THE K-VILLE TOWNHOMES; A COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS

The K-Ville Townhomes Project (“K-Ville”) was inaugurated in 1984 as the second townhomes project of the corporate entity known then as the Kanlaon Construction Enterprises Company, Incorporated (“Kanlaon”) which is a corporate entity headed by Mr. Antonio S. Evangelista (“Mr. Evangelista”). It was Kanlaon’s second townhomes project following the successful marketing of the K-Square Townhomes Project (“K-Square”) which is located just half a kilometer away from K-Ville.

The landscaping at the K-Ville Townhomes Project was designed by Ildefonso Paez Santos, Jr., popularly known as “IP Santos“. IP Santos was a Filipino architect who was known for being the “Father of Philippine Landscape Architecture”. He was recognized as a National Artist of the Philippines in the field of Architecture in 2006.

IP Santos graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in 1954 with a degree in the field of architecture. He then pursued a second degree in Architecture, as well as a Master of Architecture degree at the University of Southern California, School of Architecture. Unfortunately, IP Santos passed away in 2006.

The prefix “K” to which Mr. Evangelista seemed so enamored is actually the first letter of the company which he founded in 1971, Kanlaon. The reason why he picked the title “Kanlaon” was because, his first construction project was a public market construction somewhere in Negros Occidental where the Kanlaon Volcano, which is almost 8,000 feet high, stands as an imposing presence.

Before this public market construction project, Mr. Evangelista’s company was known simply as “VISTA GLASS” as it was focused mainly in the supply of architectural glass. Vista Glass’ first project in this area of supply of architectural glass was the Manila Hilton, now known as the Manila Pavilion.

In February 1987, there were only about SEVENTEEN (17) families who have relocated to K-Ville as their home until the 112 unit project reached its peak occupancy in 1990.

Friendships were established among the residents of K-Ville leading into the putting up of an all-male drinking group dubbed as the “CINDERELLA GROUP”. The moniker “Cinderella” though inapt for an all-male group, was actually a reference to the rule observed by members of the group to disband and break the drinking spree before the clock strikes 12 midnight.

Another rule observed then was for each drinking buddy to bring his own bottle of wine, or a keg of beer or a flask of liquor or a case of soft drinks, for teetotalers in the group. The venue for the drinking session was actually being routed among the members’ residential units and the host would usually be preparing the finger food which would either be a combination of nuts and preserved fruits and at times, grilled fish or meat.

The camaraderie which has been created through the years of bonding, gelling, affinity and attachment was tested and got impinged however. This happened when in July 2011 news spread through the grapevine that a local court rendered a decision transferring ownership of almost 24 hectares tract of land, the whole 2 hectares of K-Ville included, to a certain person by the name of Wilfredo S. Torres (“Torres”). Residents of K-Ville were skeptical as to whether the news was indeed true. A consequent realization ensued when notices from the local government unit were sent to unit owners of K-Ville notifying them that indeed their titles to their homelots are truly being threatened with an eventual cancellation. It further dawned upon them that the ultimate consequence would be their ousting from their very own homes, their very own castles.

Having been fed by reliable information that Torres is a professional hustler who has been involved in previous land scam deals, the residents of K-Ville eventually became more bonded and gelled together as nightly meetings became the order of the day.

The community was marshaled as though preparing for battle, brainstorming on what steps to take in time for an eventual implementation of the court writ which would entail the possible invasion of demolition teams complete with police escorts into the K-Ville community. The foregoing transpired as demolition teams commenced their operation in certain parts of the 24 hectare tract of land particularly in areas populated by informal settlers, a term used to refer to dwellers without titles of ownership to their respective homelots.

In those nightly meetings, various proposals came up — some were proposing that all residents must start bearing arms, another broached the idea of procuring baseball bats to thwart the incursion of homeless vagrants who may take advantage of the ensuing chaos and disorder that may arise specifically by pitching tents inside the K-Ville community’s park, etc. Goaded by fear, the K-Ville community even had to put up some kind of an “ante-gate”, another steel gate before the entrance gate to K-Ville.  A K-Ville resident who was interviewed by a news team live in national TV, made out a spiel threatening  those who might force their way in into his abode, while brandishing a gleaming bolo (i.e. a large knife customarily used in hacking/cutting down tall and sturdy cogon grass in the jungle). Not as yet convinced in the security measures adopted, this same resident put up a steel door before their old wooden entrance door.

Eventually, the community opted to do it legal and a petition was filed with the appellate collegiate court in the Philippines which timely issued a restraining order that directed the lower court sheriffs and the police to stop the writ’s implementation.

The bayanihan (i.e. a Filipino brand of community cooperation) style of community involvement and participation was falling neatly into pieces as it worked with clock-work precision. It was the petition filed in the appellate collegiate court by the K-Ville residents which procured the restraining order, in the nick of time, and all of the residents as well as commercial establishments within the 24 hectare tract of prime land got benefited by the restraining order .

It was friendship in action during that period in time when K-Ville residents bonded and gelled together for a common cause, to thwart their threatened ousting from their respective homes.

There were separate groups which worked on the petition filed with the appellate collegiate court, another group which focused on an action to nullify the new titles in the name of Torres in the local court, a friend took care of splashing the news in a newspaper’s front page for the whole week to muster public awareness about the scam, and more friends praying that the dilemma will soon be over.

Finally, after the appellate collegiate court voided the lower court’s order,  the Supreme Court denied the final appeal of Torres and peace, harmony and quietude reigned supreme once more over the whole of K-Ville.

Today, those good friends of K-Ville are still at it making living in K-Ville worry- free, convenient, secure and safe. Kudos are due and most proper to be conveyed unto these exemplar friends of the community: First, is Dr. Bibs Carilo, a topnotch orthopedic surgeon,  who is the current KVTHA Prexy. Bibs has been K-Ville’s Prexy before and it was an inspiring sight then to see him personally supervising the rationing of potable water to residents at a time when K-Ville got adversely affected by a protracted spell of water interruption. Just recently, Bibs presided over a meeting of the KVTHA Board wherein he deftly mediated the conflict between neighbors to an amiable end. Second is Mr. Joey Solidum who has been KVTHA’s perennial Treasurer, keeping K-Ville’s funds safe and seasonably replenished. Joey has not uttered even a whimper of protest in various times when he had to advance his own money to address some of KVTHA’s financial obligations. Last but not the least, Ms. Beng Zambrano, a 3-term KVTHA Prexy, who has been the continuing source of K-Ville’s toddlers’ joys as she would be wont to burn the midnight oil planning and implementing the yearly Halloween costume parties and the Christmas decorations at the park and all the accompanying festivities. Friendship is indeed a valuable thing in times of need.