The best antidote

Eastland Heights will have nature as an extended amenity for the residential community.

There may be a grain of truth to the idea that nature can very well be your best antidote to stress.

Scores of researches, studies and experiments done in past decades could readily attest to this belief, thus prompting many—particularly the city dwellers—to take time out to commune with nature.

In fact, the United Nations’ theme for this year’s World Environment Day is all about “connecting people to nature.”

According to an article posted on the World Environment Day website, the “benefits of spending time outdoors are wide-ranging. Studies show that time in nature can reduce stress and symptoms of attention deficit disorder; boost immunity, energy levels and creativity; increase curiosity and problem-solving ability; improve physical fitness and coordination; and even reduce the likelihood of developing near-sightedness.”

The same article cited a Japanese research conducted in the 1990s which found that “people who spend time breathing forest air lowered their risk of diabetes and experienced improved mood and lower stress hormone production as compared to the people exercising on indoor treadmills.”

Eastland Heights places utmost importance on the health and wellbeing of its residents. PHOTOS By Alexis Corpuz

Crowded metro

In the Philippines however, communing with nature would normally require urbanites to take at least a two-hour trip to the outskirts of the metro.

That’s because Metro Manila—which is home to some 12.88 million people within an area of 619.5 sq km—now barely has enough open and green spaces for its residents to enjoy.

The City of Manila alone was even identified in a 2014 publication by Shell International as an “underprivileged, crowded city,” characterized by low gross domestic product per capita, and high population density, among others.

New perspective

Thus is the growing attractiveness of residential locations in the outskirts of the city, which offer the perfect respite at the end of a tiring day without needing to travel too far.

And in the eastern side of the metro is a residential location promising just that—a “new perspective” on what a home is and what family life should be all about.

The vast 640-hectare Eastland Heights in Antipolo City, Rizal is the latest residential venture of property giant Megaworld Corp., which claims to offer the “best of nature.” It is the company’s flagship “integrated lifestyle community” which puts nature at the core of its offerings, and places utmost importance on the health and wellbeing of its residents.

“Our project is all about nature. We’re offering a new perspective of a home away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but one that is still nearby,” Karen Piolo-Arcilla, assistant vice president for sales and marketing of Eastland Heights, said in an interview.

“This 640-ha (community) is something that a lot of people are attracted to because No. 1, its location is just near Metro Manila. Second, there are a few places left in Metro Manila where you can find such views of the (Sierra Madre) mountains and the city, and third, nothing compares to the fresh air of Antipolo. Also, I think it’s the bounty of nature that you will be able to appreciate if you own a property there,” Arcilla said.

She added: “Eastland Heights makes nature so reachable, and that’s what lacking in Metro Manila where space is rare.”

According to Arcilla, living in Eastland Heights would allow one the luxury of being able to commune with nature every single day, as it boasts of a natural rolling terrain, verdant hills, rich flora and fauna, and diverse animal species—all of which are being preserved to ensure the project’s sustainability.

Megaworld will in fact be partnering with environmental organizations and will have a dedicated group that will look into how the natural resources will be managed and preserved.

“We are very conscious about that. We have committed to make that aspect of the entire development really sustainable,” Arcilla said.

Eastland Heights would allow one the luxury of communing with nature every single day.

Natural extended amenity

Arcilla pointed out that the concept of the integrated lifestyle community is so powerful in such a way that “we are very strong in residential as a component in that community, but we’re also strong when it comes to the amenities.”

“And we’re not just talking about having a clubhouse, a basketball court, or a pool. We’re talking about the natural surroundings of the project—nature as an extended amenity for the residential community. That’s what Eastland Heights is all about,” she explained.

According to Arcilla, only 40 percent of the entire property is being developed while the remaining 60 percent would comprise of open and green spaces. And that 40 percent already includes the existing golf course and the aqua park. Institutions such as schools and commercial areas will be put up as well.

“This is our first integrated lifestyle community and so apart from having the biggest natural extended amenity for the residential community, you can also expect more exciting world class facilities … We are putting in a lot of effort to reflect our message of ‘best of nature’ in the entire development. In two to three years’ time, you will see a lot of new things happening at Eastland Heights,” Arcilla explained.

This latest landmark project will be launched sometime this year, but the company had started a soft selling of the available lots. Close to 550 lots, with cuts ranging from 300 sqm to 2,000 sqm are up for grabs.

At present, the lots are being sold for about P15,000 to P17,000 per sqm. But Arcilla waxed optimistic that land values will double, if not triple, in three to five years’ time, as soon as the amenities and the commercial areas that will be put up at the entrance of Eastland Heights have been completed.

“We envision this project to become the exclusive address of the privileged willing to pay a premium for world class amenities and benefits… This is the best time for you to buy and take advantage of this opportunity to own a lot at Eastland Heights,” she concluded.