HOUSE AND garden

Self-taught landscape artist Ponce Veridiano finds peace, solace and joy in his second home as he embarks on a new chapter in his life

- Maritess Garcia Reyes

It took ten years for the Nagcarlan-born landscapist to build his second home in Laguna; a breathtaking three-level sanctuary which he initially planned to keep private. “I was building this house at my own pace,” says Ponce Veridiano, talking about the imposing structure made of wood, glass and concrete that follows the natural contours of the riverside. “Anyway, I have my first home just a few metres away from here where I could always stay. So there was no need to rush this,” he adds. Little did he know that the new house he was creating would eventually have its own purpose other being a weekend home: as a gallery to showcase his new-found love for painting, and a studio that can also serve as a training and exhibition venue for other young artists in the area. “I am 63 years old now and have been landscaping gardens for decades. This is my next chapter. I see myself painting when I retire…painting for leisure. Plus, it also dawned on me that I would like to help less fortunate artists. That would be my legacy,” he declares. With this new vision came the need to finish the decades-old project sooner than planned. To date, Veridiano converted parts of the home into a by-appointment gallery and studio aptly named Studio 88, and began welcoming guests to view his works early this year.

The gates of Studio 88 open to a long foyer sandwiched by riprap walls painstakingly built over the years by a group of artisans from the Mountain Province. To the end of the foyer, the lush foliage peeks through, drawing the eye even further to the other side of the river. “I have always wanted a house by the water so when this property was offered to me, I felt it was meant to be,” he tells Tatler in an interview, with the natural sounds of the river and the chirping of birds playing in the background.