What trees may come

MANILA, Philippines - Life, even in the harshest conditions, always finds a way. Even in the most densely populated concrete jungle, wayward shoots and leaves manage to bring greenery — bursting from tiny cracks on the hard cement — where it is often systematically wiped out in favor of polished floors. Concerned with the daily grind, it is easy to forget that it is precisely these greens that allow the city to breathe and, literally, make it livable for people to thrive.

At Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., the country’s largest homebuilder, there is a group of people encouraging nature to flourish. Where others would find mercy and allow an accidental tree to live, they would actually plant the trees. This group of people is called Greenscape and it is through their efforts that the lush landscapes and rolling terrains continue to thrive even amid human activities.

“Greenscape handles the landscaping of Brittany, Crown Asia and Vista Residences. So intense was the need to integrate nature in the developments that the group was created specifically to ensure it would be taken care of and allowed to flourish,” explains Norina Ocampo, landscape management officer.

Greenscape, she notes, is not an afterthought. Their involvement begins as early as the creation of the land development plan where their inputs are valued and integrated when determining which areas of the property will be built on or left as an open space.

“A good example is Georgia Club,” she says, citing a Brittany development in Sta. Rosa, Laguna inspired by the architecture of the American South.

“You can see old trees are worked around on. In the very rare cases when we had to designate an area with a tree as a lot for building, we ball it out and transplant it,” she adds.

This effort has left the property with interesting roadways and walking trails, which added charm to the graceful property that evokes the opulence of Scarlett O’Hara and the romance of Rhett Butler in the classic film Gone with the Wind.

Ocampo shares that they have transplanted five trees and all are thriving well in their new homes.  It costs at least P20,000 to transplant a single tree. While the cost is steep, the long-term benefit is priceless.

Every effort is made to save existing trees — not just century-old ones. In the event that cutting is inevitable for the young and more common species, Greenscape plants at least three new trees to replace the old ones. It is also mandatory to plant at least three trees per lot.

Indeed, tree planting begins as early as the land development stage to ensure that every area receives a fair amount of foliage. During and after construction, the Greenscape team continues to assess the situation and is always called upon to add more and more trees that ensure a cleaner and fresher air in every property.

CrossWinds, a property in Tagaytay inspired by Swiss architecture, is another success story.

“If you see old photos of CrossWinds, it was really bare. Most of the pine trees you see there were all planted. What you see now is really the result of the team’s efforts,” notes Ocampo.

Greenscape goes beyond mere tree planting. They also handle the rest of the spaces as well. The structures, amenities areas, and landscaping comprise a good percentage of the property. It is their responsibility to keep these spaces as lush as possible.

Like the trees, there is also an effort to preserve the natural lay of the land. The terrain is left undisturbed and the property is developed in a way that respects how nature carved out the land — preserving the peaks and dips that it offers.

She admits that this commitment to preserving nature has truly made her job more challenging. As compared to other landscape architects who are charged with greening a garden or open spaces that have already been flattened and ready for whatever fantasy concoction that the owners dream of, her team has to contend with the many restrictions that gets their creative juices flowing.

And this is why Ocampo finds joy in her work. It is this deeply rooted respect for nature and unwavering commitment to its preservation, which is in sync with her personal values, that drives her and the Greenscape team to coax life from barren lands and create a lush landscape that raises the quality of life of the residents who will call it home.