Family who inspired our hearts finds solace at One Castilla Place

Home is where the family is. The spirit of love, sharing and togetherness is especially strong in Filipino families, and even more so within one that grows in faith despite life’s difficulties.   

This is particularly true within the young family of 35-year-old Jayjay and 31-year-old Feliz Lucas. Having been married for only six years, the couple has already experienced great challenges and heartbreaks that involved moving with their two children from one house to another, even all the way to Singapore and back to the country.

At present, Jayjay and Feliz together with their two-year-old son Ethan and their newest family member, Calea found solace and comfort in a DMCI Homes condominium community called One Castilla Place located at Barangay Valencia, Quezon City. “We moved here in April last year, after we got back from Singapore for our daughter’s hospitalization,” shared Feliz.

The couple recalled how they discovered their new home at a perfect time – at a time when they needed to start over and move forward as a family.

Jayjay and Feliz are the parents of Caitlin Soleil Lucas who is beloved to many as “Courageous Caitie.” The three-year-old girl bravely fought against a rare form of leukemia that affects infants and toddlers. During her battle with the disease, support for her recovery came from far and wide, and even from the Filipino community in Singapore.

So when Caitie passed away in March last year after three months of treatment, thousands mourned and sent their prayers for the family.

The experience would have been a lifelong heartbreak for any parent. But for Jayjay and Feliz, the memory of their young daughter and her courage has only strengthened their faith and appreciation for life.

“We’re fortunate because many people helped us. It’s not so much about the money or assistance on medicines, but what’s more important is the emotional and spiritual support that we received. We know that God is sovereign and His plan is for the best even if we don’t understand it,” smiled Feliz.

Their journey with Caitie has inspired the couple to value family even more and the little things in life that truly matter. Fortunately, their new home at One Castilla Place provided pleasant venues where the family can hold intimate get-togethers and thanksgiving dinners for loved-ones and friends.

“We’ve always considered family first in choosing a place to live in. It’s in the small details, such as how many people can fit the dining table,” shared Jayjay. “From Singapore, we searched for a new house within our budget. We trusted our friend’s recommendation to buy a two-bedroom unit here, even though we haven’t seen the place.”

Feliz revealed how her husband used to dislike the idea of living in a condominium because of the cramped feeling commonly associated with condos. “We thought that it would be hard to adjust since we used to live in a townhouse, but we were surprised at the condo’s resort-type atmosphere and how spacious this community is,” she said.

Some of the family’s favorite amenities are the grand lobby, the swimming pool with its gazebo, cabana and landscaped gardens, the audio-visual room and the breathtaking Sky Park and roof deck.

“These amenities make it easy for us to invite guests over to our home. We can just bring food over to the poolside for example, and eat together there while the others take a swim. These are also places where our son runs around and meets new friends,” said Jayjay.

Moreover, the couple particularly admired the maintenance and reception staff for always showing warmth, respect, and steadfast hard work. “I love the staff. You know that the management is good because of the staff. They work diligently even when no one is looking,” Feliz added.

Today, the Lucas family is an inspiration of faith to a lot of people. To celebrate Caitie’s legacy and to share their heart, lives, and experiences, the couple launched “Courageous Light” last year which aims to help and give hope to children who are sick. Orientations for volunteers are regularly held at one of the function rooms at One Castilla Place.

“Life is temporary. What matters is the eternal perspective. These are little blessings: to be living in a nice condo is a blessing; to have a home is a blessing. If you focus your eyes on Jesus, everything else will follow,” said Feliz.

Sure enough, the Lucas family’s faith has been blessed by God with even greater promises for the future. Last Valentine’s Day, February 14, Feliz gave birth to a healthy baby girl which the couple named Tabitha Calea.

Interested volunteers of Courageous Light may send their personal details or inquiries to todaywiththelucas@gmail.com and courageouscaitie@gmail.com while updates on the group is available at Today with the Lucas’s Facebook Page. To know more about One Castilla Place and other DMCI Homes’ projects, visit https://www.dmcihomes.com or call 324-8888.