The Perfect Halloween

I'm sorry but I don't understand some holidays we have like this yearly pilgrimage to cemeteries that have become more and more crowded.  There are times, I feel a bit anti-Christmas as well for all the commercialism but then these are just personal musings.  This "undas" I was lucky enough to be in Calatagan jump starting a delayed and over-the-budget construction project that could still be reigned in with improved management at the last steps.

Just a few weeks ago, my teenage brother asked me how he can arrange an affordable student-price beach stay with his barkada.  I went to three resorts in the Matabungkay area which is just a few minutes from Calatagan, to be able to compare and get a good fit for his requirements and budget.  There was one resort that I saw and thought wouldn't mind trying out and the opportunity presented itself this holiday.

The Coral Beach Resort is owned by a group of foreigners from different countries and it seems like the only "nice, clean and decent" resort in a string of resorts which have seen their heyday. Most of the guests were expats who enjoyed the bit of exclusive enclave that the small resort offered.  Outside, there were vendors who pestered you with their products or rafts.  There was a stall selling illegal shells and corals.   There were noisy karaoke bars at night and there was a part of the beach which had shards of beer bottle glass which signaled to the stroller that it was time to head back to the safe haven.

It's sad when you see what the dangerous combination of over-tourism and improper resource management can do to a pretty place.  A few decades ago, this certainly was a much better place to visit but with no uniting force to protect the quality of the environment, it's easy to understand its economic, social and physical decline. Matabungkay, despite the onslaught of better competition, is probably surviving due to its proximity to Manila and there may still be life left in her yet.  As long as there are children like Joshua who love chasing the tiny, tiny crabs as they scurry across the sand down into the holes and their vast network of tunnels.

Back in the Swing Again

Hooray!  We're back in Calatagan and hopefully we'll finish the mobile beach house in two weeks.  Back in the swing of things again, the carpenters were eager to see the project's completion.  However, I got a bit of a high-blood inducing disappointment over the local contractor.  While we worked on the Bel-Air project for two weeks, I added to the local contractor's scope of work so as not to lose to much time when we get back.  These were tasks that could be done with minimal supervision since I didn't want to shuttle between Manila and Calatagan.  Alas, the contractor said it would be better if they did their job alongside the Manila team which I understood but he could've told me this earlier before the two weeks were up and I was expecting something from their part.  Ah well, we'll see how it goes after this holiday break. 

That panel that's been taken down is undergoing the third correction.  The first two times had problems with the wood sourced from the local hardware store.  The wood was substandard so we decided that the third time we're doing it, we're getting the wood for Manila so this ought to work.

Nady is one of my mom's long-time carpenter who's worked on a lot of projects and is quite fast and skilled.  For a number of years, he stayed back to his province but took the trip to the city this time to help me out as well as earn a better wage for his family.

These were the palo-china furnitures - beds and desk that were made in the wood workshop in Manila and took some delays.  I made a mistake with one shelf/closet design which set back work and then things were going too slowly for comfort so I further simplified the design of the other items, in the end for the better.  Looking forward to installing them soon in the house but first we have to finish the windows and interior walls.

I am extremely blessed to be able combine work with quality time with my son Joshua who just loves the beach . . . and hotdogs.

Delivered on the Dot

On October 29, 7pm, we delivered the finished space on the dot, exactly 14 days from the starting date.  We started with five workers and the team grew to eleven and went back down to four -- all in the rush so that the owners can move back into their bedroom by October 31.   It was a lesson-filled week for me but now we all can't wait to get back to the beach house in Calatagan -- the fresh air, open sky, infinite sea. . . . plus more than a modicum of design autonomy. 

Rushing to Meet the Deadline

Here are pictures from the renovation site taken in the past three days.  Work is being rushed to meet the October 30 deadline so the owner can move back into their bedroom while fulfilling the Feng Shui requirement to unite the bedroom with the transformed storage space.

The new loft space ceiling may be too low for comfort so the owner wanted to maximize whatever height can be derived.  Feng Shui doesn't allow for sloping ceilings so we straightened it all out and made changes in height in right angles.

Once the gypsum boards are in place, painting can be started so everyone was rushing to finish the ceiling.  However with the additional changes in levels, it wasn't as easy as expected.

Steps are taking shape.  My original suggestion was for a nicely made ladder so it wouldn't be included in the scope of work but it's also good that this got included because it is the safer way to go up the loft.  Plus it's just a little addition to the budget and doesn't affect the timeline.  Chuck that into my basket of lessons.

It took more work, time and money to do but the resulting complex ceiling is better than if we made it a simple two-step affair.  And we can still make the deadline by working this last Sunday and from Monday to this coming Saturday, working till 9pm.  So the moral of the story is as in any service industry "customer knows best."

Additional notes for me:  lessons to always always always remember especially since pricing is my weak point.  Do not forget to add the operational costs which include the inspection transportation cost, debris hauling, cellphone load, food for overtime (ingredients and preparation) and labor cash advance that can't be deducted (most can but there are exceptions).  Factor in the unexpected.  My friend Aouie already told me this, but did I listen?  No, I had to learn the hard way again by expensive experience. But that's all part of the plan, right Agent Oso?