Great place and great staff. Price is reasonable and the area is well-lit. Would definitely…read morerecommend if you are a student around the UST area that needs a dorm no matter how long!

From the owner: We provide a halfway house for students, patients and professionals in the vicinity of UST, St…read moreJude, University of Perpetual Help Dapitan Manila, Hospital of Infant Jesus. We want them to spend time studying, or working, not commuting!

Back when I was a freshman, I never really lived in this dorm. But my friends would sneak me in,…read moreand that's how I would know how this place looked like from the inside. Should I share this? Would I still get sanctioned by the University even if I graduated years ago? Kalayaan Residence Hall, or Kalay, is the dorm for freshmen UP-Diliman students. They have cool events too, and the people you lived with for a year can be your friends for life. PROS: You pay around P500.00 for a whole month and that includes your meals. If you live far from the city and you are a financially-struggling freshman, Kalay is your first and best option. I think they charge you extra if you move in with additional appliances or anything that consumes electricity, like laptop/phone chargers or electric fans; The RAs may be strict but they really take care of the freshies. CONS: This could be part of the PROS if you're into that thing, but there are perpetual stories of students coming back to the dorm after the holidays just to find that their roommate hanged him/herself inside the closet. And it will always be the room assigned to you; It's government-subsidized, so of course, it doesn't have the budget for renovations. This is not a classy dorm and facilities either need repairs or are non-existent; Applications for this dorm can be such a struggle. TL;DR: If you really really really need it, and if you're a UP freshie, Kalay can be the answer to your university housing needs.

I had just moved out of this dorm after graduating. I stayed for about half of my years in college…read more It was the cheapest dormitory within the area. The dorm itself isn't very nice. I prefer a more "condo-ish" interior. I found it a bit weird that the guards tend to be nosy. One time, I was just about to leave the dorm and go back to province when suddenly the guard followed me outside of the gate and asked where I was going and why even if I was on the phone and in very much a hurry. Their so-called library isn't apparently air-conditioned and the interior of my building wasn't fully symmetrical. The floors weren't all "pantay" and the elevator's very slow. The fridge usually doesn't have any space, some of the food I put there go missing, likewise with the condiments like oil, salt, and pepper that I leave in the kitchen just like my fellow dormers. It was an alright place to stay at if you wanna settle for less. But if you really want that perfect city life, I would prefer somewhere better and more sulit.

My very good friend Lexie lived here all 4 years of college life and she always felt very content,…read morenot feeling the need to move anywhere else or to dorm on-campus. She was roommates with her best friend and the two of them always just said how comfortable it was and how the security was really tight. One time that I went over, the guard didn't even want to let me in at first, but after some assurance from Lexie that I wasn't gonna be there long, the guard allowed it. She was perfectly nice about all of it though. Those were just the rules! As you enter the dorm building, you see right away a courtyard area, right in the middle of everything, with all these plants and flowers and wooden benches. Pretty homey! It's like they have their own little garden right in there. Some blockmates and I (all girls only haha) actually had a pleasant study session there, freshman year. Going inside the room, you can see how it's pretty spacious! They had a double room I guess, which fit two twin size beds easily with much space left to move around. They also had their own bathroom inside the room, closets, and a big table to one side where their toaster, fridge, and other food stuff were on. It's more like a small apartment than just a dorm. And it was cool they could have a toaster. I don't think you can have that in the dorms on campus, lol. Even the other nicer dorms in the area are just basic bedrooms, and the bathrooms are even outside. I could see how it was very comfortable at Dormitoryana. You could rest easy with the good security as well. Would have been nice to live there, indeed. (If only I could have dormed! But I lived too near school, hahaha).

I have been living in Taft Avenue for 5 years now, three of which I have spent living in Orlando…read moreSuites. Before moving to Orlando Suites, we lived in a small apartment near Hotel Benilde. I'd like to be very straightforward and tell you that we got robbed there. Thieves actually broke into our apartment and stole some of our stuff. I don't mean to scare anyone, Taft Avenue is still a pretty good place to stay in. There's still nothing wrong with being a little careful though. After the incident, my parents thought we should live in an apartment building with good security. This is why we are now staying in Orlando Suites. The place is a nice, 10-storey building with 8 residential floors, a pool and a function room on the third floor, a gym, tennis and badminton court, a pool table and a rooftop garden on the tenth floor. Pretty nice, huh? They also have bi-monthly pest control programs to ensure pest-free living. And if you're too lazy to clean your own unit, the maintenance team can do it for you for 250 pesos each. Lastly, the security team is amazing! There are at least 7-10 security guards in the building to protect you and would sometimes also help you with your bags and groceries, or getting a cab. So for those looking for a place in Taft, try Orlando Suites. I'll see you there!

The first time I moved to Manila, I was living in the tiniest studio apartment you could ever…read moreimagine. It was a box, basically, and while you're sitting on the toilet, you can rest your forehead on the wall you're facing without undue stretching. It was that tiny. So when my sisters moved in with me to attend college in DLSU, I was thrilled. That meant a bigger apartment! My parents ended up choosing an apartment in Orlando Suites. Not only was it in a very central location, it was also only 10-stories high. My dad had a thing about tall buildings, which was a sound fear, since in a building this low, I won't die if the elevator was undergoing maintenance or something. It was also very secure, and after three years of living here, we were chummy with all the security guards. We even get invited to their Christmas parties. Aside from their roomy and airy apartments, they also offer dormitory-style residences for those who like to live with other people. It's sad that we may have to move soon -- this has been home for so long.

I have a friend who used to live here and we would often pull off all nighters for exams. I really…read moreliked the vibe of the place that it gives off because unlike some condos that just feel like a plain apartment. The units here feel like you're actually living ala Will and Grace posh level. I also love their amenities because they have this really cozy study area that's just perfect for college students. If you're really not into the noisy cafes and would like to save bucks, then this is just the right place for you. Plus, you can plug your laptops there. The poolside is also nice because there's just enough space to swim around despite many people swimming there. Their gym is quite small although I think it's just enough for those who want to do a quick and simple workout because of their busy lifestyle. Most of all, I did enjoy playing billiards with my blockmates when we visited the place one time.

I'm not and haven't been a resident of Torre Lorenzo, actually, but I've visited my friend's unit…read morehere so many times, and I've even gone swimming in its roofdeck pool. As someone who has lived in the Vito Cruz-Taft area for over a decade now, I've seen my fair share of condo units and apartments. Believe me when I say Torre Lorenzo I (there's a Torre Lorenzo II nearby) units are SPACIOUS! Their studio units, which are available for rent for as low as Php 13,000, can fit two to three people. They have amenities like a gym and a swimming pool, which though not too big, is clean and well-maintained. Apart from those, Torre Lorenzo I's biggest draw is its prime location. It's only a very short walk away from the Vito Cruz LRT station, DLSU, Benilde, St. Scholastica, and the many other food and retail establishments in the area.

I have been living in Taft Avenue for quite some time now, maybe around 3-5 years. I have always…read moreloved Taft, there's this sense of belongingness in this area that makes me feel right at home. That's also may be due to the fact that it is a haven for universities so the place is teeming with condominiums, apartments and room rentals for those living away from home, with which I can totally relate. Another thing I love about Taft is how it's lined with restaurants that serve foods of every kind--Asian, Persian, Chinese, Asian Street Food, Filipino, Mexican, Japanese, Korean, among others. Aside from that, they also have a lot of karenderias if ever you're living off a small allowance or just want to save some money. Taft also has a couple of convenience stores, pharmacies, printing and computer shops, in case you will need them.

Old building. Since I lived here for 35 yrs. Rusty water pipes are old so insects flows with the…read morewater out of the faucet . Pati Poso negro. This building badly needs an overhaul rehabilitation. There are still leaks especially during rainy season. Walls are porous even though it has been waterproofed. Security needs improvement.

Before I got married, I rented a small pad at the 6th floor of Valero Plaza Condominium. This…read morelow-rise condominium is one of the first buildings constructed in the area. In fact, it used to be known as Cityland Tower 1. This old building may not have a swimming pool or gym or other amenities, for that matter. But a lot of young professionals vie for a chance to live here because rent for studio units can be very affordable and the location is perfect for those working in Makati CBD. This place is just a walk away from Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Park, and Ayala Triangle. It has a spacious basement parking area and safety is not a problem because there's 24-hour security in the building. Some of the establishments found at the ground floor of Valero Plaza are Family Mart Convenience Store, Mang Inasal, Di Cofi Vietnamese Cafe, Infinitea, King of Travel, Tambunting Pawnshop, and Nutopia Salon and Spa. All the necessities and services you need are within easy reach when you live in Valero Plaza.