An area called Arya

If you intend to live at Arya Residences, you will surely live well and live right. As a future resident, you are in for a treat as you take your dinner at The Terrace, what with its landscaped walking trail edged by a curving canopy of glass which gleams with the diffused lights of the bistro floor underneath.

After dinner, you will opt for an easy stroll to the private viewing room off the lush gardens. Or better yet, go down a floor below and be mesmerized by The Plaza, another open-air island sprinkled with bistros, wine bars, coffee shops — all these suspended four meters above the ground. The energy at Arya Plaza is jovial and colorful.

After a great commune at the residence’s surroundings, you retreat to your unit for another restful slumber “at home.”

These and more await you at Arya Residences upon its completion at the center of Bonifacio Global City. Here, magic and science are “dream-stormed” by the ArthaLand team to create an enlightened lifestyle.

ArthaLand president and CEO Angie de Villa-Lacson drew this key inspiration from the years she spent heading a division of Unilever in Milan. She said, “I remember walking into Galleria Vittorio Emmanuel in Milan. It’s my favorite spot because it’s where I people-watch. There’s a big dome that makes the center space quite wide and open. Then on two sides of it there are these outdoor spillovers of the dining areas... it felt like you were dining outside but because of the dome you were actually inside. So when we first studied the property for Arya, we thought of connecting the two buildings with a canopy! The dining destinations can have an al fresco experience... but covered. A modernized version of the original inspiration.” 

The challenge of creating this vision into reality fell on the laps of the Australian firm Crone Partners Architecture Studios, as architectural design consultant; and AIDEA Philippines, as architect of record. Collaborating with the ArthaLand project team, they fused the best of design, technology and customer orientation to make a real difference in Metro Manila’s landscape and lifestyle.

Angie added, “Other outdoor malls are wonderful at night but terribly hot in the day. And when it rains, even going from one shop to another is a challenge. So we wanted to improve that experience. Not indoors, not outdoors. An in-between. But a nice experience under sun, moon or rain.”

Vice president and head of projects and business development Kate Ilagan describes it as if she were already in residence: “Being at The Plaza at a four-meter elevation from the road, is like sitting on the second floor of a typical building... with an unobstructed view across, even in the long term. It will be a destination in itself.”  

The property, more importantly, is a green building. It will be the country’s first and only high-rise registered with the US Green Building Council’s LEED program with a goal of Gold certification. As I said earlier, it is conceived, designed and built for you to live well and live right.  

Recently, chairman Jimmy Gonzales invited some members of the press to view the beautiful model apartments while having dinner prepared by chef Rolando Laudico. We were all quite impressed with what we saw. 

(Check out Arya Residences at the ArthaLand Sales Pavilion, McKinley Parkway cor. 7th Ave., Bonifacio Global City. Visit www.aryaresidences.com.ph or call 836-ALCO (2526) for more details.)  

Beautiful beginnings

The colors of the rainbow served as the backdrop when dealers and sales team of the country’s leading direct selling company Tupperware Brands Philippines held its annual gathering of top dealers, with the theme Beautiful Beginnings. The theme was very appropriate for all the exciting innovations in store for the company this year. Another highlight of the annual event is the recognition of achievers and top performing entrepreneurs for 2009, which included the Roster of Millionaires, Leadership Awardees, Fuller’s Best and Branch of the Year.

Tupperware Brands Philippines president Perry Mogar expressed his pride for the new endeavors of the company saying, “Our primary task now is to give more opportunities to our people so they can improve their skills and ultimately, their lives. We want to be known not only as a company that boasts of top, world-class brands but also of highly skilled direct sellers. This year, we will be adding more recognition and training programs to equip our people and help them develop their direct selling skills.”

Celebrities and famous personalities also made the affair more colorful. Present were Bea Alonzo, the new face of Tupperware Brands’ premiere cosmetics line Colour Collection, and Sam Milby and Maja Salvador, newest endorsers of Tupperware Brands’ fragrances. TV actress Isabel Oli modeled for Fuller Fashion as part of the fashion show that also showcased other brands like Hanes, Wonder Bra and Playtex. Randy Santiago hosted the event while Candy Pangilinan performed a demo for Tupperware products. And to reinforce that Tupperware Brands is indeed the leading direct selling company for baby care, Bernadette Allyson brought her three kids and talked about the fast-growing baby care line, Circus. The event also featured performances from some of the country’s top entertainers such as K Brosas, Karylle, Duncan Ramos and trio Jonalyn Viray, Aicelle Santos and Maricris Garcia.

Tupperware Brands is the authorized distributor of some of the world’s prestigious brands including Tupperware, Colour Collection, Ivana, VS. Versus, Nutrimetics, Playtex, Hanes and Zwitsal.

(For inquiries, call  867-2222.)

Watch Cats and help save lives

The people behind Asian Hospital Charities invite you to be the first to watch the Broadway spectacle CATS: Now and Forever as it makes its debut in Manila on July 23 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The charity arm of the Asian Hospital and Medical Center presents the first night of the famous musical, where all proceeds of the show will go to the medical and surgical needs of its indigent patients.

Dr. Josephine Tuason, director of the Asian Hospital Charities, says, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that fans of the musical CATS should not miss as they will not only be the first ones to watch the show, but more importantly, they get to help those patients who are in dire need.”

Our very own Lea Salonga will portray the role of Grizabella. Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the musical is one of the most popular Broadway productions of our time and has been translated into more than 20 languages. 

With the special block buy, members of the Asian Hospital Charities hope to raise funds for the benefit of the patients. Facilitating the procedures are Asian Hospital’s very own surgical experts led by cardiologist Dr. Jorge Garcia, who does procedures free of charge.

So help save the lives of those in need by being the first to watch CATS: Now and Forever in its Manila debut.

(You can buy your tickets now at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center CATS Tickets selling booth located at the Doctors Lounge, Lower Ground Floor. You can also call Nila Chua at the Asian Hospital Charities, Inc. office at 771-9000 local 8202 or contact Cielo Remorin of Concertus at 0928-2490433.)