Even the simplest of household decisions impact how communities safeguard the environment. In line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) encourages Filipinos to make more mindful choices on how valuable resources like water, energy, and oil are consumed and managed.
The exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country, PCPPI reaffirms its sustainability commitments ahead of Earth Day, which is observed worldwide on April 22. According to Frederick D. Ong, PCPPI President & CEO, adopting sustainable lifestyle habits affects people and the planet for the better. “The daily decisions we make can help reduce household waste, save expenses, and improve our well-being. Living ‘sustainably’ does not have to be complex, as we can all start with the choices we make at home,” he said.
Re-use and repurpose
plastic bottle planters photo credit to supersimple.com
It often takes a fresh perspective to see our everyday tasks differently. One of the ways to reduce household waste is through repurposing old items, like plastic water bottles which may be transformed into plant holders or vases. Used boxes can also be turned into organizers, while brown paper bags can be used as craft paper for school projects.
Meal planning
Apart from selecting healthier food options from the market or grocery, meal planning has the added benefit of consuming just the right amount of food—thereby cutting down on excess and food waste. Planning meals ahead of time also helps manage one’s budget, as well as electricity costs.
Unplug when not in use
Turning off that are not in use, using enough water to wash hands, or unplugging fully charged devices are some good practices to manage resource consumption at home. These also help maintain the health of electrical appliances, helping them run properly for longer.
Go digital, go paperless
One of the shifts accelerated during the community lockdowns was the move towards paperless transactions. Mail and bills are now accessed electronically, minimizing the need to consume paper. With further advances in technology, the possibilities are endless for how the world can help preserve and protect trees.
As PCPPI supports the practice of these sustainable practices, the organization continues to work on its own sustainability initiatives that demonstrate its long-term commitment to care and respect for the environment.
PCPPI aims to reduce the use of virgin plastic and reach 100% recyclable packaging. The company continues to expand its efforts in lightweighting and exploring alternative packaging sources. Since early 2021, PCPPI has also transitioned to renewable energy use to supply the energy requirements of its plants. Solar panels are installed in its Batangas, Cebu, and Davao manufacturing facilities.
In line with the Adopt-an-Estero Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), PCPPI has organized clean-up drives near bodies of water in the communities where it operates. PCPPI has adopted key waterways across the country, including those in San Fernando, Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, Cebu, and Zamboanga. Partnerships with agencies like the Laguna Lake Development Authority allow PCPPI to regularly meet with other community stakeholders on how to best address environmental concerns and develop innovative ways to protect local ecosystems.
PCPPI is the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country. It distributes well-loved brands such as Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Sting, Tropicana, Lipton Iced Tea, Milkis, Chum Churum Soonhari, and Premier. For more information about PCPPI and its products, please visit www.pepsiphilippines.com.
Recent reports from the Knight Frank Prime International Residential Index say Manila’s luxury home market saw the most growth in the world, with increased land values for high-end residential developments. Also highlighted as the next hotspot is Alabang, where various major infrastructures are being developed, guaranteeing high profitability in the area. At the forefront of this unprecedented growth is Filigree, which has arguably established itself as the gold standard in luxury real estate developments.
Its projects are strategically located — all redefining luxury — with only the finest finishes, living spaces and amenities. And among these enviable locations is Filinvest City, Alabang, where land values have risen by as much as 300 percent in the last six years. Now home to the most discerning few in the metro, Filigree developments have outstanding property values and promise an impressive return on investment.
Filigree boasts of upscale residential properties, all of which are value enhancers to the community where they are located. And what sets Filigree developments apart from others in the upscale market? This developer is all about a rarefied yet sustainable lifestyle, wherein you can live in the lap of luxury while staying cognizant of the environment around you.
Filigree is about attention to detail, exceptional craftsmanship, and world-class planning and design, with each project treated like a fine masterpiece and a livable work of art. Its developments are set in strategic locations —prime, progressive, central — but in quiet and secluded quarters for true cosmopolitan, genteel living where all is within easy reach.
Botanika Nature Residences
Take a look, for one, at its flagship project, the posh and green-oriented Botanika Nature Residences in Filinvest City, Alabang, which has seen a growing community for its first tower.
With its three-star Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) rating for design from the Philippine Green Building Council, Botanika makes luxurious yet eco-conscious living possible. Thus, you reduce your carbon footprint, save more on energy, and ultimately contribute less to global warming.
Botanika’s progressive architectural design, executed by Architecture International and Leandro V. Locsin and Partners, as well as its first-class amenities and well-appointed, luxuriously spacious condominium units make it even more desirable. The property’s value has risen to an impressive 80 percent.
Bristol at Parkway Place
Bristol at Parkway Place, located at the power address of Corporate corner Parkway Avenues in Filinvest City, is now also ready for occupancy. The 40-story edifice with a notable architecture exemplifies the charming modern life. Astute investors have started to savor handsome returns and increasing property values of up to an astounding 30 percent.
Bristol at Parkway Place Library
Bristol allows residents to live a life of ease, as everything is all within easy reach. Amenities include a library; function room for private, intimate events; a sky lounge for a 360-view of the Alabang skyline and beyond; and the entertainment and media center for a movie night with family and friends. Soon, residents can delight in sumptuous dining and shopping right at their doorstep with Bristol’s retail plaza at the ground floor.
Bristol at Parkway Place Sky Lounge
The Enclave Alabang
Filigree does more than luxurious vertical developments. The Enclave Alabang is a 13-hectare exclusive, nature-inspired village in Metro South. The horizontal development has been selling fast since its launch, with only a few of the 218 lots still available. Residents will enjoy a higher standard in upscale village living — not to mention rising, by as much as 10 percent year on year, land values — owing to its prime location, world-class modern tropical design, verdant greenery and low-density masterplan.
It is the result of the creative collaboration of H1 Architecture for the masterplan, Budji + Royal Architecture + Design for interior design, and AECOM for landscape architecture — all the best minds in their field, who have come together to create a community never before seen in local luxury real estate market. Aside from its distinct features, this remarkable project takes pride in a close-knit community, where residents will enjoy exclusivity while being in close proximity to urban centers like Filinvest City.
All these exceptional qualities are testaments to the brand’s unwavering commitment in delivering only the very best: from planning and construction, project development and property management to groundbreaking and final hand over. And as demand for luxury real estate in the country continues to rise, Filigree’s portfolio of unrivaled upscale developments is undoubtedly the best investment decision you can make.
In the early 1990s, Andrew Gotianun Sr. saw there could be more to a grazing ground for livestock in Alabang. His company, Filinvest, won the bid over the 244-hectare Alabang stock farm and transformed it into his vision of a complete environment conducive to meeting the demands of global businesses and enriching the lives of those working and residing in the city. With that vision, the Filinvest City masterplan — one that is sustainable, future-ready and responsive to the needs of an ever-changing metropolis — was drawn up.
Today, the 244-hectare Filinvest City embodies the ideals Andrew Gotianun Sr. set years ago. Filinvest City is very much of the present and even as it looks forward to tomorrow, introducing key enhancements to its masterplan: green system, districting and improvements to “mega-blocks” resulting in a well-balanced live-work-play environment.
Filinvest City is currently registered to the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification — a first for the Philippines — under the Neighborhood Development plan, further proof of its commitment to build a truly progressive and sustainable CBD.
The first phase of the Filinvest City master plan enhancement is defining Filinvest City’s public domain and green spaces which includes the introduction of a green system consisting of more open spaces, parks, greenways and pocket resting areas — active and passive facilities for a more meaningfully built environment.
These include the Spectrum Linear Park, a recently-completed three-section linear park spanning almost a kilometer that dissects the city from north to south. It is a beautifully landscaped green spine along Spectrum Midway with tree-lined paths, lighted seating areas and stimulating outdoor art installations.
Also, part of Phase 1 is the development of a creek side park, stretching further down from the Spectrum Linear Park to a creek, which features meandering paths with seating areas, a bridgeway, bike lanes and a viewing deck. When completed, this will be connected to the al fresco retail strip—the River Park at Festival Alabang.
Included in the pipeline of Phase 1 is the Central Park where a botanical garden, bike racks, a dome structure for events and an expansive lawn will be built. This is envisioned to be one of the major public event spaces within Filinvest City where people can either enjoy a picnic on the sprawling lawn or come together to celebrate an outdoor concert.
Filinvest City has also earmarked its mega-blocks — parcels of land that Filinvest is retaining that will add as the value enhancers in the city. Part of the masterplan is the maximization of Festival Alabang as the City Center with its major phase by phase expansion and the construction of a chapel near the River Park, the construction of a Convention Center which will be connected to the transport hub, and the Filinvest Axis Towers which will define the Filinvest City’s skyline.
Filinvest City’s design divides into districts, all bearing the four pillars of the City but each with its own distinct character:
Northgate District which houses Northgate Cyberzone, the IT-BPO (information technology-business processing outsourcing) hub;
the Civic Plaza that houses a variety of public services and institutional facilities like fire station and healthcare establishments;
Westgate, the upscale retail and lifestyle center; the Woods, the more green campus-like and relaxed setting;
the Palms District, the highest point and site of exclusive developments like Botanika Nature Residences;
South Station, the transport hub;
the City Center, where the Festival Alabang, the biggest regional mall, is located; and
the Spectrum district as the economic core of Filinvest City and is home to prestigious businesses, as well as high net worth families and individuals.
These areas are steadily being transformed into self-contained live-work-play districts.
Filinvest City takes a more prudent approach to city enhancements, proceeding at a steady and calculated pace. These developments bolster Filinvest City’s position as a world-class CBD, ultimately ensuring that land values in the area continue to rise and creating a community responsive to the needs of locators and the people living there today and tomorrow.
The annual World Industrial Design Day (WIDD) is an initiative of the World Design Organization, of which the Design Center is a member. It spotlights a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and underscores the role of design in achieving the objective. For 2018, with the focus on UN SDG Number 3, holistic health and well-being were highlighted.
In partnership with Robins Design Center, Designing Wellness featured talks, workshops, and exhibitions at the Schema, Perchand La Europa showrooms.
On-Off Group strategist Leo Lallana challenges participants to come up with creative solutions as they are instructed to apply Design Thinking in different activities. (Photo by JC Lucas)
Leo Lallana of On-Off Group facilitated a Design Thinking workshop that taught participants to “fail forward” and to come up with solutions tailor-fit for pain-points of businesses.
Participants were presented with different challenges during the workshop. One challenge asked them to come up with designs that took into account the insights of their chosen partners. Activities emphasized empathy and the active seeking of innovative solutions to problems at hand.
Reimon Gutierrez imparts his art philosophy to participants of the Life By Design workshop. (Photo by Paolo Quiocho)
Reimon Gutierrez talked about his philosophy of art as a tool for self-discovery in his Life by Design workshop. He encouraged participants to “visualize wellness”, helping them with the process by instructing them to describe various objects given to them.
Melanie Go discusses the modern built environment and the holistic farming practices of Holy Carabao Farms. (Photo by Paolo Quiocho)
The second part of the event, Design Talks, featured talks by homegrown design champions.
Kicking off the series of talks, Melanie Go explained that building biology “addresses the ecological nature of the building – a step forward in harmony and balance with nature” and made the home “our third skin.”
“These homes are meant to protect what’s going on inside and what’s going on outside. We should think about the home as a living organism,” Go said.
A co-founder of Holy Carabao Farms, Go said the well-being of the soil, the animals and the people involved were top priorities in the practice of holistic farming.
Jenica Dizon, COO of Waves for Water Philippines
Waves for Water Philippines director for operations Jenica Dizon emphasized the importance of immersing one’s self in the source of the problem he/she wanted to solve. She encouraged her audience to help effect change while doing what they were passionate about.
“It’s really hard to advocate for health, for wellness, when people don’t have basic needs,” Dizon noted as she talked about how her passion for aquatic activities evolved into her advocacy to provide clean water for everyone after she saw the plight of indigent communities. She showed the audience the water filter that Waves for Water provided communities to make water clean.
Arooga Health founder Dominique de Leon and Innovable, Inc. chief design officer Christina Guanzon stressed the need for accessibility of design, particularly in relation to their respective advocacies, mental health and a safer world for everyone, able-bodied or not.
Dominique de Leon, Founder of Arooga
“We don’t have convenient access to mental health care,” De Leon lamented as he discussed the impetus for Arooga Health, an online application that champions improved mental health policies in the workplace. “Hopefully, together, we could design a future that we’re all excited to see,” he said.
Christina Guanzon, Founder of Innovable, Inc.
“In designing products, you have to design for any possibility,” Guanzon said. She said, as a hearing-impaired person herself, the difficulties she faced in a world that was mainly accessible to differently abled individuals served as the inspiration for Early Action Response System (EARS), a device that would enable deaf wearers to detect threats in their environment.
Niña Terol, Chief Fireball and Co-Founder of Kick Fire Kitchen
“To all the designers here, we encourage you to make design inclusive even on the basic level,” Chief Fireball and co-founder of Kick Fire Kitchen Niña Terol said during the fireside chat she moderated.
“We are proud to be at the forefront of sparking the much-needed conversation in ensuring that the physical, mental, social and psychological dimensions of an individual and the community are top priorities in designing wellness,” Design Center of the Philippines Executive Director Rhea Matute said.
With a grant from the Embassy of the United States in Manila, the expo promoted equality in employment opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Rhea Matute, Executive Director of Design Center of the Philippines
Design Center set up an institutional booth at the Henry Sy Hall in De La Salle University that featured its key services of the agency. It also facilitated a workshop, Do the Dough, that taught the 27 participants techniques they could apply to homemade air-dried dough to create various products that they could sell for a profit.
“The Design Center believes in accessibility as embodied by our accessible design services,” Matute explained. “We hope to continue playing an active role in the advancement of employability of Filipinos, regardless of their conditions.”
Botanika Nature Residences, an upscale, low-density vertical community in the dynamic Metro South is finally ready to usher in its distinguished residents as it turns over units with the completion of its first tower.
An exceptional development by Filigree, the newest luxury real estate brand in the country, Botanika stands as a promise fulfilled in keeping with its commitment to complete the project on time and at best quality. Consisting of superior quality mid-rise condominium towers that offer resort-inspired amenities, Botanika Nature Residences is designed for people with discerning tastes.
To assure utmost privacy and exclusivity, Botanika has a low floor area ratio (FAR) – the ratio of the total net floor area of a building to the total lot area. This means generously-sized condominium units that are tailor fit to your needs and your lifestyle.
Select from two-bedroom suites, three-bedroom flats, three-bedroom with garden bi-level units – with sizes ranging from 123 to 343 sqm. – and grand penthouse units all offering breathtaking views, exceptional finishes, and the finest craftsmanship.
Following the principles of bioclimatic architecture, the development harmoniously co-exists with its environs, earning a registration in the Philippine Green Building Council’s BERDE (Building for Ecologically Responsible Design Excellence) certification system, even as it offers lavish details like those found in a gated village. From planning and construction down to delivery, Botanika is guided by a special consultant, Ecotektonika, in ensuring that the building’s environmental performance is in line with green building, thus forging a milestone in local real estate.
Adding to Botanika’s desirability are its first-class amenities and features – at every inch exuding a feeling of opulence and grace. From the landscaped drop-off area that brings forth a dramatic entrance to the chic and elegant lobby that welcomes you all the way to the scenic elevators that take you to your floor while having a view of the amenity area at the atrium’s core.
Take a dip or go on an exhilarating swim in the lap pools surrounded by a lush landscape with a sun deck. Let your kids roam free in the outdoor play area with treehouses, frolic in the kiddie pool, or romp around in the children’s indoor play area. Conduct important meetings at the business center that’s most conducive to productivity or just catch-up on the latest best-seller or literary classic. The atrium, on the other hand, has a calming water feature and a 360-degree view of lush spaces.
Behind all the princely amenities, large unit cuts, and verdant landscapes is the building architecture itself, which was conceptualized and executed by a team of experts commissioned by Filigree to create a brand that’s a cut above the rest: Leandro V. Locsin Partners, Architecture International, AECOM Singapore, and Miaja Design Group.
Andy Locsin of Leandro V. Locsin Partners
Andy Locsin of Leandro V. Locsin Partners shares how they see Botanika’s amenities coming to life. “For Botanika, it’s simple. We designed it to be a resort-like environment. If you notice, the center space has a lagoon pool. It’s really meant to be a lagoon pool. The idea was for it to be an oasis within a forest,” he says.
Armando Casibang of AECOM
Armando Casibang of AECOM describes the inspiration behind the design of the buildings, saying that they crafted a beautiful iconic structure inspired by a bud for Botanika. “The Botanika word itself evokes a sense of nature or a budding flower. That was very interesting,” he adds.
Isabelle Miaja of Miaja Design Group
With the help of Isabelle Miaja of Singapore-based Miaja Design Group, even Botanika’s interior design is intricately planned.
“With Botanika, there is a city feel in another sense because [the structure] is sharp and crisp. But, organic and beautiful classic lines are also combined here. You have to take your time to appreciate what we have done for Botanika. Each piece pops out. These pieces do not necessarily come to you at once, but you love them when you come in and you start to appreciate everything.”
click to enlarge the map
Botanika’s sought-after location within Filinvest City, Alabang – the premier garden business district in Metro South – makes a variety of establishments and services within reach: Palms Country Club for an afternoon of recreation, Festival Alabang for shopping and dining, Crimson Hotel, Asian Hospital & Medical Center, as well as private academic institutions like De La Salle Zobel, and San Beda College Alabang.
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Makati City are a mere 15-minute drive away, both accessible by major thoroughfares to SLEX, Skyway, C5, Daanghari Road, and Alabang Zapote Road.
Indeed, Botanika Nature Residences is a luxury residential condominium masterpiece, a manifestation of everything Filigree stands for: excellence, exclusivity, and opulence. It is not likely to be replicated in the South or elsewhere.
Apart from selecting healthier food options from the market or grocery, meal planning has the added benefit of consuming just the right amount of food—thereby cutting down on excess and food waste. Planning meals ahead of time also helps manage one’s budget, as well as electricity costs.
Turning off that are not in use, using enough water to wash hands, or unplugging fully charged devices are some good practices to manage resource consumption at home. These also help maintain the health of electrical appliances, helping them run properly for longer.
PCPPI is the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country. It distributes well-loved brands such as Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Sting, Tropicana, Lipton Iced Tea, Milkis, Chum Churum Soonhari, and Premier. For more information about PCPPI and its products, please visit www.pepsiphilippines.com.
Filigree does more than luxurious vertical developments. The Enclave Alabang is a 13-hectare exclusive, nature-inspired village in Metro South. The horizontal development has been selling fast since its launch, with only a few of the 218 lots still available. Residents will enjoy a higher standard in upscale village living — not to mention rising, by as much as 10 percent year on year, land values — owing to its prime location, world-class modern tropical design, verdant greenery and low-density masterplan.
With a grant from the 
Botanika Nature Residences, an upscale, low-density vertical community in the dynamic Metro South is finally ready to usher in its distinguished residents as it turns over units with the completion of its first tower.
Select from two-bedroom suites, three-bedroom flats, three-bedroom with garden bi-level units – with sizes ranging from 123 to 343 sqm. – and grand penthouse units all offering breathtaking views, exceptional finishes, and the finest craftsmanship.
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