Low-cost, high-quality living in East Ortigas

Tired sick of old Manila with all its smog, traffic, cheesy giant billboards and noise? Then why don’t you just pack your bags and move to Monaco, Cannes, Ibiza or maybe even Monte Carlo? Hmm, maybe that’s not so easy. But still, darling, you don’t need a Swiss bank account to be able to move away from the city’s chaos for some platinum-grade peace and quiet.

East Ortigas Mansions is a mélange of everything that constitutes la dolce vita! With residential buildings named after the world’s most esteemed cities in the world, the project promises to deliver the quality of life that living in such a famed city would most likely bring.

Located at the heart of Ortigas, the area will soon be the site that will redefine modern living for the urbanite. It is a blend of serene tropical living, with Garden of Eden-inspired landscapes, promising lush greens throughout the year, and the conveniences that have actually become necessities to the veteran city dweller.

East Ortigas Mansions offers high-end amenities such as a multi-level clubhouse that caters to every spoiled city baby’s needs. From a full-functioning clubhouse with a kitchen that promises to fill your stomach after burning the midnight oil without your having to lift a finger in your own kitchen, to sports and recreational centers (badminton, tennis, basketball courts, a game room with the works), function rooms (party time!) and a playground for kids (like me!) to while away those well-deserved "I-have-nothing-to-do" hours – this place has it all. As an added boon to being an East Ortigas Mansions resident, you don’t need to blow big bucks to have a good time since the residential complex provides its denizens with resort-quality facilities such as a luxurious pool and courtyard to relax in for those much-needed "alone moments" that we all crave for.

"We understand the demands of today’s busy lifestyles. That is why we put in these features and comforts for our residents. We have the professional on-the-go in mind in creating this project," states Isidro Consunji, president and CEO of DMCI Holdings, the corporation that DMCI Homes is part of.

If that’s not enough to impress you, here’s another egg for your basket: It’s just a stone’s throw away from S&R (my obsession du jour – the land of excess) and other shopping paradisos, making everything and anything accessible. The most luxurious thing about this offering is the price tag that comes with it – it is so affordable that you just have to pinch yourself to believe it!

Metropolitan living is embodied with the other comforts that East Ortigas offers. A jogging path is provided for the health-conscious city slicker (bye bye, gym), there is ample parking area, a guaranteed supply of clean water (a relief in today’s I-bathe-in-septic-water era), and scenic gardens that serve as eye candy.

Built by D.M. Consunji Incorporated – the construction empire that built the Cultural Center of the Philippines, SM Megamall, Rockwell Center, the Palace of the Sultan of Brunei, Ayala Triangle, Pioneer Highlands and most of the city’s landmarks and highways – East Ortigas Mansions nobly holds the same quality of excellence. Despite its reasonable prices, each townhouse is built with the top-of-the-line materials: from the beams that erect each unit to the finishing touches such as the flooring materials. "We are known for never compromising quality for whatever reason," Consunji asserts.

East Ortigas Mansions is a residential community comprised of six buildings that cover five-storey walk-ups which are a combination of single and tandem units. There is a cozy total of 352 units in the vast 17,259-square-meter property that assures you of comfortable living and not having to worry about overhearing nocturnal marital fights and cheesy karaoke music from your neighbors – ever. "We are the only low-density, low cost housing development in the area as far as I know of," Consunji says with quiet pride.

Each unit is a spacious haven that is perfect for the young, single professional; young couples; or small families. It all depends on the unit of choice. The basic 48-square-meter unit has two bedrooms, a toilet and bath, a dining room, living room, kitchen and cable TV provisions. It’s chic enough to throw intimate cocktail parties in and way spacious enough to call your own little paradise in the city. The unit sizes range from the basic 48-square-meter condo unit to the commodious 258- square-meter townhouse. Each townhouse includes a lanai, terrace, an open deck and a garage. So residents can choose their own adventure in East Ortigas Mansions!

What makes East Ortigas Mansions different from other residential complexes is the community it strives to form through its residents. I envision a Pinoy Melrose Place minus all the sinister characters who gossip and back-stab all day to pay their rent and have no fashion sense whatsoever.

"We have some activities planned out for the residents such as outings and small trips that the residents can take part in," Consunji says.

So it’s chic and fab without burning a hole the size of the ozone layer in your pocket, a place where you have guaranteed friends and also a place where you can escape from the redundancy and tediousness of city living. Sometimes the city stops getting cosmo-riffic after a while, but you really just can’t leave for Nepal or something for some R&R. This is home. So with all this said and done, join me and say: SOLD!

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For inquiries about East Ortigas Mansions, call DMCI Homes at 888-33-33.