MANILA, Philippines - In a burgeoning Metropolis where clean air and greenery are disappearing, and where crossing the street is a life-and-death matter, the concept of Two Serendra is groundbreaking. Nowhere in Metro Manila can you find a sprawling in-city development where 65 percent of the land is devoted to greenery and open spaces so inhabitants don?t feel as if they were in a crowded neighborhood; it?s a place where pedestrians are duly given the supreme right of way. This sounds like an urban utopia, but Two Serendra, a project of Alveo Land, an Ayala Land company, is more than a condominium development. It?s an ecosystem, an environment where organisms intermesh to result in balanced activity and exchange.

Two Serendra?s main lobby provides a sense of arrival and establishes a warm tropical ambiance with its landscaping. Although the condominium units, shops and restaurants are in one building, the public and private spaces are seamlessly defined. At the lobby, residents have the choice of venturing into the quiet garden, taking the kids to the playground or socializing at the piazza or plaza. Many experienced travelers say it feels like being in Europe with all the quaint shops and tony restaurants side by side with people dining al fresco, enjoying the view or people-watching. As in most Ayala Land developments, trees are distributed throughout the community to provide oxygen and natural shades. Even if it is located between two major commercial areas?Market!Market! and Bonifacio High Street?it doesn?t feel like living in the hub of Bonifacio Global City. Some residents of Two Serendra have enjoyed the advantages of living in this 21st-century ecosystem. Living there has stimulated many activities that have made life more enjoyable.

Take, for example, the siblings Ma. Milagros Javier, Brigida Regina Javier-de Luna and Ma. Patricia Javier-Uy. Being so immersed in the urban culture, they have found a home in Two Serendra that did not just complement their lifestyles, but paved the way for more enjoyable living options as well.

Unparalleled conveniences

?We used to live in a house with a garden,? says Ma. Milagros ?Bebette? Javier. ?When we moved to Two Serendra, everything is more convenient. In our house, if I wanted to get something from the kitchen, I?d have to leave the bedroom and come down. In a condo, you just step out of the room and you?re two steps away. That goes with the drugstore or grocery. Everything is just steps away.

?I get up at 7 a.m. and I leave at 9 a.m. for work,? Javier said. ?San Mateo is not far because I take C-5 to Marikina and I?m at the office in 45 minutes. I?m back at 6 p.m. in time for dinner. I cross the street to buy my groceries at Market! Market! I used to work out in another gym, now I?d just walk to the gym. The place is also close to the Fort Bazaar which is held twice a month. I find this a happy place because of the Shops at Serendra. Some of my favorite restaurants are just downstairs?Silk, Chelsea and Cupcakes by Sonja. At Bonifacio High Street, I like to frequent Fully Booked, Charles & Keith, Aldo, VMV, Face Shop and Krispy Kreme or get a massage at The Spa. My dad likes going to Cats Motors to look at the luxury cars. My Mommy, on the other hand, likes the area where they sell plants, fruits and vegetables in Market! Market!

?The expansive greenery doesn?t make you feel like you?re living in a condo. The wide open spaces are very refreshing.

?The location is ideal because of its proximity to Makati and Ortigas and the major roads, Edsa and C-5.?

Best of both worlds

?As one of the first residents, we immediately liked the place not only because of its convenience but also because the place is fun for the family,? says Brigida Regina ?Gigette? Javier-de Luna. ?My husband Noel is happy that he can come down from the unit and play badminton, basketball or workout at the gym which has state-of-the-art facilities. My kids, Camille and Lorenzo, enjoy the swimming pool and playground.

?I wake up at 5:30 a.m. and take the kids to school. It?s convenient for my kids because it?s just two flyovers and one stoplight away. Then I go to work at the bank where I am the director for operations. I pick them up in the afternoon and we?re home by 4 p.m. We walk around the place or have fun at Time Zone, get books at Fully Booked, grab a cheese roll at Mary Grace or go to Cupcakes by Sonja for her yummy cupcakes.

?My son?s seventh birthday was held in the function room of Two Serendra. The function room is very beautiful and affordable at the same time. The guards and building staff are very pleasant and accommodating.

?My husband also likes the accessibility to his work in Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue. He also likes going to Fully Booked or dining at Italianni?s. When we first moved here, we got a lot of discount coupons from the restaurants because we were regular customers.

?There is a tiangge at Market! Market! with bargain toys, bags and fabrics.

?Because Two Serendra is in the middle of everything, friends like to converge here. We?d have dinner at the restaurants at the Shops at Serendra and have coffee in the condo.

?In terms of road access, it?s faster to get to anywhere from here. It doesn?t cost much to get to any place we have to go. We just walk to the movie houses up at Market! Market!

?When you live in this condo, you know you?ll be safe. Once we left a TV tray in the parking lot, and a few days later, it was still there. An electric fan was left downstairs. The guards returned it. The high security makes this an ideal choice for foreigners.

Holistic lifestyle

?Amid the business setting, living here feels relaxing and secure,? says Ma. Patricia ?Patty? Javier-Uy. ?I like the tranquility of the place and the garden. Since I have a baby, Audrey, I can still go to work. With security guards and surveillance cameras around, I don?t have to worry. My office is in Pasig which is only 20 minutes away.

?I have a sideline, selling bag accessories such as purse hangers and key hooks with Swarovski crystals. They make nice presents. I can meet customers at the veranda since people know about Two Serendra. It?s a convenient place for meetings and transactions. Sometimes I go to the function room where I can display the wares.

?Two Serendra is only 10 minutes away from the Arnaiz Avenue office of my husband, Archie. He can come home for lunch if he wants. All my needs are met here. I can cross the street to the grocery at Market! Market! or stock up at S&R. I hear Mass daily at Sanctuario de San Antonio, get a haircut at Bench Fix Salon or a manicure at Nail Tropics. No two days are alike here. Sometimes we take Audrey to Picture and Co., a photography studio for infants. She can be dressed up in different costumes such as a fairy. We became members so that we could have unlimited sessions but we pay only for the prints. On weekends, we love eating at Conti?s, Chelsea or Cav. We?d have coffee at Starbucks or dessert at Cupcakes by Sonja.?

Their Best List

DESSERTS: Flourless chocolate cake, chocolate pie and berries and cream-Cupcakes by Sonja

COMFORT FOOD: Salmon, Mango Royale salad at Conti?s; oysters and roast chicken at Chelsea
SEAFOOD: Balducci?s
MOST AFFORDABLE: Abe?s
CD SELECTION: Fully Booked
NOVELTY: Hobbes and Landes with its wide range of novelty products, strollers, books for kids, inspirational books for adults, games
SPORTS: Rox
FOOTWEAR: Crocs has styles from infants to grandfathers
TECHIE: iStudio, authorized dealer of Apple products
GIFT IDEAS: Printed Matters can make custom-made notebooks, personalized note pads, etc.
APPLIANCES: Smeg for its wide range of refrigerators and other kitchen appliances