Success built on undeniable chemistry
Rockwell Land chair and CEO Nestor J. Padilla believes in chemistry.
Beyond the property, the numbers, and the company, he believes that for a partnership to work, there has to be chemistry among the people involved. After all, a joint venture is much like a marriage—without that crucial connection, it doesn’t stand to last.
“It’s the person more than the property. It’s the person more than the company,” Padilla said in an interview in Cebu City. “We take each joint venture very seriously. When we met Junpi (IPI chair Pio Castillo Jr.) and the cousins, it was there, the right chemistry.”
Shared goals, mutual trust
According to Padilla, Rockwell has always been mindful in choosing its partners to ensure that there is more to the joint venture than just financial gains.
Beyond profits, there should also be shared values, mutual trust and aligned vision to ensure that each project would proudly bear the hallmarks that make a development truly ‘done Rockwell’.
By partnering with those who share its vision and goals, Rockwell is able to effectively bring its signature lifestyle to more areas across the country—creating spaces that go beyond the ordinary and elevating the standards of urban living.
“We found the right partner. And it’s good that they also chose us,” Padilla added.
This is why to date, Rockwell has only a handful of partnerships including Cebu-based International Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IPI) for IPI Center; the Yulo family’s Carmelray Property Holdings Inc. for its development in Laguna; the Nepomuceno clan’s Juan D. Nepomuceno Realty Group for its mixed-use community in Pampanga; General Milling Corp. for its venture in Lipa City; and Japan’s Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd. for its condominium project in Quezon City.
‘Best partner’
But it wasn’t an entirely difficult choice for the family behind IPI as well.
IPI chair Pio Castillo Jr. shared that a number developers already approached them years back for their 2.8-ha city property, which was once a production facility for household brands like Bioderm, Casino, and Efficacent Oil. At one point, because they can’t find the right partner, Castillo said they also thought of developing the property themselves.
“But we said, no, that’s not our business. So we looked for the best partner and it happens that Rockwell was interested also,” Castillo said.
Besides the fact that Rockwell was amenable to their terms, the family also valued Rockwell’s esteemed reputation as a premier developer of upscale and high end communities that are highly renowned for their sophistication, exclusivity, and security. Castillo pointed out in particular the exceptional maintenance of Rockwell developments.
“They (Rockwell) are the most ideal partner when it comes to this kind of industry,” Castillo added.
Exciting collaboration
Indeed, there’s plenty to anticipate from this exciting collaboration, as it aims to deliver anew the unmistakable Rockwell experience to the Queen City of the South.
The IPI Center Done Rockwell is Rockwell’s third venture in the province of Cebu—the other two being 32 Sanson, a mid-rise garden community also located in Cebu City, and Aruga Resort and Residences-Mactan, its residential-resort development in Mactan.
“This (property) is only three hectares, but the elements of Rockwell Center but will be felt and seen here. You have office, residential and commercial,” Padilla said. “This is actually a very complicated project, construction wise, because they (the three buildings) are all linked.”
According to Padilla, the property will have three buildings connected with a unique multi-level retail podium which is not a mall nor a retail strip but rather “a new retail” that will “feel special”. Part of this area will be airconditioned while a portion will be al fresco, allowing guests and residents to enjoy the fresh air and the sprawling greens.
“There will be a lot of greens around. That was one of the things we asked Rockwell. We said, let’s not just build plenty of buildings here. Actually, the area can accommodate five buildings or even more. But three buildings are enough so there will be a lot of greens throughout the property,” Castillo said.
Refreshed city living
Located along Pope John Paul II Avenue, IPI Center Done Rockwell is poised to offer refreshed city living in a bustling quarter in Cebu City.
In July, Rockwell and IPI broke ground for Lincoln at IPI Center, the 53-story residential tower in this mixed-use community. It will have studio to three-bedroom units that are targeted for turnover by 2029. Soon, it will offer 10,000 sqm of net leasable area across three floors of retail, which will house groceries, food and beverage concepts from Manila and Cebu, specialty stores, as well as health and wellness clinics. Office spaces will be offered as well.
More importantly, IPI Center will be akin to the signature communities that Rockwell Land has been developing. Rockwell is renowned for its thoughtfully-designed unit cuts that offer comfortable living spaces; after-sales services offering assistance for leasing and resale; and convenience by ensuring each property has a retail component or at least located near one.
“We’re excited to start building our first mixed-use project here in Cebu, with IPI Center, and have the community experience the signature lifestyle that Rockwell offers,” Padilla had said.
