Modern glamour in the master bedroom. (Photo by NOEL B.PABALATE)

MANILA, Philippines — More and more new neighborhoods in the Philippines are adopting the look the American suburbs. Among them is the new residential project of Landco Pacific in Baliuag, Bulacan. Dubbed the Waterwood Park, the place covers 60 hectares and is described as a luxury home community that will have its own sports and recreational amenities.

The developer built a three-bedroom model house called the Savannah in The Gardens, one of the several phases being developed at Waterwood. The house was built to give lot owners and buyers a concept of what a house at The Gardens ought to look like. The model is a quaint Contemporary American clapboard house with a baby blue exterior accented by white columns, white faux window shutters and white eaves. The model house appears to be a modern version of the Dutch Colonial Revival house, many of which were built in the U.S. during the 19th century.  As with the typical Dutch Colonial home, this model unit has a side main entrance and flared eaves.

This house would blend well in any typical American suburb. The only features missing are a fire place and a chimney, which obviously isn’t required here.  But it does have a spacious balcony ensconced over the carport and is accessible through the master bedroom.

Other may find the American style simply out of sync with the Philippine setting. Yet this architectural style at one point looked right at home in Manila and it’s still going strong in Dumaguete City in Oriental Negros, particularly at Silliman University. The architects of Landco have made sure that enough modifications have been made to make this house more in tune with our tropical climate.  The windows are large enough to let enough natural light and air to enter. And the place looks so pretty in the open landscape of Bulacan province.

It gets even better when one explores the interiors. Landco hired prolific interior designers Ivy and Cynthia Almario to furnish and decorate the house. And what the two designers did was add a new and personalized dimension to the Contemporary American look.  Blue remains to be the main color in the living and dining area. Baby blue wall paper covers upper half of the walls and these are again accented by such elegant white wooden panels in the lower half and white floor tiles.

The blue and white scheme continues with the light blue three-seat sofa, the white coffee table and white side tables. The tables evoke the grace and elegance of a time gone by. It’s as if the place was created for a leisurely afternoon of tea during the Gibson era. A break from the blues and the whites comes courtesy of the throw pillows and a chair, which are covered with prints of red roses set on a white backdrop.  Plastic pink carnations in vases also make a lovely contrast to the blues. The dining area also follows a similar look though the upholstery covering the dining chairs come with a variety of colors.

The living and dining ultimately enchants guests with its very soft and feminine look. It has that rich quality found in the lavish homes of the American upper crust. But the Almarios have managed to make the house look opulent without making it look too formal and crowded.

The bedrooms on the second floor are a different story altogether. Although the American theme is still adhered to, the designers chose to depart from the soft look of the ground floor by choosing bolder colors for the bedrooms.  Green is the dominant color of the master bedroom. Yet each piece of furniture in the room brings to mind the glamorous styles of yore.

The boy’s bedroom is as American as any room can get, what with the red, white and blue color scheme. Actually, the designers adopted a boat theme for the room. Thus various accessories that suggest the nautical concept of the room adorn this tiny space.  On the other hand, the girl’s room is very pretty in pink, of course. The Almarios no doubt created a room that every little girl would dream of having.

Indeed, this homey place could make a comfortable home for a family of four. And if there’s one thing this three-bedroom house has in spades, it’s charm.

For more information about The Gardens at Waterwood Park, please call 836-5008 or 836-5000.