The quirkily named Bayan Bayanan Avenue in Marikina, surprisingly free from floods.
According to news reports, 60% of Metro Manila is flooded, which made us wonder: Where does the lucky 40% live? So we asked friends, Facebook fans and Twitter followers where they live and and why we should move there. Would you like to be part of this story? Like Coconuts Manila’s Facebook Page and send us a message and we’ll send you a questionnaire.
ITO CURATA
SARANGANI STREET, AYALA ALABANG VILLAGE, CITY OF MUNTINLUPA
How many years have you been staying there?
Almost 10 years.
What’s the most compelling reason to stay in your area aside from it being flood-free?
It’s an orderly village, very near schools (we have four inside the village), Alabang Town Center has everything, hundreds of restaurants nearby, Asian Hospital is five minutes away, and not to mention we have a 2- hour medical clinic, a golf and polo club, close access to two major highways, a mini-Rustan’s Supermarket inside the village, numerous parks and open spaces, strict parking, driving and other quality of life rules.
How many minutes drive does it take to your City Hall?
Around 15 to 20 minutes, easily.
How long does it take to get you to Makati on a Wednesday morning?
From 10 to 13 mins via Skyway.
How close is the best restaurant?
Out of the hundreds of restaurants near us, if I had to pick my favourites: Omakase (Units 21/22 Molito Lifestyle Center, corner of Madrigal and Commerce Avenues, Alabang. Phone: 63 2 403-3279. Daily 11am-2.30pm & 5.30pm-10pm) because the sushi there is excellent and I love their tonkatsu curry) and Mona Lisa Ristorante (2/F The Commerce Center, Commerce Avenue, Alabang. Phone: Daily 11am-3pm, 5pm-12am) where the tartufo penne is heavenly; both are less than 10 minutes away.
How much is rent there?
According to the latest village paper, a small house starts from PhP50,000 (but you don’t get much) and goes up to hundreds of thousands of pesos for larger homes with pools and other amenities. The economy is booming here. Alabang is rapidly becoming one of the new central business districts. Some people have called it ‘Makati of the South.’
JANE REYES
HILLTOP SUBDIVISION, LAGRO, QUEZON CITY
How long have you been staying there?
My family has lived here some 20 years.
What’s the most compelling reason to stay there aside from it being flood-free?
It used to be really peaceful and quiet, with lots of trees and a very clear sky at night. Now it’s grown more congested, with two large malls nearby (SM and Robinson) and another one (an Ayala mall) currently under construction. There’s hospitals and schools nearby, a fairly adequate wet market, and a nursing college right inside the subdivision. The latter has contributed to the congestion, as small businesses (eateries, photocopy services and internet rentals, sewing services for uniforms, etc) have popped up in the subdivision to take advantage of business opportunities presented by the school. But still, compared to the rest of Metro Manila, it’s relatively peaceful and green. Big plus: it’s relatively near the big universities, and the cultural, literary and intellectual life that goes on in them.
How many minutes does it take to drive to your City Hall?
It depends on the traffic. I’d say anywhere from half an hour to a little over an hour.
How long does it take to get you to Makati on a Wednesday morning?
Hmmm. Sometimes as long as three hours or more. Usually around two.
How close is the best restaurant?
It’s a short jeepney ride away. Five to ten minutes. It’s in SM Fairview; it’s a Napoli Pizzeria and, in this awful weather, their chunky tomato soup, served scalding-hot with a thick, herby tomato base, generous chunks of fresh prawns and a swirl of cream to finish it off, is a little pocket of comfort in the middle of a drowned city.
How much does rent there cost?
I honestly don’t know! I’ve been away a long time.
Why should Coconuts Manila have an office there?
Well, it’s not really in the middle of all the action, which you might need to be. But if you want some peace and quiet, accessible and reasonably-priced food and entertainment, come on over.
PATRICIA BARCELON
LANUZA AVENUE, BGY. UGONG, PASIG CITY
How many years have you been staying in your small village of townhouses?
I have been living here for the last eight years.
What’s the most compelling reason to stay in your area aside from it being flood-free?
From my area, there are a number of schools: The nearest (walking distance) being St Paul College and Domu Schola (the old Brent campus) but schools such as Lourdes and Poveda are a 10-minute drive from where we are. As for hospitals, you can get to Medical City in five minutes, assuming there is no traffic. SM Hypermart (near Tiendesitas) is walking distance., about 15 minutes on foot. SM Mega Mall and Shangri-La Plaza are also conveniently close, about a 10-15 minute drive.
Does it get noisy?
People always wonder if my place is noisy since part of the compound is right on C5. I’m lucky, my unit faces Valle Verde 1 so there is no noise. The units that are next to C5 can get a bit noisy but if you shut your windows, you barely hear anything. I love living here because I have all the convenience of living in a luxury condo (on-call plumber, electrician, pool, basketball court, tight security) but without the hefty price tag. Association dues are very low. A lot of young families start out. Kids play out in the common streets and playgrounds in the village and make lifelong friends. Everything is always well-maintained and our units are painted every three to five years to keep the buildings from looking old.
Are there restaurants nearby?
You have so many choices to choose from! Ortigas CBD is only 15 minutes away. Kapitolyo, with all it’s new foodie hangouts, is only 10 minutes away. Further afield, you also have Eastwood and The Fort. It takes about 20-30 minutes to get there. Less if there is no traffic.
How many minutes drive does it take to your City Hall?
City Hall is around 15 minutes away at most.
How long does it take to get you to Makati on a Wednesday morning?
If you use C5, it takes anywhere between 30-45 minutes. An hour-1.5 if traffic is bad. With Capitol Commons opening (where the old Pasig City Hall used to be), I can get to Rockwell in 20 minutes. Uni Mart, Santi’s and a lot of restaurants (Nomama, Sentro, to name a few) will soon open in Capitol Commons.
How close is the best restaurant?
There are so many good restaurants in the area, it’s hard to pick just one favorite! My new discoveries are Ba Noi (Vietnamese) in Kapitolyo and Nav (Thai) in front of PC Supermarket/Ace Water Spa. A special mention is Becky’s Kitchen, which has a cafe in Valle 1’s clubhouse. For Filipino, I go to Cafe Juanita. Their sister restaurant (Japanese), Haru is pretty decent too.
What do you order there?
In Ba Noi, I like the lemongrass chicken rice noodle bowl and their pho is quite good too. In Nav, the fried chicken curry is superb. Their fried sticky rice balls with mangoes is also very good. Becky’s kitchen is great for merienda. The pasta is decent but I go for the sweets. Their butter rum cake is my favorite and a few bars of their tofifay or food for the gods is always a nice surprise when I find it in my bag! In Cafe Juanita, I like the classics like kare kare.
How much does it cost to rent there?
The last time I checked, rentals are about PhP40,000 a month, excluding dues. A unit has three floors, three bedrooms on the second floor plus one bedroom and an attic space on the top floor. There are 3.5 baths plus maid’s quarters and a patio/garden space. Our garage can hold two cars plus one car on the sidewalk. Very few units are available for rent or for sale. Most owners don’t want to sell. The last unit that was sold went for approximately 16-million pesos.
Why should Coconuts Manila have an office there?
The convenience of this area cannot be beat. Prices are much lower than Makati and there are so many schools, offiices, groceries, restaurants hospitals, churches, etc. I hardly ever have to go to Makati. Even if I had the cash for a posh Makati address, I think I would just move next door to Valle 1!
ANNE STEPHANIE CRUZ
TORRES BUGALLON STREET, CONCEPCION, MARIKINA
How long have you been staying there?
Just three months.
What’s the most compelling reason to stay there aside from it being flood-free?
We are near schools (Our Lady of Perpetual Succor), hospitals (St Vincent Hospital, Garcia Hospital and SDS Hospital), the UV Express terminal (my husband works in Makati) and it’s one short tricycle ride to my in-law’s house and my brother’s apartment. There are plenty of fast food establishments within walking distance, as well as public markets where prices are much, much lower compared to others.
How many minutes does it take to reach City Hall?
Less than ten minutes by tricycle.
How long does it take to get you to Makati on a Wednesday morning?
On a regular day, 1.5 hours. Today, since there are hardly any people, around 30 minutes.
What’s the nearest highway or important landmark?
A Meralco office on Bayan Bayanan Street.
Any famous neighbors?
Ha-ha. None, i think.
What can you do for fun in your area?
SM Marikina and SM Masinag are a short ride away, around 10 to 15 minutes. My family loves to eat so we do restaurant hopping from time to time. We explore the mom-and-pop establishments like Waffles Corner on Molave Street (in front of Our lady of Perpetual Succor College) where we always ask for waffles and milkshakes.
How much does it cost to rent there?
P12,000 a month
Why should Coconuts Manila have an office there?
I would not recommend it because the streets surrounding this area do get flooded. I can describe the experience of the last few days as being trapped in an island.
PIE LIBRE
NOTRE DAME STREET, EASTSIDE MANORS, BGY MAYBUNGA, PASIG CITY
How many years have you been staying there?
About 7 years.
What’s the most compelling reason to stay in your area aside from it being flood-free?
It’s a small and cozy gated village that’s near all the places you will never need to go to if you live in the city. Banks, restaurants, drugstores, bookstores, schools and hospitals, they are all at least 15 minutes away from where I live. We used to live in nearby Greenwoods and it would get flooded along Sandoval Road, which is the only exit from the village.
How many minutes drive does it take to your City Hall?
Both City Hall and the wet market are 15 minutes away by jeepney.
How long does it take to reach Makati on a Wednesday morning?
If I go via C5 and Fort Bonifacio, around 30 to 45 minutes.
How close is the best restaurant?
Within 15 minutes: Shakey’s Pizza and Yellow Cab Pizza for pizza, chicken and pasta. There’s also a Hap Chan for noodles.
How much does it cost to rent there?
Units at Eastside Manors go for P15,000; they’re two-storey townhouses with a garage. Our community is safe.
Why should Coconuts Manila have an office there?
I don’t think our place is appropriate for your kind of business because you need to be at the center of things and events. May I suggest BGC because it’s near Makati and Ortigas.
PEARLY HALILI
ARGUILLA STREET, SAN LORENZO VILLAGE, MAKATI
How many years have you been in San Lo?
One year.
What’s the most compelling reason to stay there?
We can walk to the grocery, to catch a movie, to Finale art nearby, to home depot. Magallanes MRT station is literally a five minute walk.
How many minutes drive does it take to your City Hall?
From 10 to 15 mins, to the Baranggay Hall is two mins.
How long does it take to get you to Makati on a Wednesday morning?
We are right here, suckers!
How close is the best restaurant?
Milky Way is a two-minute drive, or 10 to 15 minutes if we walk. We always get the lechon kawali na lechon de leche. Same with Ukkokei ramen house on Pasay Road, where we get the Tantanmen.
How much rent cost there?
From PhP70,000 to PhP150,000.
Why should Coconuts Manila have an office there?
I bought chairs from a department store nearby and the sales assistant carted them to the house. No need for a delivery van when it’s walkable.
JEROME GOMEZ
NEAR ST. SCHOLASTICA’S ACADEMY, MARIKINA HEIGHTS, MARIKINA CITY
How many years have you been staying there?
More than three years now. We moved a few months after Ondoy.
What’s the most compelling reason to stay in your area aside from it being flood-free?
It’s a pain to get out and make a trip to the busier parts of Metro Manila, and the cab fare is a bus ride to Baguio. But I take the shuttle to work everyday, and one time I heard one of the passengers say he insists on living here as opposed to staying closer to his job in the Ortigas Center because when you come home, you don’t feel the pressure and weight of the city. The weather is almost often cool, it’s largely clean, and it always smells like a probinsiya, which I love.
How many minutes drive does it take to your City Hall?
Five minutes. And it’s a clean and orderly City Hall, mind you.
How long does it take to get you to Makati on a Wednesday morning?
To Makati, an hour and a half.
How close is the best restaurant in your local?
I haven’t really explored the restaurants around the area except for Kapitan Moy (1/F Kapitan Moy Building, Sta Elena, Marikina; 63 2 6464303. Daily 10am-8pm), which is essentially like catered wedding reception food, and we went to this shabby chic place called Rustic Mornings (11 Isabelo Mendoza Street, San Roque, Marikina; 63 2 5106914. Daily 8am-4pm), a few Sundays ago, which is not bad. The closest I guess would be Sandy Daza’s Wooden Spoon (329 Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City; 63 2 426 Daily 10.30am-9.30pm) across Miriam College which is a half-hour away.
How much does rent cost there?
I just asked the other day. PhP6000 for a two-storey apartment with, I’m guessing, two rooms.
Why should Coconuts Manila have an office there?
Maybe not a good idea if your life depends on the Internet since my service at home is spotty and slow. But maybe that’s just Smart Bro.
More flood-free areas in Metro Manila
AS SWORN BY COCONUT MANILA’S FANS ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER (@coconutsmanila)
Manila
– Esguerra Street, Tondo (Aurora Nacion) – Aguado Street, San Miguel (SP Lariba) Marikina
– Greenland Subdivision (Aida Patricio Francisco)
Quezon City:
– Teachers Village West (Joel Emido)
– North Olympus Subdivision. Zabarte, Novaliches (Ghie Ardevaas)
– San Pedro 7 Subdivision, San Bartolome, Novaliches (Erika Ynah Cabardo Navarro)
– Zuzuarregui Street, Bgy Holy Spirit, Diliman (Aljon Concillado)
– Sta Rosa Street, Bgy Manresa, Diliman (Charlemagne Andrada Palma)
– Bgy Pinagkaisahan, Cubao (Maureen Magno)
– Kingspoint Subdivision, Bagbag, Novaliches (Christopher James Santos)
– Greenview Executive Village, Dahlia, Fairview (Carlo Joseph Baldidoy)
Valenzuela
– Bgy Lingunan (Komfie Manalo)
– Plastic City Industrial Park, Viente Reales, Bgy Lingunan (Grace Manatlao)
Photo: Anne Stephanie Cruz
