BGC: Metro Manila's Fitness Hub

One of the later business districts in Metro Manila, Fort Bonifacio or more commonly known as Bonifacio Global City (BGC), is also very popular for its scenic and Instagram-worthy landscapes. In a span of less than a decade, the mini-city has become a melting pot for cultural diversity. Not only are there state-of-the-art infrastructure, but as well as international schools and a number of activity hubs for various interests. It is not a wonder why a lot of foreign expatriates prefer to stay within BGC. The place offers much more than a place where they can eat and sleep, it is a place where they can live and make the most of their stay in the Philippines.

In compliance with their mandate, the Bonifacio Land Development Corporation, a consortium of renowned real estate companies in the country, built BGC with the intention of becoming a financial and lifestyle district with land efficiency. This means that for every building, there needs to be a corresponding open space. This is why management sees to it that there are not only open spaces, but productive open spaces. So they invest in sculptures, installations, and all other forms of art to satisfy this requirement. 

Of course nowadays, lifestyle will not be such without fitness. Another thing that BGC is popular for, perhaps, is that it has become the default venue for marathons. Among those that usually host these marathons would be Milo, Run Rio, Pinoy Fitness, National Geographic, Color Run and various run for a cause events. On regular days, you can always jog at any time of the day as the whole district has allocated pedestrian and jogging paths. Throughout the day, you will see a lot of people walking their dogs along these paths. 

Field Sports

Want the more contact-type or outdoor way of getting fit? You can definitely find it in BGC. If you want to experience football, head on over to 9th avenue to Turf BGC. It’s a FIFA-standard community football field and the country’s first ever artificial football field. Anybody can go and join games with other football enthusiasts all over the metro. 

Basketball

If you are more into ball sports, you can check out the Titan Love Court at 32nd street and 9th Avenue for a game of basketball at a regulation-sized court constructed similar to those in Rucker Park in New York and the Venice Courts in Los Angeles. The court is open for memberships for three month or three months.

Indoor Fitness

Want the more traditional way of getting fit? There are a number of indoor gyms within BGC. Here are three of the most popular ones:

1. Anytime Fitness – This is literally a nice break from and within the shopping district of Bonifacio High Street. Located at the second floor of B6 area of High Street, you can now go to the gym at any time of the day. What’s good about this is that you no longer have to worry about closing time as Anytime Fitness operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The gym offers annual memberships that gives you a token, which you can use as an entry pass to any Anytime Fitness branch worldwide.

1. Fitness First Platinum – Another mall, another fitness gym. If you want the platinum experience, you can head on over to SM Aura Premier in BGC and exercise using state of the art equipment facilities, be spotted by certified personal trainers, explore other exercise options such as yoga, swimming, boxing and outdoor sports because they have provisions for all these. To top it all off, you can rest at the members’ lounge and enjoy free wifi. You can opt for a single club access where you have full access to all club facilities in one branch or you can opt for the multi-club access that gains you access to all branches of Fitness First nationwide.

1. Gold’s Gym – If you feel like going to the gym after your outdoor sports, the nearest would be Gold’s Gym at 30th corner 9th. The special thing about this gym is that there are classes that are unique and surely enjoyable for people. To name a few would be belly dancing, street dancing, striptease dancing, cardio martial arts and spinning.

Need More Options?

As you wish! Here are some more fitness options that you can choose from within BGC:

1. Fight Factory – Boxing and mixed martial arts fans out there can now head on to 32nd street for their mitts and core training. Learn the basics of boxing, have a core training routine, and the best part – get a sparring partner here!

1. Basekamp – Want the wall climbing experience? Check out Basekamp at 5th floor of Market! Market! Make this a solo or group activity, climb for as low as PHP50.00. 

1. Electric Studio – Have the full body experience at this indoor cycling boutique. Get a full body workout with music. Strengthen your core and tone your upper body with choreography. They offer various packages from first timers good for forty-five days to as much as forty (40) rides good for one year.

1. Elev8 Lagree Fitness Studio – Want a strictly timed fitness regimen? Try Lagree Fitness. This is a full-body workout that burns fat and sculpts the body much faster than any workout. Classes here combine strength, endurance, balance, flexibility, cardio and core – all in forty-five (45) minutes! They have various packages depending on your workout appetite. You can try for the one session first or go full-on with thirty (30) sessions good for one hundred eighty (180) days or six (6) months. Want to try it out? Visit the gym at Ore Central on 9th and 31st.

If you look at this brief list, you will realize that BGC indeed is not only a shopping district, it also gives you the opportunity to really live a healthy lifestyle. BGC not only promotes shopping, or good food, or great residential and office domains, the district is also a place where you can explore what fitness habit works best for you.