It was the first week of April, 2010, scouring Mataasnakahoy with my sister in law for a place for her to live with her 5 kids. A widow at age 30, she now has to raise all five by herself. Her youngest was 3 months old when her husband died of typhoid in the Calamba epidemic. We found a house for sale after looking up and down the road. Turns out my old Nanny lives next door! Reputedly down the path from the house of the actor with the pupppy dog eyes. But the real clincher was the lake view. By Tuesday of the following week, a downpayment, had been made and I am now a soon-to-be property owner inside the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (well, by December, full fledged).

On April 9, the anniversary of the fall of Bataan, I started on the project to make this house as green and sustainable managed as possible. First project which I've been thinking about for years is a shower heater powered directly by the sun. Yes, no expensive wafers or anything, just plain old container on the roof, hose going down into the bathroom.

It has a large mango tree at the back, branches trimmed off. In the front part, banana plants and a lone rambutan. Soon, i will fill it with malunggay, kamote, kangkong, kalabasa, herbs and hopefully a couple more trees.

Bringing Envi Planner Anna Gonzales here for renovations also. Thinking of opening it up for more natural light and ventilation, putting in a gray water system to water the plants, a meditation space and a wonderful garden with a swimming hole. All in good time.

Looking at urban homesteading for guidance, since it's a tiny property. Plan to tell the story in this blog. It will be a long story so don't hold your breath.