The couple shares how they came up with this cool idea
Twenty-nine-year-old Atty. Monique Camille Noa-Cruz posted a video of her new bahay kubo in her TikTok account, little did she realize that it would become viral. With over 9.2 million views and 1.2 million likes, Manila Bulletin thought of reaching out to the lawyer to get more details on the reason behind this ready-made house.
"My husband, Dr. Jowi Tsidkenu Cruz, and I recently purchased a farm lot in Nueva Vizcaya which is a seven-hour drive from Metro Manila. Travelling back and forth within the same day is not very ideal," she tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. The couple has been staying in nearby hotels which was also about 30 minutes away. This led them to ponder if it would be better to construct a small house, but they realized that it's inefficient since the farm lot they bought is far from the main road.
"Plus, we are based in Manila and it will be difficult for us to supervise the construction," adds the lawyer. "That’s when the idea of buying a bahay kubo came up. Lucky for us, Nueva Vizcaya is home to many bamboo crafters specializing in building the bahay kubo. It certainly evokes a charm that is fitting for the farm life!"
And how did they find the supplier? Their Tito Melchor who also owns a farm nearby recommended Mr. James Villaroz of Basang's Bamboo Craft and Stuff. The customized bungalow took two weeks to make and cost P100,000 without the furnishings yet, but inclusive of delivery from the supplier. "We asked for a bigger bed frame that would fit a queen-sized bed because a ready-made 6 x 12 ft. bahay kubo usually has a provision for a double bed only. The placement of air conditioner was also modified so that the cool air would circulate more efficiently. The usual design of a ready-made bahay kubo of this style is that half of it was open air and the other half is enclosed. We asked that our bahay kubo be fully enclosed so that the whole area would be air conditioned. Plus, it would give us more living space," she explains.
Other features include a movable shelf that easily converts into another single bed so that the bahay kubo can accommodate four people comfortably. They also added an inverter air conditioner, a smart TV that is Netflix-ready, and solar-powered exterior lighting. She adds, "Instead of the usual nipa hut, our bahay kubo has sliding windows and galvanized iron roofing so that it is more weather-proof. It is double walled, the interior wall uses marine plywood while the exterior uses the traditional bamboo. Electrical wiring provisions are also already in place. The whole bahay kubo has been treated with anti-termite solution including the ground on which it stands."
So where did they place the bahay kubo? "On the higher part of the farm, overlooking the mountains, lush greeneries and bountiful trees that surround it." What a wonderful and relaxing spot, indeed!