Business Mirror 6/10/2008

The Filipino penchant for celebration has found new expression among mid-income residential condominium dwellers. These days, more middle-class families are celebrating a loved one's birthday, a family reunion and other occasions right at their home-despite the fact that home is a one- or two-bedroom unit.

With residential condominiums in Quezon City and Paranaque (and soon Manila and Makati), Avida Towers, Ayala Land's affordable housing subsidiary, offers attractive and spacious entertainment areas designed for such special occasions. Among residential developments aimed toward the middle class, entertainment areas with social halls and swimming pools are standard amenities.

Nevertheless, not all developments are created equal. Unit owners at Avida Towers New Manila, for instance, can host informal gatherings for as many as 100 family members and friends in the main social hall, a modern facility overlooking the swimming pool and verdant garden. Another 100 guests, meanwhile, can party in two more function rooms above the main hall.

Absolutely convenient and light on the pocket, the Avida Towers New Manila social hall (which rents for P2,000 for the first five hours including setup time) has been the weekend getaway of choice for many of its residents. "Our residents are family-focused. They like the idea that their kids can go down to the pool or the playground freely; and that they can simply lock up their units and go there whenever they feel like it," says Herbert Herrero, manager of Avida's Project and Strategic Management Group.

While a house is still considered the most desirable home for many buyers, the residential condominium, with its affordability and attractive amenities, is fast becoming the preferred living space, particularly among young professionals and entrepreneurs. Herrero says that Avida Towers tenants regard moving into the Ayala Land project "a blessing to be shared with family and friends through celebrations. It's became possible for them to own their own home."