School ties

Many people have flocked to the south because of its leisurely atmosphere, as opposed to the rushed crowded centers such as Greenbelt where fiercely dressed people populate these ever busy shopping centers. Verdant greens dot the landscape and an opportunity to laze away under the sun beside charming fountains have often charmed patrons into spending more time than they should have at the mall.

Javi Hernandez, general manager of Alabang Town Center, is proud of the high standards the mall has been able to maintain. "We make it our business to provide the needs of our clientele," he shares. "Whether it’s certain stores or restaurants or even services that they need, we try to make it happen for Town Center."

This formula seems to have worked so far. As malls go, Alabang Town Center is neither the largest nor highest-grossing in the metro. Yet its spacious open-plan design and stucco-lined walkways have attracted a consistently high-end crowd with serious spending money.

It’s this particular ambience and Town Center’s niche market of posh shoppers that have attracted the eye of Brent International School. With plans for opening up a pre-school in the nearby Alabang area, headmaster Dick Robbins was on the lookout for a viable venue – one that was geographically convenient for parents and students.

Brent’s history as a premier international school has been unsullied, with impressive performances from graduating students in the professional field here and abroad – which explains why so many families vie for a spot on Brent’s student list. With a campus in Pasig and Mamplasan, Brent decided to open up a spot for a pre-school in the Alabang neighborhood, and Town Center fit the profile for the perfect location.

With such a large expat population in nearby neighborhoods, Brent was answering the call of young families, eager to send their children to an international school but wary of the significant travel time between Alabang and Mamplasan.

"We were responding to the request of parents in the Alabang area to put a pre-school so that the kids don’t have to drive all the way to Mamplasan," Robbins states. Since the hours in a pre-school are so short, it’s often too much of a hassle to have parents drop off their children in Mamplasan, only to return in a couple of hours once classes have ended.

Security was also an issue. "We wanted something here," he clarifies, "and it’s closest to Ayala Alabang. So they come right out of the gate and they’re right there. It’s very secure."

"Absolutely," adds Hernandez. "The mall usually opens at 10, but with school starting at about eight, a special entrance will be made available for the students." These people seem to have thought of everything, and pretty soon, it becomes apparent why.

"I just love Brent," Ayala Land executive Maricris Bernardino declares. "I remember when I went to Brent to inquire about your program for my child," she remarks, looking at Robbins with a twinkle in her eye. "When I saw the tuition fee, I said to myself ‘This is so high!’" she laughs. "Maybe we can work something out, Mr. Robbins," she says teasingly. "Free promotional banners in exchange for my child’s tuition!"

Robbins can only laugh. He must be used to this – the charming coercion of parents eager to enter their kids into the prestigious roster of Brent students. Even Hernandez is not unaware of the importance of a child’s education, having recently become the father of four-month-old Iñigo.

"What about you, Javi?" Maricris jokingly tosses to Hernandez. He laughs, protesting, "My son is only four months old!" That’s the thing about Brent – it’s got even new parents gaga over their program.

Robbins is proud of the track record of his students, and maintains that Brent’s standards remain high because of the awareness of faculty and staff of the needs of their pupils – which explains why Brent is entering the hallowed halls of Town Center.

"We’re doing this so that the young kids entering pre-school will have an easier time of it," Robbins explains. This move spells greater convenience for parents and students. And of course, they’ll be at one of the most-aesthetically pleasing malls in Manila.

"We have a lot of open spaces and landscaped gardens," Hernandez observes. "So it won’t be that much different from a school environment." Robbins nods in agreement. "And Brent students usually come here right after school anyway," Hernandez adds. "I always see them on the dot, immediately after four, walking about in their uniforms."

It makes one wonder if Robbins also considers Town Center his favorite hangout, like many of his students. "Oh, I hardly go here," he replies matter-of-factly. "I just feel so bad for the kids. They see me in school the whole day, and once they get out and go to the mall, there I am again." He shakes his head, smiling. "So no, I hardly go here."