Running the city

MANILA, Philippines - Ever notice how, for the typical urban professional, the rat race has turned into 12-hour workdays with a swiveling chair at a desk stacked with paperwork? How the only exercise the average office worker usually gets is the walk to the cafeteria and the wait for a bus? How the only way to break a sweat in today’s workplace is to turn off the air conditioning?

But who can blame them? Most of today’s business districts are stone-cold concrete jungles, where everything is gray and forbidding.  There is hardly a breath of fresh air, as the breeze is usually blocked by rows of buildings practically built side by side. Designed to be as functional as possible, these cities are usually home to stressed out wage earners and not to shade-giving trees. Not the best place to run and re-energize your spirit.

So why are joggers looking at a Central Business District south of metro as an ideal running destination? The optimum jogging experience calls for open spaces that give one room to move, flat even roads that are feet-friendly, and even a canopy of trees that provide a verdant backdrop and cool shade as one does his daily exercise. It’s a scenario you normally wouldn’t find in a premier business district. Except if it happens to be Filinvest City. This CBD shows us that it’s possible to support a competitive corporate set-up yet also play host to nature-loving sports enthusiasts.

Just a quick 15-minute drive from Makati will take you to Filinvest City , a gateway between the bustling Metro and the booming South. Upon entering, you will immediately see how this is more than just another CBD. Right alongside high-rise buildings also rise majestic acacia trees and date palms. Amidst the humming sounds you hear in every modern district, you can also make out the distinct the chirping of birds in the background. And the sprawling roads have room, and shade, enough for motorist traffic and for joggers to safely go about their running routine. It is a city masterfully planned for not just the business side of things but also lighter side of life.

“After my work is done, I just need to go down from by building and I can de-stress with a quick run,” says Pauline, a manager at a BPO in Alabang and an avid runner. “Even if it’s in the afternoon, you still get plenty of shade and you stay cool, especially when you run under the trees. It doesn’t feel stifling ‘cause there’s always breeze. It makes you want to extend your run just a little bit more so you can enjoy that sense of space and freedom.“

Little wonder then, that there is now a thriving jogging community that has made Filinvest City truly their own. Every afternoon, droves of hard-working professionals make the transformation into easy-running joggers. Numerous health buffs find themselves parking their cars along the side of the roads as the scenery and atmosphere beckon them to go for a leisurely run.  They also find themselves in the company of families enjoying a quiet stroll, and even dog lovers taking their pets out for a walk. They form a burgeoning group that is able to enjoy and maximize all the benefits of this true Garden City.

Here at Filinvest City , with just a pair of running shoes and little bit of time, it’s easy enough to leave the rat race behind.

Filinvest City is a prime development of Filinvest, a leader in property development for over fifty years. Guided by the Gotianun family’s tradition of integrity, quality and service, it forges ahead with renewed dynamism. Filinvest is committed to making the Filipino dream to have a home of their own come true.  For more information on Filinvest City, call 846-0278 loc 7023.