My kind of neighborhood

You could go for a walk unbothered at the Capitol Commons Park, where you can also enjoy the open spaces and fresh air

What a lot of us didn’t really pay much mind to is now among the absolute essentials when it comes to selecting a neighborhood.

Before, it didn’t really matter if you would have to drive a long way to get to a park. It wasn’t such a huge worry if you are not within walking distance of a grocery. It wasn’t really much of a concern either if there are no restaurants within a two-kilometer radius from our house.

But all that quickly changed, especially at a time when we are asked to hunker down in our homes as much as we can. Many of us had no place where we could go for a quick run and get some fresh air that we wished for the next door neighbor’s house to magically turn into a sprawling park with a jogging path. We had to prepare for supermarket trips as if we’re going to a long war. We found ourselves thinking how uncomplicated it would be if only there were nearby shops so we won’t have to be stressed out each time we would forget something on our shopping list.

All these months of being grounded inside our homes got me thinking, where in the city is a nice neighborhood that has all these so-called must-haves in the new normal? One place that immediately came to mind: Ortigas Land’s Capitol Commons in Pasig City.

Capitol Commons is conveniently nestled right in the heart of the bustling city, yet it is its own calm, steady and sustainable community.

The dining strip here is most perfect for those nights when you’re just too exhausted from work and you don’t feel like cooking.

There’s no doubt in how expansive the former site of the Rizal Provincial Capitol is. Knowing Ortigas Land, its 10-hectare mixed use project is designed with lush greenery and open spaces where we can easily relax and breathe some fresh air—and we don’t even have to leave the city. It has the Capitol Commons Park where you could go for a walk unbothered, or get some meditating done on one of the benches. It’s also not crowded and peaceful, making it an enjoyable area for short and medium distance runs—something which I truly love.

One thing I’ve missed so much during the lockdown is getting together with friends. I’m thinking of all the good restaurants here that we could go to and make up for all the months we weren’t able to spend time together. Plus, the dining strip is most perfect for those nights when you’re just too exhausted from work and you don’t feel like cooking. The options are mind-blowing, from Sentro, Florabel to Tipsy Pig and Black Olive.

Going out for essentials and gifts amid the threat of COVID-19 was, I must admit, daunting and tricky. And I thought nothing could bar me from shopping. It’s a far cry from previous years when we could easily pop in and out of shops without any worries. Estancia at Capitol Commons, however, makes shopping trips a lot easier. It houses premier global brands as well as local retailers, giving you an extensive array of choices for all your needs.

It really has to be said: Ortigas Land has got a good thing going with Capitol Commons. It’s conveniently nestled right in the heart of the bustling city yet it is its own calm, steady and sustainable community. Here, it’s possible to live practically just a stone’s throw from the park, the mall, restaurants and everything else we could possibly need. What more could we ask for?

The Imperium at Capitol Commons