From the Midwest redneck author of "The Rooster Crows at 4am!," "Lizard Poop!," and "The Philippines Expat Advisor"
Construction Boom in Savannah Subdivision in Iloilo
The Orchard Subdivision in Savannah Subdivision in Iloilo has 24/7 water. No big deal? It is if you're renting a home that only has water three times a week like our enclave. My asawa and I have been here almost a year after spending a little over two years in her home province of Guimaras. When I discovered that a newer section of our development had a daily water supply, I decided to take a stroll over there this Friday morning and check it out.
Photo source: aliraqi.org
It was already warm when I headed out. I don't use an umbrella to shield myself from the sun. My wife and nieces do. They're sissies. The "feels like" temperature was already 33 °C, 91.40° F, at 8:30 this Friday morning when I headed out.
My asawa stayed at home. No doubt to enjoy some peace and quiet. Niece April had gone to work for her first day at SM City and her twin sister, Michelle, was finishing up her computer class sponsored by the Philippines Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA.) Michelle only has one more day of class.
I ambled past one of dozens of empty houses found in our subdivision such as the one depicted in the next photo. You'll find this similar "cookie-cutter" abode throughout the Savannah Subdivision in Iloilo. 
You'll also see many homes like the one shown in the next picture with the massive firewall on the left side. When an empty lot adjoins the resident, the blank walled-surface sticks out like a drunken kano at a jeepney loading station.
On the way to the Orchard Subdivision I stopped to admire this two story home on a corner lot. I like the balcony above the parking area and would love to build a house this size in the future. I believed the residence encompassed at least three 240 square meter lots.
Here's one of the two dozen or more new construction sites I saw on my way to the Orchard Subdivision located just outside Savannah outside Iloilo City. As you can imagine, a good looking kano like me stirred up quite a common as I walked along the street snapping photographs.
Ok, so I had just related the fact that there are dozens of empty houses in our subvision, yet dozens of new homes are being constructed. It's my understanding that a major portion of the abodes were abandoned during the destructive flooding brought about by Typhoon Frank in 2008. Home owners deserted their homes and left unpaid mortgages as well.
Most of the new construction I witnessed today was in the newest section of Savannah Subdivision near and inside the enclave named "The Orchard." Have to tell you that I did not see any orchards at all.
So where exactly is "The Orchard" getting their water from and how are they able to get it 24/7 every day of the week? Our water only runs three times a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Find out next post when I encounter an oversized friendly Filipino man on a motorbike "supervising" an aggregation of workers laboring in the hot sun.
Dave, you said “I don’t use an umbrella to shield myself from the sun.” You should try out one of these “Joe” umbrella hats, perfect for a “Joe” like you. Just think about how much attention “a good looking kano like” you would stir up then.
http://sosayssipora.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/umbrella_hat_joe.jpg
Thanks, Lance, checked out the link. That “joe” umbrella hat looks exactly like something one of my heroes from the St. Louis Cardinals, Lou Brock, invented years ago. Here’s a link to the “Brockabella.”
Water all the time? Wow!!! Go for it Dave… Keep it up and you will be living great… Just like we do here in Tagum City…
We’re definitely going to check it out, Gary. I’m sure the asawa would be glad if I went back to my two-three daily showers I had back in Guimaras. I can sweat just sitting still.
Just curious, how much will they sell those new homes for? Also, are the abandoned homes for sale by the bank,or will they just sit there forever? Are they being maintained? We get water everyday in Talavera, but can’t get enough water pressure to take a decent shower. I will need to knock some heads about that one.
Ice Man, I see some homes there online going for P2,876,105.00, 68,000 US Dollars for a two story, five-bedroom home, 3 baths. That’s in our price range. There is an exclusive enclave in Savannah called “The Crest.” Our land property management person told me that houses there start at P10 million. We’ll be searching in the Orchard area.
We’ll be checking with our real estate agent who rented us our home about what’s available at “The Orchard” and do a future post on it.
Dave,
Does the “Orchard” flood?. Thats a big thing for us in Cavite. Were looking at 2 subdivisions that are supposedly flood free in Imus and Bacoor. The prices are around 2M with some additional things added to it. Anne was smart and started saving when she was young and it will be paid for completely. They both have water all the time and gated and 24 hour armed security. Hopefully you can build the house you want in “the Orchard”. Have a nice day.
I don’t believe there was any flooding in “The Orchard,” Papa Duck, during our last big rainstorm. It’s a new development and flood control measures have been put in place. Large drainage pipes have been installed throughout our subdivision.
It sounds like you’ve got a “keeper” there in, Anne, Papa. She’s a smart lady to have saved up up her money and have a nice home paid for. Plus, hooking up with a good guy like you really indicates she has extremely good taste.
Dave,
Thanks so much for the kind comments.
You’re welcome, Papa Duck.