Soul BGC: 2015 November by Hinge Inquirer Publications

Y O U R G U I D E T O T H E H O M E O F P A S S I O N AT E M I N D S

ISSUE

VO L .

N OV E M B E R

2015

BUILD A BETTER LIFE The forwardthinking faces and places charting a careful course to an empowered community TRUC NGUYEN Reaping the rewards of localizing JIM AND TONI SARET Make their move for a healthier Philippines JANICE VILLANUEVA A few lessons from a wellequipped mompreneur DESIDERATA LOUNGE Anton Zamora focuses on authenticity PUZZLES BGC Checking in at the happiest place in the city

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BUZZ

PHOTOGRAPHER (DECOR) MONA TAN; PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MIND MUSEUM

YULETIDE CITY Bonifacio Global City in the holiday season takes things further—good community vibe included Be it the lampposts wrapped with oversize bows and fairy lights or prime locations fitted out with bedecked signage, it isn’t just the décor that brings out the spirit of the season. At the heart of BGC’s Christmas customs are the people who infuse life and culture to the trappings and traditions of Christmas in BGC. They are the artists who give meaning to the community events tailored to make celebrating the season unique in every way. BGC’s vision for the most wonderful time of the year continues to offer stunning views of the city that isn’t solely limited from a higher ground. Open spaces along Bonifacio High Street will be filled with sidewalk impromptu singers and performances, rounding up the crowd for an exciting treat. It’s also the perfect time for family 01 02

and friends to catch up a film or two (or perhaps with each other) at open theater presentations at the park. Activities devoted to children such as Santa’s Meet and Greet and carriage rides around the neighborhood pile on more whimsy to the affair. And as if it couldn’t get any more local, even St. Luke’s Global City, Globe, and The NET Group staff will join in on the caroling fun. Altruism is also a core principle that Fort Bonifacio Development Foundation, Inc. intends to plant within the population, opening its doors to donation to less fortunate children. Indeed, the city’s most anticipated celebration has created a wave of positivity that’s undeniably contagious. With the environment starting to turn red and green and glittery and gleaming, a happier place is emerging fueled by a tight-knit community spirit.

DECORS SIGNAL THE START OF CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES IN BGC LAMPPOSTS ALONG 25TH STREET

LIVE LONG LIFE The Mind Museum breaks down the secret behind long lives Exploring our history of attempting to understand and elongate our lifespan, The Mind Museum has set up Forever Lab: Will You Still Love Me at 150? The exhibit, with the help of designer Catherine Young, features booths and sections with the use of noodles to represent long life. The area is divided into different sections: various religious beliefs and practices, a noodle packet showcasing existing facts of how people live long, the Blue Zones exhibit that explores the 01 02

lifestyles of the longest living people to date, Snapshots from the Future showing a playful speculation of the life of a person who lives to be 148 years old, and various sections that educate dwellers on what can contribute to longer lives. Aside from the informative approach, The Mind Museum shares their ultimate goal, “This exhibition is ultimately about our quest to give more time to what gives us meaning. After all, we all want our lives to be something more than ‘long.’” The exhibit runs until Dec. 30.

THE EXHIBIT IS DIVIDED INTO DIFFERENT SECTIONS PEOPLE ANSWER WHAT THEY WOULD DO WITH 150 YEARS OF EXISTENCE

CONTENTS Illustration by Valerie Ong

EDITORIAL STAFF GROUP PUBLISHER BEA J. LEDESMA CREATIVE DIRECTOR NIMU MUALLAM MANAGING EDITOR ERIC NICOLE SALTA GRAPHIC ARTIST MONA YEENA TAN EDITORIAL ASSISTANT LOREN DIMAANO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER PATRICK SEGOVIA CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MAAN D'ASIS PAMARAN CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS GABBY CANTERO, JAR CONCENGCO, JOSEPH PASCUAL, CHISSAI BAUTISTA EXECUTIVE BOARD CHAIRPERSON ALEXANDRA PRIETO-ROMUALDEZ IGC CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER J. FERDINAND DE LUZURIAGA IGC DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER ATTY. RUDYARD ARBOLADO GROUP HR HEAD RAYMUND SOBERANO VP / CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER IMELDA ALCANTARA

BUZZ

Get your Yuletide groove when you walk around BGC in the holidays

SVP AND GROUP SALES HEAD (INQUIRER GROUP OF COMPANIES) FELIPE OLARTE AVP FOR SALES MA. KATRINA MAE GARCIA-DALUSONG

DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS NANCY BAYBAY, ANGELA CARLOS-QUIAMBAO SUBSCRIPTION ASSISTANT MAY ANN DAYANG MERCHANDISERS ROSITO SUBANG, JR., RONIL ANO-OS, RAMON BRIONES

SALES

CUSTOM PUBLISHING

KEY ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST ANGELITA TAN-IBAÑEZ SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES ALETHEIA ORDIALES, ABBY GINAGA ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES ANDIE ZUÑIGA, SARAH CABALATUNGAN, CHARM BANZUELO, LIZA JISON SALES SUPPORT ASSISTANTS RECHELLE ENDOZO, KAREN ALIASAS

SALES SUPERVISOR POLO DAGDAG ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITORS PHOEBE CASIN, ANGELA VELASCO EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS PAULINE MIRANDA, PAMELA JEAN CARLOTA, TJ BILLONES, CHRISTELLE TOLISORA, RICA ERLANO SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE SHANNA MALING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES GENE PEREZ, INA MATEO GRAPHIC ARTISTS ROI DE CASTRO, TEJ TAN, YAYIE MOTOS, JAYCE SORIANO, JANINE ALCANTARA

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER MOBY ARAGONES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE KYLA ARCE SOCIAL MEDIA ASSOCIATE JEANNE PINEDA MARKETING MARKETING ASSOCIATES ERLE VIRGILIA MAMAWAL, JANNELLE TURIJA MARKETING GRAPHIC ARTIST LEE CACES, JR LAROSA DISTRIBUTION BUSINESS AND DISTRIBUTION MANAGER RINA LAREZA CIRCULATION SUPERVISOR FOR FREEZINES VINCE OLIQUIANO DISTRIBUTION SPECIALIST INOUE AURELIO SUBSCRIPTION SPECIALIST JOAN MATIENZO

PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER NOEL CABIE PRODUCTION ASSISTANT MARICEL GAVINO FINAL ART SUPERVISOR DENNIS CRUZ FINAL ART ASSISTANT KRISTINE MAY PAZ

GAME ON

The rise of nostalgiaincluding board games

MAN’

Locals from t

LOOKING GLASS Looking at this issue’s cover reminds me that in any city, it’s the people that infuse a bigger sense of belongingness. It’s a mild attempt at localizing Humans of New York in a location where people are driven by passion. But giving passion where it’s due is warranted in this case when the annual Passionfest is just around the corner. Amid criticism I have heard that this city lacks soul, it warms my heart when I meet people who defy this description. Case in point, our cover subjects: expat Truc Nguyen, coaches Jim and Toni Saret, and mom-entrepreneur Janice Villanueva all prove that there’s more to urban life than just architecture. Meeting people like them makes you wonder what other types are lurking within cities like this. We live in places that are so much more progressive than what our forefathers could have ever imagined. And yet, sifting through the cultural cacophony is a burden we aren’t willing to undertake. What I’m trying to say is that to understand the passion driving the new generation, you need to move past first impressions and persevere along the busy roads until you find these people, wherever they may be, who have found their vocation. A great first step? Look around.

ERIC NICOLE SALTA MANAGING EDITOR

S BEST FRIEND

s on lessons learned their loyal canines

RESIDENT REVELATION

The communities making themselves heard

CALENDAR A. BGC IMPROMPTU Bonifacio High Street November 15-December 31

F. BGC HUMPDAY QUIZ NIGHT Fort Parking December 9

B. BGC LIGHT SHOW November 15-December 31

G. CARRIAGE RIDE 9th Ave. December 5, 12, and 19

C. WANDERING MINSTRELS Bonifacio High Street November 21-22, December 5, 12 D. BGC PASSIONFEST Fort Parking November 27-28 E. BGC ART MART November 28-29, December 5-6

H. GLOBE VOICES December 11 I. SMALL SCREEN GOES BIG December 12 J. SIMBANG GABI C1 Park December 19

OUT OF THE BOX

Early Christmas treats for every member of the family

GOT SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND? Let us know your thoughts and e-mail us at info@bgc.com.ph We would love to hear from you! WANT YOUR EVENT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE BGC CALENDAR? Simply e-mail soulbgc@hip.ph at least a month in advance with details of the event, location, and date, and we'll include it in the upcoming issues! bonifacioglobalcityph

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AT EASE

Pair delicate neutrals with soft textures for classic fall looks

For security, medical, & safety emergencies like stuck in elevator, fire, car/motor accidents, health collapse, injury, etc.

0917844-HELP The Bonifacio Estate Services Corporation (BESC) welcomes feedback from the BGC community. You may call BESC through: TRUNK LINE + (632) 816-2372 COMMUNICATION CENTER 24/7 EXT. 2222 (63) 917-816-BESC LOBBY RECEPTION 24/7 EXT. 2000 LIFELINE EMERGENCY AMBULANCE (63) 935-119-4041

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FOOD

ANALOG ELEGANCE An old-world lounge unveils a sound concept for nextgeneration idling reared in the past’s aural history

The Desiderata Lounge’s general manager Anton Zamora recalls, “I used to see the poem hanging from my tita’s wall. I did not pay much attention to it at the time, but as the years passed, I began to realize that its message is really true. When we were looking for a name for the concept, we remembered it.” As such, everything in the lounge is a reflection of the very essence of going ‘placidly amid the noise and haste.’ The quote fits perfectly with the vibe of the laid-back lounge, especially as it recently opened its Listening Room where they house a rare collection of vinyl records, some dating as far back as the First World War era. “We got the idea from a family trip to Japan where we stumbled upon a place called Bar Martha. We were puzzled at first when we were told by the maitre’d to keep our voices down,” he says. “Inside, we saw this guy who had over 5,000 records behind him, playing James Brown on a hi-fi system. We were blown away.” Though Desiderata’s collection isn’t as large as the one in Japan, the whole place is bursting with character. The interiors are dramatic without being thematic. The poem was written around the 1920s, and there is an opulent Gatsby-esque appeal in the mod-deco design. “We did not want to go overboard with it. We realized that if you take a black-and-white photo of the interiors, it would look like you were in the past, but if you add colored filters to it, then it feels current,” Zamora explains. Even their food has great stories to tell. Aside from the fact that Spanish chef Borja Duran prepares his dishes while listening to the classics, the character comes from the ingredients they use. “Our tuna, for example, is sourced from a supplier who encourages sustainable fishing in General Santos City. He is out there

campaigning against harmful practices such as dynamite fishing. We chose to use local produce as much as possible because we believe in its quality and we want to help our small farmers.” The best way to describe Desiderata is like a supper club, like the ones that were popular in the olden, golden days. “We just thought that at some point in their daily lives, [people want] something more relaxed. Sometimes they want to party, have loud music. We’re pretty sure they don’t want to do that every day. Sometimes they just want to relax and sit down and talk to friends over good music, good food, and good drinks,” he says. In contrast to other places in Bonifacio Global City where one goes to be seen, this is one place where one can go to, to actually hear something out of the ordinary. 01 THE INTERIORS ARE REMINISCENT OF THE GREAT GATSBY ERA 02 WAGYU ENTRAÑA 03 SOME OF THEIR BEST SELLING DRINKS ARE THE BOURBON PEACH SMASH, DTA OLD FASHIONED, NEW YORK SOUR, AND BRANDY ALEXANDER 04 GRILLED CEASAR SALAD AND MUSSELS DIJONNAISE 05 ANTON ZAMORA SEEKS TO FURTHER EXPAND THE VINYL COLLECTION

THE DESIDERATA LOUNGE IS LOCATED AT UNIT 106, THE INFINITY TOWER, 26TH ST., BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY, TAGUIG CITY. RESERVATIONS FOR PRIVATE EVENTS ARE AVAILABLE | 893-4212

WRITER MAAN D’ASIS PAMARAN PHOTOGRAPHER GABBY CANTERO

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FOOD

FRIENDLY ARENA Its game-changing concept may be the core selling point but Puzzles Board Game Lounge’s community-building thrusts are getting more attention

WRITER ERIC NICOLE SALTA PHOTOGRAPHER JAR CONCENGCO

Despite indie cult favorites St. Lucia, San Cisco, and Tegan and Sara brewing in the background, there is definitely no lack of competitive spirit swelling among Puzzles’ blatantly millennial patrons sprawled on the faux grass play area. Jorel Redoblado, a former customer, now co-owner of Puzzles’ Bonifacio Global City branch, says that most Filipinos pick games that are competitive rather than cooperative in nature. “Ninety-nine percent of the time, I would get competitive [game requests]. Some people are like ‘I want to kill him, how can I do that?’” he says jokingly. It’s a sign that shouldn’t be taken seriously but it’s an interesting tidbit nonetheless about a highly sociable culture. Puzzles Board Game Lounge is a great space, full of childlike excitement and nostalgia, and littered with rainbow-bright details that make you feel like you belong within the community. There is a sense of acceptance just by soaking in the surroundings, and that’s one quality that Puzzles is keen to communicate. “The concept is having a place

where you can talk to your friends and interact with them face-toface, phone down, through board games,” says Redoblado. “People love going back to real clean fun and the fact that you get to interact with one another, you can’t beat that,” adds owner Anton Valencia. “It brings you back to your childhood.” Having opened in July, Puzzles has gained appreciation not only from the gaming community but also from onlookers wanting a piece of wistfulness. Over 200 board games, a mix of classic and new ones, are available to play with. “Some of our more popular games, I call them the ‘friendship over’ games because they are betrayal or traitor games like Avalon Resistance,” shares Redoblado. Other regulars embark on a quest with friends that see them trade blows through popular choices like Game of Thrones, Jenga, Uno Stacko, Monopoly, and “the party game for horrible people” Cards Against Humanity. However, Puzzles’ concept isn’t a jibe at the joys of online gaming. “We offer Wi-Fi so we know that ‘world’ is there,” says Redoblado. The casual

lounge knows how to appeal to their audience, making sure that the details fit with the tradition of nostalgia seekers but at the same time retain relevance in a fastmoving scene. Coaching is also an indispensable facet of Puzzles. Both Redoblado and Valencia go around and teach people how to play the games as well as introduce them to newer options they otherwise wouldn’t have considered. The food meanwhile complements the game-playing nature of Puzzles. Items like Mac and Cheese, Mozzarella Sticks, Baked Chicken Parmigiana, and Rootbeer Float are no-nonsense fare, blending in with the exploration rather than hindering the progress of game play. Puzzles is a great spot that gives you a fuzzy yearning feeling. The concept is simple, but the end result is surprisingly sentimental.

01 THE DIVERSE COLOR PALETTE IS AN ATTEMPT TO LOOK VERY WELCOMING 02 OLD SCHOOL TOYS BRING A SENSE OF NOSTALGIA 03 FAMILIAR FOOD DOMINATES THE MENU INCLUDING MAC AND CHEESE, MOZZARELLA STICKS, MILKSHAKES, AND CHICKEN KATSU 04 POSITIVE REINFORCEMENTS HANG ON THE WALLS 05 ANTON VALENCIA AND JOREL REDOBLADO

PUZZLES BOARD GAME LOUNGE IS LOCATED THE FORT ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX, 26TH STREET, BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY, TAGUIG CITY | 246-9069

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ENCOUNTERS “Caring for dogs taught me how to love unconditionally. I give them all their wants and needs without asking for anything in return. It’s like I’m the parent and all I want for my children is to be happy. Seeing them wag their tails in joy is enough to make my day.” ANETH COLOMA WITH COTTON QUALITY ASSURANCE ASSOCIATE TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES

PUPPY LOVE

What is one thing you have learned from your pet? PHOTOGRAPHERS CHISSAI BAUTISTA (ANETH, NOELLE, ADRIAN AND ARION), MONA TAN (WARD), AND LOREN DIMAANO (JOSE)

“Having dogs, I have learned to live in the moment, letting things come and go. I also learned to appreciate the simple things in life.”

NOELLE RODRIGUEZ WITH RUFUS AND RACEY RESIDENT, SERENDRA

“Having Turron, we learned how to be grateful for everything in life. He is a very affectionate dog and he always expresses his gratitude in many ways.” ADRIAN AND ARION MARIN WITH TURRON RESIDENTS, SERENDRA

“I’ve learned a lot from Mochi. But one that stands out is being responsible. Having a pet is anything but simple. You’ll have to feed them, walk them, maintain their fur, and bring them to the vet. Some people treat their pets like a toy, attending to them only for pleasure. However, owning a dog is like having an addition to the family.” “If there is anything I’ve learned, it’s trying new things in a positive light. Bink has no fear when it comes to trying new things. He isn’t afraid to go on car rides, even if the destination ends up being the vet. I need to embrace the changes in life. While routine is great, trying new things can be vital for our own growth.” WARD VAN WIJNGAARDEN WITH BINK RESIDENT, BELLAGIO III

JOSE RAFAEL DIMAANO WITH MOCHI SOLUTIONS MANAGER HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES PHILIPPINES

COVER STORY

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE Three years on, expat Truc Nguyen is keeping the spirit of adventure and volunteerism alive in her second home WRITER ERIC NICOLE SALTA PHOTOGRAPHER PATRICK SEGOVIA

On a fun-filled, sun-soaked afternoon, expat Truc Nguyen’s zest for life is palpable. In the three years that she’s been in the country, Nguyen has covered a lot of ground literally and metaphorically in a relatively short time. While her family is the main focus, an active lifestyle also takes centerstage atop the volunteerism undertakings she’s been pursuing. With a love for the environment, Nguyen along with family and friends propels herself into the Philippines’ great outdoors through endurance sports. “We explore Luzon as a family where we attend sporting events or just go to the beach.” She is, by most standards, a soulful voice in a concrete capital with the way she connects with her neighborhood. Nguyen is proof enough that even expats can squeeze in a little more compassion in the unique world of Filipino urban life. From an expat’s point of view, do you think that progress here isn’t limited to growth in economy and art and design? This depends on your definition of progress. BGC has been designed and built to be a modern city with firstclass infrastructure relative to the rest of the Philippines. Now it’s time to take the city to the next level: encouraging its residents to actively take part in the city’s culture and social fabric so that BGC grows as a community of concerned and involved citizens, not just as a modern space where retail reigns and residents indulge in consumerism.

What’s the biggest takeaway of living here? The Philippines is a country of contrast and juxtaposition. It’s a country of extreme wealth and poverty. As expatriates, we are exposed to communities that have too much of everything and communities that have to make ends meet with a minimum wage of less than P500 a day, if they’re lucky to be employed. The Philippines is also a country of extreme beauty (the provinces) and ugliness (traffic on EDSA). Within a two-hour drive we can swim with Nemo in pristine waters yet we can spend hours on EDSA breathing toxic fumes! Have you always been athletic or was it something you picked up when you moved here? I have always been an active person; I have been engaged in sports since primary school. What I have enjoyed in the Philippines is taking my family on “sports tourism” trips: travelling to beautiful parts of Luzon to engage in sporting activities such as triathlon, running or cycling events. Have you pursued any other personal interests here? Yes, I have been volunteering for ACAY (Association Compassion Asian Youth), a Quezon City-based NGO that rehabilitates teenagers who’ve been abused, abandoned or imprisoned. I also provide assistance to Zambales-based Triple B Care Projects, an NGO that provides free care to burns patients and/or children who have cleft palate and intestinal worms.

COVER STORY

MODERN MOTHERLAND Don’t be so quick to assume that a mom of three will have no time for work. This mom-entrepreneur has raised Mommy Mundo from her humble home to a national exposition. WRITER LOREN DIMAANO PHOTOGRAPHER PATRICK SEGOVIA

Janice Villanueva might as well be the epitome of a modern mom. This momentrepreneur proves that despite raising her own family, she could just as well be the lending hand towards raising a hundred more. Through a business close to her heart, she has created Mommy Mundo as an ideal venue for helping moms in this day and age, proving there is enough room to mix pleasure with business. What makes Bonifacio Global City home to you? It’s ideal in location. When I have meetings, I usually try to set it here, especially when the ones I’m meeting are coming from the South or Makati. Because we do events for moms—I also own events company Creative Juice—we also recommend BGC as a central location for everyone. Plus the vibe is relaxing. When

my kids don’t have school, I want them to be able to run around while I’m working in the café.

just trying to guide them in the right direction.

Could you describe your approach to Mommy Mundo Could you tell us about your and how it’s evolved? parenting philosophy? It started off really from my I believe in constant own needs as a mom. I would communication. I’m in between really see what my own needs being a strict parent and a are and try to give that because permissive parent. I grew I believe if I’m experiencing up with a very authoritarian that need or that gap in the father so naturally, having that market, that’s probably what experience you’d want to be other moms are undergoing. gentler with your children. At So for example, there were the same time you’d want to no talks on breastfeeding so instill more discipline. With my I created breastfeeding talks. children, I’m an over processor. Then I was planning my son’s I like talking to them a lot about birthday, [then I thought] I experiences and their feelings. would make a party planning Now that they’re teens, they’re talk. It’s always like that. I not scared to come to me when guess the difference is I am not they have something to share. anymore in that same world, As parents, we tend to think too but in the same way I’m still much. Especially now, we want trying to serve the needs of to be present in everything and moms. Universal needs, the ensure we raise good children. need for information, the need We forget that our children for support. Those things are are actually good already; we’re never going away.

How do you dream up new projects for Mommy Mundo? For the past years, I always thought of events on the fly. We try to balance needs at the same time things that we want to communicate. Next year, we will be bringing our biggest event Expo Mom all over the Philippines. Where do you think BGC has made strides in ensuring that working moms are represented in the community? Well of course it’s like the new business center. I know several moms who work here and it’s nice because I noticed that they are more attuned to having a more holistic lifestyle and run after work. You can run, and then get back home to their children and still have time for them. Or just walk to a restaurant and have lunch with your friends. It’s a convenience; it’s all in one location that’s walkable and safe.

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COVER STORY

Movement. Our goal is to help a million Filipinos get stronger, fitter, and healthier. In everything we’re doing, we’re able to continue this advocacy. In the same token, we’re brand ambassadors of the Philippine Heart Association in disseminating fit and healthy lifestyles. I think bringing it here is already big in paying it forward because this is not just a concrete jungle, what we have here is a community of fitness and sports enthusiasts and runners. But how do people sign up for the school if they want to get into that lifestyle? CJ: One of the questions people ask us is what gym can they find us at? We’re like, we’re not part of any gym. Our gym is here in Bonifacio High Street, in BGC!

COMMUNAL PURSUIT

Pursuing a healthier Philippines could be an ambitious advocacy for two health buffs but by branching out from a gym-confined lifestyle, coaches Jim and Toni Saret have activated a community-driven movement WRITER LOREN DIMAANO PHOTOGRAPHER PATRICK SEGOVIA

If there is anything the city has brought to coaches Jim and Toni Saret’s consciousness, it’s that health doesn’t need to be a one-man act. In their quest to change lives, they have transformed a neighborhood. Breaking out of the fitness-equates-to-gym mentality, their Milo APEX Running School is shedding a different light over the modern business mecca. The collective mindset of exercise and training has provided an alternative outlet for citizens to appreciate the city by

improving themselves and working out together. Tell us about who you are and what you do. Coach Jim Saret (CJ): I have a Masters in Sports Medicine majoring in Athletic Training from Brigham Young University in the US. I came back here in 2000. I was a professor in University of the Philippines before the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) invited me. I worked with PBA teams for the past 12 years, and then The Biggest Loser invited me

to become a trainer there. We also work with the Philippine Olympic Committee where we train elite national athletes. Our lives are very extreme. We work with the elite, obese, and somewhere in between. We also put up fitness camps and running clinics including the biggest running school in the country, the Milo APEX Running School, where we have one here at BGC.

How significant is it for the sports community that there is a place that’s able to host and is responsive to these activities? CJ: It’s very important because in a place like this, it’s a city by itself right? If it’s all just work, it’s going to be incomplete and people will always be looking for something. CT: And you give them different avenues of expressing themselves. Just knowing that they have a football field here, they can run and bike here, it just makes them able to express themselves and become better citizens.

What makes what you do different from the others? CJ: Most of our camps are one to three months long, which means we’ll be with you three times a week for 36 sessions for three months and that’s why we become a part of the community and of other people’s lives. We’ve seen obese people finish 32K runs three years later. CT: And they sustain it, it’s not That’s quite a lot on your plate. just slashing it off your bucket Coach Toni (CT): But I think list. It’s something you make the biggest thing we have is our a lifestyle of. Fitness is not a advocacy called the Fit Filipino destination. It’s continuous.

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SHOPPING 05

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IT’S A WRAP

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FASHION

THE CURATOR Soft silhouettes and neutrals make up the new fall uniform

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FASHION

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HAPPENINGS

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