Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Relocating from a busy area to a less stressful place might be hard for most people, especially for those who have established lives and successful careers and businesses in a bustling urban center like Metro Manila.
But some have decided to move out of the capital to invest in a home where their lifestyles could be more anchored on their health and wellness — in Lipa City, Batangas.
A sustainable lifestyle
One of those who made the move is retired journalist Charie Villa, who acquired a two-hectare land in Lipa in 2017 and built her primary home where she has settled for good.
“I found living in Lipa very easy, relaxed, the people are very respectful,” Villa said during the virtual launch of Robinsons Land’s Forbes Estates Lipa.
She also established a farm in the same land. Her farm has helped her to be more sustainable, especially in her food choices.
Villa described her current lifestyle as “life full of gratitude” since her home has been surrounded by many crops and fruit trees that have made her sustainable amid rising food prices.
“I can survive living off this land without getting out,” Villa said. “When you’re inside the farm, you don’t want to get out anymore. It’s a self-sustaining place.”
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Garden Lounge at the Forbes Club. Photo from Forbes Estates Lipa
Move to be healthier
For television host and columnist Cito Beltran, a lot of his friends said it is healthier to move to Lipa.
“A lot of my friends decided it was a lot cheaper to live in Lipa and they would be healthier plus they gave up what they had in the city and they found better things in Lipa,” he said.
Beltran, whose family has been a resident of Lipa since the 1970s, shared how it underwent a big transformation over the years. He compared Lipa to suburban areas in California where “you have what you need but it’s not as stressful as living in the city.”
Beltran said supermarkets and leisure areas like high-end golf courses, such as the Summit Point Golf and Country Club, are testaments to the transformation of Lipa into an urban destination not as hectic as Metro Manila.
Beltran added he frequently travels between Metro Manila and Lipa, which is not a problem, because of very easy access between the two areas.
Main entrance of Forbes Estates Lipa along J.P. Rizal Highway. Photo from Forbes Estates Lipa
World-class services
Beltran also noted that Lipa hosts four hospitals and another is set to open in the coming months. He described these medical facilities as topnotch like those in Metro Manila.
Entrepreneur and wellness advocate Pinky Tobiano has agreed, saying that living in Lipa has helped her improve her well-being, especially during the lockdown when she cannot fly to Singapore for her medical needs.
“I was able to heal myself; the tranquility and the medical facility here is amazing,” said Tobiano, a cancer survivor with autoimmune disease.
“They had a holistic approach and they coordinated with my doctors in Mount Elizabeth which made a huge difference,” she added.
Courtyard lots in Forbes Estates Lipa. Photo from Forbes Estates Lipa
Your home awaits
The three industry veterans gave their pitches on why people must invest for their future and well-being.
“If you can invest in a lot in Forbes Estates Lipa as early as now… I think it’s the perfect investment or the perfect gift you can give yourself,” Tobiano said.
Villa noted that Batangas is a place where one can have easy access to other islands like Mindoro and Palawan.
Tobiano also noted the many good restaurants in Lipa—like Casa Marikit and Ijo Bakery—that will surely feed anyone’s appetite.
“If you really would like a second home, invest in Robinsons Forbes Estates Lipa… five years from now you would not regret this decision,” she added.
Photo from Forbes Estates Lipa
Best Lifestyle and Health & Wellness Development
During the Property Guru Philippines Property Awards 2022, Forbes Estates Lipa was named Best Lifestyle Development and Best Health & Wellness Development, while Robinsons Land bagged the Best Developer (Philippines) and Best Developer (Luzon) awards.
Robinsons Land redefines how residents’ lifestyle and wellbeing are influenced by the spaces they live in. With 40% of Forbes Estates Lipa dedicated to open spaces and 1-hectare dedicated to a clubhouse, RLC harnesses nature’s power to improve people physically, mentally, and emotionally.
The estate celebrates the outdoors through its themed open spaces — the Picnic Grove, Tranquility Garden, Wellness Park, and Pet Park — all dedicated to ensuring residents will experience a life well-lived.
This article was originally published in CNN Philippines.