Havila: A place where natural beauty abounds

It is not everyday that one gets to live in a place where natural beauty abounds.

Angono has been known as the country’s “cradle of art” being the birthplace of two of the Philippines’ finest national artists — Carlos “Botong” Francisco for the arts and maestro Lucio San Pedro for music. Long after they walked the idyllic streets of Angono, other prominent artists such as Perdigon Vocalan, Jose “Pitok” Blanco and Nemiranda followed in their footsteps.

Now, Angono is a creative hub where sculptors, painters, poets, and musicians have found their paradise.

It is not surprising that these artists have found their inspiration in Angono. The ruggedly beautiful landscapes and sleepy fishing villages of Rizal, the breathtaking views of Laguna de Bay, as well as those of Mt. Banahaw and the Caldera rim of Lake Taal have inspired many great artists.

It is said that within the fabled garden of Eden lies in a special place called Havila where the richness of the land turns everything into gold. Thus, the vision of Filinvest Land’s Havila in Angono was inspired by this magical, mythical place.

More than just a row of houses, the more than 300-hectares Havila is a township, a master-planned community that includes residential, commercial, business and leisure developments. Well thought of, the lifestyle requirements of people at their different stages in life are all met by this Eastern highland. Proof of this is the well-planned leisure and recreational amenities that promote outdoor enjoyment exclusive to community members and its accessibility to commercial establishments and educational facilities.

Havila includes four existing communities of Filinvest Land, each with a different theme, explains Filinvest’s Rona Tan, vice president and project head for Havila. These are Mission Hills, Highlands Pointe, Villa Montserrat, and Forest Farms. All are located around 270 meters above sea level.

While the four communities will continue to be distinct, Tan explains that the creation of the Havila township will allow Filinvest to infuse the local flavor, particularly the strong art movement in the area, into the development. Havila spans not only the town of Angono, but also Antipolo and Taytay.

At present, only 180 hectares of the over 300 hectares of land owned by Filinvest in this part of the country is developed. Tan revealed that the remaining 120 hectares will be developed soon into future communities.

Filinvest is infusing around P300 million this year for additional infrastructure for the Havila township. This will include improving existing roads and putting up new ones to link the four communities.

Havila is only a mere 12 kilometers away from the Ortigas Business District.