Ayala Alabang residents find a condo home in Sonria

MANILA, Philippines - Sonria, the first high-end residential condominium in the Madrigal Business Park area, is shaping up to be a close-knit community just like the famed exclusive neighboring Ayala Alabang Village.

David Twitt, who has been living in a five-bedroom house in Ayala Alabang Village since 1980, is one of the early unit buyers at the 21-story Sonria, which Stonebridge Corporation, with GeoEstate Development Corp. is constructing at the corner of Securities and Industry Streets in Madrigal Business Park. David and his wife Cecile are making Sonria their new retirement home.

Apart from its perfect location, David admires Sonria’s design. “I’ve looked around but this is the sort of upmarket place that I want. The other places I checked are too small and too crowded. Sonria has only 88 units in the building,” he said.

“The particular unit we chose has a large balcony, which was critical to us,” he added, explaining why he bought a penthouse unit at Sonria. “We’ve lived in Ayala Alabang for a long time. We don’t really want to live somewhere else because we figured we got everything we need in this area.”

Gizela Madrigal Gonzalez Montinola, chairperson of Stonebridge Corporation — developer of Sonria — is delighted with the affirmation of the vertical community’s appeal to local residents. This is precisely the heart and soul behind developing Sonria.

“Most of our buyers and prospective buyers know and love Alabang as a community and for its low density, its fresh air, its neighborhood feel,” said Montinola during a gathering of future homeowners and neighbors of Sonria at its sales pavilion recently. Montinola is a member of the Madrigal family that pioneered the distinctive Southern Metro Manila lifestyle with the Ayala Alabang Village.

Montinola explained that there is planned gate linking Madrigal Business Park to the nearby malls, making it very convenient for residents to have a cup of coffee and relax, or to run errands for daily needs. At the same time, Sonria stands on a lot that is tucked away from the main highway; so residents will also enjoy exclusivity and an element of privacy.

Sonria is also close to Festival Mall and other vital establishments like country clubs, schools, parks and transportation hubs. With Ayala Alabang Village just a few blocks away, Sonria’s residents will still be in the company of their family, relatives, friends and neighbors, which is what the developers want Sonria’s essence to be.

“We try to develop a smaller community with the expectation that we will know each other, our kids will play with each other and we become friends to each other,” added GeoEstate chairman, Francisco Licuanan III at the event.

The intimate gathering was a fitting celebration to the recent milestone of the first concrete pouring of Sonria’s foundational structure.

“With the construction of the foundation of your new homes, we thought we could start the foundation of the community by coming together and getting to know each other,” explained Licuanan.

Sonria also appeals to residents outside Alabang like Wai-nah Chua, a semi-retired businesswoman from Pasay City. Chua bought a three-bedroom penthouse unit, impressed with the model unit’s spaciousness and large windows.

“I like the windows and space. It’s not constricted,” said Chua. “When I retire, I can live here.”

Sonria’s complete amenities also appealed to Chua, such as its generous ground floor veranda, adult and kiddie swimming pools, kid-safe play zone, well-equipped gym, function room, gazebo and retail units.

Sonria’s one-, two-, and three-bedroom units range in size from 56 square meters to 124 square meters, lending the same spacious atmosphere inherent in Alabang suburban living. Superb space planning also allows areas such as a pantry, separate maids’ quarters, laundry and utility areas, powder rooms, and walk-in closets in the master bedroom. Wide windows provide free-flowing fresh air, inspiring views of the suburbs and Laguna de Bay, and morning sunlight to fill residents with a sunny disposition each day. Interior finishes of natural stone, designer fixtures and high-quality built-in cabinetry meet the taste of the high-end market.

For information, call call 475-3702 or 0918-990-6317 or visit visit www.sonria.com.ph,