NEWS AND UPDATES
Urban Strategies for BPO Success: Insights from Aseana City
Building a Community
In today’s competitive outsourcing industry, a company’s success hinges on its people, and keeping employees engaged takes more than a desk and a paycheck, it requires fostering a genuine sense of belonging.
Research shows that highly engaged teams enjoy 41% lower absenteeism and employees who feel part of a community are 66% likelier to stay with the organization long-term.
Community-building is not just a feel-good HR initiative but smart economics driving higher productivity, lower turnover, and a healthier bottom-line.
Wellness Community in Aseana
At Aseana City, this community-centric approach is built into daily life. Instead of siloed cubicles, office spaces blend seamlessly with parks, trails, and fitness venues. Every week, Aseana City locators gather for group workouts in three different running clubs, cardio-dance classes, mat Pilates, and yoga sessions.
In practice, BPO employees wind down morning stress by jogging together or stretching in Parqal’s amphitheater, turning exercise into a social ritual. These gatherings build personal connections between coworkers and transform physical health routines into team-building experiences.
This design embodies the “third place” concept where communal environments beyond home or office offer a sense of belonging to a larger community. Parqal’s open plazas and shared events serve as that “third place”, fostering real connections. In our increasingly connected yet isolated world, third places have become invaluable; they are neutral spots where people can gather, form relationships, and feel part of something beyond work and home.
Aseana City has effectively built this antidote to workplace isolation right into its blueprint.
Building Bonds Through Sports and Recreation
Aseana City goes beyond fitness classes to create a sports culture. Bounce at Parqal, the estate’s outdoor sports complex, offers two multi-purpose courts (set up for basketball, volleyball, or even pickleball) and a football field, which hosts youth training for the Azkals Development Academy.
After office hours, these facilities spring to life. Aseana City organizes an inter-company basketball league at Bounce, drawing teams from different industries to compete in friendly after-work games. The basketball courts buzz with employees from various firms bonding over pickup games, while on weekends the football field invites pickup matches and family sports days.
Experts often note that social activities and friendly competition help form tighter-knit teams. Team sports can break down hierarchy and encourage camaraderie. The camaraderie developed on the field translates into a more cohesive work environment, fostering shared purpose back in the office.
Aseana City: Community by Design
By weaving community into the city itself, Aseana City has effectively pre-built the very employee networks that companies strive to create internally.
For BPO locators in Aseana City, “building a community” is not just a slogan, it is a tangible advantage. Being in Aseana means tapping into ready‑made engagement strategies (from group runs to sports leagues) without having to create them from scratch.
Aseana City is more than an office address; it is a thriving ecosystem where community, wellness, and business success converge.
Sources:
https://hbr.org/2022/08/rekindling-a-sense-of-community-at-work
https://www.gallup.com/workplace/236927/employee-engagement-drives-growth.aspx
https://www.gensler.com/blog/will-third-places-be-the-future-of-workplaces#en
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Run Aseana in Partnership with Zone2Sports
21 July 2025
🏃♂️ Ready to move? Join Run Aseana!
In partnership with Zone2Sports, enjoy FREE weekly training sessions designed for all fitness levels.
🗓️ Every Tuesday
🕒 7:00 – 9:00 PM
📍 Amphitheater, Parqal, Aseana City
✨ Be part of a growing wellness community in Aseana City. Together, let’s build a healthier and stronger Aseana community.
𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞
🗓️ Starts every Friday
🎟️ Limited to 100 slots per training session
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Urban Strategies for BPO Success: Insights from Aseana City
Seamless Connectivity and Mobility
The latest TomTom index pegs Manila’s congestion at 41% on average, with commuters wasting up to 4 days and 7 hours per year stuck in traffic.
For a BPO firm, this adds up to chronic lateness, fatigue, and productivity loss. Human-resource and operations leaders know all too well that every tardy BPO employee or empty desk means higher costs for overtime, shift swaps, or churn. In short, a city’s transport infrastructure problem is also a workforce problem.
Aseana City demonstrates a solution. Anchored by the new Redemptorist-Aseana LRT-1 station, commuters from over a dozen cities can now ride straight into Aseana’s offices without slogging through EDSA’s traffic jams. This rail connectivity effectively connected the estate to a Mega Manila’s rail network of over 19 million people.
Aseana’s streets reinforce this connectivity ethos, featuring wide pedestrian pathways, interconnected open spaces, and mixed-use zones designed to create a walkable and well-connected neighborhood. Located between major arteries (Diokno and Macapagal Boulevards), Aseana City is master planned to have over 20km of pedestrian lanes, 16km of bike paths, and over 4km of elevated walkways. To complement this, Aseana operates an Eco Jeep fleet that ferries workers between buildings and nearby transport hub Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITx).
Connectivity-driven planning is not a generic buzzword, but rather a tested framework. Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) which integrate offices, residences, and amenities all within walking distance of public transit is credited worldwide with boosting urban performance. One OECD study estimates that coordinated land-use and transit projects could raise Manila’s reachable population by approximately 16%.
For companies, that translates to more on-time employees and fewer unplanned leaves. When infrastructure outpaces demand rather than limping behind it, staff are not forced to go through extremes just to clock in.
Ultimately, a city that flows, connects, and prioritizes its people produces happier, more reliable workers.
A clear lesson can be drawn from Aseana City: public mobility infrastructure is a strategic investment, not just an afterthought. Rail stations, bus terminals, and safe sidewalks are not just civic amenities, they are HR and operational tools that recover hours of lost productivity, reduce absenteeism, and lower the bottom-line costs of turnover.
In planning their next site, IT-BPM executives should remember that a well-linked location pays dividends in minutes saved, employees retained, and talent attracted.
Sources:
https://www.tomtom.com/traffic-index/philippines-country-traffic/
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About the photo: One of the major walkways in Aseana City is lined with well-lit bollards, creating a more welcoming atmosphere for evening strolls, outdoor workouts, and late-night commutes.
Well-lit streets make a world of difference. A vibrant city isn’t just about building stunning architecture and bustling streets but it’s about creating a space where people feel secure and free to enjoy everything it has to offer. With a series of smart infrastructure and security enhancements, Aseana City is making urban living more accessible, connected, and worry-free for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
At the heart of these efforts is a commitment to safety. Aseana City has implemented various initiatives to enhance both security and accessibility within its community. To improve visibility and deter crime, the city has upgraded its street lighting along internal roads, open spaces, and common areas.
Brighter pathways don’t just enhance visibility, but they also create a more welcoming atmosphere for evening strolls, outdoor workouts, and late-night commutes. Pedestrian-friendly features have also been improved with refreshed crosswalks and better-marked pedestrian lanes. These upgrades ensure smoother movement for everyone, whether you’re walking, cycling, or driving, making the city’s roads safer and more efficient.
Taking safety to the next level, Aseana City has enhanced its CCTV surveillance system with advanced monitoring capabilities. This upgrade strengthens real-time security, protects properties, and allows for future innovations in urban safety. Complementing this digital approach is Aseana City’s on-the-ground security presence. The city’s 24/7 security operations and Integrated Operations Center (IOC) ensure a quick and coordinated response to any situation. A dedicated emergency hotline and rapid-response teams are in place, reinforcing the city’s commitment to a secure and well-protected environment. To further uphold safety and traffic discipline, Aseana City’s traffic enforcers have been deputized by the Traffic Parking and Management Office (TPMO) under the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), ensuring order on the roads for both motorists and pedestrians. Emergency response is also getting a significant boost with Lifeline Ambulance, the Philippines’ fastest, largest, and most recognized private ambulance provider, having a future station in Aseana City. With a fully dedicated ambulance service, the city is equipped to handle emergency situations swiftly and efficiently.
These upgrades go beyond security. They shape a city where people can live, work, and explore with ease and confidence. By integrating smart safety measures with pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, Aseana City is redefining what it means to build a modern, thriving, and safe community.
Coffee festival expands to include weavers and crafters
27 February 2025THE BIYAYA (Filipino for “blessing” or “gift”) Sustainable Living Festival is branching out from the Manila Coffee Festival to include more local products, especially woven textiles and other crafts. The festival will be held from March 14 to 16 at Parqal in Aseana City, Parañaque.
In a press conference at the Kapetolyo by SGD Coffee in Ermita, Manila, Richard Watanabe, founder of the Coffee Heritage Project and co-founder of the Biyaya Sustainable Living Festival, discussed some of the things people will experience at the festival. These will include craft beer made with products from the Cordilleras (including coffee and cacao), a chalk mural competition, agricultural workshops, free coffee from The Coffee Village, Baybayin workshops (an ancient writing system from pre-Hispanic Philippines), and woven crafts, but also weaving demonstrations.
“When we protect, nurture, and grow the heritage craft and practices of Filipino communities, we ensure their sustainable livelihood,” he said in a statement. “In the process, these communities can continue to live on the land of their ancestors, safeguarding not just their culture but also the environment. Thriving, sustainable communities are the foundation for environmental protection.
Biyaya 2025 Poster
Biyaya isn’t just about coffee; it’s about uplifting the entire ecosystem of heritage industries that allow these communities to thrive,” he added.
His partner in this project, fashion designer and sustainability advocate Tati Fortuna, said in a speech: “We are bringing in — today, can be more — 75 farmers and weavers.” The festival will have more than 200 exhibitors including coffee, cacao, and coconut farmers, as well as craftsmen, weavers, and local fashion designers.
“We are not going to take any part in the sales that they make,” she pointed out. Last year’s Manila Coffee Festival brought in 12,000 visitors and P45 million in earnings for its exhibitors.
“Our objective for Biyaya, is to put the farmers, the weavers, and crafters, and communities front and center,” she said. “We want to honor them in any way that we can, and we are very thankful,” she said.
“Biyaya supports a long-term value chain that ensures Filipino farmers and artisans are empowered at every stage. With transparency checks in place, Biyaya guarantees that the processes behind the products are ethical, fair, and environmentally conscious,” said a statement from the festival.
Ms. Fortuna said, “Biyaya is not just a once-a-year event. We want to have a deeper connection and a deeper relationship to the communities.” Long-term plans involve weaving and craft schools, and enhanced training for the same causes.
The Biyaya Festival will run from March 14 to 16 at Parqal in Aseana City, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Check the Manila Coffee Festival Facebook page for ticket sales and inquiries. — Joseph L. Garcia