MANILA, Philippines - A skyline is one of the first things that a person flying to any city in the world will see. Representing progress, loftier skyline could mean more opportunities — this has inspired many to flock in metropolitan areas in hopes of fulfilling their dreams. In Manila alone, population has doubled in two decades resulting to the increase of its population density. With it comes the rise of value and search for space and serenity.
However, one does not have to move to nearby provinces to get away. Located at the southern part of Metro Manila is Filinvest City, a fine urban development that allows room for growth while maintaining exclusivity and much-needed space. The name speaks for itself – Filinvest City is a city that can be reached via a short fifteen minute drive from Makati. Filinvest Alabang Inc.’s executive vice president Kate Ilagan talks about the convenient location that brings dwellers a modern city outside the congested spectrum of Manila. “Some people have this perception that Alabang is far, but one only needs to actually experience coming here to be delightfully surprised,” says Ilagan.
“The city has access points via SLEX, Skyway, C5, Old National Highway and Alabang-Zapote Road. As a major transport gateway, whether you have a car or you take public transportation, getting to and around Filinvest City is now a breeze,” she adds pointing at the development of freeways and accessible roads that dramatically cut travel time.
The city’s picturesque urban development is a combination of corporate offices, residences, condominiums, entertainment and retail establishments strategically located in a sprawling 244-hectare territory. One of the city’s unique features is its landscaping, something that is overlooked in many other cities in Manila . “Landscaping is an integral part of urban planning. Lush landscape, open parks, tree-lined pathways, even the type of vegetation in road center aisles are all incorporated in the masterplan; thus assuring locators, visitors, and residents to enjoy work and play with the serenity of nature as a refreshing backdrop,” Ilagan explains. To date, it has over 3,000 date palm trees and hundreds of rain trees (samanea saman).
One of the city’s tallest establishments is the Insular Life Corporate Center. The building’s impressive architecture provides top-of-the-line commercial spaces and venues such as an auditorium and seminar rooms. A pleasant surprise is a Japanese garden that provides workers with a tranquil environment that provides the city’s top thinkers a getaway spot within the premises.
The Filipino business district is not complete without BPO headquarters, hence the presence of Northgate Cyberzone, an innovative enclave that houses the call center industry in Alabang.
The city is also expecting a number of buildings to be completed very soon. The Entrata Urban Complex is one of the most anticipated establishments that will combine hotel facilities, SOHO units and retail boutiques – a concept that is currently used in modern cities such as Singapore and Hong Kong . The Entrata will also provide a smooth gateway from the city’s business district to Filinvest’s shopping haven, the Festival Supermall.
Furthermore, within Filinvest City are residential communities such as La Vie Flats, Vivant Flats, Studio City, The Levels and recreation facilities and dining spots such as The Palms Country Club, Southpoint Driving Range, and Westgate Center. This multi-dimensional aspect of Filinvest City underscores completeness. “Filinvest City is a city rolled into one. It is a modern metropolis, a business district, a garden city, and a convergence hub. This mix is something distinct to Filinvest City,” says Ilagan. “In a few years, we envision Filinvest City to be the premier modern estate in Metro Manila fortifying its position as a global business district. It will be the country’s total city that continuously evolves and grows to meet the demands of the new global business setting and to inspire the next generations to come,” she concludes.
For more information on Filinvest City, call 846-0278.