Five shifts moving Philippine real estate forward
(Editor’s note: The following are excerpts from the speech delivered at the 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards. Cyndy Tan Jarabata is the chairperson of the Awards’ judging panel.)
This past year has not been easy. Geopolitical tensions have rippled across global markets. Inflationary pressures have squeezed margins and household budgets. Supply chains have been tested like never before.
And yet, here we are. Our developers kept building for the Filipino people, finding ways to adapt, innovate, and deliver.
Emerging themes
This year, our panel reviewed a remarkable number of entries. Five clear threads emerged.
First (is) a quiet advancement in infrastructure. We are no longer talking about a boom. We are talking about movement—roads, airports, bridges, improving in tangible ways.
And with that movement, the old labels are fading. Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, and Pampanga have become primary destinations in their own right, attracting investments, talent and top tier developments. The map of Philippine real estate has been redrawn.
Second, the rise of regional developers stepping onto the national stage. We used to speak of boutique players as charming niche contributors—not anymore.
This year, regional developers went head-to-head with the country’s largest national players and held their own. From Cebu to Davao, these are ambitious, sophisticated, and exceptionally capable firms that understand their local markets intimately, and that intimacy delivers quality that rivals the metro giants.
The playing field has leveled, and the industry is stronger for it.
Third (would be) estate planning and portfolio diversification. Developers are indeed looking beyond traditional boundaries, exploring new territories while holding onto their hallmark quality.
Established players are proving that thoughtful expansion isn’t a departure from discipline. It’s what long-term resilience actually looks like.
Fourth (is) the rise of wellness. Wellness is no longer a niche amenity. It is foundational to how we design and build. This year’s entries didn’t just add wellness as a feature. They gave it real, generous space: courtyards, trails, room to move and breathe.
Many projects are now pursuing some of the country’s—and the world’s—most rigorous building standards.
Beyond global validation, this is about building healthier, more sustainable sanctuaries for ourselves.
Fifth (is) a new sense of place. Developments today are building identity through sculptures, public art, and architecture that tell a story. We’re seeing renewed appreciation for local heritage, alongside design-oriented placemaking that turns retail and commercial spaces into genuine destinations.
That sense of place is what elevates a project from a building into a landmark, especially in a consumer-driven economy like ours.
Life and legacy
These five threads remind us of something simple: That real estate is about life and legacy. It is about the families who will wake up in these homes and the workers who will thrive in these estates.
Ultimately, it is also about generations who will inherit what we build today.
To all the winners, you have earned this recognition. Carry it with pride and with humility.
I want to recognize the people who made this celebration possible through months of rigorous evaluation, site visits, and hard debates—my fellow judges: Carlo Cordaro, CEO of Atelier A; Carlo Rufino, co-managing director, NEO Group of Companies; Jaime Cura, vice chair, RGV Group of Companies; Jean de Castro, CEO, ESCA Inc.; Kathleen Obcemea, principal designer, KPO Beyond; Eric Mangosing, CEO, Metro Development Managers; Michelle Baretto, CEO, Vitamin B; Phillip Mareschel, head of Property Management, JLL Philippines; Raymund Raymundo, managing director, Colliers Philippines; and Gil Coscolluela, partner, WV Coscolluela & Associates.
They are the reason this awards programme remains the gold standard in Philippine real estate.
Renewed energy
As we close this 14th chapter, let us look ahead with renewed energy. The challenges ahead are real. But so is our collective capability to rise to them.
And to every developer out there striving to do better, keep going. The Philippines is counting on you.
