Life by the Bay

The Roxas Boulevard stretch has always been special to Ellen Jovellanos. When she was young, she would watch the daily hodgepodge of activities from the car window on her way to school. On weekends, she would lounge around the bay area with her Mom and brother, just savoring the fresh air. "This place is very significant because I have roots here. It brings back beautiful memories of me growing up. I feel the spirit of my parents as if they were still alive, whenever I’m here," Ellen muses. Now, after more than three decades of living in the land of milk and honey, she comes back to the Philippines with her husband to permanently reside in the place where her heart truly feels at home.

Ellen and Jun Jovellanos moved to the quiet town of Clairmont, USA because its serene, small town setting was perfect for raising their two sons. Ellen first worked as a social worker, and then as a therapist, providing counsel to patients with various psychiatric conditions. After many years, the work was becoming too emotionally daunting so she opted for an early retirement. "I had worked so hard all my life. I’ve been in the schools, hospitals and the ghetto areas. I’ve treated the rich and the poor, the normal and those considered as abnormal. Now that my children are all grown up, it’s time for me to rest."

Her husband Jun, a successful architect in the US, is very passionate about his work. "He is in love with what he does but we both agreed that it is time for us to go back to the Philippines and where our roots are."

When they were looking for a place to retire in, they first considered finding a condo in Makati, Rockwell or Fort Bonifacio because of its proximity to malls, hospitals and other establishments. "We initially thought we could live in Makati but after spending an hour or so, we felt so cooped up in such a congested city. None of the different places in Fort Bonifacio or Rockwell appealed to us because we never felt any meaningful attachment to the area."

One day, on her way back from visiting her hometown of Silang, Cavite, she passed by Roxas Boulevard and a condominium fronting the bay area caught her eye. "When an agent toured me around Bay Garden, I instantly knew it was the one. The open space, the trees that lined the streets, and the peaceful, resort atmosphere of the area – it was everything we were looking for in a home."

She was also impressed at the safety provided by the gated community. "One of our hesitations about retiring in the Philippines is the high crime rate. But after seeing the tight security of Bay Garden, I knew that my family would be kept safe here."

Jun, given the nature of his profession, wanted a more definite assurance. "He did not just want to take mine or the agent’s word for it. So he thoroughly studied the quality of the development and researched about the credibility of Federal Land." In the end, he was as impressed as Ellen. "He thinks Bay Garden is an excellent place to live in. And Jun is an architect, so he knows," Ellen stressed.

Buying a unit in the Anchor Bay Tower turned out to be an excellent choice for the lifestyle they plan to lead when they both fully retire in a year or so. "Clairmont has great walking trails and foothills. We would always start our day with a quiet walk in the morning. We were afraid of giving that up once we retire in the Philippines. Jun and I are incredibly happy that living in Bay Garden enables us to keep that routine."

Bay Garden’s close proximity to commercial spaces and to the cities of Pasay, Makati, and Manila also provides an enviable convenience. Ellen loves it that after a busy day, she could just easily go home to a place free from all the noise and pollution of the city. "Bay Garden, more than anything, gives us room to breathe. When I want to relax, I just sit by the pool and read. Sometimes after dinner, I walk to Blue Wave Mall to have coffee tea at Starbucks. It provides the needed balance to urban living. I really hope more people would take advantage of the harmonious lifestyle it offers."

Both Ellen and Jun know that retirement is not an end, but a beginning to a new chapter of their lives. They plan to do some volunteering work, spend quality time with their family and friends, and indulge in their hobbies. "Retirement does not mean being idle, it simply means having more time to enjoy the most valuable things in life," she reveals with a blissful smile.