My love affair with Bonbel

I go to Manaoag as often as I can. But I don’t make panata because I am afraid that I might not be able to fulfill it. I visit Our Lady of the Rosary in Manaoag for various reasons but mostly to say thank you. And also there are many times in my life when I have nowhere else to go but pray.

Last year, I discovered that I can actually go up to Baguio before or after Manaoag, which is about an hour and a half away from Baguio. Whenever I arrive early and there’s no Mass yet, I go up to Baguio. And as soon as I wake up, I travel to Manaoag to hear Mass. Afterwards, it’s either I go down to Manila or go up to Baguio to while away time and to avoid the horrid traffic.

In the process, I started entertaining the idea of getting a small property in Baguio. I’m not a condo person; even if it’s a nipa hut for as long as it stands on a piece of land then I am fine. I wanted to save enough money to be able to afford a small property in the City of Pines. I started to negotiate with a condominium developer but it didn’t push through.

One time, I was having lunch at Forest House which is one of the best restaurants in Baguio owned by couple Ari Verzosa and Raquel Fausto-Verzosa who are friends of my partner Bong Quintana. I met their daughter Chelsea and her boyfriend Perjohn Gomez who were also having lunch that day. We got introduced to each other and they gave us a tour of the restaurant which is also a bed and breakfast. Perjohn told me about a condominium that he was selling. I said, “Let’s take a look at it.” That’s how my love affair with Bonbel condo started.

Bonbel is one of the best if not the best condominium in Baguio. It was built by a South Korean developer with  Steve Han as marketing director and board member of Woori Construction. It is located across the Botanical Garden and right across the gate of St. Louis High School. It’s just a stone’s throw away from the main road and the Teacher’s Camp. It’s a beautiful place in the heart of the city.

I knew that I loved Bonbel the first time I saw it because I was undoubtedly home and obviously smitten. Bonbel is sturdily built. It didn’t scrimp on materials. The rooms are beautiful and the view is magnificent. I immediately decided to claim my space.

Bonbel has two buildings. There are 70 rooms and as of this writing, there are only 29 units available.

Some of its amenities include a fitness center, a sauna and spa, a children’s playground, an entertainment center, a golf driving range, a laundry area, a café and spacious parking spaces.

I invited close friends like Nini Borja, Mike Sicat and Riza Moises to get units at Bonbel because I want to make sure it’s a happy neighborhood. Aside from it being a beautiful building, you also have to realize that it is comforting to have wonderful neighbors. Years from now, if I decide to retire (if I ever retire), it’s nice to be nesting in a place knowing that in the different floors around your condo, you have friends and family.

“Let’s be neighbors at Bonbel.”

Bonbel is located at #1 Navy Base Extension Road, Baguio City. For more information, you can log on to www.bonbelcondominium.info or call 074-4424902 or better yet call  0917-5853171 and 0916-6082655.