We were both career employees in the Financial Services sector before we moved to the UAE. My wife was the first to give up her job in late 2005 to join her parents in Abu Dhabi. I then followed eight (8) months later in 2006. We did a staggered move to ensure that at least one of us had a steady income stream during this time.
Prior to our decision to relocate, we were renting a place in Betterliving and both working in Makati.
The ideal home
I grew up in a middle class family living in one of Metro Manila's suburbs where home meant a place that provided you with a haven from the hustle & bustle of city life. Home should provide a relaxed cozy atmosphere without being stifling; a place where one can "leave both office stress and the worries of school (for the children)..., at the front door."
The atmosphere should be rich in the natural beauty of nature - - lots of greens, trees, the vibrant color of flowers, wide open spaces with a clear view of cotton candy clouds and clear blue skies in the morning, as well as the magical sparkle of starlight in the evenings for kids to peer through their telescopes and make out the constellations with Dad & Mom.
On the other hand, environment covers the socio-cultural aspect of a neighborhood. For the sake of the children most specially, it is of paramount importance that other home owners would likewise be of, at the very least, a vaguely similar socio-cultural, as well as, educational background.
Environment as well covers all the living facilities provided by a real estate development. This pertains to everything from wide well paved and flood free road network, an efficient water and sewerage system, telecoms and electricity (underground and with fiber-optic cables) to the convenience of a nearby grocery or "community center..." (please, not one of those huge malls- -), nearby schools (ran by nuns and priests - - Jesuits preferably) and a really-really good private hospital with highly competent physicians and surgeons close by (15 to 20 mins. away).
NUVALI
As of this writing, we both have yet to actually see the property / lots that we decided to invest in. It was however the general location of the development - - 20 minutes away from Tagaytay, and the fact that it is an Ayala Land project, that made us take the whole thing up in earnest.
We have always loved the leisurely drive to Tagaytay as a couple. This has always been a favorite thing of ours, specially on early Saturday or Sunday mornings. The best part of the drive is really when we get to the national highway leading to Tagaytay, a few minutes after the Santa Rosa Exit from SLEX. I believe this is actually the general area of the Nuvali Project. We have a beautiful word / phrase in Tagalog for the feeling of just being in that general area while driving along in our vintage 1970 Volkswagen Econo-Beetle - - "napaka ma-aliwalas!" The whole place, the sights and sceneries just makes one "breathe easy...," pretty addictive - - and we've been in love with it for over ten (10) years now..., the wind in your hair, the wide open spaces, and the general feeling of newness and freshness of the area..., nakaka-miss - -
Why Ayala Land
There are two (2) main reasons why - - and I'm mentioning both in no particular order.
First, is the obvious professionalism of your international representatives. What first attracted myself and my wife to deal with Ayala Land here in Abu Dhabi is the manner by which we were taken cared of by Sherwin and Karen.
We met them at a Philippine Real Estate Exhibit and after being literally "hounded" by representatives of other real estate firms with their pressure laden hard sell techniques - - it was a breathe of fresh air to run into these two obviously educated corporate professionals who simply asked us..., "ano po ba yung gusto nila...?" I was then thinking to myself, "Ito and Ayala - - disente and dating...,na-iiba talaga!"
Second, When investing your hard earned cash for a prospective family home in the Philippines, this becomes a very "close-to-the-heart" personal decision. I love my family very much, and as much as I may take intelligent and well informed risks with general investments, I prefer a guaranteed no-brainer when it gets this personal. It wasn't as much a choice as being in fact - - in the Philippines..., the only choice!
Will you buy more Ayala Land properties?
This has to be a definitive YES! We would like to set ourselves up in such a way where we can enjoy both the proximity of cosmopolitan city life and the relaxed atmosphere of suburban peace. Also, having several condominium units in the Greenbelt / Salcedo Village area has its own lucrative business opportunity/ies. Again, the best partner for this "dream" or "aspiration" can only be Ayala Land.
The Future
Working in any of the Gulf countries as an expat puts us in a very unique situation. Unlike our counterparts in most other nations - - staying for good is not an option for us. There is no such thing as an immigrant in any of the GCC countries. We are here to work and to build the foundations of a hopefully stable and sustainable financial future; for ourselves and for our children.
The Philippines therefore will always be home for us. It's all a matter of time, but we will all eventually come home.
Satisfied Customer
Not at the present moment, but my wife has already since endorsed her own boss (a newly-wed Filipino), who in turn has acquired an Ayala property as a result of this. Personally off-hand, I will definitely recommend the only blue chip real estate investment option in the Philippines to anyone who is even just "window-shopping...," Filipino or otherwise!
