Oh, and Gonuts Donuts is Filipino owned. It's not franchised by any company. :)

i'd be scared to eat from a doughnut shop named gonuts. can't help but think of gonads and nuts.

Oh, and Gonuts Donuts is Filipino owned. It's not franchised by any company. :)

oh, ok... I get it.

i'd be scared to eat from a doughnut shop named gonuts. can't help but think of gonads and nuts.

hahaha!!! :runaway:

that costs a lot. i wonder if it will be here for a long time or it's only a fad like Tamiya's, and pearl shakes

there is an article on Gonuts Donuts in Far Eastern Economic Review...they are really successful for such a young business. It also says that Krispy Kreme will also come in to the Philippines

Anyways...here are some BGC pics i took.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93BGC_fifthave.jpg
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93BGC_fifthave1.jpg
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93BGC_fifthave2.jpg
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93Essensa-etc.jpg
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93Essensa-etc1.jpg
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93Essensa-etc2.jpg

wow nice. Can you tell me the street and bldgs. names? thx.

To have your fill of Gonuts Donts there's really no need to go all the way to The Fort and line up for 30+ minutes anymore. The lines at their branch in Greenbelt are of reasonable length especially during off-peak hours. Their Donuts are ok, slightly less sweet than Krispy Kreme's, and they have Pinoy-inspired flavors like Pastillas De Leche. Good value also at only around 200 pesos for a dozen donuts. The people who put up Gonuts Donuts are the same ones who developed the Whammos line of snack cakes. So they're really experienced in the pastry industry.

I don't think they're still "getting" popular, their first branch has already peaked. In fact I think the novelty factor is starting to wane. They ought to start aggressively expanding now to build on their momentum.

Manila's latest food fad has to be Bread Talk in Glorietta 4

u can also try the food courts inside the prime bldgs like of enterprise, lkg & food courts of rcbc & pb com. i think some worth to visit are petra's(4 organic fud lovers), bizu pattiserie(just correct me if i misspelled), & rcbc's food plaza, sarap! & dont 4get cheesecake etc. in greenbelt for pasalubongs. its a canadian pastry shop. i think phils is their only asian franchise. i think ha.

looks like One Mckinley is destined to have a white back. but right now it's not bad as it was couple years ago. did you have any BGC u/c pics ryan?

great shots!! I hope the entire metro manila was as well maintained as bgc... grabe! that red building (forgot what it's called) looks real nice to me. one mckinley from that side is just ugly though. haha... is it being occupied yet?

my mom was telling me about how people from all over manila were going crazy over bread talk. never heard of it when I was still there. she says there's nothing special to it and all they have are the typical pastries you get real cheap at chinese supermarkets here... i dunno, that's what she says... but I didn't know Gonuts Donuts is branching out already...

red building.. Regent Parkway. and i think One Mckinley is occupied. nothing looks like u/c there. the windows are fitted. the blank side is all painted out. no signs.

I think I've seen those pics before...nice.

you haven't seen them yet Mhe-ann. they are all fresh pics from Ryan....BGC looks really nice. do you have a pic showing the u/cs Ryan? Or you just want to prolong the suspense? Tower 3 and 6 of Forbes Town Heights are currently underway. Kensington has broke grounds this month and Boni Ridge will be turned over in few weeks. Errr..Penhurst i guess was also turned over. Now, pls show us the pics Ryan....hehehe...:D Demanding.

grey X
great photos! thanks for shring that. the streets in BGC looks really well maintained and the landscpaing along the road and wide sidewalk makes BGC like on another country....very nice!

Nice pics greyx. Do you have pictures of Market! Market!? It's almost fininshed.
Maybe you have pictures of these?

The BGC Public Arts Program.

http://www.fbglobalcity.com/images/bafititle.jpg

The Bonifacio Global City is not only proposing a blueprint for an ideal city. It is inaugurating Life as they think it should be lived, where Art and Culture are part of everyday, where an ecological Conscience thrives and where Spiritual and Intellectual upliftment is a major concern.


Ang Supremo "The Leader"
http://www.fbglobalcity.com/images/angsupremo.jpg
BY BEN-HUR VILLANUEVA. This brass monument depicts Andres Bonifacio in a powerful stance holding a torn certificate. A momentous event in Philippine history marking the beginning of Filipinos' aspiration for a better life. The second figure is Lakambini, the wife of Bonifacio, holding a flag. The third figure is a Katipunero and Kasapi holding a bamboo spear.


The Trees
http://www.gw-architects.com/gwbto/company/newsphoto/trees.jpg http://www.fbglobalcity.com/images/dtrees.jpg
BY REYNATO PAZ CONTRERAS. This artpiece is a 6.5 meter tall sculpture composed of three interlocking trees creating a dome like structure at the top representing the circle of life. It serves as a constant reminder of the interrelation of progressive development and the preservation of Mother Earth. The sturdy branches represent stability.


Kasaysayan Bawat Oras "Sundial"
http://www.fbglobalcity.com/images/sundial.jpg http://www.gw-architects.com/gwbto/company/newsphoto/kalikasan.jpg
BY JUAN SAJID de LEON IMAO. "Kasaysayan Bawat Oras", a 16-meter work reinforced brass sheet and cement, is a sundial-cum-educational playground. It is surrounded by 7 paperlike dolls representing the 7,100 islands of the Philippines. This sundial, which is an accurate time guide, serves as a metaphor for Philippine history, which is veritable guide for the youth.


Kasalikasan
http://www.fbglobalcity.com/images/kasalikasan.jpg
BY JERUSALINO V. ARAOS. A garden occupying 3,556 sq.m., Kasalikasan serves as an admonition to value nature amidst an urban setting. Coined by Araos, Kasalikasan is a combination of four words: KASALI KA SA KALIKASAN which means "interacting or being one with nature." Celebrate your private parties at the ampitheater... meditate in the mandala... jog on the pebbled pathways or simply interact with nature...


Transformation
http://www.fbglobalcity.com/images/transformation.jpg http://www.gw-architects.com/gwbto/company/newsphoto/transformation.jpg
BY LOR CALMA. Transformation is a sculpture of three stacked laminated glasses, 5 to 10 meters in height, internally lit, and incorporating a system of cascading water set in a fountain pool. A unique venue for your corporate or private functions... enjoy an evening under stars with a fusion of glass, light, and water.


Balanghai
http://www.gw-architects.com/gwbto/company/newsphoto/balanghai.jpg http://www.fbglobalcity.com/images/balanghay.jpg
BY GERRY LEONARDO. Balanghai was inspired by the "balanghay", the boat that carried the first wave of Malay migrants to the islands.

It has three sails with paddles representing Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao all moving in the direction of the wind.

Night pic of GreyX's photo....

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93Essensa-etc1.jpg

only that this was taken only thru phone...so its blurry, and distorted obviously
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/p60c439d894c2bf42db68b07307d59b00/f74e211f.jpg

re the balanghai artwork, one of them has three sails. the other has four? are they two different artworks?

So may mga nakatira na pala sa Regent Parkway. Nice pic, if only it takem thru a real digicam.

re the balanghai artwork, one of them has three sails. the other has four? are they two different artworks?

Oo nga ano. I didn't notice that. Maybe there are two versions, i don't know.

ohhh sorry, not exactly taken thru a cp cam...but there's a hard print of that one. then using that hard print, i shot it using the phone's cam. the original of course is far better. hopefully, i can post it soon.

btw, Pacific Plaza claims itself to having the highest percetage of owners who personally occupy their bought units. highest in the country according to metro pacific.

Um does anybody have links to websites of the codominiums in BGC?

i haven't seen those artworks when i visited BGC. but then again, the place is vast. is it recent?

some of them have been there for a while...but some of them, like the Transformation are recent.

I like the Transformation, it looks like a scraper.

Market! Market! is set to open on September 16. Yehey!
Maybe someone here can take pictures of it.

I photographed the ad from the newspaper.
http://www.geocities.com/aaron_ofngol/marketmarket_ad.txt

so is this a air-conditioned wet market that isn't really wet?:D sounds good to me.

wow exciting....how bout gateway kala k b sept rin opening non

Gateway will be opening on September 29... another Yehey!

Two malls opening this month... This calls for a party. :banana2: Yeah

:dance:

I saw Market Market and it's pretty nice when you look at it, just not like other malls, but it's ok =)

haha...yeah! let's party!
Market Market has partly opened last June. Grand opening Sept. I guess the original plan was Oct. They must have fasttracked constructions. I just dunno where will it draw customers from. Let's see if this one will be a success.

Gateway Mall...hopefully, there will be a party for the opening, then a fireworks display. But Sept 29 is a Wednesday. Shouldnt they do that during a weekend?

september 16... is that puno na ng stores? or soft opening...?

id guess the stores will be on full swing on that opening @ Federal. It already has its partial opening last june. having 2 partial opening plus 1 grand opening doesn't sound so cool.

I still find it weird to have a mall/market. Too bad i cant check it out when it opens. I'd have to wait till December.

Gateway mall is opening this month, too? Great! hmmm, interesting that they will have a fireworks display for it.

I think Gateway mall will only have a soft opening.

How 'bout Robinsons Pioneer Mall...when does it open?

I see it every night coming home from work. It's flooded with light and looks really good from the outside.

That's THREE HUGE and MAJOR MALLS opening in time for Christmas 2004. Shoppers will really have a field day with all these choices!

Of course, this will only mean good things for our economy. :)

Robinsons Pioneer is supposedly targeting an August opening but somehow it is delayed, anyway, I think it will be opened before December so they can take advantage of the Christmas Shopping Season.

----------------------------
I found this article from Philstar 07/15/2004.

It took just one phone call from Araneta Center, Inc. chairman Jorge Araneta to make Robinsons Land Corp. rename its Gateway Mall at the corner of EDSA and Pioneer St. to Robinsons’ Place Pioneer.

Basically, Nene Araneta appealed to RLC group general manager Frederick Go to give up the brand name, Gateway, in favor of Araneta Center, which is building its first mall (yes, called Gateway) in close to 20 years.

In contrast, RLC’s Pioneer project is one of three new malls being constructed on top of the 15 the company already has nationwide.

Robinsons Place is one of three brand names RLC uses for its malls. The other two brands are Galleria, which is carried by the company’s flagship mall, and Metro.

Robinsons Place Pioneer - from cbre.com.sg
http://www.geocities.com/aaron_ofngol/rp_p.txt

so is this a air-conditioned wet market that isn't really wet?:D sounds good to me.
:lol: :dizzy:

[QUOTE=GreyX]I still find it weird to have a mall/market. [QUOTE]

that's why they expect it to be a hit. some middle-class folks still go to the palengke to buy their fresh foods, since they can bargain for it. if you combine it with a mall, a family can shop, haggle, eat at fast food joints, and go to arcades, movies etc.

wow! ok ang concept. and yeah, i heard it will cater the middle class people as well. by now, we should have regular transpo route going to Fort Boni, something like Ayala to Market Market! I hope ayala land will initiate on creating that route. otherwise, magiging panis ang mall na yan. na mukhang na fast tracked ang construction.

i know it(market!2x) will eventually click. i completely put my trust to the ayalas.

Market! Market! will succeed because a transport terminal will be built beside it.
It will also have a Metro Gaisano Department Store.

transpo terminal is next to market market? i heard about this, will this be busses for MM only or out of town buses?

do you guys think that the transportaion intermodal planned for fort bonifacio would be located here?

i know it(market!2x) will eventually click. i completely put my trust to the ayalas.

yeah... I also trust the ayalas... specially now that their stocks are up...:D

That's good to hear that it ( Market!2x ) will have transport terminal , kasi buses coming from the south , does not regularly ply the C5 route , palagi ay SSH then EDSA kaya nga sort of isolated pa nowadays yung BGC . Only those with private cars and plying the route are taxis, fx or some jeepneys(?). Maganda ang concept sayang if hindi mag succeed .

yeah..that public transport terminal is quite big. Very good idea and planning:)

also a good idea to attract shoppers. right now BGC is "isolated", because of the lack of public transportation there.

is this transport terminal the planned hub to the BGC rail link? or was this just a bus terminal for Market Market shoppers and nearby stores?

Actually, for an empty area of MM, it has very good public transportation. It has "The Fort" buses plying through the whole area of Bonifacio Global City, McKinley Avenue through Forbes and the existing military camps south of BGC. There are bus stops for it, and they only stop in the bus stops.

I'm not so sure. I just so an open area with waiting sheds for busses and FXs. I think they will upgrade it for the planned subway station and Northrail terminal. I'm not so sure.

cool! i really hope that the original plans for the BGC would be followed.....

oh has it got bus stops? hmm.. i must be so two years old when it comes to BGC.. haha :D

hey guys...
do we have any thread for One McKinley Place???

we used to.. but right now i don't think so. recent photos show it's finished already.

wow, global is slowly being filled up

check this out. i dunno if this was one of those dream-on plans that never happened or is waiting the go signal
http://www.archonline.com/njba/100Port/04Special/FortBonifacio2.jpg
http://www.archonline.com/njba/100Port/04Special/FortBonifacio1.jpg

anyone of those buildings built or u/c?

i've seen this pic before.. and it is a planned area in BGC... I think that will be a business CBD area in BGC which was leased or acquired by Ayala-Campos Group...


Following their purchase of a controlling stake in Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC), Ayala Land, Inc. and Evergreen Holdings Inc. of the Campos Group began to launch a series of projects to accelerate the development of Bonifacio Global City, FBDC's centerpiece project.

In September 2003, FBDC successfully launched McKinley Business Park, a 2-hectare development at the southern tip of the Global City. According to Bobby Dy, FBDC's head of Commercial Operations, all 17 lots were taken up in a span of 3 weeks.

http://www.fortbonifacio.com/

Yeah...thats a recent plan, actually. It is located on the south of BGC.
I've seen other computer generated images of it.

It kinda look like a scientific research facility to me because of the biodome -glass house building there in that computer generated image . Hope there is no "forcefield " in there once it materializes so I can check it out..lol.

yeah... that's McKinley Center, which Edmund posted a little earlier on page 12 of this thread. it looks pretty good, and last I heard they are somewhere are 75% (i think) done with that access road/highway. I wonder how many lanes it'll be. looks very impressive from those renderings... does anyone else know about any other developments there?

is that C-5 the roads we're seeing?

so this is some science center in BGC? it's definately becoming more versatile than Makati CBD. :yes:

more pics, we havent had one lately. this one seen before?
http://www.viviun.com/data/properties/images/6671-19971-373FQM57NO.jpg??110008
http://www.viviun.com/data/properties/images/6671-19969-1CJAJQ89M4.jpg??105942

wow

cool...its really amazing...hahaha...improving huh!thanks

wow! those were great pix!

lol, they look old. I'm looking forward to seeing more skyscrapers besides those ones;)

Nice pics you found there, renell. They aren't that old, im guessing about a year.

also gives me an idea how tall Regent Parkway is. also like Makati CBD, there also seems to be the houses then scrapers dilemma..

Actually, houses then skyscrapers do look good from the distance. Ortigas, Makati CBD and BGC all have this situation, making them good looking skylines.
But for the residents in the houses, there is excessive noise and traffic for them.:D And they are the rich guys.

well doesn't affect us skyscraper discussion groups:D unless you're a rich one living in those houses. :lol:

it does blend with the surroundings, unlike the boxy, office, Central Businees-esque look of those Buendia buildings facing Bel-Air.

ey, not again. I dont even live in one of those houses, i only have a crappy cityland condo, man:D

But yes, they blend well because it highlights the height of the skyscrapers and the greenary in those housing estates look good with skyscrapers near them

hey man i wasn't referring to you. though i did think you'd reply to that with a vengeance :laugh:

:D hehehe, forget it.

Anything new with this place? SOMA Towers?

there's also the Bellagio.. also Fifth Avenue Place and Fairways. all 38-floors, i think.

there are a lot of fenced lots at Fort Boni. That was last month when we had a joyride with my friends early in the morning, trying to figure out where to park ourselves not to be overly conspicuous. There's Fairways Towers, and the crane is already up, so it's gonna go up pretty fast now. There's also Kensington...and not to forget Forbes Town, with the 6 towers almost simultaneously popping out of nowhere. And Serendra has fenced itself as well. SOMA has a billboard advertising itself. Constructions will start anytime soon. I have no idea about 5th ave. Probably it's already underway, but im yet to figure out where will it rise from.

errr...yeah, Bellagio, that's the nicest Megaworld project so far.
i dunno yet where will this be. it's near Forbes Town i suppose.

how the Megaworld's Bellagio? the rendering looks really nice, but I don't trust Megaworld, for it ruined Greenbelt Parkplace from okay to so not okay.

Cool...and i agree Bellagio is the best Megaworld project yet. Thanks for the update, francis.

Ok guys. We can stop the pretending. Renell, admit that you have a summer home in Ayala Alabang. Greyx, admit that you live in Dasma really and that the reason why you have an apartment in Cityland is because you own Cityland. Francis, admit that you live in Greenhills. Mhe-Ann, admit that you live in one of those new golf-club developments in Batangas... Like Canyonwoods. And everyone else living in a subdivision, admit it. And then I will admit that I live in Valle Verde. Ok?

Now we can have peace.

Ok guys. We can stop the pretending. Renell, admit that you have a summer home in Ayala Alabang. Greyx, admit that you live in Dasma really and that the reason why you have an apartment in Cityland is because you own Cityland. Francis, admit that you live in Greenhills. Mhe-Ann, admit that you live in one of those new golf-club developments in Batangas... Like Canyonwoods. And everyone else living in a subdivision, admit it. And then I will admit that I live in Valle Verde. Ok?

Now we can have peace.

That should buy us some time...

I wouldn't set my hopes up too high though. It used to take 6 months, 3 months tops. It's gotten worse. Now it's, like, every other week.

It's good entertainment though. Gives me an excuse to roll my eyes and say 'Rich kids...'

God! What's happening? I think I just played into this game...

Ok guys. We can stop the pretending. Renell, admit that you have a summer home in Ayala Alabang. Greyx, admit that you live in Dasma really and that the reason why you have an apartment in Cityland is because you own Cityland. Francis, admit that you live in Greenhills. Mhe-Ann, admit that you live in one of those new golf-club developments in Batangas... Like Canyonwoods. And everyone else living in a subdivision, admit it. And then I will admit that I live in Valle Verde. Ok?

Now we can have peace.

well my summer house is in a busy street in San Andres :lol:

Don't get yourself into the game power-mad. it's full of twists. try to watch in the sides, then when your ready, join in the circle ;)

That should buy us some time...

I wouldn't set my hopes up too high though. It used to take 6 months, 3 months tops. It's gotten worse. Now it's, like, every other week.

It's good entertainment though. Gives me an excuse to roll my eyes and say 'Rich kids...'

God! What's happening? I think I just played into this game...

wealth is a matter of accident. therefore, it shouldn't really matter :p

however, you haven't seen rich kids until you've seen "young, posh, and loaded" :D

wealth is a matter of accident. therefore, it shouldn't really matter :p

however, you haven't seen rich kids until you've seen "young, posh, and loaded" :D

THAT is one accident I wouldn't mind coming my way.

I've seen the teasers to Young, Posh and Loaded though I've never gotten around to actually watching it. What's the treatment? Is it similar to The Simple Life? Or is it more reportorial like the loaded-kids docu National Geographic (or was it Discovery?) ran a few months ago?

Im sorry, but I dont have my own swimming pool, I dont have a Jeeves, and I dont have my own modified Lancer. ;)



I prefer a Mclaren :lol: but that i dont have either:D

sue me then for owning Cityland.:D lol Why do we keep building those uglies??:lol: dang, should have hired Edmund, worlds most recognized and wealthiest architect.:lol:

should have hired Edmund, worlds most recognized and wealthiest architect.:lol:
eehh? Is that true edmund? :colgate:

haha...i don't live in Greenhills. Ive been there only once in my whole lifetime.
enuff said about the rich thing. i won't argue with anyone bec i dun have to.
i know where i am, and it does not matter with me. tho sometimes, i dream of being born into a rich family, living in those luxurious houses, going into private college, etc...

THAT is one accident I wouldn't mind coming my way.

I've seen the teasers to Young, Posh and Loaded though I've never gotten around to actually watching it. What's the treatment? Is it similar to The Simple Life? Or is it more reportorial like the loaded-kids docu National Geographic (or was it Discovery?) ran a few months ago?

it starts thursday, on star world. I'm not so sure about the time, though. I'm excited to see it, primarily because my dream is to walk into a store, get what I want, and not look at the price. Kinda like imelda marcos, minus the corruption and abuses :D

I'm excited to see it, primarily because my dream is to walk into a store, get what I want, and not look at the price. Kinda like imelda marcos, minus the corruption and abuses :D

This kinda reminds me of a blockmate in UP (who took up high school in STC) whose first words I heard her say were: "Someday I'm gonna shop without looking at the price tags!" I froze because I couldn't really relate. I was thinking if this was what people in UP talked about all the time, it was gonna be a very long semester.

I still remember that incident like it was yesterday.

That means you have money to dash, which also probably means you're well-off. good on ya;)

Every pinoy looks at the price tag before buying, and therefore they probably take a longer time in buying stuff. Well at least the older generation, but some teens learn it too:happy:

you couldn't relate bec you shop without looking at the price tags?
i never thought UPians are equally wealthy as those in DLSU and Ateneo. But not so obvious. I remember a blockmate who changes car every other academic year. My only consolation is...I'm smarter than he is. Hehehe...
I always look at the tag price everytime i shop. I really should bec itd be embarassing if you got no more money left on your card and behind you is a long queue of people impatiently waiting for their turn.

you couldn't relate bec you shop without looking at the price tags?
i never thought UPians are equally wealthy as those in DLSU and Ateneo. But not so obvious. I remember a blockmate who changes car every other academic year. My only consolation is...I'm smarter than he is. Hehehe...
I always look at the tag price everytime i shop. I really should bec itd be embarassing if you got no more money left on your card and behind you is a long queue of people impatiently waiting for their turn.
francis are you a graduate from UPLB?

I think yes, he's a UPLB grad. Many people says he's genius... chemist. :)

UPLB rin ako

I think yes, he's a UPLB grad. Many people says he's genius... chemist. :)

Yes, i graduated from UPLB. And extended students are not supposed to be called geniueses. I was extended for 2 more sems. But about 90% of my batch was also extended.

So we are schoolmates @ Ronna. What was your course? Batch?

I couldn't relate because... because...

Wow, why could I have not?

Maybe I didn't shop, period?

Or I didn't think shopping should merit a blip on anybody's radar? And because this was UP?

I said I remember it like it was yesterday? Well, maybe not altogether... :ohno:

Idealistic much? I went to UP too and I don't think I'd be at all shocked by that comment. Amused maybe, but I wouldn't begrudge the girl. Me and my friends from UP are definitely not averse to spending a litle cash. What's wrong with shopping? You're contributing to the economy. Everything you buy when you go shopping helps pay for the salaries of the people who either sold it, delivered it, marketed it, or made it, and some of it even goes to the government in the form of taxes which are supposed to help even more people. There's nothing evil or unpatriotic or decadent about shopping per se. And the days when only women went shopping are long over. Even socialists go shopping, just look at China.

as long as you got the money. bad if not. :D like me?

Here's a question for everybody, can you walk into a mall and come out without buying anything? Or can you make yourself go "window shopping?"

The reason I asked is because I have friends who can't walk out of a mall without carrying anything out. They say that it's no use going to the mall and not spend something, even just a little amount. And they think that window shopping is just a waste of time and "moronic" (that's their words, not mine). I'd like to hear your opinions on this. Thanks! :)

Errr...sometimes, we go to the mall because of the movies, then that'd be an excuse.
Or to the bank inside the mall or any other services we find inside. Or what if we go in just to take a look on something that we plan to buy the next time? Ayala Malls can be excused to that because of pedestran route from Enterprise to MRT which passes thru Landmark, Glorietta and SM. So you can get away from going inside these malls.
But I don't usually go on window shopping. I go to Megamall bec i want to buy something. I don't usually go to malls aimlessly. But most people get out without anything at hand. Malls are fave meeting places for most pinoys. And our malls are much much bigger than those you would find in the US. So the window-shopping thing must have been considered when these malls were built.

I'm a compulsive buyer. It is possible for me to wander around a mall and not buy anything; just being entertained by all the merchandise is an excellent way to pass the time, if you'd ask me :) But if I see something that I like, I get it, no questions asked, even if the price is way too high. I live waaaaaaaay beyond my means :D but hey, I'm contributing to the economy, right?

i try to stay away from malls. i really dislike them. but then i live in the states. i prefer downtown shopping. in fact, i haven't been inside a mall in almost a year. i do shop though. but i shop from stores in downtown centers because malls tend to concentrate development away from city-centers and into suburban sprawl areas here. additionally, i try to support local businesses rather than national/multinational chains so i would be more than likely to shop at a mom-and-pop shop rather than The Gap, go to local coffee houses rather than Starbuck's.

however, in the philippines things are different. malls effectively act as downtown centers, especially in metro manila. and whenever i'm in the philippines, i'm in consume mode so i whenever i go to malls, i always end up buying something. but even in the philippines, i would rather go to divisoria than glorietta. and i would rather go to a philippine coffee chain (i forget their names... cafe ryzal? cafea?-- there's one on mother ignacia, that place that sells barako coffee in gourmet sacks?) rather than Starbuck's.

Are you talking about Figaro?

Oh yeah Figaro.

my friend who went to Ohio said that Mike...that malls are found in the suburbs? am i right? and smaller than what we got in here. I don't drink coffee, so i don't need to go to starbucks or local barako dealer. but in case i feel the urge, we got a Nescafe dispenser here, so i could always get from there. And take note...It's bottomless. We also have bottomless iced tea. but i don't drink it either. i prefer the bottomless mineral water.

Yep... Malls are found in suburban bedroom communities. More akin to Festival Mall in Muntinlupa. They tend to take the commercial life away from the city centers that way such that downtowns are deserted while the people are under a gigantic roof surrounded by parking lots. Some are smaller than Philippine ones.

But in the Philippines, especially in Metro manila, they already are inside city centers. And they're practical because of the airconditioning. And it's not as if downtowns are being disregarded. Quiapo is still Quiapo despite having SM City just over the river.

It's true that shopping malls here in the US are mostly found in suburbia, more convenient for people of the "burbs" to go shopping than trekking all the way downtown and back. But downtown shopping is also an experience, especially if you have those flagship stand-alone stores that takes up a whole block (or even more!).

I'm a compulsive buyer. It is possible for me to wander around a mall and not buy anything; just being entertained by all the merchandise is an excellent way to pass the time, if you'd ask me :) But if I see something that I like, I get it, no questions asked, even if the price is way too high. I live waaaaaaaay beyond my means :D but hey, I'm contributing to the economy, right?

I'm compulsive at times, like if I went window shopping and not really intent of buying anything but if I spotted something I like and it's the only one left on shelf/rack, I take it as a sign that I was meant to purchase it. No "shopper's guilt" involved, especially if the item was on sale or on clearance! :)

i only go shopping if there's a mall-wide sale. SM is actually famous for its 3-day sale that happens every 6 months simultaneously on all their branches. & i make it a point to save up for the 'madness' sale of megamall every may & october. daig ko pa nag-panic buying hehe... downtown shopping here has virtually gone eversince the 'malling' culture invaded, except for divi & quiapo maybe...goin on those areas tires u easily coz of heat & so much mess...

Buti sa Penshoppe pwedeng magpa-reserve ng damit for three days so if there would be a sale pwede mong pa-reserve yung damit three days before the sale then buy it during the sale. That's 10% off the price.

Yes, i graduated from UPLB. And extended students are not supposed to be called geniueses. I was extended for 2 more sems. But about 90% of my batch was also extended.

So we are schoolmates @ Ronna. What was your course? Batch?
comsci 2002

Demand for office space in Global City
Interest in Bonifacio Global City as an office address of choice is heightening with the increased pace of development in the area.

Jun Bisnar, head of commercial operations of Fort Bonifacio Development Corp. (FBDC), said the firm has been receiving a steady stream of inquiries from companies wanting to relocate to the emerging business district.
Demand for office space are high, but buildings are fully leased out.

"But Bonifacio Technology Center is already 100% leased so we have had to turn down many offers."

FBDC-owned Bonifacio Technology Center is one of the two office buildings in Bonifacio Global City. Its major tenants include HatchAsia.com and Vocative Systems, Inc.

The other office building, Net One, is owned by 19-1 Realty and is also fully occupied. Multinational and information technology firms, including Wrigley's, Tetra Pak, and Allied Telesis, are also located at the building.
http://bworld.com.ph/current/CorporateWorld/office.jpg

Mr. Bisnar said FBDC is currently negotiating with multinational companies interested in locating their offices in Bonifacio Global City.

FBDC is considering "build-to-suit" arrangements to accommodate the international firms, including some that are in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

Bonifacio Global City is expected to emerge as a choice site for corporate offices and BPO centers, said Mr. Bisnar.

The BPOs, dominated by call centers, require highspeed transmission of huge volumes of voice and data through a fiber optic network, which is available in Bonifacio Global City.

Mr. Bisnar said of the 35 commercial lots recently sold following the takeover of the Ayala-Campos group, owners of 10 lots stated that they intended to construct office buildings. Of the 10, five indicated that they would begin construction in one to two years time, while the rest had a three- to five-year timeline.

Bonifacio Technology Center, with a gross floor area of 24,000 square meters (m2), and Net One, with a gross floor area of 14,270 m2, both have 100% occupancy rates.

Bonifacio Global City's E-Square area was been accredited with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

In the call center sector alone, 300,000 seats are expected to be created in the next few years.

Second to India in business process outsourcing in volume, the Philippines expects to capture a significant share of the world call center jobs due to the availability of high-quality manpower with English proficiency, facility in adapting to various cultures and the ability to cope with fast-paced technological developments.

Sweet. And its mostly IT centered. Things are looking good for BGC:okay:

Mr. Bisnar said of the 35 commercial lots recently sold following the takeover of the Ayala-Campos group, owners of 10 lots stated that they intended to construct office buildings. Of the 10, five indicated that they would begin construction in one to two years time, while the rest had a three- to five-year timeline.

Thats awesome!! Finally more office towers. I hope they are skyscrapers and not low rise offices...I'm sure they will be towers since the lots are so expensive. Make em' tall!!:banana: I also hope that the Sun Life Financial building is one of them.

yeah, im with ya grex :happy:

but im thinking of more of E-Services like buildings in BGC.. that's my only worry about it.

I sure hope not. And there's a big chance they wont because the land is so expensive and E-Services was built by Ayala on their own land.

good point about the expensive-ness. details are still sketchy so i won't be judging anything yet

yay! so BGC is gonna develop faster than I thought...

is there any chance for e-services to act as a podium for a future tall, btw?

we should have been in the Global City.. we we're looking at HatchAsia about 3 years ago.. it was basically empty that time.. unfortunately, our cash flow didn't allowed us to move :(

sad about that @ Dvorak. so you mean you have the cash now? :D you should move to PB Com or GT.

to keep us up-to-date of the latest business news & anything bout the philippine economy & other good & bad news etc., browse daily the Business World website para hindi tayo clueless always, oke...

http://www.bworld.com.ph/current/today.html

I think those office towers need to be built immediately. There is a looming shortage of high-grade office spaces even as the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry continues to roar like the proverbial lion!

I don't want the Philippines to miss out on this big opportunity simply due to the dearth of office spaces.

BGC is an ideal location for these office towers. Problem is parang puro residential towers yata ang nakikita kong tinatayo sa BGC.

@Francis.. we still don't have the cashflow! hahahha.. but we're moving.. somewhere in Paseo de Roxas.. not a PEZA accredited building tho.. then we could wait for Fort Boni to come up with those buildings and we'll see if we can move in one of them in the future.

I agree with Lightspeed, and i think the big guys also realize that so they will start building office towers Q1 2005.

i haven't had the experience of watching a rise of an office skyscraper. how long does planning take?

Well in Ayala Tower 1's case, planning took overnight!! And construction started a week later, i believe. That's because Ayala was shocked that PSE decided to move to Ortigas, so he aggresively tried to put Ayala Center back on the map.

As for other office buildings...i dont know. Maybe about a month of planning, and then it needs approval before construction can start. Edmund should know more.

There were two separate stock exchange ( Manila - Makati ) before, until it was integrated as PSE , however its still housed separately , the Manila group moved to Tektite in Ortigas while the Makati group resist joining at the Tektite so as not to lose the prestige of having the exchange office on their turf and literally moved heaven and earth for maintaining a PSE office in Makati.
Are there still plans to housed the PSE offices in a single location and where it will be?

In addition , Ortigas Center those times really got beefed up by the locating of ADB there and then the PSE at Tektite Towers and Ayala seems in state of paranoia why its happening. What could have happened if they( Ayala ) gave up those times ? I think it really paid off for them that they cling so tight those times.

Dvorak...where on Paseo are you planning to occupy? then we will be neighbors, but not for long. we will be moving somewhere else. there's quite a lot of offices along Paseo. why not try equitable tower? or Philamlife? I think Citibank is fully occupied.

where's your company moving francis?

@cropher, there are still plans, i don't think they've been scrapped yet, to move the Philippine Stock Exchange in BGC. im guessing it will be the only stock exchange by its size, leaving Ayala Tower One and Tektite free for others. I guess Ayala won't care that much, since BGC is basically theirs

yes right. this time, they wont have to compete with the future PSE site.
Renell, i am not yet sure where are we movnig to. But if it would be a lesser known building, then i think it would now be time for me to move out. :D and look somewhere else. it really pisses me off when we talk of these cost reduction measures. bringing the works to manila is already a very cost effective measure done by the company. moving to one of these odlies, renovated and mediocre buildings is too much. we'd better stay here in Citibank. But the building cannot give us another floor either. It's all occupied, and no one of the tenants seems to have any plans of moving out. (rant rant)

@Francis - we haven't closed the deal yet.. but I will let you know in 2 weeks.. it's one of the low profile building in Paseo.. not BA-Lepanto tho.. that building gives me the creeps!

hahahaa...creeps eh? errr...couldn't be China Bank. It's not a low pro building. Coult it be PS Bank? was that PS Bank? OR Or is it the 20 storey tower beside Citibank? Then i could see you from our lounge. They are the only low pro buildings i know. Or is it on the other side of Paseo, meaning near Greenbelt?

Demand high for office space at Bonifacio Global City

The Philippine STAR 10/23/2004

Interest in Bonifacio Global City as an office address of choice is heightening with the increased pace of development in the area.

According to Jun Bisnar, head of commercial operations of Fort Bonifacio Development Corp. (FBDC), the firm has been receiving a steady stream of inquiries from companies wanting to relocate to the fast emerging business district. "But Bonifacio Technology Center is already 100 percent leased so we have had to turn down many offers."

FBDC-owned Bonifacio Technology Center is one of the two office buildings currently located in Bonifacio Global City. Its major tenants include HatchAsia.com and Vocative Systems Inc. The other office building, Net One, is owned by 19-1 Realty and is also fully occupied. Multinational and IT firms including Wrigley’s Tetra Pak and Allied Telesis are also located at this building.

Bisnar further disclosed that FBDC is currently negotiating with various multinational companies interested in locating their offices in Bonifacio Global City. FBDC is considering "build-to-suit" arrangements to accommodate these international firms, including some that are in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

Bonifacio Global City is expected to emerge as an ideal site for corporate offices and BPO centers, observes Bisnar. The BPOs, dominated by call centers, require high-speed transmission of huge volumes of voice and data through a fiber optic network, which is available in Bonifacio Global City.

Bisnar is optimistic that in the near future more office space catering to various industries and businesses will also become available particularly as the real estate industry picks up. He adds that of the 35 commercial lots recently sold following the takeover of the Ayala-Campos group, owners of 10 lots stated that they intended to construct office buildings on their properties. Of the 10, five indicated that they would begin construction in one to two years time while the rest had a three to five-year timeline.

"We don’t expect to wait very long for Bonifacio Global City to be widely acknowledged as one of the country’s premiere business districts," he stated.

Bisnar expects Bonifacio Global City to attract offices, especially BPOs, because of its strategic location in Metro Manila and the accreditation of its E—Square area with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. In the call center sector alone, 300,000 seats are expected to be created in the next few years. Second to India in business process outsourcing in volume, the Philippines expects to capture a significant share of the world call center jobs due to the availability of high-quality manpower with English proficiency, facility in adapting to various cultures and the ability to cope with fast-paced technological developments.

country’s financial center," says Bisnar. "Many of the prestigious office buildings to be built in the future will probably be located here."

For more information, visit www.fbglobalcity.com or call 818-3601 from Mondays to Fridays 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

They better build these office towers fast because office space vacancies are getting low.

:applause: I cant wait, and they better do it soon!

yes, i really hope that GMA could get the country going, and eventually we would see more office buildings UC.

Philrealty plots turnaround

PHILREALTY, which has daily been bumping the 50-percent rise ceiling since the stock began trading again last week, plans to build a Megaworld-style condominium in its Fort property instead of its original plan with bigger, Alexandra-sized units.

Now being used as a parking lot in front of the UCC coffee shop, the property offers a better promontory point to the Manila Golf fairway than the Pacific Plaza Towers.

According to the grapevine, Philrealty principal Gerardo Lanuza has successfully rounded up a group of investors, including fellow iBank director Enrique Razon Jr., to provide fresh funding for the Fort project.

The projected profits from the Fort project will then be used by Philrealty to finish its Andrea condo complex in what used to be the Pepsi compound in Quezon City's Balete Drive.

What's a Megaworld style condominium? an cheap building with no care whatsover about facade?

below are some of megaworld's projects..

ForbesWood Heights
http://www.megaworldcorp.com/_data/properties/big/ACF2A0SSO.jpg

Greenbelt Parkplace
http://www.megaworldcorp.com/_data/properties/big/ACFJkszRr.jpg

ewww...Megaworld style? that doesnt sound good. The only good Megaworld designs are the Bellagio and Parkview.

Philrealty plots turnaround...

...The projected profits from the Fort project will then be used by Philrealty to finish its Andrea condo complex in what used to be the Pepsi compound in Quezon City's Balete Drive.

Hey, this is the tall abandoned condo beside Magnolia-Nestlé.
Good to hear that this will be completed at last.

This building really looks creepy being massive and unpainted.

I even remember having nightmares set on that building, really scary.
The plot goes like we attended a party on that abandoned building with creepy interiors and then we got trapped inside with all these hideous creatures and I was forced to jump on one of the upper levels.

haha. still remember that dream. :colgate:

lol.. i guess that's what you get for posting here.. even your dreams are about skyscrapers!

lol @ thomasian. Is that the condo that is visible from MRT 2, next to the Nestle Ice Cream plant? If so, yes it is a pretty creepy unfinished building. Good that they will finish it.

I even remember having nightmares set on that building, really scary.
The plot goes like we attended a party on that abandoned building with creepy interiors and then we got trapped inside with all these hideous creatures and I was forced to jump on one of the upper levels.



I think I'd choose hideous characters anytime over an aging, pot-bellied, jacket-clad contravida shouting (from behind the mandatory foundation): "Hayop ka *your name here*! Hindi ka na makakalabas ng Megaworld building na ito. Sa lahat ba naman ng skyscrapers sa Maynila, dito mo pa napiling magtago! Ang cheap mo! Wala kang ka-taste-taste!"

To be sure. I'd make for a horrible scriptwriter. :laugh:

you guys talking about this building? this has long been halted.. and I think there should be 3 more of this be built in the area...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid128/paac5f764bdc734a92959b40bfdfc4e84/f7df2f9b.jpg

Yeah, i was talking about that building. I'm pretty sure the others were too. Well, at least they will resume construction:)

But of course, this building is not in BGC...so lets go back to BGC;)

where's this area again? :?

that building is in QC (or San Juan area) near the Nestle-Magnolia plant.. that shot is taken while I was on board MRT2....

i saw it clearly from MRT2, its only that area of the ride that has a good view. Other areas look neglected and worn out.

Back to BGC...Since it will become the future CBD, does anybody else think its roads are too small? They dont even have center medians/islands. But i guess the possible explanation for this is because the area is more spread out for buildings, unlike Makati where the concentration of skyscrapers are in just 4 roads - Ayala Avenue, Buendia, Paseo de Roxas and Makati Avenue.

Philrealty in talks with investors for joint development of Fort Boni property
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña
The Philippine Star 10/29/2004

Philippine Realty & Holdings Corp. (Philrealty) is in talks with several investors, including International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) president Enrique Razon Jr., for the joint development of its properties in the Bonifacio Global City.

Philrealty, one of the original members in the consortium which won the 1995 bidding for the development of the former Fort Bonifacio military base, plans to build smaller condominium units in its three lot properties since management believes these are "most marketable at this time."

The company is primarily known for its projects in the Ortigas Center, foremost of which is the Tektite Towers – the headquarters of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). Its other projects and landbank include the Alexandra Condominiums in Ortigas and lot properties in Tagaytay, Batangas, Quezon and Rizal.

In a disclosure to the PSE, Philrealty said while talks have been ongoing with Razon and other investors, no agreement has yet been reached with anyone. Razon is a director at the listing-bound International Exchange Bank, chaired by Philrealty chairman Gerardo Lanuza.

Philrealty said the cash that would be generated from the proposed projects will be used to complete the Andrea North residential complex in New Manila, Quezon City.

Philrealty’s stocks have been hitting the 50-percent price ceiling since the Philippine Stock Exchange lifted the suspension of trading on the property firm’s shares last week. Philrealty closed at 22.5 centavos per share yesterday from 15 centavos on Wednesday.

The completion of the Skyline Tower of the Andrea North project, estimated to cost P1.18 billion, forms part of the property developer’s court-approved rehabilitation plan.

Philrealty’s rehabilitation receiver considers the completion of the Andrea Skyline project critical to the firm’s rehabilitation efforts "as this would restore public confidence on the ability of petitioner to continue and complete its on-going projects and undertake new projects in line with its main purpose of real estate development."

Philrealty’s rehabilitation plan also calls for the settlement of P1.31 billion in secured debt through dacion-en-pago or payment-in-kind scheme and the restructuring of P890.6 million in debts over a 10-year period.

Philrealty filed for rehabilitation with the courts after being saddled with losses since the slump of the real estate industry in 1997. In its petition for suspension of debt payments, Philrealty said its cashflow has been insufficient to fully service its P3.76-billion liabilities as well as finance its working capital needs.

Since 1998, the company has been offering land properties to the banks as payment for its obligation through dacion en pago arrangements.

i saw it clearly from MRT2, its only that area of the ride that has a good view. Other areas look neglected and worn out.

Back to BGC...Since it will become the future CBD, does anybody else think its roads are too small? They dont even have center medians/islands. But i guess the possible explanation for this is because the area is more spread out for buildings, unlike Makati where the concentration of skyscrapers are in just 4 roads - Ayala Avenue, Buendia, Paseo de Roxas and Makati Avenue.

Spread out meaning it's less dense?
Ok, that could be a reason why BGC's roads are too small, but FCC would also be similar to BGC in terms of development and yet it still managed to have wider roads with center islands with palm trees in it.

it's called sprawl. ;)

one of the main roads in BGC doesn't seem too small. but for its size there should be a bus service around the area

It will be dense, but its more of a blockish CBD, instead of a linear CBD of Makati (which has skyscrapers following the main roads).

The Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday signed an escrow agreement with Fort Bonifacio Development Corp. (FBDC) and escrow agent Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) that shall cover the shares of the land owner where the exchange intends to relocate its headquarters at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.


“The agreement shall cover the shares of the company owning the land to which PSE proposes to relocate in the future,” PSE said adding that the assignment of an escrow is in accordance with the definitive agreement earlier signed between PSE and FBDC in November 2002 for the relocation of the PSE office.


An escrow agreement is a written contract made between the parties to be deposited to a third party or escrow agent.


This agreement sets forth the basic obligations of the parties, describes the monies among other things of value to be deposited in with a third party, to be delivered upon the fulfillment of certain conditions earlier agreed upon by the concerned parties.


The escrow agent, in this case RCBC, is instructed concerning the disposition of the monies deposited. These monies are latter on disbursed upon the closing of the necessary agreements.


The exchange traces its roots from the country’s two former bourses at the Manila Stock Exchange (MSE) and the Makati Stock Exchange (MkSE)


MkSE was established in 1963 and was the second bourse to operate in the country.


MSE on the other hand was the first ever trading bourse in the country founded in 1927 and was originally located in downtown Manila. It later changed its name to the Philippine Stock Exchange and moved to Pasig City in 1992 where the current headquarters is presently situated.


Ten years after, PSE is set for another relocation as its management signed a contract with FBDC to develop part of Fort Bonifacio where the PSE will find its new home.


Bonifacio Land Corp. (BLC) and the government-run Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) comprise the joint-venture group behind the development of FBDC.


BLC is the majority owner of FBDC, which is the developer of Bonifacio Global City. The area, which is a former military base in Taguig, is being developed as a commercial business district.


The company is jointly controlled by Ayala Land Inc. and Greenfield Development Corp. after Metro Pacific Corp. earlier sold its 50.4-percent stake in BLC in 2002.


BCDA on the other hand was created in 1992 to engage in accelerating the conversion and development of the former base, and the promotion of the social and economic development around the country.


Meanwhile, escrow agent RCBC is a universal bank engaged in a wide range of banking and financial products and services including commercial and retail banking, credit cards, asset management, and investment banking products and services.

Wow!!! Now it's all systems go for Capital Place.
We badly need Grade A office space right now and this will be the answer to our prayers.

if MSE was established in as early as 1927, we could have been the first stock market in Asia....

I hope to see Capital Place going up soon!

But we really need more office towers! There's already so much residential high-rises.

Office towers are more desirable, at least for the economy, because they are used to run businesses and enterprises, which contribute to the overall economic output.

Residential towers, on the other hand, do not have the same multiplier effect to the economy as office towers do because they are simply used for dwelling.

it says in the article it was established in 1927 :?

From my understanding, the Philippine Stock Exchange in Tektite Towers in Ortigas will move to BGC, and that the Makati Stock Exchange in Ayala Tower One will not move.

cool! finally hopefully capital place would be uc.

maybe we will see grand hyatt comming also since it is part of the capital place.

someone told me abour how the roads in BGC are narrow. i wonder maybe they have plans of expanding the existing roads? but i remember seeing photos that there are pavings and tress layed out already on the sidewalks. i hope they sticked with the original plans of BGC and not trying to maximize the sellable lots and we see bad traffic in the future. sayang naman

Yah Edmund , I noticed that most roads are really narrow ( at least 4-lane without center island ) in BGC but is the sidewalks quite wide ? If the sidewalks are wide , then , they may have provisions to expand the roads in the future when there is a need to do so.

How big is ( in hectares ) is the following business districts ?

Makati , originally ( excluding Salcedo/Legaspi Villages ) :___________
Makati , including S/L Villages :_____________
Ortigas Center :___________
Eastwood is 15 hectares
Rockwell is 15 hectares
BGC : ___________
Filinvest Alabang is 244 hectares
Madrigal Business Park is 25 hectares
Aseana Business Park : ________
Asiaworld City : ___________
CCP Complex : ___________

Huh? Eastwood and Rockwell is of the same land area? Are you sure?

Eastwood looks smaller than Rockwell.

Also, please convert those in square kilometers.

does anyone know if all the roads in BGC are paved already? how about the circular park in center, is that built already?
Hello Newbie here...can't believe how much BGC is being discussed!

Anyway, not all the roads of BGC have been paved...they atually reserve the last layer of asphalt for when the lots in that area are developed, to prevent it from ebing destroyed by construciton trucks...that is why all the manholes are protruding.

Also, I hear that the center area might be re-cut by FBDC and the road configuraiton changed.

someone told me abour how the roads in BGC are narrow. i wonder maybe they have plans of expanding the existing roads? but i remember seeing photos that there are pavings and tress layed out already on the sidewalks. i hope they sticked with the original plans of BGC and not trying to maximize the sellable lots and we see bad traffic in the future. sayang naman


This sidewalks are about 3 Meters wide...

They are currently in the planning stages right now to change the road configuration in the center of BGC to ensure that traffic will not be a problem in the future.

some updates...
Penhurst was inaugurated last week. and at the same time Kensington broke grounds.
I really admire these projects. They have nice and unique payment schemes. Tho they're not so tall.

Hey Francis20...I have seen some people comment on building sizes in Fort Boni...the truth is, that buildings like Penhurst and Kensington are limited by FAR (Floor to Area ratio), which means that per given lot, one can only build a certain amount of floor area (measured as GFA or gross floor area). This is to ensure that the zoning is followed, and there will be enough road and utility infrstructure to support the people using the building.

From what I hear, Penhurst is FAR 8 and Kensington is FAR 9...for residential buildings, these are good to ensure open space around the building, and to ensure they are not too close together.

Other big buildings in BGC are taller, because they combine lots, to have more GFA, like pacific plaza.

great shots!! I hope the entire metro manila was as well maintained as bgc... grabe! that red building (forgot what it's called) looks real nice to me. one mckinley from that side is just ugly though. haha... is it being occupied yet?

my mom was telling me about how people from all over manila were going crazy over bread talk. never heard of it when I was still there. she says there's nothing special to it and all they have are the typical pastries you get real cheap at chinese supermarkets here... i dunno, that's what she says... but I didn't know Gonuts Donuts is branching out already...

Yeah, bread talk is great...it is actually a franhise from Singapore...although you can get their products at chinese stores, they are actually better from bread talk...before they had bread talk here in Manila, we used to buy a lot in singapore and bring them home to give friends...hahaha ghetto!

we used to.. but right now i don't think so. recent photos show it's finished already.

I am at the fort frequently, I don't think anyone has had their units turned over yet at One McKinley...

exacc
you seem to know a lot of info about BGC, where are you based? any plans of new buildings in BGC?

hope they keep the 3 meters wide sidewalk, that's what i like about it, good pedestrian walkways which is so rare in MM

What I wish for is that they have zoning rules that mandate first floors to have street-facing storefronts. If you have stores in the ground floors of buildings, you're going to have an active street life.

@boybaha, they have those in Boni Ridge.. the ground floor facing out is for stores.. I think there are about 7 units available for lease.. they already have a water refilling station, a wine cellar, and a laundry shop..

exacc
you seem to know a lot of info about BGC, where are you based? any plans of new buildings in BGC?

I am actually based in Metro Manila...ALSI has been trying to sell my dad lots in BGC, and he made me research all of these things...

Well, I am just new in the site, and have seen your collection of info on u/c and propsed projects. The latest project that was launched is SOMA in BGC...I don't know of any new ones after that.

I heard Philrealty is planning, but don't know if that is just news to help their stocks...

hope they keep the 3 meters wide sidewalk, that's what i like about it, good pedestrian walkways which is so rare in MM

I 99% sure that the the zoning rules will be followed. First, the sidewalks are not part of the area of each lot, therefore it remains the part of the common areas.

also, they have this set of rules called DSG (Design Standard Guidlines), which is maintained by BESC (Bonifacio Estate Service Corp) that have to be followed, and every building plan has to be submitted for approval. Since Ayala/Campos GRoup have a vested interest (unsold lots they own and would like to sell for a premium), they will ensure that all planned buildings follow these rules, so their other lots can be sold at a higher price!

What I wish for is that they have zoning rules that mandate first floors to have street-facing storefronts. If you have stores in the ground floors of buildings, you're going to have an active street life.

Well, actually in the zoning rules, they have a designation (I think it is called R1 or R2), which allows a residential building to have up to 12 meter high commercial spaces. Kensington Place's ground and second floor are street facing commercial...Forbeswood Height also have indicated that they will have commercial spaces facing the street when it is completed...only spells one thing.... :cheers: street party!!! hahaha

@boybaha, they have those in Boni Ridge.. the ground floor facing out is for stores.. I think there are about 7 units available for lease.. they already have a water refilling station, a wine cellar, and a laundry shop..
Hmm..interesting, I was just there in Gloria Jean's yesterday, and I am pretty sure there are no commercial units available in Boni Ridge. Although the area near boni Ridge, where Glorai Jean's is have many commercial spaces. I don't see a laundry service and water refilling station though.

@Exacc - they're not yet there... as soon as the tenants moves in.. then you'll see those stores.. turnover party for Boni Ridge will be in the middle of Nov.

@Exacc - they're not yet there... as soon as the tenants moves in.. then you'll see those stores.. turnover party for Boni Ridge will be in the middle of Nov.

Oh wow...cool, that is good to know. It is a sure thing, indeed! hahaha!

Just wondering, isn't wated in BGC potable? That is why it is so expensive is because Bonifacio Water filetrs the water...the idea is to make it drinkable straight from the sink...I wouldn't set up a water refilling station there then...hahaha...but maybe people still don't trust water from tap...instinct i guess...

in tropical countries that seems to be the case.. in belgium tap water was drinkable.. although you could taste chlorine...:D

Anyway, not all the roads of BGC have been paved...they atually reserve the last layer of asphalt for when the lots in that area are developed, to prevent it from ebing destroyed by construciton trucks...that is why all the manholes are protruding.



Thanks for this Exacc. I was always wondering why anyone in his right mind would want the manhole covers to protrude on the roads. It's such a hassle when you're driving. It's a good thing traffic is light and the roads are wide in BGC. Makes for easy swerving.

And yeah thanks for the input. You do seem to know a lot about BGC.

I passed by the area yesterday.. that vacant lot in front of Boni Ridge and besides Penhurst Parkplace is now under construction.. it's called Kensington Place, by GW Architects.. It says BUILT TO OWN, save 40%.

in tropical countries that seems to be the case.. in belgium tap water was drinkable.. although you could taste chlorine...:D

Its ok if u drink tap water from Singapore, Burnei and parts of Mayasia (KL) and not get sick. Most 1st world countries filter and treat their water. We have a water treatment facility close to our house here.

wow...i've been away for a short time, and i miss all this??:D

Great to see that PSE is finally going to move soon! That only means that Capital Place will be built soon! And possibly a new Grand Hyatt since it is part of the complex.

hmm..exacc, thanks for all that info.

yes grey x, i am looking forward to see capital place starts constructions. hopefully it would be as early as next year since office space in BGC is in demand

it will still take 3-5 years before PSE can relocate & unify the 2 exchanges based on a report in the Phil,Star, meaning it goes by phases, as stipulated on the provisions of the agreement bet. FBDC & PSE. so hindi agad-agad....and based on the article, donation & lot size pa lang ang pinag-uusapan, hindi pa yung location, price & the construction of the building itself....pero bat ang tagal?

hmm...hope to see it rise very soon though

I can wait that long.:) As long as they will do it. And besides, they have to build the office complex before PSE moves, so thats the main part im looking forward to.

so do they still plan to combine the MkSE and the PSE? i guess Ayala won't be so much opposed to it now, since they basically own, or something around that, FBGC

Bakit pa kasi pinaghiwalay pa dati yung locations ? Sayang sana noon pa physically unified na yung PSE.

yeah ayala is a big holder in BGC....so hopefully wil see capital place rise soon, it's an awesome building and tall!

http://www.viviun.com/data/properties/images/10708-21473-1CPK71SSAG.jpg??012512 SOUTH OF MARKET or SOMA is an exquisite 39-storey twin tower residential development that is the epitome of the "New York style of living." -- outmost convenience, pure indulgence and great accessibility.

SOUTH OF MARKET is located a stone's throw away from the country's newest shopping and transportation hub -- the Market! Market! Shopping Mall in Fort Bonifacio Global City. The complex will have 2.5 Million SqFt of department stores, specialty shops, restaurants, theatres, amusement, entertainment outlets as well as flowers and fresh fruits market. Market! Market! Mall is the newest and hottest shopping establishment and envisioned to be a combination of Greenbelt and Greenhills... signature/branded shops for the upper class and TIANGE-like shops for affordable shopping.

Within the vicinity of SOUTH OF MARKET are international schools such as the International School Manila, Manila Japanese School, British School Manila and Victory Learning Institute and soon to start construction St. Luke's Medical Center. SOUTH OF MARKET is also a walking distance to leisure, dining and entertainment venues at The Fort and Bonifacio Stop-over.

SOUTH OF MARKET if for SMART BUYERS who wish to get a more luxurious home while investing in a much lower price. SOUTH OF MARKET is the only residential building project in the Philippines to deliver units that are FULLY-FITTED and FULLY-FURNISHED, making moving in worry-free and hassle-free. No other development in the country redefines living more than SOUTH OF MARKET.

rmn, yeah we have that info and rendering already. Go to the U/C and Proposals sub forum. thanks anyways.

The other Sunday, we saw some balikbayans in Market! Market! talking about their newly-purchased units at SOMA.

So it looks like the overseas Filipinos are emerging to be very lucrative market for our new residential skyscrapers here, eh.

Good news! Hopefully, it will fuel more demand that will fuel more construction of skyscrapers. :)

so any photo of the finished market market? does it look as nice as the rendering?

The other Sunday, we saw some balikbayans in Market! Market! talking about their newly-purchased units at SOMA.

So it looks like the overseas Filipinos are emerging to be very lucrative market for our new residential skyscrapers here, eh.

Good news! Hopefully, it will fuel more demand that will fuel more construction of skyscrapers. :)

yes, they developers have seen overseas flips as a lucrative market. especially when some of em cant own land here

Almost all porjects being talked about are merketing in the USA...

And also starting marketing in the UK...

With dual citizenship offered 1 or 2 yrs. ago, we can own land in the Philippines. As a baikbayan myself hr in the US, it would be unwise to buy a land or a house there though. Due to the proximity, it would be hard to keep an eye on the property. Soon there will be squatters on the land or with people I know, had their houses looted. At least with condo on highrise, it is private and guarded.

Flips like me attribute it to the dollars' purchasing power (conversely pesos' cheap rate) and gr8 installment plan at zero interest. An average condo there is like buying a luxury car here. Tack in zero pct. installment, the payment is very minimal. Para ka lang nagbabayad ng utility bills here.

Believe it or not, Megaworld isn't marketing here in California. Sabi nila, money from OFWs are already keeping them busy. For a badly designed Eastwood project (from the many posts I read here), that is a surprise...

there's heaps of Megaworld projects currently, but amazing you say there's none of them being marketed in California. definately a surprise

Believe it or not, Megaworld isn't marketing here in California. Sabi nila, money from OFWs are already keeping them busy. For a badly designed Eastwood project (from the many posts I read here), that is a surprise...

Megaworld Projects are not that bad, maybe the exterior is not that attractive, being boxy, un-glassy, etc. but I heard the interiors and amenities are really good and that's more important than having a fancy exterior since you will be living inside the building and not on the outside, right?

Amen Thomasian. I do feel Eastwood project is a very viable and sound concept.

With dual citizenship offered 1 or 2 yrs. ago, we can own land in the Philippines. As a baikbayan myself hr in the US, it would be unwise to buy a land or a house there though. Due to the proximity, it would be hard to keep an eye on the property. Soon there will be squatters on the land or with people I know, had their houses looted. At least with condo on highrise, it is private and guarded.

Flips like me attribute it to the dollars' purchasing power (conversely pesos' cheap rate) and gr8 installment plan at zero interest. An average condo there is like buying a luxury car here. Tack in zero pct. installment, the payment is very minimal. Para ka lang nagbabayad ng utility bills here.

Very interesting insight...yeah, Megaworld is known to have one of the best payment terms. It is like buying a luxury car in the USA.

I would disagree though with the "zero interest" comment for pre-selling condos though. The thing is, they haven't built the condo yet, and they are alredy collecting payment from the clients. Most of the time, these payments could be used for other purposes other than building your unit. Effectively, they are the one who is borowing money from you...they are the ones who have to pay you interest for payments made during pre-sell period.

I have seen projects that have pre-sold anywhere from 3 to 5 years in the past...

I would say "zero interest" would only be really "zero interest" if payments start at the same time construction starts. Also, most companies offer discounts if you pay in cash, or give bigger Downpayments...which leads me to beleive that the interest could have been built-in the price already.

Megaworld Projects are not that bad, maybe the exterior is not that attractive, being boxy, un-glassy, etc. but I heard the interiors and amenities are really good and that's more important than having a fancy exterior since you will be living inside the building and not on the outside, right?

Yeah, it may be boxy outside, but the inside is very efficient. The broker was marketing one to me, and they keep on bragging about their 6mx6m square unit design for the 36 sqm studio, which is supposed to be the most efficient use of space. (I am not sure if this s really true though). I am thinking rectangular might be better since you ahve to take in to consideration the layout of the furnitures, and its dimensions.

I think we can agree to disagree. I can categorize presell with preneed sale (ie cemetery). You buy "stuff" before your actual need /usage because you can get them for a cheaper price. Buying it when it is built or needed would cost much more.

If you are really a stickler to detail, you can calculate which would give you a higher ROI, 1) paying for a condo at a lower cost and selling when it is done, OR 2) Investing the money now (instead of buying presell) and paying with that cash when it is built. I really don't know which is be more.

Lastly, not many people have financial access to pay cash. I for one would love to get the big discount, but like I mentioned, I am just taking my sundry funds to buy a condo.

:eek2: :jk:



Seven senators, seeking to put the Senate and the House of Representatives under one roof again, asked Malacañang to reserve 20 hectares of public land in the sprawling Fort Bonifacio in Makati City as prospective site for the new Congress complex.


In Resolution 118, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and opposition Sens. Jinggoy Estrada, Alfredo Lim and Consuelo Madrigal joined proadministration Sens. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Ramon Revilla Jr. and Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan in asking President Arroyo to set aside the land, citing the need to have a unified venue for the offices and session halls of the members of the two legislative chambers.


“Members [of the Senate and the House] find it hard to coordinate with one another, particularly in discussing vital pieces of legislation because of the distance that separates their offices,” the senators complained in the resolution. At present, the more than 200 members of the House of Representatives hold office at the old Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City, while the 24- member Senate rents part of the GSIS building at the Manila Bay reclaimed area in Pasay City.


“Locating the two houses of Congress in separate places poses a great hindrance to the legislative branch to effectively perform its duties,” the resolution stated, adding that maintaining two different venues for each houses of Congress has proven to be more expensive for the government.

ok ask ko lang pano ba mag commute papuntang market market? Thanks

ok ask ko lang pano ba mag commute papuntang market market? Thanks

Ok, I got this from the Market!Market! website. I hope it helps. ;)


BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT:

From Guadalupe-EDSA
• Take jeepney plying Gate 3 via Bonifacio Global City (Gate 1)

From EDSA-Shell McKinley
• Take jeepney plying Market! Market! via McKinley Road
• Take Fort Bus plying the Staff House route

From FTI-Taguig
• Take jeepney plying Guadalupe-Tulay via C-5. Get off at Sampaguita Bridge.

From Gate 3 - Villamor
• Take jeepney plying Guadalupe-Staff House via Bonifacio Global City


BY PRIVATE TRANSPORT:

From McKinley Road
• Left on Fifth Avenue (upon entering Bonifacio Global City)
• Right on stoplight (26th Street)
• Then straight ahead until reaching Market! Market!

From Pasig on C-5
• Right on Bonifacio Global City access ramp
• Left on McKinley Parkway (first stoplight)

From Alabang on C-5
• Right on Bonifacio Global City access ramp
• Left on Sampaguita Bridge
• Right on McKinley Parkway

From EDSA-Kalayaan
• Right on Bonifacio Global City access road
• Right on McKinley Parkway (stoplight after MC Home Depot and Speedzone)

a bit off-topic, but does BGC now have street signs? normal Philippine roads don't, so you have to rely on a driver or just urban road knowledge, which some don't have:D

a bit off-topic, but does BGC now have street signs? normal Philippine roads don't, so you have to rely on a driver or just urban road knowledge, which some don't have:D

hahahaha...!!! :cheers: I dunno about the street signs at BGC...

I thought the government is planning to move the seat of the government into Clark...? why would they build a new Senate and Congress thing at BGC...? they should talk it over with PGMA before they make any decisions. would be a hindrance to Arroyo's plans - which doesn't sound to bad IMO - or a total waste - if the move to Clark will push through. if they do build at FBGC though, I hope it's something nice and modern with a primarily Filipino style. modern Philippine architecture is a real beauty but could still benefit from a bit greater Filipino influence.

from corner of McKinley and EDSA.. may mga THE FORT buses every 5 to 10 minutes... they go around the Global City.. including Market Market and up to Bonifacio IT Center (formerly HatchAsia). Php10.00 lang yata.. aircon pa :)

ok ask ko lang pano ba mag commute papuntang market market? Thanks

from corner of McKinley and EDSA.. may mga THE FORT buses every 5 to 10 minutes... they go around the Global City.. including Market Market and up to Bonifacio IT Center (formerly HatchAsia). Php10.00 lang yata.. aircon pa :)
ibig sabihin sa kabilang kanto to....i mean on the northbound side ba ng EDSA?

a bit off-topic, but does BGC now have street signs? normal Philippine roads don't, so you have to rely on a driver or just urban road knowledge, which some don't have:D

Almost all MM roads have street signs. You just have to look carefully. In Manila, Makati and QC they have street signs on every traffic light clearly lighted so there are no problems looking for the street you want to go to. Manila and Makati have good street signs. Others not so much.

BGC, i believe does not have street signs yet. Only the major roads in BGC do.

BGC doesn't have street signs.. but they do have street directions.. so you wont get lost.. like this way to C5.. to Market Market, to Boni Ridge, etc..

@ Ronnaveth - yes it's on the northbound side of Edsa.. at the back of the gasoline station.. so if you're coming from Ayala.. you have to cross Edsa.. may mga jeeps din don..


Almost all MM roads have street signs. You just have to look carefully. In Manila, Makati and QC they have street signs on every traffic light clearly lighted so there are no problems looking for the street you want to go to. Manila and Makati have good street signs. Others not so much.

BGC, i believe does not have street signs yet. Only the major roads in BGC do.

Manila has the best streetsigns, they replicated those in NY & LA & now the main avenues are very well identified w/ very clear traffic lights!!!

Makati followed suit lately but i found their street signs very fancy, i mean theyre not built to last, unlike Manila's.

QC has the worst streetsigns, no uniformity, no visibility, & intersections are always chaotic... & oh, caloocan too & paranaque & pasay,

NCR concept was never unified...

yup... really unified even with the presence of MMDA.... anyways, I don't like the street signs on EDSA and some major intersections... specially for the fly-overs wherein the signs are small or are put at the base of the fly-over, so its too late too swerve if you're on the wrong lane...

just reviving the thread with this photo taken from the office lounge last October ata.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid148/pb2f3217877ab8d119782c3a3abdc1530/f60f33ba.jpg

nice...! haha... are those two towers to the right of Bonifacio Ridge the u/c Forbeswood Heights...? what are the other two further to the right of those (to the right of the one's i'm thinking are Forbewswood Heights...)?

i guess net one and one mckinley

on the left are Boni Ridge with Penhurst in the middle. Then at the center is Forbes Town Heights. Then Net One Center, and One McKinley. My boss' desk includes the view of Pacific Plaza Twins.

The newer condos in BGC are so short compared to the "older" onces like One McKinley and Pacific Plaza Towers.

Let me label the picture.

http://www.geocities.com/ofngol/f60f33ba-label.jpg

thanks, thomasian...that helps people (who do not know and non-pinoys):)

how about that one in the foreground? the big box in the left?

I dont think that it is part of BGC. If you look closely, you can see a flyover to the right of it. I think that is the flyover from Buendia to EDSA and BGC. So that building must be along Buendia, should be the one that has the Jaguar showroom.

Pictures By Joy Punongbayan - from ClickTheCity.com City Shots

http://www.clickthecity.com/img2/cityshots/20040912.jpg

http://www.clickthecity.com/img2/cityshots/20040914.jpg

http://www.clickthecity.com/img2/cityshots/20040913.jpg

http://www.clickthecity.com/img2/cityshots/20040911.jpg

thomasian, thanks for the labels. those boxes on the foreground are part of Buendia, Makati.

wow...beautiful pics of BGC:)

you know i can't really imagine why essensa became a best condo awardee as they always brag in the ads...i mean...it doesn't look that fabulous...it's not even glass curtain

Well, it's not just the design that counts, it could be because of the Interiors, Amenities, Services, Location, etc.

you know i can't really imagine why essensa became a best condo awardee as they always brag in the ads...i mean...it doesn't look that fabulous...it's not even glass curtain

Essensa has excellent facilities and its rooms are definitely top-end. Just because a building doesn’t have a glass curtain doesn’t mean it is ugly. A lot of buildings, including Essensa are beautiful non-glass buildings.

Essensa.. I think Kris Aquino lives there..

I truly like the public art pieces of BGC in particular the Sun rising which is actually a sundial. I wish that they would commision more artists to create these wonderful art pieces. I also like the Balanghai photo above and the 3 Leaning Towers. BGC is classy indeed. Give it time and it will definitely become world class on its own. :)

Pearl of the Orient Seas - The Philippines (http://Pearl of the Orient Seas)

Jon

Essensa.. I think Kris Aquino lives there..

that definately ain't no reason why it's one of the best condominiums :lol:

my first look at Essensa was that it looked particularly plain. but after closely examining it is one of a kind.

I truly like the public art pieces of BGC in particular the Sun rising which is actually a sundial. I wish that they would commision more artists to create these wonderful art pieces. I also like the Balanghai photo above and the 3 Leaning Towers. BGC is classy indeed. Give it time and it will definitely become world class on its own. :)

Pearl of the Orient Seas - The Philippines (http://Pearl of the Orient Seas)

Jon

Me too...i like the art pieces they put in BGC to make it a presentable world class city. There are still many to-be-developed areas of BGC, so expect more art pieces in those areas in the future;)

regarding essensa, it's exterior cladding is very expensive, eventhough it's not all glass, they are real stones from italy and again the amenities are very good, i remember when thay were selling this condo, very very nice!

so parang marble yung exteriror nya? just like yung building sa may ayala ave...yung pagmamay-ari ng KUok group...i forgot the name.....di kumikintab yon pag-umuulan

Plus, Essensa's layout forms a butterfly.:)

enterprise center?

malamang Enterprise Center nga yung sinasabi ni Ronnaveth. :)

are they owned by the Kuok family? all i know about them is that they own Shang Grand, and Shangrila too (that not 100% sure)

Enterprise is Kuok owned that's why its always present in the renderings of Shang Grand Tower.

Enterprise is Kuok owned?? :? did not know that.

Kuok loves to invest in the Philippines:D

when looking for condos, villas and real estates as prospects for future plans of settling down in the philippines, i just found this scenes as what can be viewed from Fifth Avenue PLace at the Fort

http://www.viviun.com/data/properties/images/6671-19971-373FQM57NO.jpg??110008
http://www.viviun.com/data/properties/images/6671-19969-1CJAJQ89M4.jpg??105942
http://www.viviun.com/data/properties/images/6671-19968-16FE2L2SL0.jpg??105901

The WWII memorial posted above looks nice.

Jon

wow...we should put these at the aerial view thread

yup... nice shots. significant changes have been made within BGC since those were taken though. that was before Market! Market!

Kuok loves to invest in the Philippines:D

haha..! yeah... looks like it. I wonder when they'll start the Shangri-la in Boracay...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid110/pd6798df5b0950e9029953457159cc230/f9146a52.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid110/p874ce66fe0750bc54f5e61b35bc34d52/f9146a58.jpg


nothing to do so i went back from the start of the BGC thread and im just wondering if you guys have an idea what those two tall scrapers are, located somewhere at the middle of BGC, and how tall they are. thanks.

from my memory, Capital Place. it's supposed to be the landmark of BGC, with the stock exchange, a Ritz i think... or at least a big chain hotel.

from my memory, Capital Place. it's supposed to be the landmark of BGC, with the stock exchange, a Ritz i think... or at least a big chain hotel.

oh ok. do u have an idea how tall they're gonna be? thanks.

it's still in people's minds, well and also drawing boards and futuristic renderings of BGC.

it's still in people's minds, well and also drawing boards and futuristic renderings of BGC.

PSE just announced plans to move to BGC recently, so I hoope that is one step closer towards this pushing through. hehehe...

from my memory, Capital Place. it's supposed to be the landmark of BGC, with the stock exchange, a Ritz i think... or at least a big chain hotel.

Actually its Grand Hyatt;)

And i dont think that is supposed to represent Capital Place because Capital Place is further away from the center circle, it is nearer to Essensa.