DMCI Homes inaugurates football field in Acacia Estates Township

MANILA, Philippines - Azkals player Aly Borromeo graced the launch of DMCI Homes’ Acacia Estates Football Field in Taguig City, which was highlighted by a football clinic.

Borromeo, the former captain of the Philippine National Football Team and the current captain of the Kaya football club in the United Football League (UFL), praised the property developer for putting up the field.

“This is a beautiful development of DMCI Homes. We actually need more fields like this in the country,” said Borromeo.

He added that the field will see many kids enjoying football together.

Borromeo, who was among those who led the Azkals in qualifying for the semifinals of the Suzuki Cup in 2010, Southeast Asia’s World Cup, also inspired Acacia Estates homeowners’ children and other participants to play one of the world’s most popular sport.

“You are the ones who will lead football in the next 20 years. You guys are the ones who will be playing in the World Cup,” he told the children who live in the condo communities of Acacia Estates, DMCI Homes’ township development in Taguig City.

Some 50 kids from Royal Palm Residences, Cedar Crest, Rosewood Pointe, Mahogany Place III and Cypress Towers, which comprise the Acacia Estates community, attended the soccer clinic conducted by the Manila Hurricanes (Manhur) football club in the new field last May 30. Their parents watched them train under the coaches and players of Manhur from a tent set up by DMCI Homes beside the field. Gradeschool children from Parañaque City’s Manresa School also joined the Acacia Estates kids in the clinic.

Ging Gaffud, a resident of Mahogany III, brought her sons Joshua, 11, and Jiro, 8, to the soccer clinic after seeing a poster announcing the event at their community’s clubhouse.

“We learned there is an activity with Aly Borromeo, so we took the chance for them to play with him,” Gaffud said.

Gaffud said she and her children are very happy with the football field. Her kids, who are members of the Colegio San Agustin football team, can practice at home.

“It’s actually very convenient for us,” the mother said of the field, which was not yet established when her family moved to Acacia Estates two years ago.

Michael Chavez, a homeowner at Royal Palm Residences, brought his two sons Sid, 9, and Shaun, 8,to the clinic to hone their skills further and to prepare for their next-day game in the Chelsea Football Club Soccer School Philippines tournament organized by the Younghusband brothers’ football academy.

“The football field will help enhance the skills of the kids in playing football,” Chavez said.

Chavez’s sons also play football at the Royal Palm Residences’ mini football field together with other kids living in the community.

“The kids also play with under-17 players from the UFL like Patrick of the Laos FC in the league’s second division. Patrick just moved in to Royal Palm,” Chavez said. “Football is a lifestyle in Royal Palm Residences. There are actually more residents who play football there than basketball.”

DMCI Homes senior marketing manager Jan Venturanza said the field is the fulfillment of the company’s promise to develop a total community. Acacia Estates consists of the mid-rise and high-rise condo as well as house and lot communities of Cedar Crest, Mahogany Place 1 & 2, Mahogany Place III, Rosewood Pointe, Royal Palm Residences and the soon to rise, The Birchwood Residences and Verawood Residences.

“Like the upcoming events tent and Savemore supermarket in Acacia Estates, the football field is for the benefit of Acacia residents. We develop kid-friendly communities,” Venturanza said. “As what Aly said, the kids are really the ones who will push football to new boundaries. This football field is a great factor in honing their skills.”