Young Family Finds More Time Closer to Home

For restaurateurs Andrew and Aiko Amante, success in business came with an unexpected cost: hours on the road and less time together as a family.

The couple, originally from Baguio, established Amante’s Ribs and Steak and Chiisai Izakaya in Mabalacat, Pampanga after recognizing the area’s growing business potential. But managing restaurants hundreds of kilometers from home soon turned every weekend into a demanding routine.

“Every week, ganun na lang,” Andrew recalls. “Andito kami sa Pampanga for the weekend, tapos uuwi kami sa Baguio Sunday night. Tapos Monday morning, nag-aalala ka na agad kung okay ba ’yung restaurant.”

The Amantes had chosen Mabalacat because of the opportunities emerging around Clark.

“Nakita namin ‘yung potential ng Mabalacat,” Andrew explains. “Clark is booming. Maraming opportunities. Pero more than that, it’s a city na may room para lumago ang negosyo namin.”

Initially, they believed they could operate as weekend managers, traveling from Baguio to Pampanga on Fridays and returning home on Sundays. Eventually, however, the long commute began taking away the very thing weekends were supposed to provide—family time.

“’Yung weekends namin, supposedly para sa pamilya pero we spend time sa daan, sa traffic, sa pagod. Wala kaming pahinga,” Andrew says.

That realization encouraged the family to relocate to Mabalacat, where they found a home at SMDC Cheerful Homes.

The biggest change was immediate. Instead of spending hours traveling between home and work, their restaurants became only about a 10-minute drive away.

“Before, kailangan naming planuhin ang buong linggo para lang makapunta sa restaurant. Ngayon, araw-araw kaming nandun,” Aiko says. “’Pag may issue sa umaga, nandoon ako. Then, in ten minutes, nasa bahay na ako.”

Living closer also placed the family within convenient reach of schools, shopping destinations, business districts, and Clark International Airport.

“’Yung location ng Cheerful Homes, pinag-isipan talaga,” Andrew explains. “Grocery, airport, school, business district, lahat nandito.”

For the couple, security was another important consideration, especially because restaurant operations can extend late into the evening.

“’Yung peace of mind, hindi mo mababayaran ’yon,” Andrew says. “Alam mong kahit nasa trabaho ka, safe sila.”

The community has also given the family opportunities to enjoy slower days together. On their days off, the clubhouse and swimming pool provide spaces where they can relax while their son spends time with other children in the neighborhood.

Affordability also helped the couple balance homeownership with their plans for expanding their businesses.

“Hindi mo kailangang ubusin ang savings mo para magkaroon ng bahay,” Andrew explains. “May natira pa para sa negosyo at para sa pangarap naming mag-invest ulit.”

They are now considering another unit in the development as a potential passive-income investment.

Yet the couple believes the most valuable return has been measured not in property or business growth, but in reclaimed hours.

“’Yung oras na naibigay sa amin ng Cheerful Homes, hindi lang convenience ’yun,” Aiko says, smiling. “Family time ’yun for us.”

For the Amantes, moving closer to their businesses transformed everyday life—turning hours spent on highways into home-cooked meals, quieter evenings, and more moments together as a family.