6 relaxing things to do during your stopover at Nuvali Park

If you’re on your way to Tagaytay, or on your way back to Manila while traversing the Sta. Rosa – Tagaytay Road, you will most likely pass by Nuvali Park.

This expansive area is designed to be an integrated self-sustaining eco-city, where various residential communities, commercial and hospitality establishments, as well as schools can be conveniently situated while also highlighting the beauty and importance of nature.

The highlight of Nuvali Park is a four-hectare multi-functional lake. This man-made water feature not only beautifies the park but it also serves as a catch basin for rainwater and a water reservoir. It also functions as a fire reserve and as a means for alternative transport within the park.

Nuvali Solenad 1
Nuvali Solenad 1
Nuvali Solenad 1
Nuvali Solenad 1

In this sprawling green space, motorists can take a break from their journey to rest and and find some fun activities to occupy their time while allowing nature’s healing touch to rejuvenate them.

Take a stroll. With all the lush greenery and tree-lined designated walking trails around the park, it would be a shame not to put on your comfy shoes and go for a leisurely ramble. It would be an enjoyable way to achieve your 10,000 steps, wouldn’t it?

Work up a sweat. If a more strenuous type of activity is more to your liking, you can always go for a a bike ride around the park (bring your own or rent one at the Lake Evozone for Php60/hour. More adventurous bikers can take a crack at the 50-kilometer mountain bike trails which may provide scenic views of Mount Makiling, Laguna de Bay and Tagaytay Ridge. The post-workout buzz will surely be worth the exertion. Be sure to bring your own safety gear (helmets and pads) as well wear closed shoes. Register at the Evo-living Center concierge with a valid ID.

Nuvali Solenad 1
Nuvali Solenad 1
Nuvali Solenad 1
Nuvali Solenad 1

Go bird-watching. Nestled within the park is a 17-kilometer buffer zone and open area where migratory birds and other creatures make their home. It’s best to time your bird-watching activity between 6am to 9am or 4pm to 6pm when these creatures are most active and the sun is not so hot. Bring your binoculars so you can watch the birds up close without disturbing them.

Take a boat ride. Take advantage of the awesome views afforded by a scenic boat ride on the lake for Php100 per person.

Nuvali Solenad 1
Nuvali Solenad 1
Nuvali Solenad 1
Nuvali Solenad 1

Dine al fresco. Here, you can savor a delightful meal while in the great outdoors to refuel you for the rest of your journey. You can have a lakeside meal at one of the restaurants at Nuvali’s Solenad 1, or nibble as you browse through the food stalls every weekend during the Nuvali Mercato Centrale weekend food market.

Feed the fish. The lake is also home to a pod of koi fish who will gamely rise to the water surface for your entertainment when you drop some fish food their way.

Nuvali Solenad 1
Nuvali Solenad 1
Nuvali Solenad 1
Nuvali Solenad 1

Clearly, a stopover at Nuvali will give you a respite from the stresses of your travel and provide you with happy memories that you can take with you when you move on to your next destination.

I wish you safe travels, dear reader!

Nuvali Solenad 1
Nuvali Solenad 1
Nuvali Solenad 1
Nuvali Solenad 1

Nuvali is located along the Sta. Rosa – Tagaytay Road, Bgy. Sto. Domingo, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna. For updates on its events and activities, visit its website or follow Nuvali on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

5 things to fix in your bedroom for a blissful slumber

With our very busy lives, we deserve our restful sleep as well.

After all, getting enough sleep has a myriad of health benefits that we simply can’t ignore. These include heightened immunity, prevention of weight gain, as well as improved mood, memory, productivity and heart health.

As a place to rest and restore ourselves, our bedroom needs to be set up and decorated accordingly.

So scan through your bedroom and take note of what you can improve to give yourself a well-deserved blissful slumber.

All Home Libis Store Tour
All Home Libis Store Tour
All Home Libis Store Tour
All Home Libis Store Tour

Bed.

The primary furniture in the room determines much of your comfort as you slumber. The quality of your mattress, pillows and beddings will greatly factor into your sleeping conditions.

Gadgets.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the use of electronic devices at night tend to delay the time that we fall asleep, reducing the total sleep duration. These devices also affect our brains, stimulating our minds and making it harder for us to doze off. The blue light they emit also disrupts our body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep.

Now, it would be highly unlikely for us to ban all our technology from the bedroom but we can pare down our use of them once we enter our sanctuary. We can avoid using them an hour before we go to sleep, place them in drawers to keep them out of sight and resist the urge to reach for them when we wake up at night.

AllHome Bedroom
AllHome Bedroom
AllHome Bedroom
AllHome Bedroom

Lighting.

Light is the key player when it comes to regulating our circadian rhythm, with the darkest possible room cited as the most conducive to sleep. Darkness also reduces potential visual distractions and disruptions to sleep.

To help make your bedroom as dark as possible, consider equipping the room with blackout curtains and a small, low-power lamp. If you still have considerable light in the space which disrupts your sleep, you may want to purchase a comfy yet close-fitting eye mask.

Ventilation and Temperature.

As we enter the hot summer months, proper ventilation and room temperature become even more crucial to catching our Zzzs. Aside from air-conditioning, you can also help cool your room down by using electric fans to circulate air, and creating cross-ventilation within the home by opening or closing doors and windows.

AllHome Bedroom
AllHome Bedroom
AllHome Bedroom
AllHome Bedroom

Scents.

Don’t underestimate the power of your nose. Some fragrances can help promote relaxation which, in turn, makes it easier to fall asleep and wake up the following morning feeling well-rested.

Clean-smelling sheets have been observed to help in promoting comfortable sleep, as well as the use of aromatherapy in the form of essential oils applied to pillows or placed in diffusers. Lavender, rose, roman chamomile, jasmine and ylang-ylang are among those that have been seen to contribute to restful slumber.

Clutter.

In the same way that messy surroundings impede your ability to work at optimum levels, clutter in your bedroom could also prevent you from getting the sleep you need.

Clear out items that do not help you relax by regularly tidying up your bedroom and storing your electronic gadgets and small items in your drawers. Vacuum your bedroom rugs and mattress regularly to get rid of dustmites that trigger allergies.

Ready to set up your room to give you the best kind of sleep?

Shop for bedroom essentials that will help you get to Sleep Town at AllHome.

AllHome Bedroom
AllHome Bedroom
AllHome Bedroom
AllHome Bedroom

AllHome is the Pinoy’s one-stop shop for all home needs. It offers an extensive range of top-quality home-improvement products such as construction supplies, hardware, appliances, indoor and outdoor furniture, homeware, décor, and even electronic gadgets all under one roof.

Its Metro Manila branches include:

  • Vista Place (Wil Tower), Eugenio Lopez Drive, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City
  • E. Rodriguez Jr. Brgy. Bagumbayan, Quezon City
  • Starmall EDSA-Shaw, Ground, Epifanio de los Santos Ave, Mandaluyong
  • Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong
  • Vista Mall Taguig, Levi Mariano Ave., Taguig City
  • Vista Mall C5 Extension Road, Quirino Ave. Pulang Lupa Uno, Las Piñas City
  • Vista Mall Las Pinas, CV Starr Ave., Philam Village, Pamplona, Las Pinas

You may also shop conveniently online at allhome.com.ph to take advantage of AllHome’s wide array of original and top-quality items, easy payment methods and fast delivery timelines.

In-store photos taken at AllHome WCC and Libis. Used with permission.

The “Nature Park in the City’s Heart”: the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife in Quezon City

With the sweltering heat of the summer permeating the drab and grey streets of metro, it would be nice to go somewhere cool, fresh and green.

Well, wouldn’t you know it! Right in the heart of Quezon City is a place where you can escape to enjoy a bit of nature: the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center.

This 22.7 hectare area located in Diliman, Quezon City is a zoological and botanical garden, named after Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. It is one of the ninety-four legislated Protected Areas in the Philippines under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act of 2018.

Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center

It is also dubbed as the “Nature Park in the City’s Heart” being the home of various species of flora and fauna while still situated in a busy metropolis.

Here, park visitors can go exploring on pathways that weave through the park’s trees and open grassy areas, perfect places to jog or stroll while enjoying the peace and quiet.

Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center

With over 3,000 species of trees, some of which are endemic to the country, the park is also one of Metro Manila’s last remaining green spaces, which serve to mitigate urban air pollution and help counter the emergence of Urban Heat Islands (UHIs), metropolitan areas that are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to the daily activities of urban populations concentrated in a small area.

Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center

Aside from enjoying the lush greenery, park visitors can view animals as well. As a wildlife rescue and research center, it serves as a quarantine area and rehabilitation center for wild animals captured while lingering in residential areas, or undomesticated animals confiscated from people involved in the illegal wildlife trade or exotic pet owners who are abusive to their animals.

Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center

The center also serves as a training ground for practitioners and students or veterinary medicine, zoology, botany, biology and natural science.

Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center

For park visitors who want to do a bit of sight-seeing or picture-taking, the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center also contains a manmade lagoon which houses various fishes. Within its vicinity is a picturesque Fishing Village which consist of five houses on stilts along the edge of the lagoon. These structures are patterned after fishing villages in Mindanao.

Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center

The park also houses other attractions which may be rented out:

  • A Tea House that may serve as a venue for workshops, meetings and other small parties
  • A 250-seater Amphitheater for larger gatherings
  • Picnic sheds to shelter people during their visit

For plantitos and plantitas, the Bernie Dizon Botanic Fruit and Techno-Demo Center is also located within the park. Owned and managed by the country’s leading pomologist the garden offers high-quality cuttings and seedlings that will grow into fruit trees for home gardens or farmlands.

Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center

So if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, you won’t have to travel far. Simply visit the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center to enjoy that precious bit of nature.

Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center

The Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center is located along Elliptical Road and North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, open daily from 7am to 5pm.

The following entrance fees apply:

  • Adults: Php30
  • Students: Php15
  • Foreigners: Php100
  • Senior citizens, PWDs and children below seven years old: FREE

For inquiries, call +63 2 89246031 local 236. For more details, visit its website or follow Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center on Facebook.

Share #WomenAtWork photo and win cash from Lumina Homes

In celebration of Women’s Month, Lumina Homes is proud to honor the modern superwomen at the workplace. Whether working from home while donning the multitasking mommy hat or taking the risk to go out and serve the clients in their chosen industry, these women deserve a pat on the back, and more!

Lumina Homes Woman at Work Online Contest

Lumina Homes invites everyone to share on social media a photo of an inspiring woman at work and get a chance to win as much as P5,000 cash!

Here are the steps:

  1. Share a photo on your Facebook or Instagram account of a “woman in action” (not limited to women in the workplace) who inspires you the most. If on Facebook, make sure to set your post to Public so we can view your entry. If on Instagram, set your account to Public also.
  2. In the caption, tell us in a maximum of 3 sentences what inspires you most about this person. Add the official contest hashtags: #LuminaHomes #LevelUp2022 #WomenAtWork
  3. Go to https://www.lumina.com.ph/public-event-upload and select “Women at Work: Online Contest” on the event dropdown. Fill-in the required fields, and on the Message Box, place the link of your entry.

You may submit your entries until March 28, 2022.

Winners will be scored according to Reacts (50%) and Narrative (50%) so make your entries as compelling and heartwarming as the inspiring stories of our superwomen. The Top 3 entries will take home the following prizes:

1st place – P5,000
2nd place – P3,000
3rd place – P1,000

From the nurses and medical doctors braving the pandemic, to teachers navigating the distance education, to your female boss who continues to balance the health and safety of the workforce while keeping the business intact—all these women have the same core values toward their work, and we celebrate them not only every March but all year round.

Happy Women’s Month!

For more information and announcements, follow @luminahomesofficial on Facebook or visit Lumina Homes’ official website at www.lumina.com.ph.

Photo Credit: Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels

4 tips to setup your home office for WFH success

One of the few bright spots in the midst of the global pandemic is the realization that we can work -productively and efficiently – at home.

The concept of Work-from-Home (or WFH) has been around for quite some time but it took the necessity for isolation and limited physical or social contact to make it as widely accepted as it is now.

Aside from ensuring your safety from infection by COVID-19, working from home has allowed you greater freedom and flexibility with your time, saved your the costs of travel, office wardrobe and lunches, as well as provided you with improved work-life balance, hasn’t it?

AllHome Home Officr
AllHome Home Officr

Hopefully, for many of us, WFH is here to stay.

However, this setup is not without some disadvantages, with discomforts and distractions being among the chief complaints among WFH setups.

The good news is that, with a little bit of forethought, these disadvantages can be minimized or eliminated.

All Home Libis Store Tour
All Home Libis Store Tour

Here are some rules of thumb in setting up your home office:

Define the space.

If, after two years of working from home, you haven’t set aside a defined and dedicated space for your home office, I laud your discipline (or pity you for the suffering you put yourself through).

A dedicated (ideally enclosed) area separate from the rest of the household to house your work equipment and provide you with a quiet space for concentration and work meetings will help you work a lot more effectively at home.

Illuminate.

Good lighting is something most people take for granted, but do remember that you need to be able to be able to read from your monitor or notebooks for hours on end. Dealing with glares or shadows while working not only makes it harder to focus on the tasks at hand, it may also cause eye fatigue and headaches, as accidents from momentary blindness as your eyes adjust to sudden changes in lighting conditions.

In these days of Zoom meetings, having enough light to illuminate your face (as opposed to being in shadow in a seemingly dark dungeon) goes a long towards coming across as professional to your colleagues.

If you can’t find a space with good indirect natural light, equip your space with overhead, task and ambient light sources to help your eyes as you do your various activities.

All Home Libis Store Tour
All Home Libis Store Tour

Take a (good) seat.

Your future self will thank you for investing in a good ergonomic chair today as it is designed to support your body as you work while considering your posture, comfort and health.

Sitting in the wrong kind of chair may cause pain in the neck, back and hip areas, as well as distractions due to discomforts caused by poor circulation and posture.

Get organized.

All you need to be able to work should be within easy reach but you also need to keep workspace spic-and-span to reduce distractions and improve your productivity.

This is why using smart storage solutions is a must. If floor space is limited, consider storing vertically through the use of stacking drawers, floating shelves, rolling carts or even pegboards.

So get to work on setting up your workspace. And you can get all you need for your home office at your nearest All Home branch.

AllHome Home Officr
AllHome Home Officr

AllHome is the Pinoy’s one-stop shop for all home needs. It offers an extensive range of top-quality home-improvement products such as construction supplies, hardware, appliances, indoor and outdoor furniture, homeware, décor, and even electronic gadgets all under one roof.

Its Metro Manila branches include:

  • Vista Place (Wil Tower), Eugenio Lopez Drive, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City
  • E. Rodriguez Jr. Brgy. Bagumbayan, Quezon City
  • Starmall EDSA-Shaw, Ground, Epifanio de los Santos Ave, Mandaluyong
  • Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong
  • Vista Mall Taguig, Levi Mariano Ave., Taguig City
  • Vista Mall C5 Extension Road, Quirino Ave. Pulang Lupa Uno, Las Piñas City
  • Vista Mall Las Pinas, CV Starr Ave., Philam Village, Pamplona, Las Pinas

You may also shop conveniently online at allhome.com.ph to take advantage of AllHome’s wide array of original and top-quality items, easy payment methods and fast delivery timelines.

In-store photos taken at AllHome WCC and Libis. Used with permission.

Meet my new bestie: KYLA of SKY!

One of my new besties is a bot and I ain‘t afraid to say it!

It’s not that I’m giving up on humanity; it’s just that she makes my life so much easier.

She’s KYLA, a 24/7 messaging bot designed to provide real-time answers to SKY product or service inquiries by both existing and non-subscribers.

KYLA of SKY
KYLA of SKY

Being a closet introvert, I sometimes get some form of apprehension every time I’m forced into social situations. Yes, that includes interacting with sales associates, retail staff and customer service agents.

Being able to interact with a bot affords me that feeling of ease of not having to worry about how I’m coming across or gauge non-verbal cues as I set about having my questions answered.

KYLA of SKY
KYLA of SKY

If you think that you would not want to transact with a machine and much prefer the “human” touch, guess again. You’ve been doing it for quite some time. Whenever you opted to withdraw cash from an ATM rather than get in line to wait for an actual bank teller to get to you, you have opted to conduct your business with a machine. And why not? It’s so much easier, isn’t it?

That‘s what KYLA does: she eliminates a lot of the hassle and waiting time to get answers or help I need with regards to my SKY service. She answers in real-time, providing me with the info I need right when I need them.

KYLA of SKY
KYLA of SKY

Here are some of the instances when KYLA helps me out:

  • When I had trouble with my cable TV or broadband signal, KYLA provided me with self-help guides so I can troubleshoot
  • When my neighborhood had signal issues, KYLA informed me of when it was expected to be resolved
  • When I wanted to check my bill, KYLA provided me with my account status, due date and payment balance, as well as a list of convenient ways to pay for my SKY bill

If my service concern is a bit more complex, I don’t worry. KYLA can connect me to a live agent with access to my conversation history. So no need to answer the same questions again.

KYLA of SKY
KYLA of SKY

I have started forwarding my family and friends to KYLA for their own service concerns or subscription inquiries, knowing that they’re in very good hands already.

And since KYLA is available 24/7, I don’t have to worry about the time of the day or night when I message her.

Isn’t that the kind of accommodating and helpful bestie you want for yourself?

Well, I’m not selfish, I’ll gladly share my bestie with you so she can help you with your SKY service concerns too!

KYLA of SKY
KYLA of SKY

Here’s how to reach her:

Then select the category of your query. Or you can type in a question in English and KYLA will answer you right away!

It’s so easy, right?

So, are you ready to meet your new bestie? Grab your mobile device and start messaging!

Spruce up your outdoor areas to supplement your wellness goals at AllHome

Summer’s almost here and you know what that means: more time spent outdoors!

During pre-pandemic times, outdoor living spaces such as patios, decks and porches – were used mainly for entertainment and recreation. However, in the past two years, people are increasingly doing activities outside such as gardening, barbecuing, playing with their kids and pets, exercising, or simply relaxing.

AllHome Outdoor
AllHome Outdoor
AllHome Outdoor
AllHome Outdoor

International Casual Furnishings Association executive director Jackie Hirschhaut reported that in contrast to consumer behavior in early 2020 where outdoor spaces were being designed to complement homes and lifestyles, current trends indicate outdoor spaces are now being created to supplement that “supplement our sense of well-being and transform an outdoor area into an outdoor room.”

AllHome Outdoor
AllHome Outdoor
AllHome Outdoor
AllHome Outdoor

Clearly, outdoor areas are being used for purposes that promote physical, social and mental health.

AllHome Outdoor
AllHome Outdoor
AllHome Outdoor
AllHome Outdoor

These include:

  • Having a convenient place to get exposed to enough sunlight to boost vitamin D levels.
  • Providing opportunities for activities that promote eye health such as “screen breaks” – time away from gadgets – and viewing objects at a range of distances – for example, a nearby potted plant and a bird flying at a distance – to manage eyestrain.
  • Having adequate spaces for increased physical activity and movement.
  • Providing opportunities to meditate, be closer to nature to reduce stress.
  • Providing opportunities to spend time with friends and loved ones for fun shared experiences.
AllHome Outdoor
AllHome Outdoor
AllHome Outdoor
AllHome Outdoor

When designing or reorganizing your outdoor areas to support your wellness goals, keep the purpose of the spaces top of mind:

  • Exercise. If increasing physical activity is your objective, then consider the size, mobility and storage of fitness equipment that you will include in the space.
  • Socializing. Families and friends come together over good food so aside from your outdoor grill, consider the spaces needed for convenient food preparation, serving and dining. Including gathering points or conversation pieces such as bonfire pits or water features will also help in getting people to gather up and converse.
  • Relaxation and De-stressing. Nature has a way of bringing down stress levels so incorporate nature into your outdoor spaces through greenery, water features, wide open spaces and the materials of your furniture.
AllHome Outdoor
AllHome Outdoor
AllHome Outdoor
AllHome Outdoor

Ready to translate these ideas into outdoor spaces that promote health and wellness? Then drop by your nearest AllHome branch today!

AllHome is the Pinoy’s one-stop shop for all home needs. It offers an extensive range of top-quality home-improvement products such as construction supplies, hardware, appliances, indoor and outdoor furniture, homeware, décor, and even electronic gadgets all under one roof.

All Home Libis Store Tour
All Home Libis Store Tour
All Home Libis Store Tour
All Home Libis Store Tour

Its Metro Manila branches include:

  • Vista Place (Wil Tower), Eugenio Lopez Drive, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City
  • E. Rodriguez Jr. Brgy. Bagumbayan, Quezon City
  • Starmall EDSA-Shaw, Ground, Epifanio de los Santos Ave, Mandaluyong
  • Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong
  • Vista Mall Taguig, Levi Mariano Ave., Taguig City
  • Vista Mall C5 Extension Road, Quirino Ave. Pulang Lupa Uno, Las Piñas City
  • Vista Mall Las Pinas, CV Starr Ave., Philam Village, Pamplona, Las Pinas

You may also shop conveniently online at allhome.com.ph to take advantage of AllHome’s wide array of original and top-quality items, easy payment methods and fast delivery timelines.

Outdoor photos credits: Klara Kulikova, Cagin Kargi, Sonnie Hiles and Farhan Abas on Unsplash.

In-store photos taken at AllHome WCC and AllHome Libis. Used with permission.

It’s time to make your move to Lumina Homes

February is the lovers’ much-awaited month to express their emotions toward their special ones. And just as much as the romantic air mesmerizes the lovebirds, this Valentine’s month could also be your longed-for moment to finally make your move into your dream house—and that applies to even the single but happy ones.

Lumina Rosario
Lumina Rosario

If you haven’t taken advantage of the “pandemic discounts” in real estate yet, this is your chance to grab it. Because just like fleeting love, it could be now or never. Grab some tissue, too.

For ready-for-occupancy (RFO) units, Lumina Homes is offering extended down-payment terms for those who will reserve a unit until February 28, 2022.

Lumina Homes RFO
Lumina Homes RFO

You may choose to pay your down payment in two terms:

Option 1. 7.5% down payment payable in 5 months. You will also get a 5% discount when you receive a bank loan approval on or before the completion of down payment for 5 months.

Option 2. 12.5% down payment in 10 months

Lumina’s RFO Homes include the following:

  • Lumina Tanza in Cavite
  • Lumina Bauan, Lumina Batangas (Sto.Tomas), Lumina Tanauan in Batangas
  • Lumina Quezon (Tayabas) and Lumina Sariaya in Quezon
  • Lumina San Jose in Nueva Ecija
  • Lumina Baliwag in Bulacan
  • Lumina Iloilo (Oton)
  • Lumina Carcar in Cebu
  • Lumina Bacolod (Bacolod City)
  • Lumina Tarlac (Tarlac City)
  • The Balanga Residences in Bataan
Lumina Homes RFO

Now a home brand for Filipinos whether in the low- or middle-income households, Lumina Homes takes pride in being present in more than 50 projects all around the country, spreading love with beautiful home and lot model units, as well as condominiums fit for every Juan’s budget.

For full details of the Make Your Move promo, and more information about Lumina Homes, contact (0917) 629 6523 or visit their official website.

Why the Canadian housing market is hotter than ever

In March of 2021, president and chief executive of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Evan Siddall tweeted that the federal agency had erred when it forecast the economic collapse due to the pandemic might cause home prices to plunge by as much as 18 percent. 

Of course, as we all now know, the opposite occurred with prices skyrocketing. In Vancouver, West Vancouver, Richmond, and Whistler, the benchmark price of a detached home is over $2 million. It’s more than $1.8 million in Port Moody, North Vancouver, and most of Burnaby. As of December 2021 in the Greater Toronto Area, the average selling price was up 24.2 percent over the previous year to $1,157,849.

While you might want to put your house on the market among the homes for sale in Toronto or almost any other city in Canada, there may be some trepidation as buying a new one is proving to be a lot more challenging. There are multiple factors behind this sizzling hot housing market, including these.

An increase in buying investment properties


According to mortgage data, there has been increased activity among two groups of multi-property owners. Some are borrowers with two or three active mortgages, with most likely those who have a primary residence and at least one vacation home. Others that have four or more mortgages are typically real estate investors and they’ve been an increasing part of the equation, accounting for 15 percent of homeowners in the second quarter of 2021 as compared to the same period two years prior. 

The sudden influx of investors is playing a big part in fueling the rapid home price growth, with many Canadians purchasing homes as investment properties. Foreign investors have been doing the same. Canada’s minister of housing Ahmed Hussen believes municipalities should temporarily ban foreign purchases to help ease the affordable housing crunch residents are facing.

High income earners

Another factor is high income-earners as the pandemic didn’t have as much of a negative impact on them as compared to others. In Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Ottawa, home price increases were most pronounced among higher-end homes. Many of the people who own them haven’t suffered much from unemployment as they tend to have jobs that can be done remotely. 

Higher earners were able to save more not just because they’re bringing in more income, but due to the restrictions on shopping and travel, they spent less. When combined with the low mortgage rates, homes became the perfect target for spending their money.

Making up for the shutdown

Another reason for the surge in housing demand is due to the period that the market practically shut down during the early part of the pandemic. Those who planned to buy, put off their purchases, unleashing the demand later. Ultimately, buyers outnumbered sellers in many places throughout the country, making it ideal for home sellers.

Housing supply and demand

The low inventory of homes and high demand results in a hot housing market, which is the case throughout Canada, the U.S., and beyond. An interruption in building materials and construction means not enough homes are on the market for newcomers to buy.

The federal government can help correct this problem by providing more funding to build affordable housing and make it easier for the private sector to access public land for building. But it’s not a quick or easy thing to do, which means it won’t have an immediate impact.

SKYBiz guarantees reliable speeds and reliable partnerships to small business owners

The start of the year has been great so far for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as they have continuously served their customers virtually, and some entrepreneurs have finally re-opened its doors physically to their loyal patrons.

While businesses gradually pick up its pace, it is still a challenge for some MSMEs to fully accommodate their day-to-day activities like logistics, marketing, and customer servicing experience as their chosen service provider becomes unreliable and eventually ends up costly for their business set-up.

With SKYBiz as a partner, decision makers can now have business-grade enterprise solutions that are fully reliable and will keep businesses running — even in these challenging times.

Reliable and Upgraded Speeds

For as low as P2,299 monthly, budding entrepreneurs can enjoy speeds up to 100Mbps with BIZBB PRO which comes with 2 FREE WiFi Mesh units to complete the seamless wireless office setup. Valuing its customer’s trust, SKYBIZ injects Value-Added Services on each subscription with a starter tool kit, personalized account management, and assured 24/7 Technical Support so that businesses can be online and on track even when it’s the weekend or off-hours.

SKYbiz Reliable Speeds, Reliable Partnerships

Just starting to grow? The 50Mbps plan at P1,799 monthly fits Micro and Small businesses perfectly, as they can also enjoy the freebies and perks of having a faster plan with SKYBIZ.

Reliable Partnerships with the Industry Greats

As part of the vision to create a seamless end-to-end enterprise solution to its customers, SKYBiz has partnered with high-value industry partners to make each SKYBiz subscription the best business decision for every entrepreneur.

SKYbiz Reliable Speeds, Reliable Partnerships

Best Customer Servicing Experience with Microsoft 365

Each plan comes with FREE 3 months Microsoft 365 Business Basic for 5 users. This productivity cloud designed to help run your business smoothly is more than just the apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

It brings together these best-in-class productivity apps with powerful cloud services, device management and advanced security in one, giving you a seamless, connected experience.

Best Advertising Solution for Small Businesses with ABS-CBN Dash

Reach your customers and grow your business with ABS-CBN Dash’s digital advertising solution. Get a P1,000 voucher that you can use to advertise on ABS-CBN’s top digital platforms.

Best Logistics Solution with Grab

Have your parcels arrive on time and make customers happy with a P1,000 voucher from Grab.

About SKYbiz

SKYBIZ is the corporate arm of SKY Cable Corporation under the partnership between the Lopez Holdings Corp. and STTelemedia. SKYBIZ started in 2013 and has managed to become a 2-Billion business that serves major Hospitality, BPO, Banking, Real Estate and major Corporations in the country. For more information check out SKYBIZ’s official website: https://www.skybiz.com.ph/

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