By: Tito Mike
There’s a growing wave of excitement sweeping across Uptown Cagayan de Oro as people and businesses move up to the booming district in search of greener pastures.
This has been partly fueled by the vastly improved roads and bridges infrastructure to upland barangays like Bayanga and Dansolihon, arterial roads to Bukidnon, Davao and Cotabato which have made it easier to access by residents from those areas who are apprehensive about venturing into the gridlock downtown.
However, over and above these existing and upcoming developments, is the growing vibe pervading Uptown Cagayan de Oro as a healthy and clean environment to raise a family, stress-free and convenient shopping, a wide choice of places to play, relax and unwind, to mention a few.
Residents and businessmen from downtown have also added to the uptown migration drawn by the proliferation of amenities such as a new hospital, leading elementary, high school and colleges, and new establishments such as the SM City CDO Uptown’s North Wing and the soon to open Gaisano Uptown.
The SM North Wing, in particular, is again catalyzing the wave of change with its eclectic mix of tenants for health, beauty and wellness (David Salon, MCM Salon, Enchante Nail Spa, Salon de Rose, Move Dance Studio), upscale bistros and restaurants (Raki-yata Ramen, Fat Chef, Vamoose a Comer, Out of Nowhere, Mindanao Basket, L’Buono by Resto Freeno), specialty shops (Luna Artisanal Boutique & Café, M Stone, Twin Head Furniture, Enovas Cabinets), luxury leisure (Virtue Luxury Lounge, 80 Degrees KTV, La Ilumina, Adventureland, HUGO Restaurant + Lounge), among others.
The immediate area has also been a growing mecca for sports enthusiasts drawn by the world-class golf courses of Pueblo de Oro and Del Monte, Rosevale School soccer field, Northern Mindanao Pistol, Shotgun & Archery, Inc. shooting range in nearby Bulua where (besides getting an idea what it takes to make you a Legolas), you can experience shooting various firearms including hand guns, shotguns, and automatic weapons, including a World War II era .45-cal. Thompson submachine gun!
The Xavier Ateneo Sports Centre at El Camino Real Avenue, Pueblo de Oro is capable of hosting inter-school and regional sports competitions with its basketball court and 2 sub-courts for practices
and retractable bleachers which can seat over 2,000; 4 Badminton courts; semi-Olympic size swimming pool; track and field oval (8 lanes); regulation size football field; and amenities such as a shower area and locker rooms for athletes, and parking space for over 200 vehicles.
In contrast, the Xavier Sports & Country Club in Xavier Estates offers a more family and barkada oriented lifestyle experience with its kiddie and adult swimming pools with waterslides, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, fitness and martial arts activities such as boxing, Muay Thai, zumba, and yoga, and meals and accommodations for weekend warriors in Ridgeview Chalets and Annabel’s Restaurant.
Further uptown, domestic tourism is taking flight with a plethora of resorts like the Sinulom Falls and Bolao Cold Spring in Barangay Tignapoloan, Tuminugan Farm at the foot of Mt. Kitanglad where one can learn sustainable and organic farming, natural horsemanship, bamboo, coffee, adlai production and processing; and quaint restaurant complexes like the Stonehouse Station at Malantao, Manolo Fortich Bukidnon, both of which can be accessed through the same Dahilayan-Kalugmanan Road via the South Diversion Road through Taguanao, Barangay Indahag.
In fact, more sports minded enthusiasts have taken to their bikes to take sprints and long rides through the hills and valleys of nearby Bukidnon and the uptown barangays of Cagayan de Oro to enjoy their fitness and travel goals in one experience.
With the McDonald’s Uptown as their starting point, one favored route takes them to the South Diversion Road in Indahag and thence to Libona Municipal Hall passing through Gango, Kinawe, Kili-og, and RVR Calingasan View Deck. On their way back they drop by Chelly’s Restaurant in Kili-og for breakfast. The whole circuit takes about four hours.
However, some even more avid bikers take the PN Roa Road (formerly Macapagal) to Canito-an from whence they turn left to Opol, Misamis Oriental and through the subdivisions which have sprouted there as often as three times a week. Some very more daring ones frequent the downhill (suicide) trails in the city’s uphill barangays which require more advanced skills to negotiate the adrenaline-inducing rides.
No wonder then, the demand for residential facilities has gone through the roof with leading real estate developer A Brown Company Inc.(ABCI) looking to close the gap with its Uptown Metropolis.
Uptown Metropolis
The Uptown Metropolis is an 11-hectare master planned, mixed use development located within the upscale Xavier Estates along South Diversion Road near Pelaez (Taguanao) Bridge in Upper Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City.
The two-area metropolis will initially commence with Area A which shall house a commercial area featuring a supermarket, retail shops and condominiums to complement and further enhance the competitive advantages of existing establishments in the area.”
Zircon, is the first Residential Condo Tower, is a 14-storey tower with majestic views of the city, mountains and Cagayan River.
ABCI touts the Uptown Metropolis’ accessibility which is a mere 7 kms from downtown Cagayan de Oro via Fr. Wm. Masterson SJ Avenue, or 9 kms from downtown Cagayan de Oro via the South Diversion Road.
It is also only 2 kms from the proposed Balulang-Macasandig Bridge leading to downtown, and the same distance from the proposed PN Roa Avenue-Upper Carmen Diversion Road leading to the Laguindingan International Airport.
With a panoramic view of the hills surrounding the city, a flood-free location, complete drainage system and favorable geo-hazard analysis results, Uptown Metropolis is expected to lend further impetus to the already burgeoning Uptown Cagayan de Oro property boom.
####
