South Forbes communities

MANILA, Philippines - In Tagalog, the word bayanihan carries great significance. Originally it referred to neighbors carrying a hut or house to a new location. While transporting houses on shoulders may be a thing of the past, people now use it to describe an outpouring of community spirit -- as people give their all to the common good, without expecting recognition or personal gain.

When South Forbes Golf City, the country’s largest fully-integrated and all-themed golf resort city at the forefront of the Metro Sta. Rosa – Tagaytay corridor, created its Communities line, it envisioned a family of internationally-themed enclaves in a classic town set up where residents live a complete, vibrant, balanced, and sustainable way of life so that they can become better people which, in turn, makes a better community – a better South Forbes.

Name It. The first of the Communities line is South Forbes’ pilot project, the quaint Mediterranean Villas, with Spanish-inspired homes reminiscent of those along the Iberian coast. This now-thriving enclave is dotted with homes from South Forbes’ own line and those owner-built homes inspired by these.

“The Mediterranean Villas has the widest range of homes to suit almost every need, families big and small, from single-detached to duplexes,” said Cathay Land president Jeffrey Ng. “Even retirees will find this an ideal place to spend their twilight years with our bungalow villas.”

The adjacent Châteaux de Paris, where modern chateaus with cultured gardens flank a cobblestoned street, is inspired by the French capital itself where families are encouraged to cultivate their own gardens.

“Of all the enclaves within South Forbes, only Châteaux de Paris is conceived and planned to have themed public gardens as its main feature,” added Ng.

The Mediterranean Villas is all about classic elegance.

At the end of the winding boulevard is Miami, the tropical American residential hotspot in the city. Houses are like those of the Sunshine state inspired by the Miami Beach Architectural District containing the largest concentration of 1920s and 1930s resort architecture in the United States, with palm trees and all too.

Connect It. The lifeblood of a community is its people, its residents. And it is when social bonds are nurtured that a community becomes united and strong which is why the village clubhouse is every community’s second home.

The Mediterranean Villas clubhouse is the main attraction of the village. A cathedral-like main lobby is adorned with a multi-tiered chandelier that can certainly illuminate a Flamenco performance. Its wings, where the function rooms are located, are at an angle which appears to embrace the vibrant free-form pool. An immensely-landscaped cascade continuously feeds the pool much like a mountainside waterfall.

At the end of Châteaux de Paris’ well-lit tree-lined main avenue reminiscent of Champs Elysée lies the stately Grand Clubhouse. It features an elaborate garden and a swimming pool connected to reflecting pools surrounding the clubhouse like a moat.

And in Miami, there is an equally classy clubhouse where residents are elevated to a celebrity status, especially those who adore soaking in the sun and enjoy a nightlife that never sleeps. Swimmers and sunbathers are welcome to lounge on sunning beds all around the beach-like deck beside an oceanic pool. On special weekends, one can grab a bite at the clubhouse outdoor café for delectable barbecues with family and friends -- a popular American tradition.

Play It. Residents of the Communities and every other enclave of the Residential Cluster are entitled to free membership to the world-class 18-hole South Forbes Golf and Leisure Club at no activation cost.

All these and more earned South Forbes the Best Golf Community Development by the 2007 CNBC International Property Awards, the world’s most prestigious property awards programme, and the Highly Commended Award for Best Development by the 2010 Bloomberg Asia-Pacific Residential Award.

Move in right here, right now. Call 635-7777 or 631-8855 for a free city tour or log on to www.southforbes.com for more information.