Living the life at The Arton
There’s nothing like sunkissed mornings, when that large glowing sphere begins to peek over the horizon, casting a pale rose color into the sky before radiating golden sunbeams in every direction. For Laura Sherlyn Alvarez, mother of one, sunrises mean quiet moments for meditation and reading the Bible.
This young, enterprising marketing consultant recently made an investment of a lifetime. She purchased a new home facing the West at The Arton, the first highrise Rockwell development in the North. The Arton enjoys the luxury of sitting on a hill along Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City, giving it an unparalleled view of the sunrises and sunsets.
“The location is ideal because it’s near the people and places that are important to us: Family, close friends, our church community, my daughter’s pediatrician’s clinics, good hospitals and educational facilities, as well as commercial and recreational centers,” Alvarez said.
Keilah, her daughter, would fit right in. Alvarez, a devout Christian, chose the name of her only child from a Hebrew word that means “stronghold” and “impenetrable hardness to temptation.” Like many mothers, she wanted to give Keilah a good headstart.
“I chose that name because, in the Old Testament, parents believed that the name you give your child is their first blessing,” she said.
As a young mom and a busy working professional, Alvarez said it is important she identify her priorities. This way, she said, it would be easier to say “yes” or “no” to opportunities without struggling with a decision. In the highly competitive world of marketing - Alvarez is a freelance consultant who soldiers on despite the presence of big, high-powered PR machinery - the struggle, as they say, is real.
The quality time mothers spend with children, after all, is just as important as the quality of life they can provide. Alvarez is keenly aware of the impact her presence can make in her child’s development, but she also knows providing the best for Keilah requires a lot of hard work.
Thankfully, at only 33, Alvarez has already come up with a smart solution to end all quandaries.
“I don’t ‘juggle’ [my schedule] because that implies nothing is valuable - you juggle things that you’re okay with them dropping and breaking,” she said. “Nothing about being a mother and a working professional is dispensable. So what I do is I set priorities and align tasks and responsibilities according to those priorities.” It is a tough job, this motherhood business, and Alvarez might yet still have to come face-to-face with her toughest “client" - her daughter. But the rewards of motherhood are immeasurable.
“Motherhood in itself is a reward,” she said. “… I enjoy doing everything with my daughter, from something as simple as eating breakfast to watching a movie to traveling out of the country. She is my greatest blessing and source of joy.”
Her idea of unwinding is scurrying to some tropical paradise and hitting its beaches. But with the demands of motherhood, and work, destressing these days, she said, usually means “taking a nice, warm bath, reading the Bible at sunrise, or simply taking a nap.”
This Mother’s Day, Alvarez looks forward to quality, unhurried time with Keilah. She can’t wait for her little family to move in at The Arton when they “finally have a home to call our own where my daughter can grow up in and we can build memories together.”
At The Arton, there are swimming pools for the beach- loving duo to enjoy. Even better, there’s a mini pool for Keilah to play around in, and a pavilion. There’s also a fullyequipped fitness gym for mommy, and a multipurpose court designed for basketball, tennis, and volleyball. Since 80 percent of the property will be devoted to open space, Keilah will have a blast navigating its many gardens.
It’s a home tucked way up above the ground in a verdant oasis in the middle of a bustling city. They will just be minutes away from the country’s best schools and universities, and mere steps away from several lifestyle choices, including food, entertainment, and shopping.
Location played a major role in Alvarez’s decision to invest in a Rockwell property. But apart from that, it was the lure of the Rockwell lifestyle that sealed the deal.
“I have visited friends who also live in urban residential areas and no other developer knows how to best create a respite from the hustle and bustle of urban living better than Rockwell,” she said. “They always go the extra mile and beyond to develop comfortable living spaces not only in terms of physical amenities but also in trying to bring back ‘greens’ in our saturated city spaces.”
Already her design sensibilities take inspiration from the sea.
“… I am really excited to decorate [my home]! My first love is the sea, so I will definitely make the interiors feel as close to being on a beach by the sea as much as possible,” Alvarez said. “Except my daughter's room, which I will design according to what she likes; what makes her spirit come alive, and what will make her feel like her room is really her own safe space.”
Alvarez and her daughter are ready to build memories in their new home.