Green Communities

I visited the Avida Settings Nuvali administration office last Friday, and found out that association dues for ASNU homeowners will be collected at P5.74 /sqm effective next year. Engr. Vic advised that out of 1,670 units in Avida Settings Nuvali, 912 units or 60% have already been turned over, which means we are well beyond getting free association dues. It has also been the practice of Avida to start off homeowners\’ associations with seed money to manage the village, but HLURB recently discontinued this practice, hence the urgency to collect.

Anyone with info on the current dues for Abrio, Treveia, and Montecito?

PLDT to set up shop in Nuvali

Life in Nuvali Philippines

Got word that PLDT will soon put up 300 boxes in Montecito to service Nuvali residents.

Hopefully this also means yes to more high-speed internet and cable tv providers in Nuvali. I\’ve seen satellite dishes around ASNU and Engr. Vic also confirmed that most residents use Cignal Digital TV. I took a look at their subscription packages and didn\’t see the ANC News Channel in any of their plans– too bad, it\’s the only channel I really watch!

Will post an update as soon as application forms for PLDT are available.

Avida Settings Nuvali Amenities and Rates

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesAvida Settings Nuvali, Nuvali Services, Nuvali Real Estate

For those curious and excited to use them!

Outdoor basketball court

Free to use for now.
There\’s also a half-court for residents\’ use in Phase 1.

$\"Avida$

Open-air tent or function area

Rate: P500 per hour

$\"Avida$

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Nuvali “admin” – contact info

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesNuvali Services, Nuvali Events

I’ve been getting a number of questions on the amenities of Nuvali in general (The Fields, water taxis, etc.). I will always try to answer them and be of help, but also sharing that you may contact Nuvali directly for your inquiries:

Hotline number: 0917-5-ASK-NUV (275-688)
Evoliving center, NUVALI: (049) 302-60-88
Fax number: (049) 302-60-90
e-mail address:ask@nuvalievoliving.com

My walls are up

Life in Nuvali Philippines

$\"My$

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DISCLAIMER: vanity post
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When I saw these walls–concrete and solid–it hit me. I\’m moving. In three months. To a place far from home.

Any big lifestyle change brings with it a certain level of stress, but to be honest I\’ve found the delay in moving more stressful (target construction start was pushed back 6 months).

I first moved out last year as an experiment, and reading about what I thought of living alone makes me excited to do it again:

This year–2010–has been my big living alone project. The point was to freely explore possibilities that would open up in the process, to have no other agenda but to clear the path. Five months into it, I’ve been asked by at least two good friends for output, an honest concern as to whether I was getting somewhere, or anywhere for that matter. Without second thought, I gave an exuberant YES to their questions, but in complete honesty, I can only claim this– that my life has become lighter, I have lighter everydays, and although it has its gains, it has also come at a cost.

Remembering even the costly side of it is making me smile now:

On cleaning: I used to cherish neatness and wiping my floor with tissue paper just to see that it was squeaky clean. Now I don’t even bother scrubbing the bathroom tiles. What’s happened? I’ve grown into living with no helpers, and household chores have shown their true nature– hardy, time-consuming, and persistent. They just never stop coming.

Lovely. Really. 🙂

By November, I\’ll be living within these walls in Nuvali, a full-fledged adult with a house to maintain, uprooted from Metro Manila which has been home for 30 years.

While driving to Sta. Rosa the other day I had a random thought: I\’m going to have to register as a Laguna voter now.

Other random thoughts:

Gas money is going to kill me! P400 for each trip to \”the North\”
Goodbye to futsal in Club650, boo.
But there\’s always frisbee/ultimate (I get to wear Pink again!), especially if the league goes back to Nuvali — just have to work around the sun issue: irreversible skin damage, double boo!
So much furniture and appliances to buy!
I wonder how hard (or easy) it will be to clean my house
Should I get a dog? Can I take care of a dog?

On my to do list:

Check if Sun internet works on my street / lot.
Check the lights around Nuvali at night– hope the area is lit enough
Get Nuvali and Greenfield stickers
Get to know my neighbors!

I cannot wait to plant in my garden.

I cannot wait to bike everyday.

I cannot wait to set up my workstation and paint away!

More on Cebu\’s amazing South Road Properties

Green Communities Sustainable Living

Got really curious after I first posted about the Cebu SRP— now sharing more info and pics I found online.

From the ADB report on Eco-Park Development in the Philippines (June 2009):
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Beautiful vision. To be a showcase for green technology is something I also wish for Nuvali.

And I especially like that last bit: \”The provision of attractive open space and public areas for the enjoyment of locals is a vital component of the project.\”

This is something I think we need more of in Nuvali– freewheeling open spaces that are literally open to the public. Those that invite gatherings and events that don\’t have the manufactured (oftentimes commercial) nature of business-led developments. There are other great ideas from people who care about Nuvali that echo this sentiment.

I already said that what I find most amazing about Cebu\’s SRP is that it\’s a government-led project. I for one would love to see more participation from the local government of Laguna in the development of Nuvali as a thriving, organic community.

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(These are actual site pics from the SRP facebook page)
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What\’s the government\’s game plan for the SRP?

The total reclaimed area for the project is 300 hectares, which is small compared to Nuvali\’s 1,800 hectares. If I remember right, Nuvali\’s allocation for its office and business district alone (partly where The Fields is now) is 400 hectares!

Here\’s the recommended zoning for the SRP from the ADB report:
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I\’m curious about the \”Open Space/Tourism\” category– maybe it\’s meant for a stadium, concert hall, indoor arena?

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Why Ayala has my vote

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesNuvali Services, Nuvali Real Estate

While searching for info on the upcoming Kukun hotel in Nuvali, I found this update on Ayala\’s hotel and tourism investments from the President’s Report for the Ayala Land, Inc. Annual Stockholders’ Meeting 2011:

$\"Kukun$

I started investing in Ayala stocks recently, so I went through the rest of the President\’s Report with special interest, but it\’s a great read nonetheless. If anything, it offers reassurance to those of us who have invested in Nuvali– whether directly or by sharing in the collective vision for the place– that we have invested in something that\’s part of a wider and just as impressive development umbrella.

$\"Ayala\'s$

I was particularly amazed at the simultaneous mixed-use projects going on all over Metro Manila:

$\"Ayala\'s$

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Soon to rise in Nuvali: a hotel and an events place

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesNuvali Services

Two exciting developments are coming to Nuvali!

Development#1: Ayala is planning to build a hotel in Nuvali under its boutique hotel brand, Kukun.

$\"Nuvali$

I did a quick search (skyscrapercity.com never fails) and found out Kukun\’s first hotel is slated to open in Bonifacio Global City in Q2 of 2012. Sites for other Kukun hotels in the pipeline (five in total for 2011): Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Quezon City and Alabang.

Another hotel in Nuvali is also planned inside the Republic Wakepark:

$\"Nuvali$

Development #2: Ayala is building an events place next to the lake and commercial district.

$\"Nuvali$

Set to open in 2012 — the Events Place is a 2,500 square meter space that\’s meant to provide a venue for a wider range of group activities in Nuvali. Maybe it will be the next best thing to a theater or cinema! What\’s a concert venue equivalent with that size?

On the map you can also see the commercial district called the Lakeside Evozone (lots in orange, aqua, light green and yellow). Further east, new lots will be opened come September (28 new lots in total). Contact me directly at johanna@metrorealty.ph or 0920-9624116 if you would like updates on these commercial lots.

All in all, I think this whole area– the \”entrance\” to Nuvali– is becoming really interesting. I always see people walking leisurely around the lake, riding the water taxis (I have yet to do this! Last I heard it costs P30 for a ride one-way), or just picnicking on the grass. It\’s a lovely sight and I would definitely love to see more foot traffic in this part of Nuvali.

Nuvali events for Sept-November 2011

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesNuvali Events

$\"Nuvali$

Hopefully I\’ll be attending the next Recyclables Fair in November as a full-fledged Nuvali resident!

Nuvali Gate Pass

Life in Nuvali Philippines

On a recent visit to Nuvali, I was surprised to be asked to surrender my license at the gate towards Nuvali Central, the area of Xavier School, Avida Settings & Estate, Treveia and Elaro.

I usually just smile and tell the guards I\’m a lot owner and they let me through without further ado, but that was the first time they told me I needed to get a Nuvali Gate Pass.

$\"Nuvali$

As a future resident, I\’m glad they\’re finally putting tighter security in place, but I also wonder how they\’re going to keep this up without inconveniencing or turning away visitors once the Republic Wakepark opens this October. I can already imagine the logistical nightmare for the guards!

new seaside township project in Cebu

Green Communities Sustainable Living

View Larger Map

Was happy to read about Cebu\’s township plans for its South Road Properties on the PDI!

In brief:

A mixed-use township with industrial, commercial and residential components is set to rise in Cebu City, expected to roll out starting 2013

About 10 hectares have been built with ready-to-use factory facilities for light industries
Other expected locators: factories, high-rise condominiums, business process outsourcing (BPO) offices, schools, government offices, convention facilities and shopping areas

The area to be developed is the 300-hectare South Road Properties (SRP), a reclaimed area close to Cebu City’s central business district and accessible from the main island via four access points
A six-lane coastal road runs the length of the estate and SRP will be part of the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network, expected to roll out in 2014
A 60-hectare water resource within SRP will be developed via joint venture with Cebu-based Pilipinas Water Resources Inc.
Last year, SM Prime holdings signed a P2.7-billion deal to buy a 30.4-hectare property inside SRP.
Filinvest also bought a 50.6-hectare area and entered into a joint venture agreement with the city government covering part of this asset.

The most exciting part: the 300-hectare South Road Properties (SRP) is owned and being developed by the Cebu City government.

Why is this good news?

My dad always tells me that the Philippine government is poor because (among many other reasons) it doesn\’t own land. I think it\’s fantastic that this huge project in Cebu is owned by the government, and being used in a collaborative progressive way, also by government.

Great perspective on the coastal city lifestyle envisioned in the SRP from this video of Citta di Mare, literally \”City by the Sea\”, Fil-Invest\’s mixed-use development:

Nuvali\’s Republic wakepark taking shape

Life in Nuvali PhilippinesWakeboarding, Nuvali Services

Actual site pic as of August 14, 2011.

$\"Republic$

You can already make out the loop for the \”lake\”– I\’m skeptical it will finish in two months (I hope I\’m wrong!), but my brother thinks it\’s possible.

Couldn\’t stop myself from taking pics of these cows to the right of the wakepark…

$\"Venare,$