“"When I saw it upon completion, I thought ‘Wow, this is really where I’m gonna live? It’s amazing!"”

When Alfred Carandang moved in with his wife and kids to Rosewood Pointe in July of 2007, he did not leave the property's cozy confines for two straight weeks. 

Such conduct did not seem to be that of a responsible and diligent president of an architectural and design firm of 11 years.  Rather, it mirrored a smitten teen's, unwilling to be pried off a newfound love's warm and reassuring embrace.     

"For those two weeks, I worked from the clubhouse with my laptop, facing the pool," the 35-year-old Alfred fondly remembers.  "It was so relaxing and peaceful.  All the documents I needed to read and the checks I needed to sign, I just asked my people to bring over."

It is hard to blame someone who has finally found his ideal abode after painstakingly scouring the property market.  "Before getting wind of this development, we checked on about 10 other properties.  Nothing came close to what Rosewood Pointe had to offer," he says.

Being a practicing architect, Alfred has understandably stringent standards when it comes to finding a place that he and his family will call home.  And while he recognizes that there can never be the perfect design or perfect construction, he is happy that Rosewood Pointe satisfies the more important criteria he has personally set:

• On location: "We wanted something that is near my kids' school, which is in Dasmarinas Village, and my wife's office in the Makati CBD. This place, just off the C5 Road, is ideally situated. All other conveniences - the malls, the airport, commercial centers - they are just nearby."
• On the look and feel of home: "Unlike other projects that are terribly cramped or annexed to commercial establishments, at Rosewood, you know that you are unmistakably home. I appreciate the themed development and the architectural character of the place."
• On a kid-friendly environment: "It is important for my kids, aged 8, 5 and 1, to grow up where it is safe and secure since the project employs strict security standards assuring its residents' peace of mind. Plus, the development teems with amenities and activity areas that the kids can really enjoy."
• On the practice of green architecture: "Being an architect, I appreciate developments that give importance to environmental responsiveness. At Rosewood, open spaces are generous and greens abound. Also, the building design is such that air circulation and natural lighting are enhanced."
• On being a medium-density development: "We did not want to stay in a cold, overcrowded high-rise wherein you bump into faceless, nameless people. I particularly do not like waiting in line for elevators. On the practical side, it is easier to bring in stuff such as groceries and new furniture."
• On value for money: "Rosewood is reasonably priced. It is not in the bracket of those pricey properties that offer nothing more than a central location. Neither is it priced unbelievably low, which automatically puts a question mark on a development's quality."

More than satisfying his personal checklist, Alfred is doubly delighted that DMCI Homes truly seeks to understand the needs of homeowners.  Excellent after sales service, Alfred says, makes up for unavoidable design and construction limitations.  "DMCI listens to its residents," he swears.  "I have checked out other DMCI Homes developments and I have noticed that there are improvements with every new project."

Alfred further understands that attractive living spaces and top-rate amenities are merely superficial gloss without a synergetic, thriving community.  He appreciates that the Property Management Office (PMO) constantly undertakes projects, such as Halloween and Christmas parties, that encourage resident interaction.  He also notices the improved services of the office. "The PMO has been more alert and anticipative of the residents' wants and needs.  Common problems such as repairs are always dealt with promptly," he says.    

On a personal level, Alfred has taken the initiative to make Rosewood Pointe the flourishing commune it is shaping up to be.  The coffee-fanatic Batangueno operates the coffee shop and deli at the Rosewood clubhouse.  "I thought that if there was a coffee shop or a snack bar, that it could be a node and a point of interaction among residents on a daily basis," he explains.  "I knew I would be incurring losses initially, but that's fine as long as it helps strengthen the bond among residents." 

Nearly a year after commencing operations, Alfred notes that the business is slowly picking up.  The bigger reward for him, of course, is the ties that he, being the store's first "barista" and cook, has established with his neighbors. 

Alfred is also the head coordinator of the Rosewood Pastoral Council, which organizes and facilitates religious activities for the Rosewood community.  "Our regular Sunday masses, the Block Rosary and other socio-civic undertakings are another way of unifying the neighborhood."

Being one of the development's first residents, Alfred is witness to the inspiring evolution that continues to take place at Rosewood Pointe.  He lets out a warm smile:  "We have grown, from indifferent individuals and families, to a coherent community that now cares about one another." 

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