The third largest in terms of land area, this is known as the home of the rich and famous. The area has wide planned land uses owing to its establishment as a first-class residential and commercial area. It is a self-contained community where development harmonizes with nature.

It was in 1972, when the Madrigal family offered for sale to Ayala Corporation its 420 hectares of land in Alabang. Studies were made in the latter; instead of buying the land offered it expertise in real estate development.

The Madrigal family agreed in principle to Ayala’s proposal in 1975 and actual work on the area started in 1976. Buyers of land started pouring in. Number of buyers exceeded the number of lots for sale that more parcels of land had to be bought from various owners in the adjacent areas. The rest is history.

The New Alabang Village was thus born. It now stands on 670 hectares of gently rolling land. It is about 18 kilometers south of Makati and about 20 minutes drive on the South Superhighway. The village is a totally integrated community, a “suburban miracle”, a satellite city. It offers the conveniences of modern living outside the busy streets of the city. Bounded by two bodies of water, Manila Bay and Laguna Bay, the village is blessed by gentle breezes year round. The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafts from a factory somewhere.

The village has all the conveniences it can offer. One does not have to go elsewhere for one’s needs and even the areas surrounding the village benefit from Ayala’s endeavors. Ayala Corporation taking full advantage of its many years of experience developed the village phase by phase. Phase 1 of the New Alabang Village was offered for sale to the public in 1977. Regardless of lot size, buyers have to abide strictly to Ayala’s standards and restriction. The first three residents of the village were: Mr. & Mr. Joselito Santos, Mr. & Mrs. Jose Escalante and Mr. Howard Newhard.

In the midst of the village is the 74-hectare Alabang Country Club. It is the most ambitious of all Ayala – developed sports clubs as it is the first in the country to combine the features of a golf club, a polo club and a sports club. It is said that it is the biggest and most complete sports complex in Southeast Asia.

The Alabang Riding School is open for people who wish to avail of its equestrian facilities. It is one of handful of schools of its kind in the country and was inaugurated and blessed on December 11, 1980.

The village has the Alabang Commercial Center, which is managed by Alabang Commercial Corporation. It occupies an area of 17.85 hectares and is the biggest planned commercial center complex in the southernmost reaches of Metro Manila. Its first phase was opened to the public on May 30, 1982 to cater to the shopping needs of the residents in and around the village. It consists of a supermarket/department store, two theaters which are popularly called the Alabang Twin Cinema. And the Casa Filipina Arcade which has a variety of shops such as a drugstore, beauty salon, an optical clinic, a bookstore, a bakeshop, a laundry and dry cleaning shop and various food outlets. Undergoing construction is the Casa Nueva Arcade owned by Ayala Corporation and the Casa Madrigal building which is owned by the Madrigals.

Meeting the spiritual needs of the community is the St. Susana and St. Jerome Chapel under the Somascan Order which was inaugurated on February 04, 1983. Its architectural style is Filipino baroque similar to the San Antonio Church in Forbes Park, Makati.

The village has the New Alabang Townhouses, which consist of 56 elegant units. These units are designed for the condominium type of ownership.

The employee housing project for the Ayala Group of companies is Ayala’ s social experiment in an attempt to create an egalitarian community where people of both high and low income levels share the same facilities and services. The architecture is similar to those of the west Mediterranean villages where houses are covered with red brick-tile Tegula roofs and white walls. Phases I & II are already completed.

The Barangay Hall and the community/neighborhood centers fill the need of residents for an assembly place to plan and discuss matters that are of interest to the community.

If residents want to go to Makati and back without using their cars, the New Alabang Village Association (NAVA) shuttle bus is available. It is an air-conditioned luxury coach with several trips to and from Makati daily.

Most important of all, the residents enjoy the facilities of educational institutions such as the Santiago Zobel School of De La Salle, Woodrose School, and Institute for Child Advancement (ICA). There are also schools in the surrounding areas.

Under the Ayala townplaners’ guiding hands, the New Alabang Village can aptly be called the “Name-It We-Have-It” Village.

last update: 04.07.07