Walking Time On A Holiday

Since it's a holiday today, we had time to bond by having a morning walk in a "forested area" of Alabang in Muntinlupa City. It's not entirely a forest, but because it still has a fair amount of vegetation and several large trees, one might think that it does look like a forest. I'm referring to Filinvest Corporate City.

You will notice many cities today, particularly those in Metro Manila, do not have large parks with forested areas. In the US, a good example of a forested park is of course Central Park which is found in New York City. This huge park in the Big Apple is well known in the world and many tourists wouldn't miss it. New York may seem very urbanized, but it still has such a park whose beauty they are still able to maintain. If we could only have such a park here in Filipinas where many families would be able to stroll. Because as I have noticed this morning, while my family and I were strolling through Filinvest's shaded areas, there were only two other families who were taking a morning walk there though an hour has already passed. So for those who are in charge of public parks and nature preservation, this should be a wake-up call, because it is beautiful to see families bonding together, enjoying nature, rather than see families go to malls often, or are too busy enjoying gadgets at home. Sad but true: families today spend more time in social media that they have almost forgotten what the natural world has to offer. Nature is always the best location for some family bonding.

Filinvest actually is not a park. Its huge lots which still have several large trees, many of which are acacia (A. plicatum), are still unsold or unleased. And this has been so for decades. Alabang was once a huge forest. Daddy Pepe used to live in the Las Pinas-Parañaque area with his Alas relatives when he was still a little boy. They used to pass by Alabang whenever they go to Unisan, that is why he has clear memories of how Alabang used to look like back then. The forest seems to reclaim the vacant lots often, and Filinvest's gardeners try their best to minimize it.

Now, going back to our family walk. Our meeting place is in front of Acacia Hotel Manila. We were to wait for my husand who was coming from his night shift. We arrived early, so while waiting for him, we decided to go inside the lobby. I noticed that there was no chair in the lobby. Other hotels have chairs in their lobbies even for inquiring guests. The only available seats there were meant for paying customers who were to take their breakfast. I was compelled to order food because it would seem awkward for us to stay there without having to eat, hehehe! I ordered some French fries for my kids and brewed coffee for me. That's the only things we could afford from a five-star hotel, hehehe! Anyway, we follow the adage "live within your means".

Daddy Pepe arrived a few minutes later, then waited for us outside as we finished our unplanned "hotel breakfast" (Acacia's French fries tasted very good, and they were big and fresh; we really loved it!). Afterwards, we saw Daddy Pepe waiting for us in a huge, grassy lawn in front of The Mondrian Residences and Parque España. He was hunting for some grasshoppers and butterflies and also looking for rare birds nestled in some trees there (yes, there are unfamiliar birds all over Alabang). We then marched through the shaded length of East Asia Drive. This beautiful street is surrounded by large trees left and right. And there were hardly vehicles there. There were still no buildings, and it has been that way for years. While walking, we saw some wild flowers, but not as many and not as varied as those we saw in Susana Heights last month where we also had a morning stroll. The kids got to enjoy these as well as various forest insects thriving in grass covered with dew. They were running all around chasing butterflies here and there! There were some acacia trees that were not very tall yet, that is why we got to hold their branches and yellowish flowers. There was also an occasional breeze that swayed the trees and shook up their dried leaves. That is why we were showered with leaves as we marched through East Asia Drive!

Morning dews, again!

The tallest christmas tree we have ever seen so far!!! WOW!!! 

There were already Christmas decors hanging by the treets when we reached Parkway Street. We occasionally stopped to take pictures, We then turned left to Spectrum Midway where we saw a group of students practising for some upcoming school activity. There were more trees here, and this is also we stopped by to have eat our packed snacks and where our three boys and Junífera Clarita ran around for a few minutes. We were headed to where we began because Krystal had to meet up with her friends in nearby Alabang Town Center. At The Filinvest Tent north of Spectrum Midway, we found a bazaar with food stalls. What a coincidence, because it was opening day. GMA 7 was there, too. It turned out to be the opening day of Noel Bazaar, a popular traveling bazaar. We had early lunch first before I accompanied Krystal to her friends. The location of food stalls was uncomfortable especially when the sun was already hight. It's because the branches of two acacia trees beside The Filinvest Tent were cut down. Had they not been cut down, they would have provided a lovely shade to the people. Please, let us not cut down trees. We can develop a place without putting harm to nature. Remember: they are our source of oxygen and even peace of mind.

Inside the bazaar, the atmosphere was festive. A huge Belén, the traditional Filipino Christmas decoration, was on display. An acoustic band was playing as shoppers were buying tickets to get inside the bazaar proper. The event was also giving away freebies. We got some from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, one of the bazaar's sponsor.

So if you want to stroll through nature without having to travel too far, there's always Filinvest Corporate City. It's not meant to be a park, but it has been like one for many years already. It's a haven for bikers, joggers, nature lovers, and families!

                                                                  —Yeyette—
                                                                     

That ritzy barrio called Alabang

Glitz, glamour, and all the comforts of an on-the-go, round-the-clock lifestyle is what Alabang is all about. Once a forested barrio (barangáy) of Muntinlupà, it now has come to be one of the richest barrios not only in Metro Manila but in the whole country as well because this place is the site of many multinational companies and other well-known establishments in a beautifully landscaped setting. Simply put, it is the business hub, the lifeblood, of the entire City of Muntinlupà.

Walking our way to Easter Sunday Mass at the beautifully designed Saint Jerome Emiliani and Santa Susana Church whose steeple is at the background behind yonder trees.

So well-established, so popular, so urban, is the name Alabang that many people mistake it for a city when the truth is that it is included within the territory of Ciudad de Muntinlupà! And like in all humble beginnings, Alabang wasn't always like this. As mentioned earlier, the place was forested, infested with many hills of talahib, and pockets of farmlands. As a boy living in nearby BF Homes Parañaque, we used to pass by this barrio via the Alabang-Zapote Road whenever we go to my dad's hometown of Unisan, Tayabas. I can still vividly remember the scent of fresh air all around the area because of the abundance of greenery on both sides of the road (but fenced with barbed wire). The only commercial establishments I remember being there during my early childhood years were McDonald's, which then seemed to be on top of a hill (that part of the road was probably not yet elevated, or its being on a high place was probably just a childhood imagining), and Alabang Town Center.

Alabang's commercialization started in 1972 when the Madrigal family, owning 1.6 sq mi of land in the said barrio, offered to sell their property to the Ayala Corporation. Sensing more opportunities, the Ayala Corporation instead opted to a joint real estate development with the Madrigal family, to which the latter agreed to later on. The joint venture was a success, with more buyers exceeding the number of lots being sold, compelling the Madrigal-Ayala partnership to buy more parcel of land from various land owners in nearby areas. Development soon became inevitable.

Alabang has since came to be known as the "Macati of the South" because of its several multinational companies, malls, and other high-end establishments and entertainment venues. We frequent the place because of its proximity to our home, and it's less polluted compared to other places in Metro Manila. Even the area of Filinvest Corporate City still has large patches of greenery (which turns into crisp brown every summer).

The following photos were taken during our Eastern Sunday stroll in Alabang, Ciudad de Muntinlupà last April 20.

Iglesia de San Jerónimo Emiliani y Santa Susana.

Easter Sunday Mass at the Saint Jerome Emiliani and Santa Susana Parish Church.

After Mass, we went to our favorite mall, Alabang Town Center, for lunch and to just look around. We visit malls not to shop but just to pig out and enjoy the bright lights and sounds. Doon lang, masayá na camí. Simpleng buhay ba. =)

Going to our favorite mall, Alabang Town Center. This is the mall's side entrance which faces Theater Drive (near the Church of Saint Jerome Emiliani and Santa Susana).

After lunch, we were supposed to treat the kids to Captain America: The Winter Soldier (actually, I was the one who influenced them to watch the film; I confess to being a Marvel fanboy, hehehe!). But it was no longer shown there. So we headed towards nearby Festival Supermall to watch the flick. But before that, we passed by Northgate Cyberzone, home to numerous BPO industries and a five-star hotel.

Northgate Cyberzone is the information technology park within Alabang's Filinvest Corporate City. It was there where I have spent many stressful but fun years as a call center guy and have built many friendships. My wife Yeyette and many of our friends still work there up to now. It was there, too, where I met this odd character by the name of Arnaldo Arnáiz who's in to saya de colas and vintage windows, hehe!

The five-star Vivere Hotel and the twin towers of  the Insular Life Corporate Center are found within Filinvest Corporate City's territory.

We then proceeded to Vivere Hotel, just a few steps away from Festival Supermall. Me and Yeyette have been to this hotel countless times already, but only to savor its breakfast buffet. We've never checked-in here before but we plan to do so together with the rest of the Alas caboodle, hopefully next year.

Vivere Hotel is into weird architectural design, something which only they can understand.

Imagine having a living room like this.

On our way to the 31st floor where The Nest is situated.

I doubt if Captain America would survive if he jumps from this height (the Winter Soldier did, hehe).

Here at The Nest, people can take part of luxurious food while enjoying a spectacular view of Laguna de Bay, the rest of Muntinlupà City, and beyond. 

Momay and Krystal gazing towards Northgate Cyberzone below. We were down there just a few minutes prior!

And since Vivere Hotel is right beside Insular Life Corporate Center, we thought of paying the place a visit. Besides, there's a recently installed historical marker there that I've been wanting to see for a long time.

On our way to the twin towers of Insular Life Corporate Center.

This is the only historical marker in Muntinlupà City. It was installed here on 25 November 2010 on the occasion of Insular Life's 100th year. Instead of installing this marker at its first building in Manila or Macati, management chose their Alabang site instead. I don't know why. At any rate, Macati and Manila's loss is Muntinlupa's gain.

Finally, it's Winter Soldier time on a summer at Festival Supermall!

The kids are raring to see Captain America and The Winter Soldier. They had no idea that I was more excited than them, hehe!

One thing we love about Festival Supermall is the abundance of trees surrounding it.

We arrived a bit early before the next screening, so we walked around first and had dinner.

Captain Jefe and his mighty carton shield! We watched Captain America: The Winter Soldier here in Festival Supermall, and it has since become my favorite film of all time.

For the complete photo album of our Easter Sunday visit to Alabang, Muntinlupà City, click here.

Now for my favorite part: history! What could be the origin of Alabang's name? Many years ago, during my first visit to the Rizal Shrine in Calambâ, La Laguna, I saw there hanging by a wall a blown-up replica of an old map of Laguna de Bay's western bay and its environs.

The name Río de Albán appears on this map which can be seen inside the reconstructed ancestral house of José Rizal in Calambâ (photo courtesy of Arnaldo).

As you can see from the map, the name Río de Albán (River of Albán) appears above Montinlupà. Comparing this map to modern ones will reveal that Río de Albán is situated exactly where modern-day Alabang now stands, and it corresponds to a river called nowadays as Mañgañgate River. To frequent visitors of Festival Supermall, Mañgañgate is the same turtle-teemed river you see along the covered walk leading towards the mall's northeastern entrance (that part of the river recently had a facelift and is now called River Park).

Admittedly, I do not know what Albán means, but I'm certain that it evolved from Albán to Alabang, just like the case of Cuyapo to Quiapò, or Tundun to Tondo, for instance. And I have no idea why Albán river is now called as Mañgañgate. But good ol' Arnaldo has this to say:

Reason led me to believe that Albán is the true origin of word Alabang. My friend was right. In this town, one could notice the usual changing of the spelling of last name and some places — efforts to convert into Tagalog letters name’s originally of Spanish beginning, like the popular last name "Buñe" becoming "Bunyi", the town name from "Monte" to "Munting". This has resulted to losing the word's inceptive meaning. There was a time when Muntinlupeños found it convinient to get rid of their Spanish sounding last name, the attitude of repulsion towards anything Spanish. 

Origins of words and names of places tell us stories of the past. It would make me really happy that a day would come when none of us can change this names no more. Let’s keep this name for they will tell the future generation what we were like. Sometimes the name tells it all.

A portion of Mañgañgate/Albán River which flows beside Festival Mall. This beautified portion is known as River Park. The site offers 11 unique dining concepts — from coffee shops to casual dining and post dinner options in an al fresco setting (photo courtesy of Manila Bulletin).

Whether we like it or not, industrial development is inevitable in a capitalist society. Be that as it may, we must not shun nature and heritage; Alabang, Muntinlupà has its share of both. They should always be at the forefront of any progressive venture to preserve the place's identity. To Filinvest Corporate City's credit (not excluding other corporate or individual entities involved), it appears that they are taking good care of many aspects of Alabang. My family is hoping that they preserve more of the place's verdant characteristics because they make Alabang worth visiting over and over again.