National hero Jose Rizal once said, “The youth is the hope of the nation”—a mantra that we continue to believe in more than a hundred years after the hero’s passing. It is no wonder that Filipino parents move heaven and earth to give their children the best education they could afford for they truly believe that knowledge is one of the greatest gifts they could give. Indeed, a population of well-educated young people also possesses a great power to drive the whole nation into positive change.
The country’s oldest and most esteemed institutions for higher learning are found in the City of Manila itself, specifically its downtown core colloquially referred to as the University Belt (or U-Belt). It is here where some of the country’s best colleges and universities are found, including Asia’s oldest, the University of Santo Tomas. Being home to such number of schools, this Manila area has somewhat become densely populated over the years, with quality student housing becoming such a rare commodity in this ever growing urban area. According to many, this has impact on the scholastic performance of students, prompting many to look elsewhere for quality lodging, though many would have to endure longer commutes to their respective schools, which in turn negatively affects their school performance as well.
In fact, according to a 2015 study conducted by researchers at the College of Nursing in Benguet State University, living too far from one’s school has a significant impact on a student’s performance; hence, the need for quality yet affordable student accommodation is more pressing than ever.
1318 College Residences, a newly built dormitory-style development in Castaños Street in Sampaloc District, Manila, is committed to being part of the solution to ease this dilemma. What started as an apartment complex built in 1969 by Vicente Cuevas, the Cuevas family–led TPC Inc. tapped Pinnacle Real Estate Consulting Services Inc. to do a highest and best-use feasibility study for the property with the eventual goal of turning it into a development geared toward students.
The feasibility study was conducted by Pinnacle’s former director for research and consulting Jose Romarx Salas in 2017, and upon completion and recommendation of the study, TPC Inc. developed the former 15-door residential apartment complex into a “modern and artsy dormitory” that promises to set the bar high “away from ordinary” co-living spaces.
Officially opening its doors to students in the second quarter of 2019, 1318 College Residences offers a wide range of amenities on par with its high-end dormitory counterparts in the city, but for a reasonable price. The development boasts a highly secured facility equipped with CCTV cameras, ample parking slots, reception speed-gates and lift, a study area, inspirational murals, a laundry shop, and an in-house cafeteria.
1318 College Residences can be considered pioneering project in the co-living and dormitory real estate sector. It is a well-thought-out dormitory with the goal “to help [students] succeed in achieving their dreams of becoming future professionals,” said Marie Abigail Biruar, Marketing Manager for TPC Inc.
Its developer TPC Inc. can also be considered a trailblazer in real estate development by introducing a project where socioeconomic benefits are its core elements. By shifting its focus beyond profitability, it makes an impact that extends beyond the walls of each property while remaining commercially viable.
