Studies show that these so-called gentlemen or weekend farmers look to their farm as an eventual retirement haven. It’s also a place to grow crops and plants for personal use. And since they know the value of their money, they view the farm as good investment.
This is the main reason why Laguna Properties Holdings Inc. – the mass housing arm of leading real estate company Ayala Land Inc. – will soon build a master-planned community in Lipa City that will combine farming and recreation with residential use.
One part of the community is a 64-hectare development that will offer farm lots ranging from 750 to 1,500 square meters as well as hacienda lots as big as 5,000 square meters.
The bigger lots are ideal for recreational and commercial farming, which can include several agricultural activities like growing fruits, flowers, vegetables and ornamental plants as well as aquaculture and limited raising of horses and game fowl.
As an added attraction, buyers will have the option to build their dream rest house or even their retirement home suited to their needs and activities which will definitely include farming.
The other development is a 30-hectare residential village with lot sizes between 150 and 300 square meters. It will be designed in such a way that it can accommodate existing LPHI houses.
Both developments will share the community’s exclusive clubhouse amenities to include a multi-purpose hall, swimming pool, meditative garden, basketball court, jogging path, nature trail and landscaped playground. Electric, telephone and cable facilities as well as 24-hour security will be provided.
With all the benefits this LPHI master-planned community promises, one might still ask: Why Lipa?
Manuel J. Colayco Jr., LPHI president, said there is no single compelling reason why the Ayala Land subsidiary chose Lipa over other possible sites around Metro Manila.
"Our research showed the market prefers Lipa because it has an invigorating year-round climate due to its high altitude, it is ideal for growing fruits, vegetables and flowers and it is proximate to Manila," he adds. "It also caters to a growing number of horticulture enthusiasts and Metro Manila’s "gentlemen farmers" group."
According to a soil study conducted by the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, the clay loam soil of Lipa is suitable for a wide range of crops. Among the plants suited to the place are banana, eggplant, tomato, cabbage, lettuce, madre de cacao, corn, coffee, lanzones, mangosteen, durian, tamarind, santol and ornamental plants like orchids and anthuriums.
As an added value to new "farmers," LPHI has tie-ups with agricultural Lipa Farm Schools to provide design and caretaker services, seminar on farming activities and referrals for outsourcing of agricultural and related suppliers.
Located between barangays Antipolo del Sur and Latag, the upcoming LPHI farm estate village is a mere four kilometers from Lipa town proper and is very near Lipa Cathedral and Carmelite Monastery – site of recently reported miracles.
From Makati, the planned community is about an hour and a half away.