“For mountain and stream, tree and leaf, root and blossom, every form in nature is echoed in us and originates in the soul whose being is eternity and is hidden from us but none the less gives itself to us for the most part in the power of love and creation.” Herman Hesse
If there is one place that is perfect for saying your wedding vows south of Manila, I could not think of a more fitting place
than Our Haven, in Indang, Cavite. A lush garden setting, with streaks of gentle sunbeams peeping through the leafy green canopy, your first visit at Our Haven will make you feel like you are in the middle of an enchanted forest…a quiet stroll through the garden takes you to gently sloping terrain dotted with ferns and other tropical plants, a little pond here, a romantic footbridge there and pockets of tropical flowers shooting from the shrubs or heartily cascading down from a romantic arch. A truly inspired creation by Ronnie Alberto, the three hectare property was once a rough patch of land planted with wild plants, coffee and santol trees. In 2008, Ronnie and his wife Marilyn bought the land to be their retirement home. Ronnie had just retired from his job as a business development specialist in an insurance company while Marilyn continued to be connected with a Japanese logistics and freight forwarding firm. Having found more time in his hands, Ronnie poured heart, labor and soul tending to the land, creating little nooks and spaces that spoke of his love for his wife. Yes, it was his living love letter for her. First came the “Hardin ni Marilyn” in 2012 inaugurated during Marilyn’s 50th birthday. It was a garden planted with all of Marilyn’s favorite plants. Marilyn returned the loving gesture by building the open multi-purpose hall dubbed “Papavillion” as her 50th birthday gift to Ronnie. Tucked in a corner of the property is the three-level tree house. It is the tallest structure in the place, offering panoramic views of the areas around it . With so much love and affection as the force behind the creation of Our Haven, it is no wonder that the place speaks eloquently to the heart…its gardens exuberant with joy, its ponds gently whispering like the promise of young love, its trees nurturing, the meandering walks holding little bits of surprises just like true living love! What started as a love offering is now a beautiful option for weddings and other functions. Our Haven hosted its very first wedding this love month and it was every bride’s dream, from the romantic nature inspired signages that dotted the path to the venue, the flowery backdrops, the tree-ringed altar, the airy garden buffet set up , the balmy weather, everything was perfect. All the guests lost no time taking pictures as the garden offered limitless postcard pretty scenes. Truly, the love of Ronnie and Marilyn has rubbed off on Our Haven. To just imbibe all that good feeling and reconnect with our inner loving selves. Experience living love. Celebrate it at Our Haven. ( by TJ Moncupa , Feb. 22,2017)
