Flexibility

In Interior
Design
The condo
as the New
Dormitory
Choosing
the right
tenant
How to
become a
real estate
tycoon

The Man
behind
Pag-Ibig’s
Success

Discover a P150

Better Lifestyle
The Exchange Regency DISPLAY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15

Published by
Adriatico Gardens grand launch at Aloha Hotel last 30 May. Photo shows (l-r) AVP for Marketing Jerry
R. Rubis, Suntrust Properties, Inc. President Aty Harry Paltongan, Senior Vice President for Finance
and Operation Deanna Jean A. Claveria, and AVP for Sales Manny Estrella.

A Landmark in Manila

O
ne good project leads to
another. Having been involved
in numerous projects that help
uplift the morale of the Manileños and
boost the promotion of this national
landmark’s innate beauty, such as the
creation of the successful UN Gardens,
Suntrust Properties Inc. has not only
helped in the beautification of Manila by
utilizing the city’s idle lands, but has also
proven itself as a partner of the society
in providing housing needs to the low
and medium market. As a follow-up to
its maiden venture, Suntrust Properties
Inc. embarks once again on another joint
project with the City of Manila, focusing
this time at the Malate area – the
Adriatico Gardens.
Set to rise above Adriatico Street
in Malate, the three-tower Adriatico
Gardens takes pride in its modern
contemporary architectural design as
well as an excellent location. Whether
by foot, private transport or commute,
Adriatico Gardens gives you convenient
access to schools and universities,
malls, parks, museums, offices, the
hottest dining and entertainment strips
– the finest scenes and spots Manila
has to offer.
Affordability and quality living have
always been the keywords in Suntrust
Properties Inc.’s projects. Catering to
the low-to-moderate-income Filipino
families, Adriatico Gardens’ executive
studios’ (21 square meters) and two-
bedroom units’ (30 square meters) well
thought-out design features focus on
space-saving and functionality while
delivering a high standard of comfort
and style at par with more high-end
developments.
“Despite the affordability, it is a
low density project,” Atty. Harrison
Paltongan, President of Suntrust
Properties Inc., states. Adriatico
Gardens is designed to offer convenient
traffic in the use of its common facilities.
Its many amenities include round-
the-clock security, provision for an
internet-ready telephone line and cable
TV lines, a total of six elevators, two
levels of parking space per tower, and an
automatic fire sprinkler system.
The groundbreaking of Adriatico
Gardens, last June 23, coincided with
the celebration of Araw ng Maynila and
is expected to be completed in 2011,
Adriatico Gardens is undoubtedly, the
choice address for the new Manileños.
contents
i n e v e ry i s s u e

Editor’s note 6 Columns

Review Central 61 Legal OPTIONS

The hottest lifestyle picks Legal issues in renting out
your condo units 66
Condo guide 82 Atty. Edwin Calica Cacayorin, Jr.
Your condominium
hypermarket The Condo Café
How to become
central Market 86 a real estate tycoon 68
Classified ads Renne Isidro

Happenings 90 The Global Pinoy

SEA Residences Touching base 72
groundbreaking ceremony Daniel R. dela Cruz
Pacquiao vs. Diaz live
at the Fairways Tower Multiple Meaning
All set for the 2nd Flexi-homes,
Philippine Real Estate Festival flexi-towns, flexi-nation 74
Ariel N. Valerio
COV E R S TO RY

26 Discover a
better lifestyle
A home at The Exchange Regency
is where you can live securely and
affordably in the lap of luxury.

S TO R I E S

Designer’s Corner Preview

Flexibility in interior design 8
Reveal
Eco-Roof Garden is here 12
Italianize your home 14
There’s always space for green 46
The future of condominiums:
Indulgent living 48
The luxury of a prime location 50
A modern tropical gem 52
Transforming Makati
Avenue’s landscape 54

Man on top Features

Reluctant leader, accidental hero 18 Dormitory upgrade 58
The balikbayan’s choice 32
Tips The right match 67
Color therapy fo the home 38 Juggling act 70
Wall tiles–decorative entrance 40
Bathroom lights 42
Space saving ideas 44

Spotlight Dweller Yeller

A home and his dreams 34 Higher learning 69
SOAR Epilogue
Baguio of my heart 76 City acrobats 96
 FLEXIBILITY
IN INTERIOR
DESIGN
THE CONDO
AS THE NEW

editor’s note
DORMITORY
CHOOSING
THE RIGHT
TENANT
HOW TO
BECOME A
REAL ESTATE
TYCOON

THE MAN
BEHIND
PAGIBIG’S
Note: Translation is mine. and I dictate the tempo. So instead of illuminating

C
SUCCESS

onversations with taxi drivers are almost him on the phenomenon of white ladies and
Discover a P150 always interesting, if not enlightening. taxi passengers being in cahoots, I redirected the
Better Lifestyle
THE EXCHANGE REGENCY DISPLAY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15

Published by

For a bunch who will modestly admit chitchat to what I believe was a more pertinent
to not knowing a whole lot about life’s goings-on, subject matter.
they sure voice out and cling to their beliefs with What do you think of all these condominium
unrelenting ferocity. That is why I usually initiate buildings rising all over the metro?
such freewheeling chats with them. And when “I think it’s good for the rich people who are
Vol. II Nos. 9 & 10 it is they who instigate, I welcome it with affable staying in the subdivisions so they will have
July-August 2008 alternative places to stay. Also for those coming
anticipation.
Except when I’m in deep thought. Except when form the provinces since not everyone has relatives
Editorial
I’m writing in my head. in Manila.”
Danilo R. dela Cruz, Jr. This cab driver would just not stay quiet. First, Yes, but don’t you know that condos are not
Publisher and COO
he provoked me into a discussion by complaining just for rich people? And that a lot of families
Arnold A. Altamira
Editor in chief about soaring fuel prices. I resisted engaging so make the condo their primary home?
Danilova R. Molintas I just replied with semi-inaudible grunts. Then, “Really? But how can ordinary folks afford such
Managing editor he pestered me with queries on how to reach luxury?”
Godwin S. Nerona Makati from Timog without skimming EDSA or Well, it can’t really be considered a luxury
Senior layout artist
and chief photographer
Ortigas. I was forced to converse, not really out anymore. It is practical. It gives you a home in
of politeness, but because my fare depended on the heart of the city. It is easier to maintain and
Katrina Pallon
Layout artist it. Persistent yet amiable, he then asked me as we security is not a problem.
Edwin Calica Cacayorin, Jr. passed by New Manila: “Do you believe in the white “But it still is expensive.”
Renne Isidro lady of Balete drive?” Not all. Although a lot of developments really
Columnists
Much as I’d wanted to indulge the fellow, are lavish, a good number are meant for the
Jigs Adefuin
Amy Cavosora I was really preoccupied writing mentally my middle-income market. Besides, banks and other
Ivy Magparangalan (this) editorial note. I was busy substantiating financing agencies give flexible terms that make it
Rosalie Matilac
Beth Orense the outline I had earlier made. I was absorbed easy for buyers to acquire.
Euanne Torres
Contributing writers enumerating the various options that owning a “Hmm…But isn’t space too small?”
Sheryllene F. Escobar condo and being a broker/agent presented. There are really small cuts for those who need
moetwain But he would not stop. “A fellow driver told them. But there are large ones as well. In some
Noel Salazar
Contributing photographers me that she came from treetops. She would developments, you can even combine several units
Ariel N. Valerio unexpectedly appear and would flag you down. to suit your needs. Tear down walls if you need
Editorial consultant Naturally, you’d be scared and speed off. But then, bigger space.”
Chrysler R. de Guzman if you don’t give her a ride, you’ll suddenly find her “That would be one big box.”
Creative consultant
in your backseat. What would you do in such case?” It is only a box if you let it be one. Design and
Sales and marketing I doubt if he was interested in getting my furnish it smartly and it becomes a thing of beauty.
Cherie Mae M. Ayongao opinion as he was in extracting any form of “Well, okay. But I think I’m not cut to live in a
Marketing director
reaction just so he won’t look loony talking to condo. I believe I’m a ‘house’ person.”
Lucy Clemente himself. I just shrugged. He repeated the white You can always rent it out. You can either
Nizzel Labador
Grace Organeza lady spiel. I wish I had driven myself to work. He find your own tenant, or in some cases, an
Cyd V. Ponce
Account executives went on. independent operator takes care of renting out
Circulation
Exasperated that my mental exercise had been your unit. Or, you can buy during the pre-selling
completely sabotaged, I retorted. It does not stage and unload it when it’s turned over to you.
Guiller M. Ramos
Mark Jofferson M. Ramos matter. Whether you stop or not, she’ll eventually Value can appreciate quickly.”
Circulation assistants
end up in your back seat. Just avoid Balete Drive “Hehe. I’m almost tempted to buy. But sorry, sir,
Support altogether. not right now. No budget.”
Alfred Matrimonio He went mum, realizing perhaps how mundane But you can sell.
Web designer
his dilemma was. He seemed stunned into silence. “But I already have a job.”
But not for very long. When he recovered his You can switch or you can do it on the side. It
bearings, he fired off once again. “What if the has proven to be profitable…
passenger asks specifically to be brought to Balete And just like that, we reached the office. And
Drive?” just like that, this page is complete.
That was when I resolved that if there was no
is published monthly by MediaCentral, Inc.; way to extricate from chewing the fat with this
2nd Floor P&L Building, 116 Legazpi St., Makati City 1229, sprightly young man, at least I can decide the topic
Philippines; Tel number (632) 812-3333; Fax number (632)
893-8134; E-mail admin@condo.com.ph; Website www.
condocentral.com.ph. Opinions expressed in Condo Central
are solely those of the writers and are not necessarily endorsed
by MediaCentral, Inc. We welcome unsolicited manuscripts and
photographs. Kindly accompany them with a self-addressed
stamped envelope if they are to be returned. While every
reasonable care will be taken by the editors, no responsibility Arnold A. Altamira
is assumed for the said materials. editor@condocentral.com.ph
Copyright © 2006-2008 MediaCentral, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ipinagmamalaki, gawang Filipino.

Distributed by A-Z Direct Marketing, Inc.

 designer’s corner

Flexibility in
interior design
Jigs Ranada Adefuin, PIID, dispenses helpful pointers on
how to apply attractive and resilient interior design concepts

neutral is the right way to start. You

KEEPING IT SIMPLE. When designing or remodeling
Straight, clean, classic,
neutral are the keys to
your condominium unit, always aim
a flexible design. to reconfigure the area with due con-
sideration for future enhancements.
Moreover, refurbishment should be
done without sacrificing space, and
of course, without burning a hole in
your pocket.
Here are some sensible ideas on
how to beautify your homes and still
manage to be adaptable in an ever-
changing design world:
may choose from black, white, gray,
gold and silver; or beige, flesh, and
brown in all tints, tones, and shades.
Green may be a secondary color but
is sometimes considered neutral de-
pending on how you use it. You may
put all the neutral colors mentioned
together in a room and it would still
look like it’s well put together. You
may be surprised how updated your
condo unit may look year after year by
simply using just the neutrals.
Look for straight, clean and classic a lot of options in arranging your liv-
lines when choosing your furniture ing room. Always consider ergonom-
pieces. Furniture pieces that possess ics as well, because your furniture
such characteristics are usually the pieces should always be in proportion
ones that are resilient to change and to the size of your space.
the test of time.
Do not get a headboard. Get
Sofas that are reconfigurable a bed frame that has storage space
could also help because you will have under instead. By doing this, you are

Use neutral colors. Use them on

practically everything — walls, fur-
niture, flooring, area rugs, throw pil-
lows, curtains, beddings, etc. Neutral
colors may be labeled as “safe,” and
normally, a lot of interior designers
don’t like safe. But if you want to
achieve a look that is flexible, going

8 | CondoCentral
opening yourself to unlimited options
as to how to fix your bed. You could
just layer pillows in different sizes
and use it as your headboard; or put
humongous artwork on top of your
bed frame; an old panel screen could
also serve as a headboard. All of these
ideas are not permanent and yet by
doing this you are undergoing a design
process until you are decided as to
what you finally want.

Choose fabrics that are simple

and that are of neutral colors — the
plainer, the better. When you choose
these types of fabrics you will realize
how easy it is to blend with the rest
of your concept - just make sure that
you do the layering, wherein you put
lighter shades over dark, or vice versa.

Use paint. Using paint gives you

more freedom for future enhance-
ments. Paint will give you unlimited
options in terms of colors and texture
– from flat wall finishes, to semi gloss,
 tips

to color wash, to crackle finish. It

is also always inexpensive to use
paint than any other type of wall
coverings, so when you want to
change the color of your surround-
ings, you could always opt to
repaint your walls. But make sure
that you use low-or-no-VOC (vola-
tile organic compound), or better
yet, water-based paints.

Quality should always be a

priority. Never compromise qual-
ity over quantity because quality
items — from fabrics to furniture
pieces to pillows and decors —
would normally last longer than
those with inferior characteristics.

Go Green. Going green is

definitely in fashion. Not only are
you are making your surround-
ings safe for you and your family,
but you also help protect our
environment. How to do it? Use
environmentally friendly products,
replace your existing lighting with
compact fluorescent bulbs, use
recycled materials avoid using
materials that are not a renewable
resource and most importantly, do
research and be concerned with
our environment. You may be
surprised as to how fashionable it
can be to be green.

10 | CondoCentral
CondoCentral | 35
 reveal
Eco-Roof
Garden is here
Discover the various benefits of a European innovation
that’s about to become a staple of modern architecture
Eco-roofs, or green roofs,
are basically thin layers of living
vegetation installed on top of
conventional flat or sloping roofs.
Green roofs add a wide range of
ecological and aesthetic benefits. They
are a powerful tool in combating the
12 | CondoCentral
adverse impacts of overdevelopment
and the loss of open space, which
have resulted in problems like global
warming and heat waves.
An Eco-Roof Garden cools
surrounding areas by minimizing the
“urban island heat effect,” or the state
where a metropolis is significantly
warmer than its surroundings due to
pollution, concrete structures and
other overdevelopment issues.
Eco-Roof Gardens also offers
exceptional insulation from the
sun, minimizing, or even totally
eliminating, the amount of artificial
cooling needed. With rising gas and
electricity prices, this is a good way
to reduce cooling costs, which have
soared astronomically.
Apart from the cooling effect, Eco-
Roof Gardens offer other advantages:
For one, they typically last at least
twice as long as your ordinary roof.
This is because the roofing substrate
and waterproofing underneath is
protected from the harsh sun and
lashing rains.
An Eco-Roof Garden is also an
effective noise insulator. When there’s
a downpour, you actually have to
look out the window to confirm if
it’s raining. This is so unlike the noisy
clatter of a G.I. Roof. In contrast to a
world of increasing noise pollution,
studies show that a roof garden can
reduce noise from street traffic by as
much as 40%. This is because plants
absorb and break up sound waves—
allowing the indoors to be hushed up
nicely.
Excellent air quality is another
factor that makes choosing an Eco-
Roof Garden an attractive option.
Plants “inhale” carbon dioxide and
give off oxygen, filtering the air around
your house and making your home a
healthier place to live in. Air pollution
is greatly minimized around a house
equipped with an Eco-Roof Garden.
In Europe, city planners are using
Eco-Roof Gardens for another more

practical reason — to ease the
pressure on the public sewerage
systems. In many cities around the
world, storm sewers handle both
the overflow from rainstorms and
the water flushed out of toilets.
Heavy rains can overwhelm these
sewerage systems and push raw
sewage into waterways. This means
that clean rainwater is forced to mix
with pathogens like bacteria and
other germs in canals, rendering our
waterways inhospitable to other
human activities like swimming,
boating and fishing.
With an Eco-Roof Garden,
rainwater is trapped and released
slowly, instead of letting it rush
straight to a sewage system. Some
of the rainwater does not even make
it to the sewer at all, but evaporates
when the sun comes out. This
prevents rainwater from going into
the canals in a sudden surge, in turn
reducing flooding after big storms.
Indeed, governments in other
countries are taking the lead in the use
of roof gardens. In Munich, Germany
for example, the government has
promoted garden roofs through tax
credits and other incentives. These
subsidies have led to the “greening” of
more than 40 hectares of urban roofs
in the last 15 years!
Green roofs can restore the
experience of open space in even the
most highly urbanized communities.
They soften the appearance of the
urban landscape. When they are
installed on top of concrete roof
decks, they provide open space for
public recreation, and create intimate
private areas. In fact, the experience
of being on a green roof is exhilarating
because it combines the intimacy of
private space with an openness to the
elements and to nature.
Attitudes can be hard to change
though. Most people think roof
gardens are problematic. A classic
question is: “Is it going to leak or fall
apart?” But the case is just the oppo-
site. They actually leak less. In Europe,
it is not uncommon to see roof gar-
dens which are still in use 30, 40 or 50
years after they were installed. Unlike
a typical roof which is built to resist
the environment, plants are built to
embrace the environment and live
outdoors in its natural setting.
Not all roofs can support an Eco-
Roof Garden, however. The most
important consideration is the load
bearing capacity of the structure. A
structural engineer will calculate for
this and answer if the house is able
Types of
Green Roofs
1. Extensive: Extensive garden roofs
are typically not designed for foot
traffic except for maintenance. They are
designed to minimize the additional
load on the roof structure – with only
2-4 inches of soil, they have minimal
plant diversity and require minimal
maintenance. A sprinkler system is
usually installed along with the roofs, so
that watering is as easy as turning on a
faucet. In the Philippines, where it rains
almost half of the year, regular watering
is an even easier chore.
2. Intensive: Intensive garden roofs
may be as accessible as a roof garden,
and are typically placed in buildings
with roof decks. This type of roof garden
will have deeper soil, and will therefore
be heavier. The deeper soil allows
more plant diversity, and will require
higher maintenance than extensive
roof gardens. Soil depth is typically
between 4-12 inches. Intensive roofs
typically have more assorted plants
than extensive roofs and are irrigated
depending on soil depth, plant selection
and location.
to support the roof. A good rule
of thumb is: if the house is built to
support roof tiles, then it should be
able to support an (extensive) Eco-
Roof Garden.
Maintenance is also an important
issue. Eco-Roof Garden types can
range from those that are virtually
self-maintaining to those that require
a lot of attention. Plenty of options
exist between those two ends of the
spectrum.
For more information about
Eco-Roof Gardens, send an email to
ecoroofgarden@gmail.com or call
0917-329-6073.
CondoCentral | 13
reveal

Italianize your home

Euanne Torres drops by the country’s leading distributor of authentic Italian tiles
and discovers how these fine products increase the value of one’s home considerably

Italians are known around the

world for their taste for good quality
materials that spell class and sophisti-
cation.
This is why wide-ranging products
such as cars, leather shoes, bags and
wines are imported by many countries
from Italy.
Ceramic tiles are no exception. Italy
accounts for 83.38% of all ceramic tiles
produced in the world in 2006, and
currently pulls in 566.3 million euros
from that industry. This is not surpris-
ing because not only do authentic
Italian tiles lend a look of class to any
surface—they also have superior qual-
ity and durability.
So how can you buy top quality
Italian tiles without going to Italy? The
Internet perhaps? But why, when you
can just proceed to an authentic Italian
tile showroom where you can actually
see, touch and feel the texture of the
tiles for yourself, and select? Galileo Ce-
ramiche allows you this experience — che, Mirage, Graniti Fiandre, Ceramica grown over the years. From only a
along with a bit of professional advice Sant'Agostino, Provenza and Majorca. handful of customers starting out, reg-
from the full-blooded Italian architect These authentic, high-quality, Ital- ulars now include the country’s top real
and gracious owner, Gaetano Vitrano. ian tiles do not fade or lose shine or estate companies, as well as eminent
Gaetano put up Galileo Trading and gloss even after years of exposure to architects and design practitioners.
Services (an umbrella company that ultra-violet rays and harsh weather Gaetano adds that their market is now
also includes Galileo Italian Restaurant conditions. even starting to develop in the middle-
Enoteca and Deli) in the Philippines in They are anti-slip and easy to clean. income segment, which is comprised
2001 when he decided to settle here They are harder and resistant to stain, of practical buyers who appreciate the
Tiles provide the with his Filipina wife and their kids. scratching, trampling, chipping, wear- value of excellent quality.
cool floorings perfect The cozy little store offers one of the ing, and even to alkali and acid spills.
for subtropical and
Mediterranean
widest arrays of pavimenti (flooring), They are likewise dirt resistant making
climates alike. rivestimenti (walling) and arredamenti them easy to maintain. Galileo Trading & Services #13
per interni (for interior design) tiles They are available in sizes ranging Sanggumay St., Plainview Mandaluyong
in the country today. It carries the from 30x30, 30x60, 60x60, to as big as CityTels. No.: (63-2)578-3832/5328237
world’s top architect and designer- 60x120 cm. for countertops. Telefax No.: (63-2)5325360 Email:
preferred brands such as Lea Cerami- The company’s clientele has steadily galileoceramiche@pldtdsl.net
 F

A range of tile
styles allow more
flexibility in
flooring design.

Tile styles at
Galileo Ceramiche
Full-body homogenous tiles have a
matte-looking finish and have the same
color from top to bottom, creating that
classic elegant look for both indoors and
outdoors.
These are polished with an
exclusive mechanical process that
does not involve any harmful chemical
substance. Their brightness comes from
the hardness and homogeneity of the
raw materials and not from artificial
gloss polish. These come in their natural
state and have not undergone any
alteration to the natural composition.
This type of tiles is best used indoors in
living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and
even hotel lobbies.

Shiny glazed homogenous tiles are

beveled, meaning they have provisions
for gaps in between tiles to prevent
them from chipping. Rectified techno-
quartz tiles, meanwhile, come with
straight finishing and look exactly like
natural stones. They are not products
of quarrying but rather of artificial
processing in manufacturing plants,
thereby sparing the environment from
more degradation.

Green honed tiles have excellent

resistance to scratches, wear and stains.
During the phase when tiles are heated
to harden, the surfaces of these tiles
are completely vitrified, preventing any
surface porosity. Thus, no dirt or stain can
stick or penetrate the tiles, making them
very easy to clean. This type, used as
flooring for Ferrari and Maseratti luxury
showrooms, is best suited for living
rooms, lanais, palace gardens, and plazas.

For elegant lavatories and “low traffic”

areas, there are fine white body
homogenous tiles for walling and
flooring.

Lea techno-quartz tiles are rough,

resemble natural stones, yet feel good
to the feet. They can be used for both
indoor and outdoor designs and come in
eight different tones.

Other tiles are also available for any

design theme, be it Zen, oriental style,
Victorian, avant-garde, cosmopolitan,
minimalist or modern.
CondoCentral | 17
 man on top
Reluctant leader,
accidental hero
“Something that I’ve learned from my wife is that in anything you do, regardless of whether it is a big or
small thing, you have to give it your very best and try to enjoy it. Success will naturally follow.” Pag-IBIG
Fund’s CEO Atty. Romero F.S. Quimbo grants Dani Molintas a glimpse into his heart
ONE of life’s curious ironies is that those who
are the most fit to lead, are also those who are the
most hesitant to take power.
Or, as they themselves seem to know
subconsciously (that it slips out of their lips in
unguarded moments) leadership is a push-and-
pull thing, a tug-of-war between private longings
for a placid life, and a persistent, ingrained, and
inescapable desire to serve.
Such is the uncomplicated theme of the life of
Atty. Romero F.S. Quimbo, today the CEO and
President of the Pag-IBIG Fund—the country’s
largest provider of housing loans and the agency
leading the solutions to our huge shelter crisis.
Two years shy of turning 40, this determined
achiever—recognized many times over for
academic excellence, his student activism in
post-EDSA I days, his work in law school, and in
past years, for turning the Fund into an oasis of
efficiency in a desert of government corruption—
finds himself at a crossroads, once again.
That may come as a surprise only to him. But
for those of us who stalk the lives of charlatans
All leaders have their and icons, the power-hungry and reluctant heroes
defining moments and
their crossroads, and for
alike, this is common stuff. Heroes go through
many these come, not dark times; this is what myths are made of. Or
once or twice, but many does it really come as a surprise to him? Leaders
times in a lifetime.­
are wont to know their worth and their calling,
even intuitively.
“Leaders are not born, but are created by the
moments that they are called to take on roles
others don’t want to take,” he reflects pensively
after our lengthy interview for Condo Central.
It’s too late in the day to be a prepared quote,
and is more a sudden flash of insight brought
on probably by the fact that I remind him of his
college days. By now, the recorder is switched off,
18 | CondoCentral
Photography by Noel Salazar
he has finished his beer, and we have already gone
through an hour’s talk.
He waxes nostalgic about his activist days:
In 1986, during his freshman year, he joined an
anti-bases rally of students, and it was about to
be dispersed. As the anti-riot forces closed in on
the students gathered in front of the US Embassy,
they began to panic, and it suddenly dawned on
him that no one was about to take charge of the
group’s safety. Walang gagalaw! Walang gagalaw!
He called out. The students, set to flee, stopped,
stepped back into their ranks and sat down. The
danger had passed. Quimbo was 16 at that time.
“Despite my being a newbie, they actually listened
to me,” he said simply. At that moment, he
accepted his calling.
All leaders have their defining moments and
their crossroads, and for many these come, not
once or twice, but many times in a lifetime.
That rally was one defining moment for
Quimbo. A few years after, choosing to leave the
student movement he felt so deeply about was
the sad crisis he had to face.
“These were moments in my life, from the
time I was 16 up to the time I was 21, that every
part of my being up to the last strand of hair was
motivated, impelled by one singular belief… of
liberating this country. Everything I did, the way
I wrote, the way I dressed, the way I dealt with
other people. It was like being in a state of Zen.
Those were very exciting times.”
TODAY we live in times where the hero has
been replaced by the celebrity.
Where once our leaders were nobler versions of
ourselves, now they are just like us, flaws and all,
wrought larger on a giant screen, only botoxed,
made-up, and better looking.
ACTIVIST AT HEART.
“People become
leaders when they
take on responsible
roles others don’t
want to take.”

CondoCentral | 19
 Too bad for his detractors, but PRETTY BOY, MAN
OF SUBSTANCE.
Quimbo is both potential hero and He may look like a
celebrity. Well at least he looks like a harmless boy-next-
celebrity. door, but this man
I am sitting across him in a small can play hard ball.

table for two at the Schwarzwalder,

conveniently located at the ground
floor of the Atrium in Makati, where
the Fund holds office. Taking a break
from the interview with this pesky
writer, Quimbo asks the young
waitress for peanuts and lets her
leave, but only after flashing her a
lingering smile and splashing her with
a huge dose of his boyish charm.
I had stalked him from morning. I
had been up at 5am to be on time for
a photo shoot, and it is now close to
9pm. I’m hot, sticky, and dirty from
a long day of coverage, I’m beat, and
disheveled.
Quimbo still wears the shirt he
wore that morning, a pin-striped
white, lavender and mauve dress
shirt, sleeves rolled up, exposing black
rubber bands encircling his wrists
like it would a college kid. He looks
impeccable, like a movie star. He is
handsome in the clean, boy-next-
door, take-home-to-your mother
kind of way.
But the people who know him
will tell you that he isn’t stuck up,
and that he doesn’t take himself too
seriously. He is even quite the funny
guy with the irreverent wit, who
knows when to deliver his punchlines:

CC: So it’s a challenging job, but do

you also find it fun?
Atty. Quimbo: Oh it’s fun. It’s
absolutely fun. Yeah it’s fun. Yeah, I
like it that in every step of the way,
people will call you “sir”.

CC: (laughs) Or getting saluted by

the guards, no?

20 | CondoCentral
 Atty. Quimbo: Or getting saluted,
yah—etcetera.
No no no no. Yeah it’s fun. It’s fun
because you have in your grasp the
ability to shape an organization, to
shape its mindset and to create a col-
lective leadership.
That’s the most difficult thing. I
believe in a collective leadership, but
to be able to do that (your employees)
have to be able to see through you
and to your intentions. You have to
be transparent. At the same time, you
have to be somebody they can trust
and believe in. You have to be a leader.
I mean you have to go to war. I tell
everybody, this is a war here. This war
is to combat corruption, to combat
bad service to our owners. It’s a war
you have to wage daily.
And people will sometimes have to
just embrace what you say and throw
caution to the wind when they believe
in you. You convince them, and it’s
risky. But they need to be know
that, at any point in time, when the
struggle begins, you’ll be there beside
them. Not behind them, not in front
of them, but actually beside them.
You know that’s something I
actually aspire to: That I am the first
to take the risk. Hindi ako pumapa-
yag na parang, yung cover your ass
mentality—that’s the last thing that
I am. I am the first to take the risk. In
fact, kapag may problema, I’ll be the
first to say: Akong pipirma, kung takot
ka. Kung tama para sa tao, para sa
empleyado… that’s fun!
CC: You’re serious?
Atty. Quimbo: Yes. (emphatically).
It has to be fun because if there’s no
fun what’s the sense of embracing and
enduring the struggle.
CC: So the revolution was fun?
(referring to his student activist days)
Atty Quimbo: The revolution
was fun, the revolution continues.
(Laughs)
Unpopular Stands
Taking the heat. Making tough
decisions. Taking risks. Not using
people as pawns to achieve one’s own
agenda. Such noble strivings make
Quimbo larger-than-life.
True to his own standards of
leadership, Quimbo is unafraid to take
unpopular stands.
Noting that food security is vital to
any country’s economic and political
stability, he is still unafraid to point
out that the current moratorium on
land conversion is “hysterical”.
He supports the stand of CREBA
(Chamber of Real Estate and Builders
Association) urging a lifting of the
moratorium.
“Few people realize that so little of
our arable lands—from 1 to 2 percent
—have actually been converted to
real estate. In fact, in the last five
years, I don’t think any irrigated land
has been actually converted for real
estate purposes.”
To ensure food security, Quimbo
says the solution is not to prevent
(real estate) development, but
to improve farm production by
supporting farmers, giving them
needed facilities, farm-to-market
roads, and dismantling middle men
merchant monopolies.
Yet another unpopular stand
Quimbo is brave enough to make
is his call for policy makers to study
CARP dispassionately and reevaluate:
has the lot of the country’s farmers
improved under it?
“We’ve always said that giving
farmers ownership of the land makes
them take care of it. But that position
presupposes that the farmer has the
needed support systems, education,
accounting skills. Without these,
should it be wise to extend CARP?”
The plucky CEO is also bold enough
to call for an aggressive population
control policy to tackle the food
security issue:
“Because, however productive
our lands or economy become, if
population growth outpaces growth
or production, we won’t develop.
The growth we have now is not even
enough to offset the current poverty
levels, what more if you keep adding
to that population?”
“Sadly, I don’t think there’s anyone
who has the balls to actually carry out
such policies.”
However unpopular their positions,
leaders are called to balance this with
a large measure of realism. That is
what Quimbo believes.
“You also have to balance, of course
with realpolitik. Meaning, you need to
be able to know when to pull, when
to release—it’s a push-and-pull thing
essentially.”
Patience, negotiation, consensus
building, and working with power
blocks are things Quimbo learned
early on, growing up the youngest —
and as a child naturally the smallest —
in a middle-income family dominated
by boys.
“Being the youngest, you’ve got to
fight for every nook and cranny. No
quarters are given. Especially when
you’re dealing with boys. You know
the teasing…it was difficult. I loved it!
I love my family. I owe everything I am
today to them.”
SUCH skills, well honed, could
turn one into a Machiavelli. Some
of the worst crimes in history were
committed by Machiavellis seeking
power to plug up yawning blackholes
in their psyches. Stalin and Hitler lead
the pack, having wrecked large-scale
damage. We have our local, even
village, versions in our history.
As I stalk Quimbo for this profile,
I get a sense of him as a whole,
complete person, raised by decent
parents, surrounded by people who
love him. No huge psychic holes to fill
here. This boy-next-door is really that;
no skeletons are hiding.
Quimbo is also a reluctant leader,
who takes on leadership positions out
of a sheer sense of responsibility. Sure,
he says this himself, but there’s no
aggrandizing there:
Atty. Quimbo: The funny thing is that
all positions of leadership I’ve come
to hold, from being class treasurer
in Grade 1, to those I hold now… I
never sought them. Being part of the
UP student council— I never even
wanted that. I ran for chairmanship of
the UP Student Council in 1991 —but
I did not want it.
CC: So why did you run?
Atty. Quimbo: I was thrust—
CC: (laughs)
Atty. Quimbo: Yes, thrust by
people sharing the same cause, people
who wanted the pro-people agenda to
be carried by the UP student council,
and they felt like I was the best person
to carry it. Which, up to a certain
point, I felt that—there were so many
other people better than me.
Assuming the CEO position of
the Pag-IBIG—I was forced. I was
absolutely forced. I mean seriously, it
was something I did not want to do. It
was something I did not want to have,
primarily because I was replacing a
person that I was supportive of. I did
not want him to think that I snuck

Citizen Miro is playful and funny

You know I’ve been CEO for 7 years, I think,
come 2010, when the President steps down,
somebody else should be able to take my
place. Maybe somebody with better ideas…
I doubt it, but…(laughs)
— Speaking about what comes after his work at Pag-Ibig Fund

CondoCentral | 21
 tips

under his bed and took out his pillow.
CC: What finally convinces you to
take responsible positions you don’t
want?
Atty. Quimbo: You know what?
What finally convinces me is the
peer pressure. Yeah! Because I’ve
always been convinced that you
don’t need to be in a lofty position
to serve. I firmly believe that even a
street sweeper can be a leader, can be
somebody who can do public service.
By being a role model, being an
example to your children, paying your
taxes, not cheating, being honest.
That’s being a leader, leading your life
in an honest and dignified way.
But what impels me to accept is
just the sheer realization that it would
seem that I’m the best person to do
it. There is a greater calling to execute
something or to carry out a cause, a
philosophy, and it seems like I’m the
best person to do it.
I mean if you see, I never refer to
LOYALTY just follows the things that I’ve done in the past
when you work by at­­Pag-IBIG. I never say I did this, I did
example. When that. It’s always “we.” Meaning, it’s a
people see that your
motivations are clean, collective effort.
they will be loyal. “So what really convinces me is
really a higher calling…that I am
but a small part of a greater whole.
You know if I don’t take on that
responsibility or role, whatever
movement or belief we’re pursuing
will be hampered.”
In 2006, Quimbo was awarded the
Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM)
award for government service. It was
bestowed on him for exemplifying the
qualities of good effective leadership,
excellence and public service that the
prestigious award seeks to recognize.
The award grants Quimbo the
recognition that he truly deserves. But
it is only a small pat in the back for a
man who has done much, has pure
intentions—and most importantly,
has the potential to become a heroic
leader that our country so sorely
needs. That is, if he listens to the
voices calling him.
If he does choose to become the
leader we deserve, we will owe it to
these: A childhood at once exposed
to poverty around him, but sheltered
by loving parents, bred in him a
compassion for those with less in life.
Growing up in a large family taught
him the discipline and determination
he needs to lead in such trying times.
Being raised by an honest man taught
him the value of integrity. Having a
loving wife keeps him grounded.
Of the poverty he saw as he grew
up in Catbalogan, Samar, (still one of
the country’s poorest provinces), he
says:
“I felt that life shouldn’t be this
way. And I learned early on that the
institutional barriers for people to
get out of poverty are practically
insurmountable. Unless one is lucky
enough to be brilliant, to get to the
best public schools—it’s really just
very, very difficult. And for many
of us, what is required is just a fair
opportunity or fair chance to be able
to shine. “
Now we witness Quimbo at his
crossroads, at a time when he is a bit
weary of government service, and
contemplating a simple life.
We can only hope that he will
remember the things that inspired
him to take up charity work as a
lad, activism as a young man, and
government service as a mature one.
And as a wish for luck, these are our
parting words: Shine, Quimbo, shine
for all of us.

Tapat sa Pag-IBIG
M iro—as those closest to him call
him—is refreshingly candid and
proud of what the Fund has been able
to achieve under his term.
“I think the proof of the pudding is really in
the eating. Just look at how we’ve grown in the
last 7 years.”
“Our asset base has doubled. What took us
21 years from 1980- 2001—that we were able
to do from 2001-2007. So in one third of the
time, without increasing our contributions,
look at what we’ve been able to achieve.”
There’s no aggrandizing here, but thankfully,
no false modesty.
“We have become a top 10 corporation in
terms of income, we are a triple A rated com-
pany, our housing loans, our short term loans
have increased by 600 percent from 2001. Can
you imagine? From PhP3.1 billion in 2001, it’s
going to be PhP30 billion this year. In short
term loans, from maybe around PhP10 billion
in 2001, it’s going to be PhP32 billion this year.”
Indeed, from 2001 to 2007 the Fund has
sought to improve the quality of Filipino lives
through quality housing.
To reach this lofty goal, Quimbo set about in
2001 to rationalize the Fund’s operations. He
began by setting high standards and targets,
and establishing a nation-wide system to moni-
tor that those targets are met.
But Quimbo will not take all the credit. “The
Fund was able to achieve all that because of its
employee corps that is honest and proud of be-
ing part of the organization. All I did was stroke
their (employees’) sense of pride and give them
the recognition they deserve.”
Realizing that the government did not have
the funds to address the country’s colossal
shelter crisis, he decided that any meaningful
effort must be led by the private sector.
Thus, he took on the task of making the Fund
more attractive to banks and other investors,
and showing them that housing is not a charity,
but a viable program that can be profitable.
In the process, Quimbo and his Pag-IBIG
army (He often says they are at war!) have been
able to transform an unheralded government
agency into a consistently strong financial
institution.
Last year, the Fund received the United
Nations Scroll of Honour Award, the world’s
most prestigious human settlements award,
for its achievements in the Philippine shelter
industry.
These accomplishments are a lasting legacy.
They show us all that government can work,
and can be true to its promise of being by and
for the people. This stunning ray of hope has
the power to dispel the apathy and hopeless-
ness engulfing our country today.

22 | CondoCentral
 NO POPULIST. “You need
to be able to take hard
positions if you want to be
successful in govenment.”

CondoCentral | 23
24 | CondoCentral
 Good Idea? Better Idea.

Use Compact Fluorescent Lamps instead of incandescent bulbs. They are brighter,
last longer, and consume electricity more efficiently. CFLs are cheaper in the long run.

CondoCentral | 25
For more Electricitips, visit www.meralco.com.ph.
 cover story

Discover a
better lifestyle
To live securely—and affordably—in the lap of luxury at a
modern architectural landmark found smack in the city center.
That, and nothing less, is what The Exchange Regency offers

TO SURVIVE in today's hypercompetitive

world, you need more than just average
skills, brains or even the correct pedigree.
You need exceptional intelligence,
strength, boundless energy, irrepressible
optimism, flexibility and standout traits—
all in well measured doses—in order to get
where you want to go.
Such traits should also be embodied by
the place where you live.
Globalized business has ushered in a
new era of exacting 24/7 schedules and
rapid turnaround times. Combined,
these have spurred a demand for highly
integrated urban living spaces, where
homes are located close to work and
various recreational choices, and where
these spaces are seamlessly combined into
thriving 21st century communities.
As globalization takes hold of the country,
it has turned this once laid-back tropical
archipelago into a vital cog in the huge
global business machine, and one that
provides an expanding array of outsourced
services. The current condominium boom
can only seek to keep pace with that.
But while condominium developments
seem to sprout in the capital's every nook
and cranny, few are truly able to deliver
the higher standards of modern living that
Filipino workers at the cutting edge of new
developments demand – and deserve.

26 | CondoCentral
 WELCOME RESPITE. A
home at The Exchange
Regency grants owners
the serenity to recharge
and compete in today’s
hypercompetitive world.­­

CondoCentral | 27

The Exchange Regency
FAST FACTS
Location:
Exchange Road
corner Meralco Avenue and
Jade Drive, Ortigas Center
Building Design:
ASYA Design Partner
Developer:
Nobleland Ventures, Inc.
42-storey residential condo
3 levels basement parking
2 commercial floors
1 whole floor for amenities
Prices range:
PhP1.8m
to PhP13.4m
Unit Areas range: buildings continue to rise in the heat
22 sqm.
to 127sqm.
28 | CondoCentral
The Exchange Regency counts
among the few elite condominium
developments that provide 21st century
Filipinos this new urban lifestyle.
From location, to design, to
structure, and even payment schemes,
the project affords buyers supreme
value —at affordable prices.
Nobleland Ventures, Inc., the
project's developer, has sunk in billions
to develop this 42-storey architectural
masterpiece that contributes to raising
the bar of condominium development
in the country.
Premium site increases
property value
For one, few developments can
beat The Exchange Regency's prime
location. With developers scrambling
over such premier spaces, and as
of a property boom, this condo's
premium site definitely increases its
value as an investment.
The condominium, now under
construction, is set to rise on a three-
corner property at the convergence
point of Exchange Road, Meralco
Avenue and Jade Drive in the busy
financial district of Ortigas Center. This
is found right in the center of Metro
Manila, making it easily accessible from
major commercial and business hubs,
educational establishments, medical
facilities, and entertainment centers.
Architectural masterpiece
An exceptional design, which fuses
science and the esoteric art of feng
shui, is the other factor that sets The
Exchange Regency apart from other
condominium developments in the
city.
The tower, designed by ASYA
Design Partner, one of Asia's top 10
architectural firms, takes the form of
the infinity symbol.
The innovative structure is truly
striking and one-of-a-kind, and is bound
to become one of the city's future
architectural landmarks. When viewed
from various angles, the building gives
the impression of movement — and
is thus expected to stand out from
the usual block-type condominium
structures.
Design optimizes energy
The design is also powerful—in
both symbolic and feng shui terms.
Infinity comes from the Latin word
LUXURIOUS SPACE. All
units feature high ceilings
and wide windows,
creating relaxing places of
light, space and energy.
“boundless”, and the structure creates
limitless design possibilities for future
unit owners.
The building's unique shape allows
all units to have stunning views,
natural light and superior ventilation.
Unit owners on the southwest side
can expect to be treated to views
of the Makati Skyline. West-facing
unit owners can delight in expansive
views of Manila Bay. While on the
east, unbroken views of Antipolo
Mountains can be found.
And as for feng shui, the design was
meticulously planned to allow the
flow of both cool air and good energy.
The showroom interiors are also
designed to match the structure, with a
lavish feel created by two of the country's
distinguished designers, Lor Calma
Design, Inc. and Asuncion Berenguer, Inc.
Buyers can choose to have their units
patterned after these beautiful interiors.
Project offers flexible options
Accessibility, strategic location and
stunning architecture aside, it is the
flexibility of options that makes The
Exchange Regency a good buy.
People are unique and have distinct
needs, but many condominium
developers are unable to cater to
this need for variety. In contrast,
The Exchange Regency allows home
seekers to choose from various
flexible options.
Residential units, which all feature
high ceilings and wide windows
that are usually found in high-end
luxury condominiums, are available
in 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom flats,
and 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and
3-bedroom loft configurations.
Buyers, however, can combine two
or more units to match their specific
needs. Unit sizes range from 22sqm to
127sqm and can be delivered as bare,
standard or fully furnished. Prices
vary from PhP 1.8m to PhP 13.4m—
making the development affordable
to driven call center agents, successful
entrepreneurs, career executives, and
overseas contract workers alike.
Flexibility is likewise evident in
the payment schemes offe­­­red, but
the most popular term is 20% in 24
months, with 80% of that covered by
bank financing.
Moreover, buyers can choose
to enroll their units under the
development's planned condotel
operations.
Smart investment:
The Exchange Regency
condotel pool
Savvy buyers can choose to invest
in a unit at The Exchange Regency
Condotel pool, and cash in on the
sustained high occupancy rate that
Ortigas hotels have enjoyed for the
past five years.
Unlike in other condominium
developments, owners of The
Exchange Regency units can continue
to earn from their investment, even if
there are no tenants. This investment
is totally hassle-free, as it will be
managed for buyers by a professional
Condotel Operator, who will take
charge of both the day-to-day
operations and the active marketing
of condotel units.
Home of luxury
Because of its location, and its
full range of facilities, The Exchange
Regency is both a restful haven and a
portal to exciting recreational events.
Some of the facilities found in
the condominium are an infinity
pool, a kiddie pool, pool bar, shower
rooms, a sunken deck, a Jacuzzi,
sauna and foot massage facilities,
 a gym, a jogging path and kid's
playground, cabañas, a landscaped
garden, putting green, barbecue area,
and game room, function room,
library lounge, meditation area and
wi-fi enabled units. These grant
owners a wide range of recreational
choices right in their own homes. The
development also boasts of ultra-
modern security features.
Accessibility, a prime location,
great design and facilities—all these
MONEY-MAKING ASSET. Smart
buyers can choose to invest in a unit
at The Exchange Regency Condotel
pool that offers good revenue.
30 | CondoCentral
make The Exchange Regency the
home of choice for today's global
Filipino workers.
Having the home that enables
them to blend fast-paced activities
and relaxing lifestyles will contribute
much to helping them reach
their ambitious goals in today's
competitive world.
What’s more, the project’s
construction is currently ahead of
schedule. The developers, who have
tapped CE Construction Corp. as
their general contractor, have started
the excavation for the structural
foundation of their project. All units
will be delivered by December 2010.
The Exchange Regency is being
developed by Nobleland Ventures,
Inc., a Manila-based real estate
development and holding company
that has developed numerous
premier properties in the business
districts of Makati, Ortigas, Alabang
and Cebu, as well as the industrial
hubs of Cavite and Laguna.

For inquiries please call +632 744

5229, +632 727 3569, +632 407
5718, and +632 407 8270, log on to
www.noblelandinc.com or visit The
Exchange Regency showroom located
along Julia Vargas Avenue, between
San Miguel Avenue and Meralco
Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

FINE DINING, AT
HOME. Regency is
both a restful haven
and a portal to
exciting recreational
activities.

CondoCentral | 31
 The balikbayan’s choice
Trader’s Hotel offers Balikbayans a chance to soak in Old Manila’s
character—and revel in the pleasures of the modern metropolis, at the same time

Overseas Filipinos who are
coming home for a visit can discover
the new facilities at Traders Hotel,
Manila and dine at the stylish Latitude
restaurant or share a few drinks with
friends and relatives at the Lobby
Lounge.
With 303 well-appointed
guestrooms and suites that offer
superb views of the famous Manila
Bay and the vibrant Roxas Boulevard,
the hotel ensures guests a pleasant
leisure or business travel experience.
Traders Hotel, Manila is conveniently
located near the SM Mall of Asia, which
allows balikbayans to splurge in gift
shopping for their loved ones. The hotel
is just a short drive from landmarks such
as the Cultural Center of the Philippines,
the picturesque walled city of
Intramuros and the famed Luneta Park,
which provide historical information for
their children to appreciate. The newly
opened Manila Ocean Park, which
features a 25-meter glass aquarium
tunnel where visitors may get to see 200
different species of marine life, is also
located near the hotel.
Balikbayans who can’t avail of
a direct flight to their hometowns
and need a place to stay in Manila
before traveling to the provinces may
find comfortable accommodations
at Traders Hotel. The hotel, which
is just 20 minutes away from both
the international and domestic
airports, is the perfect place to heal
any jetlag, while share a few drinks
or a sumptuous meal with friends
and family at the Lobby Lounge or
Latitude restaurant.
Overseas Filipinos who choose to
stay at Traders Hotel Manila are certain
to have no lingering concerns during
their stay save for what gifts they will
take home to their loved ones.
For room reservations, please call
(63 2) 523 7011 local 2508 or send an
e-mail to reservations.thm@shangri-
la.com.

32 | CondoCentral
 spotlight
A home and his dreams
For a person of his stature, one would expect this Danish gentleman to be residing
at a luxurious, fully -furnished condominium penthouse suite in Legaspi Village or
Taguig. He, however, chose to build his home at a quaint, low-key building
Per Stangegaard, founder and
president of Filtra Inc., first came
to the Philippines in the 1980s as
an executive for a Danish trading
company. After an eight-year stay,
he pursued his career in timber
trading for 2-3 more years in Holland,
France, Ghana, and finally his native
Denmark. But having grown to love
the Philippines, he came back in
34 | CondoCentral
in Bangkal, Makati. Katrina Pallon pays him a visit
1999 with the determined mission
to use his experience to create new
products and services that capitalize
on the complementary traditions of
Scandinavian design ideas and Filipino
raw materials and craftsmanship. This
has created more jobs and helped the
country’s export industru expand and
professionalize.
His company has since developed
TAILOR MADE.
Only the best
materials and
accessories are
found in this
apartment.
several export oriented product lines
made from indigenous Philippine
materials. These products are
also sold locally. Today, the Filtra
group is a leading distributor of
Scandinavian furniture and design.
Product lines include Scandwood
which distributes outdoor furniture
and flooring through home depots,
Scandinavia Trend Inc. which is known
for its Danish design classics, and
Stangegaard’s own award-winning
designs Out d’ Or furniture, and
GastroChef kitchen and gift lines.
The year he returned, he took up
residence in the 30 sq.m. studio at the
South Star Pacific Building which he
had bought in 1989. This he expanded
in 2000-2001 by buying a 70-square
meter apartment right next to the
DESIGNER STUFF. A red Borge
Mogensen spokeback sofa and
a coffee table are illuminated
by a Sinus 550 Pendant. The
mug is designed by Lin Utson
for Rosendahl's Hans Christian
Anderson collection, the flooring is
solid beech from Denmark.
The backdrop of his lavish
living space is a bookshelf
in solid Narra, where
he displays different
memorabilia from his
travels, a few of which are
shown here: a bust from
Vietnam, a brass Louis
Poulsen Petronalla lamp,
a Teak Kay Bojesen
monkey from Copenhagen
and a photo of Khaya and
Odum (named after wood
species), the two pet dogs
he took care of while
living in Ghana.
 CUSTOM-BUILT in Philippine
mahogany and stainless steel,
kitchen shelves are filled with
designer Scandinavian accessories
from Eva Solo, Eva Trio and
Rosendahl, among others.

CondoCentral | 35
 This Philippine-made
abaca chair was inspired
by Arne Jacobsen’s “The
Egg”, complementing the
other Jacobsen furniture in
Stangegaard’s condo unit.
STYLISH OFFICE. The 6 miniature frames
contain watercolor paintings by his
mother. Both the 7 series office chair
and table lamp are designed by Arne
Jacobsen, while the Philippine Rosewood
table is custom-made by IdeWood, one of
Stangegaard’s many ventures.
studio he already owned.
It is a European practice, according
to him, of buying an old apartment
and renovating it instead of buying
a new one “which often gives much
better value for the investment.”
Doing that, he practically created
his very own high end apartment
from scratch, installing Scandinavian
lighting and setting up furniture
which he himself had designed. It is,
in his words, “tailor-made” for him—
from his cozy office corner to the
lovely, spacious kitchen. Moreover,
the building’s location gave him a very
good view of Manila Bay, and made
North and South accessible via EDSA
and the South Expressway.
He advocates using old buildings
36 | CondoCentral
as living spaces. “Renovate like you
are living in a high end condo,” is his
advise. These old, charming structures
can not only be made to meet to
one’s present needs but also make for
a remarkably good investment. His
lavish space is a concrete proof of that.
A regular working day for
Stangegaard consists of getting up
at 6:30 in the morning. He makes
himself a cup of coffee, tunes in to
BBC world news, and checks his email
before leaving for work at around
9:30. He comes home at about 6 in
the afternoon after a whole day of
meetings with his staff, suppliers, and
customers. And if he isn’t dining out,
he cooks for himself and catches up on
work after dinner. “Most of the work
is also fun, so I don’t really differentiate
so much what is work and what is a
hobby or interest,” he quips.
Asked what leisure time is for him,
his answer was: “Developing new
products and business ideas is actually
just as relaxing for me as reading,
painting, or playing games is for
others.” Otherwise he can be found
playing golf at least twice a week at
his much loved Villamor and Navy
golf courses—both of which are just
a quick drive from his condo. Apart
from good movies and massages, the
self-confessed food lover also enjoys
authentic Italian cuisine at Caruso, the
culinary diversity at Sofitel, outdoor
barbecues, seafood wharfs, and trying
out new restaurants. Makati is his
most favorite spot in the country.
“I would say that the two countries
complement each other more
than they are similar,” is his answer
when asked if the Philippines and
Denmark are alike. While it is the
well functioning social system,
infrastructure, education level,
efficiency, and highly developed
democracy that he appreciates most
about Denmark, it is the people, the
warm climate, and the lower cost of
living that he loves most about the
Hanging at the center of his dining
space is the famous Louis Poulsen
Artichoke designed by Poul
Henningsen. The special ellipse-
shaped dining table by Piet Hein are
surrounded by 7 series chairs by Arne
Jacobsen. At the center of the table are
a vase and a fruit bowl, both designed
by Lin Utzon for Rosendahl.
Philippines. These and the beaches,
golf courses, mountains, restaurants,
and resorts are the things that he has
come to love so dearly and are the
reasons why he prefers living in the
country.
In his 25 years of stay in the
Philippines, Per Stangegaard has,
indeed, become so much of a Filipino
that the issues that most Filipinos find
pressing are also the concerns he sees
that must be addressed. Aside from
corruption, natural calamities and
poverty, he stresses that the lack of
infrastructure and of proper roads and
railway systems are major factors that
hinder the country’s development.
“One of the reasons I wanted to
come back was exactly to try to create
some good and fair jobs, and in my
small way, help build a larger middle
class, which is so important for the
future development of the country,”
he concludes.
For more information about the
products in the photos, please visit
www.filtra-inc.com or email
tina@filtra-inc.com.
tips
The colors that surround you can influence your moods and your behavior. Design your
home in the colors that will uplift your mood, sharpen your mind, make you feel romantic,
or bring you inner peace. Writer and therapist Amy Cavosora shows you how
Similar to aroma therapy, color
therapy is based on the belief that
we can achieve wellness and healing
through our senses. As you can guess,
aroma therapy primarily focuses on the
sense of smell to bring forth changes in
the human body, although the sense of
smell is also tied to our sense of taste.
However, color therapy works through
the sense of sight, although it also
affects our sense of touch.
Color therapy is recognized as a
form of complementary medicine in
the U.S. and Europe, and it is offered
in spas abroad as part of their wellness
packages. Others combine color with
aroma therapy, and some with sound
therapy. As with color therapy, you can
buy gadgets for color therapy, such as
special lamps and light bulbs.
These forms of therapy are based on
the “chakra system” which originated
in India, with the word “chakra” being
a Sanskrit term for “wheel”, referring
to the shape of the energy center. The
human body has seven basic chakras
or energy centers, and anyone who’s
taken yoga classes or tried Ayurvedic
medicine would be familiar with chakra
system.
In color therapy, each of the seven
chakras corresponds to each color in
the rainbow. The colors of the rainbow
belong to the spectrum of visible
light, and an eighth color, magenta,
is produced when two rainbows are
combined.
Here’s a brief rundown of the seven
colors, connected to the seven chakras,
with keywords for the meaning of each
chakra and color.
Red—base chakra, refers to identity,
survival, instinct, grounding.
Color therapy
for the home
Orange—sex chakra, refers to General rules however, can apply. coloring. Just like with everything else,
emotions and relationships. Please note that the following can moderation is the key. If you must
apply to color schemes for the entire absolutely use your favorite blue shade
Yellow—navel chakra, refers to will room, such as a yellow theme for the in your bedroom, or you’re forced to
power, “digestion” of ideas, purpose, kitchen, or only for décor, such as a stay in your blue-themed bedroom
expression, creativity. violet-themed artwork for a study den. because of sickness, try to have other
Since color therapy aims for balance colors in the mix.
Green—heart chakra, refers to in energy, try to have a balance in
balancing, compassion, self-love
Turquoise—throat chakra, refers to
communication, honesty, sound.
Indigo—third eye chakra, refers to
sixth sense, intuition, insight, and the
paranormal.
Purple/Violet—crown chakra,
refers to wisdom, receptivity,
spirituality.
When applying the concepts of
color therapy to one’s living space,
the primary consideration would
be the person or persons using the
space, including the amount of time
the space is used. That’s because
color can either heal or hurt a person,
depending on one’s level of emotional
and mental balance.
For example, bright colors are not
recommended for autistic children or
those prone to ADD or hyperactivity,
since they would have stimulating
effects on them. Those prone to
depression would do well to avoid
blue colors since that would add to
their depression. But if they have
a blue bedroom and they only use
their bedroom for sleeping, the color
blue would be tolerable. If they like
to cocoon in their bedroom all day,
however, the prolonged exposure
would not be helpful.
 Red—ideal for spots that require
energy and action. You might like the
idea of a red-walled bedroom if you’re
into such sports, but if you also use
that bedroom to sleep, it might not be
a good idea. Maybe red bed sheets, but
not red walls or ceilings.
Orange—for spots used to generate
happy emotions. Peach of course would
be better for toning down the energy,
although I’ve seen dark orange living
rooms, dining corners and kitchens
with nice positive effects.
Yellow—for spots that need thinking
energy, such as study areas. Since it’s
related to the digestive system, it can
also be used for the kitchen and dining
rooms. If you like to entertain, a yellow-
themed living room or den would
produce more mental chatter rather
than emotion-laden heart-to-heart
talks. Unless you include something
orangey into the mix.
Green—for spots that want to
make people feel relaxed. Ideal color
for anywhere in the home, actually. If
you have a meditation or prayer space,
this is a good color since it connects
you with your heart chakra, to access
compassion for oneself and others. I
would prefer this than to purple and
violet, the color of the crown chakra,
since this can be too spiritual and
un-grounded for some people. Green
would be better.
Turquoise—for spots that require
peaceful energy. It might make visitors
sleepy if you use this for your living
room or dining area. Better for baths
and bedrooms.
Indigo—for spots that are used
for reflection. Ideal for study areas
and bedrooms, but if you’re prone to
depression, add some bright touches to
the bedroom to tone down indigo.
Purple/Violet—for spots to
help generate creativity or spiritual
concerns. Like green, this can be used
for anywhere in the home, but it might
dampen social activities, unless you’re
using your space for artistic or spiritual
endeavours with other people. If you
prefer this for imbuing your space with
spiritual energy, try to balance the
energy and ground it with either color
green or yellow, or anything earth-
toned.
 tips
Wall tiles –
decorative entrance
Barbara Tobiasz shares secrets on
how to inject color and character
into our homes
One of the most common types of wall tiles
is ceramic. Ceramic tiles have been made by man
for over 4,000 years. They have been found in the
pyramids, the ruins of Babylon, and ancient Greek
cities. They displayed beautiful sculptures of that
period of time.
The ceramic tile is made from a mixture of clays
that are fired on high temperatures and then are
40 | CondoCentral
generally glazed. They are used to add beautiful ac-
cents to your walls and your surroundings.
Wall tiles are more durable then any other wall
covering. They are easy to clean, stain resistant to
most acids, not effected by oxygen and easy to
maintain. You can put wall tiles in any room where
you need surfaces to be easily maintainable. They
help create a sense of freshness and tranquility.
They are available in a wide range of designs, col-
ors, materials and patterns. Some materials used are
ceramic, porcelain, limestone, metal, slate, marble,
granite, cork and glass. There are many sizes, shapes
and decorative techniques that are used and you can
choose from.
Before purchasing the tiles you must measure and
make certain you buy enough to cover your surface.
Proper preparation makes it easier for you to install
the tiles yourself. If “do it yourself” does not work for
you, there are many professionals that can install the
wall tiles.
This job does require special tools, but you must
make sure you have everything at hand before you
start the project. For instance you will need a saw,
tile cutters, nippers, trowels, spreaders, rubber float,
and a leveling board. Professionals also apply tiles to
walls using a thick bed of mortar.
Since your wall tiles won't be walked on you can
use ceramic or rustic stone. There is also available
in recycled glass, which comes in a variety of colors,
shapes and sizes—great for the environmentally-
minded individual. Also in this same category you
can purchase metal tiles in panels that
are lighter. This material can also be
hand painted or antiqued to match
your decor, but keep in mind that
metal can be harder to install.
Anywhere you would like beautiful
art on walls you can put up tile murals.
They are especially attractive as a back
splash in your kitchen above your
counter or stove top. It can make any
room in your home unique, special,
and very comfortable.
Decorative techniques are used on
tiles. Some examples are unglazed with
the color ranging from light sand to
brick red. There are also plain glazes
such as flint, white lead, china stone
and china clay. These are all ground
to make the glazes. They add ground
metal oxides to form different colors.
Last but not least, there are mosaic
tiles. These come in a variety of color
choices. Yellow, blue, brown, black,
turquoise, green and white are the
colors they come in. They are carved
and cut into small pieces and placed
close together into a prepared pattern.
They are plastered and hardened into
one large single piece.
Some other techniques are hand
painting, carving, tube lining, model-
ing, and transfer printing.
Porcelain tile is very popular mate-
rial used in today's homes. It is a newer
form of ceramic tile. It is composed
of fine porcelain clay that is fired at
higher temperatures then ceramic. It is
denser, less porous, and less prone to
take in moisture. It is also more stain
resistant. The downside is that it is
harder to cut then ceramic. Porcelain
is suitable for the indoors as well as
outdoors.
Marble is more high maintenance
and very porous. It needs to be re-
sealed every one to two years depend-
ing on where it is used. For instance
in a shower area where there is heat
and steam.
Granite wall tiles are stunning and
dramatic but very heavy. These can be
hard to install because gravity takes
over. They must be securely attached,
but once hung correctly they are very
durable.
Cork is another durable and stable
material. It is a pure material and
it improves indoor air quality. It is
elegant and sophisticated and brings
warmth to your living quarters.
You can enhance the visual essence
of natural light and infuse it with a
multitude of colors using glass tiles.
This method can add pizzazz and
charm to your decor.
Keep in mind that the price ranges
for various wall tiles vary.
No matter what choice you finally
make, wall tiles all produce the same
effect. They inject color, interest and
excitement to your life and home.
Source: www.articlesbase.com
CondoCentral | 41
tips
Bathroom lighting
Decorative lights can liven up your bathroom to an amazing degree. With the
arrival of an astonishing variety of bathroom lighting fixtures, it is possible to
create just about any effect you wish. Dhaval Suthar writes
All of us begin our day with a
trip to the bathroom; most of us end
it also with a trip to the bathroom.
In between, we make a number of
trips to this room. Funny then that
the bathroom is often ignored when
it comes to lighting and décor. One
of the reasons is the size of course.
Since this is the smallest room in
the house, most people think that a
single naked bulb is all they need for
sufficient illumination. However, this
sort of crimping results in inad-
equate lighting which in turn leads
to the under-utilization of bathroom
space. In addition to cramping the
style of your bathroom, inadequate
lighting stops the bathroom from
providing its full variety of services.
The bathroom is a place where a
number of functions are performed.
Therefore, proper illumination is
vital to its usability. From perform-
ing intricate tasks like shaving or
putting on makeup to enjoying a
relaxing bath, various parts of the
bathroom function differently. This
demands different kinds of lighting.
So, a good bathroom lighting plan is
the first step towards enjoying your
bathroom to its fullest.
The first step is to identify areas
that need clear, focused lighting.
Spots like the vanity area in a bath-
room demand precise lighting. So,
you need bathroom lighting fixtures
that provide complete clarity elimi-
nating awkward shadows and dark
corners. The best kind of bathroom
lighting for this area would be
wall-mounted fixtures or sconces, in-
stalled on either sides of the mirror.
If you have an oversized mirror, you
could place mount sconces directly
over them. This will create a dazzling
classic look.
The shower is another equally im-
portant area. A light fixture that can
light up the shower stall sufficiently
prevents nasty accidents or shaving
nicks. But since this area is suscep-
tible to moisture, it is important to
use light fixtures that can safely be
used in wet areas.
One of the best ways to trans-
form your bathroom from shabby
to elegant is through the use of
recessed lighting. Consider using a
dimmer controlled recessed lighting
fixture directed at the perimeter of
your bathtub, for the times when you
need to enjoy a relaxing bath.
From light fixtures reminiscent of
classic Victorian elegance to stylistic
modern designs finished in chrome
or bronze, you can transform your
bathroom to a place that you enjoy
visiting. With bright splashes of color
lighting up just the right spots to
the right degree of brightness, you
can achieve the classic elegance of
a designer bathroom in your home.
That too, without having to spend a
fortune.
That is why it is advisable to iden-
tify sellers who are direct vendors
of manufacturers of leading brands.
That way, you will be able to take
advantage of stock clearance sales
and other discounts.

Source: www.ArticleBiz.com
 tips
Space
saving
ideas
Laura Davis gives
us big ideas on
designing small
spaces
Living in a small condo unit or
a rented room can be incredibly dif-
ficult, particularly if your living space
is both your living room and your
bedroom. The advantage of having
a small living space is that, given you
have less space, you accumulate less
belongings, and in theory it should be
easier to keep neat and tidy. However
the downside, of living in studio apart-
ment for instance, outweighs the plus
side, you struggle to fit in a bed and
seating, a bed can often look untidy if
you are entertaining, and sometimes
you need a lot of belongings and you
simply do not have anywhere to put
these.
Here are some options to consider
that will offer more space, make your
small studio look more spacious, and
provide more storage space. If you are
living in a studio flat there are several
plausible solutions for you to consider,
the most obvious option would be to
fit a small bed and a small sofa into the
room. However, depending on the size
of the room, this may not leave much
space for other bedroom or living
room furniture, which defeats the pur-
44 | CondoCentral
pose of having a sofa in the first place.
If you cannot socialize in the room
comfortably, then you are probably
better simply having a bed in the room,
push it against a wall and place pillows
on the wall when visitors are around
to give the impression of a sofa. The
key is to choose furniture that is not
obviously bedroom furniture, get rid of
all teddies and bedroom paraphernalia,
keep the bed linen very simple and
when guests are visiting throw a heavy
weight throw over the bed and scatter
pillows on it to give the impression that
it is a seat. There are several bed frames
on the market that are a divan/day bed
style with support on the back and
sides of the bed, making it look closer
to a sofa than to a place to sleep. This
idea of having a smart bed double as a
seating area is also a good idea for stu-
dents living in student accommodation
where you have one room for yourself.
Another option for students is buying a
sofa bed or futon, the advantage being
that if you do want people around
then you can fold it back up to give you
more space.
Again, sofa beds can be a good
option for a studio apartment for its
functionality, but it may not be the
comfiest of beds in the world. If you
have bought a studio flat, or if your
bedroom is particularly small, it may
be wise to do something more drastic,
not only to give you more space but
doing so may increase the value of the
property. A mezzanine is a very clever
way of getting more storage space
for a small bedroom and can create
a whole new area for living space. A
mezzanine is an intermediate floor
constructed between the main floors
of a building, in a single room. How
much room a mezzanine can give you
is entirely dependant upon the height
on the ceilings. The most common
practice is to place a mattress and
sleeping area up on the "second" floor
providing you with a new bedroom
with an alcove area that can be used
for wardrobes or cupboards. How-
ever, how well a mezzanine works is
entirely dependent upon the size of
the existing room and getting a good
architect. If anything just raising
your bed to chest height will give you
enough extra space to put in some
high quality storage. If your bedroom
is still too small for this, then another
option is a Murphy's pull down bed;
a bed that is usually hidden vertically
inside a cupboard but can then be
pulled down into a horizontal posi-
tion for sleeping. The benefit of this is
obviously that when the bed is hidden
away, duvet and all, the bedroom can
transform into a living area giving you
the best of both worlds. Murphy's
beds are best placed in a cupboard
unit that stretches an entire wall so
you can have the bed and wardrobes
on either side, so that when vertical
there is no hint of a bed at all. If you
can fit a bed into your room, and a
sofa, but not really your clothes or
your CDs, then you can purchase a di-
van bed with drawers underneath, or
as suggested above pay for a second
floor to be built under which you can
use for storage.
Source: www.articlesbase.com
44 | CondoCentral
 preview
In the name of expediency
and progress, the city has inevitably
become less and less green. In
lieu of towering trees, we have
soaring structures of glass and steel;
46 | CondoCentral
There’s always
space for green
Refreshing and reinvigorating elements of nature are cleverly
integrated into the master plan of this modern urban sanctuary
instead of sprawling fields, we have
the intricate interlace of concrete
thoroughfares.
In attentive recognition of our need
and yearning for elements of nature,
DMCI Homes has constantly looked at
incorporating “green’ in its numerous
projects, while still embracing the
convenience of the city life. Nothing
better encapsulates this dedication
as the verdant Podium Garden that
will soon be a major highlight in
the charming development that is
Rosewood Pointe.
Rosewood Pointe is the only
Neo-Asian family condominium
community that adheres to the core
oriental value of tranquility and
gentleness. Its distinct architectural
design, together with generous open
spaces and resort-like amenities, all
make for a relaxed and unhurried
home environment.
Rosewood Pointe is composed of
eight mid-rise residential buildings
that are now fully constructed
and are slowly being filled up. In
addition, two high-rise structures are
currently being built, completing the
development’s elaborate master plan.
Jade and Ivory towers rise 21
storeys high, with the top three
levels featuring bigger-sized,
penthouse units. Both buildings
boast of grand, hotel-like lobbies
and central promenade greeneries
can be found every five floors where
refreshing elements of the outdoors
are brought inside the buildings. A
sky lounge is also located at Ivory
Tower which offers spectacular,
unobstructed views of the cityscape.
A link of foliage Connecting
Jade and Ivory towers is a lush
Podium Garden which features an
attractive array of well-arranged
trees, shrubs and flowering plants
such as bamboos, frangipani trees,
creeping junifer, tropical ficus and
evergreen podocarpus plants,
eugenia, jasmine vines, kamuning
shrubs all intended to lessen the
cold, hard concrete surfaces of the
podium’s structural frames. The soft
transition of between the spaces is
achieved by maximizing open spaces
and blending landscapes.
Truly, the Podium Garden,
which also serves as extension of
ground level amenities, is a soothing
sanctuary for residents who have to
keep up with the fast-paced, stress-
filled urban lifestyle. It is a welcome
respite after a tiring day, and can
likewise prepare the spirit for a tough
journey ahead.
Situated on a breezy 3.9-hectare
expanse just off the C5 Road in the
progressive city of Taguig, Rosewood
Pointe is mere minutes away
from the Makati Central Business
District and the Bonifacio Global
City. It is very near popular malls,
classy restaurants, exclusive shops
and high-end boutiques, modern
hospitals, as well as the international
and domestic airports.
DMCI Homes is the country's first
Triple A builder/developer that offers
middle income families optimum
value for their money by providing
quality homes with exceptional
features and amenities, world-
standard level of craftsmanship
borne out of over 50 years experience
in the construction and development
industry.
For inquiries on Rosewood Pointe
and other DMCI Homes projects,
please call 888-3333 or visit www.
dmcihomes.com.
CondoCentral | 47
 preview
The future of condominiums:
Indulgent living
More than a stylish home in a sought-after location, this prime
development promises enhanced overall well-being for its residents
Today, the upwardly mobile
indulge by purchasing a designer
outfit, buying a sports car, or escap-
ing to a Caribbean cruise. In no time
however, just staying home can be a
pleasurable and indulgent experience.
This is because recent studies
conducted by HSBC show that indi-
viduals are seeking wealth not just for
wealth's sake, but to find the kind of
life that enables them to rear a family,
and gives them freedom to pursue
their interests and hobbies amid fast-
paced living.
Banking on these new findings
are different real estate developers,
now scrambling to develop residen-
tial spaces that offer discerning city
dwellers a chance to enhance their
well-being through empowered and
indulgent living.
At the forefront of these is Senta,
Condominiums the latest project of Community In-
make staying at novations, an Ayala Land Company. A
home sheer bliss.
39-storey residential tower facing the
greenery of the Legazpi and W.Sycip
Parks, Senta is set to be an icon for
high-powered living in the middle
of the country's premier financial
district.
"The new affluent are looking for a
different kind of fortune—things that
can make their lives better and help
them develop into holistic individuals.
They are looking for a quick refuge
after a hectic day; they want to ap-
preciate nature and have the luxury
of time to be with their families and
friends, they want to achieve their
other dreams aside from their careers
while remaining plugged into the fast
48 | CondoCentral
life of business and commerce," says
Community Innovations President
Dan Abando.
Blurring distance. Most urban
achievers, especially those who are at
the top of their game, are looking for
residential spaces that are a stone's
throw away from commercial and
corporate hubs, medical establish-
ments, educational institutions, shop-
ping destinations, as well as unique
dining and retail options. This saves
them from the stress brought about
by heavy traffic that eats up a lot of
time that could have been used for
pleasurable endeavors like a swim in
the pool or a gym workout.
Staying true to Community Inno-
vations' track record of building sound Senta holds. A fusion of intricate,
residential communities in highly contemporary design and homey am-
networked places, Senta will rise a few bience, Senta's art museum-inspired
steps from the world-class retail ex- lobby renders a relaxing and visually
periences offered by Greenbelt where enticing atmosphere to both residents
urbanites can explore redefined and and guests.
refreshing ways of shopping, leisure, Abando also says that what makes
dining and recreation. It is also walk- Senta unique are the different water
ing distance from the rest of Makati elements and amenities that are
Central Business. present in the condominium. "Water
has a relaxing effect on people. Just
Inspiring aesthetics and indulgent hearing it and watching the fluidity
amenities. Senta is set to be an icon of its movement is very calming,"
in the distinct glamorous landscape of notes Abando. Senta's podium level
Legazpi Village with its elegant facade features three different swimming
of full vertical glass corner panels. pools for urbanites who relieve their
"Good aesthetics is inspiring and stirs stress by plunging into water: a lap
positive emotions in people," explains pool for hardcore serious swimmers; a
Abando. children's pool for kids who are start-
An elegant lobby designed by ing to love water sports; and a lounge
renowned interior designer Ed Calma pool with heated Jacuzzis. A private
gives a soothing prelude to what outdoor theatre—an unprecedented
facility in condominiums — is expect-
ed to elevate the concept of "passing
time" to a whole new level.
Gym buffs can also engage in an
adrenaline pumping work out, medi-
cally proven to release endorphins in
the brain that make people feel better.
Senta's fully-equipped gym overlooks
the serene greenery of Legazpi and
W.Sycip Park. The podium also houses
a children's playground that features
modern play equipment that allow
kids to explore the world and develop
their creativity in a safe environment.
Likewise, deck areas are present for
laidback afternoons - ideal for busy
individuals seeking a quiet refuge.
Relaxing on a green roof. Complet-
ing Senta's multi-sensory living experi-
ence are the different facilities found
in its roof deck. Utilizing the principles
of green roofing technology, Senta's
roof deck merges top-of-the-line ame-
nities and natural elements. A putting
green provides private and intimate
putting exercises that can clear the
minds of busy executives while a Zen-
inspired rock garden is an ideal venue
to savor the simple things in life. A
multi-purpose garden is also at hand
to host different events for nightcaps
with colleagues and family which can
provide a boost of energy for burned-
out urban achievers.
The center of power and pleasure.
From its strategic location, state-of-
the-art amenities, green elements,
to its beautiful structure and façade,
Senta's potential of improving the
overall well-being of its future resi-
dents is very likely. Through Commu-
nity Innovations' forward thinking,
expect urban achievers to soon find
a residential niche in the metro that
exemplifies their successes and ampli-
fies their wellness.
The Senta Showroom is at the 3rd
level of Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center,
Ayala Ave., Makati City.
 preview
The luxury of a
prime location
A spectacular location, world-class facilities, and
comfortable living form the crux of the newest
property investment opportunity in Makati City
The Beacon, with its three iconic
towers, is set to redefine Makati’s
skyline. Its resort-blending lifestyle
and innovative living concepts, set
in expansive gardens and balconies,
and with a full range of amenities,
make The Beacon a sought-after ad-
dress in Makati.
Strategically located on the cor-
ner of Don Chino Roces and Arnaiz
avenues, The Beacon residents get
easy access to everything essen-
tial — schools, hospitals, churches,
offices and malls. It is a mere
three-minute walk to Walter Mart
50 | CondoCentral
Supermarket and Makati Cinema
Square, and a five-minute drive to
the Makati Central Business District
and EDSA.
Resting on almost one hectare of
land, The Beacon offers the luxury
of space and full-sized amenities
not common among developments
in the Makati area. Its vast range
of options satisfy every customer
requirement, whether it’s a studio,
1 bedroom loft unit, 2 bedroom
corner loft unit, penthouse or
garden unit. Units come with
high ceilings and large windows
for optimum natural lightning and
cross-ventilation. The ground floor
will also be open for various com-
mercial establishments.
The Beacon is about affordable
stylish living while maintaining an
active lifestyle. A 300-meter jogging
trail awaits residents wanting to be
in good physical shape. Dive into
the 450-sqm resort-style swimming
pool. Cool out at the sunken deck
while children explore the expansive
playground. Catch a movie with
family and friends at the private 20-
seater theater. Shed excess pounds
and tone muscles at the bi-level gym
which comes with shower rooms,
sauna and massage areas. Cap the day
with a quiet time at the meditation
garden or read a book in the gazebo.
The Beacon is Geo Estate’s offering
in delivering fresh perspective to
property development.
For more information, log on to
www.thebeacon.com.ph or visit the
showroom at the corner of Don Chino
Roces and Arnaiz Avenue, Makati
City or call 401-2881/82.
CondoCentral | 51
 preview

A modern tropical gem

At least PhP3 billion is alloted for this inspired and inspiring condo
project of sea-facing homes

52 | CondoCentral
 HOMES BY THE SEA.
Residencies by the Sea
offer buyers a chance to
live in exclusive buildings
in a Gold Coast-like
community.

SM Development Corporation (SMDC),

the premium middle-income property unit of
the SM Group, is spending at least PhP3 billion
for its new residential condominium project,
Sea Residences, to be built at the Mall of Asia
Complex in Pasay City.
This modern tropical condominium complex
will rise on a 1.8-hectare lot along Diokno Bou-
levard. It consists of 2,580 units in six 15-storey
towers that are designed in a “modern tropical
Australian architecture” inspired by the sub-
tropical city of Gold Coast, found in Australia’s
east coast.
Like most homes in that coastal city, most
units at the Sea Residences will have a balcony
granting owners a chance to enjoy stunning
views of Manila Bay’s world-famous sunset, as
well as the South China Sea in all its changing
moods.
Of the 2,188 one-bedroom units, 1,580 of
these will have a balcony, as well as 280 of the
condo’s 392 two-bedroom units.
The Sea Residences also feature the latest in
green design where buildings maximize natural
lighting and ventilation, and waste water is
treated and reused to water the landscaped
lawns and podium areas.
There are more windows and open spaces,
and buildings are positioned to maximize natural
airflow.
The Sea Residences is SMDC’s sixth residential
project within Metro Manila and the first of
planned residential developments that will rise
at the Mall of Asia Complex.
It offers affordability, strategic location and
high-quality amenities and services such as a wet
play area, a children’s play area, a pavilion-style
clubhouse, a spa facility and commercial spaces.
The Sea Residences is strategically located
close to the SM Mall of Asia and the planned
entertainment city of PAGCOR, which makes it
“a good market for residential units.”

CondoCentral | 53
 preview

Transforming
Makati Avenue’s
landscape
A leading hotel management firm opens the doors
of a striking, distinctive and stylish sanctuary in the
heart of the financial district

The brand-new A. Venue Hotel

Suites, proudly managed by Gen-
esis Hotels & Resorts Corp, renews
Makati’s landscape with its exciting
options.
It offers a striking, distinctive and
stylish urban sanctuary at the heart
of the city. Now fully operational,
the A.Venue Hotel Suites offers 126
all-suites guest rooms to its already
enthusiastic and eager clientele.
From the welcoming splendor and
elegance of the hotel’s main lobby
to the tastefully opulent but homey
interiors of every room, the A.Venue
Hotel Suites takes great care to offer
each guest the elegance and luxury rejuvenating spa (Stresscape), a fully
to meet the most discriminating of equipped and functional business
tastes. center, Internet connectivity, Wi-fi
Each suite is a masterpiece of facilities, Infinity pool, library, kiddie
exquisite form and detail which, activity pool, indoor game room & a
although grand in scale, retains the fitness center. Deluxe hotel services
casual elegance and comfort of a include formal reception, concierge
private residence complemented by service, room service, PABX system
a host of sophisticated hotel services, (NDD/IDD Access), cable television,
perks and amenities. Genesis Hotels Laundry Service,
The A.Venue Hotel Suites also banquet arrangements, housekeeping,
offers smart facilities and ameni- transportation and valet service.
ties such as a grand ballroom (Via The A.Venue Hotel Suites boasts of
Veneto), function rooms for intimate 3 levels of secure guest parking with
meetings and gatherings, (Via Con- valet service, 2 high-speed state of
dotti, Via Toscana & Via Rafaelo), a the art passenger lifts, 1 high-capacity
cozy, classy coffee shop with gastro- service lift and full back-up generator
nomic indulgence (Granvia Café), a system.

54 | CondoCentral
 Situated right along cosmopolitan
Makati Avenue, the A.Venue Hotel
Suites is centrally located in the new-
est and most exciting destination in
the metropolis, the Antel Lifestyle
City. The sprawling 1.7 hectare Antel
Lifestyle City boasts of the A.Venue
Events Mall, a one-stop destination
of upscale dining outlets, bars, clubs,
coffee shops, sazzy boutiques, and
trendy recreational facilities to a 1,800
capacity Events Hall.
Within the Antel Lifestyle City, the
A.Venue Hotel Suites possesses an
enviable position offering celebrated
cuisine, ultimate comfort, and a
preferred venue for fun, recreation,
relaxation and business.
Convenient location, secure and
cosmopolitan surroundings, superb
and personalized service, elegant and
matchless accommodations, timeless
ambience and deluxe hotel- style
comfort and service— all these and
more you are sure to enjoy at the
A.Venue Hotel Suites.
The A.Venue Hotel Suites is
located at the Antel Lifestyle City,
7829 Makati Avenue, Makati City.
For inquiries and reservations,
please call 403-0865 and 381-
7888. Visit their website at www.
avenuehotelsuites.com and www.
genesishotels.com.
CondoCentral | 55
Disney Comes Alive
with DMC Cross-stitch
C an you remember the time
you would watch with
amazement stitchers busily
cross stitch a classic angel? How
about that beautiful landscape
they magically stitched into the
cloth? You watched them skillfully
work on colorful threads and
create that beautiful cross-stitch
picture still hanging on your wall or
your parent’s bedroom. You wished
you were old enough to stitch with
them, or have fun patterns you
yourself will enjoy stitching!
DMC, makers of world’s finest
embroidery threads now lets you
relive your cross-stitching fantasies
and enjoy this favorite hobby with
kids. Kids and those young-at-heart
will surely have fun stitching as
DMC partners with yet another
classic – your favorite Disney
characters!
Play with Winnie the Pooh
and friends, tag along with the
adventures of Mickey Mouse, and
revive those magical moments with
Disney’s Princesses. DMC captures
the fun and exciting moments
of Disney’s favorite characters in
easy-to-follow patterns. Kids will
be amazed at how easyly they can
stitch the patterns themselves and
witness their favorite characters
come alive in their fabric.
Encourage every child to enjoy this
hobby with their friends. Choose
your favorite Disney characters and
let DMC cross-stitch take you to
the magical world of Disney.
 Dormitory upgrade
More and more residential condominiums are sprouting near Metro Manila’s leading
universities. Beth Orense shares the upsides of high-rise living for students
CONDORMITORIES. It doesn’t really take long
More and more urban
students discover that
before any college student living
living in condominiums away from his/her family realizes
grant them a genuinely that independence and freedom are
independent lifestyle.
entirely two different things. At first,
you ask for independence. And then
you yearn for freedom.
Twenty four-year old Kate Bunag,
whose family is based in Cavite says,
“It was in the dorm where I initially
experienced how to look after myself.
I was responsible for the upkeep of my
58 | CondoCentral
own area. Everyday, I woke up earlier
to prepare breakfast. I commuted
from my Katipunan dorm going to UP.
I also took care of sorting my dirty
laundry for pickup, and buying myself
groceries.”
She was a college student living
happily, independently. On her Junior
year, she and her closest friends
decided to try the condo. Instantly,
she understood what she had been
missing in her first two years in
college. “Kapag sa dorm, even if you
say you live independently, there
are still a lot of restrictions—curfew,
landlady and other rules. Kapag sa
condo, you feel more like a grownup
and responsible person. Though
you’re renting, you feel like you own
the place so it’s like home na rin.
After exam weeks and when we feel
like unwinding from schoolwork, we
can party, have sleepovers and invite
friends over anytime we want to.”

Today, Kate is a self-employed TV
segment producer for a morning
program in GMA-7. Her work setup,
wherein she is not tied to the office
for 10 hours everyday, is ideal for what
she has grown used to in her college
condo. In particular, it is in that kind
of freedom to balance independence,
personal responsibility, time for
others and take upon a lifestyle that
belonged to her and not to the dorm
or condo she lived in.
While Kate had to explore for
the perfect place during her college
years, Chiara Mesiona, who is
currently in her senior year, had a
very smooth transition from leaving
her home in Davao to going to
college in Ateneo. This is because
Chiara simply had to follow the
footsteps of her two older sisters
who came to study in UP and the
other one in Ateneo a few years
ahead of her. She says that since her
two sisters are already very much
settled in the Katipunan condo unit
the family had been renting, living
on-campus was no option for her.
Chiara, who describes herself as
a grade-conscious student and a
fun-loving person, says that condo-
living fits her personality very well. “Sa
condo, pwede kang magdala ng kahit
anong appliance, walang maraming
house rules, pwedeng kang alis-balik,
walang curfew, mas malaki ang space,
free ka kahit anong gawin mo. Also,
it is convenient. Malapit lahat like
the groceries, laundry house, the
convenience stores.”
Interestingly, Katipunan Avenue,
which is very close to UP, Ateneo
and Miriam depicts a very significant
picture of convenience of the
“student culture”, wherein almost
all establishments thrive pimarily
to fulfill the students’ needs—food
establishments, coffee shops, tutorial
centers, internet and copy shops
and even places to unwind such as
salons and spas, posh date places, bars
serving relatively inexpensive drinks,
a wii house, scrapbooking and hobby
shops, etc.
While living in a condo allows a
student to stay outside as much as he/
she likes and enjoy the convenience
of such a set-up, Chiara says “One can
really have fun inside the condo on
less busy days. I can invite my closest
friends, who are studying in UP, UST
and UPLB, to stay overnight anytime.
And also whenever my parents are
visiting from the province, they can
just stay whether if it is just for one
day or a month without the need to
ask permission from the management.
And last but not the least, I love
baking so I had my Mom buy me a
small electric oven which I can freely
use in the condo.”
The different sorts of freedom
obtained from condo-living, in fact,
have a strong bearing on maintaining
personal responsibility. “Living in the
condo and having fun with friends
can be good but can also be a threat
to your studies. Pero depende na sa
‘yo ‘-yun. Me, I’m having the best of
college life and the condo is a big
factor in it….When my future kids go
to college here in Manila, I’ll also send
them to a condo too, I think,” the 20
year-old Chiara giggles.
CondoCentral | 59
60 | CondoCentral
 central
reveal
review
tv
top of the list

watches

Chronomaster
Playing shade against light, more than one radiant face. The rose
the extraordinary design of this gold cases offer silver dials while the
watch perfectly illustrates the fusion stainless steel cases have either black
of Tradition and Modernity. The or silver versions. They are available
cloisonné guilloche dial, appliqués in two sizes, diameter XT –45 mm
and sword-shaped hands that sing or T –40 mm, and are dressed with
the praises of the great classics, are a new integral alligator strap to pro-
transcended by resolutely modern duce a more contemporary line with
touches. On the dial, subtly smoked maximum comfort.
cut-outs give a transparent effect,
allowing a glimpse of the pearly plate
beneath and the 3 patented discs of
the Grande Date. Finally, the opening
in the dial, so symbolic of the design,
reveals the new complication, the El
Primero 4039 movement, and shows
us the mystery of time.
This timepiece is endowed with

CondoCentral | 61
review central
An up
close and
personal
encounter
Sony Philippines opens its doors
to the public through its exclusive
press launch of the W400 Full Range
Full HD Bravia LCD TV Series. The
Sony Team headed by President and
Managing Director Toshiya Kagita
personally welcomed the guests to
their "home" and visually treated
them with their highest picture qual-
ity in Full HD offerings packaged in 32,
40, 46 and 52 inch LCD Screens.
High definition
meets inspiration
In an age where the market is grad-
ually shifting to high-definition (HD)
tv
displays, Sony Philippines continues to
lead the pack through an expansion of
their line of LCD TVs, signalled by the
introduction of the new Bravia W400-
Series—a next generation all-around
LCD TV like no other.
"Bravia LCD TVs are primarily
known for superior picture and sound
quality. Then came cutting edge style
and color variations," said Arnold
Balao, Sony Philippines Deputy Direc-
tor for Home Audio Video Marketing.
"But with the release of the W400-
Series, we offer Filipinos the chance
to realize and experience Bravia's
continued evolution as we strive for
perfection."
The new Full HD Bravia W400-
Series comes in variety of sizes, 52",
46", 40" and now even in the 32" size
segment.
Driven by the new and improved
Bravia Engine 2, a digital picture-
enhancement mechanism leveraging
advanced algorithms, the W400-
Series showcases its full 1920 x 1080
HD display with further improved
color contrast for more vibrant, crisp,
and true-to-life images. Added with
Sony's Live Color Creation Technol-
ogy, remarkable color reproduction is
achieved with deep, accurate tones.
Also packed with Intelligent Picture,
worrying about weak analogue signals
is a thing of the past as it automati-
cally adjusts to reduce signal noise for
higher picture clarity.
"With a new design concept fit-
tingly called "Draw the Line", the Bra-
via W400 is the epitome of perfection.
Its Midnight Blue finish and sleek form
is inspired by the brilliant horizon on
the beautiful starry midnight sky. Top
it up with Sony-unique technologies
and you get the ideal blend of inspira-
tion and innovation," said Rhiana
Toledo, Sony Philippines Marketing
Officer for Bravia.
Redefining
extreme performance
What's great about the W400-
Series is that enhancements don't end
with display, but extends to all other
aspects you could think of!
Improved connectivity with a wide
range of Sony and other compatible
products is a breakthrough for the
W400-Series. Enjoy with the conve-
nience of Bravia Sync, making use and
control of Handycam or Sony home
entertainment products possible with
a single remote. Also newly incorpo-
rated is a Digital Media Port that lets
you enjoy and manage files from your
walkman, media players, and other
Bluetooth enabled products like mo-
bile phones—all via a Bravia remote!
Sound versatility is another element
considered as the W400-Series fea-
tures an Advanced S-Force Surround
Sound, providing exceptional virtual
surround sound while utilizing only its
built-in speakers; and Voice Zoom for
speech volume control while main-
taining ambient sound levels.
Lastly, Sony is constantly think-
ing of ways to help Mother Earth in
terms of manufacturing and product
features. With the Bravia W400-Series,
you can be assured that your LCD
TV has one of the industry's lowest
standby power consumption, plus
a brightness sensor to detect your
environment's lighting conditions
for optimum screen brightness and
power conservation.
Guided by this mentality, their
plan has flown with flying colors. In
2006 alone, the company has reused
up to 16,000 tons of plastic during
production, making them the number
1 recycler in the industry.
"Without sacrificing our trademark
superior picture quality and inge-
nious design, the W400-Series signals
Sony's success in significantly reducing
environmental waste impact by as
much as 60 percent compared to
the same-size models from five years
back," Balao cited.
The Sony Bravia W400-Series LCD
TV is available in all Sony Squares
and other authorized dealers. For
more information, please call (02)
878-7600 or 0917-8077669, email info.
sph@ap.sony.com, or log on to www.
sony.com.ph.
review central
music
Carrie the tune
Big-budget films call for big-
budget soundtracks, so the silver
screen 2008 debut of Sex and the
City gets a much splashier treat-
ment than the 2004 soundtrack to
the television series. That 2004 set
struck a balance between New York
cabaret and club, with just a hint of
feminist pop in Aimee Mann and
Imani Coppola. The 2008 Sex and
the City is decidedly splashier, cut-
ting out Bette Midler and replacing
her with a heaping dose of hipsters
of all kinds, ranging from wannabe
indie rockers Morningwood to the
inescapable bling soul-pop of Fergie,
whose grotesque "Labels or Love"
perverts both the S&TC themes,
musical and meaning. Some might
say that the film itself perverts the
show but whether it does or not, it's
not an issue with the soundtrack,
which is kind of its own entity, as
much as a movie tie-in can be. It
would be a mixed bag regardless of
whether or not the movie was any
good, as it mixes a new cut from
the movie's co-star Jennifer Hudson
("All Dressed in Love," her first big
tune since Dreamgirls) and a track
from neo-folkies the Weepies with
India.Arie singing Don Henley, a
dorky Nina Simone remix, and two
Bee Gees covers -- the Bird and
the Bee tackle "How Deep Is Your
Love" and Al Green duets with Joss
Stone on "How Can You Mend a
Broken Heart." Some cuts feel as if
they serve the film (why else have
"Auld Lang Syne" on the record?
Or Run-D.M.C.'s "Walk This Way"
in this context?), much feels as if
it's here only because there's a girl
singer (only "Walk This Way" is all
testosterone), and it's hard to imag-
ine listening to it from beginning
to end, but cherry-picking the best
moments makes for a pleasurable
experience that may wind up mak-
ing it an appropriate soundtrack to
the movie itself.
books
The
Wao
factor
Ten years after his acclaimed
short story collection Drowned,
Junot Diaz returns with a
lollapalooza of a debut novel
centered on a grotesquely
overweight Dominican-
American teenager named
Oscar. Lonely, loveless, and
living almost completely
inside his own head, Oscar is a
"ghetto nerd" whose multiple
obsessions include comic books,
fantasy fiction, and supremely
unobtainable women. In a
story that moves back and
forth between the Dominican
Republic and Paterson, New
Jersey, Diaz illuminates the
tragic arc of Dominican
history (especially under the
brutal Trujillo regime) in the
lives of Oscar's sister, mother,
grandmother, and aunt. Shot
through with witty cultural
footnotes, scabrous slang, and
touches of magic realism, this
heartbreaking family saga is a
work of brave originality.
CondoCentral | 63
 review central
cars
A heavy Chevy
Chevrolet announced the 2009
Traverse crossover will carry a MSRP
of $28,990, including a $735 destina-
tion charge, for the 2WD LS model. It
goes on sale this fall.
"With its great styling, leading fuel
economy and comprehensive roster
of equipment, the Traverse is a great
expression of Chevrolet value," said Ed
Peper, Chevrolet general manager.
The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse is an
expressively styled, well-equipped
crossover that delivers people-
hauling and cargo-carrying capability
typically found in larger SUVs. It is
offered in LS, LT and LTZ models,
in both front-wheel-drive and all-
wheel-drive configurations. Product
highlights include:
64 | CondoCentral
• Expressive styling
inspired by the 2008 Malibu
• Optimized aerodynamics that
enhance fuel economy and reduce
wind noise
• Four-wheel independent
suspension system
• StabiliTrak electronic
stability control system
• Family of 17-,
18- and 20-inch wheels
• Seating for up to eight adults
• Second-row Smart Slide
seat feature, for easy access
to the third-row seats
• Rear-seat entertainment
system with second-row controls
• Six standard air bags, including
side curtain air bags that deploy
over all three seating rows
• OnStar with Turn-by-Turn
Navigation and Direction Download
and eNav (with navigation system)
• XM Satellite Radio including
NavTraffic real-time traffic feature
(with navigation system)
• Bluetooth hands-free
phone connectivity
Traverse is powered by a 3.6L en-
gine with direct injection technolo-
gy that helps produce power similar
to many V-8 engines, but delivers
better-than-expected fuel economy
and a 25-percent reduction in cold-
start emissions. The 3.6L engine is
mated to the fuel-saving Hydra-
Matic 6T75 six-speed automatic
transmission.
Chevrolet is one of America's
best-known and best-selling automo-
tive brands. With the largest dealer
network in the United States, Chevy
is the leader in full-size trucks and
the leader in sales of vehicles priced
$35,000 and above. Chevrolet deliv-
ers more-than-expected value in
every vehicle category, offering cars
and trucks priced from $12,120 to
$103,300. Chevy delivers expressive
design, spirited performance and
great value with standard features
usually found only on more expen-
sive vehicles. More information on
Chevrolet can be found at www.
chevrolet.com.
review central
tech
Apple previews
Mac OS X Snow
Leopard to developers
Apple® recently previewed Mac
OS® X Snow Leopard, which builds on
the incredible success of OS X Leop-
ard and is the next major version of
the world's most advanced operating
system. Rather than focusing primar-
ily on new features, Snow Leopard
will enhance the performance of
OS X, set a new standard for quality
and lay the foundation for future
OS X innovation. Snow Leopard is
optimized for multi-core processors,
taps into the vast computing power
of graphic processing units (GPUs),
enables breakthrough amounts of
RAM and features a new, modern
media platform with QuickTime® X.
Snow Leopard includes out-of-the-
box support for Microsoft Exchange
2007 and is scheduled to ship in
about a year.
"We have delivered more than a
thousand new features to OS X in
just seven years and Snow Leopard
lays the foundation for thousands
more," said Bertrand Serlet, Apple's
senior vice president of Software
Engineering. "In our continued effort
to deliver the best user experience, we
hit the pause button on new features
to focus on perfecting the world's
most advanced operating system."
Snow Leopard delivers unrivaled
support for multi-core processors
with a new technology code-named
"Grand Central," making it easy for
developers to create programs that
take full advantage of the power
of multi-core Macs. Snow Leopard
further extends support for modern
hardware with Open Computing
Language (OpenCL), which lets any
application tap into the vast gigaflops
of GPU computing power previously
available only to graphics applications.
OpenCL is based on the C program-
ming language and has been proposed
as an open standard. Furthering OS
X's lead in 64-bit technology, Snow
Leopard raises the software limit on
system memory up to a theoretical
16TB of RAM.
Using media technology pioneered in
OS X iPhone™, Snow Leopard intro-
duces QuickTime X, which optimizes
support for modern audio and video
formats resulting in extremely ef-
ficient media playback. Snow Leopard
also includes Safari® with the fastest
implementation of JavaScript ever,
increasing performance by 53 percent,
making Web 2.0 applications feel
more responsive.*
For the first time, OS X includes native
support for Microsoft Exchange 2007
in OS X applications Mail, iCal® and
Address Book, making it even easier
to integrate Macs into organizations
of any size.
*Performance will vary based on
system configuration, network con-
nection and other factors. Benchmark
based on the SunSpider JavaScript
Performance test on an iMac® 2.8
GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system running
Mac OS X Snow Leopard, with 2GB
of RAM.
Apple ignited the personal computer
revolution in the 1970s with the Apple
II and reinvented the personal com-
puter in the 1980s with the Macin-
tosh. Today, Apple continues to lead
the industry in innovation with its
award-winning computers, OS X oper-
ating system and iLife and professional
applications. Apple is also spearhead-
ing the digital media revolution with
its iPod portable music and video
players and iTunes online.
CondoCentral | 65
 Legal issues
in renting out
your condo units
Renting out your condo unit is
a profitable activity that does not
require a lot of your time and atten-
tion. It can also be a steady source of
income without much stress, provided
that the person to whom you are
renting it out is a good lessee who pays
rent on time and does not unreason-
ably complain on a regular basis.
Legal How to determine a potentially
good lessee depends on your own
Options personal assessment. I have enumer-
ated below some of the issues that
Atty. Edwin Calica may be a source of conflict in a rental
or lease agreement. I do hope it may
Cacayorin, Jr. help you out.
a. Monthly rent. With the constant
increase of the price of basic com-
modities, always set at least a 10%
annual increase in rent. Keep in mind
the weekly one peso increase in gas
prices now being implemented.
b. Terms of payment. Do request for
post-dated checks in advance to cover
the monthly rent for at least one year.
Checks will provide you less stress in
66 | CondoCentral
rent collection and an additional legal
remedy to avail of.
c. Use of the condo unit. Clearly state
in your agreement that it must only be
use for residential purposes; and that the
lessee cannot sublease the unit to a third
party. The more people come and go to
your condo the faster is its wear and tear.
d. Pre-termination. Always negoti-
ate for a forfeiture of the advance
rent deposit (usually equivalent to 2
or 3 monthly rent) in case the lessee
terminates the contract before the
agreed expiration date. This is a fair
clause; the advance deposit shall cover
your loss of potential profit.
e. Duration of rent agreement. You
may agree upon a definite term like 1
or 2 years. Or you may choose to in-
clude an automatic renewal upon the
expiration of the contract. Without
this automatic renewal clause the law
sets in to transform your agreement
from one of annual to a month-to-
month basis.
f. Breach of contract. Always notify
the lessee in writing about the breach.
If he or she does not want to receive
the letter from you, have it posted at
the door of the condo unit and take a
shot of the letter posted together with
a newspaper showing the present date
to establish the date of its posting.
Why are the date and the written
letter necessary to be established?
Because they are mandatory require-
ments in an ejectment case to prove
that you notified the lessee in writing
at least 15 days before the date you
ask them (1) to vacate the unit and
(2) to pay you the unpaid monthly
rentals due.
g. Notarization. Finally, a lease
contract is not required to be ac-
knowledged before a notary public. It
may not even be in writing; you can
orally agree upon it. The reason why
a contract is commonly acknowl-
edged before a notary public is one of
evidentiary purpose, i.e., to convert it
from a private document to a public
document.
 The
right
match
Finding the ideal tenant, as
Rosalie Matilac relays, is not
as simple as it seems

Renting out your own condominium unit is a

fairly sure way to live a life of leisure even before
the age of retirement. Rent payments come
in without fail, as constant as the waxing and
waning of the moon. Truly, in times of volatile
economy, you feel so blessed to own such a stable
income-generating property.
Until one sunny day, you find out that the
lessee’s check bounces. So there, a tiny problem
begins to muddle your head, but not yet big
enough to befuddle your composure. It can just
be life’s way of testing your sobriety. Anyway, the
lessee—a rich student supported by his parents
abroad, promises to pay as soon as the remit-
tance comes. He was, after all, a good payer and
you know his parents very well. up to 12 months, I did not file legal charges.” lessee’s debts, charged to experience. Then, after
But what if the checks bounce for 6 months? Her reason is that legal proceedings are another case of delinquent payments from the
This calls for some real action like written exceedingly slow and tedious. “If the occupant next Pinoy occupant, she finally decided to rent
notices, demand letters, and, finally, judicial cannot pay, there’s no use suing him if all you her condo out to foreigners, mostly couples with
action by virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 22, also really want is to collect payment.” This condo- no children, through an agent. Perhaps it is better
known as the “Anti-Bouncing Checks Law.” minium owner also considered the fact that the to deal with unfamiliar persons rather than with
Then again, there are other things to consider delinquent payer is a close friend of her daughter. friends or relatives when it comes to renting out
if the recalcitrant lessee is, as in the case above, “He was a freelance artist who was then earning the unit.
the son of a friend. much from advertising stints and as regular actor In the end, finding the right lessor-lessee rela-
“It’s not worth the trouble filing a case in in a TV soap opera. Then, all of a sudden, his tionship is a mix of luck, destiny, good screening
court,” says a lady owner of a condo unit in Man- checks bounced.” methods, foolproof legal agreement and good
daluyong City. “Even with dishonored checks of Ultimately, the condo owner opted to condone judgment.
 How to become
a real estate tycoon
I am presently enrolled at De La
Salle-College of St. Benilde’s School of
Professional and Continuing Education,
taking up a diploma course in Real
Estate Management. And I would like
The to share with my classmates this article,
which I hope will be useful to them in
Condo furthering their career.
All of the top billionaires in the
Café Philippines are in real estate and here’s
what you can learn from their lifestyles
Renne Isidro and business styles.
• Stay out of politics. Be a kingmaker
and not the king. Among Philippine real
estate tycoons only one is involved in
politics – and we know who he is. All
the rest are busy expanding their real
estate and other business empires.
• Real estate tycoons do not sell
one home or one condo at a time.
They succeed by owning and
operating a diversified portfolio of
real estate properties, ranging from
condominiums, shopping centers,
hotels and schools.
• Buying property then sitting back
and waiting for its value to appreciate
is not the way to make billions. You
need to enhance property value. This
68 | CondoCentral
is one reason why some developers
choose the people who invest in their
projects—a good community increases
property values.
• Real estate billionaires do not let
obstacles keep them from achieving
their goals. Just because you fail does
not mean that you cannot succeed in
the end. Many developers failed in their
first projects, but you will see them
striving and continuing to make deals.
• People are by nature jealous of
successful people. Do not let criticism
of your work deter you from reaching
for your goals.
• Do more research than your
competitors and do your homework
well and you will have an advantage in
your transactions.
• Only one in three among the real
estate billionaires inherited and then
grew their fortunes. The rest earned
their success through sharp business
acumen and hard work.
• Most of the real estate tycoons are
family-oriented. They are married and
they have children to succeed them.
In fact, many of those who made it
recently in real estate are training their
children to succeed them in the future.
There are several people in our class
whose parents or family are in the real
estate business.
To my valued readers, this CREBA-
St. Benilde diploma in real estate
has designed a six-module diploma
course in Real Estate. I recommend
this to those who are in the real estate
industry as brokers, research analysts,
construction or in any allied field.
Starting next month I will start my
radio talk show “Usapang Real Estate”
with co-host Daniel dela Cruz. This will
be aired on DWIZ 882khz AM Radio.
For our inaugural broadcast starting
in August 3, from 1-2pm, we have the
privilege of presenting as our guest
CREBA President Reghis Romero and
CREBA past president Mr. Pete Tario. I
hope my professor Popoy Magno will
join us in succeeding weeks.
If you have any topic that you want
me to discuss in this column, email me
at renne@condo.com.ph.
dweller yeller dweller yeller

Architect Marie
Yvonne Apad,
President,
Intech Property
Appraisal, Inc.
Continuing education

Higher
on real estate.

learning
Ambassado Rafael A.
Gonzales, Chairman and
President, Worldmaster
Cup and Worldmaster
Real Estate Development
Corp.
Condo Central asks these accomplished
To know more about real
estate development, the laws and
individuals about their motivations for
regulations. To meet like-minded enrolling in the CREBA-St. Benilde diploma
persons who are in the real
estate business.
in real estate manafement program

Marilyn Rivera-Seelin,
President, Reach Out
Realty, Inc.
To be an expert in real estate,
continuing education is a MUST!
JC S. Leviste,
Vice president,
LEMANS, Inc.
Gimo Asuncion,
To educate myself on President, Greendot
the intricacies of real estate Realty Corp
development and to keep
abreast on the various sub- For continuous
industries of real estate. education, updates, learning!

Susan H. Punzalan,
Purita R. Soliven, Owner, Avanti
EVP-COO, V.V. Soliven Realt Corp.
Group of Co’s. Jaymie Coloma,
To gain in-depth knowledge Rural Bank of Zambales
To update my knowledge about the industry and to be
in the latest trend in the real updated on the systems To know the latest trend
estate business. and trends. in the real estate industry.
 Juggling act
Ivy Magparangalan finds out how flexi-time brokerage
can pull in high yields, among other fulfilling rewards
IT TAKES three Ps—presence,
perseverance, and patience—and only
two hours a week to succeed in real
estate brokerage.
This is the advice Julius Topacio,
current president of the Real
Estate Brokers Association of the
Philippines (REBAP) Inc. and former
chief accountant of former President
Joseph Estrada and former Senator
Luisa Estrada, has for budding brokers.
It also takes a very high level of time
management skills: Apart from his
role as top man in REBAP, Topacio is
also the Deputy Executive Director of
Movie Workers Welfare Foundation
(Mowelfund), Inc., and runs various
other businesses.
His week is divided thus: twice a
week, he spends two to four hours
handling the finance, administrative,
social welfare and income generation
work for Mowelfund. Twice a week, he
spends two to three hours to execute
his functions at the REBAP Office. Five
to six hours daily are spent as chief
accountant for a group of companies.
And real estate brokerage? He only
squeezes it in between the other jobs.
Still, of all these jobs, he finds
brokerage to be the most profitable—
bringing in six figure incomes.
Topacio’s grand luck stems from a
real estate boom that has lasted the
last two years in the country—and is
forecast to last for another three.
While accounting is his first and
true love (he was an accountant for 20
70 | CondoCentral
years) the challenges–and profitability
–of real estate brokerage have now
hooked him.
He has his wife Irma, a real estate
agent, to thank for this success. In
1997, Irma had encouraged him to
undergo a seminar on real estate
brokerage in Valle Verde, Pasig. Little
did he know that he would reap a
six figure ROI on a seminar fee of
P2,800—in so little time.
Julius Topacio specializes in project
selling. This requires an effective sales
force of real estate brokers. Fueled
by his advocacy for network selling,
he founded the REBAP1 National
Cooperative Marketing Network. Realty Development Corporation, internet subscription to accomplish
Exclusively for REBAP members only, the network took part in even the transactions more quickly.
this multi-purpose cooperative offers: conceptualization and design stage, Today, Topacio handles a low-
all in a bid to ensure the quality of rise resort condotel project, Crown
• higher level commissions for those units built. The team began selling the Regency Resort and Convention
who successfully market exclusive project in December 2007 and just six Center that stretches over a
projects months after, all units were sold out. 16,000sqm-wide stretch of white sand
• additional incentives on top beach in Barangay Balabag, Boracay.
of standard commission for non- Topacio has three additional The condotel of 457 fully furnished
exclusive projects pointers for budding brokers: units is offered at prices ranging
• early commission from other from PhP5.2million to PhP9 million.
marketing tie-ups with various 1. focus on one project The project is being developed by
suppliers 2. apply network selling Fuente Triangle Realty Development,
• discounts in a range of business 3. use the internet. a subsidiary of Cebu-based J. King &
establishments Sons Co. Inc.
• the opportunity to become a Following agreements made during Crown Regency Resort and
subscriber and to do business on the the REBAP1 National Cooperative Convention Center offers leisure
REBAP website (www.rebap.net) Marketing Network, brokers must travelers, expats and overseas workers
focus on selling exclusive projects a unique chance to take pleasure
For its first townhouse project through a network of effective world-class amenities in one of the
of 30 units in Las Piñas under Keys sales and marketing teams, using world’s top recreational paradises.
 Touching base
"There is no place like home,"
an old saying goes.
There is no place like the
Philippines, if I may now rephrase it.
Storms can ravage our houses or
wreck plants and trees around us,
floods may drench us to the bones or
The Global devour entire communities, the seas
may release tsunamis and sweep away
Pinoy entire villages — but the Philippines
will remain a paradise that cradles all
our dreams.
Daniel R. dela Cruz In my travels abroad, I have seen
how a new environment, or strange
working conditions, or language
barriers or racial discrimination, pose
challenges to Filipinos, but I have
never seen any of our countrymen
sulk in one corner and cry a river of
tears.
Instead, Filipinos tend to fight it out
to the last drop of blood and make
72 | CondoCentral
apparent miracles in the process.
We fight it out the way Pacquiao
has done so far — humble in the
company of fellowmen, fierce against
a relentless opponent.
We can also use our charms
to make things work the way KC
Concepcion is currently campaigning
for food security worldwide.
We also utilize our skills and talent
to advance a cause or demonstrate
the limitless potentials of Filipinos the
way Lea Salonga is again conquering
the world as the magical Cinderella.
We may be in the middle of a rice
crisis, of rising prices, of controversies
in the bureaucracy, of hostage-taking
for ransom, of rampant criminality
— the way most nations in the world
are anyway — but we will remain
unflinching in the face of adversities.
Some say Filipinos survive because
of our unquenchable love and
spirituality as a people. But I feel
there is something more. It is our
rootedness — or perhaps our capacity
to grasp the interrelationships of
everything that we are as human
beings — that make us survive. And
live. And love. And triumph.
This is what I expect to see in
Europe as I embark on another trip to
touch base with the Global Filipinos.
London will be filled with more
than 100,000 of our compatriots
from 15-22 July for the Barrio Fiesta sa
London, a major event in Europe every
year. Of course the market potential
is great. But beyond that, I would love
to be with them this time of the year
and be proud that we all belong to the
Philippines.
After all, there is nobody in the
world like a Filipino.
 Flexi-homes, flexi-towns, flexi-nation
I heard of flexi-homes way back in
the 80s.
The concept came with the low-
cost housing units of BLISS built by
the Metro Manila Commission initially
for the urban homeless but were
eventually bought and rented out by
those who can afford them to those
who have less resources.
The concept of flexi-homes
somehow revolutionized the way
Filipinos look at housing -- from
single detached units to several units
Multiple
in a four-storey building to the now
high-rise edifices mushrooming in the
metropolis and elsewhere in the Phil-
Meaning ippines -- and created flexi-towns.
Flexi-towns, on the other hand, are
Ariel N. Valerio communities created artificially at the
start by urban mass housing.
On the low-end, the Dagat-Dagatan
74 | CondoCentral
and the Sapang Palay resettlement ar-
eas gave migrant urban settlers a taste
of home that soon became a sense of
community.
On the mid-end Jeff Jeturian's Pila
Balde graphically presents a middle-
class flexi-town to us and the sub-
culture that evolved from it.
On the high-end are exclusive sub-
divisions that sprouted from virtual
grasslands and notorious killing zones
which were transformed by real estate
developers into safe and secure build-
your-own spaces for the rich and the
famous.
Soon enough, new towns evolved
where new housing units are built, re-
configured the sense of community of
every resident family, and prefigured
the emergence of flexi-towns.
In an ever-changing world, the Phil-
ippines has also become a flexi-nation.
Three centuries of Spanish coloni-
zation failed to dampen the people's
quest for independence that cata-
pulted to the 1896 Revolution.
One millennium of direct and indi-
rect American subjugation could not
quell the burning desire for egalitarian
ideals that bred the EDSA revolt.
A few years of Japanese occupation
did not conquer the Filipino heart
and mind but witnessed instead the
flowering of vernacular literature and
theater performances.
Filipinos may seem gullible and eas-
ily bedazzled by flamboyant displays
of glitz and glamor but there is a ring
of truth around what Edgar Allan Poe
says in The Raven that "all that we
see or seem is but a dream within a
dream" when dealing with them.
 HOUSE FOR RENT HOUSE AND LOT FOR SALE
Quezon City Calayucay Residential Beach House
FA: 300sqm, 2-storey, 4 bedrooms, 2 storey with penthouse,pool 72sqm,gound/f 250sqm,
2 maid’s room, 5 car garage, Unfurnished, 2nd/f 250sqm, LA4738sqm
minimum of 1year conract 20,000.000.00
P30,000
COMMERCIAL LOT WITH BUILDING
Dasma Village Makati City Salcedo village,Makati City
w/maids room, plus den,lanai, standby 10 Story with upper and lower basement and penthouse,
water reservoir, w/pool (50sqm.) ,smf, LA1425sqm/FA11255.67
LA : 1,089sqm. FA : 545.4sqm 320,000,000.00
P200,000
Dasma Village Makati City
w/ Dens & pool / UNF / aircon only avail.
COMMERCIAL SPACE
Cityland 10 makati
/LA : 600sqm Upper ground floor, 63.1sqm
P180,000 3,000,000.00
COMMERCIAL SPACE
COMMERCIAL SPACE Cityland 9 makati
Ground floor,61.05sqm
Cityland Pasong Tamo, Makati City 3,000,000.00
G/F,48sqm.
P35,000
Filipino Building Legaspi village Makati
COMMERCIAL SPACE/OFFICE
Antel Global Corporate Center ortigas
located at 6th floor 270sqm. 134sqm
P320 per sqm. 7,000,000.00
P86,400
COMMERCIAL SPACE/OFFICE
Euro Villa I Legaspi village Makati City Burgundy Tower,buendia
179sqm. Bare interior 126sqm
1 PS 6,000,000.00
P80,500
Center Point
Pasong Tamo, 4th floor, 223sqm.
COMMERCIALOrtigas
SPACE/OFFICE
P66,900 348sqm
10,200,000.00
COMMERCIAL SPACE/OFFICE
RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUMS Ortigas
198.27sqm
8,400,000.00
Greenbelt Parkplace Makati City Legaspi Village
Fully-furnished,
36.4sqm.30th floor,
1 bedroom
OFFICE SPACE
Salcedo Village
P35,000/month inclusive of dues 35.92sqm
Greenbelt Radisson Legaspi Village Makati City 2,300,000.00
Studio, FF, 45sqm.
P35,000/month inclusive of dues COMMERCIAL SPACE
Nobel Plaza, Salcedo Village
Oriental Gardens Pasong Tamo Makati City Ground floor 89.74sqm
FF, 46sqm., 1 bedroom 6,000,000.00
P30,000/month inclusive of dues
Contact person: Aaron dela Cruz Contact person: Jonh Paul Castro
Telephone: 8123333 Telephone: 8123333
Mobile no.: 09282853144 Mobile no.: 09296019466
 soar
Baguio of my heart
Dani Molintas takes us on a journey through time to the Baguio that
once was, to the the pine-scented, fog-shrouded city in the 1970s
Photography by Sheryllene F. Escobar
WHEN the Spanish conquistador, Comman-
dante de Galvey, first laid eyes on that Benguet
valley, he knelt in awe at the beauty surrounding
him. The sun began to peep shyly from behind
blue mountains, turning them into golden ridges
and smudging with pink and peach and lavender
the morning sky, swiftly turning into a brilliant
blue dome unmarred, save for a star, two stars,
the crescent moon, all quickly fading.
The mists that shrouded the valley like a
well-kept secret lifted suddenly, revealing lush
swamps and pine stands, interspersed with
newly-planted rice fields turned shimmering sil-
ver sheets by the morning sun. The cold morning
air was soaked with the heady smell of pine.
Trinidad, the soldier on his knees muttered,
remembering his wife. The fog lifting was so
76 | CondoCentral
reminiscent of the time she first lifted her veil
in the quiet, scented church, and flashed him a
smile…
Growing up in the 1970s in Benguet’s La Trini-
dad Valley, and in Baguio City a few kilometers
away, it was not difficult to imagine that this was
how the valley got its name.
As a child, each day was a lesson in the
bounty and majesty of nature: travel to school
was a 15- to 20-minute journey through a road
that coiled its way between mountains, fringed
with pine trees, whose needles splintered the
sun’s rays into shimmering droplets of light.
The mountains were tall and mysterious, and in
the rainy season, a thick fog shrouded the way
home and sent the jeepneys crawling through
the mountain pass with only their headlights
cutting a way through the white world.
Summers burnt the mountain grass
brown and the sky the brightest shade
of blue. But it was in the cold season
when the mountains burst aflame with
color—dotted with golden sunflowers
and white Benguet lilies.
Traveling downhill along Magsaysay
Avenue, toward the intersection with
Bokawkan Road where a flyover now
stands, Quezon Hill was a dappled
yellow mountain of sunflowers abloom.
And, at the stretch between Km. 4 and
Bell church, the Balili River flowed, first
gently, then it gushing suddenly down
three cascades. In the stormy season,
the waters here thundered.
If i had known as a child what I
learned later through study that the
biodiversity of the Cordillera ranges
is not as rich as that of the lowlands
(due mainly to the chemical excreted
by the endemic Benguet pine that kills
its undergrowth), I would not have
believed it.
Certainly, there were no jungles in
my childhood, but everywhere I went,
I was still filled with the bounty of
nature. Right beside our elementary
school sprawled the hospital grounds
of the Notre Dame de Lourdes hos-
pital, and into this secret garden my
classmates and I would creep at lunch
break, clutching our baons. (Slow-
paced Baguio nursed a baon culture
back then). There, we would eat and
play amid the daisies, carnations, lazy-
eyed susans, golden rods and chrysan-
themums planted so carefully by the
Belgian missionaries, careful to keep
away from the bees. An abundance of
bees and butterflies swarmed around
us as we dug holes in the dark earth
with barbecue sticks to search for bugs
and earthworms, snails and spiders,
that pollination and other secrets of
nature were never difficult for us to
understand; these concepts merely
captured the realities around us.
And when we would tire of this spot,
there were always many other places
in the city: the terraces bordering
what was once the St. Louis Girls’ High
School and overlooking Assumption
Road were not fenced then as they are
now, and they always begged to be
climbed. The grounds of the Baguio
Cathedral were vast and laid with
trees and grassy spots, and the site of
the Porta Vaga mall today was then a
wooded hill that beckoned to us. And
there were other places, too: Burnham
Park, Sunshine Park and Camp John
Hay—although that was reserved for
the truly adventurous among us, and
for longer explorations on weekends.
The Baguio City of my youth was
really a slow and reflective town where

people knew each other and went
about leisurely with their lives. Today,
with the traffic and the crowds, time
itself seems to have sped up. But as a
child, there always seemed to be so
much time, a one-hour lunch break
was an eternity of time to play.
The slow pace of life, the cool cli-
mate and the gentleness of the terrain
(compared to the harsher and steeper
landscapes of the provinces further
north and deeper into the Cordillera
ranges) spawned, I believe, a quiet,
unassuming and reflective people, who
early Ilocano and Kankanaey settlers
to the city adopted this quiet nature.
Living amid bounty and beauty, the
Baguio people seemed to know their
humble place in this awesome universe.
are by and large, peaceful.
The Ibaloi people, the original
inhabitants of Kafagway—that turn-
of-the-century rancheria of about 20
houses on which Baguio City now
stands—are known, even until now, to
be reticent and peace-loving. Even the
 condo
Disclaimer: All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Prospective
purchasers and renters should verify the information to their satisfaction.

www.condo.com.ph
For inquiries and viewing requests:
CALL NOW (632) 812-3333
e
E I NG spac
T YP i sh ng L FEE
rn ki TA
IT ZE r N
UN Fu SI Pa RE
For rent

Bonifacio Global City

Bonifacio Heights 2 Unfurnished 41 sq.m. 0 P15,000/month
Bonifacio Heights 2 Fully furnished 46 sq.m. 0 P25,000/month
One Mckinley Place 2 Fully furnished 114 sq.m. 1 P100,000/month
Serendra 2 3 Unfurnished 108 sq.m. 0 P110,000/month
Serendra 2 1 Fully furnished 54 sq.m. 0 P50,000/month
Bonifacio Ridge 3 Fully furnished 113 sq.m. 2 P100,000/month
One Mckinley Place 1 Fully furnished 78 sq.m. 1 P70,000/month
One Mckinley Place 2 Fully furnished 110 sq.m. 0 P110,000/month
Rosewood Pointe 2 Unfurnished 49 sq.m. 0 P60,000/month
One Serendra 1 Semi-furnished 79 sq.m. 1 P80,000/month
Kensington Place Studio Fully furnished 36 sq.m. 0 P30,000/month
Forbeswood Heights 3 Fully furnished 155 sq.m. 1 P130,000/month
Penhurst 2 Semi-furnished 94 sq.m. 1 P65,000/month
Penhurst 3 Semi-furnished 145 sq.m. 1 P100,000/month
Kensington Place Studio Fully furnished 34 sq.m. 0 P30,000/month

Legaspi Village, Makati

One Legaspi Park 2 Fully furnished 90.77 sq.m. 0 P110,000/month
One Legaspi Park 1 Fully furnished 60.25 sq.m. 1 P70,000/month
Greenbelt Parkplace Studio Fully furnished 36 sq.m. 0 P35,000/month
Frabella 2 Fully furnished 169 sq.m. 0 P85,000/month
Biltmore Studio Bare 62 sq.m. 0 P37,000/month
Biltmore 1 Fully furnished 82 sq.m. 1 P70,000/month
Greenbelt Radisson Studio Fully furnished 34.3 sq.m. 0 P30,000/month
Shang Grand Tower 1 Fully furnished 132 sq.m. 0 P130,000/month
One Legaspi Park 2 Fully furnished 96 sq.m. 1 P100,000/month
One Legaspi Park 1 Fully furnished 62 sq.m. 1 P55,000/month
Shang Grand Tower 2 Fully furnished 135 sq.m. 1 P140,000/month
The Asia Tower 2 Fully furnished 75 sq.m. 0 P65,000/month
The Asia Tower 2 Fully furnished 75 sq.m. 0 P65,000/month
Greenbelt Park Place Studio Fully furnished 37.1 sq.m. 0 P30,000/month
Greenbelt Park Place Studio Fully furnished 36.5 sq.m. 0 P35,000/month
Greenbelt Park Place Studio Fully furnished 36.5 sq.m. 0 P27,000/month
Greenbelt Park Place Studio Fully furnished 36 sq.m. 0 P35,000/month

82 | CondoCentral

Malate, Manila
Pacific Regency
Popular Place Condominium
Popular Place Condominium
Popular Place Condominium
Burgundy Transpacific
Burgundy Transpacific
One Wilson Place
Mandaluyong City/ Pasig
Mayfield Park Residences
East Ortigas Mansions
Parc Royale
California Garden Square
California Garden Square
California Garden Square
Quezon City
Novalesa Millenium Bldg.
Spazio Bernardo
One Orchard Road
Grand Eastwood Palazzo
Prince David Condominium
Tropical mandarin
Tropical mandarin
Salcedo Village, Makati
Salcedo Park
Splendido Gardens
Grand Tower Condo
Grand Tower Condo
Grand Tower Condo
The Peak
Antel Platinum
Pasong Tamo/ Dela Rosa/ Ayala Ave./ Rockefeller, Makati
Oriental Gardens Lotus Tower
MET 1
Oriental Gardens
Sison Mansion
Sison Mansion
The Columns at Ayala
Paranaque/ Marikina/ Taguig
Chateau Elysee
Picasso @ Presidio Brittany Bay
Marquinton Residences
Vista De Lago Villas
e
E I NG spac FEE
T YP i sh ing al
IT rn ZE rk nt
UN Fu SI Pa R e
1 Unfurnished 46 sq.m. 0 P15,000/month
2 Unfurnished 57 sq.m. 1 P16,500/month
2 Unfurnished 57 sq.m. 1 P16,500/month
2 Unfurnished 57 sq.m. 1 P16,500/month
1 Unfurnished 25 sq.m. 0 P13,500/month
1 Unfurnished 28 sq.m. 0 P13,500/month
2 Unfurnished 102 sq.m. 1 P24,000/month
2 Unfurnished 48 sq.m. 1 P20,000/month
2 Semi-furnished 80 sq.m. 1 P15,000/month
1 Fully furnished 60 sq.m. 0 P35,000/month
2 Fully furnished 60 sq.m. 0 P16,000/month
2 Fully furnished 60 sq.m. 0 P35,000/month
2 Semi-furnished 57.5 sq.m. 0 P14,000/month
Studio Semi-furnished 30.53 sq.m. 0 P16,000/month
Studio Semi-furnished 33 sq.m. 0 P6,000/month
2 Fully furnished 73 sq.m. 1 P50,000/month
2 Unfurnished 73 sq.m. 1 P35,000/month
2 Semi-furnished 82 sq.m. 0 P25,000/month
2 Fully furnished 146 sq.m. 1 P50,000/month
1 Fully furnished 1 P45,000/month
2 Unfurnished 179 sq.m. 2 P70,000/month
3 Unfurnished 279 sq.m. 0 P120,000/month
2 Fully furnished 155 sq.m. 0 P75,000/month
2 Fully furnished 155 sq.m. 0 P75,000/month
2 Fully furnished 155 sq.m. 0 P75,000/month
1 Fully furnished 67 sq.m. 0 P27,000/month
1 Fully furnished 50 sq.m. 0 P30,000/month
Studio Fully furnished 37 sq.m. 0 P25,000/month
1 Bare 29 sq.m. 0 P13,500/month
Studio Fully furnished 33 sq.m. 1 P25,000/month
Studio Semi-furnished 25 sq.m. 0 P6,000/month
1 Fully furnished 45 sq.m. 0 P15,000/month
1 Fully furnished 48 sq.m. 1 P40,000/month
1 Semi-furnished 28 sq.m. 0 P9,000/month
1 Semi-furnished 49 sq.m. 0 P15,000/month
2 Semi-furnished 49 sq.m. 0 P18,000/month
2 Semi-furnished 58 sq.m. 1 P19,000/month
CondoCentral | 83
 condo
Disclaimer: All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Prospective
purchasers and renters should verify the information to their satisfaction.

www.condo.com.ph
For inquiries and viewing requests:
CALL NOW (632) 812-3333

e e
NG spac ic
YP
E Pr
T i sHI ing N G
IT rn ZE rk
UN Fu SI Pa ASKI
For sale

Baguio City/ Cebu City

The Zone Vill 2 Fully furnished 149 sq.m. 1 P8,500,000
The Zone Vill 2 Fully furnished 43 sq.m. 1 P2,500,000
Winland Towers 2 Unfurnished 80 sq.m. 0 P8,000,000

Bonifacio Global City

Forbeswood Heights 1 Unfurnished 48 sq.m. 1 P5,200,000
Forbeswood Heights 3 Fully furnished 155 sq.m. 1 P18,500,000
Forbeswood Heights 2 Unfurnished 85 sq.m. 1 P7,600,000
Kensington 2 Bare 65.79 sq.m. 1 P5,900,000
Serendra District 1 2 Semi-furnished 134 sq.m. 2 P16,000,000
Two Serendra 2 Unfurnished 73 sq.m. 1 P10,500,000
Serendra 2 1 Unfurnished 60 sq.m. 0 P6,800,000
Forbeswood Heights 1 Unfurnished 48 sq.m. 0 P3,800,000
South of Market 1 Fully furnished 36sq.m. 1 P4,600,000
South of Market 1 Fully furnished 38 sq.m. 1 P4,800,000
South of Market 1 Fully furnished 39 sq.m. 1 P4,900,000
Fairways Tower 1 Unfurnished 52 sq.m. 0 P5,200,000
Rainbow ridge Studio Semi-furnished 37.5 sq.m. U.R. P1,250,000
One Mckinley Place 2 Fully furnished 110 sq.m. 1 P10,800,000

Legaspi Village, Makati

Greenbelt Radisson Studio Unfurnished 34.3 sq.m. 0 P3,800,000
Greenbelt Parkplace Studio Bare 36.5 sq.m. 0 P4,600,000
Greenbelt Parkplace Studio Fully furnished 36 sq.m. 1 P5,000,000
One Legaspi Park 1 Fully furnished 66 sq.m. 1 P8,000,000
Greenbelt Parkplace Studio Unfurnished 36 sq.m. 1 P5,500,000
Greenbelt Radisson Studio Unfurnished 36 sq.m. 0 P3,500,000
Greenbelt Radisson Studio Unfurnished 36 sq.m. 0 P3,500,000
Greenbelt Radisson Studio Unfurnished 40 sq.m. 0 P4,000,000
The Residences at Greenbelt 3 Unfurnished 187 sq.m. 2 P24,000,000

84 | CondoCentral

Manila
Hampstead Gardens
Burgundy Transpacific Place
Ortigas Center/ Mandaluyong/ Greenhills, San Juan/Pasig
Megaplaza
AIC Gold Tower
AIC Gold Tower
Cityland Megaplaza
East Ortigas Mansions
Malayan Plaza
Galleria Regency
Wack-wack Twin Tower
California Garden Square
California Garden Square
California Garden Square
San Francisco Gardens
Cambridge Village
Goldhill Tower
Quezon City
Victoria Station
Regalia Park Condominium
Prince David Condominium
Victoria Station
Olympic Heights Tower 1
Rockwell/ Pasong Tamo/ Makati Ave./ Dela Rosa, Makati City
Joya at Rockwell Center
CMET 2
Millenium Plaza
Oriental Gardens Lotus Tower
A. Venue Residences
CMET 1
Makati Prime Tower
CMET 1
CMET 1
CMET 1
Cityland 9
Cityland Pasong Tamo Tower
Makati Cinema Square Tower
West of Ayala
Salcedo Village, Makati
One Lafayette
Easton Place
Easton Place
Easton Place
Prince Tower Condo
e e
s NG ic
m I spac Pr
oo i sh ing NG
dr rn ZE rk
Be Fu SI Pa ASKI
1 Semi-furnished 36 sq.m. 1 P2,000,000
1 Unfurnished 25 sq.m. 0 P2,000,000
1 Fully furnished 45 sq.m. 1 P4,000,000
3 200 sq.m. 0 P9,000,000
3 197 sq.m. 1 P10,480,220
1 Fully furnished 35.62 sq.m. P2,200,000
2 Fully furnished 61 sq.m. 1 P3,800,000
1 Fully furnished 56.66 sq.m. 0 P4,200,000
2 Fully furnished 87 sq.m. 1 P11,000,000
3 Fully furnished 165 sq.m. 1 P9,000,000
2 Bare 57 sq.m. 0 P2,200,000
2 Semi-furnished 57.5 sq.m. 0 P3,000,000
2 Bare 57.5 sq.m. 0 P2,500,000
2 Semi-furnished 88 sq.m. 1 P3,500,000
1 Unfurnished 40 sq.m. 0 P1,000,000
3 179 sq.m. 1 P5,000,000
2 Unfurnished 42 sq.m. 0 P2,150,000
2 Unfurnished 62 sq.m. 0 P2,400,000
Studio Fully furnished 34 sq.m. 0 P2,500,000
3 Unfurnished 42 sq.m. 0 P2,150,000
1 Fully furnished 54 sq.m. 0 P4,000,000
2 Unfurnished 100 sq.m. 2 P12,000,000
3 Unfurnished 120 sq.m. 0 P6,500,000
1 Semi-furnished 59 sq.m. 2 P4,500,000
Studio Fully furnished 37 sq.m. 0 P3,000,000
1 Unfurnished 38 sq.m. 0 P4,000,000
1 Unfurnished 29 sq.m. 0 P2,000,000
Studio Fully furnished 23 sq.m. 0 P1,500,000
1 Unfurnished 28 sq.m. 0 P1,500,000
Studio Semi-furnished 20 sq.m. 0 P1,400,000
Studio Semi-furnished 27.36 sq.m. 0 P1,800,000
3 Semi-furnished 83 sq.m. 1 P3,300,000
1 Fully furnished 34 sq.m. 1 P3,700,000
3 Fully furnished 149 sq.m. 0 P9,000,000
3 Fully furnished 136 sq.m. 2 P9,500,000
1 Semi-furnished 60 sq.m. 1 P5,000,000
2 Unfurnished 126 sq.m. 1 P8,500,000
2 Unfurnished 126 sq.m. 0 P8,500,000
3 Unfurnished 189 sq.m. 1 P12,500,000
1 Fully furnished 61.18 sq.m. 0 P3,000,000
CondoCentral | 85
central market
CONDO! CONDO! The Collonade
Legaspi Village, Makati City
2-BR, 103 sq.m., unfurnished, 2 T&B, 1 parking slot,
P13M

CONDO! CONDO! 2-BR, 145 sq.m., balcony, fully furnished, 3 T&B, 1

parking slot, P65,000 The Fairways Tower
Bonifacio Global City
FOR LEASE Tropical Palm 2-BR, 82 sq.m., unfurnished, 2 T&B, 1 parking slot,
Legaspi Village, Makati City P10M
One McKinley Place
2-BR, 150 sq.m, balcony, fully furnished, 3 T&B, 1
Bonifacio Global City
parking slot, P70,000 Penhurst Parkplace
2-BR, 103 sq.m., nice view, fully furnished, 2 T&B, 1
Bonifacio Global City
parking slot, P110,000
LPL Center 2-BR, 97 sq.m., fully furnished, 3 T&B, 1 parking slot,
Salcedo Village, Makati City P8M
Penhurst Parkplace
2-BR, 122 sq.m to 145 sq.m., fully furnished, 3 T&B, 1
Bonifacio Global City
parking slot, P50,000 to P65,000 Easton Place
2-BR, 97 sq.m., fully furnished, 2 T&B, 1 parking slot,
Salcedo Village, Makati City
P65,000
One Lafayette 2-BR, 126 sq.m., unfurnished, 3 T&B, 1 parking slot,
Salcedo Village, Makati City P8M
Kensington Place
2-BR, 105 sq.m, fully furnished, 2 T&B, 1 parking slot,
Bonifacio Global City
P65,000 One Legaspi
2-BR, 98 sq.m, nice view, fully furnished, 2 T&B, 1
Legaspi Village, Makati City
parking slot, P65,000
Grand Tower Bonifacio Global City
Salcedo Village, Makati City 2-BR, 103 sq.m., unfurnished, 2 T&B, 1 parking slot,
Frabella
2-BR, 145 sq.m, balcony, fully furnished, 3 T&B, 1 P13M
Legaspi Village, Makati City
parking slot, P75,000
2-BR, 150 sq.m., 3 T&B, 1 parking slot, P150,000
For viewing requests, please call Constantino
LPL Suites
FOR SALE at +639217699685
Legaspi Village, Makati City
One McKinley Place
2-BR, 178 sq.m, balcony, view: Greenbelt 5, fully
Bonifacio Global City
furnished, 3 T&B, 1 parking slot, P55,000

LUXURY RESIDENCES Joya

Rockwell, Makati City
One McKinley
1-BR, 76 sq.m., 1 parking slot, P8M
FOR LEASE Studio, 25 sq.m., P3.8M McKinley Park Residences
Joya Antel Platinum 1-BR, 40 sq.m., P3.6M
Rockwell, Makati City Salcedo Village, Makati City Please contact Rowena dela Cruz at
2-BR, 125 sq.m., fully furnished, 1 parking slot, Studio, 33 sq.m., P3.5M +639164264928 or (632) 7745582
P110,000
BSA Mansion
Two Serendra Legaspi Village, Makati City
Bonifacio Global City 1-BR, 56 sq.m., P4.5M
2-BR, 92 sq.m., fully furnished, 1 parking slot,
P80,000 Please call or text Grace Geverola at SECONDARY MARKET
+639278369426 Cityland-Vito Cruz Tower II
One Legaspi Park Manila City
Legaspi Village, Makati City Studio, 24 sq.m., P1.25M
1-BR, 60 sq.m., fully furnished, 1 parking slot, RESALE Skyway Twin Tower
P60,000
Greenbelt Parkplace
CONDO UNITS Pasig City
Studio, 32 sq.m., fully furnished, P1.9M
The Fairways Tower
Legaspi Village, Makati City 1-BR, 52 sq.m., P6.2M Oriental Gardens Makati (Lotus Tower)
1-BR, 45 sq.m., fully furnished, 1 parking slot, 1-BR, 52 sq.m., P5.9M Chino Roces Ave., Makati City
P45,000 2-BR, 84 sq.m., fully furnished, P11.5M
Forbeswood Heights
1-BR, 48 sq.m., 1 parking slot, P5.5M Call Royce Co at +639177946010
FOR SALE
Greenbelt Parkplace Bonifacio Ridge
Legaspi Village, Makati City 1-BR, 106 sq.m., 1 parking slot, P10.5M
1-BR, 45 sq.m., fully furnished, P5.5M
 RARE OPPORTUNITY!
Forbeswood Heights
Bonifacio Global City
1-BR, 36 sq.m., residential, ground floor, high ceiling,
P3.3M
Fifth Avenue Place
Bonifacio Global City
1-BR, 51 sq.m., residential, , ground floor, corner unit,
P5.1M
Ground floor commercial property
Bonifacio Global City
Ideal for restaurant, clinic, spa, retail shop,
coffee shop, etc.
Located along a main road near St. Luke’s Hospital Website: www. aseanbiztimes.com E-mail: biz_times_ph@yahoo.com
Size: 96.5 sq.m Price: P13.35 Telephone No. 524-7495 • Fax No. 522-2277
Call Anthony at +639178032000
or E-mail him at agmanthony3@yahoo.com
Pacific Plaza Towers Greenbelt Parkplace
Bonifacio Global City Legaspi Vilage, Makati City
WHERE INTIMATE 3-BR, 230 sq.m., fully furnished, 2 parking slots, P200,000 3-BR, 115 sq.m., fully furnished, 1 parking slot,

AND URBAN COLLIDE Ponte Salcedo

Salcedo Village, Makati City
P85,000

Ritz Tower
FOR LEASE 3-BR, 170 sq.m., fully furnished, 1 parking slot, P90,000 Ayala, Makati City
3-BR, 180 sq.m., fully furnished, 1 parking slot,
One McKinley Place Easton Place P110,000
Bonifacio Global City Salcedo Village, Makati City
3-BR, 187 sq.m., fully furnished, P130,000 3-BR, 180 sq.m., fully furnished, 1 parking slot, P90,000 For viewing requests, call +639198504468
Kensington Place Antel Platinum
Bonifacio Global City Salcedo Village, Makati City
3-BR, 115 sq.m., fully furnished, P120,000 3-BR, 130 sq.m., fully furnished, 1 parking slot, P85,000

Essensa Manhattan Square

CONDO UNITS
Bonifacio Global City
3-BR, 290 sq.m., fully furnished, 2 parking slots,
Salcedo Village, Makati City
3-BR, 160 sq.m., fully furnished, 1 parking slot, P90,000
FOR SALE
P180,000 Grand Hamptons Tower II
Bonifacio Global City

PHILIPPINE REAL Icon

One-bedroom with balcony 46 sq.m. P3.3M

ESTATE INVESTMENT Bonifacio Global City

Different unit types for sale
Vito Cruz Tower
Near DLSU-Taft
24 sq.m. P1.2M
METRO MANILA
REGIONS
BUILDINGS FOR SALE OR Call or text Bing Lau at +639209027280
JOINT VENTURE CONDOMINIUM UNITS
Senator Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City FOR SALE
2,000 sq.m. Cebu
Condotels for sale
Hidalgo St., Malate, Manila High-end residential condos
1,000 sq.m.
Angeles City CONDO UNIT
Ayala Ave., Makati City
1,500 sq.m.
Condotels for sale
Bacolod City
FOR SALE
CONDOMINIUM UNITS Residential condos One Mckinley Place
FOR SALE Bonifacio Global City
F1 City Center LOT FOR CONDOTEL OR 2BR, 114 sq. m., fully furnished, view: Manila
Bonifacio Global City CONDOMINIUM Golf Course, high floor, nice interior design,
Residential units, commercial spaces, condotels Madrigal Business Center
P16M
The Fairways Towers For business meetings, please call
Bonifacio Global City Renne Isidro at +639274702964 Please call Dexter dela Cruz at
Different unit types for sale or for lease +639214643185
 The Only Event that Provides
Business Solutions and
Integration of Products
and Technologies

Incorporating:

PRE-REGISTRATION FORM For your convenience, please fill-out this pre-registration form and fax to 750-8585.
During the exhibit, bring this invitation and your calling card and present it at the
registration counter to claim your complimentary visitor’s badge.
Name:
Company: For more information, you may also contact
Designation: Global-Link Business Communications (Phils.) Inc. at (632) 750-8588
Address:
Tel: Fax: YES I am interested to visit. Please register me for free to the exhibit
Email: Mobile: YES! I am interested to exhibit. Please send me more information on:
Main Line of Business:
Product Line: ( ) SYS. INT. PHILS. ( ) COMMWORLD ( ) T.O.P.S. ( ) PALMM ( ) CORPORATE GIFTS
 happenings

SEA Residences groundbreaking ceremony

CLOSE TO SEA. SM Development
Corp. (SMDC) recently broke ground
for its Sea Residences, a PhP3B
modern-tropical condominium
complex of six 15-storey towers set
to rise at the Mall of Asia Complex
in Pasay City. SMDC president
Rogelio R. Cabuñag (fourth from
right) releases doves as a symbol of
peace and calmness in the future
community. Participating are (from
left) VPs Dante T. Pascual and Efren L.
Tan, AVP Bernadette M. Ramos, sales
directors Augustus C. Locsin and Ana
V. Carpio, AVP Ma. Adelaida E. Cobres,
consultant Lee Meng Kong, landscape
designer Paolo Alcazaren, principal
architect ASYA's Albert S. Yu, Design
Coordinates' president Oscar Salvacion
and VP Jose T. Gabionza. SMDC is the
premium middle-income property
unit of the SM Group. Sea Residences,
which promises its unit owners
stunning views of Manila Bay, is the
first of SMDC’s planned residential
developments at the Mall of Asia
Complex, and the sixth residential
project in Metro Manila.

Pacquiao vs.
Diaz live at the
Fairways Tower
It is no surprise that much excitement and
hype brews whenever there is news of a Manny
Pacquiao boxing match. Luckily, Philtown
Properties brought to sports and adoring fans alike
"Lethal Combination", where our very own Filipino
boxer and WBC super featherweight champion,
Manny Pacquiao went up against David Diaz, the
Lightweight champion from Chicago, USA for the
title of World Lightweight Champion.
Last June 29, 2008, the penthouse of Fairways
Tower shook with raucous cheers as unit owners,
guests, business leaders, and sports enthusiasts
enjoyed a blow by blow live broadcast from
Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Everyone was amazed
with the transformation of the main function and
extension room of the building into an engaging
movie theater, that housed over 300 guests, with
huge LED screens to showcase the fight of the
century.
Aside from the live broadcast, those who
came to enjoy the match were treated to an array
of food choices revolvong around Movie House
theme. Guests filled up on Kettle Corn popcorn,
fries and dips from NYFD, Krispy Kreme coffee and
donuts, the variety of juices and iced teas from
Sunkist, and brunch from Joey Pepperoni.
The Fairways Tower is located at the corner
of 5th Avenue and McKinley Road in Bonifacio
Global City. Philtown Properties is the developer
of other condominium buildings across Metro
Manila, such as One McKinley also in Bonifacio
Global City, The Metropolitan in Makati, WH
Taft Residences along Taft Avenue, and ASIANA
Quezon City at the corner of Xaiverville and
Esteban Adbada.
Indeed, Philtown's social events have become
much-anticipated affairs for unit owners and
supporters.
For inquiries on any of Philtown Properties
projects please contact 890-5714 or 0917-
8536539. Email sales@philtown.net or visit www.
philtown.net.

90 | CondoCentral
 happenings
BEAUTIES IN A ROW.
The Miss Philippine Real
Estate Festival Beauty
Pageant is one of the
highlights of the three-
day affair. Last year’s title
holder,Rose-cel Aguilar
(third from left), will be
on hand as the industry’s
next queen is crowned.
All set for the 2nd
Philippine Real Estate Festival
Philippine Real Estate
Festival chairperson,
Rosemarie Custodio Basa.
After a successful debut in July
2007 at the World Trade Center, the
Philippine Real Estate Festival (PREF),
now an annual affair slated in July
of each year, will be having its next
staging on July 24-26. This year’s event
is anchored on four components:
The PREF exhibit, the seminars and
lectures, the BREW Awards and the
Miss Real Estate Philippines Beauty
Pageant, said Rose Basa, chairman of
the annual festival
Basa said the PREF exhibit, a virtual
one-stop shop for all your real estate
needs, brings together 150 of the
country’s biggest and most trusted
92 | CondoCentral
real estate development companies
and projects, finance institutions,
suppliers, contractors, home
furnishing and service providers, and
other industry professionals under one
roof’.
Part of the program is the launching
of the “One Million Homes Program”
of the government.
“It is important to note that the
local marker is on the upward trend,
with public revenue and lending
policies making the dream of owning
a home more attainable than ever.
Moreso that the Housing and Urban
Development and Coordinating
Council (HUDCC), through it’s
chairman, Vice President Noli de
Castro, and its various KSA (key
shelter agencies) are all clearly focused
on wiping out homelessness in the
country,” Basa explained.
Basa added that, last year alone,
industry figures show that 60% to 70%
of housing loans came from overseas-
based workers, in which a third, or $4.2
billion of the total foreign remittances,
have been directed to the real estate
sector.
Through the festival, developers can
target their real market—the families
of overseas Filipino workers who take
care of their loved one’s investments.
And to insure the security of these
investments, the festival will present
real estate developers that are
legitimate and accredited members of
reputable organizations like CREBA,
SHDA, and NREA.
Open to the public and free of
charge, the event will also gather real
estate experts to conduct lectures and
seminars to discuss common concerns,
like identifying practical investments,
constructing your dream house on a
tight budget, detecting fake land titles,
how to avail of housing loans, and
many more.
Pag-IBIG and other public and
private financial institutions will be
on hand to process loans and answer
questions and other related topics.
One of the most relevant
components of the festival, The
BizNews Asia Real Estate Who’s Who
(BREW) Awards, was conceived to
honor topnotch personalities who
have distinguished themselves in
moving the industry forward and
whose vision, dedication, creative
talent, entrepreneurial skills,
outstanding business acumen and
service to the country have largely
contributed to the industry.
BREW Awardees are expected to
play significant roles in the realization
of maintaining the market boom that
the industry currently enjoys.
Meanwhile, the Miss Real Estate
Beauty Pageant is a beauty-and-
talent search that hopes to indentify
candidates who best represent
the ideals and vision of real estate
developers.
The candidates are anticipated to
be involved deeply in the different
projects and vision-implementation of
the real estate industry.
The grand coronation night of the
Miss Real Estate Festival 2008 Pageant
will be covered live by ANC/TFC (ABS
CBN).
The Fiesta Pinoy, set on Day 3 of
the festival, combines indoor games,
contests, raffles, disco dancing, mini
parade and a musical concert for the
amusement of exhibitors, patrons and
guests.
This will serve as the official closing
event of the 2008 Philippine Real
Estate Festival and sendoff for the
festival exhibitors and participants.
A grand subastahan super sale of
bank–acquired and Pag-IBIG Fund
foreclosed real-estate properties will
also take place during the event.
REAL ESTATE
WHO’S WHO IN PHILIPPINE REAL ESTATE • DUBAI • SINGAPORE • CHINA

The Best Knowledge in Real Estate WORLD

Booming
PHILIPPINE
REAL ESTATE

henry sy

LUCIO TAN

John
GOKONGWEI

The Best Real

to

Estate Knowledge
bookstores
08
20
August
newsstands

for Your Success

andfavorite
this
Coming
your
 epilogue

City acrobats
As people watched in awe of the acrobats'
performance, I too was amazed at their malleability.
Flexibility, the ability to adapt to different
circumstances is key to achieving the goals one sets
forth for himself.
Life is filled with choices. And there will be
the point where the rigidity of one's beliefs and
principles is tested.

moetwain at Elizabeth St., Brisbane, Queensland,

Australia

96 | CondoCentral