A Mother's Love

Rachel Harrison’s luxury resort Zambawood in the Philippines is not only a sustainable haven for her autistic son Julyan but also a place where independence for those with special needs is championed, discovers Grace Ma.

WHEN RACHEL HARRISON relocated to Singapore eight years ago with her banker husband Keith and three sons, she struggled to create a comfortable routine for her second son Julyan, who is autistic. The wide nature spaces of Switzerland, where the family was previously based, contrasted starkly with the crowded urban ones here.

Rachel soon realised that they had to find a place where Julyan could live an independent and fulfilled life; even long after she and her husband have passed on. She says, “At some point, Julyan will grow up and what can he do besides staying at home? Nobody has the patience to nurture children like him.”

Six years ago, Rachel decided to build a farm on her family land in Zambales, Philippines, where Julyan, who is at the lower end of the autism spectrum and cannot spontaneously communicate, can have a structured routine with regular activities —a calming factor for those with autism spectrum disorder. Julyan adapted well to the place, so his mother, a former flight attendant who is architecture-trained, added a five-bedroom beach house and a cafe in 2012. Luxury resort Zambawood officially opened in 2014 as a social enterprise that would provide Julyan and others like him with a sustainable livelihood through vacationers who book the resort to enjoy its natureinfused surroundings of beaches, forestland and mountains.