One of the good things about Bonifacio Heights, the first quality condominium off-base AFP housing project, is that it is available to anyone in the military service. “It is not exclusive to senior officers only,” says 1st Lt. Glenn R. Esguerra of the Philippine Army. “It’s for everyone in whatever level including enlisted personnel, as long as you are a member of the AFP and can afford it.”
Esguerra did not encounter any difficulties acquiring his own unit, a two-bedroom, 41 sq. ms. condominium in the first building in the complex of 17 mid-rise buildings within the 7.7 hectares prime property located along Lawton Ave. in Fort Bonifacio. His unit was turned over to him, ready for occupancy, but Esguerra chose to do his own design of the interiors before moving in. A graduate of Don Bosco High School in his hometown in Pampanga, before continuing with his studies at the PMA after a year of college at the Angeles University Foundation, Esguerra had a good working knowledge of drafting and doing layouts.
“I conceptualized the design and I asked an engineer to do the actual drawing,” he relates. With the help of a contractor, he got the unique bar-kitchenette that he wanted. “Many of my friends who visit us here want to copy my design,” Esguerra says. For the rest of the interior decorating, however, he gives credit to Amy, his fiancée. “I left the choice of curtains and even the color scheme entirely up to her,” he says. Amy chose green, which is nicely color-coordinated with Esguerra’s army uniform.
Until two years ago, Esguerra was assigned in Mindanao. Serving in the military was something he always wanted to do. The youngest in a family of three boys, he was the only one who followed in the footsteps of his father, a retired PNP senior police officer. His grandfather also served in the military as well as two uncles. “My parents tried to dissuade me,” he relates, “but when I passed the entrance exam at the PMA, I said I’ll give it a try.”
Esguerra feels lucky to be able to own a unit at Bonifacio Heights. He appreciates the advantages of its location and accessibility. “It’s just a stone’s throw away from our mother unit, the headquarters of the Philippine Army,” he points out. “It is just ten minutes away from the commercial and leisure district of the Fort Global City, and it is also very close to the premier business district of Makati. It is near major roads such as C5 and EDSA.”
Esguerra also appreciates its exclusivity and security. “Our neighbors are also in the service,” he observes. “I feel secure that even if I am at work, my home is safe. There are security guards on duty. My fiancée also knows the wives of the other unit owners who are in the military service. If I am assigned again in Mindanao, at least I can have the peace of mind knowing that my future wife is safe. I can ask my upperclassmen who are also my neighbors to look in on her.”
One better thing about Bonifacio Heights is that it has lots of space. “It is so well designed that you don’t feel crowded even if there are already many people living here,” Esguerra says. Each building has five-storey walkups with single loaded corridors and atrium at the center, with at least 24 units per floor.
Esguerra surveyed other prospects before settling for a unit at Bonifacio Heights. “Given our salary in the military, we are very particular about getting value for money,” he says. “When I learned about this project, I started conducting some sort of investigation. Is this a good place? Other condos near here are more expensive. Those that are more affordable are located far from here and are already congested. Here, you can breathe freely. We are located near exclusive subdivisions with lots of trees, so we enjoy the nice atmosphere, and we can be sure that there won’t be any high-rise buildings that will be built around us in the future.”
There are also the amenities. A central recreation area features a two-storey grand clubhouse with swimming pool, a basketball court, a park and children’s playground. “The residents like to hangout at the clubhouse on weekends,” Esguerra says. “There is a nice videoke room on the second floor.”
“There are other housing projects dedicated to the military but this, for me, is the best,” says Esguerra. With Bonifacio Heights, DMCI Homes, the country’s only triple-A builder/developer, is able to realize its thrust to uplift the residents’ standard of living. Bonifacio Heights is most sought after for its accessibility, exclusivity, and security. “This is an ideal place for young couples starting a family,” Esguerra says. “It is one of the best places to live in.”
For inquiries on Bonifacio Heights, please call 844-7790 and for other DMCI projects, call 888-3333.
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