More than 11,000 concert-goers last December 7 left with no trash to clean up after. Over 35,000 trees planted during group activities involving homeowners, employees and agents. With 12 clubs that build camaraderie through shared interests of residents in the environment, cycling, motorcycling, and pet ownership, among others. And involvement of thousands of youth in sports, music and the arts.
In 12 years, this is what Lancaster New City, home now to over 19,000 families in 62 villages, has become. Lancaster New City is Cavite’s biggest township straddling Imus, Kawit, and General Trias and was designed particularly to promote bonding and family ties among the Filipino families it serves.
Unique to its developer, Property Company of Friends, Inc. or PRO-FRIENDS is the creation of a specific unit in charge of Community and Culture Development. Two years ago, it introduced “GalingLNC,” a name chosen by an LNC resident for the on-ground movement now powered by a digital platform to promote positive social values within the community. PRO-FRIENDS Vice President and Head of Community and Culture Development Group Issa Cuevas-Santos explains: “There is double meaning to Galing—‘excellence’ and ‘to come from.’ It is inspired by the aspirations of LNC residents or ‘LNCitizens’ to give and live their best life and be proud of their community. We envision LNC to be a hub of excellence, a place where future leaders are molded.”
GalingLNC programs and activities are aimed at enabling residents to shape and share their community culture through the promotion of positive social values. Its initial focus are sports and wellness, entrepreneurship, music and arts, education and life skills, the environment and faith, life, and service. It also gathers the residents and homeowners for its volunteerism programs such as Brigada Eskwela to encourage them to work together, and help them get to know their neighbors through a “Meet and Greet.”
In the past, GalingLNC has facilitated activities including tree planting, setting up community playgrounds, learning sessions on eco-bricking and backyard farming on top of the Kids’ Fair and Homeowners’ Night that are both now on their second year. “What we are proud of is that these activities are actually initiated mostly by our homeowners. We build on their aspirations for the community and plan around it,” she says.
Of late, GalingLNCitizens have gone as far as raising funds for underprivileged areas in Rizal and putting together donations for the families in Cotabato who lost their homes in the recent earthquakes. “This is also because we strongly encourage Kabayanihan initiatives, serving not just our own community but the areas near LNC and the rest of the country, when the need arises,” enthused Cuevas-Santos.
By the end of the year, 27 partner villages will have participated through GalingLNC’s in- and inter-village activities, optimizing the communities’ potential to do well for themselves and their surrounds, and further strengthening the future of their children.
The movement will be staging four major events in 2020, targeting the various segments of the community. Alabfest for the youth is in February 2020, Malabay, the first-ever LNC Festival is scheduled in June; the Kids and Family Fair will be in October; and the annual GalingLNC Homeowners Night, in December.
Cuevas-Santos expressed hope that “through our values of ‘Better Together in Service and with Respect,’ the 19,000 plus families in over 50 villages in our township can be a model community that others can emulate – from GalingLNC to GalingPilipinas.”
Lancaster New City features communities with green spaces, where children can play and families can spend quality time together. It is designed to be a complete community that has every Filipino family’s basic needs within reach—schools, work, recreation, place of worship, and public transportation. The community hosts the excellent educational system of St. Edward School, where children can learn and grow, away from the pressures of a toxic city environment. Families can explore and build careers through work and business opportunities at Suntech iPark, a pioneer campus-type IT park right in the city. More modern conveniences are at hand in The Square, a sprawling commercial area with up-to-date entertainment, restaurants, and retail shopping. Families also have the opportunity to grow together spiritually in their very own place of worship, the Parish of the Holy Family. Finally, getting around the township and Manila’s business districts is easy and convenient with direct access to the LNC Link Transport Hub.
It was envisioned that putting these features together to form a self-contained community will help lessen the commute to work and school, so that families can spend more quality time together.
See for yourself why Lancaster New City is #YourFamilyFriendlyCity. Visit www.lancasternewcity.com.ph.
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