You see that imprint in the estates and villages that turn the fringe areas into vibrant city centers; the integrated, self-sustaining communities that have given thousands of families stability, pride, and that sense of belonging; and townships that bring jobs and opportunities closer to home.

These efforts, to a certain extent, show how the real estate industry rises to the challenge of nation-building. Their impact is real and evident, lived out and experienced by people who use the streets, communities, schools, parks, malls, and homes they have built.

In creating these spaces, developers are also subtly redefining how Filipinos live, work, play, invest, study, connect, and ultimately, reimagine the future. The built environment, essentially, then becomes a quiet force shaping their identity, ambition, resilience, and possibility.

It is in this context that Inquirer Property has gathered the insights of 16 industry leaders who speak not just of profit, but also of dignity, resilience, and aspiration.

In the following pages, they share their aspirations for a progressive, sustainable future that Filipinos deserve. And it’s a future already taking shape in their ambitious, globally competitive projects that have begun decongesting Metro Manila, uplifting regional cities, designing greener and more walkable neighborhoods, and proving that ‘world-class’ can also be built by Filipino hands for Filipino lives.

Here, they reveal an industry that has long been assuming a broader role of building the very spaces where the great Filipino story continues to unfold.

Estates for growth, communities for life

Anna Ma. Margarita B. Dy

President and CEO, Ayala Land Inc.

Ayala Land has shaped the very places where the Filipino story unfolds.

We take pride in Makati and Bonifacio Global City, which stand as the Philippines’ premier centers for business and commerce. Beyond just business hubs, we have created communities where Filipinos can lead meaningful lives.

Redefining the map

We have also redefined the map of Greater Metro Manila by developing key areas in the South such as Alabang and Nuvali, and in the North, Vertis and Alviera. Additionally, our El Nido Estate partners with local communities to safeguard a national natural treasure, demonstrating our commitment to balancing development with preservation.

Nuvali, Vermosa and even Circuit are just some of the places that used to be considered fringe areas. Look at them again today. They are now hubs of jobs, education, business, and public life. We built walkable streets, reliable infrastructure and transport, green and civic spaces, as well as safe neighborhoods.

These are not add ons. These are what have allowed communities to thrive and remain resilient over time. When we develop an Ayala Land estate, we unlock growth.

Sustainability and innovation

It’s also about sustainability. The next chapter of development must be more resilient, low-carbon and circular. That means creating urban spaces connected by transit and walkable streets, designing buildings and communities that consume less energy, and developing systems that eliminate waste from the system.

Innovation, meanwhile, is not just about new designs. It’s a reimagining of how cities operate to support life today while conserving for future generations.

Equitable progress

We want to foster growth and development throughout the entire Philippines. This is essential for achieving sustainable and equitable national progress.

Ayala Land—with its 53 estates spread across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao—aims for each estate to serve as a strong foundation and a catalyst for opportunities for the local communities they are a part of.

By integrating residential, commercial, and lifestyle spaces, these estates are designed to drive economic activity, create jobs, and support social development in their respective regions. This approach helps ensure that development benefits are shared broadly across the country.

Building communities where dreams take shape

Thomas F. Mirasol

Vice chairman, Federal Land Inc.

President, Federal Land NRE Global Inc.

Federal Land—and more importantly our founder, the late Group chairman Dr. George S.K. Ty—always believed that real estate is not merely about building structures. It’s about creating dynamic communities where generations can thrive and enjoy life.

From the beginning, his philosophy was simple but profound: strengthen cities piece by piece, and uplift the quality of everyday life by creating places that offer better choices and value.

At Federal Land and FNG, our joint venture with Japan’s Nomura Real Estate, we carry this vision forward. As Filipinos, our identity is shaped by shared values that reach beyond ourselves —family, community, perseverance, and hope.

Our role in the Filipino story is to create places that enable people to pursue their dreams, and which become the springboards for the dreams of future generations.

Through stability, longevity, and opportunity—the pillars of our communities—people find a sense of belonging and purpose. And as Filipinos pursue their aspirations, their stories blend into the larger narrative of our nation. That is where we are proud to contribute: by helping create the settings where great Filipino stories can unfold.

Investing in the vision

Our impact begins long before a project opens its doors.

We look for places with potential and we invest in a vision long before it becomes reality. We aim to build dynamic communities that continue to evolve with changing customer lifestyles. This means planning entire districts and committing to infrastructure such as roads, bridges, utilities, schools, hospitals and churches—often before we serve a single customer.

We bring in world-class experts in masterplanning, traffic engineering, architecture, and design to ensure that what we build uplifts not only the present but also the generations to come.

We also invest deeply in people. We hire, train, mentor, and expose our teams to the best global practices so they grow in capability and confidence. Many of them will eventually lead the next chapter of our industry.

Partnering with LGUs, global experts

We work with local governments that partner with us, and we make sure as well that the city as a whole benefits from these projects. The result is a cascading ripple effect: new jobs, new businesses, new conveniences and new schools as well as safer environments and stronger local economies in the locations where we are in.

We are also fortunate to work with global experts through strategic joint ventures to bring distinct experiences to the country. For example, our first project with Nomura Real Estate, The Seasons Residences, brings Japan’s technology and safety innovations to the market—the first of its kind in the country. We continue these Japanese-inspired developments through FNG.

Greatest beneficiaries

But the greatest beneficiaries are not the developers. They are the individuals and families who believed in the vision early on—those who chose to build their lives in our communities.

Empowering Filipino families

Pammy Olivares-Vital

President and CEO, Ovialand Inc.

As we close 2025, I reflect on Ovialand’s journey and I always return to one simple truth: a good home changes the trajectory of a Filipino family.

And that is how we contribute to the Filipino story—by giving families the foundation to move forward and upward in life.

Stable, secure home

I grew up in a stable, secure home. That experience shaped me more than anything else. It gave me confidence, emotional security, and a safe place to return to during both the ordinary days and the defining moments of life.

Not everyone grows up with that. I’ve met many homeowners who shared how difficult it was to grow up without a home to call their own. Some moved from place to place; others lived in cramped arrangements; and many carried a longing for stability.

So every time we turn over a new home, I don’t just see a structure. I see a child growing up with that sense of security I was blessed with—a safe space to rest, to dream, and to grow. I see a family that finally has their own intimate space, where life can unfold naturally, beautifully, and peacefully.

If the great Filipino story is about resilience, progress, and hope, then our contribution is building the physical and emotional setting where that story can happen—one home, one family at a time.

A step forward

Our communities create jobs, uplift local economies, and bring new life to emerging areas where opportunities are limited.

We work hard to support the entire ecosystem we thrive in: from our employees and their families, to our partner sellers, to the construction workers whose children we help send to school. Beyond economic impact, our focus is on building safe, aspirational neighborhoods where families can thrive.

Every home we deliver is a step forward for a Filipino family working hard for a better future.

Improving systems

We are focused on building faster and better through improved construction systems, ensuring consistent quality and timely delivery. We’re also developing a fully digital homebuying experience through OLI Home, OLI Force, and OLI Biz, making the process more transparent and supportive for buyers, sellers, and suppliers.

At the same time, we are designing communities that match the evolving Filipino lifestyle—safer, greener, more connected. Innovation for us means staying disciplined to quality while deeply understanding the needs of Filipino families.

Hope, dignity and family life

I want Ovialand to continue empowering Filipino families to move forward and upward through accessible, high-quality homes in more regions. We aim to uplift not only our homebuyers but the entire network of people who help make each community possible – our employees, sellers, and workers. As long as there are Filipino families dreaming of stability and progress, we will keep building communities that support those dreams. Our role in the Filipino story is to build the place where hope, dignity, and family life can thrive.

Raising standards, lifestyles the Rockwell way

Nestor J. Padilla

Chairman, Rockwell Land Corp.

Over the last three decades, we’re happy we were able to create communities focused on giving our customers delightful, memorable experiences every day, even in the small details. We wanted to give Filipinos a place they want to come home to every day—not just in the physical structure, but also in the warmth of our service and the standard of a home they deserve.

Bigger and more exciting

We want to surprise ourselves and our market with what more we can do and what we’ll build.

We want to create larger communities, whether it’s a beachfront development or a lifestyle complex that push us to keep setting standards.

Another growth we’re looking forward to is the potential of retail, which is crucial in our every community. Rockwell Center at Nepo will open the next Power Plant Mall in 2027, while Rockwell Center at IPI in Cebu will soon have a taste of the bigger retail to come. We also have other exciting offers in Rockwell Center Bacolod and our future projects.

The next five years definitely seem bigger and more exciting for us!

Strength, hope and aspiration built into every home

Manuel B. Villar Jr.

Founder, Villar Group of Companies

I believe my story and the company I built from the ground up show what it means to have the enduring spirit of a Filipino.

I was born in the humble, crowded neighborhoods of Moriones, Tondo in Manila. From a young age, I was already helping my mother sell shrimp and fish in Divisoria. This experience didn’t just provide us extra income, it helped pay for my schooling while instilling in me a relentless drive to improve my family’s life. Growing up in an environment filled with such daily struggles and vibrant business activity shaped my character just like every Filipino who had to endure tough beginnings with incredible strength and hope.

Our company used this as inspiration as we navigated our own difficulties and challenges.

Whether it’s surviving natural disasters, dealing with economic hardships, or facing personal challenges, we find a way to rise, adapt, and keep going. Every story of a Filipino overcoming hardships is a reminder to me and to our company that no matter what life throws at us, there’s always a way to keep going and thrive.

Engines of growth

The homes we’ve built for Filipinos—over 500,000 and counting—are more than just places to live. To me, they represent real engines for economic growth, social safety, business opportunities, and better lifestyles. I like to think that what we’ve done has helped spark economic momentum and improve communities.

Building these developments means creating a lot of jobs, from construction workers to real estate agents to property managers, and all the service workers supporting those who live there. These jobs keep the local economy buzzing.

What’s also important to us is making sure these condominiums and subdivisions are safe and well-thought-out so residents enjoy a higher quality of life. We ensure that retail shops, offices, healthcare, and leisure spots are either inside or near these communities so people don’t have to go far for their daily needs. Plus, it gives a boost to local businesses who can serve these mixed-use communities.

Offering world-class living spaces, smart home technology and eco-friendly designs further aligns with what the Filipino middle class aspires to—comfort, modernity, and sustainability. We’re also big on creating sustainable urban spaces by building integrated townships and vertical communities that make smarter use of land, breathe new life into tired urban areas, and support a future where cities grow in a more balanced, eco-conscious way.

For me, these developments aren’t just buildings—they’re communities alive with opportunity, security, and hope for a better, more comfortable life for Filipino families.

Evolving needs and aspirations

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life and business, it’s that you can never just stand still.

When I retired from politics and went back to managing my business, this was one of the things I needed to understand—what changed and how we can adapt to these changes.

Today’s families want more than a simple roof—they want safe, eco-friendly, and convenient places that support work-life balance, wellness, and real community vibes. With remote work on the rise and people becoming more eco-conscious, tech-savvy homes are in high demand. People also want easy access to services, green parks, and fun spaces to enjoy.

Bringing pride and progress to Mindanao

Ricardo F. Lagdameo

President, Damosa Land Inc.

Personally, I believe that the Filipino story is built on resilience and ingenuity.

As a nation, our history has been full of challenges—but challenges that we were able to overcome. Doing business in the “Land of Promise” (Mindanao), Damosa Land is no stranger to having to work double time to make a difference.

We have, however, proven time and again that we can compete with any company in the country. Whether this means being the first to bring real estate innovations, or being able to attract foreign investments to set up shop in the region, Damosa Land strives to bring pride to Mindanao.

‘Nothing is impossible’

One aspect that we take to heart is the idea that nothing is impossible.

Early on, we saw that economic drivers fueling businesses in the national capital could eventually work in the Davao Region. Hence, we were early to build conducive workspaces for the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in Davao City.

Today, we have leveled up our game by building green office buildings that now house some of the country’s largest BPOs. This has created thousands of jobs and provided a multiplier effect to help spur economic activity. We’ve also been at the forefront of industrial developments that have brought in much needed foreign direct investment to the region. These investments have proven that major foreign direct investments (FDIs) are possible in our part of the country.

Again, these have created thousands of jobs and have put us on the map as an industrial location.

Uplifting communities

The needs and requirements of the market have changed and they continue to do so.

The need for more green spaces, green buildings, healthy work environments, and community-focused developments are now at the forefront. Despite some of these concepts being relatively new to the region, we believe that these are the trends that will ultimately become the norm.

Damosa Land will need to be at the forefront of these to remain in step with our industry peers. What will make this all possible is if we, as a company, continue to uphold our mission of being a Mindanao development company that strives to uplift the communities we operate in.

One of our most recent residential projects, in fact, used 100 percent underground utilities. This not only improved the aesthetic, but also allowed us to retain most of the mature fruit-bearing trees in the subdivision. We were the first to pursue such initiative in Davao City.

Inclusive growth in Mindanao

So much has been said about trying to decongest the National Capital Region.

Unfortunately, the concept of inclusive growth in the countryside has not made as much traction as it should have by now. We acknowledge that other markets may be larger and potentially more lucrative than ours, but Damosa Land is not driven solely by profit. With our mission to develop parts of Mindanao, we feel that we can still make a larger difference.

We see a future for Mindanao where we are much more self sufficient, innovative in our own right, and can stand toe-to-toe with any region in the country. By creating more job opportunities and attracting Mindanaoans to come back to the region, we will truly be contributing to inclusive growth.

Inspiring Filipinos to live, work, play

Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso

President, Megaworld Corp.

We believe we have helped write a successful, inspiring, and quintessentially Filipino story through our township developments that allowed Filipinos to thrive, excel, and blossom.

Our pioneering live-work-play developments are not just properties, but powerful economic engines that generate a massive multiplier effect across diverse industries—from job creation in construction, transportation, tourism, and business process outsourcing firms (BPOs) to igniting entrepreneurship, retail, and food sectors.

Since day one, we have been building for Filipino families and the communities they belong to. By decentralizing opportunity and being a catalyst of growth, we ensure that generations of Filipinos can continue to thrive without having to leave the places they call home.

Driver of progress

One of the best examples is Iloilo Business Park.

In the ’90s, Iloilo lagged behind other cities in Western Visayas, particularly in real estate development. It was only in 2012 when we started developing Iloilo Business Park that Ilonggos started getting a semblance of real progress in the city. News of Megaworld’s investment in Iloilo City excited locals, entrepreneurs, and investors, with structures like Richmonde Hotel Iloilo and Iloilo Convention Center, and our residential projects, rising all at the same time.

Even the entry of Marriott International sparked the interest of other global brands like Radisson and Ascott in the city. Today, our efforts help Iloilo emerge as the most competitive city in Western Visayas.

Lasting impact

We are constantly guided by our vision to uplift lives, impact society, and help shape the nation in building our townships.

Wherever we go, we want to be able to jumpstart progress and leave a lasting impact.We are deeply committed to our mission to help build a progressive nation by bringing sophisticated urban growth to the provinces. This belief is cemented by our portfolio of 36 townships across the Philippines—from the farthest north to the farthest south.

These townships have more than 800 residential developments that are home to more than 70,000 families, nearly 90 office towers hosting over 300,000 workers, and more than 6,000 hotel rooms that welcome about 1.4 million guests and tourists every year.

iTownships program

We constantly look for opportunities to redefine the way people enjoy life. This drives our pursuit of innovation and pushes us to integrate cutting-edge technologies into our developments.

We started this journey almost a decade ago with our groundbreaking iTownships program, which helped achieve our goal of future-proofing our developments. This allowed us to integrate smart technologies, achieve operational efficiencies, and unlock a level of convenience and sophistication that continues to set the benchmark for integrated and intelligent living.

Exciting future

We are now moving past our 36th year and into an exciting future. Even as we write the next chapters of our story, we are also looking to champion the idea of collaboration, not only within our organization, but also with other groups who share our vision.

In recent months, we have collaborated with the likes of Accor, one of the world’s leading hotel brands, as well as JPMorgan and Tesla, to name a few.

We also continue to be guided by our core values, particularly on excellence and creativity and innovation. These ideas remain at the core of everything we do at Megaworld. Innovation—coupled with a creative mind and a passion to do things excellently—allows us to venture onto new paths toward growth. That has been the story behind our success as an organization.

Empowering homeseekers from Luzon to Mindanao

Tomas P. Lorenzo

Chairman and president, Torre Lorenzo Development Corp.

When I started Torre Lorenzo Development Corp. and pioneered premium student residences in the Philippines, we knew we had to bring the best for the Filipino people.

Now, over two decades later, we have done that. We have built premium university residences featuring spacious units with premium furnishings, all with global standards and the best amenities to support any lifestyle.

With our expansion to areas like Lipa, Batangas, and Davao, as well as our entry into the hospitality field, we saw the potential of investing beyond the metro and outside of just students.

We realized that creating modern communities, be it residential, hospitality, or mixed-use, contributes to progress. Every project we build fuels economic activity, supports jobs, uplifts neighborhoods, and helps redefine what quality living can look like for Filipinos.

Innovation

Our innovations are a result of our mission: uplift the lives of our residents, elevate the experience of our guests, ensure the success of our partners, and create pride in the communities where we do business. Through these practices and beliefs we can help in nation-building.

Firstly, our projects need to continue sustainability and environment friendly practices. Our flagship hospitality project, Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort in Davao de Oro, gets power from solar energy. We use reverse osmosis to make rainwater and seawater into drinkable water. Our food is always locally sourced.

We continue to champion student-focused and people-centered developments. A new generation of Filipinos is more discerning. They look for spaces that encourage learning, wellness, and creativity. Our role is to create environments that support their aspirations, give them the best quality and security, and elevate every lifestyle.

Additionally, we aim to expand in emerging and underserved areas, especially outside the metro, including Lipa, Batangas and Davao. We are expanding with our upcoming Crown Residence and Crest Suites in our Tierra Davao community; the completion of our Merano Tower and Dusit Princess Lipa in our Tierra Lipa project; an exciting new development in Pampanga.

Deepening our role

Moving forward, I want Torre Lorenzo to deepen its role in shaping the great Filipino story by continuing to build developments that uplift lives, strengthen communities, and expand opportunities for more Filipinos.

We want to continue creating safe, well-planned, and resilient communities where families can build their futures with confidence. We want to provide world-class environments where students can pursue their ambitions, where people can be assured of their investments, where sustainable practices are normalized, and where local economies can flourish. I also want us to take a more active role in uplifting emerging cities, bringing our signature developments to these areas.

I hope Torre Lorenzo continues to demonstrate that Filipino companies can build to global standards, partner with renowned brands, and execute projects with integrity and commitment. By doing so, we show that the Filipino story is one of capability, excellence, and ambition.

Ultimately, I want our company to be remembered not only for the structures we built, but also for the communities we strengthened and the lives we helped shape. If we can continue creating spaces that empower Filipinos to dream bigger, live better, and move forward with pride, then we will have done our part in contributing to the ever-evolving story of our nation.

Building better lives in RLC communities

Mybelle V. Aragon-GoBio

President and CEO, Robinsons Land Corp.

Robinsons Land has always been a builder of opportunities.

Over the past 45 years, we have helped shape the great Filipino story by bringing modern development beyond Metro Manila—opening malls, offices, hotels, logistics hubs, and homes in growth corridors that once had limited access to investments. We created places where business enterprises could thrive and where families could feel safe and connected.

As a Philippine company, we always had the Filipinos at the front and center of our purpose to build better lives. Our role has been simple but meaningful: build the spaces that allow Filipino ambition to take flight.

Making an impact

We make an impact by creating ecosystems that enable mobility, productivity, and belonging. Every RLC development creates jobs, attracts investments, and stimulates local economies. In many fringe or emerging areas, we are often the first large developer to enter, helping unlock new commercial activity and social participation.

We build communities that are safe and connected; world-class hotels that celebrate the Filipino brand of hospitality; and residences that give families dignity, security, and pride of place. Our offices and logistics assets support thousands of jobs in IT and business process management (IT-BPM), retail, manufacturing, and e-commerce.

By working closely with IT-BPM and enterprises to expand in the provinces, supported by our malls, hotels, and office buildings, we help enable reverse migration, where job seekers no longer have to move to Metro Manila or go abroad to find livelihood opportunities.

Across all these, our goal is the same: to build better lives by raising the quality of places that unlock jobs, dignity, and long-term value.

Force in nation-building

To remain a meaningful force in nation-building, we must innovate in three directions.

First is to build more connected, transit-first, sustainable estates that give Filipinos back their time, improve everyday mobility, and expand access to livelihood opportunities by placing jobs and services closer to where people live.

Second is to elevate design and experience through premiumization, digital services, and data-driven operations, ensuring our spaces are safer, smarter, more human-centered, and future-ready.

Third is to expand into new forms of housing, flexible workspaces, logistics solutions, and lifestyle concepts that respond to shifting aspirations and economic realities.

Dignity, opportunity and hope

Moving forward, we want Robinsons Land to help shape a Filipino story defined by dignity, opportunity, and hope. We aim to build world-class Filipino places that bring jobs closer to home, shorten the daily struggle of long commutes, strengthen local economies, and give every family more choices and more chances.

We will continue to enter emerging cities, anchor new districts, and develop estates where Filipinos can live well, work proudly, and dream boldly.

Our aspiration is simple: that decades from now, Filipinos can look at the places we built and say, “RLC helped make our lives better, our families stronger, our communities more vibrant, and our country more hopeful.”

Relentless pursuit to elevate Filipino homes

Prim Nolido

President and COO , Pueblo de Oro Development Corp.

Pueblo de Oro’s story is deeply intertwined with the larger Filipino story of resilience, progress, and aspiration.

Over the past three decades, the company has helped shape thriving regional growth centers by pioneering masterplanned communities, investing in sustainable developments, and ensuring that ordinary Filipino families have access to dignified, well-designed homes.

In Cagayan de Oro, where the company’s legacy began, Pueblo de Oro transformed 400 hectares of land into Northern Mindanao’s benchmark township—complete with world-class amenities such as the Robert Trent Jones II–designed golf course.

In Cebu, Pueblo de Oro helps fulfill the Filipino dream by developing accessible, high-quality neighborhoods such as Park Place II and Pueblo de Oro Storeys in Lapu-Lapu, and PDO Townhomes in Carcar. In Batangas, PDO’s award-winning green communities such as the 295-ha Pueblo de Oro Townscapes Malvar, Courtyards Lipa, and Westwoods Heights elevate provincial living by merging nature, innovative design, and modern comforts.

Stimulating regional economies

Across the country, Pueblo de Oro has created thousands of jobs in construction, retail, and community services. Its townships also have integrated commercial districts that serve as hubs for entrepreneurs and service industries.

Our communities are also safe, sustainable, and resilient with their green spaces, flood-mitigating features, solar installations, EDGE-certified homes, and climate-resilient masterplans.

PDO further elevates Filipino living standards. Besides offering world-class amenities and recreational hubs, its communities are walkable and accessible, and have abundant green spaces. These features provide what Filipino families aspire to: safety, mobility, and a better lifestyle.

Innovations

As seen in Southridge CDO and Pueblo de Oro Townscapes Mactan, Filipinos increasingly value seamless, connected lifestyles. PDO can lead in digital infrastructure for smart homes; mobility hubs; integrated transport loops; and walkable, bike-friendly township grids.

We are also strengthening our vertical housing nationwide. As land values rise, vertical housing—like the upcoming Pueblo de Oro Storeys in Cebu and the first high-end condominium in CDO, Masterson Mile North—will be key to serving young professionals, OFWs, and growing urban families.

Uplifting the Filipino story

In its next chapter, PDO can further uplift the Filipino story by leading the movement for greener Philippine cities and championing regional development. Our company’s strength lies in uplifting emerging cities like CDO, Lipa, Malvar, Batangas City, Carcar, and Lapu-Lapu. Continuing to invest in these growth centers ensures progress is decentralized and inclusive.

We are also building the next generation of world-class Filipino communities. These include township clusters that rival global standards; family-friendly vertical villages; innovation districts linked to universities, logistics hubs, and emerging industries; and mixed-use destinations that combine culture, commerce, and lifestyle. By ensuring each township becomes an engine for enterprise, education, and employment, PDO can help more Filipinos achieve upward mobility and financial resilience.

Through a consistent commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and responsible land use, PDO can set the benchmark for how real estate developers uplift society—not just markets.

Creating spaces that has it all for the Filipino

Jessica Bianca T. Sy

Vice president and head of Design, Innovation, and Strategy, SM Development Corp.

The SM Group contributes to the great Filipino story by giving people a place where their own stories can unfold, whether that’s a celebration, a fresh start, or a simple event that becomes a core memory.

Our malls, residences, offices, hotels, and convention centers have become places where people mark milestones, find comfort on hard days, discover possibilities, or simply feel part of something bigger than themselves. And even when they are no longer in our spaces, they carry SM with them.

One of my favorite things is spotting an SM reusable shopping bag abroad—on a train in Europe, at a market in Asia. It’s nothing dramatic, but it says so much. It reminds me that Filipino stories travel. And Filipinos bring pieces of home wherever they go. In that simple gesture, SM goes with them too.

Seeing potential in communities

We’ve been able to make an impact because we see the potential in communities, sometimes in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. From there, we figure out how to help them grow into it.

It doesn’t matter if a place is already established or still finding its way through. What matters is recognizing what it can become and building in a way that lifts the people who live and work there.

We’re also intentional about how our spaces work for people. Safety, convenience, and accessibility are the basics. Resilience is our commitment to the community. In times of calamity, we want our properties to serve as their shelters and safe spaces.

For us, that is the real impact—helping communities grow and build the future they want.

Bridging generations

The Philippines is a young country—our median age is just over 26. That’s a powerful signal. It tells us we need to design spaces that feel alive, imaginative, and future-ready.

Our challenge is to bridge generations—to create environments that feel fresh and relevant for students leaving home for the first time, while also being thoughtful for older generations reimagining the next phase of life. Whether that’s through flexible residential living, dynamic mixed-use spaces, or retail that brings joy and discovery, we want to keep building places that respond to how Filipinos really live and aspire to live.

Connecting with Filipinos

We want SM to remain a brand that every Filipino connects with, in a very personal way—where they shop, where they bring their children, where they build their first business, where they experience small wins and major victories, and where they begin again.

Our role in the Filipino story isn’t just in what we build—it’s in the lives we quietly support. That’s why our mission across all properties is the same: to create spaces of opportunity, belonging, and progress. We want to be a place where people feel proud, welcome, and hopeful.

Because at our core, SM has always believed that the progress we create is all for you.

Communities that nurture, inspire, and empower

Alfredo Austria

President, DMCI Project Developers Inc.

We believe the great Filipino story is built on the aspiration for a better life.

Since we started, our contribution has been to help make that aspiration attainable, especially for underserved Filipino families. Through quality homes, purposeful planning, and engineering and construction excellence, we have created communities where Filipino families can grow, pursue opportunities, and build their own stories of success.

Our communities are vibrant spaces where families grow, opportunities abound, and everyone feels a sense of relief and belonging.

Responsible, inclusive development

Our impact begins with our commitment to responsible and inclusive development.

Every project we undertake creates meaningful employment, from construction and engineering jobs to opportunities for suppliers, small businesses, and service providers who support our communities. By developing in emerging and fringe areas, we help stimulate local economies, uplift surrounding neighborhoods, and catalyze growth in places that often need it most.

With the launch of DMCI Leisure Residences in regional destinations such as San Juan, Batangas and Tuba, Benguet, we see an even greater opportunity to generate thousands of jobs and boost economic activity outside Metro Manila. These leisure developments open long-term livelihood prospects in tourism, hospitality, maintenance, and small enterprise development.

We also believe that nurturing homes and communities are the foundation of progressive societies. By creating safe and well-planned environments, we provide children the space to grow, explore, and thrive—giving them the hope and guidance to become upstanding and productive members of society.

Our communities are also designed to encourage recreation, wellness, meaningful connections, and an aspirational, yet attainable lifestyle, helping Filipino families build stronger and more resilient futures.

Future-ready construction

We prioritize sustainable design, smart building systems, and construction technologies that enhance quality, durability, and long-term value.

Future-ready construction is at the core of our approach. From concrete batching and hollow block plants to centralized rebar fabrication, universal testing machines, and robotic total stations, we ensure precision and excellence from design to completion.

Tools like Building Information Modeling (BIM) further boost efficiency and accuracy. For projects like Kalea Heights, we go further to future-proof buildings. Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis (PSHA) ensures earthquake resilience, while wind tunnel testing by Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc. (RWDI) enhances safety, comfort, and the benefits of Lumiventt® Design Technology, maximizing natural light and airflow.

These initiatives reflect DMCI Homes’ commitment to creating resilient, safe, and livable communities, built to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

A trusted partner

We want DMCI Homes to continue being a trusted partner in nation-building—one that delivers real value, uplifts lives, and acts with integrity.

Moving forward, we will focus on developing more sustainable communities, expanding opportunities in regional growth areas, and making homeownership accessible to more Filipino families.

Ultimately, we hope to help shape a Filipino story defined by shared progress and inclusive growth. Our mission remains clear: to build communities that nurture, inspire, and empower today and for generations to come.

Bringing ‘First-World Living’ closer to Filipinos

Gigi G. Alcantara

President, PH1 World Developers Inc.

At PH1 World Developers, we are driven by one vision: to help Filipinos experience “First-World Living” in the Philippines.

As a subsidiary of Megawide—whose mission is engineering a “First-World Philippines”—we are aligned with a legacy of nation-building that has already uplifted millions of lives. Megawide’s track record of building over 10,000 public school classrooms and developing modern airports like Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Clark International Airport has raised the country’s infrastructure to world-class standards, resulting in better mobility and wider economic opportunities for Filipinos.

Inspired by this, PH1 World Developers brings fresh thinking, innovations, and technology into homebuilding—delivering homes built to world-class standards so that Filipino families can experience smarter, safer, and better living every day.

Life-enhancing innovations

To deliver “First-World Living” in the Philippines, we focus on innovations that truly enhance daily life.

Integrated neighborhoods put work, play, learning, wellness, and safety within reach. Homes are energy-efficient, saving money and helping the environment. Extra space at no extra cost gives families room to grow, while premium finishes provided for free make every home beautiful and ready to live in from day one.

By combining bold design, smart technology, and these thoughtful benefits, we ensure our communities meet the evolving aspirations of modern Filipino families and continue contributing to nation-building.

A strong, modern nation

We want PH1 World Developers to set the benchmark for “First-World Living” in the Philippines—not abroad, not someday, but here and now, through homes and communities where families grow, children flourish, and people live smarter, safer, and more meaningful lives.

By making “First-World Living” accessible in the Philippines, we aim to be part of building a stronger, modern nation, shaping the future of Filipino communities and the country as a whole.

Living well starts in the small details

Wolfgang Krueger

Executive director, Shang Properties Inc.

If I look back at the work we’ve done, I think our contribution is really quite down-to-earth: we build places where people can live well.

There’s nothing grand about it. What makes it meaningful is that most of what we create is shaped by Filipino hands—the engineers, architects, craftsmen, and front-line teams who care deeply about their work. If our developments have a “Filipino story,” it’s because they reflect the skill and dedication of the people who build and run them every day.

Impact in the everyday things

The impact isn’t in big statements—it’s in the small, everyday things.

Our projects create work for thousands of Filipinos, not just during construction, but long after a building opens. And when you visit these sites, you see the same faces year after year, people who take pride in keeping these communities safe, clean, and welcoming. If we’ve shaped anything, it’s by offering stability: stable jobs, stable communities, and places where families feel they can settle in and grow.

Seeing innovation differently

To be honest, I think “innovation” is overused. People often expect it to mean new technology, but for us, it usually means something simpler: understanding what families actually want. Better layouts, more practical amenities, clearer communication, reliable services, homes that age well—these things sound basic, but they matter far more than gimmicks or trends.

If we keep paying attention to how Filipinos live—not how we assume they live—then we’ll stay relevant.

I hope we continue building places that genuinely add value to the people who live and work around them. And I hope we keep putting Filipino talent at the front and center of what we do.

If years from now people say, “This place made my life a bit easier, a bit better,” that’s enough. Big speeches aside, that’s really all I want our work to contribute to the larger story of this country.

Fueling fringes, building dreams

Exequiel Robles

President, Sta. Lucia Land Inc.

I have always believed that every Filipino deserves a place where their dreams can grow. This guided me from the time the Sta. Lucia Group was just a small idea built on hope and hard work.

Our journey mirrors the story of many Filipinos—humble beginnings, big aspirations, and an unshakeable resolve to keep going. By building communities not only in big cities but also in the countryside and the so-called fringe areas, we helped open doors for families who simply needed a chance. Knowing that our developments have become the backdrop of so many Filipino success stories—that is our greatest contribution.

Investing in the fringe

I’ve always made it a point to go where others wouldn’t. When we invested in fringe areas and emerging towns, we didn’t just build houses—we brought livelihood, economic activity, and hope to communities that had long been waiting for growth.

The Sta. Lucia Group currently has more than 300 projects in its portfolio, spanning your typical subdivisions, golf communities, lakeside villages, resorts, townhouses, condominiums, condotels, malls and even offices—all spread out in more than 10 regions.

These projects helped generate jobs, supported local businesses, and gave families safe, well-planned environments where they could build their future with confidence. And by creating recreational hubs and commercial spaces, we showed that quality living isn’t just for Metro Manila—it can and should thrive in the countryside, too.

Uplifting communities

Innovation, for me, starts with listening.

Filipino families today want greener communities, smarter technologies, better connectivity, and bigger spaces that support wellness and creativity. We must embrace all of these.

Beyond these, we must also continue doing what we’ve always done—pushing development outward, empowering the countryside, and making sure growth is inclusive. That is how Sta. Lucia can remain a meaningful partner in nation-building: by combining innovation with a genuine commitment to uplift every Filipino community.

A force for good

Moving forward, I hope Sta. Lucia Land will continue being a force for good—especially in areas that have long been left behind.

I hope we can keep expanding opportunities in the regions, creating more communities where families can thrive, and offering developments that people can proudly call home. My hope is that when future generations look back, they will see that Sta. Lucia was not just a builder of properties, but a builder of dreams—helping shape a Filipino story defined by hope, progress, and the promise of a better life for all.

Builders of cities, creators of opportunities

Elizabeth L. Ventura

President, Anchor Land Holdings Inc.

Anchor Land’s contribution to the Filipino story is rooted in one principle: We build to change the landscape so the Philippines can compete confidently with other rising nations. Every project we undertake carries the belief that Filipinos deserve developments that are world-class and future-ready.

We revitalized Manila Chinatown by introducing premium residential towers that elevated the district’s identity. We helped shape Bay City into a modern tourism and investment hub, placing the Philippines on the map of global hospitality and property investment.

And along Roxas Boulevard, once a symbol of Manila’s golden era, we brought back its historical prestige through Admiral Hotel. By reimagining this landmark, we honored its cultural significance while elevating it into a modern luxury destination.

In every city we enter, our goal is the same: to build spaces that inspire pride, reflect Filipino excellence, and push our country forward. Our story is about resilience, ambition, and the belief that the Filipino dream deserves nothing less than the best.

Sparking economic activity

From the start, Anchor Land’s approach has been to identify districts with untapped potential and bring in developments that catalyze growth, opportunity, and pride.

By building in areas often overlooked—Manila Chinatown, Roxas Boulevard, Bay City in its early years and emerging cities like Davao—we helped spark new economic activity where it was needed most. Each project generates jobs for construction workers, engineers, brokers, hospitality teams and local service providers, creating livelihood for entire communities.

Our developments provide safer homes, modern workspaces and integrated lifestyle environments that support families and businesses, while our hospitality and tourism-driven projects elevate local economies.

More importantly, we create spaces that give people dignity, districts that attract opportunities, and environments that uplift everyday living. For us, nation-building begins where people need it most and that will always be the heart of our work.

Serving Filipinos’ aspirations

Filipinos today aspire for security, mobility, and financial independence. To serve these aspirations, we must innovate both in design and investment models.

We are now focused on building tourism-driven, passive income real estate—a segment that allows Filipinos to earn predictable returns while owning hard assets in high growth destinations. This model democratizes investment opportunities, especially for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and young professionals seeking stable income and long-term wealth-building.

In design, we continue to push for sustainable hospitality-inspired developments, smarter spaces, multifunctional amenities, energy-efficient systems, and integrated communities that support the future of tourism, remote work and lifestyle mobility.

Helping Filipinos rise

I want Anchor Land to be remembered as a company that helped Filipinos rise financially, emotionally and aspirationally. I want us to shape the Filipino story through values integrity, excellence, discipline and purpose-driven leadership. As a Filipina and the first woman to lead Anchor Land, I carry a responsibility to show the next generation especially young women that they can lead, build, and uplift industries.

We want to be builders of cities, creators of opportunities, and partners in every Filipino’s journey towards a better life. Our role in the great Filipino story is far from over—we are just getting started.