Start your day with an uplifting yoga class overlooking the emerald green, luscious fields as the sun rises. Indulge in an ultimate spa experience beneath a luminous afternoon sun. Sip a glass of wine on a shaded, private balcony while enjoying the beautiful natural scenery. Clear your mind with meditation surrounded by aromatic candles amidst the silence of a moonlit mountain.

With the peaking demand and desire for refreshing and rejuvenating nature retreats surrounded by impressive beauty, the designs of residential properties and public spaces are now being shaped around the context of connection, flow, and experience.

Nature-Embracing Living Spaces

Imagine the pleasure of residing in a premium leisure estate that combines the beauty of nature and wellness for a luxuriously enriching experience — a reprieve from the chaos of daily life and a refuge for one's well-being.

Set within a natural terrain in the heart of Santo Tomas, Batangas, Pievana is Brittany's 25-hectare development inspired by the loops of a flowing ribbon, tying together formerly fragmented and subdivided spaces into a continuous and sprawling property with overlooking views of Mt. Makiling, Mt. Malarayat, and Mt. Banahaw.

Pievana will be home to high-end mid-rise condominiums and grand residential lots, villas and spas, unique retail concepts, lifestyle centers complemented by vast green spaces devoted to gardens, and quiet and unmatched luxury.

Pievana's perfect setting offers those seeking privacy and an opportunity to be part of a few groups of owners while still being handy to all the conveniences of modern life.

Human Connection with Nature

By melding the concept of biophilic design and wellness, Pievana embraces its natural environment with expansive spaces that flow freely into each other, just like nature's embrace, with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, gardens, and courtyards that allow for connectivity to nature.

A 5.5-hectare residential development is well-positioned to accommodate the next owner's dream home with outstanding panoramic mountain views. Pievana will offer spacious lots ranging from 600 sqm to 1,200 sqm. Ownership includes a share of an architectural central amenity area complete with a gym, spa, relaxation rooms, and entertainment areas set on the most private side of the estate.

An exclusive 9-hectare vertical village comprised of 8 to 15-story buildings will soon rise as part of the development, offering one-bedroom units (46.36 sqm), one-bedroom corner units (50.96 sqm), and two-bedroom units (101.15 sqm). As a low-density residence, the residential buildings will only have 6 to 10 units on a floor for exclusivity and privacy.

Pievana's design carefully straddles a line between passive and active leisure and recreational spaces where residents can enjoy the great outdoors through pocket gardens and serenity walk paths or indulge in mindfulness and slow living through purpose-built facilities focusing on the residents' connection, health, and well-being.

Tucked away in this breathtaking estate is a 5-hectare commercial area that effortlessly incorporates the beautiful surrounding landscape and rich local flavors into the overall wellness experience. The estate also prides itself on its unique restaurant concepts, with a design that blends into the natural scenery, beautifully curated and thoughtfully created.

A 3-hectare leisure development for spas and villas, events places, and flower and garden farm features will also be part of the commercial area.

Convenient Location with Utmost Privacy

Pievana is a covetable destination near the National Shrine of Saint Padre Pio and to different lifestyle centers, historic shrines, and restaurants. Yet, its exclusive community is carefully secluded from busy roads and communities through lines of trees, parks, and green spaces.

Pievana is also within a short distance from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Star tollway.

With a mission to pursue the beauty of life, Pievana will soon be a sanctuary where nature and luxury meet. An exclusive place where one can truly rest and feel at peace with oneself. A home away from home.

Wellness is a lifestyle that should be embraced and indulged, and acquiring a permanent address within a premium wellness hotspot is the ultimate expression of living the good life.

For more information on Brittany Corporation's collection of luxury properties, visit www.brittany.com.ph. You may also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

 Beko Philippines is entering a new phase of business in their journey to bring the European brand to a sustainable lifestyle for Filipino customers. In celebration of its third year of operations, Beko announces its goal of being the number one European brand in the Philippine market in the next 5 years.

“We are very happy to be holding this trade launch for our dealers and stakeholders as we share that Beko will be a bigger and better brand in the Philippines in 2023 and beyond,” said Gürhan Günal, Beko’s country director in the Philippines, who also presented the company’s business development plans of EXPAND, GROW, LEAD, CONNECTIVITY and SUSTAINABILITY for the Philippines along with the brand’s hero technologies at the anniversary trade launch at the Grand Ballroom of Marriott Hotel Manila. 

This is the heart and reason why this year, Beko will be made available soon in other appliance stores nationwide as it continues to “expand” its distribution to other retail channels. 

To further “grow” brand awareness and visibility they also announced the renewal of their brand ambassadorship with Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo alongside with digital and traditional media investments. 

As one of the “leading” manufacturers of home appliances, Beko promotes the Live Like a Pro lifestyle and inspires Filipinos to experience a more convenient way of living through European style product lines. They stated that Beko Pilipinas Corporation is the exclusive distributor of Hitachi Major Domestic Appliances as part of their brand portfolio. 

Beko appliances are made smart, relevant and designed to easily support Filipino families. With the HomeWhiz function you can easily “connect” to your Beko appliances with the use of your smartphones.

As part of Beko’s global sustainability effort, Beko Philippines announces its partnership with Plastic Credit Exchange, which serves a global ecosystem of carefully vetted partners that recover, process, and recycle plastic waste with programs that improve livelihood, scale up social impact, and reduce the flow of plastic pollution into nature. The partnership is in line with Extended Producer Responsibility Law, which holds companies responsible for the plastic packaging they use throughout the lifecycle of their products.

Beko Executives (L-R - Rolixus Kho Yute, Product Certification Specialist of Beko Philippines, Rebecca Aguilar, Product Marketing Senior Specialist of Beko Philippines, Ghie Papa, Brand Marketing Communications Specialist of Beko Philippines, Gurhan Gunal, Country Manager of Philippines, Nattinee Techanungnirun, Beko APAC Marketing Director, Panninuch Suwanaroek, Beko APAC Senior Lead Marketing Communications, Dyeun Zapanta, Marketing Head of Beko Philippines)

Trade launch showcasing hero technologies

As Beko marked its third year in the Philippines, the appliance brand held a grand trade launch for its dealers at the Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom with the theme “Empowered to Live Like A Pro.”

During the whole-day event, guests, including media and dealers, got to experience Beko’s range of appliances. They also got tips from a chef and an interior designer on how to manage their homes like a pro.

Beko Philippines showcased its hero technologies, such as HarvestFresh, ProSmart Inverter Technology, Steam Cure, Hygiene+,  AeroPerfect TM and many others. These technologies help you live like a pro. Among the products displayed that day were cookers. The HII64205F2MT  is a 60x50cm built-in induction hob with four Cooking Zones and two 2 Flexizone, nine cooking levels and a glass burner plate. Meanwhile, the BBIS14300XCSE 60x60cm. multifunction built-in oven with six cooking functions,  including Steam Aid feature for moist and even cooking.

There were also refrigerators, one of the appliances which Beko is famous for. The GNO480E40HFGBPH is a 16.6cf inverter multi-door refrigerator with Neofrost Triple Cooling Technology, HarvestFresh, Prosmart Inverter Compressor, in sleek black glass door finish.  Also featured is the Hitachi Refrigerator R-WB640VG0-1 GBK with Vacuum Technology with Platinum Catalyst, Inverter X Dual-fan Cooling with Eco-thermo sensor. 

Other appliances include the CEG7302B, a bean-to-cup espresso machine and the BSEOG180/181 2Hp air-conditioner with Go Clean Technology, MicroClean TM Filter, Gold Guard, ZoneFollow, 4D Auto Swing and HomeWhiz. 

Beko appliances are available at 1st Megasaver, Abenson, All Home, Anson’s, Appliance Centrum, Asian Home Appliance, Automatic Centre, BHF, Echo Electrical, Fair N Square, Gloria Bazaar, Great World, Hat, J Marketing, Lazada, Magic Appliance, Manhattan Appliance, Mike’s Department Store, NB Marketing, Pricewise, RS David, Our Builders, Robinsons Appliance, Savers, Shopee, SM Appliance, Solidmark, SVC & Plusign, United Motoliance, and Western Appliance.

For more information about Beko in the Philippines, go to http://beko.ph or visit their

Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bekoph and their Instagram page at

https://www.instagram.com/bekoph/.

 A living space often comes most alive when there's an element of surprise. Whether it's a fascinating fixture or an unexpectedly earthy building material, a unique classic addition can create an exciting tension in one's home. It's even better when a compelling story behind objects or layers of meaning goes into the development decision. 

A prime example of modern and historic interplay in a mixed-use development is the Pontevedra estate in Santa Rosa City, Laguna. 

When Heritage Meets Modern Luxury

Inspired by an inviting, small riverside city in Spain that combines history, culture, and style, Pontevedra is Brittany's 34-hectare estate in Santa Rosa, Laguna, that merges old and new with residential and commercial properties embodying a modern design, timeless quality, and artistic heritage. 

Like a work of art set in the heart of Santa Rosa City, Pontevedra is beautiful in its own right, with interlocking lanes and plazas and charming squares abuzz with cafes and unique restaurant concepts. 

A Mission-Style Estate

The estate drew inspiration from mission-style architecture, which reminds of the Mediterranean region, well suited to this contemporary part of the city's locale, climate, and lifestyle.  

Featuring an elemental material palette such as warm rubble and cut stone, carved wood accents, and earthy terracotta roof tiles, and design elements like soft arches, outdoor patios, and stone terraces, Pontevedra's architectural style is simple yet functional, with rustic charm, emphasizing allowing the finished materials and surfaces to show the hand of the craftsman. 

Discoveries on Foot

Parallel to the Spanish city from which the name was derived, Pontevedra creates the impression of a sanctuary where everything is just a step away and where each district has its main courtyard as an artery, defining its character. 

Parks, tree-lined avenues, fountains and gardens, establishments with coats of arms on their façades, squares that are full of life, and pavement cafés with a lively atmosphere punctuate the interlinked streets while the commercial district's gleaning stone-and-glass buildings are dripping with potted greenery, making it more environmentally integrated when you stroll along the streets. 

Pontevedra encourages future residents to discover the different districts on foot, strolling and enjoying every corner. It invites one to walk through its most emblematic squares, feel the atmosphere of its streets, taste its delicious gastronomy, and discover its character by exploring its intimate community.

Distinct Character and Personality

Each district in Pontevedra has its character and personality, full of life, passion, creativity, and joy. 

Aveiro by Pontevedra: Mesmerizing Ambiance

Pontevedra has a soon-to-rise exclusive high-rise vertical village set to deliver the best in luxury living through spaces embedded with nature and architecture. 

Imagine waking up to the tweeting of birds, the sound of human voices, and the tinkle of coffee spoons, Aveiro by Pontevedra has pocket gardens peppered between private spaces throughout the building and private balconies wrapped around the building's exterior. 

Viento by Pontevedra: Land of Picturesque Patios

Dotting the horizon of Sta. Rosa, Laguna is Viento by Pontevedra, a series of low- and mid-rise residential buildings amidst open courtyards and landscaped gardens, enabling the internal spaces always to stay open, letting the wind through and affecting natural ventilation.

Viento will provide a space to gather, interact, and enjoy a unique experience with unrivaled views.

Vizcino by Pontevedra: Near and Neighboring Communities

With the rise of modern infrastructure and property developments, Santa Rosa City in Laguna has become a growing urbanized region, now home to various industries. It has a lot to offer in terms of commercial and retail businesses.

Vizcino by Pontevedra brings to life a surrounding neighborhood that offers many shopping opportunities, restaurants, retail spaces, and office buildings. 

Envisioned to be the estate's growth center, Vizcino will feature generously sized commercial areas for business and investment that will be complemented by residential communities and transport hubs that will cultivate a dynamic environment for ventures and entrepreneurial pursuits.

Valenza: A Mix of Modernity and History

Unique for such a busy city, Valenza is Pontevedra's 22-hectare residential community, which includes access to a quaint semi-enclosed garden that offers moments of peace away from the vibrant city that surrounds it. 

Valenza features an impressive array of homes amidst a charming neighborhood, with amenities such as a pool, pocket gardens, and a basketball court, offering families the luxury of living in a serene and secure community while still having access to the comforts of the metro.

Segovia: Great Food, Great Memories

Seeking to convey a sense of the city's urban life within one smart vertical concept, Segovia is a mixed-use project that combines condominiums, offices, and restaurants, all of which contribute to a "live, work, play" lifestyle.   

Located within the Pontevedra estate, a few blocks from Ramblas, Segovia has modern city views, but the decor pays homage to classical Spanish design. Segovia offers future residents the perfect retreat with a sense of rustic luxury.

Huesca: Gateway to the City

Enjoying a fabulous location in the charming Pontevedra estate, Huesca is a residential building full of nature, magic, and contrasts that are well worth a stroll. 

A string of buildings that follows one after the other, Huesca is another charmer, considered the gateway to the city, with promenades.

The Iconic Strips

Pontevedra's pedestrian and quiet streets invite future residents to go shopping while strolling and enjoying the local commerce of proximity. These iconic strips feature a comfortable, green, friendly cultural promenade with more pedestrian space. A wide array of luxurious shops and places full of charm offer residents and guests a warm welcome. 

Ramblas: Where the Party Never Ends

In a relatively small and comfortable radius at Ramblas, one will find every option possible to enjoy life more - a strip of quaint and quiet cafes to start the night, unique restaurant concepts, and after-hours. 

La Unidad: The Green Street

Lining Pontevedra’s different districts is La Unidad, a kilometer line of parks running from Viento to Aveiro, and connecting the estate’s waterways via landscaped footpaths and water features.

Future residents can take advantage of La Unidad to explore the community, enjoy the natural surroundings and appreciate the community’s scenic beauty. It will be accented with different plantings for variety, in layered combinations of color and texture, for a natural, lush tropical look. 

About Brittany Corporation

Brittany is the luxury residential and leisure arm of the country's largest homebuilder Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. Besides Pontevedra, Brittany offers a fine selection of home designs, high-end condominiums, and lot-only properties in excellent locations, such as Portofino in Alabang, Forresta in Daang Hari, Augusta, and Georgia Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Crosswinds in Tagaytay, and Bern in Baguio.

For more information on Brittany Corporation's collection of luxury properties, visit www.brittany.com.ph. You may also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Brittany Corporation recently topped off the third building of Alpine Villas in Crosswinds Tagaytay.

The company expects to generate more interest from homebuyers and investors as demand for residential homes outside Metro Manila grows. Owning a second home in leisure destinations has also risen in popularity among high-income buyers. 

Brienz is Alpine Villas’ third residential building, which will offer 89 units of studio and one-bedroom with a starting price of P141,000 per square meter, currently valued at P300,000 per square meter. Up to 98% of the units have already been sold during the initial launch.

Alpine Villas is Crosswinds’ 2.8-hectare enclave that features mid-rise residential towers surrounded by charming European-inspired cafes and restaurants. One of the most coveted leisure and residential addresses in Crosswinds, Alpine Villas sits over 582 meters above sea level, commanding a stunning view of Crosswinds’ exclusive community, lush forest pines, plenty of open green spaces, and the commercial strip that features unique restaurant concepts. 

Brienz is the third of the five buildings of Alpine Villas, with the other three named Bernese, Blanc, Biel, and Basel. 

About Brittany Corporation

Brittany is the luxury residential and leisure arm of the country’s largest homebuilder Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. Besides Crosswinds, Brittany offers a fine selection of home designs, high-end condominiums, and lot-only properties in excellent locations, such as Portofino in Alabang, Forresta in Daang Hari, Augusta, and Georgia Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, and Bern in Baguio.

For more information on Brittany Corporation’s collection of luxury properties, visit www.brittany.com.ph. You may also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

 As a parent you constantly worry about your child. You worry about your child's safety even at school.

Then, homeschooling may be the best option- spend more time with your child or children every day, making sure they are safe while educating them right at the comfort of your own place.

Passion in providing quality and affordable education

The passion of Dr. Richard Paolo B. Deluria, Woodlands International Homeschool Chairman and CEO and his wife Ms. Frances Louise T. Deluria, a qualified registered pediatric nurse in both the Philippines and United Arab Emirates (UAE), to provide quality yet affordable education for Filipino children of Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE, made it possible to establish Woodlands International Homeschool, the latest venture of SRK Education Group International.

Dr. Richard Deluria / Frances Deluria, RN/ Atty. Roviel Nepomuceno/ Maria Carmencita Nepomuceno, MBA and Kathrina Lopez, LPT

Dr. Deluria and his wife Frances Louise believes that homeschooling can be executed at the comfort of homes especially it has grown more popular during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Most families converted to this kind of new normal way of education," said Dr. Deluria, who is also a Bachelor’s degree holder in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Master’s in Psychology and PhD in Education Major in Curriculum Design, Development and Supervision.

Dr. Deluria underscored the vital role of technology in the transition of new normal way of executing education.

"We have our own Learning Management System that can be accessed any time, anywhere. Likewise, mobile application and the websites are meticulously designed to serve not just as a marketing tool but as another way to create meaningful learning experience for all its students," Dr. Deluria shared.

For her part, Ms. Deluria, said that homeschooling provides positive and appropriate socialization with peers and adult.

In the UAE, he cited, more than a thousand students have been interested and has since converted into enrolling in our curriculum.

" Testimonies from all the current and past students have proven both effectiveness and economical reasons on why they wanted our way of execution," he said.

Woodlands International is anchored on the solid foundation of providing both the Philippine and US-based curriculum of SRK students in the Middle-East.

It belongs to the group that have served almost 2,000 students across the region catering different types of families with trust and engagement of Filipino and International Community that has since moved to international schools or other western countries like the United States, Canada and other European countries.

Its curriculum is now well-certified under the Department of Education in the Philippines and the United States.

The average cost of homeschooling per child will be P75,000.00 per year but can be adjusted based on the future needs of the families.

Likewise, there will be options for payment on additional tutors should the subjects will be really challenging.

"It is more flexible," Dr. Deluria excitedly shared.

Courage

To those parents who are having second thoughts to homeschool their child or not, Dr. Deluria said that it takes a lot of courage to homeschool one child.

" As a parent, I feel how a day will go at home without a single nag to our naughty kids. Yet if you allow to explore homeschooling and the benefits of it, like us, you should be able to feel comfort, safety and close attachment to your children. Attending in one of our orientation may somehow ease as well all your worries as we have a very interactive session prior to enrollment," he encouraged.

"Homeschool-based education shall be the future of education," Dr. Deluria concluded.

For more information, visit www.srkeducationgroupinternational.com

Faceboook: Woodlands International Homeschool 

Instagram: @woodlands.homeschool

Email Address: woodlands.homeschool@gmail.com

Woodlands International Homeschool at Four/NEO, 4th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila.