MOST OF US must have already heard about tourist destinations like the Ifugao Rice Terraces in Banaue and the famed white beaches of Boracay in Aklan. But does anyone heard of the Kaway’an EcoPark located in Sabella Village in General Trias City in Cavite?
Well, we better learn fast about this three-hectare nature preserve that has just earned the distinction of being named as the sole Philippine destination to be included in TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places of 2026.
The ecopark officially opened in December last year, and its eco-themed master-planned landmark was designed to showcase the advantages of using bamboo as a structural material, while inviting families and individuals alike to embark on an immersive journey that brings relaxation and rejuvenation.
According to Rosie Tsai, president of the park’s developer Citihomes Builder and Development Inc. (CBDI), Kaway’an originated from her longtime love of bamboo and her desire to “prompt people to love the environment more, and that they have more social interaction and wellness.”
To do this, CBDI engaged CBDI a team of homegrown Filipino architects, Indonesia’s renowned Ibuku Studio and London’s Atelier One to collaborate and create a structure where the pathways would connect seamlessly through gardens, lagoons and bamboo groves.
“We have created here geometric designs that emphasize the wide landscapes, subtly exhibiting how bamboo can provide resilience, compression, flexibility and strength to our eco-park’s various components,” Tsai explained.
And the design of the Marilag Grand Pavilion, its defining architectural centerpiece, ensures that it can “withstand the kinds of typhoons and monsoon rains that we experience here in the Philippines,” she added.
Kaway’an Eco Development Incorporated (KEDI)’s general manager Elizabeth Wang recalled how they customized the use of the bamboo which they sourced locally and from Bali, Indonesia.
“We also made sure that the structure itself will stand even amid our typhoons here,” Wang emphasized while taking pride that it can withstand strong weather disturbances that could go up to Signal No. 3 or 4.
“We use the black steel spine along the center of the structure. It was necessary to build with steel, which also lent beauty to the entire structure. We use synthetic kogon, and this is more of a safety feature as well,” she cited.
In addition, Tsai advertized that Kaway’an EcoPark has been designed to host weddings, cultural celebrations, corporate events, photo shoots and community gatherings at a generous scale. To date, yoga retreats have taken place and GM Wang’s wedding ceremony was held in the park’s lush Pavilion.
The park also has several beautiful features: Marahuyo Bridge, which name means ‘enchanting’, where one can take a stroll to see an overview of the whole area; a greenhouse built to address food security through its production of hydroponic lettuce, dragon fruit, lanka and calamansi, among other veggies and fruits.
Wang said aside from giving their nearby homeowners and park visitors access to fresh fruits; and expansive green grounds, where guests and visitors can be provided with banigs or native mats and umbrellas upon request and go on picnics with their friends and family. People can bring their own food or buy from the nearby El Rio Floating Café.
“The greenhouse also promotes education. A lot of kids nowadays have never seen a whole living chicken. So, we want to push for tours for school children. We have planted a lot of native trees as well,” Wang interjected.
In the meantime, for he more active visitors, they can ride on horseback (there are currently six horses in the stable) and try the recently acquired bamboo bikes.
Tents that measure up to 60×60 or 60×30 can block out the sun and its rays during the hotter moments, enabling people to “lie down in comfort,” said Wang. “In the event that it rains, we can set the tents up, and people can still enjoy the picnic grounds.”
There is also a man-made lake which invites guests to do a bit of fishing and boating. At the same time, it serves to collect the water runoff from the rains throughout the wet seasons.
The collected water is repurposed for irrigation so that the park is not completely reliant on the deep well in the area.
While guests are encouraged to clean up as they go, a staff of about 22 ensures that the entire eco-park and its landscapes are always pristine. A composting machine given by the local government collects the biodegradable waste and turns it into fertilizer.
To date, the eco-park hosts 1,000 visitors a month who pay an entrance fee of P100 per person. The other activities, like horseback riding, charge separate rates. Future plans include glamping facilities and a potential setup for Airbnb.
As Tsai described the facility, “Kaway’an EcoPark stands as a testament to what becomes possible when a remarkable team of experts dares to come together to share one vision and goal: to bring a sustainable sanctuary to life.”