Choosing a presidential candidate is just like choosing a home and vice versa. It’s a decision you won’t make over night and definitely not something one would take for granted. Voting for a candidate means you are willing to invest your whole life as a Filipino into the hands of this person. At the same time, investing your hard earned money in a home means you are willing to spend your whole life living in that address, which you hope to reap rewards from.

Given that most Filipinos are in constant search for a home and that the presidential elections are just around the corner, we’ve made a list of questions, which could possibly guide you in either or both decision-making process.

1a. Will this president improve my life?

When researching on a probable candidate, one must always consider his past experiences, his current platform, and whether he is able to do it and improve the lives of the people in general. In the Philippines, citizens are lucky enough to have access to group meetings, media coverage and even active online networks that boldly ask questions on past and current issues of each presidential candidate. These include budget spending, health, education, civil liberties, families and state affairs, which are valued not just by one but everyone.

For instance, if you are a working person, you value a great transportation system, which you believe could help you become more efficient at work and at home. You have experienced the struggle of thousands of Filipinos who commute daily and have seen first hand the hassle of commute enough to hope that the next president must be equipped with the knowledge and capacity in adapting road infrastructure projects or traffic alleviation rules that could boost the economy. Or, if you are a business owner, you prefer a president who would strictly implement reasonable rules in the country so you could conduct business smoothly. If you are a mother, you want a president who would give importance to family and would conduct projects on health, housing and education so you could feel secured in your child’s future. Regardless of which cause you fight for, you owe yourself and your family the kind of extensive research in order to fully check what a candidate is capable of doing. Only when you are satisfied with your research that you are able to finally say you have chosen the people’s president.

1b. Will this home improve my life?  

Likewise, when choosing a home, ask if it would improve your life. People look for a new home for several noted reasons. Some of them include safety, security and proximity to the areas they most value. “Will this home give me the peace of mind that my children will be safe and secured growing up?” “Will it help me continue working in a hassle-free manner?” “Will it offer me a roster of lifestyle choices such as nearby shopping centers, schools and available transportation options that could bring me a convenient experiences all the time?” Empire East’s Little Baguio Terraces is a gated community located along N. Domingo St. in San Juan City. It is conveniently in between J. Ruiz and Gilmore stations of the LRT2, which could be a swift choice of transportation for children going to the Manila and Quezon City university belts. The development’s 4-towers also share exciting amenities such as a swimming pool, day care center, a gym, jogging trails and more.

2a. Will this president bring me closer to my needs?

Being a president means having the power to move the whole Philippines closer to its needs. Admittedly, it’s a lot. It may be a need to bring in more cash to the country and increase its GDP. Or a need to raise awareness of HIV or other pandemic issues. But basically, a country’s needs would always be around food to eat, water to drink, a home to live in and sources of income. If a president has these in his or her platform, then you could continue your research to develop a stronger decision.

2b. Will this home bring me closer to my needs?

A typical city-living family’s needs revolve around the LIVE-SHOP-WORK-PLAY-MOVE concept. If a home is able to offer chance for recreation, shopping, working and leisure, then you are living a complete lifestyle in the city. It definitely brings you closer to your needs. Empire East created Transit-Oriented Developments (TOD) equipped with recreational amenities and unique features such as direct connection to the MRT 3, in order for its homeowners to enjoy a playful, mobile and work-friendly lifestyle. Some of these developments are Pioneer Woodlands along EDSA corner Pioneer St. in Mandaluyong City and San Lorenzo Place along EDSA corner Chino Roces Ave. in Makati City. Both developments have built-in bridge to the MRT 3 via Boni Ave. station and Magallanes station respectively. This improves mobility to all districts in Metro Manila, bringing every dweller closer to his/her city-living needs.

3a. Is this presidential candidate worth my choice?

When choosing a president, you have to think full 6-year term. Will he be worth the 6 years? Or will he simply use this time grabbing at straws with no specific direction? He or she has to be someone who, after six years, you could see yourself saying “This president may be imperfect, but I believe that his full term had been worth his plans and projects of development.

3b. Is this home worth my choice? 

Or money? Remember that most people who decide to choose a home are those who have spent years trying to save up for it. Thus, it is understandable for them to consider whether this home is worth their money or not. In order to check this, you must realize that you are not only buying walls and a roof. It’s more than just a piece of structure. More importantly, you are buying a lifestyle package. What are the things that come along with it? Generally, this includes a roster of facilities such basketball courts, swimming pools, a clubhouse, playground and other things. Is this home very near your office or your kids’ schools? Is this home sellable or could it be easily put up for rent when the need arises? Empire East’s The Rochester along Elisco Road in Brgy. San Joaquin, Pasig City is an 11-tower community filled with mid- to high-rise residential towers. It is equipped with world class amenities like pools, basketball courts and a playground. It is also very near the Bonifacio Global City, which makes the Central Business Districts of Taguig and Makati very accessible from home. It is also a central address to many shortcuts that could easily transport kids to schools. Given a healthy residential location, it is typically easy to have the house rented out in the future as a source of additional income because property prices increase over time. More families look into the area for living opportunities.

4a. Will this president open more opportunities for me?

This pertains to the improvement of oneself. Will the president be able to help me land a reasonably paying job? The issue on non- and underemployment has been going around the country for years. Will this new president be able to address its looming concerns and provide more opportunities among the citizens?

4b. Will this home open more opportunities for me?

Filipinos love to challenge themselves with multi-tasking activities. A homemaker isn’t just found at home these days. Most do sideline jobs and some even go ahead enrolling in masters or business classes to improve themselves. When choosing a home, first ask if the community you live in is generally filled with knowledge seekers or business thinkers. Also know if the address is surrounded by lots of learning and earning opportunities. The vicinity of San Juan has been enveloped with a rich and colorful history. Today, we see it as an area where big-scale and small-scale businesses flourish. Greenhills for example, is known for having an array of shops and stores grouped together, which specialize in various needs from gadget repair to sources of high-end merchandise. Unique restaurants also flock the area in San Juan City, which makes it attractive among people in other cities. Compared with other cities, San Juan is also normally serene and livable. Good thing real estate developer Empire East chose it as a location for its newest residential project the Mango Tree Residences along M. Paterno corner Ledesma St. Rising in this serene area are two high-rise towers with bigger unit sizes and fewer units per floor. Giving a luxurious lifestyle experience among interested homebuyers. Living at the Mango Tree Residences would definitely open more opportunities of happiness and growth.

5a. Will this president protect me and my rights? 

It is important for a president to have a genuine love for his or her fellow Filipinos. He or she must be someone who knows how it feels to live below poverty, to find a job, to need a home and education. He or she must exhibit a genuine concern and passion to help and improve lives. His or her every decision must always be made out of love and compassion. He/she puts liberty rights above any other.

5b. Will this home protect me? My rights?

A home is a place where people could feel safe and secure. Physically, it would help if it were in a safe location in the first place. But aside from that, every aspiring homeowner in the city must also greatly consider whether this new home will respect his or her rights to privacy, among other things. Empire East’s Covent Garden, a two-tower residential community along Santol Ext. corner Magsaysay Ave. in Sta. Mesa, Manila is a secure and gated community, which also offers a premium sanctuary despite being in one of the busiest areas in Metro Manila. Its residential theme is like a spa sanctuary that every homeowner could come home to and make use of after a long tiring day. Its amenities, which include a swimming pool and play areas are able to offer the kind of relaxation that each dweller deserves. It’s also less dense per floor, giving every homeowner the privacy he deserves.

Join the presidential debate on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. For other concerns, call 02-810-3333 or email [email protected]. ADVT.