At nature’s pace

Garish streetlights made of tall cement posts and amber lighting will not have a place in Anvaya Cove, Ayala Land Premier’s seaside leisure community in Morong, Bataan. Instead bollards or low traffic posts with more subtle lighting will illumine the path for evening strollers and drivers in this 320-hectare development.

The lighting scheme is not only in keeping with the Asian Tropical theme of Anvaya Cove, it is also one way of ensuring that the pawikan or giant turtles that breed in the area – and other animals – will continue to make the place their home, according to planning manager Manny Illana.

From masterplan down to the ongoing construction of its infrastructure and amenities, great care is being exerted by Anvaya Cove’s developers to minimize actual impact on the natural surroundings. The recently completed landscaping and architecture in Anvaya’s main entrance exemplifies the spirit governing the resort’s development. Manmade elements clearly play a supporting role to the lush greenery and other natural elements. 

With Anvaya’s first neighborhood, the Cliffside, ready for turnover to lot owners, the 3.2 kilometer spine road that stretches from the entrance to the beach area captures "the wisdom of a country road," notes Illana.

The spine road follows the lay of the land and skirts trees. It twists and turns revealing glimpses of the cove’s waters and of the development — its various elevations, its ringside view of the bay — and at the witching hour, a view of a fabulous sunset.

"It definitely is not your usual spine road. It opens up the development to you little by little — not all at once to heighten the drama of the experience of place," he says.

The S-shaped spine road features an asphalt overlay over cement to give the path a countryside feel, while ensuring that the material used will endure. This road building technique is the same technology used in the Tagaytay North Road and the Northern Luzon Expressway. Moreover, it will be showcase lush landscaping on either side of the roadway.

The spine road leads to the Cliffside, now being primed for lot owners wishing to build their vacation homes. All utilities are in place for the first neighborhood which has 138 lots, majority of which have a commanding view of Anvaya Cove’s rolling terrain.

The second neighborhood, the Mango Grove, is currently undergoing utility works in preparation for a targeted 2nd quarter of 2007 turnover. The Mango Grove has 98 lots. Also under construction are 12 Seaside Villas fronting the beach and Ilingin Bay. The Seaside Villas will be a fenceless landscaped community to heighten the sense of space of visitors to the area. To provide service to all guests, the Beach Bar and Grill is also being constructed and is expected to be completed before the yearend.

The one-hectare Lagoon, conceived to enhance the environmental-friendliness of Anvaya, was also recently completed. Darwin Salipsip, department manager of Ayala Land’s Construction Management Group, points out that the Lagoon is a focal point of the entire development. It serves as a backdrop to the Beach Club, Great Lawn and the Lagoon Suites which are overnight accommodations exclusively for club members.

Aside from being an amenity for boating and fishing, the Lagoon is expected to attract Philippine mallards, wild ducks that migrate to the area during the rainy season. Anvaya is rehabilitating a portion of the Lagoon so it can continue to serve as an attractive habitat for the ducks.

For more information call 728-7000 or visit www.anvayacove.com or www.ayalalandpremier.com.