Weary of the long commutes between Libis, Quezon City, and Calamba, Laguna and eager to improve his family’s quality of life, executive Karlo Panti decided to get a pied-a-terre.
Karlo and his wife, Jinn Pauline, scoured the metropolis for a condominium that was an easy commute to his work at a BPO. Chancing upon Woodsville Viverde Mansions, they were attracted to the integration of nature with the buildings.
Karlo says that while other condos that they had seen were cold, concrete shoeboxes, Woodsville Viverde Mansions seemed welcoming with its clustered design that allows more than half of the property to be set aside as an open space. The family felt the cool breeze and liked the landscape, interspersed with pocket gardens and winding pedestrian pathways.
“When we got in, we realized it had a different set-up because of the greens. It had this refreshing aura,” he recalls. The Pantis were also attracted to the walkable conveniences of the supermarket, laundry service, and drugstore.
“Apart from the amenities, I really liked the location of the project. If we want to go to Calamba, it’s 10 minutes away from exit,” says Pauline. Before moving in, Karlo would stay at Woodsville Viverde Mansions when it was too tiresome for him to drive home to Calamba. Last year, the Pantis and their two children, Sofia, 9, and Ozzy, 3, finally to decided to move in to the three-bedroom unit.
The timing was right since Karlo got another job as Vice President of Operations for another BPO company, EXL Philippines. His office is located at the Mall of Asia complex, a short 15-minute drive away from Woodsville Viverde Mansions. The new address also made Sofia closer to her school, Colegio de San Agustin in Makati.
“Since our unit overlooks the playground, I can watch over my kids from up here,” says Pauline. On Sundays, they don’t have to leave their abode because mass is held at the village clubhouse for the residents.
Sofia immediately made friends with her neighbors and has been playing volleyball and badminton with them from time to time. Meanwhile, Ozzy takes to the playground and feeds the fish in the koi ponds. As a family, they love to hang around the pool, jog around the property, and do a barbeque picnic in the open-air pit. On weekends, the family also looks forward to watching movies and checking out the restaurants at the malls since Makati is just a few minutes away.
The Pantis have met interesting neighbors at the parking lot and at the gym. A resident, whom they fondly call “Mr. Congeniality”, organizes a monthly potluck meeting after Sunday mass so that homeowners get to know each other better. Residents are also fond of celebrations; on Halloween, children are dressed up for their trick or treat around the neighborhood.
Karlo prefers the convenience of a mid-rise condominium. “Having lived in a high-rise condo with two elevators, you spend more than five minutes waiting for the lift. With a mid-rise, it’s easy to get up and down because we share with a few neighbors per building. That’s why we favored a mid-rise.”
Pauline adds that since Karlo works on a night shift, she feels safe because of the reliable 24-hour security service. Although the Calamba house, which originally belonged to Pauline’s parents, is home to them, the Pantis enjoy condo living. “It’s expensive to buy a house with all the amenities. Here, we have a gym and playground close by except that you share it with your neighbors,” says Karlo. “With all the conveniences, this place is a bang for the buck. You really get value for money.”
Offering affordable, quality condominiums in key locations nationwide, Robinsons Communities is one of the four residential brands of Robinsons Land Corporation -awarded as Euromoney’s Overall Best Managed Company in the Philippines for two years in a rows. To know more about Woodsville Viverde Mansions, call (+632) 248-5888 / (0925)-700-0000 or visit the website at www.robinsonscommunities.com.
