One McKinley, Borders offer the best of RP and the world

There is one high-rise structure at the vast Bonifacio Global City that definitely stands out.

This 43-story luxury residential condominium – the One McKinley Place – is simply the crowning landmark of property developments in its class, from the sparkling international-styled architecture to the exclusive 304 residences to choose from.

One McKinley, which was designed by the famed Hellmuth Obatta Kassabaum of Hong Kong together with Roger Villarosa architects, exemplifies comfort with world-class amenities, not to mention its superb location being at the heart of Makati.

It therefore does not come as a surprise when Philippine Townships Inc. (Philtown) asked Borders to furnish its model rooms. Philtown, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the RFM Group of Companies, owns One McKinley in joint venture with the Export and Industry Bank.

According to Philtown president Raul Martinez, One McKinley and Borders share the same product concept – offering the best of what the Philippines and the world have to offer.

Borders is a well-kept secret among the who’s who in society, people who want world-class furniture but at the same time want value for their money.

The owner, Alice Cruz, is relatively knew in the furniture and home furnishings retail business but she has been exporting her Cebu-made products for 27 years to the biggest and well-known furniture houses in the United States, Europe and the rest of the world.

And because word travelled fast about this Philippine-based furniture maker, her loyal customers have been egging her to put up her showroom in Manila so that Filipinos do not have to go abroad just to be able to buy her products which are sold under different international brands. Thus, Borders was born.

According to Cruz, she makes less than five pieces of each furniture. Every piece, which uses mixed media, is a work of art and a labor of love. Every material, big and small, that goes into each furniture is meticulously and painstakingly inspected to ensure quality of the whole piece.

A customer himself of Borders, Philtown’s Martinez said one good thing about Cruz’s designs is that even if you buy from them one furniture this year and another a year from now, you’ll be sure that they can still go together. "Each piece has its own personality, but not too contemporary. The designs and color schemes still blend," he said.

OneMcKinley. Borders. Two names that definitely go together.