Megaworld’s pioneering township gets a refresh for a new era
Megaworld Corp. is keeping its pioneering township timelessly relevant.
Last week, the property giant announced a P2.5-billion outlay to reimagine, reinvent, and revitalize its first township—the 18.5-hectare Eastwood City, which pioneered and defined Megaworld’s famed live-work-play philosophy.
The investment will essentially breathe new life into what is regarded as the first mixed-use development along the now vibrant C5 corridor—aligning it with modern lifestyles while staying one step ahead of future urban trends.
“Eastwood City holds a special place in our history as Megaworld’s very first township, and this redevelopment reflects our commitment to keeping it vibrant, relevant, and future-ready. We are not only preserving its legacy but also reinventing it into a township of the future—setting an even higher standard for integrated urban living,” said Megaworld president Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso.
Great works in progress
This refresh mirrors a global pattern of large-scale urban reinventions. In fact, some of the most progressive cities around the world continue to be great works in progress—constantly adapting and changing to remain relevant, resilient and responsive to the market.
Consider Hudson Yards in New York City and its $32 billion rezoning which replaces a proposed casino with up to 4,000 new homes, luxury offices and a 6.6-acre public park, marking Manhattan’s most ambitious renewal in decades. London’s King’s Cross has turned 67 acres of former rail yards into 1,700 residences, 4.25 million sq ft of office space and a network of parks and pedestrian plazas.
In Barcelona, the city council earmarked 105.2 million Euros for the 2025 Pla Endreça initiative—delivering 1,280 upgrades, from sidewalks and street lighting to playgrounds and green spaces, across 34 neighborhoods to keep every barrio safe, attractive and future-ready.
Eastwood City—celebrated for setting the urban pace with a number of groundbreaking “firsts”—is now undergoing the same efforts.
Revitalization efforts
Currently, Eastwood Mall has been redeveloped with refreshed interiors, upgraded cinemas, and a rejuvenated tenant mix. Select areas have been converted into new lifestyle concepts, including the country’s first branch of SuperPark Philippines, a Finnish all-in-one indoor activity park.
Renovation works have been completed at Eastwood Citywalk, where the popular nightlife destination Fuente Circle, now features a bold, Bourbon-inspired façade. Its former cinema was transformed into the new REP Eastwood Theater, home to the renowned Philippine theater company Repertory Philippines. The fourth floor was redesigned into a modern Food Park with updated interiors and a new mix of dining concepts.
The plan includes upgrades for Eastwood Mall Open Park, which will feature popular dining brands like Harlan + Holden, SaladStop!, and Matcha Tokyo; enhancement of Eastwood Richmonde Hotel; and phased refurbishment of the lobbies, facilities and amenities of some office towers, beginning with the recently completed renovation of IBM Plaza.
Urban innovation
These refurbishments will no doubt make Eastwood City feel as lively, refreshing and exciting as a newly built development—one that draws more people, energizes tenants, attracts businesses, and pushes up property values.
Since its launch in 1997, Eastwood City has been the metro’s benchmark for urban innovation.
At that time, it already epitomized proximity-based living, placing offices, residences, retail outlets, entertainment venues, and green spaces within a comfortable stroll—long before the “15-minute city” concept was coined. Eastwood is also the Philippines’ first IT cyberpark accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, making this township the birthplace of the business process outsourcing industry; the first “Accredited Entertainment Complex” by the Department of Tourism; and the first pet-friendly township, earning it the “Order of the Platinum Paw” as granted by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society.
Today, Eastwood City is home to 23 residential condominium towers, 11 office buildings, and three lifestyle malls, with nearly 500 restaurants and shops.
Indeed, Eastwood City’s ongoing reinvention proves that urban vitality demands sustained commitment. It proves that even mature, established developments can remain pioneers, not just passengers, in driving urban progress.
Sources: https://nypost.com; https://www.theguardian.com; https://elpais.com; edge.pse.com.ph
