Si Adrian Tecson, 49, ay nature lover at naniniwala sa sustainable lifestyle.
Ito ang kanyang motivation nang itayo ang isang lugar bakasyunan na may solar-powered tiny house.
Tinawag niya itong Rio Vista dahil katabing-katabi ng isang ilog.
“I built this because it brings people together,” pagtukoy niya sa mga mahal niya sa buhay.
“And that’s what this place is really built for—to bring people together…” hayag ni Adrian sa interview ng OG, na in-upload ang house tour video sa YouTube nitong May 16, 2025.
Retirado na ang ama niyang nagtrabaho at nanirahan sa U.S., habang silang mag-iina ay nasa Pilipinas.
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HOW ADRIAN FOUND THE LOCATION
Si Adrian ay nasa advertising business, content and video production, at movie production.
Isa rin siyang entrepreneur.
Noong September 2021, panahon ng pandemic, nag-shoot siya ng pelikula sa isang barangay sa Tanay.
Tumagal ng walong araw ang lock-in taping nila.
Noong pangalawa o pangatlong araw ng shooting, nasambit daw ni Adrian sa sarili, “’Parang ang sarap magising dito sa umaga.’
“After we packed up, eight days later, I asked some locals if there is a property we can acquire and see. And yun, nahanap namin yung lugar na ito.”
Taga-Makati si Adrian pero nahulog ang loob niya sa probinsiya vibe ng Rizal.
Aniya, “This place has been calling me. Before nung first movie na iyon, I had been here five times.
“And dati mahilig akong mag-hike, so naakyat ko na ang Mount Maynoba nang limang beses, trying na makita yung sea of clouds.
“This place just calls me back.”
Hindi makapagdesisyon noon si Adrian sa disenyo ng itatayong tiny house.
Dito siya tinulungan ng kanyang misis.
“She showed me a picture of what she wanted, and then, yun, that’s where I took inspiration—from the shape, color scheme, and everything that’s in it.”
THE SPECIAL TINY HOUSE
Paliwanag ni Adrian, ideal ang tiny house sa nabili nilang 900-square-meter lot.
Sa ganda raw kasi ng nature, sayang kung magkukulong lamang sa loob ng bahay.
“What you want is to maximize the space outside—smell the fresh air, be with nature, see the greens…
“It serves two purposes: it saves space, costs low, and you’re always outside."
Ang floor area ng kanyang tiny house ay 75 square meters.
Pagpasok sa gate, sasalubong ang espasyo para sa parking at ang glamping tents.
Nakapuwesto rin doon ang foldable dipping pool at 16-seater na al-fresco dining area.
"Constructed from scratch" ang tiny house.
Pagpasok sa loob, may counter na lagayan ng mga bags at iba pang items.
Kita rin agad ang dining table for four.
Katabi nito ang living area na may couch, na puwedeng i-convert into a queen-sized bed.
Katapat ng couch ay isang table na nagsisilbing workstation at nakatapat sa glass window, na may view ng ilog.
Katabi ng couch ang queen-sized bed, na katapat ang pinto papasok sa toilet and bath.
Pag-akyat naman sa second floor, bubungad ang queen-sized bed na may pull-out bed. Kasya rito ang apat na katao.
Ang outdoor kitchen ay may view ng ilog. Kumpleto ito sa gamit—may oven, microwave oven, at three-burner stove.
May sarili ring toilet and bath sa second floor.
Best of all, may malaking balcony na may desk, tables, and chairs. Magandang spot ito for stargazing.
May sariling wi-fi ang tiny house.
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OFF-GRID LIVING
Maaari ring mag-set up ng table sa may ilog para magtampisaw at maramdaman ang lagaslas ng tubig.
Sa gabi, mayroong bonfire na puwedeng sindihan. May ihawan din.
“We’re off-grid so we’re running on full solar. I have 10 700-watt solar panels, and with it is 30-kilowatt/hour battery.
“It powers air conditioners, pump, internet, shower, heater.”
Mayroon din silang back-up generator.
Para sa inuming tubig, nagtayo sila ng seven-stage filtration system, "so whatever you drink here is already filtered."
Maraming rason kung bakit proud na proud si Adrian sa kanyang lugar bakasyunan.
“The first one is, of course, location. It’s so serene, it’s so peaceful, very provincial. But it’s only one hour and 45 minutes away from Makati.
“We’re in an environmentally protected area so nature is very abundant. Lush greens, you’ll see all the mountains, birds flying, and sometimes may fireflies din.”
Sundot niya, “We’re beside the river. It’s not every day that you can wake up next to a river, and sleep naririnig mo yung flow ng river na iyon. So that’s what makes it special.”
CHALLENGES
Sabi ni Adrian, karamihan sa mga materyales na gamit nila ay steel, concrete boards, GI sheets, at concrete panels.
Ang malaking hamon sa construction ay ang kawalan ng kuryente kaya gumamit sila ng generator para ma-operate ang mga electric equipment.
Nagtayo si Adrian ng maliit na gasoline station sa lugar para ma-operate ang generator at makatulong na rin sa community.
Ang pinakamalapit na hardware ay 20 kilometers ang layo.
“I learned how difficult it was to build something from scratch. The commitment that’s needed, the attention that’s needed…
“So kami, parang andami kong natutunan na knowledge on construction.”
"There’s a lot of life learnings when building a house, when building with people you care about, and building for people you care about."
FROM DREAM TO REALITY
Masayang-masaya si Adrian nung finally ay nakita na niya ang katuparan ng kanyang pangarap.
“I thought of a place where I could bring my family, my two daughters, and my wife… sit here, and be together, turn off our gadgets, and enjoy each other’s presence.”
Pahabol niya, “There’s so much to enjoy.”
Payo niya sa mga nagpaplanong magpatayo ng kanilang dream house, “Just do it and commit.
“The best time to do it is now.
“And if you’re thinking if it’s a good investment or not, the best investment you can make is investment for yourself and in your well-being.
“If you think it’s gonna be good for you, your family, and mental health, just do it.”