A building near an LRT station solves the commute problem for residents
Along Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City, a 55-storey tower has been handed over to its first residents — not merely as a place to live, but as a deliberate wager on how Filipino urban life is changing. DMCI Homes has completed the North Tower of The Oriana at a moment when proximity to rail transit is becoming less a convenience and more a necessity, as Metro Manila's commuters reckon daily with the cost of distance. The project asks whether a city long shaped by car culture and sprawl might be ready to reorganize itself around connection, community, and the train.
- In a metropolis where hours are lost to traffic each day, the completion of a 55-storey transit-oriented tower signals a quiet but significant shift in how developers are responding to urban exhaustion.
- The North Tower's handover triggers a cascade of activity — model unit openings, investor interest, and the ongoing construction of a second tower — all unfolding against the backdrop of the Metro Manila Subway's approaching debut.
- DMCI Homes is betting that amenities once reserved for resort destinations — rooftop lounges, sky bridges, twin pools — can anchor a new standard for high-density city living near Katipunan and Anonas stations.
- Pre-selling units starting at roughly Php 16,000 per month are drawing investors who see steady rental demand from the students and young professionals clustered around nearby universities and commercial hubs.
- The project is landing as a proof of concept: that transit-oriented development, long discussed in Philippine urban planning circles, can be delivered at scale and handed over to real residents.
DMCI Homes has completed the North Tower of The Oriana, a 55-storey condominium along Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City, and has begun turning over units to residents. The building sits between LRT-2's Anonas and Katipunan stations, and when the Metro Manila Subway opens its Anonas stop, the tower will connect to a third rail line — a convergence that reframes the entire development as infrastructure as much as housing. In a city where commutes routinely consume hours, that connectivity is the core of the proposition.
The tower launched pre-selling in April 2021 and has since passed through DMCI Homes' Quality Management process — inspections and performance tests at every construction stage to meet both government codes and the developer's own standards. Four model units will open to the public in phases through the third quarter, giving prospective buyers a chance to see the actual spaces before committing.
The Oriana distinguishes itself through a combination of practical and resort-inspired features. A Sky Bridge links the North and South Towers so residents can share rooftop facilities without going outside. Units include built-in fiber-optic internet and access to RideShare, the developer's carpool app. Daybed units replace traditional balconies with extended living spaces, part of DMCI's Lumiventt® design approach aimed at maximizing natural light and airflow. The amenity list spans two pools, a covered basketball court, coworking space, gym, game room, Sky Promenade, and Sky Lounge with panoramic views.
The surrounding neighborhood — home to Ateneo de Manila University, Miriam College, UP Diliman, Araneta City, and Eastwood City — generates consistent demand for rentals from students and young professionals. Pre-selling units remain available from approximately Php 16,000 per month. The South Tower is still under construction, and DMCI has committed to completing the full two-tower development. For a company with more than 70 years of building resort-inspired communities across the Philippines, The Oriana is its clearest statement yet that the future of Metro Manila living runs along rail lines, not highways.
DMCI Homes has handed over the first tower of The Oriana, a 55-storey residential complex that sits along Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City, positioned squarely between two of the city's most active transit corridors. The North Tower's completion marks the developer's latest push into transit-oriented housing—properties designed around proximity to mass transit rather than car dependency. The location matters: residents here are minutes from LRT-2's Anonas and Katipunan stations, and when the Metro Manila Subway opens its Anonas station, the building will have direct access to yet another rail line. For a city where commute times routinely stretch into hours, this kind of connectivity is not a luxury detail. It is the entire proposition.
The North Tower launched in April 2021 and has now begun moving residents in. Before handing over keys, DMCI Homes ran the building through comprehensive testing and commissioning procedures overseen by its Quality Management Department—inspections and performance tests at every construction stage, all meant to verify compliance with government codes and the company's own quality standards. The developer is opening four model units to the public, two in June and two more by the third quarter, so prospective buyers can walk through the actual spaces before committing.
What distinguishes The Oriana within DMCI's portfolio is a set of features that blend practical urban living with resort-style amenities. A Sky Bridge connects the North and South Towers, allowing residents to move between buildings and share rooftop facilities without stepping outside. The building incorporates a garbage chute system for waste disposal, built-in fiber-optic internet in every unit, and RideShare, the developer's app-based carpool service. There are also daybed units—an alternative to traditional balconies that extends the bedroom into a versatile living space while creating visual variation on the building's facade. The developer calls this Lumiventt® Technology, a design approach meant to maximize natural light and airflow for healthier, more energy-efficient living.
The amenity package reads like a resort: two swimming pools, landscaped grounds, a covered basketball court, children's play area, coworking space, fitness gym, game room, entertainment room, and open lounge. Elevated spaces called the Sky Promenade and Sky Lounge offer panoramic city views. Daily conveniences—convenience store, laundry station, water station—are built into the community. The building sits near Ateneo de Manila University, Miriam College, and the University of the Philippines, as well as commercial hubs like Araneta City and Eastwood City, making it attractive to students, young professionals, and office workers.
For investors, the location presents a clear income opportunity. The area has steady demand for rental properties from the student and young professional populations that surround it. Pre-selling units remain available with flexible payment terms starting at approximately 16,000 pesos per month. The South Tower is still under construction, and the developer has committed to completing the entire two-tower development as planned. For DMCI Homes, which has built resort-inspired communities across Metro Manila, Baguio, Boracay, Cebu, and Davao over more than 70 years, The Oriana represents another bet on the idea that urban living in the Philippines is shifting toward transit access and community amenities rather than isolation and car culture.
Notable Quotes
The Oriana presents a strong investment opportunity, with steady demand for rental properties driven by students, young professionals, and office workers in the area.— DMCI Homes
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does a developer emphasize transit access so heavily in a city where most people still drive?
Because the math is changing. Commute times in Metro Manila are brutal—hours lost to traffic. A building near an LRT station solves that problem for residents and makes the property more valuable to renters and buyers. It's not idealism; it's market reality.
The Sky Bridge connecting two towers—is that just a marketing feature, or does it actually change how people live there?
It changes the economics of amenities. Instead of duplicating pools and gyms in each tower, you build them once and connect the buildings. Residents get more facilities without paying for redundancy. It also creates a sense of community across the whole development.
The daybed units sound unusual. Why would someone choose that over a traditional balcony?
You're trading outdoor space for interior living space. In a dense city, that's often the better trade. You get a room that feels larger, and the building gets visual interest on its facade. It's practical design disguised as amenity.
What makes this a good investment property rather than just a place to live?
Location and demand. You have universities nearby, office parks, young professionals who need housing but can't afford to buy. They'll rent. The building is positioned to capture that market for decades. That's steady income.
The South Tower is still being built. Does that create any risk for North Tower residents?
Construction noise and disruption, yes. But it also means the development isn't finished—more amenities, more community, more value as the whole project comes together. It's a trade-off.