CondoCentral March 2007

Beauty and Bliss in High Living

PHILIPPINES

Hear it from tHe experts: safetY first iN YoUr CoNDo

PRELUDE TO SUMMER:

INTERIORS,GETAWAYS,

EVENTS

Published bywww.condo.com.ph

MARCH 2007 P150The sunny side of build-your-own

Introducing a new way of owning your home: Using the BYO system, you can own a luxury condo

in the heart of the Bonifacio Global City starting from P1,900,000.00 for one-bedroom unit. You can save up to 40 percent off the usual price and your money is secure as it will be invested with a bank.

Find out what everybody has been raving about today!

CONSTRUCTION IS ONGOING!

Come home to the best address in Metro Manilaand enjoy the best life has to offer!

www.condo.com.phFor inquiries and viewing request:

CALL NOW (632) 812-3333

LIVE IT UP!

The Prestigious

Address at the Fort

Home Suite Home...

TECHNO-SPACEThe ultimate in affordable city living!

Due to our continuing efforts to enhance project features, the developer reserves the right to change product features, prices and terms without prior notice and approval.

Home Suite Home...It’s your very own space under the sun…

A masterplanned communitySeven to eight storey condominium buildings

One-bedroom and two-bedroom units24-hour security provision

ElevatorsResidential and commercial units

Parking spaces

…or under the city lights.With facilities to make your stay convenient…

Water stationLaundry stationTravel agencyUnisex salonMedical clinic

Japanese restaurantCoffee shop

….and close to where the action is.20 minutes drive to Makati

10 minutes to NAIADuty Free

Casino FilipinoFive minutes to SM Bicutan

More spectacular features to come…Skypark

Swimming poolSports and leisure facilities

UNITS FOR RENT ALSOAVAILABLE


CALL NOW (632) 812-3333

By now, you must be dreaming of escaping to the beach, getting a tan and dipping into the cool embrace of the sea—that is, if you haven’t done it yet.Summer, announced by a bit of chill in early February,

comes raging to the fore, dispelling gloomy moods and dispositions (hopefully).

But before you pack your luggage and hie off or jet-set to your summer destination, be sure that you have ticked all the items in your safety checklist and know by heart the things to do once emergency strikes.

In this issue, we are offering to you helpful suggestions from authorities and fellow condo dwellers on how to deal with disasters, small or otherwise. We are also blowing the whistle on enterprising individuals who claim to be interior designers without the license and the degree. There’s also a handy article that deals on how to make your condo safe for the little ones. Dawn Zulueta-Lagdameo, mom to cute Jacobo, has a couple of tips for you.

As always, Condo Central teems with the latest and the hotest, and for this issue, we are cranking the heat-o-meter even higher. Feast your eyes on one-of-a-kind accesso-ries by Arnel Papa, dazzling sheets from Debenhams, exquisite glassware from Muebles Italiano and an award-winning sofa from FURNItalia.

For our cover story, we herald the sunny development that is currently being built at the Fort Global City: the Fort Palm Spring. With an underlying build-your-own concept, it is inspired by the Palm Springs in California, nothing but the postcard-perfect image of summer.

Make the most out of this season. And though the beach remains a top-of-mind choice as a summer get-away, perhaps this is also the best time too to get to know the cultural and artistic life of the metro. Ayala Museum and the Met easily come to mind.

So sizzle and savor!

editor’s noteBeauty and Bliss in High Living

Carlomar Arcangel DaoanaEditor in ChiEf

Chrysler de GuzmanArt dirECtor

Godwin NeronaLAyout Artist

Sharline BarengsEnior stAff writEr

Benhur ArcayanChiEf photogrAphEr

Dexter R. dela CruzEditoriAL AssistAnt

Arnold A. AltamiraEditoriAL ConsuLtAnt

Contributors

Atty. John Philip SiaoCita Abad-Dinglasan

Renne IsidroCoLumnists

Johanna Acab-FaustinoGeraldine Cuason

Roel Hoang ManiponDr. Adelaida V. Mayo

Jenny OrillosGlaiza Seguia

Arch. Felicisimo TejucowritErs

Lucky BesaPranz Kaeno Billones

photogrAphErs

Cherie Mae AyongaosALEs And mArkEting dirECtor

Editha B. IgnacioCyd V. PonceRain Santos

ACCount ExECutivEs

Bong CayananCirCuLAtion mAnAgEr

Anna Russel AbaneswEb dEsignEr

Carlomar Arcangel Daoana

[email protected]

The heat is on

inbox

high editorial criteriaWe have been reading with keen in-

terest the many articles appearing in your magazine. All of the articles are informa-tive, entertaining and helpful to your read-ers. We are certain that the editorial criteria you have set up for the article choices will continue to keep your readers anticipating the next issue of Condo Central.

Very truly yours,Carolyn Tan-SantosPresident, Ahyi & Co.

Dear Ms. Tan-Santos,

Thank you for the warm response.Letters like yours encourage us to do

better and exceed expectations. Rest as-sured that we are always on our toes in keeping our editorial line-up refreshing, captivating and informative.

Sincerely,Condo Central chief

Cover photo by Benhur Arcayan, shot on location at the Fort Palm Spring model unit at MC Home Depot, Bonifacio Global City.

MARCH 200710 CondoCentral

Carlomar Arcangel Daoana

[email protected]

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cont

ents

is published monthly

by Condo.Com.Ph, Inc.; 2nd Floor P&L Building, 116 Legazpi St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines; Tel. Nos. (632)812-3333 Fax No. (632)893-8134; E-mail [email protected]; Website www.condocentral.com.ph.- All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in Condo Central are solely those of writers and are not necessarily endorsed by Condo.Com.Ph, Inc. We welcome unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. Kindly accompany a self-addressed stamped envelope if they are to be returned. While every reasonable care will be taken by the editor, no responsibility is assumed for the said materials.

Advertising hotline: (632)812-3333

Distributed by Christian Commercial Corp.Tel. Nos. (632)521-6118, 522-3633Fax No. (632)521-7674

Beauty and Bliss in High LivingVol. I No. 6March 2007

is published by

www.condo.com.ph

Daniel R. dela CruzprEsidEnt/CEo

Danilo R. dela Cruz, Jr.ChiEf opErAting offiCEr

Bing LauExECutivE viCE prEsidEnt

Reginald TagavillaviCE prEsidEnt - proJECt sALEs

Andy BellajaroviCE prEsidEnt - gLobAL sALEs

Liza RazonopErAtions mAnAgEr

Nel GarbanzosAdministrAtion

And CoLLECtion offiCEr

Aida MonteverdeHenry Mondoñedo

Renne IsidroVirgilio Leyretana, Sr.

boArd of Advisors

Villanueva Gabionza & De Santos Law Offices

LEgAL CounsEL

The Condominium Specialist

I N E V E r y I S S u E

10 EDITOR’S NOTEThe heat is on Carlomar Arcangel Daoana

10 INBOX

18 DESIGNER’S CORNERThe trick of visual illusion

69 REVIEW CENTRALThe hottest and the latest in gadgets, music, beauty and books

98 SURVEY Peripheral mission Arnold A. Altamira

82 CONDO GUIDEyour condominium hypermarket

90 CENTRAL MARKETClassified ads

100 REFLECTIONS OFW Notes Cita Abad-Dinglasan

95 OPINION Condo Café renne Isidro

103 PEOPLE AND EVENTSFort Palm Spring inaugurates model unit; Sunsilk, and Gain Plus make noise

104 EYE CANDY Life on a high note

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26 REVEALRomantic reasons not to leave the bed: Cuddle someone under the sheets from Debenhams

16 FURNITURE FEATURE Sofa, so good: What design magazine Wallpaper considers as the best sofa in the world

64 COVERAGE China calling: Exhibits that point toward China as heritage and inspiration

62 COOKING FOR ONEA (local) Asian food trip: Feast your senses on the region’s sumptuous offerings

60 INVESTMENT The sun rises for Suzu-Kin: Putting some twist in Japanese

14 ENTERTAINING Stunning clarity:Get to know Cive: the gold standard in glassware

44 REPORT How safe is your home?: Assessment of condominium homes in the metropolis

48 TIPSMake electricity your friend:Electrical safety tips from the bureau of fire protection

40 PERSPECTIVE Beware of illegal interior designers: How, by hiring them,you are cutting corners on safety

42 TIPSChildproofing your condo: Make your unit suitable for the little ones

28 HIGHLIGHT Design coup in the works: How designers are putting some oomph into Manila FAME

38 MAN ON TOP Fil-Am guy is real estate’s rising star: Meet ronald Vergara who is soon to make groundbreaking changes in the real estate industry

36 DEVELOPMENTArt Deco as inspiration: Eastwood LeGrand nods at the architectural idea which New york embodies

72 COMMUNITYWow Cubao!: How this corner in Quezon City is getting a makeover

74 SOAR Sky High: In the hot-air balloon activity held at Subic, sky’s the limitMundane pleasure at the foot of the mystic mountain: relax in a bed and breakfast under the shadow of Banahaw

96 CONDO MEMOWhen motherhood becomes me: How a woman’s life was transformed when a new roommate moved in: her daughter

50 SPOTLIGHTDriving home a point: romero Quimbo, Pag-IBIG Fund president and CEO, the man who makes your dream house

C O V E r S T O r y

54 Fort Palm Spring: The sunny side of the FortFirst Global ByO Corp.’s initial project brings the luxury of condo living without the hefty price tagF E A T u r E S

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At this day and age where modern methods and techniques of mass production dictate the laws of the market, there are still a discriminating few who choose tradition over technology and timelessness

over trends. Such a company steeped in the ways of the Old World is called Cive, a glassware crafting company who employs prestigious collaborators in international design such as Philippe Starck, Marturano and Renzo Piano.

The Italian brand, founded in the 1950s, was initiated as a cooperative of glass masters from Empoli, a Tuscan city in one of the top historic districts known for the art and culture of glass. Handcrafting and artisan techniques express the poetics of Cive, light years away from the logic of mass serial production. Cive believes in the “living” aspect of human action, that it is the hands and the spirit of the glassmaker which brings authentic quality to the pieces. Cive stresses that it is the poetry of the amazing uniqueness born of an individual talent, an idea and a specific sensibility which makes all these awe-inspiring glass creations possible.

“Dining becomes a completely different experience with Cive glassware because each piece is expertly made by master glassmakers who have been trained in the firm traditions and fine craftsmanship of their glassmaking ancestors,” Muebles Italiano President Noel Gonzales, the distributor of Cive in the Philippines, comments.

Cive’s varied design landscape expresses styles that move from the essential to the subtly classic to hints of the rustic, often drawing inspiration from the local color and rural ways of the Tuscan countryside. Through intricate processes such as gilding or the process of decorating glass by firing on gold, silver or copper leaf, Cive produces charming glassware that is inspired, delightful and unique. Finding its perfect place in the home, Cive graces rooms with original contrasts and balanced harmony.

Cive is available in the Philippines through its distributor Muebles Italiano, with its flagship store at Alabang Corporate Center G/F Km 25 West Service Road, SLEX Alabang, Muntinlupa City (8427036) or its branches at Glorietta 4 (8178948), Alabang Town Center (8505146), MC Home The Fort (8193201), SM Megamall (6314453), SM North Edsa (4530347) and its two house showrooms in Ayala Heights in Quezon City and Ayala Alabang.

Get to know Cive—the poetic glassware from Italy which employs age-old crafting techniques, infused with the gesture and energy of human hands

Stunning clarityentertaining

The Olimpo transparent glass vases can make

diverse styles of furnishings distinct and fit beautifully in

any setting.


Maree is an innovative line of transparent glass forms decorated with incisions that show the purity of the raw material.

A graceful collec-tion of matching wine glasses and decanter with soft, sinuous lines, Ginevra is crafted by master glassmakers in transparent mouth-blown glass.

An elegant series of objects in clear glass, Camargue is painstak-ingly lightened with a hand-applied platinum or gold decoration.

MARCH 2007 15CondoCentral

furniture feature

International design magazine Wallpaper*, the most authoritative and influential design magazine in the world, has given the Best Sofa Award to Poltrona Frau’s

Kennedee model in the recent Wallpaper* Design Awards 2007. Kennedee, designed by Jean Marie-Massaud, is now available at the country’s exclusive distributor of upscale Italian furniture brands, FURNitalia. The chic three-storey lifestyle store at The Fort, also adjudged the Temple of Italian Style in the Philippines, has been bringing the world’s best furniture to Filipinos of a particular taste.

“We Filipinos recognize what constitutes good design and good quality because we are very finicky. At FURNitalia, all the brands on offer have the same respect for craftsmanship as we do, that is why people who want only the best come to us for their furniture needs,”

FURNitalia managing director Florence Ko comments.According to design magazine Wallpaper*, the Kennedee sofa “secured

its position as best sofa with a clean majority.” “Upholstered in the finest leather, and balanced on steel feet with a gun metal finish, it’s the perfect blend of glamour, comfort, practicality and beauty.”

Kennedee is further described by Poltrona Frau as a sofa with a personality that stands out from the crowd. It possesses an international elegance, with dynamic and wide-ranging lines that can be configured in an infinite number of combinations. Its different elements allow the free creation of curving lines and open perspectives. The light and modern quilting of the back cushions, and the hand-sewn “X” motif also reveals Poltrona Frau’s age old artisan skills. It recalls the old-fashioned capitonne technique with its small, equidistant x-stitches on both the backrest and seat cushions. The workmanship of this sofa remains artisanal, while the design and materials are contemporary.

FURNitalia is located at 30th St. Corner Rizal Drive, Crescent Park, West Bonifacio Global City. Call 819-1887.

Sofa, so goodGet to know the sofa adjudged as the best by the most influential design magazine in the world


Where to Shop for things

Filipino

SM Mall of Asia, 2nd Level, Main Mall ● SM Makati Annex ● SM North Edsa, The Block, 2nd Level ● SM Mega A and selected SM Department Stores

Sofa, so good

designer’s corner

W ith today’s urban population growth and economic central districts pervading our society, condominium living space provides a good alternative to the luxury of living in one’s space that is likewise in proximity to places of work, leisure

and activity. More and more condominiums are being erected, which only signal the rising demand of new living to fit the requirements of the contemporary Filipino.

One thing that condominiums rarely provide is the adequacy of space. Nowadays, space has become a precious upshot as more people prefer living in condos, for safety, security and practical reasons. Because of the reality of a compact and compartmentalized space that condos provide, it is only necessary to consider ways to maximize all the areas of a unit to complement it with one’s needs without sacrificing the potential of high rise dwellings to foster a mood of airiness, simplicity and comfort. Indeed, every space, no matter how small it is, has a great power to convey expanse, light and space. How? Let me share

Though a condominium unit may not usually be expansive, that doesn’t mean that you would just settle in a space that would send a claustrophobic into a panic. Interior designer Johanna Acab-Faustino tells you how to pull

visual tricks to make your unit appear larger, without knocking down walls and breaking the piggy bank

The tricks of visual illusionwith you a few tricks designers employ to make spaces seem larger.

1. the astonishing illusionary effect of a mirror. Mirrors, because of their reflective quality, add depth to a room. Placing a mirrored wall adjacent to the entry wall immediately doubles a narrow space. When a mirror is placed on a wall, it appears to push walls further out, most especially if you put focal decorative pieces such as interesting accent pieces, wall lights or even unique ceiling lights in front of the mirror which tend to create double images. This will not only add depth to a room, but will emphasize the creative details placed in the interior.

Should you decide to put a mirror, consider using a black mirror. It enlarges the space without the glare and creates a mood that is romantic, subtle and light, paired off with furniture pieces that likewise expand the space. If you opt on putting partitions, try frosted glass or any other translucent material which tend to give a feeling that there is more depth beyond what the eye can immediately see.

Slim and multi-functional piecesof furniture are one of the keys to expanding one’s living space.

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In this project, a unique and customized type of ceiling lamp extends all the way to the mirror to suggest depth was used.

2. the comfort, look and feel of your furniture. For small spaces, consider using dual purpose furniture and those that appear to take up less space and make your eyes move around the interior. The use of glass and mirror mixed with metals such as steel and chrome for furniture pieces such as coffee tables, console tables and side tables, to name a few will definitely be a good trick to expand a small space. Bulky and heavy furniture should be avoided because it will tend to stunt your eyes to further appreciate all elements in a room. Furniture, though small should be comfortable to use. Consider light colored pieces over dark ones to give the space an illusion of more light and space.

Dual purpose shoe rack and console table are positioned by the entry to maximize use of furniture pieces. The sofa also has a pull out bed.

The use of light walls, light flooring mixed with lightly proportioned and simple pieces maximize the small space.

3. spark it with color. This is perhaps the most important element to consider in small spaces. Color has the intrinsic gift of creating certain moods and illusions to any given space. The best way to achieve a feeling of expansiveness is through the use of monochromatic color scheme. A single color in varying gradations from dark to light used in an interior space creates a harmonious interior look in a small space. If pale and neutral colors are used for walls, it will appear that walls are further pushed out. One can add to this illusion by using light colored flooring materials and accentuating it with certain pieces and accessories within the interior to widen the floor space.

4. remember your ceiling. Gone are the days of neglecting the dimension that is above you. Visual interest is optimized when there is decorative balance perceived as the eyes travel from the floor, to the walls and the ceiling. Dropped ceiling with controlled illumination for concealed lighting is also a good trick to expand space. Use it on hallways, or corners of a space that tends to be neglected.

The shade of blue is used in this studio in various degrees. It is complemented by neutral shades of beige and brown to add definition. Multi functional pieces are used such as the sofa beds and divider for the sleeping area beyond.

5. Let there be light. Situate your ceiling lights on areas where activities are centered. Whoever said that pin lights have to be located only at the four corners of the room? A good way to stimulate interaction and activity will be to locate your ceiling lights where you want interaction to take place. Table lamps and stand lamps are also significant elements in a space. Consider lamp bases that are made out of glass or any reflective materials. Avoid common looking lamps and consider investing in good conversational pieces. After all, the smaller the space is, the more you should be discriminating on what goes in it.

6. highlight with window treatments and soft furnishings. Complete the expansive look with choosing window treatments that enlarge window space. If you have the budget, opt for louver-effect roll up shades, vertical blinds or curtains that have a clean, tailored look using sheer and solid colored fabrics. Avoid too much pattern as this will contradict the feeling of expanse that you want to achieve.

These are only some of the many ways to make a space seem larger. With proper space planning and interior decorative treatments, one can experience exhilarating joy in designing compact spaces. Like a canvas that awaits the stroke of the brush of the painter, so it is with an empty space awaiting to be filled up

Concealed lighting is employed in this hallway to add width to the otherwise

narrow passage way.

Johanna Acab-Faustino is a member of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID) and Council of Interior Design Educators (CIDE). She is currently a faculty member of the Department of Clothing, Textiles and Interior Design of the College of Home Economics, University of the Philippines, Diliman Quezon City, from where she graduated Cum Laude. Aside from teaching, she is also actively involved in designing residential and commercial interiors.


Another quality project of:R.J. LHINET DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

W ith the limits of space and density, condominium living has almost become synonymous to living inside a box. With such a space, arranging one’s belongings is

like piecing a jigsaw puzzle and learning to live with that drawback.

For the urban dweller who wants his money’s worth, R.J. Lhinet Development Corp. has just the answer: spacious bi-level units of the One Sapphire Condominium in the heart of Mandaluyong City, planned and designed to address the need for affordable residential homes.

Rising at six floors, One Sapphire is one of the tallest structures in Mandaluyong, with its 94 bi-level or walk-up units going as high as 2.3 meters with wall, floor and ceiling finishes, providing residents with the comforts and privacy of a modern house. One bedroom units at 33.59 sq.m are available for as low as P1.2 million, while the three bedroom type takes up 75.8 sq.m for only P3.6 million. Its structural steel frame systems and strong interior and exterior reinforcing insure a strong, durable, and acoustically sound interior wall system and leak resistant exterior wall.

Designed to be a low density community, One Sapphire is a refuge for those who need privacy without going far. This Mediterranean-inspired community also provides a good venue for relaxation and leisure with its recreational area and mini gym at the ground floor.

Conveniently located near the Mandaluyong City Hall,

Value for space at

One Sapphire is only 10 minutes away from the Makati and Ortigas Central Business Districts, and is within reach of major establishments, malls, schools and hospitals.

Veering away from the boxed concept of the modern condominium that most of us have come to know too well, One Sapphire provides a breath of fresh air in this part of the metropolis. Come home to One Sapphire and feel that for yourself.

Model units are available for viewing at the One Sapphire Condominium’s site in Mandaluyong City. For inquiries, please call 723-1616.

One Sapphire

Images by Pranz Kaeno Billones


AMENITIES

Swimming pool

Whirlpool

Children’s playground

Mini gym

Snack bar

CONDO FEATURES

Grand lobby and receiving area

24-hour security

Automatic fire alarm and sprinkler system

Back-up power for common areas

Ample capacity overhead & underground water tanks

1 passenger elevator

For more details, call:+(632)7264347 or +(632)7228094

www.rjlhinet.com

Why settle for a loft unit when you can afford two floors?

Another quality project of:R.J. LHINET DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

HU

LRB

LTS#14606

Mandaluyong City

mezza residences:

Life at the centerT here is nothing more tempting now

than a cosmopolitan life—living next door to where one studies, works, plays, and having more options that comes

with the cool convenience of being at the cen-ter of the cityscape.

Such a lifestyle is easy to achieve with SM Development Corporation’s Mezza Residences, a four-tower community in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Set to change the landscape in this part of the metro, the Mezza Residences is a modern Italian-inspired community that will provide quality units and high-end amenities at an affordable price with easy terms.

Buyers are assured of the SM trademark of quality with Mezza Residences, as units with space ranging from 21 sq.m for the one-bedroom type to 86 sq.m for the three-bedroom type can be availed for as low as P1M to P4M, at P9,800 a month. All four towers open up to magnificent views of the sunrise over Antipolo, the Manila sunset, and the Makati skyline.

Starting families, parents from the provinces seeking to provide homes for their children in the city, doctors from nearby

hospitals and young professionals can now experience the high life here. Mezza’s location along Aurora Boulevard where the LRT 2 operates will bring residents closer to where they want and need to go. From Mezza, everything is within reach: Quezon City, the Ortigas and Makati central business districts (CBD), the university belt and surrounding schools, hospitals, and malls.

Residents will also delight in the easy lifestyle at Mezza, as 5,000 sq.m will be devoted to amenities which include a 1,000 sq.m lawn, a 25 meter lap pool with a submerged lounge deck, and outdoor and indoor function rooms. Those seeking peace and quiet need not go far, as there will also be a Zen garden for meditation.

Barely a year has passed from its launch and 50 percent of the units have already been taken, with the Towers 1 and 2 already sold out, proof that Mezza is registering high on the hot scale. With Mezza, the cosmopolitan life is open to all, without strings attached.

Model units are available for viewing at the SM City, Sta. Mesa, Manila. SM Development Corporation is the real estate development arm of the SM Group of Companies, designing and creating homes and leisure and tourism projects for the active premium middle market segment. For more information, please call (02)8315151 or 0918-888SMDC(7632), email us at [email protected] or visit www.smdevelopment.com.


mezza residences:

Life at the center

Jasmine’ printed duvet cover (P4150), ‘Jasmine’ printed pillow cases (P795 for a set of 2), duck feather and down king size quilt (P6750).

reveal

romantic reasonsnot to leave the bedTumble into the sheets of love with the latest beddings, pillowcases and towels from Debenhams

Beddings with embroidered prints:50 percent cotton and 50 percent polyester.

A romantic interlude need not be in some far-off imagined place accessible only in the minds of dreamers. After all, love is not so much an occasion

but a state of being, one that we take with us everywhere we go. A house becomes a home when lovers dwell therein: spend lazy afternoons together wrapped in Debenhams’ delicately embroidered Jasmine beddings, made of equal parts cotton and polyester and luxuriously filled with duck feathers and down. Charlotte pillowcases, duck feather and down- filled quilt seem lifted right out of a calm morning sea. Perhaps, the only trouble here is

that no one will ever want to get out of bed. Romance resides even in the most unexpected

of details, in everyday items done in petal-soft fabrics—such as Debenhams’ luxury, reversible natural-colored bath mats, or theme statement towels made from 100 percent cotton. Wrap yourself in soft, luxurious 100 percent Egyptian cotton towels which also provide maximum absorbency. Gestures of affection, after all, are best when unexpected.

Debenhams is located at Rustan’s Makati and Shangri-La Mall.

Towels with prints are Theme Statement towels from Debenhams: made from 100 percent cotton. The plain ones that are folded are Egyptian cotton towels known for their superior softness, providing maximum absorbency.


highlight

Manila FAME taps award-winning designers to give this year’s furniture showdown a decidedly innovative streak

Design coup in the works


Manila F.A.M.E. International, the second longest running tradeshow for home furnishings, houseware, holiday décor, and fashion accessories in the Asia-Pacific region, stages a design coup in 2007 as it taps several of the country’s top

designers for its Merchandise Development Consultancy Program (MDCP): Tony Gonzales, Tes Pasola, Reimon Gutierrez, Darwin Avilles, Chito Prieto, and Joyce Oreña, with overall creative direction by Milo Naval who is one of the founding members of Movement 8, a consortium of top Filipino furniture designers.

MDCP was introduced in 1997, paving the way for local and foreign designers to work closely with the country’s local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to develop globally competitive products. This unique collaboration has helped Manila F.A.M.E. International establish a brand that is synonymous with outstanding design, quality, and innovation.

Launched in 1983, Manila F.A.M.E. International is the only trade fair in the Philippines recognized by the Union Des Foires Internationales (UFI), the union of the world’s leading tradeshow organizers, fairground owners, and major international associations from the exhibitions industry.

Organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotions agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the fair is held twice a year (April and October), and each edition brings new surprises with its Spring and Fall collections. For many years, Manila F.A.M.E. International has always provided a winning edge – exceptional creativity, fine craftsmanship, well-selected merchandise not found anywhere, and personalized customer service – making it on top of the must-see shows in the region’s trade fair circuit.

George Beylerian, president and founder of Materials ConnexXion in New York says that “coming to the Philippines is like an instant magnetic affair! The country has an enormous talent bank, an incredible wealth of materials, and good commercial common sense.”

Today, Philippine products can be found in well-appointed showrooms and upscale shops worldwide, as buyers from top companies such as William Sonoma, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Armani Casa, Neiman Marcus, Barneys, Pottery Barn, Harrods, Target, Marks and Spencer, and Banana Republic, among many others, troop to Manila every April and October.

The next Manila F.A.M.E. International will be held on 18 to 21 April in five different venues: the World Trade Center, East Pavilion, Philippine Trade Training Center, and the Forum and Reception Hall of the Philip-pine International Convention Center (PICC). It is open to the public on the last day only, with P150 entrance fee. More information on the fair may be accessed through www.manilafame.com. Email [email protected] or [email protected].

Katha AwardsFor 23 years, the Manila F.A.M.E. International, a trade fair focusing on Philippine-made home furnishings, gifts, houseware, holiday décor, and fashion accessories, has recognized the Filipino’s design genius with the Katha Awards. The past month’s edition of the Katha Awards recognized product designs that are mostly made for the home, combining both the ideals of dulce et utile, beauty and function.

Among those who made it to the product design A-list are Team International Concepts Inc.’s whimsical curtain holder, which takes the shape of the words “I love you love me love you” written in cursive, and A. Garcia’s orange wire chair for the home furnishings category. DA International Import and Export’s resin ball collection, meanwhile, took the prize for the home accessories category.

Delicate lamp designs bring light in focus, such as that exhibited by Evolve Design’s hanging lamp, made of weaved wicker, and First Binhi Crafts Corp.’s black twig hanging lamp, which won the prize for the lumina category. Touch of Crafts,

meanwhile, came up with a doll collection which also makes for brilliant, colorful, holiday decorations.

Top designers Ed Calma, Joey Yupangco, Susan Joven, Jojie Lloren, Vice President for Hardgoods of the Foreign

Buyers Association of the Philippines (FOBAP) and Luis Manalang of the Product Development and Design Cen-ter of the Philippines served as judges for this edition of the Katha Awards.

The Manila F.A.M.E. also became host to the back-to-back presentations of Material ConneXion, the world’s most extensive resource for design materials, and Vincent Gregoire, artistic director of the Nelly Rodi Trendlab on the lifestyle trends for 2007 to 2008.

George Beylerian, president and founder of Material ConneXion, stressed on the Philippines’ rich sources

of native materials and their advantage to the

country’s design industry.

The Manila F.A.M.E. is set to take center stage again come April 2007.


Do you know how difficult it is for an overweight individual to exercise? Or for a hearty eater to diet? When an overweight person exercises, his heart rate

accelerates very rapidly because of all the extra weight he carries. Unless he’s been exercising regularly, he actually puts himself at risk from heart failure.

And every one knows how agonizing it is to deprive yourself of food, if you love to eat! So that if you put on weight and decided to lose it, your only other options (until very recently) were to take diet pills or to undergo painful surgery.

Fortunately, advances in medical technology now make it possible to lose weight and actually shape your figure without exercise, dieting, pills, injections or painful surgery.

“What we’ve done is to bring in the latest technology from overseas, and apply it to the problems associated with obesity and overeating”, says Roxanne Sarthou, managing director of the state-of-the-art slimming center known as Zunic. “We help people lose weight so that they can begin exercising if they want to, and whether they wish to modify their eating habits or not.”

At Zunic, weight loss is conducted without the sweating, anxiety, and pain associated with traditional methods. A Zunic client stretches out comfortably on a plush treatment couch, and fat is literally melted away using a variety of sophisticated equipment that employ heat, laser light, radio waves, and mechanical articulation to non-invasively reach under the skin and dissolve stubborn fat deposits.

Up to 48 hours after treatment, fat is excreted through normal body functions, with no side effects except for a profound thirst.

“We start by restoring a client’s ideal metabolic rate with our Metabolique treatment”, Roxanne Sarthou continues. “This machine

uses infrared technology to stimulate circulation and achieve the body’s optimal metabolic state. Your body burns calories faster as your metabolic rate increases, yet the only thing you feel is pleasant warmth all over your body.” Zunic therapists mention that some clients actually doze off during their Metabolique sessions.

From there, Zunic clients can move on to CelluFree, CelluAvant, AccuTone or Contourage treatments.

“But because no two people are alike, no two Zunic programs are the same,” concludes Ms. Sarthou. “Every one has problem ar-eas they would like to target, and we make sure our programs are individually-tailored to meet a client’s personal objectives.”

Opened in September 2006 at the Olympia Towers in Makati Avenue, Zunic has a full complement of trained personnel to address the needs of its exclusive clientele. Pre-treatment medical checks are performed by licensed physicians, and all treatments are conducted by qualified nursing staff.

The slimming programs are determined from results taken during pre-treatment consultations, where clients undergo a thorough interview with the in-house doctor. Areas that require treatment are identified, and high-tech weighing scales measure not only the client’s body fat, but also water composition, muscle

percentage and bone mass.Because of its effortless, relaxed approach

to eliminating unwanted pounds and excess fat, Zunic is a favorite among busy people who want to shape their bodies with as little fuss as possible. Slimming at Zunic is something to look forward to, not only for its immediate results, but for its proven effectiveness.

You can visit Zunic at the Upper Ground Floor, Olympia Towers, 7912 Makati Avenue, Makati City 1200 or you can call 752-0600 or 752-0601 and discover what Zunic can do for you. Please look for Ms. Nora Icaro or Ms. Roxanne Sarthou. You can also e-mail [email protected].

takes slimming and body-sculpting into the 21st century

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Welcome to thecenter of things

Centropolis combines the elements of an ideal residential setting, complete with commercial facilities and amenities in its four low rise cluster buildings. Designed to provide residents’ needs all in one place, Centropolis maintains a tranquil setting with its contemporary Asian architecture and lush landscape. This is evident in its

Convenience is the key to living in the modern world, where one has to keep up with fast-paced, rapidly changing lifestyles. One needs to be at the center in order to remain on top of things.

TKRL Realty and Development Corp. sees that need and strives to make it possible for the modern homeowner on the go with the Centropolis Communities, a one hectare, self-contained community in Sucat, Muntinlupa City.


competitively priced one to two bedroom units, some of which come with individual pocket gardens that provide a peaceful hideaway in the city.

To complement an easy, laid-back lifestyle, Centropolis also offers the Lifestyle Square at the very center of the property, which includes rows of restaurants and shops in an al-fresco setting, and amenities the Urban Club, which houses five interconnected resort pools, a gym and fitness center, business center, a grand ballroom, indoor game room, kiddie play area and a badminton court.

From Centropolis, it is also easy to venture out as its ideal location allows easy access to the Asian Hospital, schools, and malls. It is also a good 10 minutes away from the Madrigal Business Park and

the Filinvest Corporate City, 20 minutes away from the Makati Central Business District, and 30 minutes away from the Ortigas Central Business District.

In Centropolis, convenience is more than a commodity—it is a lifestyle. Come home to Centropolis and be comfortable with the fact that everything is just within your reach.

Model units are available for viewing at the Centro-polis Communities site in Sucat, Muntinlupa City. For inquiries, please call 885-7530.


development

Art Decoas inspiration

Design details such as stainless steel grills, geometric stonework and grayish-brown grillwork mark a dramatic comeback for Art Deco in the country.


The Empire State Building is a towering icon of the Art Deco movement.

Art Deco, the basis for architecture of New York City’s iconic Chrysler Building and Empire State Building, may just make a comeback here in the country with the launch of Eastwood LeGrand.

“Eastwood City’s architecture is inspired by the best the world has to offer. The launch of Eastwood City’s new Palm District will boost the international appeal that Eastwood has come to be known for,” noted Eastwood Property Holdings Inc. VP for Marketing John Natividad.

the beginnings of Art decoArt Deco’s initial movement stems from

the 1925 International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts in Paris. French architects like Hector Guimard sought to demonstrate the French artists’ leading position and evolution internationally. As an art form, Art Deco is an amalgamation of many different styles and movements in the early 20th century, including Constructionism, Cubinism and Modernism. It frequently used materials such as aluminum and stainless steel. Sweeping curves and stepped forms (more commonly called ziggurats) characterized skyscrapers.

When the movement crossed over to the other side of the Atlantic, American architects embraced it lovingly. Its popularity reached its peak during the Great Depression, since its opulent, functional and ultra modern style maintained a certain sense of practicality and simplicity, which still reflected the “American Dream.” One such structure is the Chrysler Building, which was built from 1928 to 1930.

The Philippines’ status as an American colony meant that Art Deco eventually found its way here. Many of Manila’s buildings

followed the American Art Deco theme. However, all of these buildings were leveled down during World War II.

A grand comebackArt Deco makes the grandest comeback here in Manila

with the launch of the 38-storey Eastwood LeGrand. Its grills feature stainless steel prominently. Cheerful yellow hues give it a vibrant façade. All windows are tinted to give the entire building a modern edge. The windows are bounded by plain white trims reminiscent of the signature architecture that

makes the Empire State Building famous worldwide. Just as the Chrysler Building is renowned for its Art Deco spire,

Eastwood LeGrand’s decorative molding on its very top is an elegant art form in itself. Large, geometric stonework adorns its columns, while grayish-brown grillwork beautifies the lower floors up to the podium. Of course, the best French designs are featured in the grand lobby, lending a luxurious welcome to residents everyday.

“The design of Eastwood LeGrand is really modern and cutting-edge. Investors and homebuyers have just but one chance to live in a building that is a genuine work of art,” Natividad declared.

Visit the Eastwood City Information Center along Eastwood City’s Orchard Road to check out its new model units.

Eastwood LeGrand, with its decorative molding, is a true work of art.

The stepped spire of the Chrysler Building is famous the world over.

Eastwood LeGrand’s impressive lobby features modern French designs, lending a luxurious welcome to residents everyday.


Fil-Am guy is real estate’s

man on top

Condo Central gets to meet ronald Vergara, the Chicago-based Fil-Am real estate broker, who is returning to the country to deliver an invigorating jolt to the local construction and property industry


Ronald Vergara strikes one as indomitable. With a built of a football player and a hulking countenance, tempered with the charm and wit of a TV show host, he seems to effortlessly wield great strength and power. But Vergara channels the energy not on any sports field

but on the corporate arena, closing deals (usually in millions of dollars) in a matter of seconds.

His resume, needless to say, is daunting. Armed with 20 years experi-ence in real estate and brokerage commerce, he has helped build the Mort-gage Exchange, an Illinois mortgage brokerage, from a small company into the largest volume mortgage company in the state of Illinois. His team financed nearly $1.5 billion in loans annually. In less than six months, the loan generation business, which spawned into a real-estate marketing business, helped developers sell nearly $100 million in property—a stag-gering amount, especially if you convert that to pesos.

A masterful financial strategist, he has helped hundreds of clients increase their real estate portfolios. By creating additional cash flow with the profits generated from those assets, Vergara has helped clients realize their financial goals. He has personally participated in the negotiation, finance and sales of real estate in excess of $500 million dollars.

Confident with numbers and suave in his communication skills, Vergara is at the top of his game in what appears to be the world’s most competitive real estate industry. What would drive him then to leave his comfort zone in Chicago, come back to the country after leaving it almost 30 years ago when he was still a kid, counterflowing against the millions of Filipinos leaving the Philippines in search for the much-dreamed-of greener pastures?

His reason is simple: Vergara wants to make a difference. If he has done it in the States, he reasons, he can replicate his success here. Fueled by great ambition, he doesn’t want to leave a small dent but an impact so great that it will change the course of the local estate industry. He envisions millions of dollars in investment infused to the country by Fil-Ams. Over the top? His track record is nothing but his hunger realized.

Kicking things to a start is the establishment of Guiding Star Corp. (GSC) where Vergara serves as CEO and president. His vision, shared by like-minded people in his team, is to develop world-class destinations in the Philippines, “second to none,” specifically five-star quality condominium hotels and luxury residences.

What makes his corporation different from other real-estate companies is that GSC is designed with a different approach and orientation. “When we see our competitors trying to convince people to retire in the Philip-pines,” he enthuses, “we cannot help but think that they are only after the ‘retirement’ dollars/foreign currency and nothing more.”

Vergara wants to see retirees, on top of those who want to re-establish their links to the country, to be productive which is the key “to unlocking this beautiful country’s potential.” GSC, Vergara believes, can unlock the inherent value of “returning Filipinos” whose “collective education, experience and desire to help will bring back is immeasurable.” Retirement, he firmly believes, is not an option for them.

His formula: make their real estate purchases generate income as they continue to live in the US. When they are lured by homegrown developers to acquire properties that will only be utilized sparingly and sit unproductively in their absence, Vergara proposes properties that are “hotel condominiums,” in the league of Four Seasons, which will generate profit for the Fil-Am investors even if they are still based in the US and made available each time they come home a visit.

Right now, he is in the process of canvassing lands, negotiating con-tracts and acquiring the pertinent permits for his developments. He has a stringent timetable in order for the products to be swiftly delivered. In less than three years from the start of the construction, investors can already enjoy the fruits of their hardwork, he avows.

Knowing the Fil-Am market by heart (after all, he is one of them), Vergara has left no stone unturned, studying carefully and addressing their needs and specifications, comfortable as they are with US standards. He looks into the four areas that will greatly influence the investor’s choice: service, safety/security, sanitation and surroundings.

“Our strategy is to instill a customer-centered approach to all our projects/properties,” Vergara describes of service. “Simply put, whatever the customer wants, the customer will get.”

Safety/security, on the other hand, is the diminishment of uncertainties in all their properties, giving the unit owners peace of mind.

“A clean living environment needs very little explanation,” Vergara explains. “Once you see it, you know we have achieved it.”

Surroundings, lastly, pertain to the creation of world-class architecture and landscaping that do wonders for the mind and soul. “The best part is that no single entity, organization, person nor country holds a patent or franchise on creativity,” he says. “We believe GSC can compete and deliver a world-class property. GSC believes that if we can provide all of this in one package, we can firmly convince our fellow Filipinos to return once more to their land of birth.”

At the end of the day, after all the trading and the negotiation, after the huffing and the puffing, what Vergara wants to achieve is a better life to those who didn’t share the same blessings that he has. Children, particularly, have a special place in his heart. Last year, he organized toy drives at Lakeshore Properties in Pampanga and at the Philippine Children’s Medical Hospital, enlivening the spirit and giving smile to the sick and to the impoverished.

He realized right then that, “we need to do much much more than just bring toys and snacks.” He urges his team to do their very best because there are so many people they must help, affirming that their purpose for doing business here is to make make a difference.

“We have been blessed with health and great abilities,” Vergara told his team. “Together we can do something really special. Remember everyone God’s gift to us is the gift of life. Our gift to God is what we do with our lives. We have been given the tools let use them.”

Though gifted with a bird’s eye-view of success, Vergara doesn’t lose sight of his commitment to his homeland. He wants to give back to local communities, build hospitals and schools, make life better for some. To be of service, as Vergara proves, is the meaningful fulfillment of his strength.


Is there such a thing as an illegal interior designer?” one might ask. Oh yes, there is. People may not be aware that the practice of Interior Design in the Philippines is regulated by the Board of Interior Design under the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC). This means that a legal Interior Designer in

the Philippines is one who has a valid license to practice the profession of Interior Design in the country. To obtain a valid professional Interior Design license, one has to pass the Interior Design licensure examination given by the PRC Board of Interior Design. To qualify for taking the Interior Design licensure examination, one should have earned a degree in the Bachelor of Science in Interior Design program in any college or university in the country accredited by PRC. Therefore, an illegal “interior designer” in the Philippines does not have a legal license to practice Interior Design and has not passed the Interior Design licensure examination. In other words, an illegal “interior designer” is just like any other illegal practitioner of a profession such as fake doctors, dermatologists and nutritionists. These are imposters who may not only be fooling you with their exorbitant service fees but may also be putting your health, safety, security and possibly your life itself at stake.

Perhaps, there are people who do not really care whether the person they hire to do their interiors has an Interior Design license or not. As long as they can afford the fees charged by this person who claims to be an “interior designer” or an “interior design consultant”, they think that it would be an advantage to them. However, it is high time that people should be warned about these illegal “interior designers” while the policing of these “criminals” has not yet been fully implemented by the government.

It has been observed that these illegal practitioners of Interior Design confi-dently continue to commit their crime because no one has ever thought of policing them since they have already established their names in the country after getting many rich patrons who do not know any better. As long as they can get away with it, they continue to fool their ignorant clients who think that they have been getting the best out of their money’s worth. There are some illegal practitioners of Interior Design who happen to be in show business and they use their popularity as celebrities to advertise themselves as “interior designers” or “interior design con-sultants.” There are also others who passed the licensure examination of a related profession like Architecture, and think that that has already earned them the legal right to practice the profession of Interior Design.

With the interior design profession in the upswing, there are quite a few people who capitalize on and practice it, without the requisite license and degree. Though one may easily surmise that interior design is mainly involved in beautifying spaces, Dr. Adelaida V. Mayo writes that it also plays a major role in the comfort, safety, well-being and protection of the inhabitants—that’s why it makes sense to consult only those who know interior design inside out

perspective

Beware of illegal interior designers

Dr. Adelaida V. Mayo is the current Department Chair of the Department of Clothing, Textiles & Interior Design at the UP College of Home Economics in Diliman, Quezon City. She is also the current President of the Council of Interior Design Educators (CIDE). As CIDE President, she regularly meets with the Board of Interior Design and the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers in order to discuss major concerns regarding Interior Design education as well as profession in the country.

Republic Act No. 8534 (Act regulating the practice of Interior Design in the Philippines) defines the practice of Interior Design as “the act of planning, specifying, supervising and giving general administration and responsible direction to the functional, orderly and aesthetic development of interiors of buildings and residences that shall con-tribute to the enhancement and safeguard of life, health and property and the promotion and enrichment of the quality of life.” The main reason behind the institution of that Law regulating the practice of Interior Design is precisely to ensure that the design and construction of interior spaces are made in accordance with the standards and requirements set by the PRC Board of Interior Design. By definition alone, one should realize that the practice of Interior Design goes beyond the beautification of interior spaces and has a major role to play in providing comfort, safety, well-being and protection to the end users of the interior spaces involved. Persons who have not passed the Interior Design licensure examination and who do not have a valid Interior Design license may not be conscious about this concern when designing interior spaces. This poses great danger for them to omit the requirements or standards set by PRC.

While there is still no aggressive move from the government to police these illegal practitioners of Interior Design, people should now be warned about their existence and be advised not to risk their health, lives and property by taking a big gamble in hiring them. No matter how popular they may have been in high society for years, their being illegal practitioners of Interior Design still makes them guilty of committing a crime punishable by law. Patronizing them may also put one as an accessory to their crime.

Hiring a licensed Interior Designer to do your interiors is like seeking the expertise of a licensed medical doctor when you have health disorders or consulting a licensed dermatologist when you have skin problems. On the other hand, hiring a person without a valid Interior Design license to do your interiors is like risking your money and your life in a gamble. One should not let one’s property be subjected to the hands of an illegal Interior Designer just like how one should not risk his/her body to be treated by a person who has not passed the Medical Board Exam.

If it is the professional service fee of a licensed Interior Designer that one is worried about, it is about time that one should be enlightened about that. Thinking that the fee of a person without a valid Interior Design license is much cheaper than that of a licensed Interior Designer is totally a misconception. There are illegal practitioners of Interior Design who charge high service fees since they have established a name through their connections. On the contrary, there are admirable licensed Interior Designers who charge reasonable service fees because their main interest is to improve the quality of the living and working environments of their clients. What is most important is getting a professional Interior Designer with a valid license whom one can truly trust because his/her practice is legal.

It is the hope of all licensed Interior Designers to see the day when illegal practitioners of Interior Design will no longer be allowed to compete with them, putting an end to a crime which ridicules the Interior Design Licensure Examination. The public should likewise beware of falling into the trap of illegal Interior Designers who could put their health, life and/or property in danger.

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Childproofing your condo

aid kit and post emergency phone numbers near the telephone. make room for the kids. Prepare a cushioned room or a playpen for them and place a monitoring device in it so you can keep track of what they’re doing even if you’re elsewhere in the house. As kids love to explore, install safety gates on doorways and stairs. Throw in window locks and door stoppers as well. Clear off any stumbling block in the hallways. use kid-friendly furniture. Buy safe and comfortable cribs, beds, and chairs for your babies or tots. Just be sure to position them away from windows, stairways, or electrical outlets. Secure shelves, dressers, and appliances as they may easily tip over. Sharp furniture edges and corners in your home should be padded or covered.

get rid of home hazards. Cover your electri-cal outlets and hide cables or wires from view. Keep matches/lighters, plastic bags, or any sharp object away from children’s reach and do store poisonous chemicals and medicines in locked cabinets. Also, be careful in selecting toys for your kids because there are some small parts that can easily be swallowed.

no substitute for supervision. As parents and grown-ups, you have the full responsibility of taking care of your children and protecting them from any possible harm. So never leave your kids unattended whether they are playing, going to the bathroom, eating, or even sleeping. It’s also best if you learn how to perform first-aid and CPR in case of emergencies. Be prepared for anything and just let your parental instincts kick in. Remember, it’s up to you to provide them a clean, cozy, and safe environment to live in.

Sources: www.babyhomesafety.com and www.homesafetycouncil.org

tips

Picking out the right furniture, color scheme, and art pieces are all part and parcel in creating the perfect home for you and your family. But above any-

thing else, safety must come first, especially if you have kids running or even crawling around the place. Designing your condominiums is one thing, but childproofing it presents a whole new challenge for parents.

The scary myth is true: most injuries and accidents which lead to death of children ages 14 and below occur within the confines of their own homes and these could have been prevented with some very basic safety measures. To make that sure that your flat is a safe haven for kids, you need to double-check the safety checklist.

see from their perspective. From a kid’s point of view, your home is their world and they’re naturally curious about it. Unless you’ve dropped on your hands and knees recently, you’ll realize how big and possibly dangerous everything is. Try to be more observant and use common sense in order to identify the problem

If you have kids in your condo, read! Glaiza Seguia offers you a handy checklist on how to make your flat safe for the young ones

“I teach my son Jacobo how to be aware of accident-prone things at home. For example, I don’t put away breakables because I want him to know what things he can and cannot touch. I also remind him to watch where he goes, take care as he walks. The entire floor of his room is covered with the rubber puzzle mats so even when he stumbles, the fall wouldn’t be too hard. We also put door stoppers para hindi siya maipit sa pinto. Then we make sure the drawers are locked, the electric plugs are covered. And of course, I have a baby monitor, which really helps a lot.”

How mommy Dawn keeps Jacobo safe

areas, then you can start doing action.

remember the basics. It’s home safety pro-tocol to install smoke detectors and have work-ing fire extinguishers in your house. Be familiar with the nearest emergency exits in the building and make evacuation plans. Keep a handy first-



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It’s all about the high life in the city of Baguio. Luxuriate in the comforts of an idyllic getaway. Burnham Suites Baguio is a 7-storey residential condominium that embodies the elegance and convenience

of a grand vacation haven.

report

Fact: Survival is a universal concern. Fact: Man’s basic necessities have always been food, clothing and

shelter, all of which are anchored on the preservation of human life. Fact: Over the past decade, condominium living has greatly

improved with the continuous development of building technology, sup-port features and facilities, and people services.

Question: But despite all these innovations, how prepared and safe are you and your family against calamities?

Safety starts at home. Compared to previous years, Chief Inspector Jose S. Embang, Jr., Fire Marshall of Makati City, noted there “is a more intense drive” in the community on fire prevention and earthquake preparedness.

The latest condominium haven now stands in Global City, Taguig. Designed and built by G&W Architects & Associates, Kensington Place is an architectural haven that does not only comply with the mandatory fire safety requirements, it also gives the residents their money’s worth.

Fire and earthquakes are two main considerations regarding calamities. Kensington Place has been designed to address these threats. Complimented by state-of-the-art technology like centralized fire alarm and sprinkler systems, it is linked to a computer which allows building authorities to alert residents about possible emergencies and also pinpoint the source of the fire or smoke. The building’s biggest water reservoir is the swimming pool at the ground floor. According to Arch. Daniel Terrence

Though condominiums are deemed more disaster-proof than houses, it’s still good to familiarize oneself with areas of safety and how to respond once a calamity strikes. Arch. Felicisimo A. Tejuco, Jr. talks to an architect, a fire marshall and an engineer regarding requisite safety features of buildings and to unit owners on how they have equipped themselves in case they come face-to-face with an emergency

Assessment of condominium homes in the metropolis

How safeis your home?


Yu, Chief Executive Architect of G&W Architects & Associates, “the building uses a dual system like airplanes. If the main system breaks, we have a back-up system.”

Fire escapes have a fire-rating of six hours, ensuring that all occupants have enough time to evacuate the multi-storey building. Common spaces like corridors and fire escapes have been

pressurized to contain smoke and prevent it from spreading further. Arch. Yu noted that smoke inhalation is the leading cause of death in most fire cases. Such technology is widely used in Asia like China and Taiwan. Appropriate illuminated signage is also placed near fire escapes.

In case of earthquakes, Kensington’s light but strong 3D paneled walls “just don’t add on to the weight of the building, they dance with the building during earthquakes,” Arch. Yu said.

Aside from technological innovations, G&W’s projects have trained personnel on first aid and disaster management. They also conduct annual fire drills in coordination with the unit residents and local government of Taguig.

Other condominium buildings like Palm Tower in Makati City have also taken the initia-tive to improve their fire prevention systems. This March, the automation of fire alarm and sprinklers systems will have already been com-pleted. It will be followed by a series of lectures on fire prevention and evacuation in coordina-tion with the specification of the local govern-ment units. Fire escape doors, emergency lights and signage are ensured to be in good working conditions.

According to Engr. Jonas Cruz, building engineer of Palm Tower, these improvements are based on latest trends and his training from Ohio Behavioral Science and Technology. Engr. Cruz used to be a ship manager for Goodyear Philippines and project coordinator for Grand

Asian Builders.Outside Makati, other cities which strictly implements fire safety

regulations are Quezon City, Mandaluyong, and Pasig.For almost two years now, Arch. Dianne Marcelle K. Abistado, wife and

mother of two, have owned and been living in a three-bedroom unit in PYP Mansion II, Cubao, QC. Archt. Abistado is a senior architect of St. Luke’s Medical Center. With her architectural background, her immediate safety considerations are immediate access to fire escape, adequate fire alarms and fire sprinklers. Although they are on the 12th floor, she made sure that the balcony would be safe a place for her two kids. The balcony railings are adult chest-high. Adequate emergency lights and illuminated signage are also installed. In preparation for possible calamities, she has already instructed her kids’ nanny to take her children and go to the nearest fire exit.

On the other hand, newly-wed couples Felipe II and Kris Salvosa have been tenants of a condominium unit in California Garden Square in Manda-luyong for five months. According to Kris, adequate fire protection systems are also their main safety consideration. The couple has already stashed all their important documents together with a medicine bag in case of an emergency. They are a unit away from the nearest fire escape and only three levels above the ground floor. Felipe is a sub-editor for the Business World while Kris is a market analyst for Procter & Gamble.

In Pasig City, Anna Barbara Lorenzo, with her mom and uncle, has been living in their condominium unit in Palmdale Heights for the last two years. Their three-bedroom unit is equipped with smoke alarms. Since their unit has undergone renovation, some of the new rooms have no sprinkler systems. Annual fire drills are held every March. Barbara is also a reporter for Business World.

Building safetyArch. Yu stressed that building safety need not be expensive. “If every-

thing was planned properly, condo living is actually safer than houses,”

Architect Yu Engineer Cruz Fire Prevention Chief Enoc


cal wiring to air-conditioning system to distribution of clean and waste water,” she said.

Based on their data, obstruction of fire escapes is the leading violation among condominium buildings. According to Engr. Maniego, some of the escape routes have been converted to storages or are locked. Other usual violation is the wrong door swing for fire escapes. Effective fire access doors should swing outward.

Appropriate sanctions and penalties are being served to violators.

Aside from possible legal cases, violators may be revoked of their business permit. Engr. Maniego said the number of violations is only a handful. “Meron talagang mga pasaway,” she said.

To date, there are eight on-going constructions of condominium build-ings in Makati City. Each year, newly constructed buildings are added to the list of buildings for annual inspection.

Information driveInformation is the key to safety. Fire Prevention Month comes as an

annual wake up call to all communities on disaster awareness and preven-tion. In Makati City, the Central Fire Station is working double time with the information drive. A series of lectures and seminars on evacuation and first aid training are lined up for the year.

Regarding calamity response Chief Inspector Embang stressed that there are two main considerations: skills and equipment. Although the local fire department still lags behind when it comes to equipment, the fire marshal reassured that “we have enough skilled people to deal with calamities like fires and earthquakea.”

However, he reminds them to do their share. “Don’t just comply with the Fire Code of the Philippines. Upgrade yourselves. Educate yourselves.”

Sr. Inspector Reynaldo D. Enoc, Chief of Fire Prevention and Inspection Unit of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) added: “Attend lectures and seminars conducted by the BFP. Brief all members of the family. Inform them of the nearest fire exits in case of emergencies. Read safety tips. Know the number of your nearest fire station.”

To future condominium unit owners, Engr. Maniego advises them to check the condominium if it has secured the building permit and occu-pancy permit. “That means they (developers) have complied with local ordinances,” she said.

More important, for Arch. Yu, they should also do their research. “Ask the right questions: What are the safety features of the building? How can I evacuate the building during calamities?”

he said. He noted that most old houses are made of wood, making them prone to fire. Engr. Cruz agreed, adding that condominium buildings are generally safer than houses, especially during earthquakes.

Instead, he warns future condominium own-ers to be wary against unscrupulous developers, who pad their fees and cheat their clients using

substandard materials. Engr Annabele Maniego, OIC of the Enforcement Division of the Office of the Building Official of Makati City, agreed that they still receive isolated reports.

In response, the Office of the Building Official of Makati City came up with the Annual Inspec-tion Group, which conducts yearly inspection of public and assembly buildings. Each team is composed of a civil engineer, mechanical engi-neer, electrical engineer, and a master plumber. “This team checks all aspects from faulty electri-

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as 911 in the Philippines just yet. For now, it’s a must to know these numbers for various emergencies that can pop up wherever you are.

117 – Philippine National Police or Patrol 117168 – Makati Command, Control and Communication Center (C3)163 – Bantay Bata16-211 – Meralco136 – Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)524-1078 – National Poison Control1626 – Maynilad Water Services, Inc.1627 – Manila Water Company, Inc.160-16 – Association of Volunteer Fire Chiefs & Firefighters of the Philippines, Inc.522-2222 – Association of Philippine Volunteer Fire Brigades, Inc.911-5601 – Civil Defense Operation Center

Hotlines you should know

Engineer Maniego Diane and kid Chief Inspector Embang


anything that will burn.• Allow plenty of air space around television

sets, computers and stereos to prevent overheating.

• Keep electrical cords away from heat-producing appliances, such as toasters and coffee makers.

• Be sure that detachable appliance cords, such as those used with coffee makers, are rated for the electrical load requirements of the appliance.

Electrical cords • Keep electrical cords out of traffic paths and

away from areas where children play.• Maintain all electrical cords. Replace any cord

that is cracked, frayed or otherwise damaged.• Never pinch an electrical cord against wall or

furniture.• Do not run extension cords under carpets or

across doorways.

outdoor power• Never run outdoor extension cords across

lawns for seasonal lighting displays or run any extension cord across driveways or traffic areas.

• Never use electrical appliances outdoors in wet weather or when the ground or grass is wet, unless the appliance is specially designed and labeled by an independent testing the lab for such use.

Lighting• Place lamps on level, uncluttered surfaces and

be sure that lampshades are secure enough to protect the bulb from breaking if the lamp is knocked over.

• Light bulb should not exceed the wattage recommended for a lamp or fixture.

be alert of the following danger signals

• Recurring problems with blowing fuses and tripping circuit breakers.

• Feeling a tingle when you touch an electrical seasonal outlet.

• A burning smell or unusual odor coming from an appliance or wiring.

• Sizzling sound at wall switches or outlets.• Flickering lights. If you cannot locate a

problem inside your home, call your power company or an electrician immediately to inspect the electrical connection to your home from your electric meter.

When you spot a warning sign, take action at once. Unplug a malfunctioning appliance if you can do safely. If necessary, cut off power to the problem circuit by disconnecting the fuse or tripping the circuit breaker manually. Call a pro-fessional electrician to correct the problem.

It’s been said that condominiums offer more protection against fire than houses, but still, it’s important to be aware of the fire’s usual causes, the precautionary measures to prevent fire from happening and how to deal with conflagrations when they happen.Most fires are linked to faulty electrical wiring, electrical short circuits

or malfunctioning appliances. The Bureau of Fire Protection—which has the mandate to prevent and suppress destructive fires, investigate their causes and provide emergency medical and rescue services—offers us electrical safety tips that will guide us on how to keep our electrical cir-cuits and appliances running safe and sound. Read, study and take them to heart. The life that you save, as they say, may be yours.

fuses and circuit breakers/electrical outlets• If a fuse blows off or a circuit breaker trips, don’t just replace it or reset it.

Find out what caused the breaker to trip and correct the problem.• Never replace a fuse or a circuit breaker with one that exceeds the

amperage rating for a given circuit.• Avoid using several high-amperage appliances, e.g., heat-producing

appliances, on the same circuit.• Never replace a fuse with metal strip or any material that conducts

electricity.• Have a professional electrician replace old or damaged outlets with

modern, three-wired polarized receptacles. Proper grounding is essential to minimize fire and shock hazards.

• Never cut off or bend the ground pin of a pronged plug. This ground connects protect you from severe shock caused by a faulty cord or malfunctioning appliance.

• Never alter the wide prong of a polarized plug to make it fit into an outdated outlet. Have the outlet replaced and properly grounded.

• Protect children from electrical shock by installing plastic safety inserts in unused outlets.

Appliances • All household appliances should bear the label of an independent testing

laboratory, indicating that they meet basic safety standards.• Keep heat-producing appliances, such as electric ranges and irons at

least three feet (one meter) away from furniture, curtains, beddings or

Make electricity your friend

tips


Lawyer Romero Federico S. Quimbo was 32 and concurrently president of a pioneering dotcom corporation and an associate at one of the country’s leading law firms when then Housing chairman Michael T. Defensor popped an interesting proposition: How would you like

to work for the government?Others would readily scoff even at the idea

of trading a profitable and promising private career for one in the crazy bureaucracy. But for Quimbo, it was an eventuality just waiting for its opportune unfurling. The erstwhile student leader and activist has always viewed government work, even if for the briefest stint, as something every able-bodied and nationalistic citizen should do. And contrary to the perennial pronouncements of professional doomsayers that involvement in the public sector irreversibly taints, he believes that government service is, or can be, honorable and decent. Proof of this, he maintains, is his own family. Both his parents were government employees and yet they managed to raise 10 upstanding and respectable children.

While there were other government agencies making a bid for Quimbo’s services at that time, it was this particular offer for a stint at Pag-IBIG Fund that eventually made him decide to turn his back, albeit temporarily, at a thriving career in the private sector. “I’ve always believed in Secretary Defensor’s vision and sincerity. Plus, I knew that under him, I will be given the needed leeway to implement policies and do things I feel should be done,” Quimbo explains.

Five years on, the unbridled support from higher-ups and the guaranteed free management reign still intact, Quimbo has successfully transformed the once non-descript agency into one of the country’s top corporations, making it a benchmark for excellence in government service and professionalism.

Challenge

Taking stock of his arsenal was Quimbo’s initial order of business upon assuming the top post at Pag-IBIG in 2002. The agency then was perform-ing satisfactorily, quietly delivering on its mandate but he knew there was plenty of room for improvement. It did not take long before he saw why

the agency was underachieving. “A road map was essentially non-existent. There were no clear goals nor clear directions. Records were not integrated. Also there was not a coherent and scientific basis for targets and expectations in relation to the fund’s true capacity and poten-tial. And there was no accurate performance appraisal system,” he says.

Luckily, he had one thing going for him – the employees. “To be honest, I was surprised at the care and commitment with which Pag-IBIG employees treated the agency – this despite the fact that they are among the lowest-paid in the government,” he exclaims. “Never mind that systems and structure were all over the place. That can be fixed. The more important thing

spotlight

Atty. romero F.S. Quimbo, president and CEO of Home Development Mutual Fund, or Pag-IBIG Fund as it is more popularly known, sits down with Arnold A. Altamira, not only to discuss how brick by brick they’ve been able to rejuvenate the sputtering agency, but likewise to offer his take on what is needed for the more important task that is nation-building

Driving home a point


was that I had this group of dedicated and hon-est employees who are going to work with me.”

The employees were only too happy to play to the sway of Quimbo’s baton. His commitment to excellence and his aversion to mediocrity and failure rubbed off immediately.

He instantly rewarded the culture of honesty in the agency by holding over staff members from the previous administration. He wanted to show everyone that he had nothing to hide and he had no intention of making Pag-IBIG his fiefdom. He likewise took the daring step of empowering the managers, entrusting them with greater responsibilities under a decentralized system. This was counterbalanced by the introduction of a performance appraisal system to chart employee accountability.

In no time, Pag-IBIG was running like a well-oiled machine. There was renewed pride and vigor in the workplace. And it manifested clearly in the numbers.

ResultsAs per 2005 figures, Pag-IBIG Fund was the eighth largest among all

tax-paying corporations in the country in terms of net income. Before Quimbo’s time, the Fund was not even listed among the country’s top 500 corporations. Its total assets last year of P191.5 billion and net income of P7.4 billion are the highest in the Fund’s entire history. The net income figure represents a 300 percent improvement in just four years’ time.

Pag-IBIG has likewise become the biggest and most dominant real estate player in the country today. In 2004 alone, 36 percent of all mortgages in the entire country were financed by Pag-IBIG. The rest were backed by 18 universal banks, about 200 thrift banks, and the other government financ-ing institutions. In 2005, the Fund lent out P17 billion to its members, as compared to just P5 billion in 2001.

Driving home a point


RecognitionEven if it was not required,

Pag-IBIG submitted itself to the corporate credit rating process of the Philippine Ratings Services Corporation (PhilRatings). Usually given exclusively to private con-glomerates, the credit-worthiness rating was undertaken, as Quimbo explains “for greater transparency, disclosure and to promote good governance.” Pag-IBIG received an ‘AAA minus’ rating, only the third corporation in the past three years to have done so, validating the Fund’s “very strong capacity to meet its financial commitment relative to that of other Philippine corporations.”

Last October 2006, the United Nations recognized the Fund as one of the seven outstanding human settlement organizations in the world when it conferred the agency the prestigious UN Scroll of Honor during the World Habitat Day.

While Quimbo has successfully towed Pag-IBIG to unprecedented heights, his excellent work has not come unnoticed. In recognition of his leadership skills, Quimbo was voted President of the Philip-pine Social Security Assosiation (PHILSSA), the partnership of government agencies providing social security composed of GSIS, SSS, PhilHealth, AFPRSBS, ECC, PCSO, and Pag-IBIG. And just late last year, he was named a TOYM awardee for the usually stringent category of Government Service.

Apart from the agency’s exceedingly honest and dedicated

workforce, Quimbo credits the former and current HUDCC leader-ships for the agency’s unmatched success. “I only had smooth sailing during Chairman Defensor’s time. I’m glad that the present Housing chief, no less than Vice President Noli De Castro, has been similarly encouraging and helpful. None of this would have been possible if not for their unstinting support,” he declares.

RecommitmentInstead of resting on all these

accomplishments and recognitions, Quimbo sees more work ahead. He explains, “There is a very basic acknowledgement that the government by itself cannot solve the housing problem. The private sector has to be involved. And the only way to do this is to create an environment friendly to all stake-holders in housing.”

Pag-IBIG does so by simply showing that there is money to be made in housing. “We have made it a conscious effort to implement policies that are geared, not only for the benefit of our members, but

likewise to encourage participation of the private sector in housing programs,” he says.

For example, the Fund has low-ered its interest rates drastically, with members of lower-income brackets benefiting most via pre-ferred rates. Higher loan amounts now gravitate towards banks and other financing institutions. As a result, developer confidence has increased on recognition that more and more financial institutions are now willing to lend to property buyers. “This is the sort of synergy between the government and the private sector that we’ve always wanted to see,” he beams.

FulfillmentIf Quimbo seems too much in a

hurry, it is perhaps because he does not see himself staying in govern-ment for very long.

“As I’ve said, I’ve but postponed my career in the private sector,” he

says. He believes other young bril-liant minds should fall in line and offer their services.

“Apart from seeing it as a duty, one of the reasons I entered govern-ment service this early is I simply got tired of people, especially my friends, whining about the sad state of the government. I wanted to show them that the best solution is to be the solution. The day I walk out of this office, I am going straight to my friends and haul them all to the near-est government agency so they can stop complaining and start serving. I just don’t have the time and the energy right now,” he chuckles.

That day comes, the private sector will have surely gained a valuable soldier, and most certainly will do everything to keep him in its fold for as long as possible.

Well, perhaps only until Quimbo’s constant pangs for public service again begins begging for attention.


The sunny side of

cover story

A s one enters the model unit of Fort Palm Spring located at MC Home Depot at the Bonifacio Global City, one is immediately greeted with a feel-good ambience. The tones are in warm olive and bronze, tempered with intermittent expanses of white. The

chairs, woven and adorned with cute little throw pillows, invite the view-er to sit down and relax his eyes upon a suite of abstract works mirroring the colors of the interior.

Now, imagine that semblance of home perched in any of the 28 floors of Fort Palm Spring, opening to a luxurious view of the Global City, the Manila Golf Club, or the ragged silhouette of the Makati skyline against an intensely blue sky.

The visual treat, however, begins with the building itself. The lobby sprawls into a dream of marble and dripping chandelier. Evoking the tropical ambience of Palm Springs in California that has inspired it, the development dazzles with a breathtaking landscape bristling with palm trees and sky gardens that disrupt the smooth, sleek lines of the building’s decidedly modern design.

Safety, needless to say, comes first. All units, which start from spacious open layouts of 32 sq.m. for studio up to 155 sq.m. for three-bedrooms in standard finish or model unit finish, are fitted with automatic sprinkler systems and smoke alarms, intercom system, built-in exhaust, piped-in gas direct to kitchen provision for cable television, two-line phone and high-speed internet connections, provisions for hot and cold water supply, and individual electric meters and mail boxes. Residents are assured of tight, 24-hour security, ample basement parking, and access to three high-speed elevators, first class saunas, spa, fitness gyms, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

the

Bonifacio Global City will soon awaken to a new, sunny development that will reshape this community and re-address current real estate parameters. Condo Central takes a peek at Fort Palm Spring Images by Benhur Arcayan

TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN


ExECUTIVE STUDIO

ONE-BEDROOM DELUxE


Fort Palm Spring’s location is reason enough to move in. Situated at the corners of First Avenue and 30th Street in the Fort Bonifacio Global City, the building is a stone-throw away from vital business, educational, medical, recreational and commercial sites. It is neighbors with Net One and Bonifacio Technology Center, International School Manila, St. Luke’s Medical Center, Manila Golf Club in Forbes Park, the Fort Square, and the Fort Strip and Market! Market!

Without the hefty price tagThough one can easily surmise that developments like this come with

hefty price-tag, what with the location and the building amenities and features, Fort Palm Spring pulls a pleasant surprise. First Global BYO Corp., which constructs the development, has devised a way to cut the cost of the units to as much as 40 percent. A square meter in the area that normally costs P95,000 pales in comparison with the P52,000 per square meter offered by Fort Palm Spring.

The concept, simply called Build-Your-Own (BYO), brings the buyer closer to the project managers and builders, eliminating the cost associ-ated with the middleman. “The buyer,” First Global BYO assistant general manager Myrna Besabe explains, “becomes the owner/developer through the project manager and the development team.”

Expenditures associated with the middleman include but are not limited to advertising cost, various overheads, taxes, debt services and undeclared loans. These expenses, which have nothing to do with the construction of the building, eat about 40 percent of the unit buyers’ money. By cutting the middleman, First Global BYO can drop, conversely, the price of their units to as much as 40 percent.

The BYO scheme assures buyers of debt-free, zero mortgage deals as they become independent from target profit quotas which fund project developments and are guaranteed that their money is used solely for con-struction. A built-in security feature of the BYO system is a depository and disbursement bank (Banco de Oro) that will make sure that all the funds will go to the building’s construction which, as clients wait for their units to be completed, incur interest. Pag-IBIG and in-house financing are also available for those in the look-out for a comfortable payment scheme.

GROUND FLOOR PLAN


Formidable teamFirst Global BYO, though offering a cheaper alternative to condo-

minium living, did not cut corners in terms of the formidability of the team—composed of architects, builders, construction project managers and engineers—that will realize its projects. Some of the key players include SM Mall of Asia’s architect Robert Carag Ong, the country’s number one structural engineers Aromin & Sy, top construction manager Dennis Abcede, and top builder CE Constructions, all boasting of over 35 years of experience in the construction industry.

The company is confident and banks on its 35 years of solid experience in project management of multimillion-dollar commercial and residential developments in countries such as the US, Australia and China, envisioning to replicate with what they have accomplished in these countries here and make groundbreaking change to the Philippine high-rise scene. As early as now, the Philippine Federation of Home and Land Developer’s Association awarded First Global BYO the “Chairman’s Award for Excellence” during its recent annual general meeting.

OFFICE FLOOR PLAN


Besabe assures that Fort Palm Spring will be finished in two years, three years ahead of the usual. “This will enable our clients to move into their homes sooner or rent them out sooner so that they can either save up to five years’ worth of rent or earn up to five years’ worth of rental income,” she explains.

The response to Fort Palm Spring has been positive. Over 35 percent the units have been sold and in a half a year’s time, Besabe says that they are optimistic that all the units would already be sold out. This has invigorated First Global BYO to begin drafting their next three projects, still at the Bonifacio Global City.

With all of these terrific developments happening, more people can now look forward to indulge in the luxury condominium living with utter peace of mind.

Fort Palm Spring model unit is located at MC Home Depot, 32nd Street cor. Bonifacio Blvd., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For inquiries, call 815-8080 or 727-4221.

PREMIRE TWO-BEDROOM

THREE-BDEROOM WITH LOFT


investment

F or 25 unbroken years, Virgie Ablen Suzuki has been making daily trips to the wet market to personally handpick the freshest ingredients for what she calls her “little Japanese kitchenette.” She then goes straight to oversee kitchen operations where brother

Danny is head chef. Once in a while, she leaks out of her little cocoon to make certain that her service crew is doing a fine job at making every customer in the 50-seater joint pleased. At day’s end, she is the last to leave, the one to literally switch the lights out.

Housed at the ground floor of a two-story apartment at the corner of Sampaloc and Kamagong streets in Makati City, Suzu-Kin (literally Golden Bell) is Virgie’s modest monument to her love and fascination for everything Japanese. It all started almost three decades ago when she met her would-be husband, Akio Suzuki. A chef for the Kaneko Japanese Restaurant, one of the handful of Japanese dining places then in existence, Akio introduced and tutored Virgie on the finer points of his native cuisine. The eager student and the fast learner that she is, she absorbed his teachings immediately. Of course, developing a

As one of Manila’s pioneers in Japanese cuisine turns silver, new opportunities are opening up – not only for its hardworking founder, but for the enterprising public as well. Arnold A. Altamira rolls out the sushi mat on this delectably new prospect

The sun rises for Suzu-Kin

*CONCEPT DESIGN ONLY


genuine liking for the food helped greatly. In no time, Virgie decided that her skills were respectable enough to stand scrutiny from a paying public.

It goes without saying that any business that manages to stay afloat after 25 straight years has achieved a great measure of success. Suzu-Kin’s story is doubly admirable because of the conditions in which it thrived. The unpretentious establishment has been in exis-tence long before the Filipinos have acquired the taste for Japanese dishes; long before such has permitted for the influx of trendy land-of-the-rising-sun-themed restaurants. The interior is not at all glitzy, which Akio explains is the authentic look of traditional restaurants in his hometown. Moreover, it has bravely defied the “Location! Location! Location!” mantra of entrepreneurship gurus. Nowhere near burgeoning commercial hubs, Suzu-Kin has attracted and maintained a fiercely loyal clientele.

Apart from the Suzu-Kin’s scrumptious specialties, it is Virgie’s exacting and non-negotiable standards that roused the interest of habitués John and Ethel Lim, two of the founding partners of Franchising Xynergy Providers, Inc (FXP). The more they patronized the place, the more they were convinced that the delicious experience should be shared by a broader customer base.

Small wonder, the Lims encountered no trouble persuading their partners Gilbert Santos, Romar Padilla and Anchit Idian that Suzu-Kin be FXP’s pilot project. It was a matter of convincing Virgie to share the restaurants secrets in exchange for the boundless opportunities that come with opening up the business to franchising.

The talks were swift and decisive. As far as Virgie was concerned, there were no secrets. There was only strict adherence to ingredient freshness, consistently good cooking and very reasonable prices. As for FXP, the challenge shifted, from the technical niceties of systems replication, to simply keeping Suzu-Kin’s cherished reputation unscathed.

Come April, two new Suzu-Kin restaurants will open in Makati. Regular customers might be surprised at what may be perceived as a radical makeover. FXP explains, however, that the new interior and logo designs are meant to signal the ushering in of more exciting times for the Suzu-Kin faithful. An expanded menu will complement the cheery, contemporary updated look of the restaurant. But as far as the bottomline goes – Suzu-Kin will still, and always be about good, authentic Japanese food at really reasonable prices. This is Virgie and FXP’s resolute pledge.

For inquiries, visit Franchising Xynergy Providers, Inc. at UnitA-107 State Condo V, 452 EDSA, Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City. Or call 890-4393 or email [email protected].

unConvEntionAL yEt suCCEssfuL. Suzu-Kin defies the rules of location and interiors and yet remains attractive to its loyal patrons. The sun rises for Suzu-Kin


Cool off your “kitchen for one” this month and challenge your taste buds with a hint of Asian flavor. The cuisines of our Asian neighbors always provide an interesting

dining experience with its fresh ingredients, ar-omatic herbs and spices, and new (yet somewhat familiar) flavors.

Just like any unfamiliar foods, the keys to enjoying Asian cuisine are to keep an open mind, an adventurous stomach, a working knowledge of what to order, and a small group of dining companions willing to embark on a little Asian food trip.

Here’s a quick guide to some of my off-the-beaten-track favorites around the Metro:

cooking for one

Jenny B. Orillos asks you to temporarily abandon your kitchen and head to three fantastic restos serving the most sumptuous of Asia

Hanmadang Korean Barbecue and Restaurant636 San Andres Street, Malate Manila. 303-7388 or 303-7387.

Tourist buses parked along the busy San Andres street near the wet market cause a bit of a traffic jam come dinner time. Korean tourists make a detour at this restaurant for a sumptuous feast of Korean staples like chapchae, bulgogi, bibimbap and an array of kimchi. Come here during a weekday (or weekend) lunch for a more manageable lunch time crowd.

The setting: Has an area with low tables at the ground floor, for a Korean-style dining experience. Regular tables and chairs are available in the dining area on the second floor.

Plate favorites: The Dolsot Bibimbap is stove pot rice with mixed veg-etables topped with fried egg and sesame seeds. It comes with a small bowl of hot chili and bean curd paste that you mix into everything for a deliciously moist mess with a subtly sweet and spicy flavor. The Haemul Pajun (Seafood Pancake) is a large fluffy omelet with a surprisingly moist center and filled with shrimp, mussel, leeks, bell pepper, and onions. The Chapchae (glass noodles like our pansit bijon) brims with ingredients like earthy mushrooms, sweet onions, bell peppers, carrots and leeks. It has a slippery texture from the noodles and a subtly sweet, savory sauce, a complete heartwarming meal by itself.

Isshin Japanese Restaurant 1024 A. Arnaiz Ave. (formerly Pasay Road), Makati City. 817-2548 or 844-1512.

The setting: A favorite haunt of diners who love good quality Japanese food. The atmosphere is casual and busy. A tatami dining area, adorned with a soothing wallpaper of green bamboo, is at the back. Open until late in the evening.

A (local) Asian food trip


Plate favorites: Selections include giant maki rolls, sushi and sashimi plus a long list of different kinds of ramen like Seafood Ramen and Yakisoba, teppanyaki, tempura and other Japanese staples. Must try is the refreshing cold noodles, hiyashichuka, tossed in a special soy-based sauce and topped with slices of omelet, red bell peppers and tomatoes. They also have the crescent-shaped gyoza (dumplings), which are steamed first and then lightly browned in a little oil. Served on a sizzling plate is the Tofu Special, made with thick rounds of tofu that are breaded, fried and topped with a savory sauce.

But what draws Isshin patrons are the reasonably priced lunch sets. The Executive Lunch Set consists of one special Teishoku Box meal for the day (like Yakiniku Beef on Mondays or Mix Tempura on Tuesdays). For P140, one can partake of a complete meal served with miso soup, plain rice, osh-ingko, and three side dishes for the day. The Teppanyaki Lunch Set consists of the special Teppan for the day (gyoza, chicken, squid, beef or shrimp) served with mixed rice and a yakisoba teppan. This Teppanyaki Lunch Set starts at around P125.

Jakarta Inn-Piano Bar and Restaurant 2082 F. Benitez St., Malate, Manila. 521-4116.

The setting: Tucked in a sleepy neighborhood near the corner of San Andres St. and Quirino Ave. in Malate. The pace picks up in the evening with music from the piano bar. This is the place to go for an intimate lunch or dinner over food reminiscent of spicy Bicolano dishes, the closest we have to the Indonesian food served here.

Plate favorites: Jakarta offers a large selection of authentic Indonesian dishes ranging from camilan (appetizers), soup (like Soto Ayam or chicken soup with tangy lemon grass broth), salad, main courses of chicken, sea-food, beef and vegetables, and nasi (rice). A meal in itself is the Nasi Goreng (fried rice with egg, diced shrimp, chicken and beef) which is delicious strewn with crunchy emping, Indonesian crackers.

The Rendang Daging Sapi (beef rendang) is like the Filipino adobo and is slowly cooked in coconut milk, herbs and spices until tender

Safe and clean: go ahead and lookIN ITS THRUST to promote the brand’s promise of food safety and qual-ity, McDonald’s boldly goes no local fast-food chain has – to open its kitchens to the public with its Open Doors Program.

First introduced in McDonald’s China and Australia, the Open Doors Program shows the brand’s focus on food quality, safety, and cleanli-ness. For McDonald’s, it is a way of communicating to all – especially moms – that each McDonald’s meal is thoughtfully made, under the best and most caring conditions. This means they are bringing their family to a safe haven that takes their well-being to heart.

Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value or QSC&V are the four key words that have guided the way McDonald’s prepares its food. QSC&V brings consistency in all its products. This consistency has made McDon-ald’s one of the most loved and trusted brands in the world.

Last Feb. 25, 14 participating literally opened their doors to the public and conducted a tour of McDonald’s world-class kitchens: a demonstra-tion of how each McDonald’s branch took food preparation, and thus the well-being of their families, to heart.

“Opening our kitchens reinforces our openness and transparency.” says Margot Torres, McDonald’s VP for Marketing. “At McDonald’s, moms can feel at ease knowing that they are giving their children and the rest of the family only the freshest and best quality meals.”

and caramel in color. Try the filling and tasty Gado-gado, the essential Indonesian salad made of crisp vegetables and served with a peanut dressing. Jakarta has a savory selec-tion of sate (barbecues) like the Sate Daging Sapi (beef barbecue), Sate Ayam (diced chicken barbecue) and the Sate Campur (a combina-tion of beef, chicken and prawn). If you like other Bicolano-type dishes rich in gata, try the Tumis Udang Dengan Kelapa Muda (prawns in thick gata) or the Ayam Panggang Bumbu Rujak (savory roasted chicken with coconut milk and herbs).


string of exhibits currently on view in the metro presents wave upon wave of artworks and influ-ences that have landed on our shores from China throughout the centuries and examines how it continues to inspire contemporary artists and energize their vision to create profoundly new and invigorating interpretations of the world.

The magic of MacauOn view until March 7 at the second floor

lounge of The Podium in Ortigas is Macau Magic, a group show featuring the works of four art-ists—National Artist BenCab, Soler Santos, Claude Tayag and Phyllis Zaballero—who were inspired by the visual treasures of this adminis-

China has influenced almost all aspects of our lives—from the way we dine to how we trade to how we live—but as the exhibits currently on view at The Podium and Ayala Museum attest, one of the world’s oldest and greatest civilizations has also inspired and energized how we create and view art. Carlomar Arcangel Daoana writes

China calling

coverage

Though the West has constantly portrayed China’s exoticism and mystique, translating them into heart-stopping images of kung fu masters, women with bound feet and emperors with hundred wives, sometimes set in hazy background of mountains or the Great

Wall, what we know about China is more definite, intimate. Trading with one of the oldest and greatest civilizations in the world

as far back as the pre-Spaniards times has opened us to China’s social, cultural, linguistic, and even artistic

influences, contributing a great deal to how we define our country and ourselves.

In the light of China becoming an unstoppable economic powerhouse (possibly half of the things you use or own could have been manufactured in this country) in the 21st century, a

Claude Tayag’s, “Veggie Vendor”

Pen and ink, watercolor on paper

Beaded slippersAsian Civilizations

Museum


trative region of China. Invited by the Macau Government Tourist Office, in cooperation with Finale Art File, the artists portray in their works the attitude of someone just coasting along and also, the supreme focus of find-ing a hue of meaningfulness in a new place, making it lasting through art.

A quick walk through the works easily reveals their different subject matters, their varying degrees of concentration and the wildly, and delightfully, conflicting stance with which they have immortalized Macau. But there seems to be an underlying sameness of pursuit: to capture a nuance, an essence, that makes Macau unique from all other cities in the world, and to touch, no matter how deftly, the intersection where tradition meets modernity and where, term not used loosely here, the East meets the West.

For Zaballero, Macau is an invitation, as it had been more than 500 hundred years ago to the Portuguese settlers who established the city. Her red doors and yellow windows are flung wide open, giving us a glimpse of their interiors: a wrought-iron chair, lanterns, deliciously painted walls. Even the curtains, parted a bit or fluttering in the wind, reveal. Though there are no people in her works, we are intrigued by, and drawn towards, the tone of domesticity, as evoked by articles of clothing hanging on ban-isters and clothesline to dry. We begin to ask who own those socks, undergarments, shirts, camisolles—unapol-logetic, surprising, humorous.

Santos, on the one hand, wants to know Macau’s nitty-gritty. Instead of sprawls and parks, people and activity, his subjects are precise, specific directions. He is an artist in the look-out for symbols, signages, affirmations. For him, Macau is the muscular rubber tree beside a road sign, the insignia tatooed on the wall of the Chapel of our Lady of Guia, the manhole cover on a brick road, the two roasted chicken lying in wait. His is Macau in words, some of them with their corresponding Chinese script: “Correios,” “Rua Correa de Silva,” “Macao Water.”

The artist is fierce in his rendition of Macau that is old: his colors bleed, drip, make splotches to signify wear-and-tear, ruin. Even his landscape contrapuntal to a glassy river sliced by a lone boat seems to be dated, over-hung with a massive, inchoate shadow. In brief, effortless strokes, Santos has evoked the many centuries which Macau wears like layers of dress.

At the pulse of Macau’s city life are the works of Tayag that avidly por-tray, in many frames, its people and their activities. At the heart of his ouvre, however, is food: how it is sold, prepared, cooked, presented and of course, eaten! His markets teem with produce and different kinds of meat. The people who prepare the peanut cake, tea and wintermelon soup do so with loving attention. From the concentrated shuckling of oyster to the light enjoyment of

Damian Domingo’s “Catedra de San Pedro de Roma” Oil on thin copper sheet

Phillis Zaballero’s “Rua Da Felicidade 1” Acrylic and pencil on paper

Soler Santos’s “Chapel of Our Lady of Guia”Watercolor on paper


tea to the happy dining with friends, the artist renders them with light-hearted curiosity and the fascination of one who delights, unforgiv-ably, in the good life.

Master in portraying both elation and anguish, BenCab offers us the most enduring representative vision of Macau: its people. Trafficking between the “old” world when life was slow and mail was delivered by hand and the new one marked with fast-paced communication and globalization is an old man, holding and staring at a cell-phone, as if figuring what to do with it. He seems to be lost in complete thought, as well as the other figures who, engrossed with their routines, don’t look straight at the viewer.

Macau may be known to rest of the world primarily through its polished, glittering casinos but the four artists took a swerve, bringing

to us not only the historical sites and cultural activities this city can offer but also its mood, weather, gestures and conditions. The cogs and wheels of commerce are turning swiftly all right, but, as the works show, there is still something in Macau that is volatile, delicate, pure—untouched by progress.

A product of many cultures, Macau has settled comfortably in these assortment of details and influences. When many cities are in a mad rush of demolishing old structures in order to hoist swanky offices and condominiums, the island has preserved many of its landmarks and buildings so much so that its Historic Center is in the World Heritage List. There are so many things going on in the place, and yet so many that have remained the same that we, if really consider ourselves as citizens of the world, can partake and enjoy for years to come.

Art from the MainlandChinese trade traced as far as the ninth cen-

tury has inevitably influenced and contributed to the shaping of our country. Its impact is so enormous that we don’t know where to begin unravelling those influences and contributions. That’s why Chinese Diaspora: Art Streams from the Mainland, a series of six exhibitions at the Ayala Museum on view until May 27, is a timely, much-needed crash course on how this great country helped form our nation and its people.

Fernando Zobel de Ayala, co-vice chairman of Ayala Foundation elucidates: “Through a series of six exhibitions and their accompany-ing public programs, the Ayala Museum seeks

to highlight the historical and cultural ties that bind us to

Mainland China. From the ninth century on to

the 21st, history has proven that these cultural, social, and economic ties to be strong and endur-ing ”

Kicking off Chi-nese Diaspora is “The Peranakan Legacy,”

a loan exhibition from the Asian Civilization

Museum in Singapore which focuses on the distinctive art forms

of the Peranakan. Peranakan means “child of” or “born of” and is commonly applied to the mixed Chinese-indigenous communities that developed in the trading ports of Melaka, Singapore and Pen-ang. Distinctive material culture of the Peranakan

BenCab’s “Vendor at Ruin’s at St. Paul”Acrylic and charcoal on paper

Platter (18th to 19th century ceramic)Roberto Villanueva collection


Chinese community including jewelry, beaded slippers, gold and silver orna-ments, ceramics, garments, textiles and furniture are featured. David Henkel curates the show.

“Tsinoy: Mestizo Art of Colonial Times,”on the other hand, is the counterpart exhibition to the talk delivered by respected historian Ambeth Ocampo. The show features works that are little-known or traditionally regarded as 19th century Philippine colonial art which include ivory and hardwood santos, jewelry and furniture, other artworks represen-tative of the Chinese-Mestizo.

Highlighting the brilliance of Damian Domingo, who had Chinese heritage, is “Damian Domingo: The First Great Filipino Painter.” The show brings a representa-tive collection of the entire spectrum of Domingo’s oeuvre: previously unseen religious images from the Ongpin collection, portrait miniatures and his albums of Philippine costumes. Domingo was credited to hav-ing advanced the development of art education in the Philippines from self-study and apprenticeship to formal education. He encouraged native painters to move towards a firmer grasp of painting principles and was recognized then, as he is today, as the great Filipino master portraitist. Religious paintings on copper that Damian painted for his family shrine are shown to the public for the first time. The show is curated by Lisa Ongpin-Periquet, Luciano Santiago and Deanna Ongpin-Recto.

“Chinese Tradeware from the Roberto T. Villanueva Collection” is a special selection that features a compre-hensive range of Chinese tradewares, spanning a mille-nium of ingenious pottery from Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong. The Villanueva collection is one of the finest of its kind in the country, composed of 3,800 ceramic pieces. Works on display originated from the kilns in southern and northern China, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma and Japan. Rita Tan curates the show.

Providing the discourse on how China is seen through West-ern eyes is “China Gaze: Valeria Cavestany.” The show, curated by Dita Samson, features light boxes and acrylic portraits by Valeria Cavestany and is one of the two exhibitions that provide contemporary angle on the country’s Chinese heritage.

Born in Barcelona to a Catalan father and a Filipino mother, Valeria Cavestany, came to Manila in the late ‘70s in search of her Philippine roots and chose to make Manila her home.

“My fascination with Chinese culture has been with me since I can remember,” she explains. “China epitomized to me the other, the extreme orient, a far-away magical land with ancient traditions. A land inhabited by beautiful women with tiny feet and strange customs so different from my Mediterranean roots. I studied Chinese history, Chinese painting, and the Mandarin language to get some understanding of this civilization.”

Last is “Evidence Bags,” an installation exhibition by twenty-something Claudine Sia, the other contemporary discourse on the intersections of his-torical and the familial. Viewers encounter upon entering a massive exhi-bition panel, 9x 32 feet, positioned at a slant across the floor. Photographs, postcards, receipts and other ephemera in glassine bags are secured by long steel pins and guided by a red thread throughout the panel, relieved here and there by small mirrors.

Sia explains: “More than anything else, this work is about photography,

memory and history. What I’m presenting is proof of history. The photos are fixed and belong to a murky past while images in the mirror are fleeting and change whenever someone passes by for a look. What they do have in common is their value as evidence—mirrors and photographs don’t lie.”

Valeria Cavestany’s “Mr. Ong”Acylic on canvas

Nino DormidoSolid ivoryPaulino and Hetty Que collection

Claudine Sia’s “Evidence Bags” (detail)Installation (photographs, postcards, claim stubs and other ephemera, glassine, steel pins)


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gadgets

A twist, literallyRight before

she leaves for her much-a w a i t e d B r o a d w a y comeback in Les Miserables, the country’s one and only international pride, Lea Salonga pays her local fans and followers with a fitting tribute of timeless songs in an album called Inspired under Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

The album, a product of her close collaboration with arranger-producer-

brother young maestro Gerard Salonga, is Lea’s first studio album in seven years. Inspired is a collection

of Lea’s personal favorites, a few originals exclusively written for her by

Jim Brickman (“To Hear You Say”) and Lani Macaraeg (“Do You Hear It”) plus her

official wedding song “Two Words” penned by Louie Ocampo.

Asked why Inspired for a title, Lea smiles, “I guess it’s a word that describes our collective state of being. We were inspired by various things: my new baby, different artists’ albums and/or vocal stylings, experiences, people, just going about our individual days. There wasn’t any one thing I can pin down or point out, but whatever these things were, it brought out our best.”

First single off the album is “Promise Me” by Beverly Craven currently heard on the airwaves. Other much-awaited tracks in the album are “Who Are You?” “When October Goes,” “Brian’s Song,” “Sing,” “Two Words,” “When The Winter’s Gone,” “Land Of The Loving,” “Waiting For Love,” “To Hear You Say,” “My Foolish Heart” and “Do You Hear It?”

Showtime has never been so flexible with Hewlett-Packard’s

new HP Pavilion tx1000 Entertainment PC. HP takes on a unique twist and touch to the notebook by enabling its 12.1 inch screen to turn 180 degrees and employing easy touch screen control, making it the perfect gadget for viewing movies and presentations, or simply scribbling as it can also be converted into a flat slate. Built for easy entertainment, the HP Pavilion tx1000 Entertainment Notebook PC features the new and improved HP QuickPlay 3.0, an innovation that

allows users to launch music, photo and video files at the push of a button without booting up their notebooks. Multitasking is also easy, thanks to AMD Turion™ 64 x 2 mobile technology which powers the HP Pavilion tx1000 Entertainment Notebook PC to run programs simultaneously without slowing the PC. Weighing in at less than four pounds, this hot gadget makes it possible to carry entertainment around wherever you go.

Lea sings on an inspired note


books

Few people have the patience to wait an entire lifetime for something they’ve been wanting their whole lives. And

when it comes, is it worth the wait?Ha Jin’s Waiting addresses the question

with uncertainty up to the very end of the story of Lin Kong, a doctor who has been attempting to divorce his wife for 18 years. Set in China during the war years, Ha Jin’s National Book Award-winning novel chooses Maoist China as its backdrop, highlighted by its protagonist’s conflict of pursuing his desire against keeping up the filial duty of keeping one’s family and dignity intact.

From the very beginning, Lin’s marriage to his wife Shuyu has been loveless, owing to the fact that she looks too old and is actually old fashioned as she embarrasses Lin with her bound feet, which was already outdated in the ‘60s. They grow more estranged as Lin works for the most part of the year in the city, going home only during the summer. Even the birth of their daughter Hua does not change this arrangement, though Shuyu remains loyal and dutiful to Lin to the point of taking over the care of his parents until their deaths.

Shuyu’s old fashioned ways supposedly set her apart from Manna, a nurse who works in the Chinese Army with Lin. Pretty, feisty and gutsy, Manna succeeds in forging a romantic relationship with the conscientious doctor, but fails in securing his divorce every summer. Fate tests their patience as their relationship goes through disturbances and fits of frustration, motivated only by the rule that an officer can divorce his wife freely after 18 years. After Lin succeeds in divorcing Shuyu and marrying Manna, he embraces the idea of living a new life, but without counting the consequences it would bring.

Ha Jin’s straightforward narrative makes Waiting an easy read, although not quite an exhilarating experience as it lacks the richness of a more adorned language and tone. Though injected with humor every now and then, its wryness does not make up for its lack of poesy.

Its unraveling, however, is effective in the sense that in the end, even the reader is affected with the tension and complication that Lin goes through after all those years of waiting. In the end, the question of where the grass is greener reverberates, reminding us that insatiable longing is always unfortunately paired with frustration.

The sultry Katrina Halili finds perfect companion in Hang Ten’s no-fuss, laid-back, ready-for-anything attitude.

Trendy, yet laidback; fashionable, yet comfort-able—that is what casual chic is all about and that is what apparel brand Hang Ten embodies.

From its wide collection of colorful tees and styl-ish tops to its form-flattering jeans and hip denim skirts, the apparel brand has the terms “casual” and “chic” down pat.

And Hang Ten couldn’t have picked a more appro-priate youth idol to be the face behind its ladies’ line than Katrina Halili, the young actress who, despite her sultry onscreen persona, loves fuss-free fashion.

Comfortable, yet feminine“I always seem to be on the go these days so

I prefer my clothes to be comfortable but still very feminine,” she says.

The 21-year-old, after all, has projects left and right these days. “Right now, I’m busy taping for ‘Atlantika’ which winds down soon but then I’ll be starting work on Lupin, another adventure series on GMA,” she reveals.

Katrina is particularly fond of Hang Ten’s ladies’ pants that she says seem to have been designed to show off her legs.

“Like most people, I go around in jeans and sometimes, it can be a hassle finding good jeans that still make you feel like a girl. Finding a brand like Hang Ten that understands my body was a relief. You can wear them with high heels and you’re ready for anything,” she enthuses.

form-flatteringPetite, yet curvaceous, Katrina says it used to be

hard for her to find the perfect tee and top to com-plement her body.

“So I loved it when I discovered Hang Ten back in high school,” she says. “I really like how its clothes fit my body.”

Hang Ten has long been known its basic tees that come in an array of colors. It also has an extensive selection of buttoned and collared shirts for both men and women.

Its kid’s line, meanwhile, is just as varied with its collection of tees, skirts, and jeans in youthful designs.

Sink your teeth into the most luscious scent of the season.

The apple – that succulent shiny red fruit evoking enchantment and mystique in fairy tales and folklore – captures hearts anew this season in a scent called Nina. Personi-fying the legendary fruit, Nina, a fragrance by Nina Ricci, is enchantingly sweet and addicting with top notes of Ca-librian lemon and Caipirinah lime; heart notes toffee apple, peony and moonflower; and base notes of apple wood and white cedar.

A picture of innocent beauty and

captivating charm, the fragrance is presented in an apple-shaped flacon adorned with dainty sil-ver leaves. It is sweet, fruity, vibrant, crisp, and

rich - as tempting as the fruit that bewitched maidens and princesses. Its juice is a lus-cious red, the color of passion.

Nina is a unique fragrance because of its toffee apple notes. Imagine the

surprisingly pleasant aromas and tastes of sweet apples dipped in toffee-flavored syrup. The scent is delicious, like an irresistibly sinful dessert tempting lovers of all per-

suasions.

when waitingentails more than patienceWaiting ha Jin

What makes Katrina Halili a perfect (Hang) Ten

fashion

scent as succulent as apples

beauty

reach your market, advertise with us. Please call Danny at (632) 812-3333 or e-mail us at [email protected] 200770 CondoCentral

reach your market, advertise with us. Please call Danny at (632) 812-3333 or e-mail us at [email protected]

community

Before the frenentic and swanky leisure hubs in Ayala and Alabang, there has been Araneta Center in Cubao which, in almost five decades, has been serving as pivotal center in the metro where people shop, dine and have fun. With the recent commercial and condominium developments happening this side of Quezon City, Cubao is experiencing a resurgence of sort—thanks to a thoughtfiul urban planning that is making people say, wow!

WowCubao!

Since time immemorial, man has always obsessed about living in the center of the universe. There is an abject fascination about being in the center of things, as it seems to give power to the man in the middle. Despite centuries of enlightenment, however, where

man faced the reality that his existence may not be at the center of things after all, the fascination remains.

In choosing matters of residence, the need for a centrist point of view is remarkably preserved. Given the choice, people want to live, and prefer to have their children grow up in a familiar place that’s near everything.

Here in Metro Manila, Araneta Center remains such a center of the local universe. Built in the 1960s by the family that lent its name to the country’s first leisure and lifestyle complex, the Araneta Center remains one of the country’s vital urban spots, where close to a million people set foot every day. Araneta Center is often the first destination of tourists, and it remains the last place to go to before leaving back home.


Araneta Center serves well as a hub, as it has something for everyone. It offers a wealth of shopping, dining and entertainment choices that come across all budget ranges.

Years of transformation have not diminished the geographical value of Araneta Center. Careful cultivation and strategic planning have steadily changed the Araneta landscape to reflect more modern times. Aside from its steady stream of

transportation services bound for various points in and out of the metro, Araneta Center is also the only point in the metropolis where two major mass transit systems collect and disembark passengers daily. Its unique location lets anyone get to Divisoria in 29 minutes for bargain hunting, to Katipunan in eight for schooling, to Marikina in 15 for shoe shopping, and to Makati in 17 minutes for business appointments.

Realizing its strategic position as a metropolitan area, Araneta Center has stepped up into its next phase of development: the opportunity of establishing living quarters within its enclaves. Living within Araneta Center offers the chance to be at the center of everything again.

Manhattan Garden City is the center within the center within the cen-ter. Located in the bustling northeast residential side of the Araneta Center, Manhattan Garden City is a sprawling residential enclave scattered across a prime five-hectare spot. It is the country’s first-ever garden-inspired, transit-oriented community connected to two mass transit systems: the LRT2 and MRT3. Top choices in shopping, dining and entertainment are just downstairs, where the Araneta Coliseum, Gateway Shopping Mall, Ali Mall, and other famous landmarks perch mightily.

Should the travel bug hit you, other hotels, shopping centers, hospitals, schools, and leisure centers are minutes away without the usual traffic gridlock. Even better, all towers are interconnected at the fourth level of Manhattan Garden City, where residents are treated to a 729-meter garden walkway that provides a well-deserved breath of fresh air.

Living at Manhattan Garden City is the height of luxury itself. Apart from location, residents are treated to active, semi-active, passive-and semi-passive zones, each featuring recreational, fitness, and sporting pursuits that fit the category. At the end of the day, relax and unwind in the comforts of your well-appointed home, built with comfort in mind, and modernity as a guideline.

It certainly pays to be in the middle of things, and Manhattan Garden City offers you the rare opportunity to be at the center of it all.


F rom Feb. 8 to 11, people trooped to the Clark Field in Pampanga and experienced a romantic

and thrilling adventure by riding on a hot air balloon in the 11th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival. Not only that but local folks and out-of-town visitors were entertained with a variety of activities such as paragliding, helicopter and kite flying shows, aerobatic shows, skydiving, hand-gliding, and gyro plane flying demonstration. Of course, the hot air balloons were the biggest crowd drawer of them all.

Additionally, United Parcel Service (UPS), the world’s largest package delivery company, offered a pre-Valentine’s Day treat by inviting some key media personalities and their partner to a romantic rendezvouz in the sky. Armed with a spirit of adventure, curiosity and camera, they rode on the hot air balloons a whimsical way of spending Valentine’s Day.

A sponsor of the fiesta for five straight years, UPS has partnered with the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) to co-host the festival. As a major business operator in Clark, with the Intra-Asia hub located in the province of Pampanga, UPS supports the CDC’s efforts in promot-ing tourism and boosting economic development.

Sky high

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Images by Benhur Arcayan

Images by Benhur Arcayan


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soar

W hile a pilgrimage and tour to Mount Banahaw, considered mystical and sacred by many, may not be possible right now because the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has closed it off to visitors in order for the

mountain and its ecology to recover, one can at least explore the springs and enjoy a stay in a quaint café in Dolores, a town in the province of Quezon at the foot of the mountain. It is a popular jump-off point of pilgrims and climbers.

We went there after a stay at the acclaimed The Farm at San Benito, where we detoxified and ate raw vegetarian food. We plunged into the bustle of Lipa proper and headed east to Dolores for Kinabuhayan Café Bed and Breakfast. It was an uneventful hour or so drive through the towns of Padre Garcia and San Antonio and entering Quezon province through Tiaong. Dolores was a quaint town with narrow, sloping roads.

On Dejarme Street in the quiet neighborhood of Barangay Bayanihan stood Kinabuhayan Café, equally quaint as the town, near a chapel and an elementary school. A big tamarind tree marked its location.

Opened in the Holy Week of 2003, Kinabuhayan Café is owned by buddies Jay Herrera, production designer, and Winston Baltasar, motoring journalist and former managing editor of Top Gear magazine. It stood on Herrera’s family property, which was before an empty lot with a garage. The two established this only bed-and-breakfast place in the area with Herrera designing and acting as chef. Herrera lives here while Baltasar goes home to Makati. The café is named after the barangay at the foot of Banahaw where some natural sacred shrines are located. The name means “place of resurrection.”

The café in white paint was charmingly accented with details like numerous different windows, which Herrera collected along the way. In the yard, there were two open-air, two-story huts as accommodation plus

Roel Hoang Manipon takes a trek to Kinabuhayan Café Bed and Breakfast, a suite confection that sits languidly at the foot of Mt. Banahaw, the awe-inspiring peak many people consider sacredImages by Lucky Besa

the mystic mountainMundane pleasures at the foot of

a nice three-level tree dwelling at the tamarind tree. The tree was in full bloom, thus anyone sleeping here would be sprinkled with tamarind blossoms upon waking up. The huts had bamboo slats flooring and an open-air bathroom at the side with its own garden. Each hut can accommodate two to eight persons. A bathroom and toilet with hot water are very welcome amenities in this part. Now, mountaineers, trekkers and pilgrims to Mount Banahaw can journey with relative ease. But Kinabuhayan café itself is fast becoming a destination.


In the café, you dine with their black, fat, laidback dogs lounging around. They were so people-oriented, that is, ultra friendly even to strangers and unmindful of the passing and going of people. The fattest was called Chongki. Herrera, who wore his salt-and-pepper hair long, liked telling us how, when calling the dog, some people would look up. A pregnant black cat also stalked the whole area. She was friendly, too.

The food prepared here they call “Pinoy gourmet,” Filipino dishes with European touches. For lunch, we were served a large plate of treats: risotto with black mushroom, slices of singkamas and chayote, mung bean sprouts, fresh pako or young fern, and best of all, baked chili chicken. Dessert was sweet potato cooked in pandan and vanilla-flavored syrup, served on crisp open fried spring roll wrapper and topped with cream. This was concluded

with cups of Quezon barako coffee flavored with pandan. Winston told us that Jay grows a chesa tree in the backyard. I don’t

know of anyone who likes chesa, that deep-yellow, heart-shaped fruit. Perhaps, Jay might be one. He makes samosas out of them stuffed with ground pork, chili and oyster sauce. He calls it “chesmosa.”

Along the way, I saw several angel’s trumpets, small trees with large, pendent, peach-colored flowers, which seem to have a fondness for grow-ing in mountainous areas. Sandy told me that the local name is talampunay and is said to be hallucinogenic. The leaves can be dried and made into cigarettes while the flowers can be boiled and drank as tea.

Jay and Winston like to tell a story about how musician Joey Ayala got stoned drinking a concoction made from angel’s trumpet flowers that he ended up putting his shoes inside the refrigerator.

But a more acceptable way to get high is with lambanog, which flows ceaselessly in this café during full moon nights. With the smoking and talks and intoxication, I wondered about the wellness aspect of this place. Most probably, it is the energy from Mount Banahaw, which Winston believes in and gushes about. He also said that the water that springs from the mountain is therapeutic.

Off we went to the mountain, about a 15-minute drive from the café. We fetched our guide Minda Godoy, a sixty-ish Rizalist, in barangay Santa Lucia. We passed by the large compound of the Rosa Mistica religious group. Banahaw harbors multitudinous religious groups and cults. Kinabuhayan proper is a thriving community with a basketball court. Rows of stores selling fruits, vegetables, souvenirs and herbal cures lined the narrows steps towards the church of Tatlong Persona Solo Dios. A left turn would bring you to the foot of the mountain itself. Because of human traffic had taken its toll on the mountain, Banahaw, a declared protected

area, is closed for five years, starting 1994 to be able to recuperate. We could go as far as the Kinabuhayan complex where the Kinabuhayan spring was with a large submerged stone bearing an imprint of a foot. The site is called Yapak ni Kristo (Christ’s footprint). We lighted some candles. Nearby was a cave with a stone and an image of Mary at the entrance. As we go inside the dark cave, our lit candles revealed many religious images, mostly those of Virgin Mary and Santo Ninos. Aling Minda was chanting as we went along. After visiting these sites, we waded into the gelid water. Winston filled his plastic containers with spring water. Around us, there are several religious images tucked in crevices. Also there were empty sachets of shampoo, wrappers and other garbage items. Serious mountaineers and religious members are okay, said Winston. It’s

the jologs crowd that throngs the mountain and leaves heaps of trash including pornographic materials and bottles of liquor.

Body wearied but soul replenished, we sank into the comforts of our car seats as we headed home.

Prior booking in Kinabuhayan Café is required. Contact Winston Balatasar through mobile phone numbers 0917-3271106 and 0917-5241106, or e-mail [email protected]. Visit its web-site at www.klar.us/kinabuhayan_café for more information, tour packages, pictures, detailed directions for going there and prices.

A mEAningfuL rEtrEAt.The Kinabuhayan Cafe at the foot of Mt. Banahaw is fast becoming a destination for travelers who seek the awe-inspiring peak even when it is closed to the public.


Help-U-Sellexpansion, with the planned opening of an office in Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philip-pines. The office, which will be named Help-U-Sell Makati Realty, Inc. is owned by Daniel R. Dela Cruz, and will be located in the second floor P&L Building, Greenbelt One, 116 Legaspi St., Legaspi Village, Makati..

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Help-U-Sell Continues Global Expansion with Office in the Philippines

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The set-fee model allows customers to choose the level of service they wish in their home buying or selling experience as well as save considerable amounts of money compared to traditional real estate models. In fact, Help-U-Sell Real Estate estimates that it saved sellers over $400 million in the past year compared to what they would have spent on 6 percent com-missions to traditional brokers, thus allowing consumers to retain a significant portion of their equity.

The lower cost fee-for-service model has become increasingly appealing, as sellers are more concerned about protecting their equity and Help-U-Sell Real Estate’s menu-driven system gives the consumer choices in the level of service and a clear set fee. Clients of Help-U-Sell Real Estate have the added benefit of utilizing their savings.

Today, 77 percent of real estate buyers are using the internet to search for a home. This high percentage means that technology has changed the role of the traditional broker forever, making the services they provide more consultative and specialized. Help-U-Sell Real Estate makes use of a targeted and proven marketing strategy, supported by a website with over three million listings and provides details on homes available through Help-U-Sell Real Estate. Buyers can obtain information without obligation and sellers are assured that they will receive a customized service and a fair return on their property without respect to the price of their home.

Help-U-Sell Real Estate, the first, largest, and fastest growing fee-for-service real estate company in the United States, has launched in the Philippines and is now looking for real estate professionals who recognize the fast growing shift in the real estate industry to a consumer centric sale.

Help-U-Sell Real Estate, founded in 1976, was ahead of the curve in its fee-for-service approach to real estate sales. With corporate headquarters in Castle Rock, CO, Help-U-Sell Real Estate operates in 30 regions nationwide and in Canada. The company has had over a 30 percent annual growth since 1998 and by continuing this annual compounded growth rate, expects to reach 1800 franchises by year-

end 2008. Due to its impressive growth rate, Help-U-Sell Real Estate was recently named by Entrepreneur magazine as one of the Top 100 Fastest Growing Franchises across all industries for the fourth consecutive year and ranked among the top 100 franchises in Entre-preneur’s Annual Top 500 Franchise report for the fifth straight year.

The Help-U-Sell Real Estate SystemAt the core of every successful business is

a plan. A clear and precise plan designed with distinct objectives and flexible strategies.

The business of marketing and selling real estate is no different. It is dependent upon a series of closely integrated disciplines, that when combined properly into a system, are capable of transforming plans into realities and realities into successes.

Help-U-Sell Real estate understands this and has responded in an effort to help you become more efficient and effective, and seize a growing opportunity in your marketplace. That’s why we’ve formed a unique, compre-hensive and integrated business system for our francisees.

We’ve created The Help-U-Sell Real Estate System by leveraging leading edge products,

services, ideas and techniques. By setting up this comprehensive, system, Help-U-Sell is taking the “entrepreneurial guess work” out of doing business. The system includes

• Help-U-Operate

• Help-U-Develop

• Help-U-Automate

• Help-U-Market

• Help-U-Advertise

• Help-U-Publicize

• Help-U-Network Help-U-Sell is committed to the continued

success of each of its franchises. The continued enhancement of each of these system compo-nents will be led by the corporate resource team to ensure that in the coming weeks, months, and years, the company will be there for you with the most innovative tools and systems to help achieve only one thing – your success.


*guidecondo

For rentDisclaimer: All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Prospective purchasers and renters should verify the information to their satisfaction.

vivant flats Two-bedroomUnfurnished 88 sq.m.One parking slot P90,000/month

Chateu Elysee Two-bedroomFully furnished 53 sq.m.P28,000/month

olympic heights Four-bedroomFully furnished 154 sq.m.Two parking slots P90,000/month

greenhills garden square Two-bedroomUnfurnished 57.5 sq.m.P18,000/month

francesca Two-bedroomFully furnished 43 sq.m.P23,000/month

Alabang/ parañaque Quezon City

palmdale heightsOne-bedroomFully furnished40 sq.m.P16,000/month

skyway twin towerStudioFully furnished25 sq.m.P15,000/month

Emerald mansionThree-bedroomFully furnished157 sq.m.One parking slotP60,000/month

swire Elan suitesStudioUnfurnished35.02 sq.m.P35,000/month

mayfield park residencesTwo-bedroomUnfurnished49 sq.m.P20,000/month

gA towerTwo-bedroomUnfurnished39 sq.m.P20,000/month

mayfield park residences Two-bedroomFully furnished 48 sq.m.One parking slot P30,000/month

gA tower Two-bedroomFully furnished 73 sq.m.Two parking slots P45,000/month

parc royale Two-bedroomSemi-furnished 170 sq.m.One parking slot P40,000/month

swire Elan suites StudioUnfurnished 35 sq.m. P35,000/month

bonifacio ridgeThree-bedroomFully furnished113 sq.m.One parking slotP80,000/month

bonifacio ridgeTwo-bedroom Fully furnished113 sq.m.One parking slotP90,000/month

one mckinleyTwo-bedroomFully furnished196 sq.m.One parking slotP100,000/month

penhurst placeThree-bedroomFully furnishedOne parking slotP70,000/month

forbeswood heights One-bedroomFully furnished49 sq.m. P32,000/month

bonifacio global City


CALL NOW (632) 812-3333

ortigas Center/mandaluyong/greenhills, san Juan


Legaspi village, makati City

one Legazpi parkStudioSemi-furnishedOne parking slot P40,000/month

one Legazpi parkOne-bedroomFully furnished63 sq.m.One parking slotP60,000/month

one Legazpi parkOne-bedroomFully furnished60.25 sq.m.One parking slotP70,000/month

island towerOne-bedroomFully furnished120 sq.m.One parking slotP55,000/month

LpL towerThree-bedroomFully furnished134 sq.m.One parking slotP45,000/month

Asian mansion iiOne-bedroomFully furnishedOne parking slotP28,000/month

biltmoreTwo-bedroomFully furnished131 sq.m.One parking slotP80,000/month

biltmoreThree-bedroom Fully furnished252 sq.m.One parking slotP140,000/month

ColonadeThree-bedroomFully furnished223 sq.m.One parking slotP85,000/month

greenbelt radissonsStudioUnfurnished34.3 sq.m.P35,000/month

greenbelt radissonsStudioUnfurnished40.60 sq.m.P25,000/month

greenbelt radissonsStudioSemi-furnished34.30 sq.m.P25,000/month

greenbelt radissonsStudioFully furnished34.30 sq.m.P30,000/month

greenbelt radissonsStudioFully furnished34.30 sq.m.One parking slotP35,000/month

greenbelt parkplaceStudioUnfurnished36.50 sq.m.P25,000/month

greenbelt parkplaceOne-bedroomFully furnished48 sq.m.One parking slotP45,000/month

greenbelt parkplaceStudioFully furnished36 sq.m.P35,000/month

perla mansionOne-bedroomFully furnished51 sq.m.P25,000/month

perla mansionOne-bedroomFully furnished43 sq.m.P28,000/month

Century plazaTwo-bedroomFully furnished140 sq.m.One parking slotP60,000/month

Century plazaTwo-bedroomFully furnished147 sq.m.One parking slotP50,000/month

frabellaTwo-bedroomFully furnished150 sq.m.One parking slotP90,000/month

frabellaThree-bedroom (penthouse)Fully furnished300 sq.m.One parking slotP140,000/month

the shang grand towerOne-bedroomFully furnished80 sq.m.One parking slotP75,000/month

greenbelt parkplace One-bedroom P55,000/month Fullyfurnished 36.5 sq.m.

rizal towerThree-bedroom (penthouse)283 sq.m.Two parking slotsP270,000/month

rizal towerThree-bedroomFully furnished283 sq.m.Two parking slots P170,000/month

Amorsolo westTwo-bedroomFully furnished125 sq.m.Two parking slotsP100,000/month

manansalaStudioFully furnished48 sq.m.One parking slotP35,000/month

hidalgo placeTwo-bedroom Unfurnished128 sq.m.Two parking slotsP85,000/month

manansala One-bedroomFully furnished71 sq.m.One parking slotP60,000/month

rizal tower3-bedrm (penthouse)Unfurnished336 sq.m. One parking slotP200,000/month

hidalgo place StudioFully furnished 52 sq.m.One parking slot P40,000/month

rockwell, makati City

vellagio towerStudioUnfurnished28.50 sq.m.P15,000/month

providence towerStudioFully furnished25 sq.m.P12,500/month

Antel seaviewOne-bedroomFully furnished55 sq.m.One parking slotP25,000/month

burgundy transpacific placeOne-bedroomUnfurnished40.08 sq.m.P16,750/month

golden Empire 1322 Four-bedroom Fully furnished250 sq.m.Three parking slots P180,000/month

Cityland vito Cruz tower One-bedroomUnfurnished 50 sq.m. P15,000/month

Le mirage de malateOne-bedroomUnfurnished34 sq.m.P15,000

Le mirage de malateOne-bedroomSemi-furnished44 sq.m.P16,000

Le mirage de malateOne-bedroomFully Furnished44 sq.m.P25,000

harrison mansionOne-bedroomFully furnished30 sq.m.P13,000

bay gardens-AnchorOne-bedroomUnfurnished54 sq.m.One parking slotP25,000

manila/ pasay City


We sell condominiums, town homes, house and lots, and commercial properties in the Philippines

RF PULA & Co., Inc.RP Realty & Invest. Int’l

U S A d d r e S S : 4515 Eagle Rock Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90010 P.O. Box 4833M A i l : Palos Verdes, CA 90274 • e - M A i l : [email protected]

T e l . N o S . : (323) 344-3500, 344-8626, 344-3547, 321-2490 • M o B i l e N o . : +639198018339

Rafael F. PulaChairman of the Board

Daniel R. dela CruzPresident

Maritess M. OligarioDivision Manager

P H i l i P P i N e A d d r e S S : 2/F P & L Bldg., Legazpi St., Legaspi Village, Makati Citye - M A i l : [email protected] • T e l . N o . : (632)812-3333 • F A x : (632)893-8134 • M o B i l e N o . : +639198504468

salcedo parkThree-bedroomFully furnished179 sq.m One parking slotP75,000/month

Easton placeTwo-bedroomFully furnished125 sq.m.One parking slotP70,000/month

Easton placeThree-bedroomFully furnished189 sq.m.One parking slotP90,000/month

Easton placeThree-bedroomFully furnished124 sq.m.One parking slotP75,000/month

parklaneTwo-bedroomFully furnished136.55 sq.m.One parking slotP38,000/month

paseo parkviewStudioFully furnished30 sq.m.P25,000/month

LpL CenterTwo-bedroomFully furnished148 sq.m.One parking slotP45,000/month

salcedo parkThree-bedroomUnfurnished180 sq.m.One parking slotP65,000/month

grand towerTwo-bedroomFully furnished140 sq.m.One parking slotP55,000/month

grand towerTwo-bedroomFully furnished155 sq.m.One parking slotP60,000/month

three salcedoThree-bedroomSemi-furnished183.99 sq.m.One parking slotP70,000/month

Alpha salcedoThree-bedroomFully furnished150 sq.m.One parking slotP75,000/month

Antel platinum towerOne-bedroomFully furnished40.52 sq.m.One parking slotP30,000/month

manhattan squareStudioFully furnished41.66 sq.m.P22,000/month

manhatttan sqaureOne-bedroomFully furnished76 sq.m.One parking slotP40,000/month

two LafayetteTwo-bedroomSemi-furnished102 sq.m.One parking slotP45,000/month

two LafayetteThree-bedroomFully furnished171 sq.m.One parking slotP85,000/month

plaza royaleTwo-bedroomFully furnished155 sq.m.One parking slotP55,000/month

ponte salcedoThree-bedroom (penthouse)Fully furnished285 sq.m.One parking slotP100,000/month

four seasonsTwo-bedroomFully furnished170 sq.m.One parking slotP140,000/month

tifanny placeTwo-bedroomFully furnished160 sq.m.One parking slotP85,000/month

Le metropoleFive-bedroom(penthouse, bi-level)Unfurnished350 sq.m.One parking slotP120,000/month

Le metropoleThree-bedroomFully furnished179 sq.m.One parking slotP70,000/month

Le domaine Two-bedroomSemi-furnished 117 sq.m.Two parking slots P50,000/month

salcedovillage, makati City

makati palaceTwo-bedroomFully furnishedP40,000/month

Citadel innThree-bedroomFully furnished102 sq.m.P45,000/month

oriental gardenOne-bedroomUnfurnished45 sq.m.P20,000/month

oriental gardenStudioUnfurnished 33 sq.m.P15,000/month

makati Executive tower iOne-bedroomSemi-furnished27 sq.m.P12,500/month

makati Executive tower iOne-bedroomUnfurnished36 sq.m.P12,500/month

west of AyalaStudioFully furnished36 sq.m.P20,000/month

the Columns– Ayala One-bedroomSemi-furnished 49 sq.m.One parking slotP45,000/month

the Columns - Ayala StudioUnfurnished 32 sq.m.P25,000/month

the Columns - Ayala StudioFully furnished 30 sq.m.P25,000/month

the Columns - Ayala Two-bedroomUnfurnished 67 sq.m.One parking slot P62,000/month

Cityland pasong tamo Three-bedroomFully furnished 116.9 sq.m.P40,000/month

Chino roces/ sen. gil puyat/ dela rosa, makati City

bel-Air, makati City


We sell condominiums, town homes, house and lots, and commercial properties in the Philippines

RF PULA & Co., Inc.RP Realty & Invest. Int’l

U S A d d r e S S : 4515 Eagle Rock Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90010 P.O. Box 4833M A i l : Palos Verdes, CA 90274 • e - M A i l : [email protected]

T e l . N o S . : (323) 344-3500, 344-8626, 344-3547, 321-2490 • M o B i l e N o . : +639198018339

Rafael F. PulaChairman of the Board

Daniel R. dela CruzPresident

Maritess M. OligarioDivision Manager

P H i l i P P i N e A d d r e S S : 2/F P & L Bldg., Legazpi St., Legaspi Village, Makati Citye - M A i l : [email protected] • T e l . N o . : (632)812-3333 • F A x : (632)893-8134 • M o B i l e N o . : +639198504468

*guidecondo

For saleDisclaimer: All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Prospective purchasers and renters should verify the information to their satisfaction.

salcedovillage, makati City

Alpha salcedoOne-bedroomUnfurnished62.27 sq.m.One parking slotP3,767,550

Alpha salcedoThree-bedroom161.14 sq.m.One parking slotP11,178, 805

Alpha salcedoThree-bedroomUnfurnished193.1 sq.m.One parking slotP12,880,075

Easton placeThree-bedroomUnfurnished189 sq.m.One parking slotP12,000,000

Easton placeThree-bedroomUnfurnished201 sq.m.One parking slotP12,500,000

Easton placeTwo-bedroomUnfurnished125 sq.m.One parking slotP6,000,000

three salcedoThree-bedroomSemi-furnished183.9 sq.m.Two parking slotsP13,000,000

parklaneThree-bedroomUnfurnished149.05 sq.m.One parking slotP7,000,0000

one LafayetteOne-bedroomFully furnished65 sq.m.P3,800,000

ponte salcedoThree-bedroomUnfurnished285 sq.m.One parking slotP11,400,000

ponte salcedoThree-bedroom (penthouse)Unfurnished285 sq.m.One parking slotP14,500,000

ponte salcedoTwo-bedroomFully furnished140 sq.m.One parking slotP7,200,000

parc regentThree-bedroomSemi-furnished165 sq.m.One parking slotP7,800,000

Alpha salcedoStudioFully furnished31 sq.m.P2,750,000

Alpha salcedoPenthouseFully furnished161.15 sq.m.One parking slotP11,178,805

Le metropoleThree-bedroomUnfurnished179 sq.m.Two parking slotsP12,800,000

Elizabeth placeStudioUnfurnished42.59 sq.m.One parking slotP3,300,000

Elizabeth placeStudio de luxeUnfurnished62.04 sq.m.One parking slotP5,000,000

Elizabeth placeOne-bedroom de luxeUnfurnished96.37 sq.m.One parking slotP6,300,000

Elizabeth placeTwo-bedroomUnfurnished96.93 sq.m.One parking slotP7,400,000

salcedo parkThree-bedroomFully furnished179 sq.m.One parking slotP11,000,000

salcedo parkThree-bedroomunfurnished224 sq.m.One parking slotP14,000,000

nobel plaza Three-bedroomUnfurnished 155.15 sq.m.Two parking slots P8,800,000

Antel platinum tower Two-bedroomUnfurnished 101 sq.m.One parking slot P8,000,000

one Lafayette One-bedroomUnfurnished 60 sq.m.One parking slot P4,800,000


CALL NOW (632) 812-3333


pacific regencyOne-bedroomUnfurnished48.19 sq.m.P2,000,000

Cityland vito Cruz towerOne-bedroomUnfurnished50 sq.m.One parking slotP2,850,000

somerset mansionTwo-bedroomSemi-furnished87 sq.m.One parking slotP4,200,000

Alpha grandviewOne-bedroomSemi-furnished52.80 sq.m.One parking slotP3,500,000

balagtas royal mansionOne-bedroomUnfurnished28 sq.m.One parking slotP1,500,000

vellagio towerStudioUnfurnished30 sq.m.P2,085,000

malate Adriatico grand residencesTwo-bedroomUnfurnished 54.44 sq.m.One parking slot P4,500,000

park Avenue mansion StudioUnfurnished24 sq.m.P950,000

Legaspi tower 300 Two-bedroomSemi-furnished183 sq.m.P8,500,000

Alpha grandview StudioSemi-furnished 28.4 sq.m.P2,000,000

manila/ pasay City

prince plaza iStudioFully furnished26.74 sq.m.P2,300,000

tropical palm towerTwo-bedroomUnfurnished140 sq.m.One parking slotP7,500,000

sunriseTwo-bedroomUnfurnished140 sq.m.One parking slotP7,600,000

greenbelt parkplace One-bedroomFully furnished 36.5 sq.m.P5,500,000

hidalgo placeThree-bedroomFully furnished198 sq.m.Two parking slotsP20,000,000

hidalgo placeTwo-bedroomUnfurnished128 sq.m.Two parking slotsP12,500,000

manansalaTwo-bedroom Unfurnished102 sq.m.One parking slotP10,300,000

manansalaTwo-bedroomUnfurnished116 sq.m.One parking slotP11,700,000

Luna gardenFour-bedroom (penthouse, bi-level)Unfurnished320 sq.m.Two parking slotsP45,000,000

rizal towerFour-bedroom (penthouse, flat)Unfurnished270 sq.m.Two parking slotsP35,000,000

Amorsolo EastThree-bedroomUnfurnished170 sq.m.Two parking slotsP19,000,000

rockwell, makati City

mondrian residencesStudioUnfurnished46.78 sq.m.One parking slotP2,700,000

vierra at britanny bayOne-bedroomUnfurnished39 sq.m.P2,900,000

Almanza metropolisTwo-bedroomSemi-furnished38.5 sq.m.One parking slotP2,500,000

Alabang/ sucat, parañaque

smile CitihomesStudioUnfurnished30 sq.m.P600,000

north ridge mansionStudioUnfurnished25 sq.m.P2,000,000

new york mansionStudioUnfurnished44 sq.m.P1,400,000

tropical mandarin towerStudio Unfurnished36.5 sq.m.One parking slotP2,800,000

north ridge mansionStudioSemi-furnished25 sq.m.P2,100,000

tropical mandarin towerStudio Unfurnished36.5 sq.m.One parking slotP2,850,000

one orchard road palm spring StudioSemi-furnished 36.5 sq.m.P2,300,000

regalia park towers Two-bedroomSemi-furnished 70 sq.m.One parking slot P3,800,000

francesca Two-bedroomFully Furnished 43 sq.m.One parking slot P2,200,000

Quezon City

penhurstThree-bedroomFully furnished110 sq.m.One parking slot P8,500,000

pacific plaza towersThree-bedroomUnfurnished298 sq.m.Two parking slotsP23,000,000

bonifacio global City

Legaspi village, makati


Chino roces/ sen. gil puyat/ dela rosa, makati City

Cityland pasong tamoOne-bedroomUnfurnished36 sq.m.P1,900,000

Cityland pasong tamoTwo-bedroomUnfurnished66.99 sq.m.P3,000,000

Cityland pasong tamoTwo-bedroomUnfurnished66.99 sq.m.P3,000,000

palm towerStudioUnfurnished25 sq.m.P1,300,000

kingswoodThree-bedroomFully furnished77 sq.m.One parking slotP4,500,000

danarraThree-bedroomSemi-furnished148 sq.m.One pakring slotP3,500,000

palm towerOne-bedroomFully furnished36.36 sq.m.P2,500,000

oriental garden Two-bedroomFully furnished113 sq.m. One parking slotP12,000,000

makati Executive tower iOne-bedroomUnfurnished27 sq.m.One parking slotP2,500,000

makati Executive tower iOne-bedroom28 sq.m.UnfurnishedOne parking slotP2,500,000

oriental garden makati Three-bedroomFully furnished 180 sq.m.One parking slot P12,000,000

oriental garden makati StudioUnfurnished 37 sq.m.P3,200,000

palm tower Three-bedroomUnfurnished 108 sq.m P4,700,000

makati Executive tower iOne-bedroom Unfurnished 28.7 sq.m.P1,500,000

Cityland 9 StudioUnfurnished 22 sq.m.P700,000

oxford suitesStudioUnfurnished36 sq.m.P2,500,000

ferros bel- Air towerOne-bedroomUnfurnished 44.24 sq.m.P1,700,000

makati prime CityFour-bedroomUnfurnishedTwo parking slotsP6,900,000

makati palace StudioUnfurnished32.87 sq.m.P1,900,000

megaplazaThree-bedroomUnfurnished93.84 sq.m.P3,800,000

Cityland pioneerOne-bedroomFully furnished34 sq.m.P1,500,000

palmdale heightsStudioUnfurnished40 sq.m.P1,400,000

governor’s placeTwo-bedroomUnfurnished88 sq.m.One parking slotP4,500,000

valencia hillsThree-bedroomFully furnished122 sq.m.P8,500,000

California garden squareTwo-bedroomUnfurnished57 sq.m.P2,800,000

California garden squareThree-bedroomFully furnished80 sq.m.P3,900,000

California garden squareTwo-bedroomUnfurnished57.50 sq.m.P2,200,000

California garden squareTwo-bedroomUnfurnished57.50 sq.m., 1 parking slotP2,350,000

California garden squareTwo-bedroomUnfurnished57.50 sq.m. 1 parking slot P2,400,000

California garden squareTwo-bedroomUnfurnished57.5 sq.m. 1 parking slotP2,500,000

California garden squareTwo-bedroomUnfurnished57.5 sq.m. 1 parking slotP2,300,000

Casa madridThree-bedroomUnfurnished120 sq.m.One parking slotP5,200,000

parc royale Four-bedroomSemi-furnished 348 sq.m.Two parking slots P16,000,000

parc royale Two-bedroomSemi-furnished 170 sq.m.One parking slot P5,500,000

pioneer highlandsOne-bedroomUnfurnished 53 sq.m.One parking slot P2,800,000

California garden square Two-bedroomUnfurnished57.5 sq.m.P2,300,000

grand Emerald tower StudioUnfurnished 37 sq.m.P1,250,000

Cortijos greenhills Condominium Three-bedroomUnfurnished 125 sq.m.One parking slot P4,800,000

ortigas Center/ mandaluyong City/ greenhills, san Juan

bel-Air, makati City


www.condo.com.phThe Condominium Special is tB U Y S E L L R E N T

C o n d o . C o m . P h , I n C . g l o b a l h e a d q u a r t e r s

2 / F P & l b l d g . , l e g a z P I s t . , l e g a s P I V I l l a g e , m a k a t I C I t y

t e l e P h o n e : ( 6 3 2 ) 8 1 2 - 3 3 3 3 F a x : ( 6 3 2 ) 8 9 3 - 8 1 3 4 m o b I l e : + 6 3 9 1 9 8 5 0 4 4 6 8 e - m a I l : a d m I n @ C o n d o . C o m . P h

We are the condo.

Real estate brokers are not created equal...

Condo.Com.Ph, Inc. associateshave the better view of local property market and client needs.

To advertise Tel: (632)8123333 Mobile: +639272760360 E-mail: [email protected] To advertise Tel: (632)8123333 Mobile: +639272760360 E-mail: [email protected]

EAston pLACEsalcedo village, makati City

2BR 123 sq.m. 1 parking slot P7.9M2BR 126 sq.m. 1 parking slot P8.1M2BR 125 sq.m. 1 parking slot P8.1M2BR 124 sq.m. 1 parking slot P8.0M

3BR 181 sq.m. 1 parking slot P11.7M

pontE sALCEdosalcedo village, makati City

3BR 285 sq.m. 1 parking slot P11.4M3BR 285 sq.m. 1 parking slot P12.8M

Call or text Roy Labarda at +639195902668

Best value

for your money

CONdO fOr rENT:Legaspi and Salcedo

ANTEL PLATINUM TOWErSalcedo Village, Makati City

1BR FF 40 sq.m. 1 parking slot P30,000/mo.

CLASSICA TOWEr IISalcedo Village, Makati City


PLAZA rOYALESalcedo Village, Makati City


fOUr SEASONSSalcedo Village, Makati City


CENTUrY PLAZALegaspi Village, Makati City


Call or text Norma robles at +639178557174

ONE LEGAZPI PARKLegaspi Village, Makati City

2BR 97.7 sq.m. 1 parking slot P11.0M2BR 97 sq.m. 1 parking slot P10.5M1BR 69.7 sq.m. 1 parking slot P7.5M

ONE LEGAZPI PARKLegaspi Village, Makati City

2BR FF 97.7 sq.m. 1 parking slot P90,000/mo.STD FF 40 sq.m. 1 parking slot P30,000/mo.

MANHATTAN SQUARESalcedo Village, Makati City

1BR 79 sq.m. 1 parking slot P40,000/mo.

RIZAL TOWERRockwell Center, Makati City

Penthouse SF 336 sq.m. 3 parking slots P230,000/mo.

Call or text Grace Geverola at +639278369426

top broker’smakati

piCk

centralmarket


MAKATI EXECUTIVE TOWER 1Dela Rosa St., Makati City1Br 36 sq.m 1 parking slot P2.3M2Br SF 57 sq.m. P3.4M

MAKATI EXECUTIVE TOWER 1Dela Rosa St., Makati City2Br SF 57 sq.m. P25,000/mo2Br 57 sq.m. P18,000/mo.

Your gateway to Makati

Call or text Jhunjhun Arcero at +639175511880

KINGSWOOD CONDOMINIUMChino Roces Ave., Makati City2BR FF 77 sq.m. 1 parking slot P4.3M

GRAND HAMPTONS TOWER IIBonifacio Global City2BR 78 sq.m. P4.7M

PACIFIC REGENCYVito Cruz, Manila1BR corner unit 48.19 sq.m. P2.3M

Call or text Bing Lau at +639179291313/ +639208017166

THE ISABELLE GARDEN VILLASParañaque City

1BR SF 19.5 sq.m. P855,796

MILLENIA TOWEROrtigas Center, Pasig City1BR SF 24.10 sq.m. P1.9M

TIMES MANSIONQuezon City

1BR SF 38.95 sq.m. P2.3M

GOVERNOR’S PLACEShaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City

1BR 52 sq.m. P2.5M

THE ORIENTAL PLACEMakati City

2BR 48-52 sq.m. P3.8M

Call or text Andy Bella Jaro at +639062099413

Condo for sale:P855,796

THE ORIENTAL PLACEMakati City1BR 28.45 sq.m. P2.2M

SUBIC HOLIDAY VILLASSubic Freeport Zone1BR 35 sq.m. P2M

MALATE CROWN PLAZAMalate, ManilaSTD 34 sq.m. P2M

THE ISABELLE GARDEN VILLASParañaque CitySTD 18.5 sq.m. P808,555

LUXURE VILLEMultinational, Parañaque City2BR 48.67 sq.m. P2M

bestoffer!

Call or text Marina Sobel at +639192481515

PONTE SALCEDOSalcedo Village, Makati City

3BR 280 sq.m. 2 parking slots P100,000/mo.

LE METROPOLESalcedo Village, Makati City


ANTEL PLATINUMSalcedo Village, Makati City


ONE LAFAYETTESalcedo Village, Makati City


LPL MANORSalcedo Village, Makati City

3BR 150 sq.m. 1 parking slot P60,000/mo.

SALCEDO PARKSalcedo Village, Makati City

3BR 149 sq.m. 1 parking slot P70,000

Call or text Bong Lozada at +639196296931

SALCEDO CONDOS

Two SerendraBonifacio Global CitySTD 36 sq.m. P5.2M1BR 51 sq.m. P6.2M2BR 70 sq.m. P8.9M3BR 103 sq.m. P13M

The Sapphire residences Tower 2Bonifacio Global City1BR 48 sq.m. P2.6M2BR 80 sq.m. P4.3M

3BR 128 sq.m. P8.0M

Makati executive Tower iiDela Rosa St., Makati City

STD 20 sq.m. P1M1BR 31 sq.m. P1.6M

el Jardin del Presidente iiSgt. Esguerra, Quezon City

STD 41 sq.m. P2.55M1BR 55.5 sq.m. P3.6M

Call or text renne isidroat +639153728220

The Fort, Makati and QC condos AYALA PROPERTIES

FOR SALE

Oriental Garden MakatiChino Roces Ave., Makati City

STD 33 sq.m. P2.1M1BR 45 sq.m. P 2.7M

The Oriental PlaceMakati City

1BR 28.45 sq.m. P1.7M

Bay Gardens – Mactan TowerRoxas Boulevard, Pasay City

1BR 42 sq.m. P3.4M2BR 92sq.m. P7.3M

3BR 108 sq.m. P8.2M

Marquinton ResidencesMarikina City

1BR 33 sq.m. P1.5M2BR 53.50 sq.m. P2.7M

Call or text Fausto Llaneras at +639196447432

Condos by Federal Land, Inc


THe ColUMNS legaspi Village (TClV)A few steps from everything

Jr 1BR – 1BR 38 sq.m.-50 sq.m P2.9– P5.1M 1BR loft 57 sq.m. -77 sq.m P5.9 – P7.5M

2BR flat & 2BR bi-level 67 sq.m.-77 sq.m P6.7 – P8.0M

THe reSideNCeS AT GreeNBelT (TrAG) 1BR, 1BR loft, 2BR, 2BR special, 3BR, 3BR bi level

Price: P5.8M-P20M

ANVAYA CoVe…A seaside leisure community

3BR , 2 structure villas P22M-P24M (17villas only) Lot area: 400 sq.m.-600 sq.m.

Price: P6,600-P13,300/sq.m.

AYAlA WeSTGroVe HeiGHTS High-end residential subdivision with rolling terrain

Lot area: 350 sq.m-500 sq.m. Price: P9,050-P9,900/sq.m.

AYAlA GreeNField eSTATeS

High-end residential subdivision with golf course Lot area: 350 sq.m.- 850 sq.m. Price: P8,000-P10,500/ sq.m.

Call or text JP Pello at +639154445655 E-mail: [email protected]

St. Francis Towers Mandaluyong City

STD, 1BR, 2BR P3M-P13M

lee Gardens

Mandaluyong CitySTD, 1BR, 2BR P3.2M-P12M

Hampton Gardens Pasig City

STD, 1BR, 2BR P880,000-P1.8M

The exchange regencyPasig City

1BR, 2BRP1.4M-P5M

Call or text John Paul Sy at +639226928353 or +639065725595

To advertise Tel: (632)8123333 Mobile: +639272760360 E-mail: [email protected]

The ulTimaTe in ciTy living!

To advertise Tel: (632)8123333 Mobile: +639272760360 E-mail: [email protected]

Call or text reggie Tagavilla at +639175014927

Commercial property for lease or sale

Madrigal Business Park - Alabang

Office space for sale16,950 sq.m.

131 sq.m.96 sq.m.55 sq.m.

P50,735/sq.m.

Along Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati CityLot for sale2,775 sq.m.

Along Palanca St., Legaspi Village, City

Office space for leaseThree floors

Along Ayala Avenue, Makati City

Office space for lease

Along South SuperhighwayLand for saleFive hectars

Call or text Henry H. Mondonedo at +639202862981 or +639227160528

Come home to the best address in Metro Manila

and enjoy the best life has to offer!

LIVE IT UP!


underground utilities

24-hour roving security within the village

Strategically located deepwell pumps with standby generator

Initial water reservoir with a capacity of750,000 gallons

landscaped major roadways with street lights

Embrace a lifestyle of serenityNatural elements of landscape and architecture seamlessly blend to bring a comforting feeling of serenity, exclusivity and privacy. At Ayala Southvale, you can take in the cool breeze and the beauty of rolling terrains and allow them to soothe and revive you. Indeed, this is a place to come home to.

Discover a place torelax, to refresh, and to bondThe cool, crisp air invites you to step outside and enjoy the outdoors. Feel the excitement at the basketball and tennis courts, take a dip and refresh yourself at the swimming pool, and work on your short game at the putting green. First-class amenities at the clubhouse and the beautifully landscaped pocket parks and gazebos have been designed for every member of the family to have a place to relax and to bond.

Take comfort in knowing that everything you need is taken care ofAyala Southvale takes property management to new heights. run by the Ayala Property Management Corporation (APMC), it offers unique and personaliized services for a lifestyle of security and covenience. Here, all facilities run smoothly day in and day out - without you even noticing. It’s a way to reassure you that you can continue to live in perfect serenity knowing that everything essential is taken care of.

For presentation and special discounts, call or text Patrick r. Blanco at +639179809477

x Quality. Lifestyle. Value.for as low as Php 5,745 a month

For more information, please contact:

x

Set to rise in the fully developed community in Ortigas Avenue Extension, Pasig City and within walking distance of major establishments in Ortigas Center and Eastwood, transportation and thoroughfares. An ideal location for a condo living at affordable and very ideal terms. A community within a community which makes up a very conducive place of living you can call home. Affordable within your reach.

A project by: P.A.A. Metro Resdence Builders, Inc. . . . a f f o r d a b l e , w i t h i n y o u r r e a c h .

E A S T

ResidencesO R T I G A S

xCondominiums are rising all over Metro Manila. Up north in

Valenzuela City, a new high-rise condominium to cater to the needs of the new industrial city is being built. Soon Malabon City will have its own condominium subdivisions with the vast

vacant lots in Potrero and Acacia Road as potential locations for affordable condominiums. Not to be left behind is the fishing town of Navotas which is taking the steps to becoming a city. From Navotas, Manila is just 15 minutes away and around 30 minutes to Makati via Roxas Blvd. Caloocan City, which is part of the CAMANAVA area, has condominium developments rising in the C-3 Road and new major developments may rise in the Monumento Circle Area.

The old folks of these residential towns would not exchange the lifestyle being offered by the developments down in the south and the business districts to the customs and traditions of their hometown. Even today, you could still see the ancestral houses of the old rich still standing even if the town is under water during the rainy months. The best way to sell condominium units to these old rich is to bring the lifestyle of condo living nearer to them. That is what has been happening in the heart of Manila. Affordable condominium units are selling like hotcakes in the old districts of Manila which has not experienced major developments for the past four decades. Most of the infrastructures in Manila were built after the Second World War. Quezon City is catching up with the Ortigas Business Center, Makati Business Center and Fort Bonifacio in the premium condo developments with the Cubao Business District and North Edsa as the new locations to look forward to.

Are these signs that we have now a real estate boom and are there indications that there may be another collapse in the real estate sector? If you will check the statistics of the housing needs of the middle class and the upper class of the Metropolis, the number of condominium units being built today does not even represent five per cent of the housing requirement of the working middle class. The good news is that most developments today cater to the needs of the end user, with units available according to one’s needs and financial capabilities. Now is the best time to buy: units below P2.5M are tax exempt, terms are better with a 20 percent down payment, and you can have the balance payable in three to five years without interest. Some premium developments offer 30 to 40 percent much lower prices for their units through innovative systems. All you need to do is to look for a professional broker who will help you out defines your needs that will suit your budget. There is no real boom yet but with all these developments and good governance, we are on the way to a true real estate boom.

Is there a possibility of a real estate collapse again? If you would go around the metropolis, you could still see some projects which were affected by the Asian crises a decade ago still not moving and some projects

taken over by other developers are now being repackaged. The difference between the developments today and a decade ago is that developments today cater to the needs of the end user and not on mere speculations just like before the Asian crisis. I would like to advise new investors to be careful of the big bad wolves in the industry: do not be carried over by the lavish parties and cocktails they give and let you sign a reservation agreement right away. Check out the site first. Some claim that the project is almost sold out but if you visit to the site, the only development that will greet you is the fence. The best person to help you in choosing the property that suits your needs and financial capability is a professional broker. Write to [email protected] or just check out www.condo.com.ph for the inventory of best buys in condominiums.

Congratulations to all March graduates! Good news: according to an article, the call center industry needs 400,000 new call center agents and the number of graduating students from college this year is only 350,000. We may now become a Call Center Republic. When I was invited to a Career Development Seminar in one of the public high schools in Quezon City, the most popular course that students want to take up in college is Nursing and Engineering and not a single student wants to become a call center agent. After four years of college, majority of them might wind up in a call center. I would like to challenge all call center agents to seek a new career on real estate. In the call center, if you are good and excel among your batch, you can easily be promoted. If you are in a fast food industry, if you are good, you become the store manager and work 16 hours a day. If you decide to be an entrepreneur, let us say selling peanuts in the mall, you may become the peanut king of the malls. But if you enter real estate and become successful, you can earn your first million in a few months time and be on your way to become a tycoon.

Watch out for the opening of the NUDE Room this summer which will feature the artworks of different Filipino artists such as E.R. Tagle and his group. The NUDE Room is located at the second floor of P&L Bldg. on Legazpi St. just across Greenbelt One. I told Ernie to start a new series last week for our inventory is not enough to cater the needs of the condo-minium units.

For condominium associations, condo developers, property managers and other real estate projects, the Condo Café welcomes news, events, announcements and other activities you want to be included in Condo Central by writing to [email protected] or call us at tel. no. 840-1332.

CAMANAVA gets a facelift

opinion

The CondoCafé

For presentation and special discounts, call or text Patrick r. Blanco at +639179809477

RENNE ISIDRO


greenhills: 743-6168 • 0915-5988-177 Makati: 742-1829 • 0915-3310088

Massage

Try us. Get 10% off on any 2 hour seviceon your first call on our regular rate

Swedish • Shiatsu • Combination • Reflex

2 hours P450 Onlygreen tea Body Scrub with 1 hour massage

P800 Onlyweekday Promo: 1 pm - 5 pm

HOME • HOTEL SERVICES OFFERED

Peppermint foot treatmentThis aromatic therapy combines a refreshing 15-minute foot bath, scrub, and foot reflex massage peppermint lotion or oil to help relax the feet.

Aroma scalp treatment massageUsing a special conditioner, this treatment relieves upper body stress and at the same time moisturizes and gives hair a healthier sheen.

Traditional Thai massageA combination of gentle rocking, range of motion, acupressure, reflexology, energy work and stretch-ing, a form of passive yoga, this treatment relaxes the joints, tones muscles, and increases vitality.

Sports massageRecommended for athletes, this treatment focuses on the muscles to help repair and lessen chances of injury, reduce recovery time, and increase stamina.

Deep tissue of therapeutic massageThis therapeutic massage targets specific body areas and uses essential oils to ease back pain, ar-thritis, and muscle strain.

ShiatsuThis Japanese technique uses thumb and finger pressure in targeting nerves.

Egyptian massageUsing a variety of gliding and Swedish thump percussive strokes and a unique selection of oils and lotions, this massage improves and promotes relaxation and tranquility.

Egyptian foot therapyThis traditional foot massage uses a unique combi-nation of pandan and rose for its foot bath to relax the lower limbs.

Aroma therapyUses a special blend of essential oils derived from a variety of herb and flower extract known for their powerful, remedial effects.

Hot Thai Body Stems TreatmentA combination of scrubbing with herbs wrapped in unbleached cotton and the movements from the traditional Thai Massage, this treatment softens and nourishes the skin, soothes bruises, and re-lieves inflammations.

XiamenThis massage features a precise, powerful kneading of knuckles to break nodules and soften pressure points.

at home

Swedish/Shiatsu/

Combination/Reflex P250.00

Aroma Facial Clay Mask P300.00

Xiamen Style Body Massage P350.00

Cellulite Massage P500.00

Manicure and Pedicure P250.00

Hair Spa with Back Massage P350.00

Foot Spa with Reflex P300.00

Milk Bath P600.00

Aroma Green Tea Body Scrub P600.00

Aroma Whitening Body Scrub P650.00

Aroma Whitening Body Mask P650.00

Body Polish P600.00

LiNeS oPeN DaiLY: 1:00 pm - 1:00 am

Five years ago, I was ecstatic when I was finally able to move out of my parents’ house and afford (well, half-subsidized by my parents) a condominium unit. It thrilled me to no end that I was finally able to get my own one-bedroom unit in the heart of Makati with my

meager savings.I am a private person with a thirst for the outdoors. You could say I am

a loner who enjoys the company of a few chosen close friends. After a day’s hectic job of working for a corporate firm, I would always look forward to spending some quiet time - the ME time - in my hard-earned condo unit, just relaxing with a good book or a nice movie on my DVD.

Friends and relatives sometimes drop by my pad and spend the night just to chill out, drink a few bottles of beer, and chat about life, work and everything else.

Then just a year ago, I finally found my permanent roommate—not that I was looking for one. But I accidentally did, in my daughter.

Living at the prime of her life and climbing the corporate ladder, Geraldine Cuason wanted to be at the center of it all, so she searched for a condo unit at the heart of Makati. Little did she know that her life would turn 180 degrees with the arrival of a new roommate: her daughter

When motherhood becomes me

At first, I was not emotionally and financially ready to have a daughter. I was almost on the verge of giving up my unit to go back and live with my parents. But I thought, I was just a few years away to finally owning that single-bed-room, seventh floor unit, and I was not about to give up without a good fight.

I work as a part-time writer and my daughter is financially-sustained by her father. It has been quite an experience raising a child all by myself. It has taught me to be strong and to be unselfish and not to think of material things when you have another person to take care of.

At first, I thought I would never handle tak-ing care of a child all by myself, not to mention the maintenance and cleaning of the house. I am a slob as it is, how about living with a baby? But I realized it is not so bad after all, for there are house-keeping services I could depend on. Eventually, I also learned how to keep my unit spic and span so I need not spend extra cash for house-keeping.

I am grateful for the security guards that make me feel more safe living alone with my daughter in a condo. I am thankful for the main-tenance whenever I needed a pipe to be fixed or a bulb to be replaced. I am lucky to own a unit that is a stone’s throw away from the mall or nearest convenience store.

Thank goodness for the gym amenities, I thought I’d never break into sweat anymore. Especially the pool, which is so accommodating, especially on a hot and humid day.

And I am even more in debt to the wonderful child-care facilities offered in our condo; I never thought I would have even at least an hour of alone-time if not for that day care center.

And I would never forget Maria, my widowed next-door neighbor. If it hadn’t been for her 10-years-of-raising-kids expertise, I would never bet that I could raise my child single-handedly. I am so lucky to have Maria not only as a neighbor, but also as a confidant, companion, friend, and even a great cook at that!

I always thought I would raise my kid in a quiet house with a garden (and if I am lucky, with a pool), where I can just let my daughter run free and experience the beauty of nature. But on the practical side, I can already have the beauty of nature that my condominium provides with their garden (with matching pond with kois). So I thought, why spend more on a house when you can be safe and get the same perks in a condominium?

I am looking forward to finding work again soon, but for now, I am totally satisfied by just being a single mom living in a condo.

condo memo

When motherhood becomes me


greenhills: 743-6168 • 0915-5988-177 Makati: 742-1829 • 0915-3310088

Massage

Try us. Get 10% off on any 2 hour seviceon your first call on our regular rate

Swedish • Shiatsu • Combination • Reflex

2 hours P450 Onlygreen tea Body Scrub with 1 hour massage

P800 Onlyweekday Promo: 1 pm - 5 pm

HOME • HOTEL SERVICES OFFERED

Peppermint foot treatmentThis aromatic therapy combines a refreshing 15-minute foot bath, scrub, and foot reflex massage peppermint lotion or oil to help relax the feet.

Aroma scalp treatment massageUsing a special conditioner, this treatment relieves upper body stress and at the same time moisturizes and gives hair a healthier sheen.

Traditional Thai massageA combination of gentle rocking, range of motion, acupressure, reflexology, energy work and stretch-ing, a form of passive yoga, this treatment relaxes the joints, tones muscles, and increases vitality.

Sports massageRecommended for athletes, this treatment focuses on the muscles to help repair and lessen chances of injury, reduce recovery time, and increase stamina.

Deep tissue of therapeutic massageThis therapeutic massage targets specific body areas and uses essential oils to ease back pain, ar-thritis, and muscle strain.

ShiatsuThis Japanese technique uses thumb and finger pressure in targeting nerves.

Egyptian massageUsing a variety of gliding and Swedish thump percussive strokes and a unique selection of oils and lotions, this massage improves and promotes relaxation and tranquility.

Egyptian foot therapyThis traditional foot massage uses a unique combi-nation of pandan and rose for its foot bath to relax the lower limbs.

Aroma therapyUses a special blend of essential oils derived from a variety of herb and flower extract known for their powerful, remedial effects.

Hot Thai Body Stems TreatmentA combination of scrubbing with herbs wrapped in unbleached cotton and the movements from the traditional Thai Massage, this treatment softens and nourishes the skin, soothes bruises, and re-lieves inflammations.

XiamenThis massage features a precise, powerful kneading of knuckles to break nodules and soften pressure points.

at home

Swedish/Shiatsu/

Combination/Reflex P250.00

Aroma Facial Clay Mask P300.00

Xiamen Style Body Massage P350.00

Cellulite Massage P500.00

Manicure and Pedicure P250.00

Hair Spa with Back Massage P350.00

Foot Spa with Reflex P300.00

Milk Bath P600.00

Aroma Green Tea Body Scrub P600.00

Aroma Whitening Body Scrub P650.00

Aroma Whitening Body Mask P650.00

Body Polish P600.00

LiNeS oPeN DaiLY: 1:00 pm - 1:00 am

survey

Sekyu very much

Peripheral Mission

Arnold A. Altamira

F irst, you have to undergo an extensive pre-licensing program. There will be long lectures, physical torture, a crash course on self-defense and hand-to-hand combat,

and a seminar on firearm handling. Thereafter, a dramatic shift in gears ensues. You will be marinated with homilies on how to be pleasant and polite to all sorts of people in all sorts of moods. Then, to prove that you paid attention during the 17-day workshop, you must hurdle the excruciating General Knowledge Exam (GKE) to be administered by heavily armed men.

Having secured your license, you will next be subjected to the rigorous standards of yet another entity called “the agency.” The agency will harass you, shake you down and compel you to produce possibly damning documents coming from the NBI, the PNP, the courts, and the influential barangay council. You are also to establish that you have clear eyesight via a medical clearance, clearer urine via a drug clearance, and the clearest disposition via a psychological clearance.

Next stop, another round of aptitude exams to see if indeed, your GKE results were not a fluke or tampered with. Still after that, and as a final test, you will be thoroughly scrutinized and ranged against societal standards of external appearance and internal decency.

And so begins your journey – not as a fascist underling or a reality show contestant or a senator of the land – but as a security guard. Or a Manong, as they are more popularly known.

Security guards have become an inescapable fixture of the cityscape. A good number of them are amiable and upstanding, yet, they’ve been getting a bad rap for the longest time. It must be the awkward quasi-authority, quasi-bodyguard nature of their being. In

the movies, they are portrayed as blundering, sleep-deprived, crime-abetting elements. In real life, they are either routinely ignored or unfairly expected to do jobs that are beyond their calling. Yes, there are a number of dreadful stories involving these men in white and blue, but most of them are overblown and the treatment they generally get is just grossly disproportionate.

Take for instance the case of the foolish father and his bratty boy. To shut the whining kid up, the dad would point to the nearest security guard and admonish junior, “Pag hindi ka tumigil, kakainin ka ng pulis! (If you don’t stop, the police will eat you!). Security guards aren’t the police. They are not predisposed to mulct. Neither are they cannibals. Psycho clearance, remember?

The presence of security guards is also widely seen by some folks as a license to act irresponsible and careless. People should never expect their belongings to be immune from daylight heists. Even in tightly-secured ritzy places. Remember, majority of robbers in the country belong to the upper class. Your cellphone for example, even if it does not state in its voluminous manual, should not be left unattended in public for more than three heartbeats. In case of disappearance, don’t expect the security guard to cough out the sorry GPS-enabled unit. Does Manong look like a

pineapple to you? Like you and me, he has but two eyes.

In the same manner but on a grander scale, you don’t leave your door ajar then go on a weekend trip to the appropriate local festival. Someone’s bound to notice the phenomenon after some time and if it isn’t the security force, that someone might take it as a friendly invitation to ransack.

Security guards are likewise not your typical doormen in the mold of those in high-end New York apartments. If he does not fling the door open after you’ve been standing on the threshold for five minutes, kindly help yourself in. Most of them will gladly do it for you, but if they fail, they probably just didn’t notice you, or you are trying to enter an establishment with hardly any activity. So why are you there?

The list goes on. I guess what I’m saying is, a lot of the unwelcome experiences we’ve had with security guards are borne out of mismanaged expectations. We want them to babysit us yet we refuse to cooperate, or do so grudgingly, when it is required of us. We have to keep in mind that when we are asked to sign logbooks, pop our trunks open, park facing the wall, present proper identification, rip open our bags for inspection, the guards are just fulfilling their mandate.

While they are willing to risk life and limb in carrying out their functions, they exist mainly to deter crimes and misdemeanor, not enforce the

law. While they try their darnedest best to protect your property, they are primarily a service provider, not an insurance company.

While they would want to keep the world in order despite politicians, they are but ordinary humans with some training and a low-caliber firearm, not Mister Dubya.

In the great scheme of things, security is still a byproduct of our personal practices and our collective decisions – like that which we shall make two months from now. But, if you can’t

vote wisely, at least be nice to Manong. The world is a much safer place if we are

kind to one another.

P.S. Thank you to Robert G. Tolentino, CSP, for explaining, among other security concepts, that PADPAO does not come in asado and bolabola varieties.

E-mail: [email protected]



CALL NOW (632) 812-3333

About this time several years ago, I flew to Rome to attend the ‘funerali di Papa Giovanni Paolo Secondo,’ moved as I was by this wonderful man who had touched so many people’s lives. My family and I had

seen him in San Francisco in the ‘80s, and through the years I had admired his work, his compassion and his energy. I didn’t like everything he said, but what was it about this man that I loved him even as I disagreed with him?

A friend, Alma Frondoso, joined me in the quickly-prepared pilgrimage to the Vatican. With my cousin Consul to Mongo-lia, Tony Rufino’s help, she got her visa in a flash, and off we were, within hours of hearing that the Pontiff had died. We spent a pretty penny BUT what a memorable visit it was!

The Piazza di San Pietro was filled with millions of people, and all the streets, from the Via del Conciliazione leading to the Vatican were filled with wall-to-wall people of all nation-alities, professions and stations in life. Many were European, specially the Polish, bringing food, rosaries to be blest, or their suitcases or sleeping bags with them as they filed boisterously in line to pay a last visit to their prince. There were many Americans too, as usual looking very healthy (compared to their skinnier European counterparts) and wealthy and very well-prepared for the cold of winter, with the latest in hi-tech digital cameras, mobile phones, portable chairs, comfortable shoes, and fur- or down-lined jackets. We met Filipinos from California and New York too, who like us, had dropped every-thing to say “Arrivederci!” to our beloved Pope.

The Vatican government had considerately left out moun-tains of blankets every several yards for anyone to take and use against the freezing winds blowing and buffeting the throngs of people who were waiting many hours in line. There were also cases of bottled water stacked high and given free to anyone thirsty. And of course, portable toilets were nearby. A Manila visitor commented wrily that had those blankets and water been left out on the streets of Manila, they would have vanished in a flash.

OFW NotesCita Abad-Dinglasan

reflections

We all laughed, though a bit sadly, because I remembered that THAT’s what foreigners think of the Philippines sometimes—a country of ‘ladrones,’ where people steal money from the government, from the poor, where politicians steal elections, where the judicial system is a joke. I silently prayed for our country. What irony—a descendant of Rizal (who hated the unfair Spanish friars,) praying in the Mother Church whom he hated, for our country, whom he loved desperately, like I still do.

From the Piazza di San Pietro to the Fontana di Trevi to Via Veneto, Rome was filled with hardworking, laughing, joking, sometimes cry-ing, but always rowdy and ‘masaya’ Filipinos! The Filipino OFWs in Italy must be the largest Asian group in Europe. I understand many are concentrated in Milan and Venice as well. A good friend of mine Marco Roberto Ascione, a reverse OFW from the Murano Glass Group, tells me that he loves visiting Manila because the Filipinos are like the Italians in temperament, passion, family and style. Grazie!

In the 1980s, on a family vacation from Hillsborough, California to the Eternal City, I noticed a large number of Filipinas by the Piazza d’Spagna. I was thrilled that there were so many Filipino tourists and excitedly noted to my chil-dren that the Philippine economy must be really doing wonderfully for them to be travelling in droves! I asked the Filipinos where else they were touring, and they replied that they were ‘permanent’ residents.

Many turned out to be TNTs (one did not need a visa then,) and teachers were working as ‘ragatsas’ or maids. I was horrified. My mother

La dolce vita: Filipinos in Italia


had been a teacher in the 1930s, and she managed to earn a decent living working her way up to become Department of Education Superintendent. What had become of our country?

The teachers told us that they could no longer support their grow-ing families in the Philippines on their meager salaries, so they, mostly women, had flown to different areas in Europe to be housemaids or ‘yayas’ for wealthy European families who wanted their domestic help speaking English to the young ones. Later, we learned that our own housekeeper in America, Miss Annie Bacaro, also had relatives who migrated to Rome in the 90s. They had wisely saved their earnings from Nursing or other jobs and finally bought their own flat, a rarity in expensive Rome.

As the years pro-gressed, Filipinos with more financial resources had migrated to Italy and La Dolce Vita. It seems that those with fami-lies intact fare much better than those with spouses or children separated from them. I met many couples who would have their babies in Italy for the Italian documents, then bring their month-old babies to the Philippines to be cared for by their grandparents because the OFWs had to work many hours in Italy to support family members in the Philippines! I always discouraged them from that plan, and stressed the need for families to be together.

At my visit to Rome in 2005, I met a wonderful Filipino family who was a success story. Mary Edig Serafini from Davao was introduced to me by banker Duji Jorda. Mary had been a successful businesswoman in Davao and decided to try life in Rome, where she married an Italian and started buying condos, houses and buildings, renting them out to many Filipino students or professionals. Her daughter, gracious and charming Grace, is a talented voice student who was planning to study in Massachusetts.

Mary, unfortunately, is the exception rather than the rule, even nowa-days, among the Filipino-Italians I met. Most of the OFWs frequently rented cramped quarters with two bedrooms and one bathroom for example, often filled with six, eight or even a dozen workers and their children. Every inch of space was utilized—the Living Room/Dining Rooms could sleep four, the two bedrooms could have, maybe, a set of parents and two small children apiece. No wonder that many landlords shy away from rent-ing out to Filipinos!

But work hard they did and still do. If you saw the movie “Anak” with Claudine Barretto and Piolo Pascual, you will understand what I am describing. The OFWs are happy, but one can see that mingled with sad-ness. It is just better over there than the crowded slums here in Manila because abroad, they at least get about a thousand Euros per month, which is approximately $1300 or about P65,000 Philippine pesos. And the weather is mostly nice and cool, the economy is pretty steady, jobs are easy to come by, and one can live La Dolce Vita on very little. But it sometimes. perhaps I should say, oftentimes, can come with a steep price for those left at home in the Philippines.

A relative of Nokia worker Lito Galicia told me that their Italian bus driver often said that the Filipinos on board his bus were like the tragic heroines of the operas. Some would laugh nervously upon reading a letter, some would suddenly wail at discovering her husband in Batangas had left their children and her, for another woman, some would be depressed or frustrated at finding out their children in the provinces of Laguna had

gotten pregnant or become hooked on drugs. Puccini had written the operas, Filipinos were living them.

Near the Termini, I met Evelyn Baluyot Campoli, who married the Hotel Stromboli’s owner, but still works as the managing cook in their newly opened trattoria, serv-ing pizzas and pastas to many tourists. Nearby, the other hotels were, still are, serviced by many Filipinos, some working as janitors or hotel maids or porters. They often congregated after office hours or week-ends at the central Termini, where their stories, trains and buses converge, the equivalent of New York’s Grand Central Station, com-plete with warning signs to watch out for pickpockets.

They regaled me with stories of the more “prominent” Filipino maids, those who served the rich and famous—the Bulgari, Gucci and even the Prime Minister’s families were all loyally served by Filipino maids and manser-vants, prized for their cleanliness and English-speaking ability. Only their drivers were Italian, because their traf-fic there is crazier than what we have here. The Filipino OFWs are the main visitors of affable and French-looking Ambassador Philippe Lhuillier. Yes, Philippe’s grandfather was originally from France, and he is the uncle of famous coutourier, Monique, of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles,

California. I had coffee with him and saw the many improvements he had started at the embassy which had rows and rows of domestic helpers renewing passports or getting visas.

Across the street from the Embassy are banks which remit the hard-earned salaries of the OFWs to their fami-lies left behind in the Philippines, some of whom they have not seen for years. Can someone please stop crowing about the growth in the Philippine economy these OFWs contribute to AND do a comprehensive study on the dras-tic and deadly effects the separation and alienation from their families are costing the Filipino OFWs?

Contact author at [email protected]

Mary, seated with her daughter, Grace.

Cita, at the Vatican.



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Color me SunsilkSUNSILK BROUGHT on a breakthrough in hair care technology with the Colour Shine System, which was unveiled with the Museum of Colour and Style exhibit last Feb. 5 at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel.

Eleven young movers and shakers of their respective fields displayed the new Sunsilk look. Lensman Victor Consunji photographed supermodel-turned-photographer Jo Ann Bitagcol, physician and dermatology resident Anna Palabyab, professional model and yoga instructor Raya Mananquil, musician and writer Alessandra Tinio, Vice President for International Sales of Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp. Divine Lee, radio jock and newscaster Andi Manzano, singer Savannah Lumen, futsal instructor and theatre actress China Cojuangco, model and designer Mika Lagdameo, fashion designer Debbie Co, and TV lifestyle reporter Marie Lozano.

The ladies had their hair colored according to their personalities—Andi, Savannah, China and Mika went naturally brown with the help of George Bantolino of Sir George Salon; Divine, Alessandra and Debbie were treated to vibrant burgundy by Nelson Cruz of Essensuals Toni & Guy; while Marie, Jo Ann, Ana and Raya deepened their color with the elegance of black with the help of Gio Ledesma of David’s Salon.

The Sunsilk Colour Shine System comes in three variants: Radiant Light Brown with passion fruit complex, Dazzling Shiny Black with black pearl complex, and Vibrant Burgundy with red cherry complex. Each is formulated with nutri-proteins, Vitamin E and shine protectors to nourish and moisturize color-treated hair without depositing colour. It only takes three simple steps, all of which are no stranger to any woman’s beauty routine—shampoo, conditioner, and leave-on.

Fort Palm Spring unveils model unitsFORT PALM SPRING, a 28-story luxury condominium soon to rise at the Bonifacio Global City, unveiled its model units at the MC Home Depot in Taguig last February 17.

The whole day affair was attended by over a thousand friends and prospective buyers who were given a glimpse of what is touted as the hottest property at the best business and residential address in the entire metro.

First Global BYO Corporation (BYO Corp), project manager of Fort Palm Spring, introduces for this venture the revolutionary Build Your Own (BYO) method, an exciting new way of owning property. Through BYO, buyers save up to 40 percent of the usual cost of condominium units. BYO Corp has likewise assembled a team of architects, designers, and constructors – all at the forefront of their respective fields of expertise – to ensure that the project will not only be reasonably valued, but be superbly built as well.

For more information, log on to www.fortpalmspring.com.ph or call 8158080.

people and events

Dawn’s Jacobo goes for Gain PlusWITH ONE-YEAR-OLD Jacobo lording over her utmost attention, life has truly changed for celebrity mom Dawn Zulueta-Lagdameo. Though riding high with a successful career comeback, Dawn is hands-on in caring for Jacobo, who was born to the Lagdameo couple two months earlier than expected.

For Jacobo’s developmental progress, Dawn took on advertising Gain Plus Advance, which was also the milk formula prescribed by Jacobo’s pediatrician. The commercial was launched last Feb. 27 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

“Gain Plus Advance is perfect in the sense that it encompasses all my expectations in a milk formula to help develop Jacobo’s early learning skills,” Dawn said.


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eye candy

Among Henri Eteve’s 60-plus artworks in an exhibit dubbed as Versatility on view until March 10 at the Avellana Art Gallery is “Modern-Life in High Rise,” the artist’s frenetic rhapsody of condominium lifestyle. It contains the artist signature strokes:

joie-de-vive colors, amorphous forms and humorous, sometimes ironic, streak of sensibility.

The show, tough not exactly a retrospective, assembles what is perhaps Eteve’s most representative works in different forms and

Life on a high notemedia, exemplifying his vision and versatility. His artworks (paintings, sculptures, mixed media, tapestries/carpets and found objects) make use of a wide array of materials (wood, marble, acrylic sheet, polycast resin, metal, aircraft aluminum, wool, among more utilized materials), taking on all exhibit rooms.

Avellana Art Gallery is located at A-19, 2680 F.B. Harrison St. Pasay City (fronting Gideon Academy). For details, contact 833-8357.

Henri Eteve, Moden Life in High-rise, 2006, paint pen on acrylic sheet, 53 3/8” x 51 3/4“



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LIVE IT UP!Contact us:Sales Office - First Global BYO Corp. Fort Bonifacio Stop Over corner 32nd Street and Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig CityTelephone numbers: (632) 815-8080; 727-4221; 727-1517, 726-2360 Fax numbers: (632) 815-7070, 721-0726; 726-0626 Log on to: www.fortpalmspring.com.ph E-mail: [email protected]

CondoCentral March 2007

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Transcript of CondoCentral March 2007