4 things to do when you’re in Nuvali

By johanna | Published: October 22, 2010

Solenad at Nuvali

Aside from feeding the koi at the lake, what else is there to do in Nuvali these days?
(Watch out for a separate post on the newest restaurants in Nuvali)

1. Family fun for everyone.

Enjoy the lake breeze, do some shopping or ride the water taxis.

Last Sunday I saw a lot of families on their weekend pasyal at the retail center of Nuvali, also known as Solenad.

There was a bazaar as part of the pre-Halloween festivities–so for those who love their retail therapy, there’s definitely shopping to be done. Am guessing we’ll see more of these weekend markets as Christmas approaches!
Solenad at Nuvali

One of Nuvali’s thrusts centers on social interaction, and the 4-hectare lake is the main draw for families looking to enjoy the scenery and have quality time for almost next-to-nothing.
Solenad at Nuvali

Solenad at Nuvali

Those looking for more active activities can ride the water taxis around the lake for P30 per head…

Solenad at Nuvali

…or choose to rent one of those cute Nuvali bikes for P60 per hour:Solenad at Nuvali

These are simple bicycles good for leisurely rides from Solenad until the EvoLiving Center, perfect for those cloudy afternoons!  The smallest bikes they have are still too big for children though (unless they have incredibly long legs!)

2. Get eco-aware.

Learn about our environment and how we can do our part in taking care of it–as if you were on an educational field trip!

sustainable living in Nuvali

I’m not sure if the EvoLiving Center –the big white building at the end of the lake– gets the volume of visitors it deserves.
sustainable living in Nuvali

We checked out the exhibit area on the environmental vision of Nuvali and were wowed by the different features of this eco-city!

sustainable living in Nuvali

sustainable living in Nuvali

sustainable living in Nuvali

sustainable living in Nuvali

Even as a purely educational visit, this is a must in Nuvali!

3. Enjoy the outdoors.

Run, bike, and coming soon–wakeboard!

Nuvali is being touted as a haven for health buffs and athletes, as well as those seeking a lifestyle that is close to nature.
Nuvali roads

Pedestrian lanes and bike paths have been purposefully designed into the master plan of Nuvali, and I think it’s safe to expect to see more trails and outdoor activities developed in the future.

Already in the works is a 50-hectare land, water and air park that will feature a wakeboarding complex similar to the internationally-renowned destination in CamSur.
venare

Target soft launch date was end of the year, but am guessing summer is more likely.
venare

My brothers have gone biking around Nuvali a number of times, and it makes me happy that bikers are a regular sight around the area. This is one everyday activity I’m excited to do once I live there!

The terrain of Nuvali makes it ideal for bikers of various levels — not to mention the mountain vistas and birdsong that will accompany you.  Here’s a view of the slope coming from the Southern part of Nuvali (this area is where Venare will be).   This is sure to make any jogger or biker jug down liters of water (or maybe that’s just beginner me)!

venare

There’s also a bird sanctuary near Montecito that I have yet to visit:

sustainable living in Nuvali

4.  Relax and pamper yourself.

After a day of fun under the sun, visit the spa or get that mani-pedi for a complete pampered weekend.

Solenad at Nuvali

Just spotted:  Headzone parlor at Solenad.  In One Evotech (the building across), there’s also Indulgence Day Spa– truly a sight for sore eyes…and legs, feet and everything else ;) .

Nuvali is really looking to be a a new gathering place in the South… and I’m sure it will be busily buzzing even more in the coming months.

:)

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  • Wysgal

    What kind of jobs do people who live here have? Manila/Makati jobs still? That’s some commute then. May not be sustainable to live here on a permanent basis then unless you work a job that services the local community, or they build a large enough business area to sustain a good number of decent jobs.

    • Anonymous

      Honestly I know very little re work options in Nuvali for now. There are a number of BPOs and call centers, but other alternatives I’m guessing are internet-based jobs, or those that can be done remotely. Also working for businesses / services in the area as you said. Right now there are hospitals and the PAGCOR hotel in Sta. Rosa. Tagaytay– with its hotel, farming and dining destinations–is just 20 minutes away. Alabang is also a nearer alternative than Makati. When the schools start classes (2012 target date for Xavier), I assume there will be teaching / admin options within Nuvali itself, but there are already a number of schools in the greater Sta. Rosa area (St. Scholastica’s, La Salle, Don Bosco, Brent, Waldorf, etc.). A big part of the area east of the lake in Nuvali (400ha I think–let me check) is allocated for the future business district, but no one knows for certain how long it will take to mature. Right now though there’s a new office building being constructed across the lake, so more options then, but don’t know specifics yet. I’ve actually driven around Sta. Rosa to take note of existing companies that have located there–will post pics when able. This part of Laguna is generally an industrial zone, so mostly factories. There are also technoparks–although I have yet to really understand what that means in terms of work options..I also drove through the Carmelray area towards the Silangan exit to SLEX (there’s an access road within Nuvali) the other week with my parents and also saw lots of thriving residential communities there, so I’m guessing people have been thriving here for a while and maybe it’s really a matter of adjustment and reorientation, especially for people who’ve lived in Makati or Ortigas for so long.

    • http://pinoydreamhousetoday.com/ Jun

      Hello Wysgal,

      There are currently 17 Ecozones is Laguna that are mostly located in Binan, Sta. Rosa and Calamba. Most of the top 500 companies in the Philippines have either offices or factories in Laguna. In fact 90% of all cars assembled or manufactured in the Philippines all come from Sta. Rosa. The remaining 10%, Isuzu, is in Binan but in the same Ecozone where some of the other cars come from – Laguna Technopark.

      I have written an article about Sta. Rosa. I hope that by creating a link here to it, Montalut, will not consider it as a spam as I truly believe that it will answer a lot of questions of those who are having reservations in relocating to Sta. Rosa.

      Here’s the link: http://pinoydreamhousetoday.com/sta-rosa-laguna-best-real-estate-in-the-philippines-part-1/

      Also, here’s a navigable map of the vicinity where Nuvali lies. http://wikimapia.org/#lat=14.2385112&lon=121.0612249&z=15&l=0&m=b

      Kindly check it out to see the various companies operating in the area. If you decide to live in Nuvali, you won’t have to go far to find a decent job.

      Thanks

      • Anonymous

        Wow those just blew me away! Great comprehensive site, Jun. Will give them a proper read through asap. I love maps so the wikimapia page actually made me giddy with excitement, hehe.

        And no worries re spamming! Thanks for sharing :)

  • Grace

    I’m also preparing myself for our move to Nuvali in 2012. My husband and I are both working here at Ortigas. We currently live in a condo at BGC. So the distance will be a big challenge eventually. Some friends also working in Ortigas live in Sta. Rosa. Before deciding on buying at Nuvali, I kept asking how they manage to do this. Travel time is 1-2 hours, and you’re dependent only on SLEX. But it’s manageable, they say. You get used to it. I also think it’s like a slightly longer time in bad traffic, even when you’re just living within Metro Manila. During peak hours, my travel time from Marikina (where I used to live) to Ortigas is around one hour already. From my husband’s place in Angono, i’ts 1.5… so it’s not so bad. The only other consideration is the expensive toll fees!

    • Anonymous

      Thanks for the firsthand account of the daily commute from Sta. Rosa, Grace. The two-hour travel time one-way does sound horrendous, but thinking about it, I used to spend 1.5 hours traveling from Makati to Ortigas during rush hour (total of 3 hours in traffic everyday–boo!! this is why I’m intent on moving to wide open spaces where there’s hardly any traffic!).

      For unavoidable business in Makati or Ortigas, I’m considering just taking the shuttle from Paseo de Sta. Rosa.

      • crew

        How is the commute these days? my job will always be in Manila but I want to live in Nuvali. How will a daily car trip to Manila and vice versa look like? Do people do it, that aren’t filthy rich?

  • Mark

    All very interesting . It seems your move is motivated by a desire to live a greener and more sustainable lifestyle that minimizes impact on the environment . All very commendable . But….looking at the pics you have posted I have to ask the following questions . Where did the timber come from used for the decking around the koi pond? is it recycled or plantation timber ? Or was it taken from old growth forest? Why use koi in the pond? To the best of my knowlege they arent eaten , so why not stock the pond with fish etc that people can harvest and eat ? The visitor centre is very nice…but made entirely from glass, how is it cooled and powered? The boats on the lake powered by what and where does it come from?The water in the lake comes from where? How is its cleanliness maintained? And of course you will commute into MM , adding more congestion to already badly congested SLEX. Will you use public transport and if so how is it powered? By clean energy such as LPG or will it be dirty old diesel?

    So you see there are many questions to ask and be answered concerning the environmental credentials of this development . Are they genuine or just jumping on the bandwagon and using the catch phrases and buzzwords ?The homes being built there , how are they cooled? What materials are they built with?What are the environmental credentials of the architects ? Etc etc.

    Think long and hard about all of these things , as Kermit once said , ” It’s not easy being green.”

    • Anonymous

      Hi Mark, glad to see you here!

      In the Philippines, it usually falls upon private businessmen to jump start developments. They do the land deals, the planning, and the actual implementation, development and management. Compare that to other countries where it’s government that paves the way by planning zones, creating roads, putting up institutions, etc. , and then inviting private businesses to join in.

      What Ayala is doing here is laudable in the sense that it’s not just waking people up to our green responsibilities, but it’s also giving us a way to actually act on it and apply the green aspirations to how we live everyday. The project is not all advocacy; it’s still a business, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Key to sustainability is also economic sustainability, and without it, any initiative is bound to fall flat.

      I think the whole premise of going green is to keep things simple and intentional, and Nuvali for one is attracting like-minded people who are in some way–whether in part or in whole–committed to being green. The whole shift towards green and sustainable won’t happen overnight though, and although it’s not enough (and maybe worse) to just start it and go back to old habits, awareness is key. And I think Nuvali will do its fair share in educating everyone, including its residents and proponents (i.e. the developer), that going green is possible now, but also that it’s a work in progress that will require continued, communal effort from all stakeholders. There will be a lot of high points along the way, just as there will be mistakes.

      On skyscrapercity.com, this is already happening–people who are green or want to go green are converging because of a common goal–to live in Nuvali. They are attracting each other and forming what I think makes anything truly organic: community. Discussions are ongoing on green building, sourcing locally, green contractors, etc.
      http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1203985

      For answers to some of your questions on concrete environmental efforts, might be best to visit the Nuvali website itself: http://nuvalievoliving.com/webinternal/developmentplan/siteDevKeyFeatures.asp
      :)

    • Anonymous

      Forgot to say, those are very valid questions just the same. Took it upon myself to “answer” some (following are excerpts from nuvalievoliving.com):

      On Green Building in Nuvali:
      * Use of Low-E glass in the Evoliving Center to minimize heat radiation within the structure, thus reduces air-conditioning. Also, District Cooling is currently being used by One Evotech and the Retail shops for more efficient air-conditioning.
      * Green Roofs also help reduce heating (by adding mass and thermal resistance value) and cooling (by evaporative cooling) loads on a building, especially if it is glassed in so as to act as a terrarium and passive solar heat reservoir. It also helps reduce “heat island effect”

      –> NOTE: The existing office building, One Evotech, makes use of bike ramps :
      One Evotech is the maiden structure in NUVALI TechnoHub, the first of three office campus developments in NUVALI’s Lakeside Evozone. Now fully operational, it is home to multinational solutions management group Convergys. A project of the Ayala Businesscapes Group of Ayala Land, Inc. it caters to the office space requirements of call centers, business process outsourcing, and the information technology/information technology-enabled services (IT/ITES) firms. This is the first of several buildings in the Lakeside Evozone.

      One Evotech features a visitor’s center, common conference and huddle rooms, training centers, and retail areas to cater to the people in the vicinity. But aside from this, it integrates sustainable features, consistent to NUVALI’s overall vision. A bike ramp going up to the building encourages alternative means of mobilizing. The stairs are strategically located to have access to the scenic open areas outside, discouraging the use of elevators and encouraging a healthier way of moving about.

      Transportation/Alternative Transport Connectivity

      1. Privately Managed Transport system is available to all residents, employees, visitors, and investors of NUVALI for easy access to other transport hubs and regional center.

      * NUVALI Bus/Shuttle Services (Euro III-compliant bus)
      * Water Taxi
      * Commuter Bikes

      # Privately managed transport system: Euro III-compliant bus, water taxis, e-jeeps, and bicycles) to lessen use of private vehicles

      2. Carefully designed road networks make it easier to go to different points within NUVALI. With tree line walkways and dedicated bike paths, other modes of transport is high encouraged

      At full development, the NUVALI Boulevard will have a dedicated mass transit lane, 3 car lanes on each direction, dedicated bike and pedestrian lanes with shady foliage on each direction to encourage walking and biking as an alternative means of transport.

  • http://fastforwardacademy.com/index-page-continuing-professional-education-enrolled-agent.htm enrolled agent cpe

    Nuvali is the best place to have fun with the whole family. Although we hail from manila, we would often drive there on a Sunday as the kids enjoy koi feeding and I find riding the taxi boat very relaxing.

    • Anonymous

      Hmmm interesting, will make sure to try the water taxi then! Thanks for sharing :)

  • http://infiniteelegance.blogspot.com/ Barbie Pilapil

    I’ve been searching the net for a cool chill place that’s not in the middle of a busy street (for a change!). And I’m so glad I stumbled upon this post! You made me wanna go there now! :)

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