MANILA, Philippines ? The south is looking more like, well, anything but the south.

After Tagaytay Highlands recently revealed a Japanese-themed residential community inspired by the great Katsura Palace of Kyoto, Brittany Corp. just last weekend held an open house of a community inspired by the colonial manors of the American South called The Mansions of Georgia Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna (20 minutes away from Tagaytay).

Other high-end communities

Not to be outdone, other high-end communities are Montecito located at Ayala Land Premier?s 1,700 hectare township (on Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road) and Lucio Tan?s 1,000-hectare township project in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, named Eton City, which is Eton Properties? first and biggest horizontal project, providing not just residential enclaves but also a ?championship-caliber? golf course.

Eton is also expected to build a 150-hectare South Lake Village that features 18 one-hectare ?islands? scattered across a 35-hectare man-made lake.

Senator Manuel Villar?s high-end real estate company Brittany (a Vista Land Co.) created the Mansions at Georgia Club for the ?blissful glamour of Southern charm.? Located on Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay highway, the two-story homes have ground floor areas ranging from 141 to 265 square meters. The development will have trees and pocket gardens, a front porch, picket fences and vibrantly colored shutters on French windows.

Refuge from the city

Nuvali?s exclusive village Montecito is described as ?a very private estate? for 280 residents on a sprawling 60-hectare site with ?magnificent views, rolling terrain and its own lake.?

Ayala Land Premier stated that the site on which Montecito stands was originally planned by the prominent Yulo family to be come a refuge from the city. Originally part of a coconut plantation, the property was reserved by the Yulos because of its exceptional terrain, high elevation, abundant natural spring water and of course, its natural beauty. Ayala Land Premier subsequently acquired the property in partnership with the Yulo family.

It is envisioned as ?an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable community.? ALP said that its planning began in earnest in 2006. Development started in 2007 and today, it has four residential neighborhoods, a ?substantial? road system, an operating business process outsourcing [BPO] center, a four-hectare lake with a small fleet of taxi boats, a bird sanctuary, and a retail area.

According to an ALP statement, the EvoLiving Center?touted as an ?architectural marvel? designed by architectural firm Leandro V. Locsin & Partners?will be opened to the public later this month to highlight all of Nuvali?s many features.