MANILA, Philippines - The sleeping giant of a former military base, Fort Bonifacio started to stir when it was overhauled into Bonifacio Global City--BGC for short-- a business district where one can live, work and play. A haven where creative people whose passions can thrive. Thanks to the cumulative efforts of Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation, other developers, businessmen and retailers, Bonifacio High Street in particular, what with its tree-lined streets, well-trimmed topiaries, child-friendly sculptures and fountains, has been viewed as an oasis of serenity in a busy district instead of just a commercial city center. Despite the ongoing construction of hotels, offices, residential condominiums and the Mind Museum, the future looks optimistic for this place creatively dubbed as Home of Passionate Minds.
Advertising photographer John Chua began photography 35 years ago as a hobby. "I learned the hard way. There were no schools or seminars then. Once you learn something, it sticks in your mind." His wife Harvey gave him an ultimatum -- to give up the passion or make it profitable. Since then, Chua has proven his range, from macro to aerial photography, and he has specialized in photographing cars. " I look around and see young photographers who will try to beat me. They will comment, 'That guy is old.' I'm 60. I need to keep updating, I ride on the wave," he says.
Over coffee at Figaro at Bonifacio High Street, he waxes enthusiastic about his top-of-the-line camera that is extremely light sensitive. If a photographer were to shoot an establishment at BHS at midnight, with a single candle as the illumination, the image would be stunning. He then shows a couple of photographs of the water feature at Serendra's piazza taken at twilight.
"I was just testing the capability of making a night shot with this camera," he says.
Chua always lugs his camera whenever he goes out. He is equally enthusiastic about the pictorial possibilities in shooting at Bonifacio High Street, that long stretch which runs from Serendra to the forthcoming Mind Museum.
"When there's something nice, I go and shoot. When you bring out a big camera to a mall, the first thing that happens is that the security guards come and ask for a permit to shoot. This is the first retail area where you feel good as a photographer because nobody will disturb you. By allowing me to shoot, I can send images to friends by e-mail and say, 'Hey, I went to this place. It's beautiful,'" he explains.
"Second, a mall tends to be cramped. Here, it's a park. So there are lots of open spaces. You walk down the street from end to end. In the afternoons, you see people walking with their dogs. They come together and chitchat. There are children playing or a family is having fun. There are so many picture possibilities."
Chua likes to spend his free time in Bonifacio High Street -- from checking out the latest photography books at Fully Booked to shopping for his clothes at R.O.X. "I'm an outdoor guy," he says. He is wearing an olive green outfit by Columbia purchased at R.O.X. "If you get wet in the rain, this dries up in 30 minutes. If you sweat during shoots, no problem. I take care of an elephant at the zoo. When they see me in these clothes, they say, 'Good morning, vet.' They think I'm a veterinarian. If I wore ordinary clothes, I'd be questioned."
Chua's favorite passion at BHS is dining in such restaurants as Italianni's, Abe and Chelsea. "I come here to walk, and meet friends. My wife, who's my boss, says one day when we grow old, we should live here. So, we bought a unit at Two Serendra."
Chua suggests that the best time to shoot BHS is at 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. "Walk from end to end, you will definitely find a beautiful shot and even another 20 good ones. Look out. You'll see the guy mowing the lawn. He's got character. Or watch the streak of light coming in. Look at the sunset. No matter how many times I've photographed the sunset, it is always different from one day to the next. I can take a photograph without worrying. That's why I like coming here.""
An individualist, chef Rolando Laudico, 34, had wanted a restaurant that would set itself apart from the rest. One day real-estate developer Jacques Dupasquier promised him a special space at Bonifacio Global City's Net Two Center. Bistro Filipino was born.
"The environment is not in the center of everything," Laudico says. "Our place should be a bit secluded but when hotels are set up, it might be busier. I like the fact that it is a single restaurant," says Laudico. In the past two years, business at Bistro Filipino at the ground floor of Net Two has been flourishing despite the tough times.
For adventurous diners, BGC is establishing itself as a place for unique restaurant concepts.
Laudico's menu is daring. Dinuguan is a terrine between layers of rice cake; sinigang is made into a jelly served cold in a martini glass. Pork sisig is served in mini crispy rice baskets.
Pinakbet is made of oven-roasted squash with eggplant purée with okra, bitter gourd leaves and bagoong cream. The adobo is the seared foie gras on steamed chicken adobo. The Halo-Halo Napoleon is layered purple yam tuille with poached native fruits and beans in fresh water buffalo cream sorbet. Instead of the traditional suman that’s wrapped in leaves and fresh mango, the Suman Cake is served like a cake with malagkit base, topped with panna cotta, latik glacé and torched fresh mango.
Purists may be aghast at Laudico's experiments with tradition, but the cash registers keep ringing.
"I'm happy with this area. We have more sales now than last year just by word of mouth," he says. "
Companies from other places like to hold corporate functions at Bistro Filipino because of the ambience. The warm interior of the restaurant-- yellow walls, tables of mango wood, quirky capiz chandeliers by Yola Johnson of Soumak and vibrant arrangements of heliconias and banana leaves--entices guests to come and linger.
Laudico says that the place is quiet and offers parking convenience. "I like BGC. It's not cluttered or congested even if there is a lot going on here.
"This building is very accessible. I have back exit where a truck comes to load my catering. There's no traffic here so I don't get delays. It's near my house, no need to travel that long. I have more time for family and myself. Everything is near like S&R or Market! Market. If I have last-minute needs or emergency groceries, it's not a problem. I don't need to fear the lack of security because there is a 24-hour patrol. I feel safe in this area. I've been productive."
The restaurant is just a 10-minute drive from his residence in Bel-Air. He arrives before lunch and takes a break at 3 p.m. before going back to the restaurant at dinner and works till 10 p.m. The dinner crowd is busier compared with lunches. On Fridays and Saturdays, there are a lot of dating couples. On Sundays, families come from their Sunday Masses and fill up the place.
After the lunch break on weekdays, Laudico fetches his son Orlando at Montessori in Forbes Park, brings him to soccer school at the Polo Club. Sometimes they hang out at BHS where Orlando can run around or grab a Krispy Kreme.
Asked if he would convince businessmen to set up shop here, Laudico nods. "Number one, this city is being built from ground up. There's a master plan. If a city has a master plan, which means it is organized. It's not like everything is haphazardly put up. With an infrastructure plan, you don't see the cables and roads don't get flooded. There is a lot of growth potential in this city."
For a balikbayan like singer-actor Gregory "Guji" Lorenzana Jr., living at Bonifacio Global City was a convenient way to buff the culture shock. Any expat or returning Filipino, accustomed to the orderliness, discipline and comforts of America, would be appalled by the traffic congestion, pollution, filth and urban decay of Metro Manila.
Lorenzana says he made a good investment when he acquired a unit at Two Serendra upon his return three years ago.
"The place is serene with lots of green. There's the advantage of the shops just outside the condo. It makes living here a lot easier for somebody like me," says the twenty something bachelor. "Two Serendra has a great location. I can easily drive from one place to another. The units are classy and well-kept. For someone who lives in this area, he will get his money's worth. People are constantly keeping up the place. Everything looks beautiful all the time. Since my first year, people have been very accommodating."
Growing up independent, the bachelor does the household chores. "Two Serendra has good amenities for cleaning. I can ask the concierge to pick up the laundry or call a cab when my car plate falls on a number-coded day. If there are plumbing problems, the staff are accessible."
The conveniences have made it easy for him to be productive and use his time well. Lorenzana is nominated for an Awit award and is managed by ABS-CBN Talent Center. Aside from attending workshops or taping for A.S.A.P. shows, he appeared in the musical "West Side Story."
Lorenzana wakes up at 6 a.m. and takes his Yorkshire terrier Simba around the vicinity. "This is puppy-friendly area. You see a lot of dogs walk around. Simba likes to roll around the grass," he says. He goes to Two Serendra's gym and either cooks his own breakfast or eats at Conti's which is located in the retail area of Serendra. Driving to ABS-CBN in Quezon City is hassle-free from his place. At night, he enjoys hanging out at Two Serendra's veranda or having some drinks at Larry's. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, he plays basketball with his buddies at Two Serendra's court.
His love for Serendra is contagious. His parents, who are based in California, recently purchased a two-bedroom unit at One Serendra, Every two months, his parents come home and stay at the unit.
Lorenzana exchanges notes with his expat neighbors who also find Serendra ideal as they are away from the anarchic lifestyle of the metropolis and yet the community is self-contained.
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