THE 3-hectare Kaway’an EcoPark, located in Sabella Village, General Trias, Cavite, earned the distinction of being named as the sole Philippine destination to be included in TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places of 2026. Officially opened in December of last year, the 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.
During the press tour on May 25, Rosie Tsai, the president of Citihomes Builder and Development Inc. (CBDI), the park’s developer, said that 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.”
The experts that CBDI engaged — a combination of homegrown Filipino architects, Indonesia’s renowned Ibuku Studio and London’s Atelier One — collaborated to create a structure where the pathways would connect seamlessly through gardens, lagoons and bamboo groves. Geometric designs emphasize the wide landscapes, subtly exhibiting how bamboo can provide resilience, compression, flexibility and strength to the eco-park’s various components.
Tsai said that the design of the park’s Marilag Grand Pavilion, its defining architectural centerpiece, ensured that it can “withstand the kinds of typhoons and monsoon rains that we experience here in the Philippines.”
Elizabeth Wang, general manager of Kaway’an Eco Development Inc., explained how they customized the use of the bamboo, sourced locally and from Bali, Indonesia. “We also made sure that the structure itself will stand even amid our typhoons here,” which Wang emphasized can 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.”
Amenities
The eco-park 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 Wang’s wedding ceremony was held in the Pavilion.
A stroll down the Marahuyo Bridge, which means “enchanting,” gives one an overview of the park’s other amenities and features. The first, which is at viewing distance, is the greenhouse built to address food security. It is producing hydroponic lettuce, dragon fruit, lanka and calamansi, among others. Wang said aside from giving their nearby homeowners and park visitors access to fresh fruits, the greenhouse also promotes education. “A lot of kids nowadays have never seen a whole living chicken,” Wang said. “We want to push for tours for school children. We have planted a lot of native trees as well.”
The more active visitors can ride on horseback (there are currently six horses in the stable) and try the recently acquired bamboo bikes. Picnics can be held on the expansive green grounds, which have tables; the park also provides banigs or umbrellas upon request. People can bring their own food or buy from the nearby El Rio Floating Café.
Tents that measure up to 60x60 or 60x30 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.”
The man-made lagoon near the bridge 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 we are not completely reliant on the deep well in the area,” said Wang.
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.”