7 Under-the-Radar Neighborhoods Property-Hunters Should Keep in Mind

Lamudi lists down seven under-the-radar locations in Metro Manila that should be on every property-hunter’s mind

The Philippines’ real estate sector is as robust as ever. For this reason, virtually every nook and cranny of Metro Manila is now being developed to cater the surge of property buyers aiming to get a small slice of the metropolis to call their own.

In this article, global real estate website Lamudi has put together a list of soon-to-be-popular areas and neighborhoods in Metro Manila. So if you are looking for value-for-money real estate but still covet a city address, these are your best alternatives to pricy business districts.


1. Brgy. San Antonio, Makati

Situated just a couple of minutes away from the Makati central business district (CBD) is one of the next big locations in real estate. Brgy. San Antonio is now touted as an extension of the Makati CBD, although condos here are still much affordable compared to those you can find in either Salcedo or Legaspi Village.

This prime location is also brimming with nightlife and a vibrant foodie scene, from local carinderias and interesting hole-in-the-wall joints to concept restaurants are all represented in Brgy. San Antonio. Some of which include Charaptor, a popular place for grilled fares; Pat Pat’s Kansi; and the local branch of the famous Zubuchon. Nights will not be dull as San Antonio is also an entertainment hub. One of its popular sites is saGuijo along Guijo Street.

Some of the most notable upcoming projects in Brgy. San Antonio include Megaworld Corp.’s San Antonio Residence, Avida Land’s One Antonio, and Shang Properties’ The Rise Makati. Completed condos in the area include Belton Place, The Linear, and Avida Towers Makati West.


2. Brgy. Ususan, Taguig

Brgy. Ususan’s main selling point is its strategic location. Thanks to being just beside C5 Road, this Taguig neighborhood is just a stone’s throw away from both McKinley Hill and Bonifacio Global City. In addition, the ongoing development of C5 Extension, including a bridge that will cross the South Luzon Expressway, will mean travel to the airport, Parañaque, Las Piñas, and the Manila–Cavite Expressway will soon become quick and easy.

Acacia Estates of DMCI Homes is one of the most well-known developments in Brgy. Ususan. This 150-hectare property offers both preselling and ready-for-occupancy condominium units, as well as residential lots in the development’s Mahogany Place projects. In addition, this barangay is also home to SMDC’s Grace Residences—a four-tower condo development—while close by is the new Vista Mall Taguig. Other condo developments located near or within Brgy. Ususan are Cypress Towers and C5 Mansions.


3. Brgy. Western Bicutan, Taguig

Located at the southern section of Taguig is Western Bicutan—a barangay that is well-known for being home of the FTI Complex where Arca South, one of Ayala Land’s latest large-scale mixed-use projects, will soon rise. This new mixed-use project boasts accessibility, as it sits close to both C5 Road and the South Luzon Expressway, in addition to the soon-to-be-completed C6 Road. Soon to rise in Arca South are projects by Ayala Land subsidiaries: Arbor Lanes by Ayala Land Premier, The Veranda by Alveo Land, and One Union Place by Avida Land.

However, if you plan to get a property in Western Bicutan outside the Arca South development, then there’s plenty to choose from, like newly built townhouses in AFPOVAI Village, some of which can be had for Php9 million.


4. Brgy. Palanan, Makati

This under-the-radar Makati neighborhood is also gaining interest as of late. Situated where the cities of Makati, Manila, and Pasay meet, Brgy. Palanan is an area that is near to virtually all the conveniences that these three cities offer. However, its proximity to the Makati CBD is what makes Palanan an exciting alternative for property investment. This part of Makati will also benefit once that the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 is completed and fully operational.

According to Lamudi’s listings data, one of the most searched properties in Palanan is Melbourne Residences. This nine-story condo development offers affordable condo apartments. Aside from this, the barangay also offers plenty of newly built townhouse properties.


5. Santa Ana, Manila

The heritage district of Santa Ana is strategically located where the cities of Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, and San Juan meet. As such, it is often regarded as a convenient location to easily reach these key destinations. Because of its proximity to the Makati CBD, Santa Ana is a popular choice among professionals who work in Ayala Avenue, while Ortigas Center is also within a short driving distance via Kalentong Street and Shaw Boulevard.

Santa Ana is also close to President Quirino Avenue, which is one of the exits of the soon-to-be-completed MMSS-3. Once fully operational, the MMSS-3 will make commute from Santa Ana to as far north as Balintawak fast and easy.

Two of the most popular condo developments in Santa Ana are the Manila Rivercity Residences and Rivergreen Residences of CDC Holdings. These two projects, located by the banks of Pasig River, reportedly enjoyed fast take-ups as many property-hunters are looking for a cheaper alternative to Makati condos. Likewise, a branch of White Knight Hotel will soon open in Santa Ana this year. The building will offer both hotel units and dormitory type rooms for female renters.


6. Tandang Sora, Quezon City

Metro Manila’s largest city still has a lot of places to be developed, but for now, growth is definitely coming for Tandang Sora as a number of exciting properties around the area are expected to rise in the years to come.

For instance, Vertis North, Quezon City’s up-and-coming business and lifestyle district is set to reinvent Quezon City soon. Tandang Sora will be the first to feel the progress as it is located close to this upcoming mini city. Another real estate project close to Tandang Sora is the UP–Ayala Land TechnoHub, which is a 20-hectare business district that is home to BPO and IT companies.

New improvements are also underway to better serve this part of Quezon City, one of which is the ongoing construction of MRT-7. This commuter railway, which will run from EDSA–North Avenue to San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, will immensely benefit Tandang Sora and other parts of Quezon City.

One of the most high-profile residential developments in Tandang Sora is DMCI Homes’ Zinnia Towers—a two-tower resort-inspired condo project that offers units for as low as Php2.35 million. In addition, the area is also teeming with plenty of newly built townhouse properties, some of which can be had for as low as Php3.9 million.


7. Chino Roces Avenue, Makati

Formerly known and still commonly referred to as Pasong Tamo, Chino Roces Avenue is a busy road that runs from J.P. Rizal Street in Makati’s Brgy. Carmona to Fort Bonifacio’s Gate 3 in Taguig. Situated very close to the Makati CBD, this thoroughfare—particularly the stretch between EDSA and Gil Puyat Avenue, has been getting a lot of attention in the market recently, but despite being just a few minutes away from the Makati CBD, real estate prices here are still affordable.

Food scenes and nightlife are also booming in this part of Makati. The neighborhood that is once dominated by car showrooms and warehouses now have enticing foodie spots, one of which is Little Tokyo near the intersection with Arnaiz Avenue.

San Lorenzo Place, an Empire East project at the corner of EDSA and Chino Roces, is one of the most prominent developments in the area. Ready-for-occupancy units are now available for those who wish to have a Makati address but don’t want to shell out a hefty amount. Other condo developments include Federal Land’s Oriental Garden and Paseo de Roces and DMCI Homes’ Fortis Garden Residences.

Declutter your Space, Declutter Your Mind:

We, Filipinos have the tendency to hoard things like luxury bags, antiques, and kitchen equipment. We are also prone to keeping stuff for years and years.

(Photo above is from www.istockphoto.com)

Unfortunately, overspending and overstocking on things eats up space in the closet and clutters our home. All those racks and piles of stuff really just add a layer of unneeded stress to our lives.


Source: www.istockphoto.com

Clutter has been found to overload our minds with too much stimuli, because there’s simply too many things everywhere. This forces our brain to process information that aren’t necessarily important.

Clutter also takes away opportunities for alternative uses of the space, especially if you’re living in a small home or apartment.

Homemaker blogger, Chrissy Halton, explains it simply,

“The main advantage of decluttering is that it makes your environment less busy so you can find and use those things that matter to you, without having to work around the rest.”

Source: www.freeimages.com

Decluttering has been gaining attention in the Philippines. Professional home organiser, Marie Kondo’s best-selling book, “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up”, has created a movement in the country with it’s simple explanation on how to only keep only the things that spark joy.

So, how do you decide what to keep and what to throw? Which of your belongings will make the cut?

Be Ruthless
Organize and know when to let go. It’s time to take charge of your own life. You’re the boss and you get to decide what stays and what goes, which of your belongings empower you and which ones are holding you back.


Source: instagram.com/bryansochayseng

Be objective, and most importantly be firm about your decision. Remember you don’t work for your items, your items work for you. Ask yourself key questions such as:

“Have I actually used it?”

“Do I still have use for this?”

“Does it still fit my lifestyle?.”

“Does it still fit me?”

“Does this item bring me happiness?”

If any of these questions are answered with a “No”, seriously consider why you might want to hang on to this item. Perhaps this item has served its purpose and it’s time for you to move on to newer, better things.


Source: instagram.com/bryansochayseng

With these questions, you’ll get a clearer picture of which things still deserve a spot inside your room.

26-year old Janina Manipol shares how she keeps her life in order. “Generally, I’m an organized person so the only reason why I would want to hold to my things is when it’s something really valuable to me that I can’t let go off or throw away like old letters and photos.”

Throw? Donate? Sell?
You’ve gone through all your possessions and now what do you do with all the junk?


Source: stocksnap

The quickest and easiest method is to simply throw them away.

Some things are a no-brainer, they don’t work anymore or are broken, but as you look through the pile, it pains your heart to see a certain items end up in a landfill. It could be a brand-new lamp that was a corporate gift, or a copy of a book that you already owned.


Source: Pexels.com

To make the letting go process easier you might opt to donate your previous possessions to charity, to another family member, or to a friend. Doing this act will make you feel good, but also make the recipient happy as well.

But when you stop think about it, you have so much stuff and only so many friends. Would they really appreciate all this stuff you’ve trying to get rid of?


Source: spacemagphilippines.blogspot.com

You can consider selling some of these items, especially if they are still in working order. You once loved it, and now, another person can love it and form their own memories with your pre-loved item.


Source: styledbymichelle.blogspot.com
Imagine, you might just grant the wish of a girl who’s been hoping to buy a Gucci handbag for her birthday, or a young couple looking for a lamp to light up their new home. You would not only be making someone else happier but you get to turn your pre-loved items into cash.

Stay-at-home mum and mother of four, Rhonellen Angodung shares how apps like Carousell helps her keep the house in order.


Source: Pexels.com

“I figured that most items on Carousell are preloved clothes so I thought about selling some of my preloved clothes as well as my kids' outgrown clothes. To my surprise, my first buyer bought all my 4 year old son's preloved clothes. So that's where my Carousell journey started.”


Starting afresh
Here’s another great thing about letting go: you make room for a new adventure. If you’ve sold your things, perhaps you can use the money to buy something that your home or life really needs, such as that getaway you’ve been meaning to take to recharge yourself.



Or you could even browse on sites like Carousell, there’s a whole boatload of great things you can find on the marketplace. Who knows maybe somebody else is looking to offload an item you’ve had your heart on for the longest time on Carousell as well.

Are you finally ready to let go? Let’s do it!

NPC Survey: Filipinos Value Data Privacy

A study commissioned by the National Privacy Commission (NPC) reveals that for a great majority of Filipino adults, data privacy rights are important and they want organizations that collect personal information to provide details on how and where the data will be used.

The National Privacy Commission revealed the information at a general assembly of Data Protection Officers (DPO) from the Media and Social Media sector. The nationwide survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) in June of this year showed that 94% of Filipino adults wanted to know more about how the personal data they provided during transactions will be used. While 85% of Filipinos agreed that the rights of data subjects are important.

The rights of data subjects when it comes to personal data processing include the right to be informed, the right to object, the right to access, the right to correct, the right to erasure or blocking and the right to damages.

Survey data showed that Filipino adult internet usage is now at 37 percent, a 2 percent increase from last year. From this data it can be concluded that there are 37 million Filipino adult internet users, about 18 million of whom are online for at least one hour every day for various purposes. The top two activities of Filipinos online are getting news (62 percent) and sharing information online (56 percent). Other online activities include getting information on health, and fitness; getting information a sensitive health topic; looking for a job; playing online games; buying things online, studying online courses, visiting online dating sites; and creating or working on own blog.

The SWS survey measured public awareness on issues related to the Data Privacy Act of 2012 as well as the level of trust in public and private organizations that collect and process personal data, which is called in the privacy law as Personal Information Controllers (PICs).

According to Privacy Commissioner Raymund Enriquez Liboro, “Data privacy has become the proxy for trust in today’s information-driven world. It would interest you to know that among private PICs in the Philippines, Filipinos trust schools the most, with a +85 net trust rating, saying they trust schools with their private data, more than they trust hospitals, banks or telcos. The biggest lesson we should learn from schools is that trust is the result of hard work – because it usually takes them several decades to gain earn this kind of reputation,” Liboro told journalists, editors and social media professionals during the opening program of the Data Protection Officers 6 (DPO6) Assembly. The event is the sixth in a series of DPO sectoral assemblies organized by the Commission this year and has gathered participants from the media and social media community. DPO6 was co-organized with Internet rights advocacy group, the Internet Society.

According to Winthrop Yu, Chairman of the Philippine Chapter of the Internet Society: “Privacy has become a real concern in today's ICT-enabled world as companies collect and utilize a person's data, sometimes without the explicit, informed consent of the person concerned. Often this data is used in ways that the person providing the data did not forsee. It's not just about spam. The widespread collection, use, and sharing between companies of personal data can negatively affect one's financial well-being and career prospects."

Media and Social Media are critical to protecting personal data, inappropriately posted personal information on both platforms can cause irreversible harm to data subjects. “The damage to a person’s reputation from inappropriate posts can severely affect the personal lives of of data subjects. We’ve seen how incorrect and unverified posts in media outlets can go viral on social media affecting the subject’s lives as well as their children” Commissioner Liboro added.


Cover Photo Caption:

Speakers, organizers and participants of a Data Protection Officers' General Assembly for Media and Social Media professionals pose for a group photo. The event called DPO6 is the 6th of a series of industry specific seminars and workshops organized by the National Privacy Commission (NPC) aimed at improving compliance with the Philippines' data protection and data privacy regulations.