Building beyond real estate
Being named Real Estate Personality of the Year at the 13th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards is both humbling and deeply meaningful.
I see this recognition not as a personal achievement, but as a testament to the collective work of the men and women of Aboitiz Land and Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates, and to the trust of the communities we serve.
For us, real estate has never been about parcels of land or structures alone. It is about creating the conditions that enable economic activity, sustain livelihoods, and open doors to opportunity. Our role is to deliver infrastructure, systems, and communities that allow industries to grow, businesses to compete, and people to thrive.
Shaping growth across regions
What began in Cebu more than 30 years ago has steadily expanded into a portfolio of estates and communities that continue to drive regional progress.
LIMA Estate in Batangas has become the country’s largest privately run industrial
estate. West Cebu Estate transformed a coastal town into a global shipbuilding hub. MEZ2 Estate raised the standard for manufacturing in Cebu while TARI Estate in Tarlac is emerging as a growth catalyst for Central Luzon.
In parallel, Aboitiz Land has created communities that stand the test of time—North Town Homes, Pristina North, Seafront Residences, and The Villages at LIMA Estate, each designed with enduring value in mind.
Together, these estates today cover more than 2,000 hectares, host over 250 industry leaders, and have attracted more than P167 billion in investments. They provide work for more than 100,000 people.
Yet the impact goes beyond figures. I continue to be inspired by the everyday stories—parents able to work closer to home, entrepreneurs finding new opportunities, and local communities revitalized as industry takes root.
A commitment to nation-building
When I first joined the Aboitiz Group, what stood out was its long term view of value creation, not only for business, but also for the nation as a whole. That same conviction guides our work today.
We are building ecosystems. Our estates bring together industry, commerce, and residential life into integrated communities.
And because we are part of the larger Aboitiz Group, we are able to draw on our collective strengths in power, water, construction, financial services, and housing to deliver complete solutions. This allows our estates to
become platforms for enterprise growth and engines of job creation, while serving as true catalysts for progress.
Moving forward with purpose
This award challenges me to lead with even greater purpose.
One milestone that I take particular pride in is that all our operating estates are now certified as 5-Star BERDE Districts—the first and only industrial developer in the country to achieve this.
It is proof that progress and sustainability are not opposing goals, but must go hand in hand.
It is also worth noting that Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates has been named the Philippines’ Best Industrial Developer for five consecutive years.
These distinctions matter not only as recognition, but also because they affirm the standards we uphold and the responsibility we carry to keep raising the bar for the industry. They remind us to keep asking how we can deliver greater value for businesses, families, and the country.
Still, I believe our work is only beginning. The most exciting chapters are ahead, as we transform our estates into next-generation integrated developments that can serve as platforms of progress for generations to come.
I share this recognition with my colleagues, our partners, and the many communities that have welcomed us and placed their trust in us. They are the true reason behind what we do.
Together, we will continue to build places where industries grow, people flourish, and the Philippines advances.
The author is the president and CEO of Aboitiz Land Inc. and head of Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates
LIMA Estate in Batangas has become the country’s largest privately run industrial estate.
Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates has been named the Philippines’ Best Industrial Developer for five consecutive years.
The author promises to continue to build places where industries grow, people flourish, and the Philippines advances.
