“Life takes you to unexpected places. Love brings you home.” —author Melissa McClone
Like any millennial, Denise Ayson loves to travel, explore the world, to create lasting experiences. Down to earth, fun-loving, honest to a fault, hardworking, are words friends and family would oftentimes use to describe her.
After earning her BSBA Computer Applications degree from De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, Denise had her sights set on climbing the corporate ladder, getting her MBA, and working abroad.
Her hard work paid off. At the young age of 26, she is an officer in one of the country’s leading universal banks, Chinabank, working as a Business Analyst in the IT department. She started in the Taft Avenue office, which was just a few blocks away from her family home in San Andres, Bukid.
When the bank’s headquarters transferred to Makati, her family purchased a unit at
SMDC Jazz Residences along Nicanor Garcia Ave., which was a short distance from her Paseo de Roxas office.
Eat, Drink, Talk
With her parents, Denise enjoys family outings at Jazz Residences, spending weekends swimming on the 7th floor amenity area or eating out. With the rest of the family, they would become regular fixtures at the Jazz Mall downstairs, doing their shopping at retail shops and the occasional bazaars, trying out the restaurants or pampering themselves at Azta Urban Salon or having their nails done at Nail Society.
Like a true millennial, Denise would find her world in her home and her home in the world. Her unit is her sanctuary and her living and dining rooms are downstairs, with a slew of dining places where she could entertain guests. Her friends would come over to her home and enjoy talk over coffee at Starbucks or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Sometimes, it would be chill nights with fries purchased from Potato Corner paired with drinks and munchies from SM Hypermarket. Other times it would be nachos and wings from Buffalo’s Wings N Things. When they were craving Chinese, there was Classic Savory, Peking Pavilion, Ming Xuan Hongkong Taste, or Meilin.
Work, Eat, Play
Her home would become home to her co-workers as well. Being very close to their office, Jazz Mall was a favorite after-office hangout. Vikings, which has its own function rooms, has hosted many of their office parties and meetings. Denise and her family have likewise spent many milestone celebrations feasting on the delectable spreads of this popular buffet place.
When Denise transferred to the Makati office in 2015, she was chosen to be part of a management training program sponsored by Chinabank. It was here where she met CJ of the bank’s finance department. Soon the after-office eat-outs with her co-workers became just her and CJ.
Jazz Mall became home to their beautiful love story. They have spent countless dates in the restaurants, with Ryu Ramen, Kuya J’s, and Vikings as their favorites. “We love to eat a lot,” Denise says. To keep fit, they decided to work out together. CJ, who lives in Parañaque would regularly join her at the Jazz Residences gym.
Aside from eating and staying fit together, Denise and CJ both love traveling. They have traveled together in Hongkong, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Macau, and Bohol.
The lockdown put a halt to their travels and other activities together as CJ has been staying home to protect his grandmother who lives with them, but he regularly keeps in touch with Denise virtually.
The experience with the lockdown has made Denise appreciate her home even more. On work-from-home since March, she can easily purchase anything she needs from the mall downstairs, or even have it purchased and delivered for a small fee by Errands Xpress, the only service provider allowed to go directly to units at Jazz Residences as the staff undergoes weekly swab testing and follows rigorous health protocols.
And this Valentine, she can still spend a romantic virtual date with CJ by sending over food and gifts. Aside from Errands Xpress, there is an LBC at the mall.
Love, Laugh, Live
As she has found Jazz Residences perfect for her lifestyle, Denise has also found home in CJ. In February last year, CJ proposed to her.
To prepare for their new life together, they started scouting around for available homes at SMDC properties. They found it at Grace Residences in Taguig, which provides the same convenience and comfort SMDC homes offer, but which is also located close to their families and their workplace. Their future love nest is currently in the design phase.
The pandemic might have derailed their wedding plans, but when things settle down, wedding bells will soon be ringing for this couple whose love blossomed at SMDC. They have set their eyes on starting their life together in 2022, enjoying each other’s company first and realizing their career dreams before starting a family.
They say love is happiness that has found a settling down place. Denise and CJ have found theirs.