CEBU, Philippines - “An enhanced lifestyle, cutting many of the inconveniences and stresses that come with the fast-paced, forward-looking culture that we have today,” is how AbotizLand Chief Operations Officer Andoni Aboitiz describes the concept of The Persimmon, the company’s first urban village project.
Aboitiz, at the helm of the 15-year-old real estate development company explains that the urban village theme is designed as the ultimate convenience for vecinos (Spanish for neighbors; AboitizLand’s term to mean its clients/ homeowners).
He said, the location of the company’s first condominium development is already “an innate advantage.” The Persimmon, a cluster of four 15-storey residential condominium buildings, is centrally positioned within Cebu’s central business district, in Barangay Mabolo, close to Cebu’s two biggest commercial centers, the seaport, schools, churches and tourist destinations. It is a relatively short drive to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
Mabolo is one of the oldest districts in Cebu City. The Persimmon takes its name from the fruit tree under the genus Diospyros which includes the Philippine mabolo.
Aboitiz said living at The Persimmon is “sharing in the heartbeat of Cebu City.” “You cut all the stress out of having to drive long distances to get to the places you need to go to if you live within the city as opposed to being in the suburbs,” he explained.
Aside from its central location, The Persimmon makes life doubly easy for vecinos with The Persimmon Plus, the first entertainment-commercial block fully integrated into a condominium development. The Persimmon Plus is an ambiance-driven neighborhood commercial center with an “excellent mix of restaurants, shops and service outlets,” says Floramie Vega, AboitizLand’s Commercial Leasing Manager.
Village amenities like playcourts and a swimming pool set amidst generous greenscapes complete the easy lifestyle concept. Vecinos no longer need to go elsewhere to get fit, says Aboitiz. “They have their very own playcourts and pool literally right in their own backyard,” he added.
And because condominium living means common maintenance of these amenities, and with the AboitizLand Property Management Team taking care of property administration and security, “vecinos enjoy a lot more without needing to take care of too many details. Convenience and the beautiful life are a given in this project, as it is in all other AboitizLand projects,” said Aboitiz.
Construction of The Persimmon started last year with the groundbreaking for the West Tower. The Persimmon Plus is almost completed and is projected to open by end 2009. Construction of the North Tower is due to start very soon.