JAO and EMHE’s “Big Reveal”
Last Sunday’s episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition
Philippines was just absolutely overwhelming. It was the climax of a week that
started with plans, excitement and hopes for the Austria family. What started
as an old, run-down, cramped house became a home that would serve to remind the
family that sometimes dreams really do come true and that Apong Norma’s good
deeds were not overlooked and have not gone unnoticed both by her neighbors and
the fates.
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| JAO Builders Team with Apong Norma |
The show just kept building on the excitement and drama as
the team first came to the Austria residence. As the team and the audience are
introduced to the matriarch of the family Apong Norma, you cannot help but root
for them and be hopeful and happy for what would come next. It literally was as
they say the stuff dreams were made of. After suffering tragedy herself by
losing 5 of her children and her husband she bravely carried on, and even
though poor, Apong Norma admirably shared what she had – herself, serving and
helping the people of her community.
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| with Ms. Tessa Prieto |
There were also light moments courtesy of the bubbly Tessa
Prieto. Representing the feminine side of the team; Divine Lee, Marilen
Faustino and Tessa early on made design suggestions with their uber girly taste
in color schemes. Tristan Jovellana reined that all in with the use of more
neutral colors “para hindi naman mukang rainbow yung bahay nila.”
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| Apong Norma's family inside their new house! |
Everyone in the team (including JAO Builders) felt the
importance of the project as they already saw the house of the Austria’s, the
airless, lightless, restricted space ten people call as their house. The house
had no indoor plumbing and was sweltering in the heat because they don’t have
ceilings. As the house had limited space the team had to work with and around
that. And who better to call as their build partner but JAO who has had a lot of experience working with
what land is already there; and making it into something one hopes to own as
their house.
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| Apong Norma's Spa Room |
It was nothing less than exciting for the Austria family and
for the audience too as they watch the family in taking their very first
vacation, buying a television and even meeting TV 5’s roster of young starlets.
It was just one surprise after another. But it was all a preview for the
biggest one yet – the completion of their dream home!
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| Big reveal! |
At last the day of the big reveal came. And with the show’s
now signature expression of “move that bus” unveiled what everyone has been
eagerly waiting for. It was just gratifying to see the Austria family made
happy by their dream home. And to see that the former space their house
occupied can be transformed. They couldn’t (frankly even the people who were
watching) believe that the team could even fit in a massage room even after all
the amenities were built. It was just absolutely incredible. Indeed it was an
extreme makeover not only for the house but for the lives of the Austria family
members.
