Home for the holidays Home for the holidays Home for the holidays and all year round

AFTER nearly 40 years of working in New York City, this couple began thinking of building a retirement home by the sea. Since they both wanted a pristine, quiet place that offers year-round sunshine, their choice boiled down to either buying a property in Maui, Hawaii or in Punta Fuego, Batangas. After personally witnessing for themselves the horrific and fateful events of 9-11, their choice became clear.

"A lot of people have asked us why we decided to come back," says the wife, who has requested anonymity. "After 9-11, we felt that no place on earth was completely safe anymore. We had had enough of the rat race. It was finally time to go home and enjoy life."

Their introduction to Punta Fuego came several years earlier at a family reunion in Manila. When the family accepted an invitation to visit the exclusive community by the sea, they were bowled over by its natural beauty and world-class amenities.

The children, who were born and raised in the US, fell in love with Punta Fuego and wondered aloud how totally removed it was from the rest of Metro Manila. But having spent their vacations in Maui, the couple also held on to the idea of living someday in the island-paradise.

"Of course, living in Hawaii would have been much more expensive," she says. "We would have to do all the housework ourselves since hiring maids in the States is pretty expensive. I'm used to hard work, but after retiring I don't want to do those things anymore."

After finally making their choice, the couple lost no time in shipping furniture and accent pieces from their Long Island home to a halfway house in Tagaytay. Many of the pieces, such as a tapestry inspired by a Mon,t painting from France, a padded wing sofa from the US and a pair of antique lamps from Morocco, have each found a place in their three spacious sitting areas.

"Many of the pieces were sourced from our travels abroad," says the wife. "I inherited some local pieces from my grandmother, such as the vintage chairs and cabinets made of hardwood, which I had re-varnished."

Another heirloom piece, a dark bas-relief of "The Last Supper," provides an interesting contrast to the formal dining table's bright, Yuletide glitter.

The wife's fondness for Santa Claus is seen in the various images of old St. Nick that are on display in each sitting area. Christmas decor, from angels to reindeer and of varied materials and inspirations, vie for space on dark, wooden tables, ledges and shelves.

Sourcing for materials and additional accent pieces is another story. After consulting with their architect, the couple flew to Bali for a working vacation, months before terrorists bombed the famed tourist destination. While in Ubod, the island's arts and cultural hub, the wife discovered a treasure trove of objects that blended well with the dream home on her mind.

Beyond borders

Fretwork from old houses, distressed ceramic tiles and Balinese furniture and accent pieces were among the items that eventually found their way to the Philippines. Most of the fretwork now adorns a series of picture windows that provides an awesome view of the sea, while pale peach ceramic tiles with occasional stone accents add warmth to several sitting areas.

"This is a 'beyond-borders' home," she says, referring to the items' multinational flavor. She might as well be speaking literally. The first floor is nearly devoid of any borders, except for elevations and variations in the ceiling that distinguish one space from the other.

The kitchen, dining and family areas, for example, are elevated from the main living room that doubles as a lanai. Aside from a low ledge that separates the two sitting areas, a plain wooden ceiling ends where a sawali-inspired one begins.

"The concept was my idea," the wife adds. "I wanted, for instance, an open kitchen so I could still chat with my friends in the living room while I'm cooking."

The idea extends to several sliding doors that open directly to the garden with an irregular-shaped swimming pool. By doing away with tall perimeter walls, the couple sacrificed some of their privacy in favor of the ocean view. Thick bushes on an elevated garden enable them to take a dip in the pool late in the afternoon without being seen from the street.

"My husband and I love the sunset," she says. "We usually drink wine and enjoy the view just like in the movies. These are things we would have missed out on had we stayed in New York."

Having lived in the US for several years, they deemed it wise to equip their second home with pushbutton amenities, such as a dishwasher, washing machine and dryer. Three household help keep the couple company and take care of the house whenever they're on an extended trip abroad.

For sure, they'll be celebrating this Christmas, their very first, in their brand-new home. They have yet to receive word if either of their two adult children is flying over from the US to share with them the joys of the season. But the wife won't be surprised if one of them does.

"I'm hoping they'd surprise us," she says. "My son and daughter-in-law surprised me during my birthday. I was so delighted when they suddenly showed up unannounced in Tagaytay."

Who says life becomes a drag soon after retirement? For this couple, it seems, life has just begun.