One of my sisters-in-law has an aunt who owns property at Ayala Land’s Greenfield Estates in Calamba, Laguna. As with most private subdivisions, a home owner is entitled to bring his/her guests to enjoy the amenities. We spent most of yesterday at the Greenfield’s clubhouse. Most went swimming, I played billiards with one of my brothers-in-law (duh, I sucked after not having played for years but I still beat him 2 to 1), Sam and Alex spent a fortune on the arcade games…
I regretted not having brought my swimming gear. I didn’t know exactly where we were going, I thought we were going to a public resort and I really don’t like swimming in crowded pools and beaches. But it wasn’t a resort that we went to, we had most of the clubhouse to ourselves save for another family and the day was so warm that the most inviting spot was the pool. Three pools, actually. A kiddie pool, a huge whirlpool and the big pool.
Well, next time, I’ll go prepared.
The photos…
-
- Welcome sign at the entrance of Ayala Land’s Greenfield Estates
-
- At the foot of Mount Makiling
-
- A panoramic view of Laguna
-
- Meditating by the pool
-
- Sunbathing
-
- Water fountains
We were asked if we’d be interested in buying a property at Greenfield Estates. Interested? Hell, yes. It is beautiful there. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. But we can’t afford it. Not now, anyway. Perhaps, in a few years, who knows?
Nice! I prefer living in the city, but a place like that could easily change my mind.
Ayala Greenfields is very nice location, it is on top of the mountain with Laguna bay and Mt. Makiling on the background and very accessible via the current South Super Hiway maze… I think the minimum lot size there is 300-400sqm with a minimum house price as well.
Most property developers are betting down south..Eton Properties of Lucio Tan has a huge development between Sta Rosa and Cabuyao. Ayala is also developing Canlubang / Nuvali and there are lots of Schools planned South (I heard UST, Xavier besides existing La Salle Canlubang, St. Scho, Don Bosco) , they must know something regular mortals like us don’t know about…Banco De Oro has a new middle income partnership subdivision very near Batino/Tagaytay Exit (near the Batangas exit already) called Madison South..and I think SM Calamba is in the pipeline already besides existing Waltermart..
If the Skyway has extended to Alabang and the SSH is finished up to Calamba and then to STAR Toll to Lipa, down south would be very convenient even if you are working in Makati..so for those with extra money, I think property ownership down south (for your children perhaps?) would be a good investment as the developers are already doing a beeline..
Miguk, it’s really lovely there.
Omski, 400 sq. m. is the minimum and that’s for the townhouse design, not the single detached with gardens. The price quoted was 9 million for the lot alone. The house design must follow certain specs and must cost around 15 million to keep up with the community standards and ambience. Medyo, ahem, MAHAL!!!
Hi Connie,
I am just a silent observer on your blog, and contributed a few in your previous sassylawyer blog. But this article about AGE touched me. We live in one of the low-lying communities surrounding this village. I don’t want to ruin your enthusiasm, but pardon me for saying that this AGE village has caused and still causing so much destruction and despair to us whenever strong rains and typhoons come. Floods and muds came rushing down in our areas never like before. Our communities tried but failed several times to stop them. We were here first. Why should the poor members of our society suffer in this kind of development just to cater to the whims of the moneyed?
Oh my gosh. My jaw just dropped. I said pretty much the same thing about the farmers who got displaced with the Hamilo project. Ordinarily, I’d say go sue their asses off but that would be funny because I quit law practice precisely because I don’t believe in the justice system anymore. This conflict between the affluent and the less affluent is as old as man.
Wow pricey indeed. And judging from other places I have visited, the quality of the houses are not worth the price asked. I remember when I came here everyone wasy telling me how cheap it is but if you want even an approximation of an American lifestyle, it costs a lot more than it would in America.
Real estate here is overpriced. Even low cost housing projects are overpriced. Tiny houses worth over a million. Amazing.
“I quit law practice precisely because I don’t believe in the justice system anymore.” Wow! Ang saklap naman. It sounds like the death of modern society that abides with the proposition that we are a people/country of laws. So what is sustaining you? Ang iyong ganda?
I live in Canada but I was fantasizing recently that if I lived in the Philippines, I would really like to live here in Ayala Greenfield Estates. I didn’t realize how expensive it would be – almost as expensive as buying a house in the most expensive city in Canada! But Nani’s comment really upset me – I had no idea. Surely it’s possible to build houses without causing damage to others? It probably would have cost them more though. Aren’t there guidelines in place for new developments?? It’s just sad.
Tom, ganda at talino. Always.
Sage_mom, re “Surely it’s possible to build houses without causing damage to others?”
I don’t know. Someone always gets displaced in one way or another. Sometimes, long time residents complain because a new project causes traffic or noise. And it is never a matter of who was there first. It’s always who has the better right under the law and the law does not always favor the not so rich.
Hi Connie,
The reason why I always visit your site is the topics make me feel good and I suppose to others as well. My apology for whatever upsets I caused. Anyways, we have move on. Literally and figuratively. Like you, we just transferred to our new home in a hilly subd (parang “houseonahill”)and we chose the higher lot. Na-trauma yata kami…hehehe…We abandoned our old where we lived for 24 years. Masama ang loob ng mother-in-law ko(their house is besides ours) kasi iniwan namin sila. Eh kaso, sayang naman kung bili kami ng bili ng mga gamit tapos masira lang sa baha at putik. Every year na eh. Kaya yung old house namin parang dept. store na may mga overhead open shelves around. Pagbaha na eh almost all things were moved up there. Ang sakit sa mata. May essay ako about our experience in last Milenyo. Medyo mahaba but I can share it if its okay with you.
Nani, alam mo, there’s no need to apologize for causing “upset”. It’s a good time to rattle ourselves a little especially when we get too complacent. I’d love to publish your Milenyo essay. I think I wrote 5 essays in the Milenyo aftermath. Traumatic incident.
Yeah! It sure is time for some good rattling. I’d like to see these moneyed interest (Ayala, whose owner is a “Don” makes me feel like we are still under Spain. Lucio Tan, a Marcos crony whose assets are questionable.) lose a lot of money for their stupid investments. It’s up to us the consumer. Hirap kasi mukhang may loser born every minute. What I was about to get deeper into in a previous post which was sidetracked with the suggestion of my being a “gorang” was the gross failure of the real estate industry’s main purpose which was the promotion of the highest and best use of this limited piece of Earth. For the prices these developers are asking, we the consumer should demand a well though of, self contained structure that took into consideration the movement of the sun, wind patterns, average rainfall, etc. View! Anong view? Looks to me like I’d be wishing some miracle to get rid of all that smog so I could see the view.
I too would love to live up in the mountain with a view of Laguna Bay and Mt. Makiling, but for P9 mil I would rather buy 4 to 6 residential lots in the hills of Antipolo. I have a good feeling that 10 years from now or sooner, the Antipolo lots will yield a better return on investment.
Thanks for accomodating. But I have to put Warning sign. “Not suited for people who cannot find humor amidst calmity”
Milenyo. . .Another Story
By: Nani
In the Storm
For the first time as far as I am concerned, PAGASA correctly forecasted typhoon “Milenyo”. And I did not believe, maybe one among the many. But we still did our usual preparation like placing all our things susceptible to water damage to above the knee as this is the usual level floodwater rises inside our house.
Mid-morning, we watched the typhoon developed. I notice the strong wind and I told my wife that “looks like this typhoon has lesser rain since wind is faster”. We still had our normal breakfast. When floodwater started seeping inside, I peeked outside and saw floodwater still coming from our left side. From experience, if the floodwater started coming from our right side it means the creek in the boundary of Halang and Bucal had overflowed. This is where the water from Makiling upland areas flowed. We were still joking around and playing with our 5-month old Shih-tzu who was unusually behaved that time. Maybe he is sensing something big to happen. Animal instinct? That’s when I noticed that the water seeping in has turned darker brown and level was rising fast. I went to the window and peeked. Floodwater was coming from the right side and current is so fast that the road became like a rampaging river with floating forest debris, banana tree trunks, cut tree branches, etc.
The making of a hero
When I was a kid, I used to dream that I could be a superhero. I even role-play sometimes. Since then, I was looking forward to proving my worth as a hero. But the opportunity never came . . . until that day. Sensing it was something else, I ordered immediate transfer to our in-laws’ house (a two-storey) besides us. My wife did not want to go as she still wanted to save the things to higher levels. On that moment, one has to be decisive. It’s either Go or No Go. I ordered my two daughters to follow me. I cannot open the glass door (which is nearer to the side of my in-law’s house) due to water pressure pushing against it. We went around the kitchen door on the other side. I carried my youngest and crossed over. Water outside is waist-deep. I went back together with my brother in-law. I carried my wife while holding high in my right hand our puppy. He carried my other daughter. Water is now stomach-deep. I went back in our house. Jan my son and his friend, Gelito were still there. They reported for work 1st shift but were sent home later as their plant closed down due to typhoon. We stay there hoping that water would stop rising.
Water inside is now above knee-deep and I felt the current even inside our house. It’s pointless to further stay. I peeked outside and notice the strong current swooping down inside my in-law’s garage where I passed earlier. (I later learned the reason why. The CHB fence wall at the back collapsed, thus floodwater short-cutted its way thru our yard going to National highway.) I estimated the water in the yard to be chest or neck-deep. No longer a safe route given the strong current.
Escape Route
Jan said he does not know how to swim. Seeing how strong the current of the murky floodwater going in, even a good swimmer I think would not venture out there. I told them we would exit thru the back. We went to his room and climbed the window going out to the laundry area. Me first, we climbed then scaled the CHB fence of our neighbor (ala-spiderman) and climbed their fire escape steel ladder going to their second floor. I am not sure if I gain strength or the guardrail was simply loosely attached, but when I yanked it out, the rail was detached and I just throw it below the floodwater. (Served to remind me to have it re-install later.) We reached the 2nd floor and entered one of the units, wet and cold. And then, asked permission to stay there until the typhoon is over (they have no choice actually).
Sound easy? But imagine doing this at the height of the storm where strong wind and rain battering your body, and floodwater rushing below you.
New Life in the midst of the storm
That’s when the mother of David (Jan’s barkada) told us that David’s wife was in labor. They need a doctor or at least a midwife! We told her it’s not possible given the situation. Pero makulit talaga! So we tried our cellphone, but there was no signal (don’t ask if it’s Smart or Globe). I told David there was still dial tone on our landline when we left, so we went back to our house. Floodwater is so cold and I started chilling. Water inside the house was already stomach-deep. We cannot find the phone. I traced the line and pulled the unit above water, but no more dial tone. When we got back to their unit, his wife had already given birth. Nainip na yung mga sanggol (it’s a twin!). I joked the name must be Milenyo1 and Milenyo2. I guess the name Milenyo will forever stuck in the minds of this twin when they grew up. The mother again asked for something to cut the umbilical cord. I offered my Swiss knife (ala-Mcgyver- told you, I am the hero here! This is my hour). Ayaw. Kelangan daw ay sterilized. Sabi ni Jan, may dala kaming alcohol. Ayaw pa rin. Sira ang pagiging Mcgyver ko. But the Swiss knife was useful when we opened the canned goods later.
Depressing Sight
I lost track of the time, but I felt hungry and cold. I waited for the lull, that’s when the eye of the storm passed and then the wind direction would reversed. A lull came, and I went down in our house using same route to get some food and check on the situation there. On the way down, while holding on the topmost CHB, it broke and I fell on the floodwater. Luckily, it was sort of a corner so my left hand was able to grab the wooden post of our laundry area. I saw the horror on Gelito’s face who was watching me from the 2nd floor when I emerged from the water. I went back inside our house, grabbed some canned goods and loaf of bread in the upper shelf. Packed it inside a plastic bag. It was hard to move around due to lots of floating things, refrigerator, tables, chairs, and other things. I did not stay long.
It was a depressing sight. Seeing the things you have worked and saved so hard over the years just to acquire and lost them all in instant. Later on, folks and friends would say these are all material things that you can still have. All are replaceable. The important thing is no lives were lost. Partly, they are correct. Partly not, in a sense that these maybe material things, but the effort you put in there, literally the blood, sweat and tears you shed, just to have these things that give your family some comfort in life. You acquired these things as a form of reward for yourself and for your family. A reward for the long hours you spent working. And they are all gone. Replaceable, yes… but not the effort that went with it. Or maybe I viewed it differently. Being the head of the family, I carry the burden of getting back on its feet.
Storm is over
Wind has slowed down, and the water level had stop rising. But the current was still strong. I saw my brother in-law on their rooftop. We communicated thru signals (Ha! I like this. Gave me some leverage). We transferred there scaling the concrete wall and leaping from the roof of our house to theirs. Jan and Gelito went inside the 2nd floor thru the window. I stayed outside and sat on the roof. Pondered on what to do. I thought about my Revo SR, my prized possession. We waited for the storm to subside without much talk.
Mud!, Mud!, and more Mud!
Later in the afternoon, we were able to enter our house. With the water subsiding, things were all in disarray. Mud on the floor is about 2 inch thick, and very sticky. Water outside is still high. I think it’s about above the knee. No tap water, no electricity (Oct. 9 as of this writing and still no electricity in our place). Frankly, I am blank as to what happen during that time and darkness came in fast. All I can remember was we arranged the double-deck in my daughters’ room so we can have a place to sleep on later in the night. Food and water were rationed (unless anybody wants to eat the food inside the ref fortified with mud and floodwater). Even Ziggy, our Shit-tzu had to eat rice only (bawal ang canned tuna, baka galisin.) My son and his friend slept in my brother-in-law’s house. The four of us slept in my daughter’s bed side by side with mud and murky water all around us. I said in jest that it was called “family bonding”.
Heroes also make mistakes
My heroism was validated. My wife and I were talking to while away the time and I said wishfully that maybe if I reported for work, I could have at least saved our Revo from damage. She replied yes, but how about them. Without me, they would be at a lost on what they should do. See, I was the hero of that moment.
On hindsight however, I should have not waited too long for the three of us who were left behind to leave the house. It was foolish of me to still stay there. The escape route we took was a late realization. Maybe I don’t want to let go off that easily with our possessions.
The Morning After
I woke up at about 5:30am, and watched in dismay the surroundings. The daunting tasks ahead. Realization came in fast that we cannot do this by ourselves. We need help. I went out looking for breakfast and hot coffee. All stores were closed. I walked about two kilometers to my brother’s house in Villa Remedios. They were hardly affected by the typhoon. I told him what happened. I asked for help, food, water. No bit of hesitation there. On the way back, I chanced upon a pandesal ambulant vendor. I bought P50 worth of pandesal. Our breakfast.
Work and Play
When I came back, there were about six or seven young kids (age 10-12) from Home Along The Riles (HATR) moving out the mud from our garage, front yard and terrace. Apparently, they were playing in our front road where water is still knee-deep when my wife chanced upon them. They were all cheerfully doing the task, as if they were just playing. Or maybe it’s all play to them. If adults can only have same enthusiastic approach towards work, companies will have lesser supervision problems.
Role Shift
My nephews and nieces arrived. Likewise, my eldest brother and brother-in-law. They brought also some provisions. Plus the several HATR kids at play and our labandera and her kids, we have to organize our work. It’s time to shift role from being hero to supervisor. You see, heroes don’t plan. They do not strategize. They rely on their super capability to resolve the situation at hand. (It’s actually the villains who do plan and strategize to defeat the hero.) I think it was from “Kill Bill”.
But mind you, supervisors are not villain, at least in the eyes of management. They strategize and implement the plan. And that’s exactly what I do. Divide the work – assign people. Even the HATR kids had specific assignments. As more often than not, they were horseplaying a lot. So their assignments were limited to outside and assistance to older ones.
Inequality even in Effects
The working class is the worst affected lot when disasters like this happen, that is compared to the poor and rich class. The poor have very few things to loose, thus it is easier for them to recover. I think most of them hardly lost anything at all since it’s easier for them to save their few precious possessions. The rich class on the other hand can easily replace the things they lost. It may even be considered an alibi for them to splurge on buying spree for new replacements.
But for the working class, it will take at least couple of years to replace the things they lost. Which will mean new sacrifices, new belt tightening. Maybe we should petition our government to at least give us some tax relief to cover these losses. You see, the working class is the most harassed among the taxpayers. We are slapped with about 25 to 30% withholding tax, and then you pay another 12% VAT on everything you buy. Unlike the professionals or businessmen who have ways of passing these taxes to their clients or other consumers.
The Fifth Day – Losing perspective
It was Monday night, I was strumming the guitar trying to relax, my wife besides me. She was telling me something about corrugated roofings of our kubo extension in our backyard that was blown away. She saw it in our neighbor at the back and was asking if it’s alright to ask for it to be returned. I said forget it and told her it may become a source of friction pa. Charge to experience na lang. We had arguments. I snapped and said a lot of things that I regretted afterwards. Damn my temper! For a long time, I was able to control my temper and for such a petty thing, it just burst and went out of control. Maybe because of the stress, the tiring five days of cleaning, but we were all stressed out and I was the only one who lost control. On hindsight, there were some reasons I realized for the outburst that I would rather not discuss here, too private to tell.
Back to normalcy
Our house is still in disarray as of this writing. We cannot arrange things as sticky mud inside cabinets, closets and under are still there. Actually it emits foul odor, similar to what you smell in esteros although a bit milder. But first, I have to put back to normalcy my relationship with my wife. Even Superman becomes timid when confronted by Lois Lane. Spiderman stammers when faced with his dream girl. So on that premise, who am I not to surrender to her powers. That fifth night I believe is the turning point to normalcy in our family life. It is now my wife again calling the shot. My alter-ego (Super-B) has to be shelved for awhile until there is a need for it.
Back to work.
***********
P.S.
I supposed all of you have noticed that superheroes wear their underwear outside of their outfit. Well in my case, I don’t have brief for four days under my maong pants. Can you imagine how difficult it was shoveling mud, lifting things, cleaning the debris with your balls banging on each other? Buti na lang may 3rd member who acts as mediator. At least may silbi…LOL!
Nice.
AYALA GREENFIELDS is the cause of heightened flooding and landslide in calamba!!!