ALONG the crescent shoreline of a private cove in Subic Bay, the miracle of life unfolds. A bale of Olive Ridley sea turtles, or pawikan, endangered creatures that could grow as long as 27 inches, surfaces from the deep blue to lay hundreds of eggs in the sand. In 60 to 70 days, baby turtles the size of a child’s palm will crawl out of the eggs and journey to the sea, guided by the same instinct that has served their species since the dawn of time. The awkward but frenzied exodus of these brave hatchlings, their soft flippers tracking prints behind them, is a cinematic moment worthy of the National Geographic Channel.

Here, in the sanctuary of unspoiled nature fringed by the lapping waters on one side and cosseted by dense, emerald-green foliage in the other, generations of pawikan were born and will continue to be born. Some were lucky enough to witness the migration—some, like the members and guests of Anvaya Cove, Ayala Land Premier’s leisure estate which encompasses the beach.

ANVAYA Cove’s pristine coastline is a haven for sea turtles, or pawikan. --PHOTO COURTESY OF AYALA LAND PREMIER

I wasn’t one of the fortunate ones, though. But my visit to the members-only community, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Metro Manila, or a 20-minute ride from Subic Bay Freeport, brought other surprises. At the heart of this sprawling 320-hectare property designed for weekend retreats is the Nature Camp, where a 1.5-kilometer hike through the woods is an adventure and a learning experience in itself. A ranger and a well-trained facilitator led our small group up and down winding trails flanked by thickets and towering trees that form a leafy canopy above us. A creek runs through this forest, home to grass owls, Brahmin Kite eagles, civets, deer, flying lizards, wild boars and other creatures. In this rich ecosystem thrives a profusion of flora that are instrumental to the survival of indigenous Morong tribes. Our informative guides demonstrated how some plants become potable-water source, natural soap, antiseptic agent, even fuel source, this from a tree that secretes flammable sap.

Aside from nature-trekking, families can go camping, share a meal at the picnic grounds, and challenge themselves in a rope obstacle course. Soon, the intrepid can fly through the forest, while harnessed on lofted cables or ziplines.

As we explored the rest of Anvaya Cove, it became apparent that the place was about two things: family (anvaya in Sanskrit) and nature. It’s about reconnecting one through the other, away from the harried urban life. But there is more to this residential resort than turning a profit through clever positioning. Every October to February, its staff assumes an active role in protecting the sea-turtle eggs from predators by installing nets around each nest along the beach. Anvaya is also working together with the World Wildlife Fund and other conservation groups to preserve the habitats of various species indigent to the place, including the Philippine mallards that frequent a secluded stretch of the 3.5-km private coastline.

From lush hills blanketed by thousands of mango and narra trees to the Beach and Nature Club, the lay of the land reflects a low-density, low-impact approach to development. Forty percent is allocated to residential and recreational structures, 10 percent to the natural landscape within the club, 30 percent to natural reserves and parks, and 20 percent to an 18-hole golf course, “if and when” it is built, Ayala Land explained.

The hub of the community is the tropical Asian-inspired Beach and Nature Club; its most distinctive feature, the concave sloping roof of the Welcome Pavilion.

Through Leandro Locsin’s architectural perspective, the delicate equilibrium between man’s desire to tame his land and nature’s superseding force is realized. Harmony exists here, from the high ceiling to the rich wooden floors, and the wide-open sides that frame verdant vistas. “You get the feeling of the outdoors coming indoors,” said project manager Marly Laraya.

To complete the atmosphere of serenity and subdued elegance, she and her team went to great lengths to add the final touches to the club, including the pavilion’s centerpiece, a massive polished boulder that spews water from its leveled top. Before its Zen-like reincarnation in the hands of an artisan, the gigantic three- to four-ton rock—a serendipitous find at a construction site within Anvaya—was transported the same way ancient laborers erected the Egyptian pyramids, with ropes and rolling logs as wheels. Laraya went overseas to acquire other design accents—huge temple bells from Bali, and a gong from a small Indonesian village that has mastered the art of producing a soothing and almost hypnotic resonance.

What will also hit a right note among vacationers is the club’s pièce de résistance, a series of interconnecting pools that will tempt even the nonswimmers. Aside from the customary lap pool, there’s a wading area where lounge chairs sit invitingly in the water, and a Jacuzzi-inspired pool that’s subtly divided to three intimate sections, making it perfect for long soaks and long conversations.

Despite its intuitive and artful execution, the pool complex pales against the majesty of the sea it overlooks. Out in the open waters, there are naturally more activities to engage the adventurous soul, from diving to kayaking, jet-skiing and body-boarding, which can all be arranged with the club’s friendly leisure coordinators.

A day of exploring in and out of the water can work up quite an appetite. I wasn’t expecting more than a pleasant meal. But with head chef Redd Agustin at the helm of the Pawikan Bar and Grill and the Bamboo Café, dining was elevated into a sensorial feast. This former US Embassy chef, whose inventive culinary creations I had previously sampled, has a remarkable talent for marrying different cultures on a plate.  This time, he outdid himself with a lavish spread that included foi gras with duck barbecue quesadilla, and scallop in vodka cream.

Between bites, head of sales and marketing for Ayala Land Premier Tom Mirasol related the recent change in rules for gaining club membership. Acquiring a share of the stock, priced at P650,000, is no longer possible without purchasing a lot on Anvaya Cove. The prime blocks, he said, are situated on The Cliffside, which commands a stunning view of the beach, the bay and the Zambales mountain ranges. Only a handful of available lots remain, but the neighborhood with the highest elevation, The Mango Grove, will similarly appeal to families who want to wake up to a “bird’s-eye view of the club and the Nature Camp.”

As for me, I would be waking up to a view of the lagoon from one of the casitas, where members and their guests can stay for P4,500 to P6,500 a night.

On the walk back to my room, I mulled over something else Mirasol mentioned: prospective share buyers will be screened before they are awarded or denied membership. “What makes a club valuable in the long run is who you like to be with...that it has the right membership profile,” he said. “It’s like choosing a school for your kids. You want your child to grow up around the right people, the right environment.”

If  respect for nature, a sense of stewardship over its more vulnerable creatures, and a renewed commitment for familial bonds are the values inspired by Anvaya Cove, then this is probably the second home anyone would want one’s family to return to every chance one gets.

A second home close to nature

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