for example, I smelled one of my favorite smells: wet, freshly cut grass.

Thank You, for the gifts of nature!

* * *

Sharing below some pics I took along Nuvali Boulevard after a downpour:
$\"Around$

$\"Around$

Wet and with plenty of puddles, but very much flood-free.

Two new Lakeside developments in Nuvali

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesNuvali Services

$\"Solenad$

Rode the water taxi in Nuvali for the first time in April 2012, and saw up close two new structures under construction around the lake.

First spotted the Kukun Hotel, one of the many new branches of the Ayala hotel brand. It\’s located right across One Evotech (Convergys).
$\"Solenad$

$\"Solenad$

New structure #2 is the Monochrome Events Place:
$\"Solenad$

On another note, my mom attended a Real Estate conference recently, where an Ayala spokesperson proudly beamed that Nuvali\’s original 10-year-plan has been remarkably fast-tracked, now nearing 60% completion.

Good to know that there\’s still 40% left to develop, but there is also that worrying tug of \”I don\’t want progress to end soon!\”

Once Ayala\’s developer hand exits Nuvali, it will really fall on our shoulders — Nuvali residents and investors — to start the more laborious work of community-building.