Condo craze.

A day in a mall would not be complete without being handed a flyer or brochure of a condo, townhouse or house and lot being developed and sold.

Sometimes, I accept them, most of the time I ignore them,

other times, I simply veer away from the representative.

But there would be days when upon reaching home, I'd discover the brochures tucked in my pant pockets, in shopping bags, or inside my security bag.

ABOVE RIGHT, Ace Water Spa.

Yesterday, cousins Kell and Louie treated a group of us to a day at a spa called ACE Water Spa. There, we got pampered and "cured" by hydro therapy massage - a variety of water system concoctions, where customers choose from a variety of "water massage," and steam and herbal pools. It was a relaxing and fun way to spend a rainy day.

"Hydrotherapy massage - is a kind of therapeutic massage that utilizes “Ultrasonic Jet System” that massages specific areas of the body with its aquatic jets strategically located to relax and soothe tired and aching muscles. This treatment is best done in heated water.

These one push-of-a-button equipments are categorized as soft, moderate and hard massages. Because of these, the customers are assured of the same consistent experience, unlike manual hand massages wherein every visit may be a different experience due to different factors. For example, a masseuse that offers hard massages may not be as strong as before because he is already tired.

Moreover, the massage systems, being “do-it-yourself” type, gives the customer the freedom to decide which water equipment to use and which part of his body needs more attention."

After partaking of complimentary hot corn soup at the Spa, we headed to Kell and Louie's condo and had dinner but ended issuing a rain check on a plan to go dancing later that evening.

After partaking of complimentary hot corn soup at the Spa, we headed to Kell and Louie's condo and issued a rain check on an earlier plan to go dancing.

Instead, we spent the rest of the evening discussing local and domestic issues, and talking about condominiums.

Kell and Louie own several condominium units which they maintain as investment eggs. They visit and sleep in any of them whenever they find time out from their super busy schedule.

After a scrumptious dinner of brown rice, "daing na bangus," fresh, red tomatoes, and egg omelet, the generous duo brought us to do some condo shopping.

Apparently, one nephew was selling his Unit in the same building.

We hied to the highest floor overlooking QC where the giant pool was located, and enjoyed a crisp, cool night talking about nothing.

Then we met up with the Manager who showed us more units for sale. One good Unit, a 31- sq.m floor plan, had several windows and a good view of the frontage, but upon closer look, didn't appeal to me because it had several low beams and an obtrusive post which makes the room smaller and crowded.

I asked to see a Loft and was quite comfortable with its size, a 50+ Unit, with two bathrooms and a view of the pool, but got floored by the price - 4+ million Philippine pesos. There was a good looking furnished Model, about 31 sq. m. but it was an interior unit, meaning no outside view; directly across is another unit.

There were other units presented to us, in the range of 30's square metres and priced at 2.4 plus million pesos.

After digesting rates of interest, down payments, and schemes of payments, we headed to Starbucks for a late night caffeine session, calling overseas relatives, and googling on the plant called "Ashitaba."

Cousin Bek who's in a Japanese marriage, regaled us with facts of the "curing

miracles" of Ashitaba. Apparently, it can cure diabetes, hypertension, and a host of other ailments. And alas, cousin Bek has a doctor for a neighbour who's given her the plant.

At almost twelve in the evening, we were crossing the stretch of Congressional Ave. Extension to get the plant Ashitaba.

It was almost one in the morning when we reached home. The neighbourhood was quiet. Except for us who were pounding on the iron gate. The gate was locked, our key became useless. The dogs were howling. The maid was not waking up.

Finally, we drove to the Main gate and asked the guards for help. We were led to the main security house where a patrol trailed us back home and after we assured him that the dogs were leashed, he climbed over the fence and opened the gate for us.

After a soothing day at the herbal pool and a cosy evening of healthy food and talk, our night ended like some scene direct from a juvenile film - like teens out for a wild time, well beyond their curfew hours, sneaking back into the house, climbing over the fence.

Then I asked myself: when someone pays 2 million or 4 million pesos for a smallish condo unit, what are they really paying for? My quick answer: the concept of condo living. Which in the Philippines means, upscale living.

I have both been a private house resident in Manila and a condo dweller in Toronto for the last twenty years, so I don't mind scaling back, but the thought of getting cooped up in 30+ sq. m. quarters makes me even more claustrophobic than usual.

No Condo-ing for Me in Manila.

My sister forced me to come along with her when she went "tripping" in search of a condo, this was before the arrival of Mr. Ondoy.

So we were driven to Serendra by two agents and shown a model unit for a studio and a two bedroom. The studio, I think, was about 42 sq. metres. It fetched for almost 4.4 million, with parking. Then they showed us The Fort.

Next, we were driven to the Colloseum in Makati, wherein in the studio consists of a 32 square metre unit. There was no model unit because turn over is already underway. The price? If cash, you pay about 2.9 million pesos.

Next offering, the soon-to-be Ayala of the South, Aveo in Santa Rosa, Laguna. Lots are available in this development which boasts, according to the salesperson, preserved wildlife, lakes and acres of greenery.

We have not gone to the Santa Rosa property yet, but my sister is leaving soon for Ohio, and plans to tell her husband of this oasis. But with the Ondoy disaster being plastered on CNN and other U. S. newschannels, I wonder if my American bro in law would still be interested in spending part of his retirement years in P.I. We'll see.

Personally, I think these Makati/Quezon City condos, even the two bedrooms, are way too small. But then, even the new condo developments in Toronto have gone petite suddenly. Where I live in Toronto now is a modest sized condo. The principal bedroom accomodates a king size bed with oversized headboard, a large size dresser, a large movable closet, a built-in closet, two extra cabinets and a 35-inch TV.

In the spare room, you can fit in a twin size bed, built in closet and stack shelvings, and a computer/TV desk.

With the new condos, the developers want you to use a twin size bed, a wall unit TV, and a small bedsize table.

In the second bedroom, you are being asked to use a sofa bed. And in the kitchen, you will have to cook and eat there, too. The living room fits only a seatee, not a full sofa. The washroom is slightly bigger than an airplane washroom.

I drove family member/s to a condo in Sucat, Paranaque where they'd spend out the days waiting for the flood to recede from their house and village, and it was small, too. They're squeezing into a one bedroom unit. At least, it sits on higher ground.

As for me, I'm back to my quarters in my sis' house in Q. C. But finding my shirts and other stuff is a problem, so are the expanded doors that wouldn't close.