Blogs

Following a tremendous showing last year, SMDC bagged a total of 11 awards at the 9th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards including the highly coveted Best Developer (Philippines) for the second straight year, and Best Mid Rise Condo Development (Philippines) for Gold Residences. The awards ceremony was held virtually on November 11, 2021. Alongside winning Best Developer, SMDC also secured the all-new Best Developer (Luzon) Award as well as being a two-time winner for the Best Lifestyle Developer Award in recognition of the company’s efforts to offer additional facilities across all developments made to enhance the living experience of residents. This year’s results further build on what has been a highly successful awards show run for SMDC, continuously driving the company’s vision to make luxurious urban living more affordable – enabling more Filipinos access to a truly cosmopolitan lifestyle. The group won big awards for Gold, Vine, Green 2 residences, and more. Following a tremendous showing last year, SMDC bagged a total of 11 awards at the 9th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards including the highly coveted best developer (Philippines) for the second straight year, and best mid-rise condo development (Philippines) for Gold Residences. The awards ceremony was held virtually on November 11, 2021. Alongside winning best developer, SMDC also secured the all-new best developer (Luzon) award as well as being a two-time winner for the best lifestyle developer award in recognition of the company’s efforts to offer additional facilities across all developments made to enhance the living experience of residents. In the development category, Gold Residences, within Gold City – SMDC’s pioneer township development in Parañaque City – is the winner of the best mixed-use development award. Gold Residences won the best high-end condo development (Metro Manila) and best lifestyle development awards as well. Vine Residences won the best upper affordable condo development (Metro Manila) award, while Green 2 Residences earned the award for best high-end condo development (Southern Luzon). Many other SMDC projects were highly commended across several development categories: best high-end condo development for Metro Manila (Sail Residences), best upper mid-end condo for Metro Manila (Light 2 Residences, Shore 3 Residences), best upper affordable condo development for Metro Manila (Bloom Residences, Charm Residences), best affordable condo development (Hill Residences), best condo development for Metro Davao (Lane Residences), best condo development for Central Luzon (Cheer Residences), and best condo development for Visayas (Smile Residences, Style Residences). Gold Residences also won in the design category, earning the title of best landscape architectural design as well as commendations for the best condo architectural design and best condo interior design awards. Light 2 Residences (best condo architectural design) and Vine Residences (best landscape architectural design) were also among the developments highly commended by the awarding body. SMDC was also among the winners of the special recognition in sustainable design and construction – an award given to developers whose projects utilize environmentally-friendly design features, low-impact material selection, and are assessed to be durably designed and capable of withstanding various lifecycles. This year’s results further build on what has been a highly successful awards show run for SMDC, continuously driving the company’s vision to make luxurious urban living more affordable, and enabling more Filipinos access to a truly cosmopolitan lifestyle. “For our efforts to be recognized by an esteemed organization such as PropertyGuru is indeed something we at SMDC can truly be proud of,” SMDC president Jose Mari Banzon said. “While these wins certainly validate the collective work we have done to realize the vision of our company founders, ultimately, they fuel our drive towards the creation of a nation of homeowners where each and every Filipino can live their best lives.”

Working from home used to be a fantasy for most. Not anymore. It comes with a slew of predicaments: the need for a reliable internet connection to prevent untoward interruptions; the constant search for Zoom-worthy backgrounds for never-ending discussions that could’ve just been emailed; the gasp for open and safe spaces for quick breathers; and so on and so forth. Running a business remotely adds up to the myriad of challenges the modern entrepreneur faces. Some of the country’s most inspiring business persons who have transformed themselves and their businesses share their secrets to success. Rhoda Campos-Aldanese, Beauty Scout founder “Managing a business from home] can be challenging as the work-and-home-life balance is disrupted. Aside from thinking about how to gain exponential growth, we now have to navigate as well that sense of imbalance. It is really important to think of wellness. You need to keep your mind sharp and your body fit as well. It’s good to be in an environment that enables you to live and work well.” Winston Llamas, Wilbros Entertainment Inc. president and Wholemart Philippines CEO “As an entertainment and concert company, our concerts and events got shut down when the pandemic hit. So we had to focus on other possible areas, such as international talents acquisition. Whatever the situation is, always look at the bright side. Instead of giving up and closing down, we were able to pivot and focus on other things.” Kris Lawrence, Champ Tailors Inc. co-founder “During the early stages of the pandemic, I was live-streaming and doing Zoom concerts. I also endorsed fashionable PPE’s, or essential fashion, for a garments factory, which eventually got shut down. But my friends and I decided to ‘save’ the factory. That’s how Champ Tailors was born. Today we create export-quality merchandise. It’s important to look for partners who complement your strengths. Also, build your own, personal sanctuary.” These modern entrepreneurs gamely shared their experiences and expertise at a recent virtual roundtable discussion brought by SM Development Corporation (SMDC), which also launched SMDC’s newest property that caters to the needs of people working from home.

When buying a condo unit, a prospective buyer often does so for either of two reasons: to live in the unit or to have it rented out. For a large number of those buyers, the purchase is seen more as an investment as they can in turn rent out and earn from the unit, while enjoying the increase in value of the property. This seems to be the case for younger people who are starting to invest in real estate. “Based on interviews with various brokers, most of the people buying condominium units are between 30-45-years-old,” says Catherine Reformado, Associate Director-Research Division of Leechiu Property Consultants. For the younger millennials who have just entered the workforce, Leechiu’s research indicates that these are generally first time home buyers who are looking for places that are accessible to where they work. Reformado adds, “They want a unit that is near to everything, yet affordable.” Renting out a unit and generating passive income is also an appealing proposition to these buyers according to Reformado. “There is more market awareness,” she adds regarding this generation of real estate buyers, while noting that they are educated enough to know the importance of 1. investing young, 2. liquidity, and 3. securing one’s future. Reformado points out that, “real estate is just one avenue to increase assets and generate income with sure capital appreciation, that’s why at an early stage in their career they save money to purchase a property.”

SMDC’s ICE Tower Residential-Offices officially makes co-working spaces a fundamental part of the 21st-century work scene. Made for the modern entrepreneur in mind, the 17-story building will house luxurious business, fitness, and social hubs that will provide their residents with access to desks, office supplies, and meeting spaces together with wellness amenities such as gyms and roof decks. The entire development sits on a 3,859 sq.m. property, with 844 units with two-bedroom, one-bedroom, and studio layouts. The Benefits of Residential-Offices 1. Mental Separation This arrangement offers a “mental separation” from home and work life. If you need to print out materials head to the building’s business hub that’s fully equipped with essential office machines. For lunch break, just take the elevator up to your unit for some homemade food, and for those days that offer a light workload, take a dip at the swimming pool that also features meditative gardens and an eagle’s eye view of Manila Bay. 2. Save where you can For a city with a growing number of e-commerce and small businesses during the pandemic, entrepreneurs can also cost-save by having the same business and residential address. Alongside, their pay-for-demand system of their for board rooms and office accessories. These collaborative spaces also seeking to help people network and make connections in a more casual set-up similar to the comfort and productivity one gets from meeting at a coffee house. 3. Work on your own time And for those whose creative juices flow at dusk or work with international companies, their business hubs are open for 24 hours where fiber optic internet connection is provided. Their 100% backup power system also ensures work will always be business as usual With their new project, blurring the line of work, play, and living doesn’t have to be bad.

Nestled right beside SM City Baliwag will rise a community where family and daily life will be nothing but blissful – a perfect mix of accessibility, convenience and comfort. Set in a 5.3-hectare prime real estate right beside SM’s lifestyle district in Baliwag, Bulacan, SMDC Joy Residences is a master-planned development that will address your family’s need for a safe, complete and vibrant home. SMDC Joy Residences will set a new standard of modern living. Sustainable Living Right Beside an SM Mall SMDC continues to live up to its advocacy of a sustainable, low-carbon-footprint lifestyle through its well-connected, well-planned integrated developments. With everything close to you, you become a steward of the planet. SMDC Joy Residences is a cut above the rest in Bulacan. It offers a home-beside-the-mall lifestyle like no other. This simply means convenient and unlimited access to entertainment, dining and retail options, as well as having life’s basic necessities within arm’s length. What can be better than having SM City Baliwag as your neighbor? A Refreshing Garden Community Live a well-balanced active lifestyle with Joy Residences’ complete set of resort-styled amenities and sports facilities. Enjoy moments with the family in any of the swimming pools, or engage in a friendly game of basketball or volleyball with friends at the multipurpose covered court. In this verdant gated community, there is an abundance of landscaped gardens, linear parks and lush outdoor spaces, encouraging the entire family to meander away and stay fit. Joy Residences also has amenities that allow you to socialize and foster camaraderie with your neighbors.

Like an iceberg, SMDC’s ICE Tower Residential-Offices (RESO) is an emblem of every entrepreneur’s success, with its well-thought out sleek, modern living and designated working spaces that are comfortable yet professional: a receptionist area for residential and office use, lounge areas for business and clients, personal spaces designed to harness the use of natural light and ventilation. Fiber optic internet technology makes possible a seamless transition between being a homeowner web-surfing for leisure at night to an entrepreneur hosting an overseas client meeting from your own office during the day. ICE Tower RESO is an unparalleled work/home base that fully complements your work and entrepreneurial lifestyle. Living at SMDC’s ICE Tower RESO means having a business that is free from power outages. With each unit supported by a 100% back-up power system, no brownout will ever interrupt your business. You get to operate smoothly, efficiently and worry-free.  With a commercial strip on the ground floor, you will have easy access to things that matter to you and your business. Get yourself a cup of coffee in the middle of a busy workday, or wine and dine clients at any of the restaurants along the retail strip. Or take a break from office work to sneak in a lunch date with your wife or partner. https://www.thepropertiesph.com/property_details.php?propertyid=54

Upholding the standards of excellence that led to its recognition as 2020 Best Developer at the 8th PropertyGuru Awards, SM Development Corporation (SMDC) continues to redefine the landscape of urban dwelling with game-changing projects that perfectly strike the balance between luxury and accessibility. SMDC’s latest project, South 2 Residences offers SMDC’s brand of five-star features, hotel-like experience, and generous resort-type amenities, in a masterplanned community that provides access to all of the essentials for the perfect live-work-play environment. South 2 Residences is part of the ambitious SM Lifestyle City masterplan, a complete premier community in a sprawling 200,000 square meters of endless daily conveniences – from shopping, entertainment, and dining options – via the SM Southmall. It also includes SM South Tower offices, a transport hub in SM Southmall Transport Terminal, and a future educational institution The project is located in Las Piñas City, a first-class, highly urbanized city in Metro Manila known for its rich history and close proximity not only to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport but also to leisure destinations in Tagaytay, Laguna, and Batangas. The city also serves as the gateway between Metro Manila and the Calabarzon industrial growth area. Aside from its accessibility to major establishments such as churches, schools, restaurants, banks, and shopping malls, Las Piñas is also mostly flood-free and has developed a reputation for its clean air and business-friendly local government. These are just some of the reasons why it comes as no surprise why an increasing number of people have not only invested in the city but have also taken up residence here. Like the original South Residences, South 2 Residences is designed for convenience and promises a modern lifestyle in a dynamic market and ever-growing economy. The 2.1-hectare mid-rise residential development composed of three, 15-story towers is located at Brgy. Almanza Uno, Las Piñas City within the SM Southmall complex. A modern and fully secured community, the project boasts of five-star features that include its spacious grand lobby that residents can utilize as shared working spaces, especially from those who are working from home. The huge open and green spaces in its amenity floor promotes active lifestyles for the whole family with adult and kiddie swimming pools, a gazebo, children’s playground, and function rooms in a gated community. Future residents can choose between one- and two-bedroom units that are easy to maintain and enjoy natural lighting and ventilation. For those who prefer to invest in South 2 Residences, expect high rental yields and steady capital appreciation. Its predecessor South Residences experienced an impressive CAGR of 11.77 percent from its launch in 2015 to date. It also certainly helps that the property is developed by the largest real estate conglomerate in the country and consistently honored for its outstanding efforts. In accepting the PropertyGuru’s Best Developer award for 2020, SMDC President Jose Mari Banzon said the honor is “a validation that we have indeed turned our vision into reality, that we are contributing to building a nation of homeowners; not just any home, but a home that allows the homeowner to live his best life.” Along with its other properties, SMDC’s South 2 Residences remains true to the company’s vision of providing Filipinos what Banzon rightly refers to as “the best value for their hard-earned money with homes that provide the best possible living experience.”

From the 8th floor, Mrs. Cecilia Crisostomo, 73 years old, a mother to 4 adults and a grandma to 10 grandkids, waves to the taho vendor. Since 5:30 a.m she has been sitting in her balcony, her favorite spot in her home at Shell Residences. This has become a daily routine for her – waiting for the arrival of the Mall of Asia neighborhood street vendor while soaking in the morning calm. She would go down and out onto the street carrying her red cups for the day’s fill of silken tofu with tapioca balls, which she would distribute to Shell Residences’ service staff. During the three years since she left the US to retire in the Philippines, she has enjoyed countless mornings like this. Some mornings she wakes up with the sunrise; other mornings, she wakes up a little later to relax by the pool or just walk around, while enjoying Shell Residence’s breathtaking hotel-like feel. It’s the freedom she savors at this stage in her life – freedom after decades of working in New York City’s corporate jungle. “It was my son-in-law who told me about this place,” she says. “‘Ma, it’s like your New York City home. Everything is so close!” he said to her. When Mrs. Crisostomo saw the unit for herself, she fell in love with the majestic view of MOA’s “globe” from the balcony. It was a whirlwind romance and like a woman smitten by her first love, she didn’t let go. She decided to make Shell her home. Located within walking distance to the Mall of Asia, the MOA Arena, MOA convention center, a chapel, restaurants, five-star hotels, government offices, groceries, movie houses, and transport hubs, her Shell Residences home places her at the center of everything she needs. “You want to know where my clinic is? It’s right there across the street. That’s where I have my regular check-ups. The grocery? It’s a 5-minute walk. Everything is within reach here.” Her life in New York as a real estate professional meant getting acclimated to the culture of walking, particularly around 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan, her place of work. “When I was in New York, I loved being the tour guide and taking my tourist friends around for a walk. I do the same thing here. I take them around.” In her neighborhood, she watches concerts at the MOA Arena and walks home past midnight. “I watched Jokoy’s show and walked home at 1 am … alone. Can you imagine that? A 73-year old walking alone at night? That’s how safe it is here.” “This is the best place to be locked down in,” she says. “It’s very secure here because of the property management. Besides, most of what I need is close by. Everything is right here.” Mrs. Crisostomo’s unit is a one-bedroom affair. Though she lives alone, she is never proverbially lonely. “I have so many friends here and they also live in SMDC condominiums.” With friends residing in Quezon City, Makati, and as far as Tagaytay, and relatives in Cavite – that’s where her roots are – Mrs. Crisostomo is happy that her place is a convenient take-off point for those places. Before the Covid-19 pandemic reached this country, they would meet up in each other’s condos and go on food binges either in their condominiums or in nearby restaurants. But the mandatory quarantine has prevented them from going out these days. Her children, all based in the US, feel secure knowing that she lives in a safe and well-maintained place with everything around her and with friends who take care of her and make her enjoy life to the fullest. Her children have units at Shore and Sea Residences, so she would oftentimes participate in The Good Guys activities in those residences. That’s how she found her MOA friends, composed of residents of Shell, Sea and Shore Residences. Her vibrant, youthful aura and her carefree attitude probably come from her friendships with women and couples younger by a decade or two. In their pre-COVID lives, they would go on hikes to Benguet or engage their bedtime conversations during their out-of-town trips. She is open to people and to new experiences. Together with her MOA friends, she climbed up the 700 steps of Mount Tapyas in Coron. Help would come from friends in many ways just when she would need it. She remembers a time when she was down with fever and a friend from the 16th floor sent her medicine and mami from a popular noodle place in MOA. Every now and then, friends from the same building would volunteer to buy her groceries. “They’d take the time to ask me, ‘may ipapabili ka ba? Isasabay ko na’.” She is also friendly with Shell Residences’ service staff. SMDC’s Shell staff and every day Good Guys have become her family. “I admire them so much because they work so hard. Ang laki ng nagagawa nilang tulong araw-araw. Simple lang naman ang kaligayahan nila. Kape lang o taho, masaya na sila. They are very appreciative!” Her eyes crinkle as she speaks fondly of them as though they were her children. “When I got this unit, I didn’t just get the unit – I got a community I love. I’ve been telling all my balikbayan friends – Shell is the perfect place to live! Her happy place is a product of her own taste. It is a caring community. When she moved to Shell, she thought of getting the services of an interior designer to design her unit. But the exorbitant professional fee made her reconsider the idea; she decided to decorate her place by herself, aided by her co-resident friends who helped her get the best deals for materials. In her living room sits a red couch. There is a fridge with a door filled with her collection of souvenir magnets from her travels, and in a corner, a bunch of red roses arranged in what she considers her special corner, her altar, where she prays her daily rosary. These days, she has been exploring the joy of cooking, too – something she never had a chance to do in America, having been a working mom. “One time, I got this pampano at the weekend market. It looked so fresh so I bought it even though I didn’t know what to do with it. I called up a friend who taught me how to cook Pampano with Bagoong.” When not cooking, she works out by walking in Shell’s open spaces or by watching workout videos for 70-year-olds on YouTube, watching TV or going downstairs for a chitchat with Shell’s staff. Mrs. Crisostomo is a picture of happiness and contentment. “Everyday, I am thankful that my day goes smoothly. I am physically, spiritually, and mentally satisfied. I can sleep well at night. At peace ako. Hindi mo mabibili ‘yon. Wala ‘yung katapat.” Living at Shell has allowed her to experience the good life in her retirement, “The good life is waking up anytime you want to and eating what you want to eat. I can talk to anybody anytime, go where I want to go. I can make choices. I am living that kind of life here.” She danced in her youth and traveled around the world, watched Broadway shows in the Big Apple and provided a bright future for her children. She has many friends and continue to make new ones. She reflects on the seven decades of her life: “Life has to be enjoyed. Value whatever is left in your days because life is very short. I would never have imagined I would reach this age.” It is a philosophy that only a few have had the privilege to practice.

Bay City is more than 40-years old, but its true impact is only starting to be realized. While the area is best known as an entertainment zone, it is quickly transforming into a business hub with many international companies establishing operations here. A more cordial relationship between the Philippines and China has proven to be beneficial to Bay City’s business outlook. Mainland offshore gaming firms and BPO companies have opted to set up shop in and around Bay City. This had a positive impact on the area’s real estate market. Colliers International research found rental rates were 30 to 50 percent higher in a number of residential condo properties in the Bay Area and Makati due to an influx of Chinese employees. A growing number of mainland buyers are also purchasing condo units here. This increase in demand has been good for Bay Area property prices which are among the fastest growing in Metro Manila. And it’s not just those from overseas who want to live and work in Bay City. With several key business areas and an endless supply of entertainment options, this is a place that caters to those who enjoy a modern lifestyle. Bay City is firmly entrenched as the entertainment hub of the Philippines with places like SM Mall of Asia, making it a place both tourists and locals flock to throughout the year. The Mall of Asia is also undergoing an ambitious expansion that will see a number of facilities open including the first IKEA in the Philippines. Nino Aquino International Airport is easily accessible from Bay City. Additionally, the area is home to World Trade Center Metro Manila, the Philippine International Convention Center, the head offices of several large firms, such as Philippine Airlines, and a number of government Bay City is more than 40-years old, but its true impact is only starting to be realized. While the area is best known as an entertainment zone, it is quickly transforming into a business hub with many international companies establishing operations here. A more cordial relationship between the Philippines and China has proven to be beneficial to Bay City’s business outlook. Mainland offshore gaming firms and BPO companies have opted to set up shop in and around Bay City. This had a positive impact on the area’s real estate market. Colliers International research found rental rates were 30 to 50 percent higher in a number of residential condo properties in the Bay Area and Makati due to an influx of Chinese employees. A growing number of mainland buyers are also purchasing condo units here. This increase in demand has been good for Bay Area property prices which are among the fastest growing in Metro Manila. And it’s not just those from overseas who want to live and work in Bay City. With several key business areas and an endless supply of entertainment options, this is a place that caters to those who enjoy a modern lifestyle. Bay City is firmly entrenched as the entertainment hub of the Philippines with places like SM Mall of Asia, making it a place both tourists and locals flock to throughout the year. The Mall of Asia is also undergoing an ambitious expansion that will see a number of facilities open including the first IKEA in the Philippines. Nino Aquino International Airport is easily accessible from Bay City. Additionally, the area is home to World Trade Center Metro Manila, the Philippine International Convention Center, the head offices of several large firms, such as Philippine Airlines, and a number of government buildings.

While most of us have had to put our getaways on hold, Sail Residences presents the exquisite experience of resort living in the metro For much of the summer of 2020 travel to exotic locations has been reduced to wishful thinking; the pandemic has grounded us and left us confined, for the most part, in our homes. Boredom and general exhaustion caused by working from home are the object of many people’s complaints, but keeping one’s family safe, secure, and healthy amid the crisis raging outside is always at the top of most homeowners’ minds. That said, perhaps the most sensible thing to consider – particularly by those who are thinking of moving into a new space at this point – is a piece of property developed by one of the country’s most trusted names in real estate and urban development. For those who want a mix of modern convenience, secure surroundings, and resort-style living, Sail Residences is emerging as an excellent choice. The new value of luxury Inspired by the elegant seaside homes of the world’s leading resort cities, Sail Residences offers a charmed and relaxed lifestyle for those rising to the top of their game. Sail Residences is more than just another urban residential development. It offers sensible unit layouts along with luxury resort-style amenities that are masterfully designed for cozy living. The modern aesthetic features clean and simple lines, along with a color palette that calls to mind the natural environment with earth tones interspersed with cool blues and greens. Each of the units was designed with healthful and sustainable living in mind. Ambient lighting and natural ventilation have been built into every space, providing electricity-less illumination and proper air circulation to keep units bright and cool throughout the year. Residents can also enjoy the fabled Manila Bay sunsets from the comfort of a three-level viewing deck that evokes the feeling of standing on the deck of a yacht in the French Riviera or at the balcony of a luxurious retreat in Monte Carlo. Sun, sea, and salt-breezes all come together to create a restful experience that residents can enjoy practically every day. At Sail Residences, potential residents can expect the same level of safety and security that SM Development Corporation has provided in all its developments. One can be assured of property management teams that are well-trained in regard to groundskeeping, waste management and building maintenance as well as community health management and overall security. The world right at your doorstep The location of Sail Residences is something of note: in the heart of The Mall of Asia (MOA) Complex, with its sweeping views of Manila Bay, the fabled Manila sunsets, and the magnificent urban skyline. Those privileged to consider Sail Residences as their home in the metropolis will certainly find themselves where the action is, be it in terms of business or leisure or education. Masterplanned by the award-winning Miami-based architecture-and-design firm Arquitectonica, the driving force behind the revitalization of New York’s famed Coney Island, Seoul’s International Finance Center, and Microsoft’s European headquarters in Paris, the MOA Complex has become one of the most dynamic mixed-use developments in Metro Manila. Strikingly modern and diverse in its structures, it is surprisingly one of the least congested areas of the city. Along with the extensive commercial center, which is comprised of both retail and entertainment options, the surrounding environs are rapidly becoming home to a host of corporate entities ranging from headquarters for global businesses, hubs for business process outsourcing, and the rising corporations of a new generation of technological entrepreneurs. In the coming years, it is expected to bring in a slew of educational institutions ranging from world-class formative schools to some of the country’s best colleges and universities. For shopping and entertainment, Sail’s proximity to the Mall of Asia gives its residents almost immediate access to the very best in retail, dining, and live events. Shops carrying local and global brands open their doors to discerning shoppers, while the necessities of daily living are available at supermarkets and convenience stores. Dining also becomes a pleasant adventure: one can enjoy everything from fast-food classics to Michelin-starred meals, all in one place. And with the Mall of Asia Arena and SMX Convention Center so close at hand, one practically has a front-row seat to powerhouse performances, enthralling exhibitions, and a whole roster of luxurious functions. One may not be able to travel at present, but with an infinite roster of possibilities just outside one’s front door, a home at Sail Residences brings the world to you

MANILA, Philippines — SM Prime Holdings Inc., the Sy-owned integrated property developer, is developing one of its biggest projects to date, the Gold City, which will be a sprawling mixed-used estate across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque, the property developer has announced on its website. SM Prime chairman Henry “Big Boy” Sy Jr. said there would be many components including a residential segment developed by SM Development Corp., the property developer’s residential arm. “It will be mixed use with residences and offices,” Sy said in an interview with Philippine Star’s Iris Gonzales. Sy said the estate would be developed across NAIA Terminal 1 in Parañaque and is just a short drive from the Entertainment City and SM’s Mall of Asia. The property developer is investing P6.9 billion for the project which would be deve-loped on a sprawling 11-hectare property, SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim told The STAR. Lim said the Gold project would have 16 residential towers and five office buildings. “We launched phase one this week with three residential towers with 15 floors in each tower,” Lim was quoted in the Star report as saying. The target completion date for phase one is the third quarter of 2024. Gold City will be a master planned development with retail establishments, residential towers with hotel-like lobbies and high-grade finishes as well as transport hubs that will transport homeowners from the mixed use district to the airport terminals. The residential towers will have low density because it will be mid-rise buildings given the height limitation in the area because of the proximity to the airport. SM Prime continues to expand across different parts of the country, boosting its nine month income. The company recorded an 18 percent growth in net income to P27.60 billion from P23.44 billion a year ago on consolidated revenue of P85.03 billion or a growth of 14 percent from P74.56 billion a year ago. At present, SM Prime has 81 malls – 74 in the Philippines and seven in China. The company has opened SM City Olongapo Central during the third quarter of the year and SM Center Dagupan last October. Its other core business is residential led by SMDC. SM Prime’s other businesses are offices, hotels and convention centers through the Commercial Properties Group (CPG) and SM Hotels and Convention Centers.

SM Development Corporation (SMDC) is all set for the new normal. With most businesses either downscaling or scrapping projects as a result of the economic slowdown, SMDC is doing just the opposite. It is pursuing its expansion plans for the year and launching projects in the last two quarters. This was the message of SMDC President Jose Mari Banzon in an interview with CNN’s Rico Hizon that aired on June 22. “We just need to make sure that the features that buyers are looking for … will be there, that we price our products correctly and that we offer affordable payment terms,” Banzon said. Geared for the new normal SMDC’s investment in digital technology has proven beneficial during the lockdown. Contactless transactions – in selling, customer service and backroom operations – were immediately deployed, and which have now become part of SMDC’s new normal. “We continue to sell during the lockdown. Our sellers did not even have face-to-face meetings with clients,” Banzon said. The make-up of SMDC developments has also proven beneficial during the lockdown. Industry experts are now saying that the future of development is toward integrated developments, which SMDC has been doing from the very beginning. “(Y)ou don’t have to get out of your development to buy your basic necessities. You can get your food, your medicines, you can do your banking, you can get your haircut (right within the property). We are ready for the new normal,” Banzon said. Banzon also explained that SMDC units are designed to allow ample lighting and natural ventilation, which are conducive to a productive work-from-home (WFH) set-up. Wifi-equipped lobbies with open-air lounges and co-working spaces provide the perfect setting for a WFH environment that strictly adheres to social distancing. With social distancing and restricted personal movement as part of the new normal, residents do not have to go out of their properties for fun and social activities, or to have a semblance of space. They can safely stay within the property and enjoy the well-appointed amenities and top-notch facilities that define every SMDC development, Banzon explained. Banzon further noted that SMDC properties are situated in major CBDs and are near transport hubs, providing easy access to offices, schools, hospitals and major thoroughfares, enabling minimized travel. Strong performance amid COVID-19 SMDC raked in P11.4 billion from January to March this year, 23 percent up from the P9.3 billion it recorded in the same period in 2019. Reservation sales, meanwhile, clocked in at P24.8 billion, a testament of consumer confidence in the brand even in trying times. Banzon attributed SMDC’s success to three factors: industry resilience, consumers’ basic need for shelter and SMDC’s product. “We belong to an industry that is resilient. The asset is real, tangible and least affected by deflationary forces,” he explained. “In the Philippines, there’s a 6-million unit shortfall in housing, so there is a very big demand that has yet to be filled. Housing also fulfills the dream of every Filipino to own a home.”

For 15 years, she rode the waves, her days spent making sure passengers were happily cruising the seas, docking from city to city, in Asia, Europe and America, their dissatisfactions kept at bay and their exhilaration kept high with the luxuries that a cruise ship offers. For more than half a year, she would be getting paid to travel. The rest of the year, she’d spend making up for missed milestones with her family. Pleasing disgruntled guests and pampering honeymooners, partygoing adventurers, and retirees finally freed from corporate drudgery consumed her time onboard. The Covid-19 pandemic brought the world, along with Cristine‘s job, to a halt. What was supposed to be a two-month break plus a few weeks of requested extended vacation turned into months of lockdown. Could the trips to Tuscany and Santorini and all the other foreign destinations that had captured her heart be now things of the past? Was financial stability for her and her family over? Cristine San Pascual, a Senior Assistant Purser doubling as manager of various divisions in a luxury cruise ship, a wife, a mother of two, is among the 343,000 Filipino overseas workers who found themselves suddenly displaced from their jobs. But she has found relief and an ally in her Trees Residences community in Fairview. Despair has turned into hope.

Like a child, she reveled in the sight of the banana bunches and twigs (locally termed ‘buwig’), marveled at the colorful corkwood tree flowers (locally called ‘katuray’) and excitedly grabbed the giant catimon mangoes. She was taken back to her days in the province, where one woke up to the smell of freshly cut grass and where fruits were allowed to ripen right at the stem, with their twigs still in place. The last catimon mango she ate was several years ago, on a visit to Indonesia.

For someone like Libertine de la Cruz who sees beauty in oft-overlooked details, and whose palate can discern the taste of freshly harvested produce, The Good Guys Market has been a very welcome experience.