BRIA Homes Capitalizes on Bulacan’s Strong Market and Economic Growth

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The northern portion of the Greater Manila Area is perhaps some of the most underrated sectors in the Philippine real estate market. Residential developments in the northern tip of Rizal and the south of Bulacan, are deemed by some home seekers as too close to Metro Manila and its urban woes: air and noise pollution and vehicular traffic. Others bemoan their lack of provincial charm.

Upon closer scrutiny, however, Bulacan reveals an allure that homebuyers have long missed out on. For one, the province is host to diverse tourist draws that include old cathedrals and churches, historic sites, folksy festivals, natural and manmade attractions. Bikers and sightseers can revel in picturesque views of the Sierra Madre mountain range and the vast plains of Luzon. Outdoorsy people can also explore Bulacan’s selection of mountains, caves, rivers, and nature reserves—each offering treks for both beginners and seasoned adventurers.

Bulacan is a prime spot for next-level convenience that offers both the luxuries of urban living and the serenity of rural vibes.

On the flipside, Bulacan also boasts urban conveniences, with further development ensured by the government’s ongoing infrastructure program. Small wonder, then, that property developers are setting their sights on Bulacan.

Among the major players is BRIA Homes, one of the country’s top providers of affordable housing, which is currently offering house and lot units—ranging from value to premium—in strategic locations in Bulacan. This attests to the province’s increasing potential for accelerated economic growth and property appreciation.

Bria Homes is offering affordable housing in strategic locations in Bulacan, giving this province an immense potential for accelerated economic growth and property appreciation in the future.

Filipinos who visualize themselves enjoying a tranquil family life in the “suburbs” north of the metro can stop looking and check out BRIA Homes in Bulacan through https://www.bria.com.ph/properties

Of course, prospective residents of BRIA Homes should know about Bulacan’s large number of malls, hospitals, and schools that are easily accessible through public transport. Traveling to the big cities will likewise be a breeze, with the expressways like NLEX and SCTEX allowing for reasonable travel times. Ongoing developments, like MRT’s Line 7 and the New Manila International Airport, only show even greater promise for Bulacan’s future connectedness.

Bria Division Head Margarita Romero affirms this, saying, “In choosing locations, we do not only consider their advantages for homebuyers and investors but also for the property market as a whole. For Bulacan, offering a variety of housing options will serve to support its rise from a metro satellite to a bona fide development district.”

Interested homebuyers can immerse themselves through BRIA’s 360 Virtual Tours in www.bria.com.ph and inquire online through our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BRIAHomesIncOfficial.

They can also reserve a house online through https://www.bria.com.ph/online-reservation/

 As one of the country’s top providers of affordable housing, Bria Homes is offering premium house and lot units in strategic locations in Bulacan.

Investing on real estate properties at Bria Homes Bulacan opens a wide array of opportunities and conveniences, being accessible to major public transportation hubs like the MRT Line 7, NLEX, SCTEX, and the New Manila International Airport.

BRIA Homes is a subsidiary of GOLDEN MV Holdings, Inc., one of the top real estate companies in the country. Acclaimed for its massive footprint of over 50 developments in major Philippine cities and municipalities, BRIA Homes is committed to bring quality and best-value residential communities closer to everyday Filipino families. Through a diverse portfolio of properties such as house-and-lots and condominiums, BRIA Homes promises to provide the right property option for every Filipino’s needs.

To know more, visit their website at www.bria.com.ph, like and follow “Bria Homes, Inc.” on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Spotify, Viber Community, Telegram Channel, Kakao Talk, LINE and WhatsApp, or call 0939-887-9637.

The Barrettos’ iconic rest house is now on Airbnb: Gather the family for a festive getaway hosted by Marjorie and Julia!

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(Philippines) - To celebrate the advent of this year’s Christmas festivities, the Barretto family has announced that they will become Airbnb Hosts and list their luxurious family villa in Calumpit, Bulacan on Airbnb.

Entertainment veteran Marjorie Barretto and famous actress-model Julia Barretto will be opening the doors of the River Garden Rest House on Airbnb for three consecutive weekends — with the first stay on 15 October hosted in-person by the renowned mother-daughter duo, who will share their favourite spots around the villa and attractions nearby.

The rest house will be available for a one-night stay on three exclusive dates: October 15, October 22, and October 29. Priced at Php25,000 per night excluding additional fees, the rest house can accommodate up to a maximum of 16 pax.

Starting today, interested guests can make a request to book at www.airbnb.com/h/rivergardenresthouse, along with a message introducing themselves and detailing their request including their travel companions and why they are interested to stay. Guests must have a verified Airbnb profile, a history of positive reviews, and be 18+ to request to book.

“The River Garden Rest House is extremely dear to our family and holds so many precious memories for us. I am incredibly happy to now share this special space with the world through Airbnb, and for more guests throughout the Philippines and overseas to enjoy our Filipino hospitality and rejuvenating probinsya life. I look forward to many more families and friends creating their own meaningful moments here and enjoying the rest house,” shares Marjorie.

Located an hour's drive out from Metro Manila, the Barrettos’ expansive River Garden Rest House offers Filipinos an idyllic opportunity to reconnect with loved ones amidst nature. The villa offers four spacious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a large private pool, an outdoor dining area and lounge, a fully-equipped open kitchen with grill, and a gazebo boasting scenic views of the Angat River. Guests may also be able to purchase the fresh catch of the day for dinner from the fishermen nearby.

Purchased by Marjorie over 20 years ago, the villa has since been meticulously restored and furnished by the matriarch to reflect a blend of old-world charm and modern Filipino design. Local materials including pawid roofs, bamboo and capiz shell windows feature prominently. Each room also features a unique collection of precious antiques, furniture, accessories, and even heritage paintings passed down from Marjorie’s mother.

“One of my favourite things to do is spend a quiet afternoon in the shade of the gazebo, watching the river waters glisten under the sun. It’s always heartwarming seeing our family spend the day in different corners of the house, either cooped up with a book, engrossed in conversation, or dipping in the pool. I am thrilled to be supporting my mom in sharing this space with more families, and we hope our guests will enjoy and care for this space as much as we do,” adds Julia.

Recent Airbnb data revealed that destinations outside major metropolitan hubs are increasingly popular among travelers, and earnings from hosting are helping Filipinos grow their business and improve their homes.

Interested to learn more about becoming an Airbnb Host like the Barrettos? You can get free one-on-one help from an Airbnb Superhost at airbnb.com/askasuperhost, and find more useful tips and information at airbnb.com/host. For more unique stays this festive season, visit airbnb.com or the Airbnb app.

In farming, millions start with one quality seed

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Philippines is primarily an agricultural country. The popular folk song "Magtanim ay 'Di Biro" (Planting rice is never fun) tells about the difficulties of the life of the farmers, bent over the entire day, to plant.

Farmers are the 2nd poorest work force in the country next to fishermen, reason for which the current generation shies away from pursuing a career in agriculture thinking that it is a difficult and unrewarding profession.

However, farming is a field where there are endless opportunities. In fact, vegetable farming could help you get out of poverty. Recently, I had the chance to experience to be a farming in one day. I joined the East-West Seed “Great Journey” listening tour in Bulacan to meet and greet farmer nominees in the Search for 35 Farmer Heroes, as part of East-West Seed’s 35th anniversary celebration. East-West Seed is an integrated vegetable seed company and one of the 10 largest seed companies in the world. The winners of the search will serve as ambassadors and role models in the vegetable farming industry.

East-West Seed hopes to be able to influence more people to get into vegetable production. 

Two of the Farmers Heroes nominees shared their interesting and profitable vegetable farming journey:

Johnny Gatuz, 55, a former OFW, shared with us how he now makes more money by growing papaya and other high-value crops in Brgy. Kaingin, San Rafael, Bulacan than when he was an Overseas Filipino Worker ( OFW ) in Saudi Arabia.

His father was a traditional farmer and they hardly made ends meet. This prompted Johnny to seek for the proverbial greener pastures and worked as a construction worker in Saudi Arabia where he worked for five years as a construction worker. While there, he realized that the life of an OFW is not easy at all coupled by the fact that he was not also earning significantly. He flew back home, fell in love, got married and fell in love anew with farm life.

He started by renting out a one-hectare farm land which he planted with pumpkin, okra and sitaw.

As a newbie farmer, he wasn’t earning enough. His breakthrough came when he discovered East-West Seed and started using their seeds in his farm. His yields doubled and the quality and consistency of his crops were so much better.

Johnny now owns several hectares of farm land, farm machinery, a tractor, his own motorcycle for transporting his crops to the market. He also has sufficient savings for his family.

To pay it forward, Johnny hires his neighbors to help him during planting and harvest seasons. He is also very generous in training other would-be-farmers and is, in fact, responsible for converting a jobless, “tambay” neighbor into a successful vegetable farmer.

Rowena Manalo, 41, of San Ildefonso, Bulacan was also raised in a family of farmers.

At a young age, she and her siblings were already trained how to do farm work. As she reached adulthood. She worked as “biyahera” of the vegetable harvests. As a “biyahera,” she transports the bundled produce from the farm to the market, specifically the “bagsakan” which is the Balintawak Market in Quezon City.

Such was her simple life until she fell in love and married Jun, also a farmer, when they were both 21.

Inspired by the success of other farmers, Rowena and Jun decided to have their own piece of land where they could also plant vegetables as their means of livelihood.

As other start-up farmers, the young couple rented out a half-hectare farmland and with a very small capital of P5,000 which they borrowed, they bought ampalaya and sitaw seeds and went straight ahead with planting these I their small farm lot.

But their journey was not easy.

“Lagi kaming umiiyak noon. Kasi tuwing dumadaan kami sa mga taniman, nilalait, iniinsulto at pinagtatawanan kami ng mga beterano ng magsasaka at sinasabi nila na ano ba ang alam naming sa pagsasaka. Hindi sila naniniwala na kaya naming palaguin ang aming sakahan,” Rowena said as she started to tear up.

“Bayaan mo, pagdating ng araw, atin lahat ang lupang ito,” her husband Jun would always tell her.

Her husband’s word proved to be prophetic as the couple now owns seven hectares of land, two tractors for rent, a grocery, agri store, a water refilling station and their own lovely house.

Rowena attributes their success to three things: their faith in God, the love in their marriage that never wavered and their love for the farm and hard work.

“Nagsimula kami sa binhi ng EWS na sitaw at ampalaya at nagulat kami dahil mas nagging mabunga at maganda ang quality ng aming mga ani. Sinundan naming tio ng talong at mais,” Rowena said, recalling their “breakthrough” moment.

Last 2015, Rowena shared that they hit their first million through an abundant yield high-quality mais grande.

There is something so humbling about seeing these farmers working hard to give us the most basic of our needs. Johnny and Rowena, with East-West Seed show us vegetable farming is a very profitable business and it is an industry that continues to grow.

Discover your town, Discover Robinsons Townville : Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. launches new brand name for its community malls

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Today marks a milestone for the Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. as it formally launches new brand name for its community malls - Robinsons Townville.

Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. has been operating community malls for quite some time now. Starting with the first mall in Cabanatuan in 2008, the group currently manages nine (9) malls nationwide: Cabanatuan, Meycauayan, Pulilan, BF Ruins, Davao, Laguna, Dumaguete, Imus and Dasmariñas, Cavite.

One more community mall is also scheduled to open before the year ends. These malls, however, were known in the community with different names.

“Robinsons Townville connotes a sense of belongingness, of being family-oriented, fun and friendly. It is convenient to go to. It offers goods and services that reasonably meet the expectations of households,” said Mr. Joel Delfin, AVP of Robinsons Townville. 

These malls at 3,000 sqm to one hectare are anchored by Robinsons affiliates like Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Appliances, Handyman, Daiso Japan and South Star Drug. To complement these anchor stores, there are banks, ATMS, quick service restaurants, food kiosks, boutiques, a bookstore, a spa, a salon and an amusement center for kids as well as other full-fledged services designed to meet the needs of a growing community. 

To kick-off this milestone, a carnival-themed celebration was organized to excite the community starting with Meycauayan (August 14), Cabanatuan (August 28), BF Parañaque (September 11) and Pulilan (September 25). An array of fun and rewarding games and activities are in place for attendees to enjoy, including special performances from local performers. 

Besides the three-day sale at every launch date, customers can double their points on their Robinsons Rewards Card when they purchase in any of the Robinsons stores during this period. 

To find out more about Robinsons Townville and its activities, visit its official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RobinsonsTownville.

Photos: Arts &Travel Magazine 

PNoy and INC unveils the Philippine Arena, world's largest doomed indoor arena for centennial rites

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The Philippine Arena is now the world’s largest doomed indoor arena for centennial rites.

The Philippine Arena, 50-hectare complex called Ciudad de Victoria or City of Victory 
(Photo: Edwin Bacasmas(Inquirer.net)

Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III and INC Executive Minister Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo unveiled the marker of the Philippine arena as celebrating the inauguration of the “largest doomed indoor arena” in the world, built inside the Ciudad de Victoria (City of Victory) in Bocaue, Bulacan on Monday, July 21.

Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III and INC Executive Minister Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo  unveils marker of the Iglesia ni Cristo Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. 

(Photo via @RTVMalacanang)

The Philippine Arena, 50-hectare complex called Ciudad de Victoria or City of Victory, in Bocaue, Bulacan, a domed indoor arena, is the centerpiece of the centennial projects of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) for its grand celebration on July 27.

It features a bowl-formed structure inspired through the narra, the Philippine national tree, based on the world-acclaimed architectural firm Populous, its concept designer. Populous also designed the large 23,000-chair O2 Arena in London, in addition to various huge sports arenas and stadiums on earth.

The Philippine Arena is much more than two times how big The O2 in London as well as from the large indoor arenas in the US, that was why it had been a large challenge to create and make. The Philippine Arena “pushed the limitations of arena design” and it is now considered the world’s biggest indoor arena, Populous stated in the website.

Aside from the Arena, which can seat a maximum of 55,000 people, two other massive structures are being completed inside the 50-hectare Ciudad de Victoria. These are the 20,000-seater Philippine Sports Stadium and the two-hectare Philippine Sports Center.

According to INC executive minister Eduardo V. Manalo, arena will not only hold major church gatherings, this would be also open to be used by Filipinos of other faiths as well as by worldwide groups or towns for worldwide events and occasions. It will also operate as a multiuse sports and concert venue, capable of holding a range of events from boxing and basketball to live music performances.

Throughout its groundbreaking in August 2011,  Manolo stated the world along with other massive architectural marvels to become built-in the town of Victory have been made to bring glory to God and recognition towards the country.

He also stated the world had recently been imagined even throughout time of his father, the late INC executive minister Eraño G. Manalo, due to the requirement for large venues for events cellular the quickly growing chapel membership.

Visit to Barasoain Church, Malolos Bulacan

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Everytime my birthday comes, I always grant myself a special wish. I always wish to go to a  popular  or  special place,  and make my thankful  and prayer to a solemn blessed church. So last year , I have celebrated my birthday and visited a beautiful church in Malolos Bulacan.

Barasoain Church is also known as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish. It has been called “The Cradle of Democracy in the East.”

Barasoain Church has been considered as the Philippines' most historic church. It is one of the most religious building in our country. It is a Roman Catholic church built in 1630 in Malolos City Bulacan. It is the site of the First Philippine Republic. This church served as the session hall of Malolos Congress, the first congress in the Philippines held in September 15, 1898.

One historical event was happened when the former President Joseph Estrada vowed his oath of presidency in 1998 at the altar of the church, causing him to be the only president who took his oath in Malolos, the same as Emilio Aguinaldo did.

I have read that Barasoain Church is frequently visited by most Filipinos and even foreigners from different sides of the country. And because of its popularity and old age,  many people would plan to celebrate exciting beautiful wedding, baptism, first communion and other religious activities in this church. 

The monument of Emilio Aguinaldo in front of the church. General Aguinaldo established the Malolos Republic (The First Philippine Republic) in the Barasoain Church in the year 1899

A historical marker

I always see the image of the church before when I have a ten-peso Philippine bill together with an image of Apolinario Mabini. And at present, it is in the front side of 200-peso bill.