One of the reasons why I decided to take this tour was to find out more about an important matter that was related to me by a friend. She emailed to me an image from Phivolcs indicating that there might be an active fault that traverses part of Sta. Rosa. It’s called the Valley Fault System.

I will talk about this active fault at the end of this post.

But first, let me tell you about the tour my daughter and I did yesterday. What was originally intended to be a casual visit to Nuvali turned into a 12-hour trip that extended up to the swollen shore of Laguna Lake.

We arrived at Nuvali around 9:00 am and left for home at 9:00 pm. Needless to say, my daughter and I had a blast the whole time.

My second trip to Nuvali

This is the second time I visited Nuvali in less than a month. The admiration I had for it during our first visit became even more intense after I found out that what looked like opaque walls of One Evotech were actually transparent; they’re probably glass curtain panels. The photo that was taken at 8:30 pm clearly shows the bicycle ramps that one can use to go up and down the building using his bike.

I have so much more pictures of Nuvali that I am keeping for possible use in my future website.

Where I will build my first dream house

Like I said in the past, I will build my first dream house in Sta. Rosa in two to three years. I am reasserting this not knowing where the money will come from or if it will actually come. But I have to do so to keep me focused on working hard to fulfill my dream. With God’s help, it shall happen.

Given the time frame I’ve set for myself, Nuvali is definitely out of the question (maybe in five years : ), lol. That’s the reason why the tour brought me and my daughter to Old Sta. Rosa.

Even before yesterday, I already knew the subdivision where I want to eventually acquire a vacant lot – it’s in Olympia Park Subdivision in Bgy Labas. Kindly see its map here.

What made me want to live here

• Many places are still feeling the effects of Ondoy. This subdivision was not in any way affected by Ondoy except perhaps its northeastern and eastern parts. It’s the barangays along the shoreline of Laguna Lake that were worst hit by Ondoy. The farther you move away from Laguna Lake, towards the west, the higher the elevation is. This explains why most parts of this subdivision was spared by Ondoy; it’s relatively far from the lake.

• If you go back to the map, you will notice that Olympia Park is just a short distance from the soon-to-be constructed station of the Philippine National Railways that is being rehabilitated. Why is this important? Kindly read my post about PNR’s rehabilitation.

Look closely at the following pictures of the old PNR station in Bgy Labas. If you ask me, it’s a heritage structure that must be preserved. It’s the one tagged in the map.

Going farther into Old Sta. Rosa

I call the eastern part of Sta. Rosa “old” because… it is. Like anywhere else, the first settlements were born along the shoreline of important bodies of water. Laguna Lake, the second largest lake in Asia, was the main source of livelihood for many people who lived along or near its shore. It was via this lake that goods were transported to and from the different communities surrounding it.

In fact, I had it from a very reliable source that the three barangays of Sta. Rosa along the shore of Laguna Lake – Sinalhan, Aplaya and Caingin – were major trading posts even before the Spaniards came. They have archaeological artifacts to prove it.

Like I said in my older post, do not equate the word Old with Ugly. Old Sta. Rosa has a charm that is uniquely its own.

Below are a few pictures of houses in Old Sta. Rosa.

What could have been the best real estate in Sta. Rosa

Moving farther, my daughter and I decided to go to what “could” have been the best real estate in Sta. Rosa, a certain barangay along the shoreline of Laguna Lake.

The Ayalas and Mr. Lucio Tan have spent millions to build and maintain man-made lakes in Nuvali and Eton City, respectively. Other developers orient their projects facing Laguna Lake to afford their buyers a little view of this once majestic lake. But here’s a place that gives you a fantastic view of Laguna Lake.

Note: the pictures below were taken at a much later date. The day my daughter and I went there, the lake was still swollen and visibility was very poor.

Bundok ng Susong Dalaga (or Maiden’s Breasts Mountains) are actually two identical conical hills that do look like a maiden’s breasts, they are the highest points in Talim Island. The other hill cannot be seen from Sta. Rosa; they are best viewed from Mt. Sembrano in Jala-Jala, Rizal, on the other side of Talim Island.

Here are more fantastic views:

Visibility that day was less than ideal. On a perfect day, these mountains are colored in blue. At night, you’d see countless pinpoint lights emanating from houses in Talim Island. The lights resemble diamond necklaces that can put you in a trance. I know this for a fact because I used to frequent this place (for reasons I’ll just keep to myself).

As fantastic as the views may be, living in communities in Sta. Rosa, along the shoreline of the lake has become impractical. During Ondoy, majority of its population was displaced. Moreover, these communities have become blighted.

But imagine if it were not. Imagine building your mansion by the lake and mooring your yacht and jet skis at a dock on your backyard. There is hope, though.

The fault line that’s believed to traverse Sta.Rosa

I’ve already emailed this to the executives of Ayala Land, Inc. I will also ask for the input of the City Government of Sta. Rosa (hopefully from Hon. Mayor Arlene Arcillas-Nazareno) and Phivolcs.

Whatever answer they give about this perceived active fault, whether good or grim, no one and nothing will stop me from wanting to relocate to Sta. Rosa.

Our lives, whether we live long or die young, are not dependent on active faults, the melting of the ice caps, or the sinking of the world’s great deltas. Our lives have all been written long before we were woven in the womb of our mothers.

Thank you so much to Ms. Nanette Sison for sending me this very important information. She’s a friend who also happens to own a property in Nuvali.

Thank you so much and my best regards to everyone.

P.S. Here was my bodyguard during the tour. Ariel Marie, my 11-year old princess, one of my reasons for being. My prince, 14-year old Lucas Julian couldn’t be convinced to come; he was busy playing PC games at home.

P.S.S. This post was originally titled My Succeeding Posts. It was revised and reformatted on September 16, 2010.