planting dreams in Palawan

Farming and Gardening Green Communities Sustainable Living

Last week I visited the Maia Earth Village in Palawan and planted my first tree:

Tree Planting at Maia Earth Village (1)

Was great to do it in full consciousness–my friend Pi asked us to plant with intention, to plant not just the physical tree but along with it something that we want to take root and grow to bear fruit– maybe a dream, a part of ourselves we want to nurture, or general good intentions for everyone.

Maia, which “is short for Mama Gaia…[and] also based on the ancient name of the Philippines (Ma-I, or I Am in reverse) and its inhabitants, Maians,” is an eco-community in Bacungan, Palawan. Says Pi Villaraza:

We dream of a community on the hills surrounded by mountains and near a beautiful beach. Next door would be a yoga teacher, a raw food chef, some healers, artists, gardeners and ecologists all planting, all painting and sculpting, making music, writing poetry, healing, meditating, exercising, living, loving and learning. Everyone is taking care of their bodies, cultivating their minds and nurturing their soul simultaneously.

Maia is a dream for me too.

Pi and I reconnected from out of the blue last year, exchanging notes on green communities we wanted to build — he in Palawan and I in Tagaytay.   I first visited him in Bacungan last August 2010, again in November, and a third time this June 2011.  I keep coming back to Palawan, which has slowly become a home for me too.  It’s a place where clarity is abundant and the beatings of my heart–even those carried from far away– make sense.  The journey is towards sacred simplicity, and it’s in Palawan that I’ve found an overflowing well for it, and also a converging point for other hearts on the same journey.

More pictures of Maia Earth Village on facebook

Raw food album during that same visit
Nagtabon Beach album
Also visit:  Back (and back again) to Bahay Kalipay – a house of healing

what is forever?

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We are just passing through
“We are just passing through,” Acrylic on Paper, 2010

There are friendships we hold sacred– people who are our crutches or default, much like family.  They’re just there, won’t go anywhere, no need for validation. Even when we fight and squabble (if  we do), the thought of breaking ties or “losing” each other is non-existent.

Next to love or romance, friendships are stable, non-volatile.  I once wrote about this in Love is not it,  inspired by this line: “Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love.”

I used to think it’s because friendships, particularly soul friendships, last forever.

But what is forever?

Why do we find comfort in forever?

When something cannot be taken from us, we relax, we lose the “security” worry.   We like the idea of unlimited anything– unlimited food, money, vacations.   Why not unlimited time, or people, right?

Forever friends.  Best friends.  Travel-mates–people we brave our journeys with, whether we are on the same journey or not.

Having even just one person believe in us, understand us, be “just there”… it’s enough to empower us to conquer the world!

But many of those who truly seek, advise the opposite: to dwell on impermanence, that everything passes.

Forever is a distraction, a step away, and we must allow even the most sacred people in our lives breathing space to leave when it’s time to leave.  And when it’s us who are being called to leave, we pray for the courage to do the same.

hush now

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Whos out there

I grew up loving the word “dreamer”.  For me, it brought forth not just a promise, but an assurance that that promise could and would be made real.

It’s not my favorite word anymore.

Neither is food.  Nor travel.  Nor the Philippines, Filipino, saving the world.

I don’t like the same things I used to like — they don’t make me happy, don’t light up my eyes.

What lights up my eyes now?

Is that even the question that needs asking?

un-happy

Everyday Life

A friend says I feel unhappy.
Sees and feels it.
Bitter cloud over my head.

When was the last time I was happy?

When I think happy thoughts I see my family. Big smiles, dancing, drinking, hugging, jumping up and down to be exact. New Year’s Eve 2011 in Boracay. Solid happy moment.
Despite our everyday squabbles, these people are home to me.

Where are friends in the picture though?
Have been running low on happy thoughts with friends.
Solid dis-connect.

🙁

What’s on your Nuvali wishlist?

Life in Nuvali Philippines Green Communities

Last February 2011, doodz asked the Nuvali skyscrapercity thread for suggestions on  current and future developments in Nuvali which he would bring up at a focus group discussion with Ayala management.

I put together below the ideas raised by the following contributors: arceesky, timberlandic, lagueno, MAXmonash, peter5688, boogieman909, Kaleidoscope, fwh_buyer, ritzandrico, leechtat, mach000, Radical!, yes!, gpcracker, montalut

Wouldn’t it be great to make a collective vision board for Nuvali?  Feel free to add your own suggestions! (My comments are in green)

I grouped them into the following six categories:

  1. Traffic and safety
  2. Maintenance
  3. Facilities / amenities
  4. Green features
  5. Community / dialogue
  6. Events

1. TRAFFIC & SAFETY

  • expansion of Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road to four lanes or installation of \”smart\” traffic lights (Already being done, started on May 9, 2011)
  • street lights / solar-powered lampposts along Nuvali Boulevard for nighttime driving safety
  • CCTV cameras in public areas to deter crime
  • Come up with a grand design for transportation plans from the communities, schools, Solenad and the Makati and/or Ortigas CBDs (A transport terminal to link Nuvali to other town centers and regional hubs will be opened by July 2011)
    • Tram as public transport: Cleaner, quieter & safer than a wayward bus
    • a shuttle bus system to and from Metro Manila to help address the rising toll and gas costs while the train system is not yet in place
  • Address security concerns over the increasing public access to Nuvali

2. MAINTENANCE

  • Improvement on the cleanliness in SOLENAD by adding more trash bins and strictly reprimanding those who litter
    • INCREASE Maintenance & Security Visibility
    • Post strong “clean as you go” reminders, especially on the tiangge tables reserved for eating
    • Put up signs threatening litterbugs with fines and community service (e.g., for every wrapper thrown, you have to plant one tree seedling in Nuvali)
  • Announce [cleanliness reminders during events in Solenad] every now and then
  • STOP allowing people to just have a picnic on any grassy area and leave their mess after

3. FACILITIES/AMENITIES

  • Free Internet access via Wi-Max
  • 100% underground utilities (Meralco, phone, cable TV) for the entire Nuvali
  • Emergency response center (a la 911): One number to call for police, fire & ambulance
  • Disabled-friendly facilities: e.g. toilets, parking areas, building entrances, elevators, etc.
  • Emergency evacuation shelters: Usually schools are designated as such in case of earthquakes, etc.
  • Plenty of clean public toilets (with tissue paper)
  • Tennis courts. Not everyone can play basketball and soccer.
  • Increase the allotment of lots to business district, para maging business hub ang Nuvali
  • Figure out how to cater to the different groups [who visit Nuvali] without alienating one or the other. Maybe they can zone establishments?
  • They should plan where the future police outposts or government offices will be
  • Attract more businesses in Nuvali: the big oil players car companies, banks, food companies, a hotel and hospital (Shell will soon put up a gas station next to Solenad 2.  Check out What’s new at Nuvali’s Solenad 1 and 2 for an update on current and future retail establishments in Nuvali)
  • a Nuvali Country Club.
  • ALI should relocate some of its offices in Nuvali by becoming a regional office of Ayala Corporation outside of Makati.
  • a stand alone cinema.
  • a community library in Nuvali
  • A High Street -like mall / leisure park
  • Ateneo de Nuvali University: Should be fun with archrival De La Salle-Canlubang nearby
  • Nuvali Medical Center: State-of-the-art research, wellness and healing center
  • A Nuvali Coliseum/Cultural Center which will be a major venue for arts, performances, sporting events, concerts, seminars, and trade shows in the Philippines. This will bring Nuvali into a different level. It\’s also a good chance to showcase a grand modern architecture in our country.
  • Bring in Disneyland
  • Build a wedding venue for 250-500 guests! Maybe a hotel in the future can fit the bill but a dedicated venue would be nice. It would also promote the area as visitors will be “forced” to visit Nuvali, and the TONS of wedding photos / videos. A nice place would bring in a lot of people.  (A 2,500-sqm Events Place is set to be established by a non-Ayala entity across the Evoliving Center)
  • Wilcon Depot: Great long-term business opportunity with so much construction going on now and in the next 50 years
  • PriceSmart Wholesale Club: For those who love to buy in bulk
  • A central main park that’s huge and well maintained…They should build a central park New York style, that would fit in with their green development vision.

4. GREEN FEATURES

  • Ban on plastic bags, just like they did recently in Muntinlupa
  • Strict waste segregation: Burnables and recyclables are collected separately. Recyclables have to be further sorted into: (a) cans (b) plastic (c) paper (d) PET bottles (e) glass bottles.
  • A redesign of those electric trikes. Function should always be complemented by form and if we really want people to “like” the concept and the design, then we should also make it visually appealing.
  • Incentives for homeowners who build green/live green. For example, if you compost, you get a discount from your association dues
  • a community garden (for residents in our respective communities and also for Nuvali visitors–this can be integrated into the Evoliving Center).
  • Leased Vegetable Plots as stress relievers for city folks (even Laguna dwellers) to play farmer on weekends and go home one day with their own harvest of tomatoes, carrots, etc.
    • experts to assist in making a simple plant nursery and moving the plants to the plot. A fee is made to maintain/water the area and they visit on weekends until harvest.
  • Ayala management to look into the planting concerns raised in this forum, i.e. no planting of fruit-bearing trees and vines(!). This goes against the very advocacy of Nuvali
  • And a bicycle rental program/system like the one they have in London, Paris and Montreal would really prove that the Nuvali community is really serious about being green.
  • Maintain the expected standard of the environmental concept of Nuvali
  • Ayala needs to be smarter and work harder at preserving the environment

5. COMMUNITY / DIALOGUE

  • More and better communication from Ayala on developments to the community. As noticed, we rely more on each other for updates and news rather than visiting the official Ayala website because of lack of updates.
  • the Nuvali website (http://www.nuvalievoliving.com) needs some major overhaul
  • All of us who invested our hard earned money in this place should be heard by the Ayala Mgt…..
  • A community website for Nuvali, not just a marketing website with lots of nice photos, but a place where people can interact, post pictures, talk about fun things to do in Nuvali that they discovered (Add nuvalicommunity on facebook or join the nuvalicommunity yahoogroup to connect with other residents and stakeholders in Nuvali)
    Subscribe to nuvalicommunity

    Powered by us.groups.yahoo.com

  • Everyone involved in Nuvali, whether directly or indirectly–Ayala as developer, residents, visitors, government–should already be involved in the dialogue.
  • I would also like to see more of the SOCIAL sustainability aspect of Nuvali promised by Ayala.

6. EVENTS

  • STOP those “tiangge”, bazaars, food Kiosks
    • the concept of tiangge is actually not a bad idea because this encourages entrepreneurship. The issue is poor execution. The location in Solenad is not suitable for tiangge. ALI should think of a separate location in Nuvali to hold this tiangge. Perhaps, ALI should build a tent, similar to the NBC tent in Fort, where special events can also take place. This will also answer some of the suggestions earlier where special events such as weddings, corporate gatherings, etc can take place.
  • green lifestyle workshops and lectures (example: composting, vertical gardens, landscaping, organic gardening, keeping chickens, green building, etc.).
    • Invite an expert from UPLB to talk about what plants are best planted on Nuvali soil, etc
    • Produce a regular newsletter with this info

You’ll notice that most of these are action steps for Ayala as developer of Nuvali, but I think it’s just as critical to put ourselves in the equation and together ask: How can we make Nuvali a better place?  How can we make it home?

letting them out to sea

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Have always been hesitant to put a pricetag on my paintings, but finally committing them to a quantifiable value was surprisingly comforting, not to mention “easy”.

Here are some that found new homes during the 10a Alabama art fair— fare thee well, my friends!
Montalut 2005 (8)

Montalut 2004 (3)

Montalut 2003 (8)

gifts for friends

montalut

Other montaluts now “out at sea”:

– Masked oil painting circa 2000 bought my friend,Gab is Unsubcultured
– Mini montaluts now with by Arlene Barbaza of Artefact Handmade, who pointed out the magical impromptu poetry reading session we had under the mango tree! THANK YOU to you, Remmon, and Mia for that 🙂

What\’s new at Nuvali\’s Solenad 1 and 2?

Everyday Life,

Solenad is the retail area by the man-made lake in Nuvali, made famous by the many kois happily swimming there (I\’m sure you\’ve seen countless pics of fishfeeding here!).

An expansion area (Solenad 2) is nearly completed, scheduled to be opened next month, June 2011.
\"Nuvali

Two of the initial confirmed merchants were Robinson\’s Supermarket and True Value, but Ayala has now released a list of additional food and non-food shops in Solenad 2:

\"Nuvali

Happy to see Max\’s on the list– perfect for chocolicious champorado cravings!

You can see that even shopping merchants are a match for the \”active\” lifestyle–Aloha Boardsports, Quicksilver, Roxy, All Flipflops, Stoked.  Would love to see more \”green\” establishments as well– and an organic market!

Further down the strip is a gas station, to be operated by Shell.

…

What\’s new at Nuvali\’s Solenad 1 and 2?Read More »

Orchids for the home: Inspiration from Milky Way Cafe

Farming and Gardening Green Design and Architecture Sustainable Living

Saw these potted orchids grouped together in one big vase at Milky Way Cafe:

Design inspiration

Beautiful. And great idea to group them and elevate on a table!

Milky Way Cafe is famous for its halo-halo, and was happy to see it still alive and buzzing after over 50 years of operation.

Design inspiration

The whole cafe felt like a warm home, so I tried to spot the other design elements that made it so:

Apart from the many indoor plants, there was enough breathing space in between the furniture. 3D art pieces like this tree sculpture helped give texture to the space–I like!
\"Design

Design inspiration

There’s abundant natural light inside the cafe. I also love alcove lighting and noticed it in the hallway– nice if you want a warm but not overly bright room.

Design inspiration

I’m naturally drawn to creative pieces, and I appreciated the paintings in varied textures that gave color and drama to the place, like it had a story to tell.

Milky Way Cafe

I especially liked this toro collage, and would’ve reached out to touch if not for the glass cover:

Milky Way Cafe

Also noticed music being played in the lobby–great way to regulate the mood and keep it light and happy 🙂

statement lamps

My Nuvali Home

Love these lamps– naughty but still nice, haha:
\"Design

\"Design
P3,500 each, found in Greenbelt 5

Also like these round floor lamps, but each bubble has its own plug, so for safety reasons, it\’s a no go for me (imagine the electrical tangle!).
\"Design

meet my new friend

Green Art Sustainable Living

I went around galleries yesterday for inspiration on pricing my works for the indie art fair I\’m joining this weekend, but ended up buying a painting!

Halaaaaa!

\"Bella

She just looked so happy, radiant even. And I felt the motherly energy of the woman behind it, Norma Belleza (found out later she\’s 75 years old–and still painting!).

Her name means Beauty.

Let beauty flow from beauty, create beauty, and effect beauty to those around it.

\"Bella

I\’m happy to welcome beauty to my Nuvali home.

🙂

Plus harvest is always a good visual– brings in abundance and prosperity!