Sunday, April 20, 2008 [ manilatimes.net ]
The Orchard Hill
MANGOES are like people—they need fresh air, bright sunshine, and a healthy environment to thrive. At the orchards of Ayala Westgrove Heights, the mangoes harvested every year are a testament to the superior quality of life enjoyed by residents.
Established by Ayala Land Premier in 1998, Ayala Westgrove Heights has grown into a close-knit community of artists, businessmen, and professionals who have chosen to raise their families amongst like-minded people who appreciate the value of living life at a gentler pace.
Gracious and outgoing residents are the pride of the Ayala Westgrove community. New neighbors are welcomed into the neighborhood’s many special-interest clubs and community projects, which range from singing and cooking, to bird-watching and triathlons. With three clubhouses, state-of-the-art sports facilities, and a sprawling six-hectare Central Park, residents never lack for venues to engage in their favorite activities.
In fact, Westgrove’s residents have come together to create their own traditions, a mingling of nature, culture, and sports, such as the annual Mango Harvest Festival, where residents can enjoy the fruits of Westgrove’s bountiful mango orchard; the Westgrove Symphony Series, classical concerts for the musically inclined; and the annual Westgrove Triathlon, where people of all ages get to participate in an athletic challenge that makes the most out of Westgrove’s extensive sports facilities. These facilities include a soccer field, badminton courts, swimming pools, biking and jogging paths, and indoor and outdoor basketball and tennis courts.
Westgrove residents have the luxury of leaving stress at the gate and slipping into a cocoon of comfort and relaxation. Just breathing in the fresh air in the village is therapy in itself. The surroundings are a feast for the eyes, with the trademark mango trees accented by Thailand Acacias and African Tulips. Orchards and lagoons abound, offering privacy coupled with natural beauty, while walking trails make the most out of Westgrove’s beautiful rolling terrain.
One of the more recently developed phases of Westgrove is The Orchard Hill. This phase provides residents with a higher level of seclusion and quiet within the active community. Developed on an elevated area, homes on The Orchard Hill enjoy views of ridges, green walls, and mango orchards. The elevation and perimeter ridges also keep the area extra quiet and private. Several blocks are carved with small, private enclaves with their own cul-de-sac roads. This type of design is ideal for individuals and families who enjoy being part of a lively neighborhood but wish to maintain their privacy as well.
Living in Ayala Westgrove Heights means there is little to worry about, since the community falls under the wing of the Ayala Property Management Corporation and the Ayala Security Force, and has a Village Concierge who is constantly ready to help with the day-to-day details of village living.
As urban development continues to head south of Metro Manila, top-quality schools, hospitals, and commercial centers have blossomed around Westgrove. Nearby educational institutions include St. Scholastica’s College-Westgrove, De La Salle Canlubang, and Don Bosco School. The Westgrove Retail Center outside the village gates houses a bank, a drugstore, and a weekend market. Paseo de Santa Rosa is a 5 to 10 minute drive away, while driving to Alabang Town Center and other establishments in Alabang takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Once the ongoing expansion of the South Luzon Expressway is completed, Makati will be less than an hour away from Westgrove.
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