The Beacon Makati shines

MANILA, Philippines - Geo-Estate Development Corp.’s maiden venture, The Beacon Makati, located in more than 10,000-sq.m. of prime land at the corner of Chino Roces (formerly Pasong Tamo) and Arnaiz (formerly Pasay Road) Avenue, is taking shape with its residential resort theme.

Geo-Estate president and CEO Miriam O. Katigbak expressed confidence that The Beacon will emerge as the only condo development of its kind in the area. The Beacon’s first building, Roces Tower, will be turned over by the middle to the third quarter of 2011. Now in its finishing stages, construction is deemed right on track. 

“We started construction of Roces Tower in the middle of 2008 and this 42-story structure is now set for completion very soon,” said Katigbak. “For the second phase, which is Arnaiz Tower, we started construction in August this year and it is scheduled for turnover in 2013. Amorsolo or Tower 3 is currently in its planning stages and will be launched soon.”

With sales averaging well across the market segments, Katigbak said the industry has started to take notice of Geo-Estate as a formidable developer.

“The ones who head the company come from different companies and fields within the real estate industry, and so we bring in a lot of views to give the public a fresh product. And for the top echelon, including our chairman Francisco Licuanan and myself, we have accumulated over 100 years of experience in the business, so I believe that this plays a huge part in the decision-making of our buyers,” she added.

Geo-Estate president and CEO Miriam O. Katigbak

The unit mix of Roces Tower suits the profile of unit buyers at The Beacon: studio for single, young professionals working in Makati or the immediate vicinity; one-bedroom for newlyweds or those hoping to get married; and two- to three-bedroom units for families with children. 

“Many of them work in Makati but are living elsewhere, so moving to The Beacon takes them closer to the CBD. We are lucky to get this intersection because it is within the Makati CBD, and this corner is very convenient for public transport, jeeps and taxis. When Tower 3 comes up, it will give us access to the intersection of Amorsolo St., the quieter side and a second access to the development.”

The Beacon is close to convenience stores, a major grocery chain, and a major shopping complex. But if they wish to stay at home, there will be plenty of activities to enjoy because of the resort amenities, Katigbak noted.

“The positioning of the project was very clear to us, and the residential resort was just a frame that captured the concept that we wanted. With the smallest unit 21 sq.m., which we see as a rather tight unit, the idea is to provide the residents with a very good set of indoor and outdoor amenities. This means you don’t get cooped up in your own unit because you can go out and enjoy all these open spaces. We are proud to say that we probably have the most number of amenities among the residential towers of Makati. We have a large swimming pool, which has a 450-sq.m.- lap pool, toddler pool, kiddie pool, a 300-meter-long jogging path, indoor and outdoor play areas for kids, a bi-level gym, a spa area with individual rooms, a clinic and function rooms. Our common areas are all Wi-Fi-ready and, of course, we have a lush garden with gazebos.”

Roces Tower, upon turnover, will also have its own landscaped roof deck, which can be used for barbecue parties.

Arnaiz Tower will host the 6th level podium that will contain the most number of the indoor and outdoor amenities. Aside from these, it will have a Sky Lounge on the topmost level with magnificent city views. The amenity will be divided into three sections: a lounge area, a bar area that opens to a garden, and a mini-theater with 20 seats that also lead to a separate garden.

“We’ve been very conscious in trying to add as much green and open space as we can, as well as specific amenities that we believe are comparable to none. I don’t think there are other buildings that can boast of such,” Katigbak said. 

Once completed, the three-tower condo complex of The Beacon will rise as a major landmark on a 10,000-sq.m. prime land, strategically located at the corner of Chino Roces (formerly Pasong Tamo) and Arnaiz (formerly Pasay Road) Avenue.

Despite all these advantages, prices of units at The Beacon are still very competitive, she said. Unit finishes are also much better in quality, even when compared to products with roughly the same price points.  These include a shower enclosure and water heater in the bathroom, a kitchen countertop with cabinets on top and below the counter, a convection cook top and exhaust hood, a grease trap under the kitchen sink, a 2.8-meter clearing for the ceiling, and bigger windows and glass panels.

With The Beacon still the only product in their portfolio, Katigbak noted that the company wants to take the time to create a development that Geo-Estate can be truly proud of. They are, however, intent on launching a new project by next year, still in the middle market segment where they want to carve their niche.

“Right now, that is a very large segment and we believe that we can contribute significantly to improving the lives of people. There is no intention to go up because the lower-end market is much bigger. With the company still young and growing, we would like to be good at what we are doing and take our time, and just focus on this market,” Katigbak concluded.

To know more about The Beacon, visit their website at www.thebeacon.com.ph.