Heeding the call towards sustainability

The Evoliving Center by the lake stands as symbol of Ayala Land’s pursuit of sustainability in Nuvali as nation’s largest eco-community.

MANILA, Philippines - In today’s times, it is becoming more and more important for companies to not only innovate, but to creatively innovate with sustainability in mind. The real estate industry is making a move to be in the forefront of this by providing improved and sustainable use of the environment for home and work-life settings.

Joselito N. Luna, chief architect and group head of Ayala Land’s Innovation and Design Group, shares how the country’s most trusted real estate company saw many years back, the vital need to plan and put in new features for sustainability.

“Ayala Land has a long history of responsible development. Care for the land has been in the company’s DNA long before sustainability became a buzzword. Tree preservation, waste water treatment, preserving and creating open spaces and bio habitats, designing with nature, developing pedestrian-friendly settings have been characteristic features of ALI projects for many years. During the period leading to global awakening for the need to address climate change and advance green living, Ayala Land was already doing its homework in mapping out creative design solutions for its residential, mall, office building, and mixed-use developments. Today, the inroads that create impact to our commitment in building sustainable master-planned communities are present in the new Ayala Land projects,” Luna states.

Victor B. Ahorro, Ayala Land Businesscapes senior division manager, cites the U.P.-Ayala Land TechnoHub, where business locators benefit from a highly efficient district cooling facility to reduce their air-conditioning costs. The centralized air-conditioning system is fitted with automated technology which allows individual control by the building occupants, thereby allowing further reduction of energy costs, and also enhancing indoor environment quality. “No room should be too cold nor too warm for its occupants. And, if a particular area needs to work overtime, there is no need to turn on the air-conditioning for the entire floor or building,” he explains.

Quality lifestyle as promised

MANILA, Philippines - People who want to live in a quality medium-rise condominium located in a bustling metropolis do not need to go farther as PHINMA Properties announced that the 11-storey TREVI Bldg. of Fountain Breeze is now ready for occupancy.

Willie Joven Uy, PHINMA Properties president and chief executive officer said, that TREVI is a milestone for the company because it’s the first elevator condominium building done by the company, an indication that the company has the capability to adjust to the market demands.
“The completion of Trevi, followed by the launching of Bellagio, the 2nd high-rise bldg in Fountain Breeze signifies the versatility of PHINMA Properties – starting from horizontal development to the first medium-rise development that is complemented by a rationally-planned development,” said Uy.

According to Uy, rational planning is part and parcel of every PHINMA Properties’ project. Uy stressed that the company has factored all the elements into building a total community. Aside from the basic residential units, it also builds all the necessary facilities to provide the comfort, security and convenience of modern living.

Further, the “In-City” development is another aspect of PHINMA Properties’ style which aims to maximize land use and reduce the cost of development.

Uy said the Trevi and Bellagio Tower will serve as the answer to the needs of people living south of Makati for affordable and quality condominiums. He added the entry of PHINMA Properties has been timely as Paranaque City has not been given importance by developers in the past.
Aside from the strategic location between the Makati and the Alabang/Filinvest growth area, Uy said the proximity to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport has made Paranaque an attractive site for property development to serve an untapped market niche.

In another major announcement for Fountain Breeze, Grant Orbeta, PHINMA Properties vice-president for Marketing and Sales announced that new walk-up phases of Fountain Breeze composed of four villas will be finished by the end of the year. The completion according to Orbeta, is a good indication that the walk-up condo market is still popular among the affordable market.

“By the end of the year, we are ready to offer more units for those people who prefer the walk-up condos which have gotten a warm response from the market,” said Orbeta.

Condo amenities and you

Celadon Park’s integrated leisure club facilities address the relaxation and recreation needs of its residents through facilities like meditation gardens, swimming pools, massage cabanas, lounging areas, and extensive gym facilities, evoke a sense of well-being.

MANILA, Philippines - Having an assortment of amenities available to residents all the time have become synonymous to condo living. However, having the most doesn’t always mean having what you need. So the question now is: How would you know if a condominium’s set of amenities is the right one for you?

Celadon Manila’s division manager for project development of Alveo Land, Rufino Gutierrez says that a person’s lifestyle can easily determine the type of amenities one needs. “Take this for example, condominium unit buyers used to be in their 40s and 50s, but right now buyers are young professionals 30-40. As developers, we have to fit the amenities we offer here at Celadon Park to their needs.”

Celadon Park, developed by Alveo Land, an Ayala Land company, is a vibrant residential condominium community for urban achievers located inside the largest integrated community in the city, Celadon Manila. It offers leisure club amenities to its residents that address their relaxation and recreation needs which Gutierrez explains, are further categorized into the three major lifestyles that Celadon Park residents’ lead which are active, laid-back and interactive.

Alveo Land recognizes the increased awareness of living an active lifestyle among urban achievers who are now getting out of their couches and are engaging in daily exercise to keep in shape as part of their daily routine.

Nexus launches three new projects in Cebu

Eyeing a growing demand for housing, a new player in Cebu’s property development industry recently launched three new projects that target the middle to high-end segments of the market.
Since its inception in 2001, Nexus Real Estate Corporation has established its reputation by selling subdivided lots and building house and lots in several of Cebu City’s prominent subdivisions.

And with a string of successful projects, Nexus Real Estate continues its mark as a reputable developer with three new projects composed of Kamalaya Residences, Cypress Point Townhouses, and the Villagio de Dolce Vita.

Kamalaya Residences is composed of exclusive 31 one-storey and two-storey houses ideal for new families from the middle cost market with unit prices that ranges from P1.5 to P2.5 million

This exclusive Eden is close to the South Reclamation Project (SRP), church, schools and similar institutions and has ready water and electricity connections, said Shanna Louise Te Lopez, VP for Sales and Marketing of Nexus Real Estate Corporation.

Villagio de Dolce Vita on the other hand is a relaxing, two-hectare community that captures countryside charm with town homes nestled amid the lush greenery of San Fernando.

Lopez said that The Villagio is composed of 300 units worth below one million as it aims to provide affordable housing to prospective clientele who hopes to establish their dream homes in the South.

While the Cypress Point Townhouses aims to capture the higher end of the market with 13 units that will showcase the first of its kind Southern Miami architectural design here in the country, said Lopez.

The exclusive townhouses in Cypress Point, located in Paknaan, Mandaue will be priced from five million to six million pesos, she said.

Lopez announced that all these new developments will be delivered by 2009 and this month they will already start with the ground breaking and the construction of Kamalaya Residences.
Nexus Real Estate’s portfolio of completed residential projects include the Pacific Village, Consolacion Valley, Roseville and among others.

The company is in between socialized housing players and high end developers as they focus on providing housing to the middle market composed of overseas Filipino workers and their families, start-up families and young executives.

Lopez said that the three new projects that they have shows their bullishness with Cebu’s property industry amidst the glooming crises.

She said that people may be holding on to their money right now considering the effects of lowered consumer spending, but their company believes that investments in housing are basic needs of people.

Being a new and a smaller player, Nexus Real Estate hopes to position itself as an affordable and quality-conscious developer, said Lopez.

“We are committed to developing secure and premium housing communities that people of varied lifestyles call home as we want to ensure total customer satisfaction. We are very bullish in our developments because we know that people needs a house so we will be continuously looking out for more lots to be acquired to build homes that people can own,” she said.

Nexus Real Estate is under the Urban Investor Group of Companies, engaged in lending, real estate and financing. Among its affiliated companies include Urban Investor Inc., Blue Mountain Financing Corp., RTL Enterprises, Pacific Pensionne, First Happy Rice People Company, WT Construction and JVT Enterprises. —Rhia de Pablo

Cebu apparel leader eyes more brand acquisitions

(The Freeman) Updated July 10, 2009 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu-based apparel giant Golden ABC Inc., plans more brand acquisitions in the next few years, to expand its business and maximize its expertise in clothing retail industry.

After its acquisition of 20 year-old apparel brand Regatta, Golden ABC Inc., president and chief executive officer (CEO) Bernie Liu said the company is on constant dialogue with existing local brands, including foreign names.

However, Liu said Golden ABC is not rushing its bid for more acquisitions, while the economy is still very fragile.

Golden ABC Inc., the maker of known apparel brands like Penshoppe, For Me, Memo, Oxygen, and now Regatta, is one of the largest, if not the largest apparel maker in the country.
Liu said in the next couple of years, the company may start to apply as brand-licensee for known foreign apparel brands. He however, refused to divulge the foreign apparel brands that the company is eyeing upon.

According to Liu, the apparel retail business is still a promising trade in the country, as it has proven to be very resilient, even though it has gone through a series of crises and challenging economic environment, including globalization.

In fact, Liu said the company is now on its aggressive mode to expand its direct-selling arm known as “Red Logo”, which already has over 20 thousand active members and dealers nationwide.

The company entered into the promising direct selling market in the Philippines April of last year. It started in Metro Manila and is now set to open its first distribution center in Cebu this month.

The Cebu “Red Logo” center is the 6th distribution facility nationwide, Liu said. The direct selling arm carries different in-house brands namely; Fuel, Agenda, Truth and Hush (for its underwear line).

Red Logo, has started to compete head-on with seasoned direct selling names like Avon, SaraLee, Natasha, among others.

“Direct selling business will always do well during crisis. It will also give business to the dealers, for sideline income,” he said. — Ehda M. Dagooc