Quezon City’s Batasan Hills district is not the first place that comes to mind when you think of premium condominium living, yet The Residences at Commonwealth by Century Properties sits on a sprawling 4.4-hectare site there, offering a different kind of urban proposition. The development’s eight mid-rise and high-rise towers, named after Philippine Commonwealth-era presidents, were designed by the same firm behind Century’s Acqua Private Residences and Azure Urban Resort Residences. But the real question for a potential buyer is whether this project’s family-oriented, spacious layout compensates for its distance from the traditional business and lifestyle hubs of Metro Manila.
That land area alone is unusual for a Quezon City condominium project. Most developments in the metro squeeze multiple towers onto a fraction of that space, but Commonwealth by Century dedicates a significant portion of its 4.4 hectares to open areas, gardens, and amenities. The trade-off is location: the project sits along Don Antonio Drive in Barangay Batasan Hills, an area better known for government offices and residential subdivisions than for nightlife or corporate headquarters. For families who prioritise space and a quieter environment over immediate access to Makati or BGC, this trade-off may be worth examining closely. If you are weighing similar trade-offs in other developments, you might find the discussion of high condo fees at One Serendra useful for comparison.
What the Development Actually Offers Families
The amenities list reads like a checklist for a family-focused community. Beyond the standard gym and pool, the clubhouse houses a kindergarten and creche, an arts and crafts studio, a rock and roll studio, and a show kitchen. These are not afterthoughts — they are programmed spaces that suggest the developer anticipated residents spending a good amount of time within the compound. The walkability of The Residences at Greenbelt offers a stark contrast, where the value is in stepping outside to a commercial district rather than staying in.
Unit sizes range from 21 square meters for a studio to around 64 square meters for a two-bedroom, with an average price of roughly PhP 80,000 per square meter. That pricing puts a 21-square-meter studio at around PhP 1.68 million and a two-bedroom unit closer to PhP 5.12 million, though the developer lists prices starting at PhP 5.7 million and up. The units come fully furnished with appliances and accessories, which reduces the upfront cost of moving in but also means the purchase price already includes those items. For a family, the two-bedroom layout at 64 square meters is tight by suburban house standards but generous compared to many Metro Manila condos, where a two-bedroom often squeezes into 40 to 50 square meters.
Location Realities: What Is Nearby and What Is Not
The project’s location along Don Antonio Drive places it within a 15- to 20-minute drive of key Quezon City landmarks like the University of the Philippines Diliman campus, U.P. Technohub, and the Quezon City Circle. Ever Gotesco Mall is three minutes away by car, and Diliman Doctor’s Hospital is about 10 minutes away. These are practical, everyday destinations — grocery shopping, a clinic visit, a quick meal — rather than lifestyle destinations. The area lacks the walkable restaurant rows, co-working spaces, and boutique retail that define developments in Bonifacio Global City or Makati’s central business district.
For buyers who work in Ortigas or Makati, the daily commute is the central consideration. Without the MRT-7, driving from Batasan Hills to Ortigas can take 45 minutes to over an hour during peak hours, and Makati is even farther. The development’s proximity to Commonwealth Avenue — a major but heavily congested thoroughfare — means that even short trips can be unpredictable. This is a different calculus from flood-prone areas near St. Francis Shangri-La Place, where the risk is environmental rather than logistical.
On the positive side, the immediate neighborhood includes several schools — Seed Montessori School, Judge Feliciano Belmonte High School, and Holy Spirit Elementary School are all within a short drive. For families with young children, the combination of on-site child facilities and nearby schools reduces the need to travel far for daily drop-offs and pickups. The trade-off is that older children or teenagers may find the area lacking in entertainment and social venues within walking distance.
What Often Gets Overlooked About This Development
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| Tower | Storeys | Turnover Year | Elevators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quezon North | 11 | 2017 | 2 |
| Osmeña West | 11 | 2015 | 2 |
| Osmeña East | 11 | 2018 | 2 |
| Roxas West | 22 | 2019 | 2 |
| Roxas East | 22 | 2017 (preselling) | 2 |
| Quirino West | 22 | 2019 | 2 |
| Quirino East | 22 | 2019 | 2 |
The Elevator Ratio Problem
Every tower in the development, regardless of height, has only two elevators. For an 11-storey building with perhaps 40 to 60 units per floor, two elevators may be adequate during off-peak hours. But for the 22-storey towers like Roxas West or Quirino West, which could house several hundred units, two elevators mean longer wait times during morning and evening rush hours. This is a common oversight in mid-range condominium projects, where developers cut costs on vertical transport to keep unit prices lower. Residents on higher floors in the taller towers should expect delays, especially during peak school drop-off and work hours.
Turnover Timeline Discrepancies
The development was turned over starting in 2015, yet some towers were still in preselling status as of 2017, and others had turnover dates as late as 2019. This staggered construction means that early buyers in Osmeña West (turned over in 2015) have been living in an active construction site for years as the remaining towers were built. Noise, dust, and limited amenity access during construction are real concerns that are rarely highlighted in marketing materials. Buyers considering a unit in a later tower should visit the property to assess whether construction is fully complete or still ongoing.
The “Fully Furnished” Fine Print
Units come “lavishly dressed” with furniture, appliances, and accessories included. While this sounds convenient, it also means the purchase price already factors in those items, and the quality of the furnishings may not match what a buyer would choose independently. If the included sofa, bed frame, or refrigerator does not meet your standards, replacing them means paying twice — once in the purchase price and again for the upgrade. Buyers should request a detailed inventory of what is included and assess whether the furniture package adds genuine value or simply inflates the base price.
Deciding Whether This Development Fits Your Life
Assess Your Commute Tolerance First
Before looking at unit layouts or amenity lists, map out your daily commute. If you work in Makati or BGC and need to be in the office five days a week, the 45-minute to 90-minute drive each way will define your quality of life more than any clubhouse feature. The MRT-7 may eventually cut that time, but there is no reliable timeline for its completion. If your workplace is in Quezon City or if you work remotely most of the week, the location becomes far more practical. For a deeper look at how location affects daily living, the analysis of Horizon Homes’ exclusive BGC address offers a useful counterpoint.
Match Unit Size to Your Household
A 21-square-meter studio works for a single professional or a couple, but families with children will need at least the 40-square-meter one-bedroom or the 64-square-meter two-bedroom. Even the two-bedroom unit is compact by family standards — expect shared bedrooms and limited storage. Visit a show unit with your family to see whether the space works for your daily routines. The on-site kindergarten and creche help, but they do not expand your living area.
Factor in the Hidden Costs
The monthly amortization starts at around PhP 8,000, and the reservation fee is PhP 15,000. But association dues, property taxes, and maintenance fees will add to that figure. For a development with extensive amenities — clubhouse, pools, gardens, multiple studios — the monthly association dues are likely to be higher than in a bare-bones building. Ask the developer for a breakdown of current association dues and any planned increases. Also confirm whether the furniture package is included in the unit price or listed as an additional cost.
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Consider the Resale and Rental Market
Units in Batasan Hills do not command the same rental premiums as those in Makati or BGC. The target market is families and government employees working in the nearby Batasan Complex, not corporate expats or young professionals. If you are buying as an investment, research current rental rates for similar units in the area and compare them to your monthly amortization. The average price of PhP 80,000 per square meter is reasonable for Quezon City, but appreciation will depend on how quickly the area develops and whether the MRT-7 materialises.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Making the Call on Commonwealth by Century
The Residences at Commonwealth by Century is not a one-size-fits-all condominium. It works best for families who value space, green areas, and on-site amenities over immediate access to nightlife and corporate hubs. The 4.4-hectare compound, the child-focused facilities, and the relatively affordable price per square meter are genuine advantages. But the location in Batasan Hills, the reliance on a future train line that has not yet arrived, and the elevator constraints in the taller towers are real limitations that no marketing brochure can paper over. Visit the property during weekday rush hour, talk to current residents about their experience with construction noise and elevator wait times, and decide whether the trade-offs align with your priorities. If this was useful, you might also want to read the hidden costs and challenges of Discovery Primea.
Sources
One Serendra: Are the High Condo Fees Really Worth It? — A detailed look at how premium amenities affect monthly costs in a high-end BGC development.
The Residences at Greenbelt: Walkability in Makati — Explores how location and pedestrian access shape daily life in a central business district condo.
The Residences at Commonwealth by Century. Century Properties, accessed 2025.
The Commonwealth by Century. thecommonwealthbycentury.com, accessed 2025.
