Century Properties unveils urban resort project

MANILA, Philippines - Riding on a successful 2009, top real estate developer Century Properties opened the first quarter of 2010 with the official launch of its newest project, Azure Urban Resort Residences, a nine-building residential resort development in Parañaque City that features no less than a man-made beach.

The launch was held on March 2 with the grand opening of the Azure Experience showroom at the second floor of the low-rise Pacific Star Building in Makati.

Company chairman Amb. Jose E.B. Antonio and executive vice president for Vertical Developments John Victor Antonio also formally introduced the award-winning actor Piolo Pascual and the beautiful Ruffa Gutierrez as Century Properties’ Global Ambassadors.

The two celebrities led the guests in the unveiling of the main attraction inside the Azure showroom — a simulation of the beach experience, complete with a man-made beach, waves and white sand.

“We are proud to introduce another first in Philippine real estate history from Century Properties,” said John Victor Antonio, who personally made sure that the Azure showroom will perfectly capture the modern tropical vacation experience that the company has envisioned for the actual project.

A joint-venture project with the Columbian Motors Group of Companies, the Azure is the first project of Century Limitless, a new brand category under Century Properties that offers quality residential developments at affordable prices.

The award-winning masterplanning firm Broadway Malyan, led by architect Jason Pomeroy, joined the Century team to create a sustainable design and lifestyle concept for Azure. In the course of their planning, the development team decided to devote only 20% of the total area to the residential buildings and leave the remaining 80% to open space, amenities, landscape, and a circumferential road around the property.
Unit reservations are now being accepted for the first Azure building called The Rio, inspired by the famous beach destination, Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. The Rio will have 20 floors and a total of 756 residential units.

Source:
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=555071&publicationSubCategoryId=76

A condo with a beach - in the city

MANILA, Philippines - Now you can have a condo with a beach — in the city. Riding on a successful 2009, top real estate developer Century Properties launched its newest project, Azure Urban Resort Residences, a nine-building residential resort development in Parañaque City that features a man-made beach complete with waves and white sand.

The launch was held on March 2 with the grand opening of the Azure Experience showroom at the second floor of the low-rise Pacific Star Building in Makati.

Company chairman Ambassador Jose E.B. Antonio and executive vice president for Vertical Developments John Victor R. Antonio also introduced Piolo Pascual and Ruffa Gutierrez as Century Properties’ global ambassadors.

 “We are proud to introduce another first in Philippine real estate history from Century Properties,” said John Victor R. Antonio, who personally made sure that the Azure showroom would perfectly capture the modern tropical vacation experience that the company envisions for the project.
A joint-venture project with the Columbian Motors Group of Companies, the Azure is the first project of Century Limitless, a new brand category under Century Properties that offers quality residential developments at affordable prices.

The award-winning masterplanning firm Broadway Malayan, led by architect Jason Pomeroy, joined the Century team to create a sustainable design and lifestyle concept for Azure. In the course of their planning, the development team decided to devote only 20 percent of the total area to the residential buildings and leave the remaining 80 percent to open space, amenities, landscaping, and a circumferential road around the property.

Unit reservations are now being accepted for the first Azure building called The Rio, inspired by the famous beach destination, Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. The Rio will have 20 floors and a total of 756 residential units.

Interior designer Chat Fores created two interior design themes for Rio buyers who avail of fully-fitted, fully-furnished units, aside from the standard bare units on offer.

For Century Properties, the choice of location for the Azure couldn’t have been better, as its strategic position on SLEX West Service Road provides city conveniences while offering a direct access to the south’s vacation attractions. The Azure is also situated adjacent to SM City Bicutan, or 112,000 sqm of retail space.

 “In Azure, you get to enjoy a beach-inspired vacation every day. You also live close to modern facilities through a road network that provides quick access to the airport, to Makati and to Alabang,” Antonio said.

Century Properties has more than 20 years of experience in real estate marketing management and development. Among its other projects are The Gramercy Residences and The Knightsbridge Residences, both located at Century City in Makati; the award-winning Essensa East Forbes and South of Market in Fort Bonifacio, Grand Soho Makati, Canyon Ranch, The Casitas and The Moderno in San Lazaro Leisure Park, Carmona; and SOHO Central in the Greenfield District of Mandaluyong.

Source:
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=575303&publicationSubCategoryId=85

Century Properties Turns Up Summer Heat with Azure

MANILA, Philippines - Azure Urban Resort Residences, the country’s first true urban residential resort community by dynamic real estate firm Century Properties, formally opened its showroom at the Pacific Star Building, Makati, on April 16 with a grand launch party and a fashion show of the hottest summer creations by top designers Rosanna Ocampo, Charina Sarte and Hindy Weber-Tantoco. 

Hosted by Joey Mead and directed by Robbie Carmona, the show celebrated Azure’s resort-style living and expansive man-made beach. Simulating this attraction is an actual man-made beach inside the Azure showroom, where models glided on a built-in catwalk wearing this season’s latest fashions.

Rosanna Ocampo’s collection pays homage to the legendary modernist architect Antonio Gaudi and her favorite city, Barcelona. Her beach and resort wear speak of Spain’s majestic city: vibrant, colorful, bright, and harmonious. Charina Sarte’s collection featured swimwear and beachwear ensembles with striking animal prints and vibrant colors.

For Hindy Tantoco, the summer season is the perfect time to revere the king of the ocean: the great white shark. Powerful and spirited, her collection is a perfect match to Azure’s modern and yet graceful architecture.

The show ended with the special appearance of Century’s global ambassadors Ruffa Gutierrez and Piolo Pascual.

The Azure Urban Resort Residences is Century Properties’ latest residential development under Century Limitless Corporation in a joint venture partnership with Columbia Motors Group of Companies. It is a nine-building, six-hectare property located beside SM Bicutan on SLEX West Service Road, Parañaque City with residential units offering standard bare units and Century’s pioneering fully-fitted, fully-furnished units.

Visit http://www.azure.com.ph/.

Century Properties has more than 20 years of experience in real estate marketing management and development. Among its projects are The Gramercy Residences and The Knightsbridge Residences at Century City in Makati; the award-winning Essensa East Forbes and South of Market in Fort Bonifacio, Grand Soho Makati, Canyon Ranch, The Casitas and The Moderno in San Lazaro Leisure Park, Carmona; and Soho Central in the Greenfield District of Mandaluyong. http://www.century-properties.com/

Source:
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=575303&publicationSubCategoryId=85

2 developers bring bodies of water to residents

NO DOUBT, the summer heat provides more than enough reason to rush to the nearest body of water and just soak your sweat away. But what if—for some reason or another—you just can’t go to the coolest beaches and lakes at this time? Well, two property developers just did some out-of-the-box thinking, and have come up with a novel solution: bring that much-needed body of water to you.

First, how about a man-made beach beside your condo? At a starting price of P1.8 million, you get a 26-square-meter condo unit, and a large-scale man-made beach to frolic in anytime of the day you feel like it (The project proponents are still finalizing the specifications, dimensions and plans for the man-made beach).

This six-hectare P6-billion residential resort development of Century Properties and Columbian Motors Group of Companies is called The Azure and will be situated adjacent to SM Bicutan in Parañaque City.

The centerpiece of The Azure is the first of its kind man-made beach cove complete with white sand, undulating waves, multiple water slides and water cascades. And the development team spared no space in this respect, devoting only 20 percent of the total area to the residential buildings, and the rest to open space, amenities, landscaping, a circumferential road around the property, and of course, the beach.

John Victor R. Antonio, Century Properties’ chief operating officer and head of The Azure project, told Inquirer Property that Century Properties is the first developer in the country to attempt a full-size man-made beach amenity in a residential development.

“There are a few man-made beach resorts in the country, among them the Batanes Cove Wave Pool in Kidzworld, Dasmariñas, Cavite. There is also Plantation Bay in Cebu that has a man-made saltwater lagoon. Other developers also offer this feature in their residential projects on a smaller scale,” Antonio said.

Is the man-made beach too much for you? Why not a lake, then? For P8 million to P30 million (the prices of lots alone), and depending on the size and classification of the lot, you may want a suburb in Laguna 30 km from Manila. This ultra low-density, high-end Ayala Land Premier subdivision could be summer heaven. Its twin lakes complete the feel of being in another country north of the equator.

Easy to remember

The name is Montecito and all 60 hectares of it is pleasantly weaved by greenways set against the scenic hills of Canlubang. And it will be easy to remember all your villagemates, as there will only be 279 other homeowners sharing the entire development with you.

The larger of the two lakes measures two hectares, and will be used for recreational purposes. The smaller lake, at 1.5 hectares, is planned as the “utility” pond to irrigate the greenways and other common areas in the property. The water source for both lakes comes from Matang Tubig (literally “eye of the water”), an artesian spring coming from the Tagaytay Ridge (Matang Tubig would also power a mini-hydroelectric plant to generate electricity to light Montecito’s main streets.)

May Platero-Rodriguez, project development manager for Montecito, recently told Inquirer Property that the lakes, being naturally-fed from Matang Tubig are still within its normal level and flowing normally from outside, to Montecito, then out of Montecito. She added that all developments within Nuvali are planting more trees, as there is a minimum tree density ratio that is required within Nuvali.

Source:
http://business.inquirer.net/money/features/view/20100305-256873/2-developers-bring-bodies-of-water-to-residents

The State of Philippine Real Estate: It's Heating Up!

NEW YORK - After a few bumps along the road, Philippine real estate has gained traction and is heating up once more, according to Ambassador Joey Antonio, chairman of Century Properties Group, one of the largest realty developers in the Philippines today.

Antonio was in New York to meet some of their business partners. On the side, he met up with some leaders of the community not only here in the United States but also in Canada.

In an interview with the Asian Journal in midtown Manhattan last week, Antonio expressed his optimism and said that the real estate industry is experiencing growth again.

“The buyers here, some are affected but by and large, the Filipino community here in the US based on my experience, did not get affected,” Antonio said, referring to the real estate crisis here in the United States.

Demand for new homes is strong, as remittances from the millions of overseas Filipinos are expected to increase 7% this year. In fact, according to Wall Street Journal, prices of luxury homes in prime locations are up a modest 3% this year, but the rents in those buildings are up more than 8%, citing data from real estate firm CBRE.

The Philippine real estate in general, the ambassador says, was not majorly affected by the global crisis.

“We have grown because of the fact that we were focused on the community that we’re serving, the Filipinos,” he said, adding “Actually, America is not that affected, I talked to a lot of my friends here and they are all okay. There are some dynamics of the local community like some doctors earning a little less because HMO lowered their fees.”

Antonio’s Century Properties boasts of 25 years of experience in real estate marketing, real estate development and property management, with more than 60 projects in its portfolio. Its major projects include the Essensa East Forbes in Fort Bonifacio, Global City in Manila. It has built up almost $1.45 billion of properties, mostly in the Philippines.

In New York, the group has The Centurion, the first ground up residential condominium in New York City to be designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei.

Amb. Antonio believes that the Philippine economy is booming, and as such, investments are beginning to pour in.

“We are growing as a country. Our Filipino expats – I don’t call them OFWs, let’s raise the consciousness – are helping the country in big ways. They are 11 million strong, and that is what’s creating the bigger middle class, alongside the growing BPO and call center industry back home,” he explained.

The 11-million-strong overseas Filipinos’ remittances to the homeland have been fueling a lot of demand for real estate.

Amb. Antonio also looks at Filipino culture, one of the many things that binds Filipinos, wherever they may be.

“There are certain advantages of Filipino culture. For one, home for seniors will never succeed in the Philippines. It is almost mandated for us or expected of us to take care of our elders. It is against our culture to let our elders not be taken cared of,” he explained.

Their company recognizes this fact, that is why they are encouraging overseas Filipinos to invest in the Philippines through real estate.

“Fil-Am seniors here look at the Philippines where they can spend a lot of time in their retirement years so they should invest now for that. They cannot go back there and stay in hotels,” he added.

Antonio noted that real estate properties are very affordable in the Philippines, compared with its Asian neighbors.

“We are 10% of the price of Singapore and Hong Kong that’s why a lot of investors are coming in. We are Asia’s best-kept secret,” he quipped.

Source: http://www.asianjournal.com/dateline-usa/15-dateline-usa/10519-the-state-of-philippine-real-estate-its-heating-up.html

113th Philippine Independence Day Celebrations in Dubai

I received an e-mail from my colleague regarding our Independence Day Celebrations in Dubai.

PROUD TO BE PINOY!

Part 1 Azure Urban Resort Residences

First Urban Resort in the Philippines

Recently, i just went on a presentation by the Centuy Properties on their new project Azure Urban Resort Residences at Shangri-la. I went together with my wife at the invitation of our ninang Cora. To begin with, the presentation was conducted on a per table basis. One sales director for every table. Mr Doj was the one who outlined the different aspects of the properties and answered every question we had.

GENERAL INFO

Immediately when we arrive home, I opened the internet and then researched the same properties near the area, the price, the downpayment, location, amenities, and rental opportunity. Azure Urban Resort is the first urban resort in Metro Manila.The centerpiece of The Azure is the truly iconic and first-of-its-kind man-made beach cove complete with pristine white sand, undulating waves,multiple water slides and water cascades. It is like having a vacation right in front of your condo everyday.The Azure is expected to have 9 buildings within a spawling 6-hectare site that will set a new benchmark for 21st century tropical living. Each tower is set in a breathtaking tropical modern aesthetic that provides optimal natural ventilation, light and shade.

I asked Doj, the sales director of Century Properties on why the company is not taking it to the public similar to Ayala, Megawide, Vista Land and Filinvest. His short answer is "the owners of the company, the Antonio family wants to keep the business within their circle." I wonder how did the Company manage to erect and completed 60 buildings without using public funds. Financing? Most likely. Doj and Tina, the Senior Sales Director of the Company showed a video on the speech of it's Chairman, and I catches the following:

1. The population of our country is more than 90 million and half of them were below the age of 25. Wow, how young are we! I bet Japan would be willing to consult us on how to make a population be dominated by young fellows. These yuppies who worked in BPO, abroad or high paying job have disposal income enough for them to own a condo in Manila.

2. Most of the PagIbig members are not using their loan privileges. Pag-ibig has mountains of cash to lend. Recently, PagIbig has repatriated billions of pesos worth of investments overseas in our country. This is because the investments overseas did not meet their 8% returns criteria. The government is optimistic in the outlook of our economy and will invest it here. Currently, the interest on housing loans for Pag ibig is 7.5%. Not bad, comparing it against banks.

Our country is poised for growth and is set for greater heights. Considering the research made by the company, I am astounded by their deep knowledge in the demographics of our country and has really targeted the emerging middle income society. As Mr. Antonio said, the middle income society are the pillars of a successful nation. By the way, Mr. Jose E.B. Antonio is the ambassador of our country to China.

Azure Urban Resort is under the Century Properties Group. This Company has built numerous high-rise condominiums and buildings. To name a few , it includes the Canyon Ranch, Knightsbridge Residences, Gramercy Residences, Grand Soho Makati, West Ayala, etc.

Chateau Elysee

PROPERTIES NEAR SM BICUTAN

In real estate, it is all about location, ,location and location. I remember Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonalds restaurant. One time, Ray Kroc said to an MBA class , “My business is not hamburgers. My business is real estate. ”. Obviously Ray Kroc uses the hamburger business in order to get the best location of real property in the world. In every corner of the city, you would see the McDonalds restaurant. In every prime location of the world cities, McDonalds is there. Likewise when considering an investment, the location is of prime importance.

For comparison purposes, I have selected a few properties specifically condominiums near SM Bicutan where Azure Urban Resort is located. Also, I have selected 1 bedroom unit for all the rest of the condominiums selected near SM Bicutan. What I have noticed is that the big boys developer like Robinsons, SM Residences, and DMCI have their one foot in this area.

Chateau Elysee

General Info
          Built in an enchanting French Mediterranean design, Chateau Elysée sprawls on 4.8 hectares of prime land, with more than half of the property devoted to amenities and breathing space, and a clubhouse with complete facilities.Every living space at Chateau Elysée is masterfully designed - from the living room to the kitchen. Our One-, Two- and Three-Bedroom units evoke comfortable living and freedom of space. High ceilings create a sense of airy openness. Wide windows look out across pleasant bright expanses of gardens and courtyards. There are 6 clusters, each cluster has 4 buildings and each building has 6 to 7 floors.

Cluster Names are:
Cluster 1:Concorde
Cluster 2: Lafayette
Cluster 3: Eiffel
Cluster 4:Seine
Cluster 5: Vendome
Cluster 6: Ritz

Location
         Chateau Elysée in the heart of Bicutan, Parañaque City, just 20 minutes away from the Makati Business District, and 15 minutes away from the International Airport, with shopping, dining and entertainment destinations of SM Bicutan just 10 minutes away.

Price
      1 million to 1.5 million

Payment Terms
     Cash -  10 to 11 % discount
     Deferred Cash  payable in 6 months, 12 months, 18 months
     Spot Downpayment 
              20% spot DP  80% thru Bank/In-House Financing
              30% spot DP 70% thru Bank/In-HouseFinancing
              40% spot DP 60% thru Bank/In-House Financing
      Installment
               30% DP payable in 12 months 70% thru Bank/In-House Financing
               10% DP payable in 12 months  10% DP on 13th month  80% thru Bank/In-House

Amenities

• Clubhouse with Function Halls
• Fitness Gym
• Playground Area
• 25-meter Lap Swimming Pool
• Kiddie Pool
• Wading Pool
• Children's Play Area
• Basketball / Volleyball and Tennis Courts


Building Facilities and Services
• Chambermaid Services (Maintenance and Housekeeping)
• Shuttle Service To and From SM City Bicutan
• Spacious Courtyard with Children's Play Area
• 24-hour Security
• Automatic Fire Sprinkler System
• Centralized Overhead Water Tank for Sufficient Water Supply
• Provision for Garbage Disposal Area
• Stand-by Generator Set for Common Areas
• Natural Air Ventilation for Common Areas
• Sufficient Fire Exits
• Spacious Lobby and Corridors
• Back-up deep Well Water Facilities
•Convenience Store


Construction Progress
    It is ready for occupancy.

Developer
       SM Residences

Floor Area
         Typical 1BR has 24 sqm.

Typical Unit Finishes 

• Ceramic Floor Tiles 
• Painted Wall and Ceiling 
• Modular Kitchen Counter and base cabinet 
• Toilet and Bath with ceramic tiles 
• Automatic Fire Sprinkler System 
• Provision for telephone and internet facilities 
• Provision for cable tv facilities 
• Provision for water heater at master’s bedroom T&B 
• Individual Electric and Water Meter • High ceiling units (3.0 meters)

Sources
Information and photos courtesy of below web portal:

http://www.smresidences.com/smresidences/index.php?p=1189

http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/3525423/Chateau+Elysee
http://smresidence.blogspot.com/2011/02/chateau-elysee.html
http://www.negosyopilipinas.com/sulit-ads/289908-smdc-chateau-elysee-ready-for-occupancy-condominium.html 

Note: I am not affiliated nor connected to Chateau Elysee Residences.

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