The contest was launched

to help humanitarian organizations like UNICEF better deliver services, respond to crises, and adapt to change in the countries they operate by enabling access to accurate digital maps.

In fact, even before the contest started last December, Wayne’s mapping contributions helped rescue workers locate victims during September’s Typhoon Ondoy.

Above are just a few of the many benefits of online mapping and Google Map Maker is one of them.

I’ve been an online cartographer myself since last September but I’m using Wikimapia. This is not to say that Wikimapia is better than Google Map Maker (both have their up and downsides); I just like the interface and features of the former.

Of the more than 650,000 registered users of Wikimapia around the globe, I am ranked 484th as I am writing this. Note that there are many more Filipinos who rank much higher than I do. Highest ranking Filipino, #24, is a 23-year old from the Cordilleras and uses the call sign JAT86. Number 1 is infovishera from Russia; highest ranked female is British-Chinese Teresa, #9. The most helpful ones are Martin67 from Canada, #5 and stcraftie59 from USA, #11. Among Filipino “Wikimapians,” I’m closest to happygoth09 aka Junel Daniel Galura, 22 years old, ranked 90th.

If some people spend their free time playing Farmville in Facebook, we do ours in Wikimapia.

With Wikimapia, I can help my community in the following areas: disaster coordination, peace and order management, tax mapping, business promotion, public information and tourism development. It’s also important for me as a real estate practitioner plus it’s fun and gives me a sense of accomplishment.

Some City Governments spend fortune to set up what’s called Geographic Information System (or GIS) for reasons stated above. The cities of Sta.Rosa, Laguna and Marikina have some of the finest GIS in the country.

I figured that Wikimapia, although limited in features compared to the GIS of said cities, can serve as a GIS for my home city, Malabon.

So, on January 18, after a preliminary meeting with our City Administrator, Engr. Benjamin Villacorta, I wrote a letter to our Mayor proposing that without spending a single centavo, our city can use Wikimapia for its GIS.

On February 3, I became a Volunteer Consultant for the development of Malabon’s GIS, which means I am rendering my services for free.

Examples of how our officials can manage our city using Wikimapia:

Disaster Coordination

Since Malabon is flood-prone, it’s imperative to map the components of the CAMANAVA Mega Flood Control Project in case they are breached. They include flood gates like this and one in Navotas; also pumping stations like this and this. Relevant information and pictures (click them to enlarge) are provided whenever possible. Satellite view is the default map in Wikimapia; to see the street names, click Map Type on the upper left, then choose Google Hybrid.

For humanitarian organizations, public schools have to be tagged since they usually serve as evacuation centers during calamities. Examples are this and this.

Other important places in cases of disaster are fire stations and hospitals. Meralco substations, I think, also need to be mapped.

Peace and Order Management

In case a certain, say, bank, is robbed (knock on wood), a police commander from the nearest precinct can assess online its location and layout without actually or immediately going to the place and give orders by remote control.

Different Barangay Headquarters should also be mapped in Acacia, Tinajeros, and Tugatog, among others.

Tax Mapping

By showing images of a building, describing it and listing the establishments or offices located therein, its valuation can be done better. Pictures don’t lie.

Business Promotion

What business would not want an online presence like that of MGC Veranda, Malabon Citisquare or even a lowly “lugawan”?

Better service thru information

For example, if a City Government wants to serve its residents well, it has to enable them to save time whenever they do business with it. Residents need to be certain beforehand who to talk to in which department and not spend precious time looking aimlessly for the right person in a certain department in a large building. Here’s how I mapped Malabon City Hall. Kindly scroll down to see all the departments then click each of them.

Tourism Development

Promoting Pancit Malabon to attract attention to our city is an old and wet way of developing travel and tourism in Malabon. In my opinion, Malabon’s most important attractions are its geography and history.

Malabon is bounded on the West by the Navotas River and is cut in two by the Tullahan River. Aside from which are other rivers and fishponds. Where in Metro Manila can you find so much body of natural water? We’re Asia’s version of Venice. That, we all know, is both good and bad news. But why focus on the bad when something good can come out of it?

Next is an image of one of the waterways in Malabon.

I was told that some tourists come to Malabon just to see the view of Manila Bay. Below is one of the images they see when they look across Manila Bay from one of the buildings in Malabon.

This is the Shrine of Valor and its giant cross on top of Mt. Samat in Bataan Province.

Our city also has a very rich history and is home to several heritage houses that are well-preserved. The Raymundo House and the “Bahay na Puti” are just two of them.

I have yet to map Asilo de Huerfano, an orphanage for young girls, where the first editions of the revolutionary newspaper La Independencia during the Fil-Am War, were printed.

There’s even a well-preserved house in Malabon whose ceiling was painted by Fernando Amorsolo.

Mapping the Philippines online is a worthwhile activity that can tremendously help our country and its people in many ways that were not possible a few years ago. It is only beginning and so many places need to be accurately tagged. I encourage you to help in this endeavor, regardless of which one you choose – Google Map Maker or Wikimapia.

Aside from helping your community, it allows you to become a “virtual” tourist in any place that you can imagine to be.

You also get to interact with countless intelligent people from around the globe. We have a forum where we talk about matters ranging from serious to mundane.

Click here to register in Wikimapia or here to become a Google Map Maker.

Just for fun, I will leave you with a link to satellite images, not in the Philippines, mapped by a Dutch power-contributor of Wikimapia, Arnout Steenhoek who’s ranked #22. He calls it “1,001 buildings you must see before you die.”

Thank you so much.

Several years ago, almost daily, a certain company was placing small black and white 3”x4” ads in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. I was impressed by their offerings and, one day, I decided to visit their showroom along Sgt. Rivera, Quezon City.

It was an awful experience! I was shown black and white “pictures” of the items I wanted to look at; they were inserted in very thick clear books. Can you imagine my disappointment? I felt like a kid who went to a toy store. But instead of real toys, I was shown pictures of toys, in black and white: (

Fast forward to late 2009.

The company, Dexterton Corporation, started its humble beginnings in 1962 as a hardware store along Rizal Avenue in Caloocan. It is now among the top 2,000 corporations in the Philippines with more than 200 employees.

Last October, I decided to drop by again at their eight-story showroom in Sgt. Rivera. This time, I was taken away by the experience. Their DIY section alone made me excited. I’m handy around the house and I have a decent-sized workshop in my garage filled with so many tools

The DIY section wasn’t as well-stocked during the shoot; they were replacing old inventories for the coming New Year.

This blog, by the way, is long overdue; I did the photo shoot at Dexterton as early as December 21 last year. I apologize to Ms. Jennifer Sy, Dexterton’s Marketing Executive, for the delay.

I took several pictures, but instead of posting them all here, I will post just one or two for each part of the house. The images in Dexterton’s website are much better than mine. I will just provide links to those images.

Living Room Showcase

Kitchen Showcase

Dining Room Showcase

Bathroom Showcase

Bedroom Showcase

Before spending in other home fashion boutiques, I suggest you try Dexterton first. Their 8-story showroom plus another one beside it gives you an idea on the quantity and variety of their offerings. Their products come mostly from Europe, though; they also source from Hong Kong and other Asian countries, but none from mainland China, as far as I know.

Prices may not be cheap, but if you consider their quality and that many items can only be found at Dexterton, you’ll say they are reasonable.

Below is an item I found so interesting; it’s an executive chair by Inno.

This chair is so ergonomic that you can actually use it as a bed to sleep on. There are two footrests that extend out when you recline the backrest. The one on top is for, well… resting your feet on while lying down. The one underneath is used for anchoring your feet with while you do “sit-ups.” The backrest can be loosened and becomes spring-loaded to support your back while you’re doing sit-ups. There’s a set of rollers attached to the backrest that massage sweet spots on your back while you’re exercising.

I’m not so sure now where this chair belongs: in the office, bedroom or in the gym? : )

Below are links to some of the brands that Dexterton carries:

Brands 1 of 3
Brands 2 of 3
Brands 3 of 3

So, if you want home fashion items and accessories fit for kings and queens, visit Dexterton Corporation.

Thank you so much.

The invitation was for the February 7 blessing of the model unit of the company’s project – Lantana Lane – in upscale New Manila in Quezon City.

But before I tell you about this beautiful project, let me say something about the man I have admired for so long.This website is a result of my life-long interest in beautiful houses. When you are fascinated with beautiful houses, you’re bound to learn about the people who designed them. Foremost in my list is Arch. Bobby Manosa who was conferred the National Artist Award in Architecture last year; it’s the highest recognition given by the country to Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts.

Click here and here to know more about Arch. Manosa and the many things that have been said about him.

Not mentioned in the above articles and my favorite is something I read a long time ago in the Inquirer: “He is the type who will never cut corners or take short cuts when executing his design.” This, I believe, is the reason why the “Philippine Regulatory Commission has singled him out for his adherence to the profession’s code of ethics…”

Real estate developers, like other businessmen, are out to make profit. Sadly, many readily make compromises when their profits are threatened. Developers operate within a set budget. In case of unforeseen increase in the price of, say, concrete, many cut back on the last and one of the most expensive phases of construction – finishing. Many do not deliver what they promise.

On the other hand, there are those who value their name and reputation over and above profit. Manosa Properties, I believe, is one of them. The company, by the way, is not a developer; it’s a real estate development manager and adopted a revolutionary home ownership scheme called “build-to-own.”

It’s a tripartite scheme wherein the company charges a professional fee of 10 to 15 percent of the project cost and does not make any profit over and above it. In effect, Manosa Properties has removed from the picture the developer who normally makes a profit of 35 percent or higher. It’s tripartite because a bank, Banco de Oro, holds the buyers’ payment in escrow and sees to it that all money is channeled by the Manosas towards the completion of the project.

After seeing every minute detail of the model unit and after talking to Arch. Bobby Manosa and to his children, I can honestly say that Lantana Lane offers one of the best investment opportunities that cannot be matched by developers. This is what dream houses should be!

From the same man who designed the Coconut Palace, Amanpulo, the Edsa Shrine, Pearl Farm, Shangrila Mactan, the headquarters of San Miguel Corporation, among others, plus hundreds of elite houses, now comes Lantana Lane Townhome Community.

Located at #21 Lantana Street, New Manila, Quezon City, this project sits on 3,171 square meters of prime flood-free real estate and will consist of just 16 exclusive luxury residences.

Each unit will have an individually-titled lot that measures 94 to 185 square meters. It will have 3 floors and a penthouse with a rooftop garden, entertainment or party area and an optional Jacuzzi; 4 full bedrooms, each with toilet and bath. Total floor area is from 380 to 390 square meters.

Driveway is paved with water-permeable pebble washed tiles accented with lines of fine gravel and carabao grass. It’s the same kind of tiles manufactured by Hyundai for Asian Development Bank’s headquarters in Pasig City.

Ground Floor

Ground floor facade is finished with ara-al stones individually cut, crafted and pieced together by artisans. Each unit is allotted 4 parking slots, with separate maid’s and driver’s quarters each with its own cabinets and bath. The maid’s quarter can comfortably accommodate 4 persons while 2 bunk beds can fit in the latter. A utility room is provided on the ground floor for dirty kitchen, household staffs’ dining area and space for washing machine and dryer. The ground floor also features a yard for clothes lines and open-air laundry drying.

The porch is lined with ceramic floor tiles and features a wood-slat bench that conceals extra storage space. The front door incorporates coconut shell inlays.

Foyer features glass and wooden grills to allow natural lighting. Stairs are made of solid recycled narra lumber with tempered glass banisters and wooden handrails and have so-called “Senorita” steps (6 inches) for easy mounting and follows the geomancies of the West (oro, plata, mata) and the East (good-good-bad-bad).

Landings feature individually-designed shadow boxes with cabinets that conceal fire protection pipes, water hose and valve.

Second Floor

All rooms, except the kitchen, use engineered bamboo floor planks with wooden baseboard. Windows are of optimum height and width with awning design, i.e., they open outward at the bottom allowing for all-weather ventilation. Fixed frosted windows are strategically-placed allowing for maximum natural lighting while adding privacy at the same time.

Ceiling fans are also added for extra ventilation.

Bedroom has an area of 21.20 square meters inclusive of walk-in closet area built with customized modular cabinets with lights. Bathroom features multi-point water heater and can be used as guests’ powder room.

Kitchen features customized modular cabinets and pantry with moving metal shelves to optimize corner areas. Fittings are German-made “quiet-open-quiet-close” system. Countertops are made of marble and walls are backed with polished granite for easy maintenance. A water heater, grease trap and ventilation/exhaust ducting system are provided plus built-in gas pipe connections to the central gas tanks on the ground floor.

An original Filipino design element, the “banggerahan,” is also added for natural drying of dishes. It is made of stainless steel and sloped for proper draining.

Third Floor

This area can serve as a study room, library, computer room or a private family area. Note again the uniquely beautiful bamboo floor planks

My favorite part of any house, the master’s bedroom.

It has an area of 32.9 square meters inclusive of walk-in closet and bathroom

Bathroom features full wall mirror, built-in cabinets, bathtub, tempered glass shower enclosure and multi-point water heater.

The other bedroom has an area of 22.4 square meters inclusive of its own bathroom with multi-point water heater plus customized modular closets and cabinets. Sorry, I wasn’t able to take pictures of this room: (

Penthouse

The penthouse features an 18.9 square meter den with cathedral ceiling of woven design and uses PVC material for low-to-no maintenance. Original Manosa-designed wooden wall lamps are also incorporated herein.

It also features a deck with all-weather red cedar planks sourced from forest farms and has provisions for water supply, drainage and power for an optional Jacuzzi,

…a perfect place to entertain relatives and friends.

Additional eco-friendly features of Lantana Lane

• Each unit will have two concealed rainwater collection tanks with total capacity of 360 gallon for flushing the toilet and other non-human use like watering the plants and for general cleaning. It has an automatic valve that switches to regular MAYNILAD line when rainwater level is low in the tank.

• Use of DECOMAXX brand of paint for interior finishes. Aside from being water-based, it is low-odor, lead-free, stain-resistant with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

• Provision for Zero-Waste Management to be administered by Lantana Lane Property Managers

• Use of indigenous landscaping, as local plants are sturdier and require less water and care.

More about Arch. Bobby Manosa and his family

The blessing of the Lantana Lane model unit was more than a visual delight; I gained insight into a famous Filipino and his family. Now I understand the reason behind the Manosa fascination with anything Filipino – they love the Philippines and the Filipinos so much.

Seldom will you encounter people who not only talk about love for country but actually do something about it. The family advocates urban farming to mitigate hunger in the country. A daughter, Mrs. Bambi Manosa-Tanjutco, an interior designer, regularly gives free talks on “Creativity” at DepEd forums for children.

Lastly, in spite of their success and affluence, these people are some of the most down-to-earth I’ve met.

Sa pamilya Manosa, maraming salamat po at Mabuhay po kayong lahat!!

P.S. For more details about Lantana Lane, kindly click here.

As a boy, I experienced the devastation wrought by the 1968 earthquake that destroyed the Ruby Tower, a residential building in Manila, killing hundreds. Years later came the 1990 Luzon earthquake that badly hit Baguio City. I witnessed the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 and the fury of typhoon Uring in the same year; remember the Ormoc tragedy? Typhoon Milenyo in 2006 was also scary. But for me, nothing beats Ondoy!

What’s alarming is because of the worsening global warming, a Filipino official of the United Nations said that the likes of Ondoy will get worse in the near future.

He cited the deadly trio that worsens natural disasters: poor urban government, unstable rural livelihood, and ecosystem decline.

All Filipinos, not just our government, should take responsibility for the worsening effects of natural disasters. We may not be able to predict when another Ondoy will occur but we can do so much to mitigate or lessen its effects. Ondoy would not have hit us as hard had we lived sensibly.

Use plastic bags only when absolutely necessary

If there’s one thing that should be blamed for the deadly effects of Ondoy, it’s plastic bags! Kim Atienza, in the Oct 10, 2009 Matanglawin episode “Delubyo” said the same thing. Below are pictures that may convince you that we have become a society so dependent on plastic bags. They are pictures I took when I surveyed Smokey Mountain last December 30.

Smokey Mountain is no longer a dump site; it now has a top soil; it’s green, lush and full of vegetation… on the surface. But its underbelly is pure trash!

Smokey Mountain has been rid of all recyclable trash and what’s left are a mountain-full of plastic bags that will not decompose.

So much plastic bags and wrappers clogged our canals, creeks and rivers when Ondoy hit. According to our City Administrator, Engr. Benjamin N. Villacorta, since these waterways were clogged, excess water that were released from La Mesa Dam took a long time to reach their natural destinations: Manila Bay to the west and Laguna Lake to the south-east. There was a large amount and “long queue” of excess rain water going to these two bodies of water. This largely caused the severe flooding in Metro Manila that is situated on an isthmus.

Since after Ondoy, I have encouraged my family not to accept plastic bags whenever we buy things, not even small ones from Mercury Drug; I put the medicines in my pocket. We always bring a small bayong and inside it is my favorite Adidas backpack that can be folded into a small pouch when not in use. Of course we also bring a few old plastic bags that have been reused and cleaned several times for “wet” items.

Below is my daughter, Ariel Marie, with her bayong.

Below is my tattered backpack, I call him Optimus Prime : )

Travel in style

I’ve been an avid cyclist for almost two years. Standing 5’6”, I’m so skinny at 115 pounds but I’m very fit. I can easily bike from where I live in Malabon City to SM Mall of Asia. I also play freestyle sepak takraw. Sadly, I still smoke : (

I own a lightweight and very fast folding bike that, thanks to Senator Pia Cayetano and other environmentalist groups, is now allowed inside LRT 1 and 2.

If it were not for my family and work, I can live car-less. Biking is very cheap, much more fun than driving and very healthy. If we are to mitigate the decline of our ecosystem, we should lessen our dependence on modes of transport that require a lot of non-renewable energy. The hastened improvement of our mass transport system will soon make this easy to do.

Below are pictures of my folding bike and how I take advantage of the LRT as I move around Metro Manila. I call my bike Bumblebee : )

These pictures were taken when I met up with a group of people to survey the rehabilitation efforts of the Philippine National Railways.

Not enough waste cans in the streets and not enough political will to enforce ordinances regarding solid waste

I’m the type who will look around and walk an extra 10 meters or so to dispose of my trash properly. Problem is there’s not enough waste cans in many streets. Try walking on any street in Metro Manila, except perhaps in Marikina and Las Pinas, and chances are you will not see enough waste cans.

I started a thread regarding the problem of solid waste in our Vice Mayor’s forum where I use the call sign “brokenarrow.” See how the other forum members reacted to my suggestions.

There are more than enough city ordinances regarding solid waste; it’s the political will to enforce them that’s lacking. I cannot do anything about elected officials’ political will, but I hope they realize that many people litter the streets simply because there are not enough waste cans to throw them into.

Minimize “concreting” of the land

The problem with urbanization is we have poured so much concrete on our land. The National Capital Region, hardest hit by Ondoy, is so small but its population comprises 12.5% of the country’s total projected of 92.23 million for 2009 (latest official figure is from 2007). This has resulted in too many houses and buildings built. Each structure that is built is one less parcel of land that can no longer absorb rain water.

I don’t mind houses, buildings, roads and highways being constructed. It’s the way open spaces were built that I am against. These include sidewalks, parking lots, driveways, low-traffic roads and sometimes even parks.

This is one mistake that even the Ayala’s committed in the Makati Central Business District – they have poured concrete in almost every available open space.

The solution is to use water-permeable paving blocks as much as possible.

Below are images of how the Ayalas have corrected this mistake in their Nuvali project in Laguna:

In Nuvali, only high-traffic roads are paved with concrete. It’s a 1,700 hectare development, 50% of which is allotted to open spaces. Its bike lanes alone will be more than 50 kilometers long, each around 3 meters wide or a total of 150,000 square meters or 15 hectares. Imagine if these bike lanes were to be paved with concrete. That’s 15 hectares of land that will no longer absorb thousands of gallons of rain water.

Here’s how Mr. Henry Sy did it at SM Mall of Asia.

Use “green roofs” instead of traditional roofing materials

This offers tremendous benefits but a bit costlier than the most expensive traditional roofs and is, therefore, not for everyone. Consider the following image for a moment; it’s a satellite image of Valle Verde in Pasig:

So many houses and, therefore, so many parcels of land that can no longer absorb rain water. But what if each house used the so-called green roofs?

Green roofs or live roofs are engineered roof covers with plants and growing media (or engineered soil) taking the place of traditional roofing materials. It’s a low-impact development that mitigates the negative effects of a house’s or building’s footprint by somewhat recreating lost green spaces at the roof level.

Here’s a video showing how beautiful and beneficial green roofs are.

Their benefits are as follows:

• They’re a strong water management system since the soil and plants act like sponges that can absorb up to 60 to 70 percent of rainfall thereby producing less and cleaner water runoff. It’s a flood abatement system.

• They create a healthier environment by filtering air, binding dust particles, absorbing carbon dioxide and other pollutants and lowering ambient temperature which, in turn, lowers urban heat island effect with living and breathing plants.

• Since green roofs are covered with engineered soil and plants, they keep the areas under them cool in the summer thereby reducing cooling energy consumption and cost.

• Since the roof’s structural elements are buried underneath the engineered soil and plants, they are protected from UV rays and wind and temperature fluctuations which, in turn, help double even triple the life of the roof. So maintenance and even replacement costs are avoided. They also suppress outside noise.

• Since plants (flora) are introduced into the concrete jungle, fauna will start to return. Green roofs will provide nesting and habitat for displaced birds and wildlife. When was the last time your kids saw dragonflies, bees and butterflies?

• They create new real estate by taking advantage of that part of the house or building that is usually ignored and forgotten, the roof.

• Did I say that green roofs are beautiful and mitigate flooding?

I hope everyone, rich and poor alike, victims or not, learned from Ondoy. Only by understanding the power of nature and protecting the environment can we transcend every calamity that will hit us in the future. Understand that the likes of Ondoy can come at the most unexpected time but we can lessen their impact if we live sensibly by respecting nature the way we respect our own mothers.

Here’s a website that shows some of the most dramatic images of the havoc wrought by Ondoy.

Thank you so much. Mabuhay ang Pinoy, hindi tayo kaya ni Ondoy!!

Strategically-located along Quirino Highway in Novaliches, Quezon City with an elevation of 131 feet above sea level, this development and those in the immediate vicinity did not in any way suffer the havoc wrought by typhoon Ondoy. This is according to Mr. Juan Antonio Gatuslao, Project Director of Belton, in a Manila Times interview on December 12, 2009.

Below is a static satellite map of North Belton Communities and its surroundings:

To understand well the succeeding discussion, I suggest you play around with this navigable satellite map.

Move your cursor over any place on the map and you will see “tagged” places, even buildings, light up in yellow. For example, move your cursor over North Belton Communities and you will see it light up. Click it and you will be brought to a page that gives its short description. There are thumbnail images on top; click on each to enlarge.

Or, you can simply click on the following links

• Sales Office, North Belton Communities
• The Manors, and in it look for Bianca and Diana
• SM Hypermarket
• 419 Quirino Highway, Bgy Talipapa – this is the 183 million peso property in my listing.
• Manila Paper Mills, and finally, a breaking news
• Proposed Commercial Area at North Belton Communities.

That’s a breaking news that is first announced in this blog.

I’ll repeat it anyways for the sake of Google; I want this news to be indexed by Google : )

A very reliable source from Eton Properties Philippines, Inc. related to me yesterday that Mr. Henry Sy of SM Prime Holdings has finalized the purchase of around 3 hectares of commercial property at North Belton Communities. The property, right across Mr. Sy’s SM Hypermarket (formerly Makro), was originally envisioned to be developed by Eton Properties into a commercial and IT hub for Business Process Outsourcing Companies or call centers.

I was also informed that Mr. Sy’s camp is negotiating for the purchase of a property beside it, the defunct Manila Paper Mills owned by a certain Mr. George Co.

Kindly go back to the map and see how huge the land on which Manila Paper Mills sits. Click it and look at the pictures again. If this purchase pushes thru; this lot plus the 3 hectare commercial property at North Belton Communities will comprise the soon-to-rise SM Department Store along the bustling Quirino Highway.

Bustling? Did I say that Robinson’s Supermarket recently opened nearby? Check it out here. Play around again with the satellite map to see other companies nearby.

Be informed also that the Department of Public Works and Highways is rushing completion of a vehicular road underpass at the corners of Mindanao Avenue and Quirino Highway to mitigate the increasing  traffic in this area. The need for this underpass has become more apparent now because of the above mentioned news.

Note that an elevated catwalk will connect SM Hypermarket to the soon-to-rise SM Department Store. It seems that Mr. Henry Sy has been eying the property in front of his for a long time. This building was completed many years ago and it was designed with a provision for an elevated catwalk that will cross Quirino Highway.

Point to ponder: Knowing that part of the 3 hectare property bought by Mr. Sy was originally envisioned to become an IT hub for call centers, is it far-fetched that the vision will be continued by Mr. Sy?

These developments have made investing at North Belton a very attractive proposition.  Last year, a 3-bedroom unit at The Manor’s “Francesca” went for 1,964,128 pesos (US$ 42,033). Late last year, when “Isabella” was launched, the same 3-bedroom unit sold for 2,361,395 pesos ( US$ 50,535), an increase of 397,267 pesos or a whopping 20.22% over just a few months.

In real estate, you must remember this: The more steel, hollow blocks and concrete are put into a project, the higher the price of the project becomes. In our case, the more condominium buildings are completed, the higher the price of the units in the succeeding building becomes.

Knowing that, what do you think will happen to the prices of the units at North Belton Communities when Mr. Henry Sy starts putting steel, hollow blocks and concrete for his SM Department Store at Belton? : )

Construction of SM will commence in two to three months and the Belton Sales Office will be demolished soon.

If you want to know more about North Belton Communities, contact me at:           63 02 447.6328 and 63 02 929.609.7142. No emails, please.

Click here to read in full the Manila Times interview with Mr. Juan Antonio Gatuslao of  Belton Communities, Inc.

I will leave you with some images of the 3 and 2-bedroom model units at North Belton Communities. Two images at the end are from the building Bianca

Thank you so much.

P.S. Anyone who can help me sell this will have most of his financial woes solved. Commission here is around 5 million pesos and I don’t care how many will partake in the bounty as long as everyone does his/her part.

P.S.S. If you want higher resolution versions of images of the model units, they are in my Facebook photo album.

P.S.S.S.Thanks again and remember that God is truly GOOD!!

3-Bedroom Model Unit

2-Bedroom Model Unit

Economic Glossary defines need as a “physiological” or “biological” requirement to maintain life. Whereas want is a “psychological” yearning that makes life more enjoyable but is not necessary to maintain life.

It’s important for you to determine if your decision to own a house is based on what you need or on what you want and what your lifestyle is.

• What’s the point for a family of three to own a 5 or even a 6-bedroom house if the spouses no longer plan on having anymore children?

• What’s the point of buying a house and lot in a subdivision if you already own a lot somewhere (assuming it’s not so far away and relatively decent)?

• What’s the point of buying an expensive lot in an upscale subdivision if you don’t know where to get the money to build a house that will be comparable to the other houses in the neighborhood? (The last time I checked, they don’t allow a tent to be pitched in Ayala Alabang).

• Will your house be a comfortable abode for your family or is it going to be a trophy to announce to the world that you are made? Is it going to be a status symbol?

• What’s the point of yearning for a house if you haven’t saved a single centavo because you spend every paycheck on the latest gadget, the latest fashion and frequently spend under two hundred pesos on frappucino at Starbucks?

For these spendthrifts who live from paycheck to paycheck, their dream house will remain exactly that… a dream.

For them, I will quote from my favorite preacher, Bo Sanchez:  “Some of your dreams are meant to die to tell you that you need to grow up.”

I’d rather see spouses earning modest income, let’s say, as government employees, but force themselves to save a significant portion of it towards owning a modest house. It may take them a little while, but eventually, they will get there.

I’m not forcing anyone to buy a house based solely on what he needs. No one will stop you from owning a house that you want no matter how extravagant or impractical it may appear to some; no matter what your reason is. This is especially true if you belong to the top five percent of the Philippines’ rich and famous. It’s really a matter of personal choice.

But for most of us, owning a house based on what we need is more realistic and achievable especially when combined with a workable plan and a modest lifestyle.

Want to be inspired? Click this.

Thank you so much.

P.S. For those who are awaiting the continuation of the series Best real estate in the Philippines, rest assured that the series (which will be up to part 7) will be published as promised.

I  encountered a minor problem regarding copyright issue on one of the pictures that I borrowed from another site and which I used in this site. To avoid a repeat of the same problem, all my forthcoming images will be personally taken by me.

Also, I am almost done with the questions that I hope to personally ask the mayor of Sta. Rosa, Laguna, the Honorable Mayor Arlene Arcillas-Nazareno. When I am, I will ask for a one-on-one interview; I’ve already spoken with her assistant, Mrs. Michelle Mapua, about this.

Lastly, I will ask Mayor Nazareno to give me permission or authorization to take photographs of the various subdivisions and commercial and industrial developments in Sta. Rosa. Believe me, this is not an easy work. Taking pictures of commercial and industrial developments is not only time-consuming, it is usually prohibited. I’ve been accosted many times by security guards while doing this. I don’t want to be mistaken as a remnant of the Alvin Flores Gang doing surveillance work.

P.S.S. Thanks again.

This time, allow me to unbutton my shirt so that I may ask questions that are either silly, corny or downright stupid : )

Quirky? Yup! But admit it, your answers to some questions probably say a lot about yourself. Especially if you answered the last question – “A green house is a house that is painted in green.” Aray!!

P.S. I will not ask if you’ll buy a house near a cemetery for obvious reasons. But did you know there’s a world-class condominium in Makati City, near the corners of Ayala Avenue and Gil Puyat where some residents, presumably out of sheer ignorance, bought units where everyday, whenever they look out their windows, they are greeted by the “magnificent” view of the vast expanse of the Makati Cemetery?

That’s millions of pesos worth of mistake; unless they have an unnatural penchant for the macabre.

Thank you so much.

The following is a picture show that showcases the fine features of an actual house and lot (not brochure pictures) in one of the residential components of what is to become, according to the Ayalas themselves, the “next Makati Central Business District.”

The owner knew what he wanted. This beautiful Avida house sits on a corner and morning-sun lot, i.e. it faces east. The living room and master’s bedroom are bathe with sunlight in the morning

Take note of the corner windows

For me the most beautiful, functional and refreshing parts of the house are the corner windows. I will tell you the reasons later.

Living Room Take note of the columns on both sides of the piano; and on the right side of the main door.

Kitchen

Part of the dining room / on the way to the second floor

landing going to the second floor / Bedroom one

Bedroom one / Bedroom two

Entertainment Area

Master’s Bathroom

Master’s Bedroom

Here’s the part where I explain why I find the corner windows the most beautiful and the most refreshing part of the Avida Settings house. It’s also the most challenging.

• Each window gives you two exterior views at the same time.

• From an engineering perspective, it’s difficult and, therefore, expensive to make. The corner posts appear to have been “cut.”

So, how can this design be pulled off without compromising the structural integrity of the whole house?

Take a hard look at the image above. Where there are corner windows, there are no corner posts. Instead, two separate columns were constructed to support the house framing the corner windows.

With two columns instead of a single post supporting each corner, installing corner windows makes them a very expensive design proposition.

Corner windows is not a new design concept. Engineers, architects and interior designers have long wanted to work on this design but very few developers were willing to execute them precisely because they are expensive. But from an engineering perspective, they make the house very strong, user-friendly and beautiful.

With an ordinary window, you are given a single vista. If you want to look at another, you would have to put your head out of the window : )

And why is it functional? Take a look again at the image of the living room below and you will notice that the columns at each side of the corner windows created a sort of a shadow box in the wall.

Also look at my personal collection.

I am a toy collector and I specialize in diecast cars. I have hundreds of Hotwheels, Matchbox, Tomica and Johnny Lightning toy cars. On my home-office walls, I have display cases like the ones shown. That shadow box is perfect for my collection.

Let your creativity take flight and explore the unlimited design possibilities for this shadow box.

To you, Mr. Avida Settings home owner, your wonderful wife, children and relatives, may the Lord shower you all with perfect health, more bountiful harvest and long and happy lives. It was our first time to meet but you were so gracious to have welcomed me to your beautiful home as if I were a long-time friend. Thank you for the great food (I felt bloated for the next 2 days : ), interesting conversation and warm reception.

Congratulations on achieving your dream house and more power to you!! Mabuhay ka, Sir.

If you want to know more Avida Settings Nuvali, kindly give me a call.

T: 63 02 447.6328

M: 63 02 929.609.7142

No Emails, please. Thanks

The past several weeks have been a joyride for me and I will let you all in on what has, to me, been a dizzying frenzy of activities.

There will be several updates on my next post. Expect my navigation bar on top to have more tabs. It now includes Property Listings – kindly check it out; we might even help one another with it.

Be informed also that I am trying to get an interview with the mayor of Sta. Rosa, Laguna, the Honorable Mayor Arlene Arcillas-Nazareno. Sana po mapagbigyan tayo.

I will also be attending a house blessing in Avida Settings Nuvali this Sunday, November 29, with my friends;  I hope to take pictures of the house. If time permits, our friends, Atty. Noel Jocson and his wife Liza, will again be giving us a tour of Ayala Westgrove Heights.

I also will tell you about a great website where I have been spending lots of my time. Rest assured, though, that the time I spend there, will positively redound to this website. That website is a global community of geography enthusiasts who are ranked based on the relevance of their contributions to that online community.

One of its most active and most respected users is ranked number 62; he’s Indian and guess his age?… he’s 14 years old.

Again, pardon me for the long overdue post. I will make it up to you all, my dear friends.

Thank you so much and God bless!

P.S. magsimba kayo sa Linggo, ha : ) I love you guys!!

jun

This image and the information that came with it was emailed to me by a friend. I will talk about it at the end of this post.

As promised, I’ve already deleted my announcement regarding the Open House at Nuvali on October 25, 2009. Suffice it to say that it was another hugely successful event by Ayala Land. I met lots of great people from Ayala Land and a few prospects including a classmate from UST.

But most important of all, my daughter and I had a great time at Nuvali. We arrived at 10:30 am, drove around so many places and  left Nuvali for home at 9:00 pm.

Below are two sample pictures I took (the rest are in my Facebook album and are reserved for my future websites:

Anyways, back to business. This is to announce what my succeeding posts will be:

• Best real estate in the Philippines, part 4 – will show and describe the commercial and recreational establishments in New Sta. Rosa. Again, they will include maps and pictures.

• Best real estate in the Philippines, part 5 – the one you might have been waiting for; will show the various projects by as many real estate development companies that I can find. Ayala Land, Inc. is just one of several reputable and big-ticket players in Sta. Rosa and their projects are not for everybody, i.e, let’s face it, not all, including myself, can afford an Ayala Land project… now. I’ve already taken several pictures of these projects. More maps will be shown. (Off-topic: I have a fetish for maps since I was a kid, I play Google Earth and edit Wikimapia for a hobby. Kindly click here to see how I edited a tiny feature of Sta. Rosa, Laguna in Wikimapia).

• Best real estate in the Philippines, part 6, Old Sta. Rosa - whether you believe it or not, Old Sta. Rosa, depending on your financial position and strategy, has as much to offer Pinoys in terms of real estate opportunities as New Sta. Rosa. This post might be divided into a few sub-entries as I write along; maybe not. Expect several pictures of Old Sta. Rosa.

Like I said in the past, I will build my first dream house in Old Sta. Rosa in 2 to 3 years (but at the pace things are happening to me now, and with God’s help, it’s possible that it can be within a year or two). My second dream house? In Ayala Westgrove Heights, 3 to 4 years from now : )

Again, do not equate the word OLD with UGLY; many parts of Old Sta. Rosa are very beautiful; I have lots of pictures to prove it. I’ve already decided on the subdivision, Olympia Park Village (in Barangay Labas); it’s just spitting distance from the soon-to-be-rehabilitated double-tracked railway system of PNR. There, a brand new and modern station will also be built.

The property has to be at least 500 square meters of vacant lot (without any improvement) and I shall use a strategy that will enable me to buy it at 60% (at most) of its current market value, 10% down payment and 5 years to pay. By the way, a very large part of this subdivision was not in any way affected by typhoon Ondoy.

Why does it have to be near the PNR station? Please, read this again.

When my friends ask me what my favorite post is, without batting an eyelash, I always say it’s this entry about PNR; I consider it as my masterpiece. The title is apt and it will indeed impact Philippine real estate. That post will spawn several more posts in this site and in time, its importance shall be clear to you.

• Best real estate in the Philippines, part 7, a reprise – this entry will not summarize this long series. I might use the sub-title – Sta. Rosa: Why it has become what it is today.

This time, we will start with Old Sta. Rosa and work our way towards New Sta. Rosa. It’s going to be a very long post, but rest assured that after reading this post, you will know more about Sta. Rosa than many of its locals.

Finally, about the fault line that traverses Sta.Rosa. As mentioned, it was emailed to me by a friend. She got the information and the image from Phivolcs (talk about someone conducting a thorough DUE DILIGENCE; honestly, I didn’t know about this until my friend told me about it).

I’ve already emailed this to the executives of Ayala Land, Inc. I will also ask for the input of the City Government of Sta. Rosa (hopefully from Hon. Mayor Arlene Arcillas-Nazareno) and Phivolcs.

You know what, whatever answer they give about this fault line, whether good or “grim,” no one and nothing will stop me from relocating to Sta. Rosa.

Our lives, whether we live long or die young, are not dependent on fault lines, the melting of the ice caps, or the sinking of the world’s great deltas. Our lives have all been written long before we were woven in the womb of our mothers.

Thank you so much to Ms. Nanette Sison for sending me this very important information. She’s a Facebook friend who also happens to own a property in Nuvali (see, I told you to add me to your FB list of friends because, in time, I will certainly make this website private and available only to my Facebook friends; I’m not kidding : )

Also, I will be posting all the pictures I’ve taken during the open house in Nuvali in my Facebook album. You will see them only if… you know the drill : )

Thanks a lot and my best regards to everyone.

P.S.