Meeting resolutions in South Forbes City

Philippine Star
January 27, 2010
MANILA, Philippines - It’s already been a month since the start of 2010 and what better time than to evaluate one’s performance on fulfilling each person’s new year’s resolutions. Let’s face it. Keeping these resolutions is very difficult, not to mention coming to school/work on time, frequent the gym more often, or spending more time with the family at home or on a trip just to name a few.

But in the country’s largest fully-integrated and all-themed golf resort city at the forefront of the Metro Sta. Rosa – Tagaytay corridor, South Forbes Golf City, and recipient of the Best Golf Community Development title by the CNBC International Property Awards, the world’s most prestigious property awards programme, there is no excuse why resolutions of these kinds could not easily be kept until yearend.

Manic Monday. Talk about disciplinary warnings in school and nasty memos from the office. As always, we conveniently blame it on the traffic and that notorious Filipino time, especially on Mondays.

Developments which subscribe to the principles of New Urbanism like South Forbes ensure that the whole city remains compact, mixed-use, and pedestrian-friendly. This means that the distance between home and school or work is within convenient walking distance and that there is a reduced dependence on vehicles.

“Presently, our parent residents walk their children to school like our very own Learning Links Academy of Sta. Rosa and, soon enough, young adults can walk themselves to South Forbes City Colleges,” Cathay Land president Jeffrey Ng said. “No longer will traffic be a reason to be late for school or work.”

All paths to and from every destination are landscaped to encourage residents to take to walking and leave their vehicles at home, thus ensuring a more sustainable way of living. This is South Forbes’ contribution towards an era of “walkable urbanity”.

Hopelessly Devoted. Every child adores his parents. There is nothing more they want than to spend time with them in the hopes of becoming just like them in the future.

Every South Forbes home has a space where families can spend quality time together. The large Chakri master bedroom in Phuket Mansions allows children to bunk with their parents. The spacious Meiji den in Tokyo Mansions is complete with an entertainment center where families can watch a movie together. In the backyards and themed gardens of Châteaux de Paris, parents can educate their children on gardening which is about nutrition, exercise, cooking and being a part of the Earth.

The strategically-located City Center is the commercial and social hub of the whole city where food, retail, and entertainment establishments abound around a lagoon. In the future, this will be the thriving nexus where adults and children alike will come together to strengthen their ties as a community — the larger family.

Let’s Get Physical. Oh, Filipinos undoubtedly love to do everything with food — every single event, no matter how simple or extravagant. And year after year, the obesity rate in the country is on an alarming rise as proven by those concerned to participate in shows like The Biggest Loser Asia. Actually, any form of exercise is acceptable as long as it is done on a daily basis.

The nearest, most convenient place to stretch out is the village clubhouse and its adjoining amenities like the swimming pool and basketball court. Children living at the Mediterranean Villas even have a fussball court where team sports are encouraged.

South Forbes is strengthening its Leisure Cluster to provide a wide array of fitness regimen through the Sports and Country Club so that its residents live a healthier and happier life. With the many facilities available — basketball, lawn tennis, badminton, wall-climbing, swimming, and bowling to name a few — there is no room for boredom stemming from a repetition of sports activities.

Swings and strokes at the Driving Range use a full range of motion — a good daily exercise or warm up before heading to the world-class 18-hole South Forbes Golf and Leisure Club.


Philippine Star
January 27, 2010

Developed by: CATHAY LAND INC.


Marketed by: Philproperties International Corporation the best professional online real estate company.

Finding a new horizon in South Forbes

Manila Bulletin
January 27, 2010

“Have you ever dreamed of a place far away from it all, where the air you breathe is soft and clean, and children play in fields of dream?” goes a line from an old Burt Bacharach song referring to the Lost Horizon – Shangri-La .

Had it been composed today, it may as well be referring to South Forbes Golf City, the country’s largest fully-integrated, self-sustaining, and all-themed golf resort city that had earned the Best Golf Community Development honor by the CNBC International Property Awards, a prestigious property awards program.

New city. A new place always brings new hopes and new beginnings to anyone who looks for it. Today, no other place in the country can compare to the booming Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay corridor, touted as the new metropolis after Makati or Alabang.

For the freshman entrepreneur, this region has become the ideal place to set up business with the availability of major infrastructure such as roads, communication systems, and electricity. Around the area are technology parks, educational institutions, and residential developments.

South Forbes is a city within a city, complete with all the integral parts of a well-rounded development as seen in its 5 Clusters of Excellence: a Residential Cluster supported by the Education, Business, Wellness, and Leisure Clusters.

Classy communities. South Forbes’ main and incomparable feature is its international-themed Residential Cluster – a community of cultures, so to speak.

Dubbed “The Whole World in One City,” this community offers an array of the world’s best lifestyles and designs in its many enclaves. Those who prefer the Asian style, something closer to the heart, will find their dream homes in the resort-inspired Bali Mansions or Nirwana Bali, the serene Tokyo Mansions, the tropical Phuket Mansions or Phuket Estates, or the soaring Sentosa Heights.

Western charm is alive at the quaint Mediterranean Villas, the regal Châteaux de Paris, or the chic Miami. Condominium living with all the creature comforts is available at the sleek Scandia Suites or the fairway-fronting Golf View Terraces.

Peace of mind. Every parent’s responsibility is the welfare of his children. Aside from providing the basics of food, clothing, and shelter, quality education is of paramount importance. A complete educational structure is provided within this community starting from pre-school through high school at the Learning Links Academy of Sta. Rosa, and tertiary levels at the South Forbes City Colleges.

South Forbes encourages its residents to walk safely and enjoyably through its pedestrian-friendly and highly-landscaped New Urbanist master plan.

Flexi life. Leisure has become a greater priority now more than ever. South Forbes’ Health and Wellness program includes personalized activities at the clubhouse in each themed enclave, the City Center, the social and entertainment hub, the Astoria Plaza–South Forbes, and the Sports and Country Club.

Nature’s way. With over 50 hectares of fairway located within its hills and forests dedicated to a world-class 18-hole golf course, residents are assured of a clean and green environment. Here, the air is fresh to breathe and the climate is maintained cool – unlike the concrete jungle that is Metro Manila.

Membership to the South Forbes Golf and Leisure Club comes free at no activation cost.

Manila Bulletin
January 27, 2010


Developed by: CATHAY LAND INC.


Marketed by: Philproperties International Corporation the best professional online real estate company.

South Forbes "Health perks from living in golf city"

Manila Bulletin
January 4,2010

A place bearing the name South Forbes Golf City, the largest fully-integrated and all-themed golf resort city at the Metro Sta. Rosa–Tagaytay corridor, evidently has a world-class 18-hole golf course as its centerpiece feature. That has earned for it the title of Best Golf Community Development by the CNBC International Property Awards.

“Even at the conceptual stage of South Forbes, we want to create a development anchored around a golf course, not only for its environmental aspect of green development, but also for the physical gains it can offer to residents,” said Cathay Land president Jeffrey Ng. “And membership comes free with every lot or condominium unit purchase at no activation cost – the first in the Philippines to offer such.”

Like Chinese noodles, frequent golfing can promote longevity with an increased life expectancy. According to research presented by Rose Center for Health and Sports Sciences, burning 2,500 calories a week can reduce the risks of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Golfers who walk and carry their own bag burn 721 calories, golfers using a pull cart burn 718 calories, golfers walking with a caddie burn 613 calories and golfers riding in a golf cart burn 411 calories on average. As such, it is easy to see how playing more rounds of golf can factor into a healthy lifestyle.

Cardiovascular fitness is one of the many health benefits of golf through walking, likely covering a distance of about eight kilometers if you like to trek the 18-hole course in its entirety on foot. Otherwise, one still gets significant benefit from walking from the cart to the hole.

With South Forbes’ golf course located on higher elevation amidst the hills, valleys, and forests of the city, the bonus to a good varied workout are the amazing views from the fairways that will excite the senses and relax the eyes.

Extensive research suggests that people who are more exposed to the sun, especially in a tropical country like the Philippines where the sun is a constant outdoor companion, have overall good psychological health and mood. If you happen to be in a pensive mood, walking in the sun along with some physical exercise for some time may have positive results on your body and mind.

Physiologists agree that golf is a neuro-dynamic sport because the game engages both muscle memory and analytical processes.

In golf, one constantly judges distances vis-à-vis wind speed, examines spatial relationships, and considers whether to use an iron or wood. This activity is a catalyst for endorphin release that lifts one’s spirits and creates a sense of well-being.

Coming home to the fairway-fronting Golf View Terraces provides the much-awaited comforts of home after a round or two of golf while staying close to the fairways. With a golf course for a backyard, who can resist the call of the green?

A resident can practically play golf every day of the week. With the community’s Preferred Lifestyle Program which is categorized into: Work-related (part-time, full-time, or consultancy), Sports and Leisure, Civic-related (mentoring, fund drives, city-wide events), Self-Improvement (spiritual or skills development), and Rest & Relaxation activities, one can lead a balanced lifestyle.

In fact, a full-time, 24-7 activity/program management team will design individualized activity programs based on the lifestyle the resident has chosen and will even send reminders and updates.


Manila Bulletin
January 4, 2010


Developer: Cathay Land

Marketed by: Philproperties International Corporation the best professional online real estate company.

5 Clusters of Excellence complete the good life

Manila Bulletin
December 28, 2009

There are not that many developments that can offer everything that you are looking for, whether you’re with a family that demands a workplace or school near the home, or living the single life that craves for a dynamic lifestyle.

But there is always something for every buyer’s lifestyle needs at South Forbes Golf City, the largest fully-integrated, self-sustaining, and all-themed golf resort city at Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay corridor. The area has become an ideal place to set up business with the availability of major infrastructure such as roads, communication systems, and electricity.

“As much as having the fastest growth prospects in the entire country is concerned, the Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay corridor is projected to be the next best place to explore and experience the dynamics that are shaping successful 21st century metropolitan areas,” said Jeffrey Ng, Cathay Land president. “Today, the area is home to diverse populations, major employment centers, and regional entertainment venues, with it having its own priorities for economic development and community character so families and individuals alike are offered many options as they locate there.”

South Forbes is planned, designed, and built to incorporate its Five Clusters of Excellence that provide residents with a place to live, work, study, shop, and play all within reach – making it unnecessary to leave the confines of the city. The developer incorporated the compact, pedestrian-friendly town center type of development, with its City Center surrounded by the Residential Cluster.

The Learning Links Academy of Sta. Rosa, located inside the community’s Education Cluster, caters to young minds from pre-school through high school, also complete with a day care facility. Graduates of the academy can pursue higher education at the South Forbes City Colleges.

The Business Cluster includes the Cyberpark that will feature world-class, built-to-specification buildings suited for BPOs and call centers, supported by The Astoria Plaza South Forbes Business Hotel and Conference Center.

“To beef up our Wellness Cluster, we have recently collaborated with the Southern Luzon Hospital and Medical Center to provide an exclusive healthcare package for residents,” added Mr. Ng.

The Residential Cluster provides a fusion of international design elements and Filipino sensibilities resulting in a unique development that harmonizes with our culture that of the foreign region. Already completed and occupied are the quaint Mediterranean Villas, the resort-inspired Bali Mansions, and the serene Tokyo Mansions. Other enclaves include the tropical Phuket Mansions, the grand Châteaux de Paris, chic Miami, and the sleek Scandia Suites.

“We also have residential communities offering breathtaking views of the golf course like the fairway-fronting Golf View Terraces and the summit-set Sentosa Heights,” added Mr. Ng.

Enhancing the quality of life is also synonymous to environmental protection. South Forbes’ biggest garden is the 50-hectare golf course, integrated in the forests, hills, and valleys, that accounts for much-needed green space within the whole development.

The special grass used, Sea Isle Paspalum, conforms to any water type, even salt water, that it neither consumes nor depletes the supply of fresh water devoted for the residents.

Membership to the world-class 18-hole South Forbes Golf Club comes free with every lot or condominium unit purchase at no activation fee.

These features have earned the project the Best Golf Community Development title by the CNBC International Property Awards, a prestigious property awards program.


Manila Bulletin
December 28, 2009

Developer: Cathay Land


Marketed by: Philproperties International Corporation the best professional online real estate company.

Fine feathered friends

Philippine Star
December 18, 2009

MANILA, Philippines - Well, here’s one for the birds. Who would have thought that South Forbes Golf City, the country’s largest fully-integrated and all-themed golf resort city at the forefront of the Metro Sta. Rosa - Tagaytay corridor, and recipient of the Best Golf Community Development title by the CNBC International Property Awards, the world’s most prestigious property awards programme, is home not only to people, but also to a myriad species of birds? Then again, with the city’s concern for a sustainable way of life and the preservation of the natural environment, it is no surprise at all.

“In the pursuit of building green, South Forbes is earnest in maintaining its green zones and determined to integrate the same wherever necessary,” said Cathay Land president Jeffrey Ng.

Birds of a Feather. Bird watching has been a growing hobby among Filipinos these past years. With what started as an internet-based community of bird enthusiasts, the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP) was launched in 2003, now a nationwide club of bird watchers dedicated to providing a forum for individuals to share their interest in watching wild birds in the Philippines and to providing support and information about wild birds and protecting their habitats in the country.

The Early Bird. In the morning of December 4, 2009, a small contingent from the WBCP visited the environs of South Forbes’ golf course where lush flora and some watering holes still dominate the site — the perfect habitat for wild birds. The result of their morning “birding” revealed at least 23 migrant and resident species of birds, much more than their previous afternoon visit.

“The highlight of the trip for me was a calling Siberian Rubythroat which responded very clearly to (one of the watchers’) tape,” said Leni Sutcliffe of WBCP. “We had a single Striated Swallow, too, a species not seen in the previous visit.”

The Siberian Rubythroat is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in mixed coniferous forests with undergrowth in Siberia and winters usually in India and Indonesia. The Striated Swallow, on the other hand, is endemic to Southeast Asia.

Free as a Bird. How great it is to have a golf course for a backyard where the view is as far as the eye can see, the air is crisp and clean, and the hills are alive with the sound of bird music. South Forbes presents two unique enclaves where life is not just closer to the green, but closer to the birds as well.

Akin to Singapore’s most popular island resort, Sentosa Heights is South Forbes’ prestigious island enclave with only 29 lots available — all offering coveted views of the golf course. With its exclusive nature of having limited lots and its location surrounded by nothing but the fairway, it realizes the Malay definition of sentosa, which means peace and tranquility.

The setting of the Golf View Terraces takes advantage of natural elevation changes. It is perched high on the ridge of the hill while the golf course is nestled in the valley below and atop the opposite ridge. Mature vegetation and forests, along with a linear lake that winds throughout the course complement the scenic, rolling topography.

For the avid golfer or the moderate environmentalist, the call of the green is too strong for him to just appreciate only from his home. With his free golf membership that comes along with every unit purchase, he can run the course of the world-class 18-hole South Forbes Golf and Leisure Club any day he chooses.

“In fact, with our fleet of electric golf carts, our resident and migrant birds, as well as our residents, are assured of a noise-free environment,” Mr. Ng said.




Philippine Star
December 18, 2009


Developer: Cathy Land


Marketed by: Philproperties International Corporation the best professional online real estate company.

Top-of-the-line designs at South Forbes

Philippine Star
December 11, 2009

MANILA, Philippines - Open your eyes to a new way of living at South Forbes Golf City, the country’s largest fully-integrated and all-themed golf resort city at the forefront of the Metro Sta. Rosa – Tagaytay corridor, and recipient of the Best Golf Community Development title by the CNBC International Property Awards, the world’s most prestigious property awards programme, with its incomparably sophisticated selection of homes that all types of people would surely want to have.

Euro-American Line. Us Filipinos are very much immersed in the Western look being a former Spanish colony. But through shared similarities like climate, the Spanish Mediterranean style takes root in South Forbes’ Mediterranean Villas where quaint homes Alicante, Cadiz, Castellon, Sevilla, Tarragona, Almeria, and Costa del Sol — dot the landscape and exude the warm Iberian charm.

Châteaux de Paris, outh Forbes’ sophisticated French enclave, reveals a timeline of French design styles in its model chateaus Chambord, Chantilly, Fontainebleau, and Rambouillet — a showcase of class and culture spanning from Louis XIV to Moderne — and a fascination for themed gardens that govern the ambience and lifestyle of the coomunity. What tropical setting wouldn’t be complete without rows of tall palms that spire up to the sky and sway with the gentle breeze like well-wishers welcoming everyone arriving? Such is the ambience of Miami, the first of many American-themed villages in South Forbes. Four model homes capture the extraordinary charm of this district yet each with its own functional appeal: Daytona, Sarasota, Kissimmee, and Pensacola.

The growing complexity of modern life can take a back seat when staying at the sleek Scandia Suites which takes inspiration from the uncomplicated and innovative Scandinavian style. There are four unit types to choose from, with options for a fully-furnished unit that come with select furniture with brands known for their style, sophistication and quality, and value-added services like professional housekeeping.

Asian Line. Nearer to home and closer to the heart is a modern Asian-themed community called The Mansions, dedicated to promoting the unique beauty of the modern Asian style and maintaining that wealth of innate traditionalism.

All in search of a combination lifestyle of tropical indoor-outdoor living, island charm, an exotic culture, and modern conveniences visit the beach resorts of Bali. Bali Mansions features four posh model mansions – Coralia, Candidasa, Lovina, and Nusa Dua — all named after popular beach spots in Bali. Continuing the Bali Mansions legacy is Nirwana Bali where model homes Jimbaran, Legian, and Sanur are equally stunning like its predecessors.

Philippine Star
December 11, 2009

Developer: Cathay Land

Marketed by: Philproperties International Corporation the best professional online real estate company.

Bonjour, South Forbes

Philippine Star
December 4, 2009

MANILA, Philippines - What’s not to love about Paris? Over the centuries, she has acquired a glory which still today shines out undiminished — an unrivalled beauty that has aroused overwhelming passion in the hearts and minds of her admirers.

Emulating such exquisite splendour is Châteaux de Paris, the French quarter of South Forbes Golf City, the largest fully-integrated, self-sustaining, and all-themed golf resort city at the forefront of the Metro Sta. Rosa – Tagaytay corridor, and recipient of the Best Golf Community Development title by the CNBC International Property Awards, the world’s most prestigious property awards programme.

Un, Deux, Trois. Châteaux de Paris presents a taste of three French design styles in three different homes: the classical Chambord, the contemporary Chantilly, and the moderne Fontainebleau — each with its unique layout to match the varying preferences of different homeowners.

The Chambord reminisces on old world charm that is characteristic of many of our parents’ and grandparents’ homes but updated to meet the modern lifestyle. From the exterior alone, the distinguished Chambord features a turret on one side of the house much like a palace, a unique feature that sets the model chateau apart from all others, hinting of romance and aristocracy. Burgundies dominate the living area accentuated by bright yellows and greens as also seen in the furniture and the art works on the wall — making the room feel sunny and bright. The master suite, which occupies the whole left side of the house, is done in warm tones with Moroccan-inspired chandeliers and light fixtures adding a layer of complexity to the room.

On the other end of the design spectrum is the Fontainebleau unit, reflective of a more sophisticated and urbane lifestyle. Clean lines, chrome and glass, textured fabrics create an interesting interplay of surfaces that makes the home cozy yet refined. Inspired by the small French hotels, the master’s bedroom is quaint with subtle touches of a vibrant red to adding interest and spice to the room.

Philippine Star
December 4, 2009

Developer: Cathay Land

Marketed by: Philproperties International Corporation the best professional online real estate company.