“Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam. Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.”, so the song “Home, Sweet Home” goes. I feel these words today. I just arrived at Iloilo City from Manila yesterday. After a month away, I’m glad to be home again. A home where I have my familiar bed, familiar couch, and familiar tv, and even a familiar cup. Something is comforting about these walls like a hug from a close friend.
This friend is my 1-bedroom rental condo where I stay in Iloilo City Avida Towers Atria. I have been here since May 2019; less than a year. When I was still in Austin, Texas, I searched and found the listing at manggahomes.com. I had two requirements when I was looking for a long-term rental condo or apartment to stay here in Iloilo City. The first, it had to be spacious. Asian homes are smaller compared to US homes. It takes some adapting to. At 42 sqm or 452 sqft, my condo is roomy for Philippines standards. I’ve stayed at two-bedroom condos that are smaller. It came fully furnished, with great decorative taste. The second, it must have high-speed internet. I still work remotely in the US. I need a fast and reliable internet. Avida Towers Atria meet those requirements with a monthly rent at 30,000 pesos or 600 dollars, which includes electricity. Additionally, I pay for condo HOE fees, water, and internet with a total monthly rent at little less than 40,000 pesos or 800 dollars. Today for my lazy recovery day, I will put these amenities to good use.
I walk to the kitchen where I was looking for breakfast. I decided to eat a healthy bowl of granola whole grain oats cereal to make up for last night’s gluttony at Shabu-Shabu/Hot Pot. After breakfast, I plop down the couch and watch Netflix. I intend to sit here all morning and catch up on the show “Stranger Things”. I have no-too-little internet interruptions watching on this condo, which is nice. Too many places in this city have slow or unreliable internet especially outside the city proper.
It didn’t take look before I fell asleep on the couch. I awoke, hours later past noon, by rain hitting the glass window. I look outside and see the pool wavy from the wind. It’s the beginning of a storm. Fine by me. I didn’t intend to go outside anyway.
But then I find myself in a dilemma. A typical lazy day problem. Do I go outside now to get food while the rain is not too heavy? Ayalla Atria Park District is only a few minutes away across the street next to Qualimed Hospital. There I have several restaurants to choose from. Or do I just stay in and cook something fast and simple. I procrastinate for bit wishing that Iloilo City Avida Towers Atria would complete the retail shops, office, and restaurants on the first floor. Right now, they are still constructing it. They already have a pool and kids outside play gym. And yet, they are still not building an indoor adult exercise gym. A con I can live with.
I went the kitchen where I check the dining table, cabinets, and the fridge to see if I have enough ingredients to make something. I could make instant ramen and add eggs, vegetables, and sausage. Thinking about soup only made me think about pancit molo, a dish that originated here in Molo district of Iloilo City. Molo is considered the 2nd oldest china-town in the Philippines. The district created pancit molo, a Chinese pork dumpling or wanton soup. It’s the perfect comfort food any day especially rainy ones. So, it’s decided, I will go to the Atria Park District where there is Kap Ising’s Pancit Molo restaurant.
I head out just realizing that school is about to be out. The school Ateneo de Iloilo is directly across the street. It has over 2,000+ students. When the school is done, Atria Park District becomes more crowded. I hurry to Kap Ising’s Pancit Molo restaurant, not too far from Taiwan Shabu-Shabu from last night. I order my soup for take-out (65 pesos) and head back before it gets hectic. I eat my soup and continue watching Netflix. Glad to be staying at home and have a lazy day.
Photo Gallery: Click to view Iloilo City Avida Towers Atria
Useful Links:
Avida Towers:
Iloilo City Rental locator:
Avida Towers Atria Info:
Donato Pison Ave, Atria Park District, Iloilo City, Iloilo
Phone: (032) 514 1778
Map:
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