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If there was a bright side to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), it’s that families were able to spend more quality time together and come up with different quarantine projects. One of those couples who took advantage of the ECQ was Michael and Rose Ann Bautista. Last month, they showcased a wooden playhouse they DIY’d for their two sons and now they’ve leveled it up by building a pool in their backyard!
In our Facebook community, Smart Parenting Village, Rose Ann shares that they were inspired by the article we wrote on Lolo Wilfredo Mangubat, who transformed their former playpen into a pool for his apos. (Watch how he did it here!)
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWMichael’s parents, Elsie and Manuel Bautista, read our story and it gave them the idea to have a pool built for their apos, Matthew and Timothy in their home in Tarlac.
“Tamang space lang sa likod ng bahay may mini resort na,” Rose Ann writes. “Enjoy na mga kids at buong pamilya!”
How the pool looks like from above. Ang ganda!PHOTO BY Rose Ann BautistaCONTINUE READING BELOWwatch nowHow to build a simple swimming pool in your backyard
The pool was made with hollow blocks, cement, and steel.PHOTO BY Rose Ann BautistaComing up with ideas for the backyard pool design was easy for the creative couple, who runs a photo studio and a party needs and souvenirs business called Practical Moms Souvenirs and Prints. Since they didn’t have a pigpen like lolo, they had to build a structure using hollow blocks and cement. For this, they hired some workers “para mas pulido at matibay,” Rose Ann tells SmartParenting.com.ph. However, the couple were hands-on with the design and also painted the pool themselves.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWThe materials cost around Php10,000 and it took them seven days to build the pool. They didn’t use tiles on the pool floor and instead chose epoxy paint for it. “Mas mahal lang po siya pero good quality po siya,” Rose Ann shares.
Since the pool floor had a rough finish, Rose Ann was concerned that her sons would have scraped knees if it comes into contact with the floor. But since the epoxy paint dries into a rubberized texture, it didn’t become a problem.
Michael and Rose Ann painted the pool and made it seem like the floor was tiled. They used leftover tiles from their previous projects for the sides.PHOTO BY Rose Ann BautistaADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWThe pool was completed last May 25 and Rose Ann shares that they’ve used it “one to sawa.” She adds, “Sila [in-laws] din ang masipag na naglalagay ng tubig at nag-d-drain. Nagagamit po nila ang water sa mga halaman nila. Marami po kasi silang tanim and may bukid si Papa.”
For now, they are using a water pump to fill the pool and they drain it every two to three days. They’re waiting for the chlorine they bought online which they can mix with the water. “Nag-DIY si Mama ng cover. Kasi nagbababad ang mga bata [dahil] sa init,” Rose Ann says.
The pool has a depth of around three feet. The drain is located at the side. "Pinantay lang po namin sa lupa para madali sya madrain," says Rose Ann.PHOTO BY Rose Ann BautistaADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWThe mom shares that her two boys were elated with the finished product. “Kasi ‘yung [inflatable] pool nila nabutas,” the mom says.
But the happiest would have to be Lolo Manuel and Lola Elsie. Though they had to spend quite a bit for the backyard pool, they are sure it would last. Besides, seeing that their grandchildren are overjoyed is priceless. “Ansaya nila kasi gustong-gusto ng mga apo nila na nag-s-swim,” Rose Ann says.
Obviously, it's grandparents, Elsie and Manuel, and their grandchildren, Matthew, Timothy, and Irish (Rose Ann's niece) who are thoroughly enjoying their pool!PHOTO BY Rose Ann BautistaADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWWant to be inspired by other parents' DIY projects? Click here and here for their creations!
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