Resident Ching Andaya is having the time of her life in her quiet DMCI Homes condominium

Tita Ching Andaya, 69 years old, has always cared for people, especially the less fortunate ones. Her earliest memory of a charitable act happened when she was still in her childhood days. She would go to the informal settlers’ community under a bridge in Tondo, Manila—where she was born—and would give the people there something to eat.

Now that she is at the prime of her life, she still cares for people outside of her home—at the Royal Palm Residences, located inside DMCI Homes’ Acacia Estates township in Taguig City. Every Christmas, she gives gifts to the guards, employees, housekeepers, drivers, and even the shuttle drivers. She also gives to the youth and needy employees in her community. This is now her community, and she loves it.

Moving In

Tita Ching never had a plan of buying a condominium because she has always wanted a house and lot, or a townhouse. However, around 10 years ago, her son, who was then working for a telecommunications company, was offered a unit at the Royal Palm Residences. He then bought it for his mom.

“My son told me, ‘It’s our turn to make you happy,’” Tita Ching beams. 

Her whole life, she has always been the one helping people and making them happy. Now is the time for someone else to do the same thing for her. In October 2009, Tita Ching moved to her new home.

Royal Palm Residences is a peaceful and safe place. “No’ng una kong nakita, nasiyahan talaga ako,” she recalls.

Ten years later, she still recommends DMCI Homes’ projects to her friends. “Ang lawak ng rooms. Pati maintenance mabibilis.”

She has seen other projects from different developers before. Smiling sheepishly, she jests that her current comfort room might be bigger than some of the rooms that the other developers had offered her.

“Ang corridor ng DMCI (Homes) maayos,” she says. “Hindi tinipid. Kahit nga balcony, minsan puwede mo i-consider na one room sa laki. Sa hagdanan pa lang, sa ibang condo, ang kitid ng hagdanan. Eh dito, ang laki-laki, ang lapad. ’Tsaka ang ventilation, sinisigurado nila na hindi ka kulob.”

She also observes that the management has been able to maintain the building’s appearance and cleanliness. “Ang PMO [Property Management Office] updated din sa lahat. So far, so good,” she adds.

The Community

Tita Ching is a retired professor and an insurance manager. She lives with her partner at their studio unit. During the day, when her partner is at work, she manages to make some of her time by mingling with her neighbors.

As a building representative, she participates in several activities organized by the management. She is also the adviser of the Parish Youth Ministry of the St. Ignatius Church, who has frequent gatherings near her home. “I don’t want to grow old,” she says of her busy schedule. “I want to enjoy life. Involved ako sa youth kasi ayokong tumanda. ’Yong edad ko iniwan ko sa bahay.”

On weekends, her fellow parents and senior citizens come together to celebrate Mass. The PMO also organizes different weekend activities, such as bazaars and wellness programs. Sometimes, she also loves watching and playing with the kids in the condominium’s spacious playground.

As a building representative, she makes the effort to know everyone’s names.

Tita Ching’s son is now married, has two kids, and lives in Singapore. Since her son’s family visit often, her son bought a two-bedroom unit at Mulberry Place, also a DMCI Homes property inside Acacia Estates.

“Ang DMCI, sinisigurado nilang ibigay nila ang the best to their clients. Malawak at maluwag lahat ng facilities. Hindi siya tinipid, talagang okay na okay siya. I enjoy living in my unit,” she says. 

“Security-wise at maintenance ng cleanliness talagang sabi ko ‘ang galing ng DMCI kasi isipin mo 10 years na, still maintained na maintained ang beauty.”

Royal Palm Residences is one of the developments of DMCI Homes, the country’s first Quadruple A real estate developer known for building quality resort-inspired communities in Mega Manila, Baguio, Boracay and Davao City. Each of its properties is built with world-standard craftsmanship borne from D.M. Consunji Inc.'s over 60 years of expertise in the construction and development industry.

To learn more about Royal Palm Residences and other DMCI Homes projects, call (632) 5324-8888.  News and other updates are also posted on the company's official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Note: This article was published in the DMCI Homes corporate website on March 20, 2020, based on an interview with Ms. Ching Andaya last December 2019.