Jaehwa Bernardo

At the heart of Kaway’an EcoPark stands the Marilag Grand Pavilion, its defining centerpiece that is a triumph of bamboo architecture. 

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Privately owned ecopark in Cavite opens to public

Leah C. Salterio

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780891197940IMG_4154.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="At the heart of Kaway’an EcoPark stands the Marilag Grand Pavilion, its defining centerpiece that is a triumph of bamboo architecture. Handout"/>At the heart of Kaway’an EcoPark stands the Marilag Grand Pavilion, its defining centerpiece that is a triumph of bamboo architecture. Handout</div>Nestled in a three-hectare land in General Trias City, Cavite is the groundbreaking bamboo eco-tourism destination, Kaway’an EcoPark. Opened only last December, the park has been honored as one of <a href="https://time.com/collection/worlds-greatest-places/2026/?filters=Asia">TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places of 2026</a>, making it the sole representative from the Philippines on this year’s coveted global list. The recognition places Kaway’an EcoPark alongside the world’s most extraordinary destinations and affirms the Philippines’ growing stature on the international eco-tourism stage.The family of Rosie Tsai, president of CitiHomes Builder and Development, Inc. (CBDI), carved out three hectares from a property originally meant for a housing project, to build an ecopark in in Barangay Panungyanan, General Trias, Cavite.They started constructing the ecopark in 2019, but the pandemic halted it. “By 2021, we sought the help of architect Christian Salandanan,” Tsai told ABS-CBN News. “He’s the owner of Sangay Architects, with his wife, Kathleen Sapungay, also an architect. They are two of the most prominent bamboo architects in the Philippines.“He sourced out Elora Hardy of Ibuku Studio. She&#x27;s Canadian, but she is actually Balinese already. So she was the one whom architect Salandanan sought out to design the pavilion. She has an architecture firm and they have designed so many beautiful iconic bamboo structures now in Indonesia and in other countries.”Tsai built the ecopark as a request from former General Trias mayor-turned-congressman Antonio “Oni” Ferrer. “He expressed that there is very, very little green space at that time,” Tsai said. “So he requested us to create an ecopark from Sabella Village, which we did.&quot;The development was originally part of a larger CitiHomes housing project, with only 24 hectares allocated for residential use and the rest left as open space for future development.The ecopark, Tsai said, was envisioned as a way to help elevate Philippine eco-tourism on the global stage while highlighting bamboo as both a design material and a symbol.I love bamboo because of what it represents. I love how the bamboo bends to the wind and yet it rises again. That&#x27;s the Filipino spirit. Resilience, perseverance, long suffering. The Filipino spirit and how many have failed, stumbled and fall, and yet they rise up to be successful,&quot; she saod.The project’s pavilion and bridge showcase what bamboo can achieve in modern construction, built through the collaboration of international designers and Filipino architects, craftsmen and community members.She also noted bamboo’s sustainability, saying it is a fast-growing material that can be harvested and reused within years when properly treated, making it a practical alternative for environmentally conscious design.“You don&#x27;t have to keep planting after you chopped the bamboo poles. Bamboo just keeps on growing and it takes only five years to reach maturity that you can use in construction,&quot; Tsai noted.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780891350827IMG_4157.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Kaway&#x27;an Ecopark president Rosie Tsai (left) and daughter Elizabeth Wang, general manager of Kaway&#x27;an Eco Development, Inc., (right) welcome Department of Tourism Region IV-A (Calabarzon) director Marites T. Castro (center)"/>Kaway&#x27;an Ecopark president Rosie Tsai (left) and daughter Elizabeth Wang, general manager of Kaway&#x27;an Eco Development, Inc., (right) welcome Department of Tourism Region IV-A (Calabarzon) director Marites T. Castro (center)</div>The TIME citation was further elevated by the presence of the Department of Tourism Region IV-A (Calabarzon) director Marites T. Castro, who joined the recent press tour of Kaway’an EcoPark. Her participation underscored the national government’s recognition of the EcoPark as a flagship eco-tourism asset for the Calabarzon region and the country as a whole.Castro was welcomed by Tsai and daughter Elizabeth Wang, general manager of Kaway’an Eco Development, Inc., both of whom guided members of the press through the park’s landmark structures, lush grounds and immersive experiences.The press tour highlighted the collaborative vision behind Kaway’an EcoPark, showcasing how government, private enterprise, and community have come together to deliver a world-class destination that is unmistakably and proudly Filipino.Kaway’an EcoPark is expected to help boost eco-tourism in Calabarzon by offering an open green space designed for a range of outdoor activities, including farming areas, horseback riding and nature-based recreation.“We’re tying up with DOT,” said Tsai. “We applied for accreditation. Once we can get the approval, I&#x27;m going straight to the PTAA [Philippine Travel Agencies Association]. I believe they are going to inspect any time.”Although the ecopark was launched in July 2025 to announce the project, it was formally opened last December. The wedding of Tsai’s youngest daughter, Elizabeth, the general manager of Kaway’an Eco Development, Inc., was held in the venue last January. A purely private enterprise with no assistance from the government, the Kaway’an Ecopark is a “very fulfilling” job for Tsai. “It&#x27;s really a vision come true,” she maintained. “Everything is also difficult, but with a great team, I had the privilege and the blessing of having the whole organization of CityHomes to support my vision.”Kaway’an EcoPark is conceived as a living response to the Philippines’ need for spaces that nurture both people and the land. More than a leisure destination, it is a carefully master-planned ecological landmark where water, foliage and open space form the very foundation upon which its structures gently rest.At the heart of Kaway’an EcoPark stands the Marilag Grand Pavilion, its defining centerpiece that is a triumph of bamboo architecture. Engineered through a rare collaboration between Filipino architects and international bamboo specialists – including Ibuku Studio of Indonesia and structural engineers Atelier One of London – the pavilion pushes the boundaries of what bamboo can achieve as a structural material.Complementing the pavilion is the Marahuyo Bridge, which shares the same philosophy of wide-span bamboo construction, calibrated to meet modern performance standards while retaining visual lightness. Together, these structures respond naturally to climate, airflow and movement – designed to flex, breathe and endure in harmony with their tropical surroundings.The EcoPark offers a rich and varied array of experiences, each designed to foster connection rather than spectacle. Guests may explore the man-made lagoon by boat, ride through the verdant grounds on horseback, visit open farms and greenhouses offering fresh produce or simply wander the lush bamboo groves.Additional structures – including the Marikit Gazebo and the guest lounge – extend the architectural language of the pavilion into intimate spaces ideal for rest and reflection.As a venue, Kaway’an EcoPark accommodates weddings, cultural celebrations, corporate events, photo shoots and community gatherings at generous scale, while its material warmth and open-air ambience preserve an atmosphere of intimacy that few event spaces in the region can match.“Kaway’an EcoPark stands as a testament to what becomes possible when a remarkable team of experts dares to come together to share one vision and goal – to bring a sustainable sanctuary to life,” said Tsai.Kaway’an EcoPark is located at Sabella Village, Crisanto M. De Los Reyes Avenue, Barangay Panungyanan, General Trias City, Cavite. The eco-park is accessible from Metro Manila via the Calamba-Laguna expressway and by public commute from PITX.It is designed to advance agri-business and eco-tourism in the Philippines, by promoting natural recreational spaces rooted in Filipino heritage and guided by sustainable principles.

Nestled in a three-hectare land in General Trias City, Cavite is the groundbreaking bamboo eco-tourism destination, Kaway’an EcoPark.

Nestled in a three-hectare land in General Trias City, Cavite is the groundbreaking bamboo eco-tourism destination, Kaway’an EcoPark.

Cavite ecopark lands on TIME’s World’s Greatest Places 2026 list

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Cavite ecopark lands on TIME’s World’s Greatest Places 2026 list

Leah C. Salterio

Published June 09, 2026 10:00 AM PHT

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