Over the past few years, amidst the pandemic, David Esteban and Dona Tumacder-Esteban, the proud owners of Tutubig Eco-Garden, embarked on a remarkable journey to El Nido. This wasn’t their first visit, and after multiple trips, they found themselves acquiring a 4,403-square meter property tucked away just off the highway in Villa Libertad. The purchase held immense potential as an investment, a future home, or even a prospective campus for The Earth School. However, uncertainty and questions loomed as they discovered the true nature of their inheritance. Dona explains,“We didn’t realize how wet it was; that’s the problem with going in and buying cold. So realizing this from my end, I ended up having a very weird relationship with the land.” She goes on to describe the challenges posed by rapid development in the area, particularly concerning waterways and flow. In collaboration with Shyo Sayajon, this couple christened their venture Tutubig Eco-Garden, drawing from the Filipino word for dragonfly – a symbol of transformation and adaptability. Dona recalls her first time visiting she saw a space filled with dragonflies. Tutubi in Filipino translates as dragonfly, while tubig means water.
We outline some of the process, conversation, and progress of Tutubig in the start of an ongoing series of posts that will cover a contrast in approach to land development.
Sector analysis in Tutubig Eco-Garden
As the couple grappled with what to do, they went through further consultation with Shyo Sayajon (who also supported the site development plan of Earth School) to address water management issues. Based on the result of the sector analysis done on the site last year, the major challenge of the area is how to manage the water in the area in such a way that will not compromise the structures that will eventually be built but at the same time honoring and respecting the watery nature of the ecology.
Sayajon highlights that sector analysis is a fundamental element of permaculture design, which is pivotal in establishing sustainable and efficient systems. Permaculture, a design philosophy that aims to emulate the patterns and interconnections observed in nature, relies extensively on comprehending and aligning with the surrounding environment. Sector analysis assumes a paramount position in this undertaking, contributing to its significance in various key aspects.
- Understanding Natural Forces: Sector analysis involves mapping and understanding natural energies and forces that affect a site, such as sunlight, wind, rainfall, and wildlife movement. This understanding allows permaculture designers to make the most of these natural resources and reduce negative impacts. For example, it is positioning a structure to maximize solar gain in colder climates or designing windbreaks to protect plants in windy areas.
- Site-Specific Design: Every permaculture site is unique, and sector analysis helps tailor the design to the site’s specific conditions. By analyzing the sectors (directions from which various elements like sun, wind, water, etc., come into a site), a permaculture designer can effectively place elements such as plants, buildings, and water catchment systems in locations where they will be most beneficial and least harmful.
- Energy Efficiency and Sustainability: Permaculture emphasizes the efficient use of energy and resources. By understanding the sectors, designers can harness natural energies effectively, reducing the need for external inputs. For example, understanding the path of the sun can help in designing a garden that receives the right amount of light for plant growth, or placing a water storage system in an area where it can naturally collect rainwater.
- Mitigating Risks and Maximizing Benefits: Sector analysis helps identify potential risks such as flooding, fire, or strong winds and allows for the design of systems that can mitigate these risks. Conversely, it also helps identify beneficial elements like beneficial wildlife corridors or areas with rich soil that can be maximized for the site’s advantage.
- Integration with Surrounding Environment: Permaculture designs are not isolated systems; they interact with their surrounding environment. Sector analysis helps understand these interactions and designing systems that benefit the site and contribute positively to the surrounding ecosystem. This could involve creating wildlife habitats, managing runoff to benefit downstream areas, or integrating the site with local community activities.
- Adaptive and Resilient Systems: By understanding and designing according to the natural sectors, permaculture systems become more adaptive to changing conditions and more resilient to disturbances. This is particularly important in the face of climate change and environmental unpredictability.
TutuBnB Ecodesign Project Summary
In the post-sector analysis, the couple discussed the space and how to respond to it with Sayajon. Below outlines much of the project proposal from Sayajon:
Project Overview
- Location: 4,403 sqm property in Villa Libertad.
- Purpose: To serve as The Earth School or provide long-term accommodation.
- Design Basis: Permaculture and regenerative principles.
Holmgren 1978
Proposed Mission
- Provide a unique living and learning experience.
- Offer ecological services like waste management, wildlife sanctuary, and nursery.
- Act as a regenerative institution node in El Nido.
Project Characteristics
- Water Management: Efficient sourcing, storage, and reuse of water.
- Waste Management: Systems for compostable, reusable, and hazardous wastes.
- Food Production: Integration with water and waste systems.
- Infrastructure: Climate-adaptive and energy-efficient buildings.
- Energy: Diverse and efficient energy sources.
Key Components and Subsystems
- Water management (rainwater, surface water, wastewater).
- Nutrient and mineral cycling.
- Access networks for vehicles and people.
- Diversified energy production.
- Building and structural designs.
- Animal and plant production.
- Hazardous waste management.
Design Goals
- Optimize sunlight and water for energy and storage.
- Effective water management.
- Prevent nutrient leaching and soil erosion.
- Enhance biodiversity and ecosystem complexity.
Initial Assessment Based on Scale of Permanence
- Climate Analysis: El Nido experiences a Type 1 climate, characterized by a distinct dry season from December to May, and a wet season from June to November. This pattern affects water availability and agricultural planning, which is crucial for the project’s sustainability.
- Landform and Water Resources: The property, part of a more extensive wetland, has a high water table and is influenced by surface water from multiple directions. Understanding this is key for effective water management and land use planning.
- Invisible Structures: This encompasses the socio-cultural and economic aspects of the local community. The mix of languages (Cuyunon, Tagalog, English) and livelihoods (tourism, farming, fishing) in the area, along with political and religious dynamics, play a significant role in shaping the project’s integration and acceptance within the community.
Recommendations for Development
- Water Management Strategy: The design should cater to fluctuating water supply cycles, considering rainwater, surface water, groundwater, and water truck delivery. The system should effectively handle water input and output, offering solutions for excess water through soil absorption, reuse in structures, or release into natural water bodies. This approach ensures resource efficiency, a critical aspect for investors concerned with long-term sustainability and regulatory compliance.
- Access and Infrastructure Planning: Decisions on vehicle access and parking, coupled with a network of roads and trails for humans and materials, are vital. The plan should consider water management, prevent erosion, and possibly integrate unique solutions like canal systems for transport. This stage will heavily influence the final design of buildings and structures, impacting the investment’s feasibility and appeal.
- Community Engagement: Connecting with local neighbors, businesses, and authorities is crucial for the project’s success. Discussions with key stakeholders like Ayala (Lio Estate) or some of the small and medium enterprises that dot the area regarding development plans, especially water management, will shape the project’s integration into the local ecosystem and its impact on surrounding areas.
During multiple sessions with Dona, Shyo, and project manager Dansk Santos, we thoroughly examined the traditional approach to thinking and constructing. By deconstructing this mindset, we enhance our ability to unlearn and gain valuable insights into our reliance on a flawed system that necessitates an alternative approach.
Construction inherently disrupts and extracts from the natural environment. In the case of Tutubig, we distinguish between the current system that relies on importing resources like aggregates, labor, and ideas, and a decentralized, circular model that respects both the localities—be it natural or human. In our next post, we’ll delve deeper into this topic. But for now, we want to share some of our attempts transparently (sometimes unsuccessful) at development and engaging with our land. We believe in learning through failure, learning through play, and sometimes even find ourselves in a position of “success.”
The neighboring properties’ approach is evident, leaving little to no doubt about their methods. Why? Because for many, it’s business as usual—misguided notions of efficiency in construction, and a perhaps some hesitancy for transitioning towards local resilience and circular economy models, perhaps because of a lack of understanding. We seek to build bridges to these gaps in our knowledge and approach to development. We also seek to slow down.
Despite the neighbors using heavy machinery to raise their walls and importing aggregates from off the island, the Tutubig workforce follows a different approach. They consist of Palaweños who manually extract soil and move it a short distance away, usually just mere inches on a berm. This slower, more laborious method allows them to better understand the flow of the land and respect the knowledge it imparts upon them.
This calls for an active dialogue between us and the neighbors about what we can do together- to keep building in a regenerative way, to seek out knowledge from each other, and to find ways of coexisting with minimal environmental damage. Our mission here at Tutubig is to continue striving towards these goals whilst always keeping in mind our attempt at regenreative practices
We plan on diving deeper into this in our next post but for now, we leave you with the transparency of some of our attempts at play in Tutubig Eco-Garden.
