Land Asia is ANTARARIFIC!

April 16, 2019

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Site Tour at ANTARA: Residential. Recreational. Possibilities, with Land Asia’s property specialist Nexus Focus Group.

With Nexus Real Estate Corporation (NREC) and Land Asia Realty and Development Corporation’s (LARDC) continuous partnership, NREC awarded LARDC a brand new Nissan Urvan 350. The said vehicle will be used to further promote Nexus’ prime condominium development – “Antara: Residential.Recreational.Possibilities”, which is Cebu’s first Residential and Recreational type of condominium development with world-class amenities. Each unit owner is given a space that truly brings them comfort.

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#LandAsiaRealty #GlobalRealtyFirm #TopRealEstateFirm #LandAsiaGlobalNetwork #NewAttitudeforHigherAltitude

Should You Hire a Landscape Architect?

March 5, 2019

So you finally have construction plans and a new house is on its way to completion. No matter how beautiful that house will be, the whole place will not have a “complete” look without a design outside the house itself.

This is where a Landscape Architect steps in.

At first you’ll think, this may be unnecessary spending, but think about it, do you know what your garden should look like? Where will you plant the trees? Do you need rocks and outside tiles? What do I do with this extra space?

These are the reasons you need to hire a Landscape Architect for your new home:

The will make full use of the lot you have.

Landscape Architect’s will assess the terrain and see what is the best way to make every corner of your land useful and beautiful.

They will make boring into beautiful.

Imagine a pathway you have made without consulting Landscape Architects. Sure it looks practical but they will make it so dreamy that you feel you’re walking into another realm.

They know how to bring people together.

Sure you know how to entertain guests inside the house, but have you ever thought of bringing them outside your garden? Nothing like a short glimpse of nature to put everyone in a great mood.

They will help increase your property value.

Talk about return on investment! You increase your curb appeal by hiring a Landscape Architect. Unless of course you have no plans of selling your house, but still, it has more value now just because you hired someone to fix the exteriors and not just focus on the interiors.

So, should you hire a Landscape Architect? Let the pictures speak for themselves.

Bobby Mañosa Leaves a Legacy

February 27, 2019

Last February 20, 2019, the Philippines lost one of the most influential architects in the country, Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa. He pioneered the art of Philippine neo-vernacular architecture. His contribution to the development of Philippine architecture earned him the recognition for National Artist for Architecture last 2018.

Taking his inspiration from anything that is purely Filipino, like the Bahay Kubo, Mañosa paved the way to building from what can stand out from the rest. His designs are all iconic landmarks that will stretch the stories of Philippine history to a much more interesting story.

EDSA SHRINE

What stands in the middle of the busy Ortigas area is the huge sculpture from the EDSA Shrine. It represents the peace we all need from this fast paced life. Mañosa made sure it was the center of hope in an otherwise gray environment.

SAN MIGUEL BUILDING

Taking inspiration from rice terraces, San Miguel has got to be the most beautiful building in Ortigas. Compared to some of the buildings that are usually glass and steel, this one boasts of its greens.

COCONUT PALACE

Made with 100% Filipino materials and overlooking the famous and now clean Manila Bay, the Coconut Palace is a real marvel.

Those are just some of his works that are now famous landmarks in the Philippines. Bobby Mañosa may have passed on, but his “works of art” will forever stand among us Filipinos.

Should You Buy a New House this 2019?

February 18, 2019

Most young Filipinos now are aggressive in terms of buying things and properties for themselves. However, their way to independence is a way more different. The trend is buying new and more expensive gadgets. The latest cellphone, the best laptop in the market and other glittery expensive things. For those with optimal salary, a new car. That’s why everywhere you look, there will be a new car deal with a low downpayment scheme. There was a month when almost everyone in Manila owned a Mitsubishi Montero because of the ridiculous downpayment.

In the 1980’s, young men and women bought their first house right after they get married. In the early 2000’s, yuppies start renting their own apartments or condominiums. Some are starting to buy their own through the help of bank financing. Nowadays, it’s more of a rent-to-own scheme for people who want to have their house.

Will 2019 be a good year to take on this feat?

First of all, according to a Business Mirror article, 2019 will be a good year. It may have been a crazy political year, but in terms of development, 2018 was riddled with it and so will 2019.

If you’re a believer of Chinese Zodiac, a lot of articles say, the year of the “Earth Pig” will also be a fruitful year. (The link will also tell you how much luck you can get for 2019)

Second, you need to know how much you can spend. With hundreds of projects you can choose from, you will eventually land on something you can afford. There are housing projects you can pay monthly for as low as 6000PHP. Some pay higher than that for rent.

Third, buy early in the year. This is the time most people move to a new place and will sell their property. Clearly, the calendar is a great barometer for anything real estate.

Fourth, getting professional help is easy. Buying a property is a serious thing and needs intervention and guidance from agents and brokers who can assess what you need.

So, should you begin house hunting now? Definitely, YES! Good luck!

Why Life’s a Beach

January 30, 2019

If you haven’t been watching Grace and Frankie on Netflix, you should. Not only it is hilarious but Grace & Frankie’s house is supposedly set in San Diego’s La Jolla area. In real life, their gorgeous beach house is found in Malibu’s Broad Beach.

The show has so many scenes of the wacky duo lounging outside on deck chairs looking out the beach and it never fails to give us fits of envy every time. How we

If you live in a tropical country, the best view will always be the ocean. With the thousands of resorts in the Philippines, guests would always wish that they live near the beach. Aside from dreams of maintaining a glorious tan, there are so many benefits of living near the ocean.

But what do you need to consider before having you home built near the ocean?

Hire a Contractor who has Done the Same Project 🔍

Building near a body of water requires some specialization and therefore, a hit or miss construction is out of the question. You can ask friends or search online for contractors who have done coastal homes before and start from there.
Landscaping is Important 🌴

Fixing up the area outside your home will make it feel more like home. Just because you live near the sea does not mean you should be surrounded only with sand. A well kept garden or area outside your beach house will make it feel like a house and not a lighthouse.
Invest on Expensive Materials 💰

Have you ever heard of waterproof curtains? Take into consideration the coastal environment and how different it is when you live near land. The water is different, the soil/sand and even the wind. You will need special materials for building a home near the sea, and they have special prices too. But if they will last you a lifetime, isn’t that worth your investment?

4. Make it Bright and as Colorful as You Want It! 🌈

When you live near turquoise waters, sapphire skies and amber light. you better make sure you keep up with the brightness.

Living Coral in Your Living Space

January 17, 2019

Pantone has announced that the color of the year should be 16-1546 or Living Coral. The company describes the color as “an animated and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge.”

What a perfect time to keep your living quarters alive! Living Coral’s bright pink shade will give life to any space in your house. Do away with the drab neutral shades this time and put accents in coral. I know most of us will want to keep the neutral colors at bay because we want to stay safe. This year, live a little and show your wild side. (Ok, not too wild!)

Fun with Furniture!

A large statement furniture in coral would definitely look interesting in a backdrop of neutral colors. It will warm the cool tones of your room. A big couch should suffice compared to having a couple of smaller coral colored pieces around.

Paint in Pink!

Well, coral pink that is. Your walls can benefit from a pain makeover. Better if you just paint one part of the room in that color. You don’t have to go crazy and paint everything coral.

Toying with Textiles!

The best way to introduce a new color is usually through items like throw pillows or bed sheets, even curtains. People are more used to colored textiles than colored walls. Adding a punch of coral to your crisp white linens look happy and inviting.

Amaze through Art!

An artwork hung on the wall will always liven up any space. Plus no matter how simple or complicated the picture is, it makes everything look formal and put together. People will think you’re extra intellectual and creative for buying one too!

There are other ways to infuse your homes with this beautiful bright color. You can riddle your living space with it or you can be sparse and be minimal about it. It’s up to you. Your home, your rules. Have fun!

New Year, Old Beliefs

January 8, 2019

Is moving to a new house one of your New Year’s resolution? I know you have a made a checklist of all the possible things you will be needing to make sure your move will be smooth sailing. The number of the moving van company, the number of boxes you’ll be needing, how many rolls of packing tape and just for kicks, why not include a list of superstitious beliefs?

Filipinos are big on superstition. We have one for each instance in our lives to go through each stage successfully. From birth to our last breath. Whether you believe in them or not, it’s still fun to know some of them.

Here is a list of superstitious beliefs for moving in to a new house:

Choose the date wisely as well as the day. Never choose Friday, Saturday or a rainy day. (Of course don’t move on a rainy day unless you want your boxes and your spirits soaked.)
Scatter coins around the living room as you move in. This will bring wealth and fortune for the home owner for the next couple of months. (I would rather just pick them up and save them.)
Sprinkle salt in different areas of the house. It will ward off bad vibes, spirits or negative energy. (Just don’t move in with someone you don’t like. Then you’ll have positive energy and good vibes forever!)
When you’re having stairs made, rely on counting of steps using the chant “Oro, plata, mata” (Gold, silver, death). The topmost step should not end with ‘mata’, as it can mean a bad luck to people who will use the stairs. However, “oro” and “plata” are considered as a good luck. (Ok, this is creepy and may just consider it.)
Black ants on the wall? No problem! They are considered lucky. (Unless they start crawling all over you…)
Knives are not welcome! If a friend gives you a set of knives as a housewarming gift, don’t accept it. It is said that the friendship will be cut short once you receive them. (If we use them to cut cheese to go with our wine, will that be ok though?)
Old coins on new doorstep. When your new doorstep is just drying out from the fresh concrete, bury an old coin face up on it. It will attract wealth and success to anyone who lives there. (I will keep and sell those old coins, thank you.)
Bloody move, chap! Seriously, would you kill a helpless animal (chicken, pig or goat) and spread the blood on your floor to ward off evil spirits?! (I think that’s the evil right there!)

So there you go, a little bit of Filipino fun and crazy to think about. For me, as long as no one is harmed when you do it, it could be worth a try.

Have fun moving!

Letting Go

December 22, 2018

Let go. Why do you cling to pain? There is nothing you can do about the wrongs of yesterday. It is not yours to judge. Why hold on to the very thing which keeps you from hope and love? – Leo Buscaglia

Dead end jobs. Abusive marriages. Broken hearts. Unsafe environment. These are only some things that we know are not good for our souls. Yet some of us cling to them. Oftentimes people have a lot of problem letting go of things that no longer work or things that does more damage to them. We hang on to a mediocre life because it is safe and familiar. We hold on to things that have angered, saddened , or hurt us . Often we say “Let go and move on” but it’s harder than it actually is. “Let go” has been uttered too many times yet not too many people adhere to it. Either that or they don’t have a clear definition of what “letting go” really entails.

Letting go doesn’t mean giving up, but rather accepting that there are things that cannot be. – Anon

So what really does it mean to let go? Letting go doesn’t necessarily mean throwing things away. It means letting things be, letting it come and go, allowing things and accepting. Sometimes you just need to stop for a while and breathe. It’s about letting the tears and frustrations out. It’s about folding your hands and relying on a higher power for guidance. It’s about making a choice. A choice to accept and to move forward. Ask yourself what kind of life you want to live and make a decision. I hope you do not choose to hang onto whatever is troubling you. Move on.

However, it is so easy to say “let go, move on or move forward”. Doing it is altogether different. Then again, it’s always a choice. Choose to drop every bitter and negative experiences and thoughts. Stop carrying those unpleasant baggages. They will slow you down. Instead, opt for positive thoughts and make a decision to heal. Focus on the life you want to have- new, different dreams and goals. Focus on what you exactly want to do next. Create visible steps or an action plan. Let your mind wander to possibilities. Discipline it to move in new directions.

Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.- Oprah Winfrey

Letting go also involves being where you are in the present moment. In the now. Take a look at your surroundings and see the blessings that you have chosen not to take notice of. Appreciate the people who’ve been there for you. Pains, heartaches, frustrations, stress may be losses for us but somewhere is also a hidden gift lurking. You may also be surprised with the new choices and opportunities it provides. Letting go allows the things that were meant for you to come in. Letting go is the key to new experiences and to a new you. So be brave because possibilities abound and when you let go, you provide a gateway to a new and better world for you.

#NewAttitudeFor HigherAltitude

The Power of Pressing On

December 15, 2018

“Carry on, carry on” may ring a bell to everyone in the fashion industry and we may put Project Runway’s Tim Gunn’s voice to it. The phrase has become Tim Gunn’s voice of support to the aspiring fashion designers in the fashion reality show. But it also rings true in our lives. Life, as we know it, is not a bed a roses. There are days when we simply want to stay in bed and do nothing. There are times when we want to surrender. Sometimes we come to a point in this journey of life when we are so tired and miserable that we want to just give up. There are dreams we have forgotten because they seem so out of reach. There are days when we feel like life is simply a routinary everyday thing and you long for more but you just don’t know how to get there. Sometimes you feel like the life that you want is taking too long to materialize and so you’ve stopped dreaming, longing, or even living for it.

The fact of life is that there will always be thorns, mountains, and obstacles that seek to derail you. But as Randy Pausch said “The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough.” This is often ascribed to dreams but it also applies to life in general. Are there circumstances or people knocking you down that it makes you want to stop living? Are there aspirations and desires that you’ve pushed at the back door? Are there things you have given up on even before you have started it? Are you giving up after the hundredth attempt at doing something? Let me tell you, my friend, that there is always hope. Never ever give up.

“Hope never goes out of style.” – Nami

Yes, it is easy to say “never give up” but it can be done. Remember that as long as you have breath, anything is possible. Breaking points, pains, and brokenness make us want to give up but keep pressing on. How? You may ask. There are no certain methods or ways. However, you have to believe in yourself. Know yourself. What are you truly living for? What are you seeking for? What are your desires? Be focused. Do not listen to people who only bring doubt, uncertainty, and fear. Believe in your dreams and don’t let anyone smash them. Do not let anyone fashion the blueprint for your life. Believe that you are strong. Failures make up life and success. Things take time and you will learn a lot along the way from the mistakes you make. One little lapse should not stop you from accomplishing your goals. Do not allow yourself to be beaten up by it. Several of the most inspiring people in the planet attribute their successes to their failures. They always got back up again every time they fell. It is always easy to initiate something but going through and persevering is hard, so keep in mind that you only fail when you give up. And surround yourself with positive, supportive people and people who truly love you. Let them be your inspiration to persevere. They will be the people who will take care of you when you have forgotten to take care of yourself. They will be the ones who will help you press your way through the hopeless situations, messy decisions, and negative people.

If you can’t fly, then run
If you can’t run, then walk
If you can’t walk, then crawl
But whatever you do
You MUST keep moving forward

Anonymous

So keep pressing on. It will be quite a journey- the strain, fears, tears, frustrations, anger- but it will be worth it. You will see that as you persevere, your steps will be directed to where you want to be and to where you are supposed to be. You will build up from strength to strength and you will be on a higher destination. Do not give up because sometimes that huge breakthrough you have been waiting for requires just one more push. As they say, it so happens that the last key opens the door. And it is true that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel so if you want to see the light, you have to endure the darkness and the burning first. So no matter what the odds are or what people say or how far you have come, never give up. Carry on, carry on.

“When the going gets tough, keep on pressing on

When the road is rough, keep on moving on

With each step along the way, He will be your strength

You’re not alone, He’ll lead you home

Keep on Pressing On.”

#NewAttitudeForHigherAltitude

To Trust or Not To Trust?

December 8, 2018

“Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue. Honestly is hardly ever heard. And mostly what I need from you” so goes the lyrics of a song and it couldn’t be anymore truer in our society than today. And even though we all need it, honesty is fast becoming a forgotten virtue and it certainly is no wonder that trust is becoming a rare commodity. It is no surprise as well that people are becoming more and more careful and cautious. The question “To trust or not trust” is often played in our minds whenever we get to know other people.

Not all people can be trusted. People like robbers and swindlers are individuals we should be defensive with, and it is only natural for us to take a step back and be protective when we sense danger. However, we go through life trusting a lot of people as well. We may not notice it but we trust in a lot more ways with other people. People such as the cashier in a grocery store may seem like a nobody to us yet we trust that person. We trust that he is punching in the right numbers with what we have purchased. We trust the waiter to bring us our food in the restaurant. We trust that our doctors know what they’re talking about. We give our trust to some people yet we withhold it from others.

So what does it take to trust anyway? What does it mean to trust someone? Too many people nowadays are scared of opening up and trusting. Some people signify trusting someone to being vulnerable and in a way, it is true. Trusting means that you lay your confidence, your hope, your faith in someone. Others say that trusting is dangerous and often a risk. But truth be told, life is all about risks. And trusting is part of it. Trusting also means expecting people to disappoint you and fail you. Trusting means setting an expectation that you’re bound to get hurt and be frustrated by the people around you because no one is perfect. We ourselves can also let people down even if we don’t intend to. We are all human beings- frail and imperfect.

Of course, it is so easy to set expectations but when you think of all the past hurts, betrayals, and losses you’ve had, you can so easily shrink back and be fearful of anyone that you develop a relationship with. How does one recover? How do you learn to trust again? Trusting takes time. It grows over time. You can’t simply snap your fingers and let trickles of trust flood over your life. But people are resilient. The heart is capable of changing. You can rebuild trust if you choose to. You can choose to start anew. But you need to forgive that person first and then forgive yourself. Forgiveness signifies that you are willing to move forward and allowing yourself to trust again. Maybe not to that person right away but to yourself and to life itself.

“We’re never so vulnerable than when we trust someone- but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy” – Walter Anderson

To trust or not to trust? That is the question. Well, I only have this to say: Stop living in fear. Get out of that cave and meet life! Do not let your past betrayals or someone’s treachery tarnish your future relationships or ruin your life. It may take time but be patient. Face life with trust and you’ll see how light it feels. Trusting frees you because life simply flows. To trust is to live.

“When I’m trusting and being myself…everything in my life reflects this by falling into place easily, often miraculously” – Anonymous