Condo living is changing the lives of thousands of Filipinos. It offers an alternative to parents who put a premium on their kids' safety, young professionals who are always on-the-go, and families who want to spend more time together amid the fast-paced lifestyle in the city.
Know how condo living in the Philippines made a huge difference on the lives of three people: Marissa, Ramon, and Alfonso.
“We're home.”
Photo courtesy of Pixabay via Pexels
Marissa is a single mom and a successful entrepreneur, but her story blossomed from a painful experience. Marissa was a 25-year-old sales executive when she met Mark, a computer engineer. After a four-year courtship, the couple decided to tie knot. "The next two years were the best time of my life. I gave birth to a healthy baby girl and I finally got approved for a modest business capital. I've always wanted to run my own bakery," Marissa recalled.
However, everything changed one July evening. Mark was diagnosed with cirrhosis, a progressive liver disease. He died after six months. "At 32, I was a widow with a young child and a start-up business to attend to. Honestly, I didn't know how to properly mourn my loss. I felt as if the world was spinning and there's nothing I could do but close my eyes and wait," Marissa said.
Marissa's mother advised her to move to the province and help attend to their family's estate. But Marissa had other plans. "Mark and I agreed to raise our daughter in the capital where she gets access to the best schools. Also, I just couldn't turn my back from the business my late husband and I worked so hard to build."
Marissa, together with her best friend Jane, visited a condo community, which is 20-minutes away from her bakery. "It was perfect. There's 24/7 security and kid-friendly amenities, and the common areas are well-maintained. You know the best part? It's surrounded by topnotch schools." Marissa and her daughter Kate have been living in their resort-style condo for the past three years. "Even if Mark isn't here with us, I know that we're going to be okay. We're home after all," Marissa concluded.
“I was determined to turn my life around.”
Photo courtesy of Porapak Apichodilok via Pexels
Ramon has always been known as a happy-go-lucky bachelor. He's a 30-year-old yuppie with a successful career in the life insurance industry. "When I was a kid, my father wanted me to be a lawyer like most men in our family. I really couldn't say no at that time. He was sending me to the university and paying for everything I needed," Ramon shares. A week after his college graduation rites, Ramon bought a one-way ticket from Cebu to Metro Manila. "I wanted to build a life based on my own decisions. I respect my father, but my heart has never been in the law practice."
With just enough savings to survive for three months, Ramon wasted no time applying for a job in Makati. "I love being with people. I enjoy listening to their stories no matter how mundane," he happily said. He worked as a marketing officer in a bank for two years, but life was a struggle. "I was renting a room in Pasig because that's what I could afford then. I would spend 2 to 4 hours commuting daily to and from Makati. I was overworked, miserable, and constantly broke."
Ramon pondered flying back home a couple of times, but decided to wait a bit longer. Then, he met Johnny. "Everything about Johnny is 'goals', if you know what I mean. He was only 2 years older than me, but he was driving a nice car, rents in a beautiful condo community, and has the time to lounge in coffee shops." Ramon accepted Johnny's invitation to be a life insurance agent and be his own boss. "The first 6 months were the toughest, but I was determined to turn my life around."
Today, Ramon is living the good life. He starts his day in the condo gym, then enjoys a hearty breakfast he prepared himself. He spends the rest of the morning setting and confirming meetings with clients in the comfort of his home office. His afternoons are filled with meetings in his favorite coffee shop. He ends his day with a few laps in the condo swimming pool.
“Life couldn't be better.”
Photo courtesy of StockSnap via Pixabay
Alfonso, a portfolio manager and family man, almost left his career in the country for better opportunities abroad. "The pay in my Makati-based company was okay, but it's not worth the long hours I burn in the office and in traffic," the 45-year-old said. Alfonso, his wife and two young kids were living in his ancestral home in Quezon City. He would leave the house as early as 5 a.m. to be in the office for the 8 a.m. meeting. "The long hours on the road, the daily grind at work, and the congestion in our city were too much. I barely spend time with my children."
Alfonso was encouraged by his brother, an engineer in Canada, to relocate. "If things go well, you might be able to bring your family here," his brother said. "Might" was not good enough for Alfonso. He couldn't imagine not being with his family even for a minimum work contract of two years.
"My wife pitched the idea of moving to a residential condo near my office. Makati was beyond our budget so we checked out the next best option: Mandaluyong." Mandaluyong is an easy 15-minute drive to the Makati CBD. It's close to good schools, leisure spots, and virtually any other place in Metro Manila. "Mandaluyong suits our needs. Now, I'm less stressed thanks to the proximity of our home to my office. There are condo lifestyle amenities that help me decompress after a long day, and most importantly, more time with my little girls. Life couldn't be better.”
It's undeniable that condo communities are changing the way we perceive city living. It's a fact that urban areas are getting more congested, polluted, and stressful, but don't pack up just yet. Discover the benefits of condo living with DMCI Properties.