There is no community like DMCI Homes’ Acacia Estates for this young mom

In 2011, Retchiel Turalba, her husband, and their two kids, left the Philippines for Singapore. The children were then five years old and three years old. 

It was an opportunity they couldn’t resist: her husband got a job at an oil and gas company as an engineering supervisor. Retchiel worked at a high-end liquor distributor. While they had a comfortable place in the Lion City, they would come back to their home country as often as they could, and would stay at a rented condominium at Rosewood Pointe, Acacia Avenue, Taguig City. 

Rosewood Pointe, a project within DMCI Homes’s Acacia Estates, has been their home since 2008. And in Retchiel's opinion, the community around it is very much similar to Singapore, so much so, that it has always been easy for them to move back and forth. 

Then, in 2017, Retchiel and her two kids had to move back the Philippines. 

Safe, secure and convenient  

When it was time to come home, Retchiel decided that they needed to buy a place they could call their own—something more permanent. For this, she gave herself one condition: It has to be within Acacia Estates. 

Although her children would be studying in Pasig City, she needed to make sure that her family would be in a place that is safe and secure. It was also important to her that her children didn’t have to adjust so much to a new environment. 

At the time, she set her sight on one project, which was about to be completed, inside Acacia Estates. It was called the Ivory Wood

Safe, secure and convenient  

When it was time to come home, Retchiel decided that they needed to buy a place they could call their own—something more permanent. For this, she gave herself one condition: It has to be within Acacia Estates. 

Although her children would be studying in Pasig City, she needed to make sure that her family would be in a place that is safe and secure. It was also important to her that her children didn’t have to adjust so much to a new environment. 

At the time, she set her sight on one project, which was about to be completed, inside Acacia Estates. It was called the Ivory Wood. Although the pre-selling period had ended for the development, Retchiel was keen on buying a place there. 

They processed the papers while they were still in Singapore, and it was her mother-in-law who took care of everything.  Immediately, when they found out that a two-bedroom unit was available, they paid the down payment in full. 

The unit was turned over to them in March 2018. They moved in August of the same year. 

“Ang tiningnan ko, ’yong community,” Retchiel says. “Hindi na ako naghanap ng iba. No’ng nagre-rent pa lang kami, alam ko na if ever kukuha kami ng unit namin, dito pa rin sa Acacia Estates.” 

She adds, “We acquired this because of the safety, security, and environment. My kids liked Singapore. Dito, pagbaba nila, they have Savemore [grocery], then may playground. It’s like Singapore. We can go out without worries.”

The Property Management Office, too, she says has been very accommodating. In fact, it wasn’t just her and her husband who chose the place; even her kids agreed to live there. 

“’Yong ibang condo, ang common area maliit,” she says. “Dito, as in hindi sila nagtipid. Sobrang laki ng common area. Parang ang ganda ng basketball area, ’yong swimming pool tatlo, for kids, toddlers, and then there’s an Olympic-sized pool.” 

Her children’s favorite spot is the swimming pool: “Passion nila ang swimming.”

The Community

While she compares her new place of residence to that of their home in Singapore, Retchiel says, nothing beats the feeling of being part of a community in Acacia Estates.

Her children have found friends in their community, and she herself has become friends with some of the parents who live there. 

Last year, her daughter joined the Little Miss Acacia competition, one of the community’s many activities for their residents. It was the first time that Ivory Wood

The Community

While she compares her new place of residence to that of their home in Singapore, Retchiel says, nothing beats the feeling of being part of a community in Acacia Estates.

Her children have found friends in their community, and she herself has become friends with some of the parents who live there. 

Last year, her daughter joined the Little Miss Acacia competition, one of the community’s many activities for their residents. It was the first time that Ivory Wood was represented in the competition. Her daughter won Best in Talent and Best in Long Gown awards. 

“Sobrang supportive ng community,” Retchiel recalls the experience. “Lahat ng assistance binigay nila. Nakakatulong din ang mga ganiyan sa pag-build ng community. Sa condo kasi, parang bahay-trabaho ka lang. Hindi uso ang usap, kuwentuhan.” 

But it’s different for Ivory Wood, and she wouldn’t have it any other way: “Sa neighbor namin, okay kami. May mga neighbors na kakilala namin. Halimbawa, Trick or Treat, nakikita namin sila. Pagdating dito, ’yong camaraderie, interaction, support, nando’n siya.”