The Story of Abucana Camp:
Life Lessons from Abu

In a world that thrived on constant busyness and materialism, University of the Philippines Professor Martin Gregorio sought to find respite in his stressful and busy schedule and instill the virtues of simplicity and compassion to his five children - Patrick,Allan, Cecille, Ryan, and Kristina. He got hold of a property in 1982 through a university colleague whose roots are from Barrio Bucana in Ternate, Cavite. The esteemed professor loved the place and its people, thus, scheduled his weeks in the barrio with his family, friends, and colleagues from the university. This served as a much-needed getaway from his remarkable load of responsibilities as the Secretary of the University and the Board of Regents and OIC of the UP Diliman Police Office.
Barrio Bucana is where freshwater and saltwater meet. In Bucana, Prof. Martin "Abu" and his wife Lucille allowed their children to learn valuable lessons of mindfulness, generosity, humility, and kindness. They joined the Barrio kids and engaged in fishing in the river, embarking on forest hikes, and exploring neighboring islands. He also encouraged help in household chores as well as immersion in barrio living.

These experiences enriched the lives of Abu's family, discovered the true essence of humanness and appreciated the beauty of nature intertwined with the authenticity of its people. This is where the simple wonders of life and deep connection with the environment have built a genuine affinity with the local community, which they embraced as their family members as well.

Over the years, Abu, Lucille, their children, and grandchildren established traditions within the barrio - the most meaningful being the annual gift giving activity held every January,in memory of youngest daughter Kristina or Tintin, who passed on in 2011 at 34 years old. The tradition continues to this day.

Before he passed on in 2016, he asked that the ownership of the Bucana and the tradition continue. He believed that this is where his children built their values at living together in harmony, for his grandchildren to have the same values.

As envisioned by Patrick, the eldest child, and Augusto Leonardo,Jr, Abu's brother-in-law, Abucana Camp was formed as their way of keeping Abu's legacy alive by sharing his life lessons with others following a mantra of leading “a life with simple needs and wants”

Abucana Camp offers a transformative experience, especially for families with young children. During their stay at the camp, guests can immerse themselves in the daily rhythm of simple chores alongside the local residents - fetching water from the community artesian well “poso,” cooking rice in a clay pot, removing and grilling newly caught fish from the nets.

Abucana Camp is a place to create a sanctuary for "stress liberation". It is also a place where families could reconnect with nature, rediscover the joy of togetherness, spend some quiet moments, and learn timeless values that form the foundation of a meaningful life.

Our Commitment

At Abucana Camp, the story of Abu is re-lived. We are dedicated to preserve and share the rich practices and life stories to our friends, families especially the younger generations. 

In today's fast-paced and highly digitized world, we understand the importance of reconnecting with nature, fostering interpersonal relationships and instilling values that make everyone humane.

Step back or take a breather from a highly digital environment - when parents allow their kids to play with soil using their bare hands.

Gus Leonardo