Celebrity couple Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado mark the beginning of their new house through an intimate groundbreaking ceremony.
Taking to her social media accounts on July 5, 2024, Jennylyn related the exciting news along with a series of photos.
Read: Dennis Trillo swells with pride over his blended family
In her caption, she wrote: "Family HO-me soon! [emojis] #groundbreaking #newhome"
The capitalized letters pay homage to Dennis's real surname, Ho, which their baby Dylan also carries.
Dressed in coordinated black shirts and white helmets, the Kapuso couple brought along white shovels to commemorate the first step toward realizing their next milestone as a family.
Although they chose not to disclose the exact location of their future abode, the set of photos reveal a spacious lot enclosed by galvanized steel fencing.
Jennylyn's fellow StarStruck Season 1 alumni Sheena Halili and Jade Lopez were among the first to congratulate the couple.
Other colleagues who cheered them on were Karen Davila, Kelvin Miranda, Jay R, DJ Chacha, and Rina Navarro.
Read: Drama King Dennis Trillo atop his mountain retreat
Dennis and Jennylyn's mountain retreat in Rizal
Apart from their soon-to-rise family home, Dennis and Jennylyn are also proud owners of a retreat house, nestled in the lush mountains of Tanay, Rizal.
Driving up the winding roads to the mountain santcuary, visitors are greeted by distant windmills and the sparkling expanse of Laguna de Bay.
The house itself, a striking structure made from three stacked 40-foot shipping containers, stands in sharp contrast to the surrounding greenery.
Dennis and Jennylyn envisioned this unique home during the pandemic, valuing fresh air and open spaces over urban confines.
He told PEP: "Siyempre nung mga panahon na yun, mas na-value natin yung mga lugar na ganito, yung may sariwang hangin, kasi lagi nasa loob tayo ng bahay.
"So, naisip namin maghanap ng property na... Kasi kung mag-stay ka lang din sa bahay, mas maganda na mag-stay ka sa bahay.
"Puwede ka rin lumabas, huminga, at maging free kahit paano nung time na yun.
"So naisip namin na magpagawa ng ganito para meron kaming pupuntahan sa mga oras na ganoon, yun ang pakiramdam namin."
The 43-year-old actor highlighted the practicality of using shipping containers, explaining, "Inisip namin noon na mas mabilis siyang gawin kasi nga buo na siya."
Read: Dennis Trillo's 'proud dad' moment with sons gets thumbs up from netizens
When it came to the stumbling blocks of completing the project, he cited the logistical nightmare of moving the gigantic parts along the cramped routes of Tanay.
"Napatagal siya kasi may mga eskinitang dadaan bago dumating sa property.
"So kailangan putulin sa gitna yung mga 40-foot container at buhatin ulit dito sa site pagdating dito. So, yun yung mga challenges."
This caused a significant delay in the retreat's construction, which took a year and a half to finish.
Beyond the main house, the 1,000-square-meter property is also composed of a guest house, a staff house, and a greenhouse.
Their greenhouse utilizes hydroponics — a method that employs a water-based nutrient solution instead of soil — in cultivating vegetables and fruits, like kale, arugula, lettuce, and even strawberries.
Dennis and Jennylyn tied the knot on November 15, 2021, at Kathryn Bernardo's TGIS Studio in Quezon City.
Together, they have three kids: Calix Andreas Ho, Dennis's child with former beauty queen Carlene Aguilar, and Alex Jazz Mercado, Jennylyn's son with former partner Patrick Garcia, and baby Dylan Jayde Ho, whom they welcomed on April 25, 2022.
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