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Vista Land brews up new coffee venture
The Villar Group of Companies is further capitalizing on Manila’s caffeine culture with the launch of Coffee Project Co-Lab, designed to be a haven for coffee enthusiasts who could use a safe and cozy space conducive to both productivity and leisure......»»
Sacred Project launched for PH Eagle protection
The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) and Indigenous Communities (ICs) have partnered to launch the Saving Indigenous Cultures, Rivers, and Endangered Biodiversity (Sacred) project. The project aims to protect the wild Philippine Eagle population by safeguarding their nesting sites and benefiting both the ICs and the wildlife in the area. The objectives of the project include enhancing the capacity of indigenous leaders, implementing formal protection and management, establishing new carbon sinks, and promoting green jobs and economic opportunities for the ICs. The initial phase will focus on the Tago-Pantaron Mountain Range in Mindanao, a crucial area for biodiversity and ICs. Identified threats to the region include agriculture, logging, wildlife exploitation, weak conservation motivation, unclear land-use policies, and insufficient financing. The project recognizes the cultural and symbolic ties associated with the Philippine Eagle, which holds spiritual importance for indigenous groups. The Sacred Project is a two-year commitment from Mandai Nature to PEF......»»
Blueprint for a sustainable tomorrow
Through a combination of cutting-edge technology, data science and a culture of innovation, Aboitiz Land is making innovative strides in the real estate industry, establishing benchmarks for sustainability and community development. This commitment to adaptability and progress was underscored by Aboitiz Land CEO and president David Rafael during his presentation at the CEO Forum of the CREBA Golden Jubilee National Convention & Housing Expo on 28 September 2023, held at Conrad Manila. Aboitiz Land's dedication to environmental sustainability is evident in every facet of its residential real estate developments. The company's sustainable master plan features prioritize harmony with nature, respecting the natural topography of the land and integrating existing water and landforms like lagoons and hilly terrain seamlessly. This human-centric approach extends to the promotion of green open spaces across high-end and mid-market projects, fostering a connection between residents and the environment. A pinnacle of this commitment is its residential enclave, The Villages at Lipa, within the 800-hectare integrated LIMA Estate. LIMA Estate proudly holds a five-star BERDE certification, a testament to its eco-friendly practices including energy and water efficiency, waste management and community well-being. Poised to become a blueprint for smart cities, it leverages digital technologies for enhanced urban operations. Aboitiz Land also embraces innovation in construction technology, utilizing precast concrete panels to reduce greenhouse emissions associated with traditional concrete production. This approach not only contributes to a significant reduction in environmental impact but also translates into tangible benefits for homeowners, including reduced energy consumption. Aboitiz Land understands the urgent demand for accessible and quality housing in the Philippines. The company addresses this by strategically placing its projects near emerging growth centers and infrastructure. This not only eases congestion in central business districts but also creates job opportunities for thousands of Filipinos. Aboitiz Land’s notable developments include The Villages at Lipa in LIMA Estate, Foressa Mountain Town in the West Cebu Estate and Ajoya communities in key areas of Central Luzon, which is at the heart of the current infrastructure development and growth centers. To help address the critical issue of 6.5 million housing backlog and rising property costs, Aboitiz Land has introduced OneVecino, an innovative digital platform. This tool provides digitized solutions for property search, payments, customer support and property management. It's tailored to cater to the needs of overseas Filipino workers, making home buying more accessible and secure. Aboitiz Land's commitment to community well-being is likewise demonstrated through various CSR initiatives. Elevate AIDA, in partnership with Connected Women, provides digital skills training to women near our communities in Luzon, advances gender parity and promotes socio-economic development. Meanwhile, Project Banca, recognized as an Outstanding CSR Project in Disaster Resilience, supported 60 fisherfolks with motorized fishing boats in areas affected by typhoon “Odette,” showcasing Aboitiz Land's dedication to community well-being and resilience. Aboitiz Land's corporate governance framework is rooted in core values of Integrity, Teamwork, Innovation and Responsibility. The developer is the real estate arm of the Aboitiz Group, which has consistently been acknowledged as one of the best managed conglomerates in the ASEAN region, exemplified by the Golden Arrow Recognition awarded to Aboitiz Equity Ventures. The post Blueprint for a sustainable tomorrow appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dumpsite wedding shoot hopes to lessen waste
A Taiwanese couple decked out in a tux and gown embrace in front of a mountain of trash in an unorthodox wedding photo — one the environment-conscious bride hopes will discourage her guests from generating unnecesary garbage. Greenpeace campaigner Iris Hsueh and her fiance are having their “environmentally friendly wedding” in January, and have asked guests to bring their own containers for taking home leftovers. Deciding that showing — not telling — was a more effective communication method, the Taipei-based couple travelled three hours south for a photo shoot in Nantou county’s Puli township, where the amount of trash brought to a local dump has steadily risen over the years. “If any guests are not willing to bring along a container, I would show them the photograph and say, ‘Would you reconsider?’” the 33-year-old told AFP, adding that the photos ended up drawing local media attention. “I didn’t think it would create such a big sensation.” Since their photos went viral, Hsueh said her friends and relatives had promised to rethink how much waste they created in their daily lives. But she is just happy about the conversation her photos have started. “If possible, we should bring our own reusable utensils, mugs and containers. The post Dumpsite wedding shoot hopes to lessen waste appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Australian Indigenous rights vote fuels racism
A referendum aimed at elevating the rights of Indigenous Australians has instead triggered a torrent of racist slurs and abuse, with toxic debate spreading online and in the media. The October 14 vote will decide whether to finally recognize First Nations peoples in the constitution. Their ancestors were in Australia for 60,000 years before British colonial rule began in the late 1700s. The reform would give Indigenous communities the right to advise parliament -- a so-called "Voice" -- to help address entrenched inequalities including poorer health, weaker education, and higher rates of incarceration. But recent surveys indicate support for the referendum has plummeted over the past year and will likely fail. The debate has stirred uncertainty about the reform's scope and impact. It has also stoked racial tensions. "It has involved personal attacks, labelling of people as 'un-Australian' and perpetuating racially based stereotypes," Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan told AFP. "I am disappointed that the way some people have engaged in the debate has stoked racial tensions and caused harm to First Nations peoples." Racist conduct had gone largely unchallenged in the public domain, he said. "Racism should never be accepted as part of the exchange of ideas in public debate." Voters have to choose one way or the other, and recent surveys indicate the "yes" camp is at just over 40 percent and the "no" side at nearly 60 percent. It is a near reversal of the situation a year ago. Opponents have criticized the proposal for a lack of detail and for creating unnecessary bureaucracy. But opposition leader Peter Dutton, one of the leading campaigners against the Voice, also warned it would "re-racialise" Australia. Referendum supporters accused Dutton of disinformation and scare-mongering. 'Catastrophic breakdown' Indigenous-related racism reports have spiked since July, according to University of Technology Sydney criminology professor Chris Cunneen, who leads a project that documents such incidents. The share of racism complaints in the "Call It Out" register related to the referendum had climbed to about 30 percent since July, he said. In previous months, the rate was eight percent. "We have also seen an increase in reports of racism online on social media and in the media during the same period," Cunneen said. "Combined these make roughly more than half of all reports." A national mental health helpline for First Nations peoples, 13YARN, painted a similar picture. It recorded a 108-percent increase in callers reporting abuse, racism and trauma from March-June compared to a year earlier, a spokesperson said. University of Queensland communications professor Timothy Graham examined thousands of Voice-related posts on X, formerly Twitter. He found a "catastrophic breakdown of public communication about the referendum across the entire Australian media ecology". "X/Twitter is overrun with confusion, misinformation, and incivility -- this occurs in what can only be described as a vicious feedback loop between politicians, partisan media, and social media," he told AFP. Online abuse Samala Cronin, an Indigenous woman of Butchulla heritage in Queensland, knows how it feels. In August, an old video of her went viral. It showed her in a heated row with an elderly couple about a parcel of land over which Aboriginal people have "exclusive native title". "I got about 3,000 notifications from Facebook and I thought: 'Oh my God'," she told AFP at the time. It has since racked up thousands more reactions on the platform. The comments were littered with racist insults. The country's online safety watchdog, the eSafety Commission, said it had recorded a small but noticeable rise in the proportion of adult cyber abuse complaints from First Nations people in the first half of this year. "We're also hearing from community stakeholders that online abuse is ratcheting up as we approach the referendum," eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant told AFP. She urged all Australians to "discuss and debate this issue respectfully, without stooping to slurs, racist remarks, hate speech or abuse". The post Australian Indigenous rights vote fuels racism appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Vista Land project wins in Lamudi Outlook Awards
Villar-owned Vista Land and Landscapes Inc. gained recognition anew for its top-tier housing options as its premier property The Spectrum was named “Mixed-Use Development of the Year – Luzon” at the prestigious Lamudi Outlook Awards 2023......»»
Championing ‘Sampaguita’ hospitality
Megaworld Hotels & Resorts is bringing in a Filipino touch to its signature brand of hospitality. Sampaguita, the Philippines’ national flower, is Megaworld’s new brand symbol in promoting sustainable tourism, hospitality and agriculture — all part of the company’s thrust toward providing a unique and proudly Filipino guest experience. “Megaworld Hotels & Resorts resonates with the values of the country’s national flower, namely love, honor, dignity and healing. We desire for our brand to stand out and touch the heart of every Filipino, and be the brand that one can be truly proud of. It’s our goal to be the hospitality chain whose story people can relate with because our journey mirrors what every Filipino undergoes, yet comes out stronger from,” Cleofe Albiso, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts managing director said. [caption id="attachment_181097" align="aligncenter" width="650"] SAVOY Hotel Manila.[/caption] She added, Sampaguita artworks will greet guests on entrance, with the staff donning the flower’s pins painted with colors of the Philippine flag. Guests will also get a whiff of a specially-concocted sampaguita scent with notes of fresh herbs, eucalyptus and peppermint during their stay. Exclusive and new dishes infused with sampaguita essence, such as salads, soups, mains and desserts, will be offered at the different Megaworld hotel restaurants and cafes. Meanwhile, guests who wish to have a soothing, relaxing massage can opt to use sampaguita massage oils in one of the spa’s or room service. They can also choose to end their session with a cup of SaMaRra tea with flavors of sampaguita, mango and tarragon to provide healing from the inside. [caption id="attachment_181098" align="aligncenter" width="1589"] Sampaguita, the Philippines’ national flower, is Megaworld’s new brand symbol in promoting sustainable tourism, hospitality and agriculture.[/caption] Reviving the Sampaguita industry Megaworld Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Dwellbeing, a sustainable, private enterprise led by visionary women. It provides jobs to challenged sectors of society by converting used bottles to create organic home cleaning products and scents. Through this, Dwellbeing is able to continue its advocacy of feeding families through “Project Pearls” that provide employment to the deaf and mute in partnership with the Hand and Heart Organization. Raw materials will be sourced in collaboration with the local government of San Pedro, Laguna, the “Sampaguita Capital of the Philippines.” [caption id="attachment_181099" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MEGAWORLDBELMONT Manila.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_181100" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] HOTEL Lucky Chinatown.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_181101" align="aligncenter" width="1278"] RICHMONDE Tower.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_181102" align="aligncenter" width="700"] KINGSFORD Hotel Manila.[/caption] The sampaguita is part of MEGreen, Megaworld’s company-wide sustainability program that promotes the real estate developer’s commitment to providing patches of land dedicated to the planting of sampaguita in its townships across the country. Megaworld Hotels & Resorts has launched 18 hotel properties, 12 of which are operational while five more are in the pipeline including Savoy Palawan in San Vicente and Grand Westside Hotel in Parañaque City, poised to be the biggest hotel in the Philippines once it opens. The existing operational hotels with around 7,700 hotel room keys being managed and operated by the group include Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, Savoy Hotel Newport, Savoy Hotel Boracay, Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown, Belmont Hotel Manila, Belmont Hotel Boracay, Belmont Hotel Mactan, Kingsford Hotel Manila, Twin Lakes Hotel in Tagaytay and Hotel Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Manila. The post Championing ‘Sampaguita’ hospitality appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LTO to probe viral road rage incident
Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Assistant Secretary, Atty. Vigor Mendoza II, ordered on Sunday, 27 August, a thorough investigation into a viral video of a motorist who physically assaulted and even pulled out a handgun on a bicycle rider near the Welcome Rotonda at the boundary of Manila and Quezon City. Mendoza said a show cause order (SCO) has already been issued through LTO-National Capital Region Director Roque Verzosa III against the owner of the red sedan involved in an apparent road rage incident. “We assure the public of our swift action on this matter. In as much as we want to immediately impose sanctions based on the viral video, we have to observe and respect due process and this includes a fair conduct of investigation,” Mendoza said. Mendoza also expressed gratitude to the motorist who uploaded and shared the video, which he said, became the basis of the swift action of the LTO. He said the LTO will cooperate with the PNP in connection with this incident. In line with the instruction of Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to make all roads safe, Mendoza urged the netizens to tag the LTO’s official Facebook page with photos, videos, and other information relating to violations of traffic and road safety rules, especially abusive motorists. “Let us help together to make all our roads safe by running after abusive motorists. Nagkakaroon ng lakas ng loob ang mga abusado sa kalsada kapag walang nagrereklamo, hindi sila nahuhuli at hindi sila napaparusahan," Mendoza said. The post LTO to probe viral road rage incident appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Slater Young brings famous rice terraces to Cebu via new project
Actor and entrepreneur Slater Young showcases the beauty of Banaue's national cultural treasure in Cebu in his latest project. Young, who is an engineer and real estate developer, unveiled on social media his Banaue Rice Terraces-inspired condominium project, called The Rise at Monterrazas de Cebu. "The secret is out! My proudest project yet!" He wrote in the caption of an 18-minute video he uploaded discussing in detail how he came up with the project's sustainability concept. The Rise, which is being built on the side of a mountain, is a luxurious residential complex located in the prestigious Guadalupe neighborhood of Cebu City. After unveiling his new project, Young garnered various praises and comments from his social media followers. As of this writing, the video he shared garnered more than 435,000 views on YouTube and 50,300 reactions on Instagram in three days. See photos here: The post Slater Young brings famous rice terraces to Cebu via new project appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
GERI profits nearly P1B in H1 amid real estate boom
Buoyed by the robust performance of its real estate, rental, and hotel businesses, Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. or GERI, a subsidiary of Megaworld Corp., delivered a 17 percent growth in its first-half profits. In a stock exchange report on Tuesday, GERI disclosed that its net income during the first six months of the year reached P996 million—a significant improvement from last year’s P848 million. Likewise, net income attributable to owners during the period also increased by 13 percent to PP848-million from last year’s P748-million. Consolidated revenues, on the other hand, surged by 32 percent to P3.9 billion from P3 billion in the same period last year. According to GERI, its real estate arm, which accounted for 79 percent of its total revenues, led the entire company’s growth. From January to June, real estate sales climbed by 32 percent to P3.1 billion from last year’s P2.3 billion. Reservation sales also soared by 39 percent to P11.7 billion during the first half of the year. “Our focus on our tourism townships allowed our company to achieve remarkable growth through the first half of the year,” GERI president Monica T. Salomon said in the report. “The company’s core businesses, especially those in our destination estates, largely benefited from the increasing tourism in our country. This second half, we are determined to leverage our expertise and hope to continue capturing the increasing tourism opportunities in the sector.” Demand for GERI’s residential and commercial properties remained strong, particularly for its projects in Boracay Newcoast, Eastland Heights in Antipolo, Rizal, and Twin Lakes in Laurel, Batangas. Its newest project, the P817-million Ocean Garden Villas Cluster C in Boracay Newcoast, which was only launched earlier this year, is now 94 percent sold as of end-June. Hotel revenues, on the other hand, doubled to P308 million from last year’s P158 million due to higher occupancy and room rates as local tourism and travel recover. Leasing revenues, likewise, rose by 29 percent to P273 million from last year’s P211- million. The contribution of retail spaces to the company’s leasing income grew from the year-ago level as foot traffic and tenant sales already recovered from the slowdown. To date, GERI operates nine tourism estates and integrated lifestyle communities across the country covering more than 3,300 hectares of land. The post GERI profits nearly P1B in H1 amid real estate boom appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Vibrant Iloilo City’ emerges
Once singularly known for its heritage homes, Spanish colonial churches and heirloom cuisine, Iloilo City is now fast emerging as a highly urbanized metropolis with a thriving economy driven by agribusiness, tourism, BPOs, trade and commerce. At no other time have the friendly and good-natured Ilonggos shown themselves to be both the driving force behind and the beneficiaries of Iloilo City’s rapid economic progress. Today, the city’s residents enjoy many employment opportunities from local and foreign investments, a booming tourism industry, government infrastructure programs and other big-ticket upgrades. Given Iloilo City’s immense potential, it is no surprise that there is a continuous demand for superior but affordable housing solutions among individuals seeking to live, work and play in a suburban-like environment. The excellent news is prominent real estate player Asterra has been quick to rise to this challenge and is making affordable condo homes accessible to a vast majority of property seekers in this progressive city. With its entry into the Iloilo market, Asterra, a personal housing project of Vista Land chairman Manny B. Villar, acknowledges investors’ keen interest in condominium investments’ affordability and potential returns. Promising upscale condominium living while ensuring affordability and long-term value, Asterra properties in Iloilo City will feature walkable lanes and landscaped pocket gardens, plus leisure facilities such as a swimming pool, fitness gym, clubhouse, basketball court and a children’s playground. Condo units will have cleverly laid-out living spaces highlighted by large windows for better ventilation and natural lighting. Apart from its proximity to crucial lifestyle destinations like schools, hospitals and shopping malls, Asterra will offer its residents easy access to famous beaches, island getaways, and other natural attractions such as rivers, mountains, waterfalls and caves. On Asterra’s expansion in Iloilo, Guacena shares, “Rest assured, Asterra will continue granting Filipinos boundless opportunities to buy their dream condo homes and purchase properties with potential for long-term returns on investment.” The post ‘Vibrant Iloilo City’ emerges appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Asterra sets sights on Iloilo City development
The Asterra brand of suburban condominiums, a personal project of Vista Land chairman and business tycoon Manny Villar, will soon make its presence felt in Iloilo City, a fast emerging metropolis with a thriving economy driven by agribusiness, tourism, BPOs, trade and commerce......»»
Golden Haven’s OFW week event a success
Golden Haven, a prominent name in the Philippine death-care industry, recently invited Overseas Filipino Workers to participate in its OFW Week 2023 event held from 22 to 29 May. With the theme “Mas PinaWais, Mas PinoYaman: Offering Filipinos a Wise Investment,” the celebration helped teach OFWs the right way to grow their money through wise and sustainable investments. OFW remittances contributed $36.14 billion to the country’s coffers by the end of 2022. Throughout the event, exclusive promos were offered to participants, aimed at jumpstarting their investment with Golden Haven such as the 20 percent spot cash discount. There were also deferred payment promotions up to 36 months with zero interest. A talk on investment opportunities was conducted by Peter Frances Simon, an analyst, digital marketer and project lead of the Market Research Department of Vista Land. Golden Haven presented its own Virtual Road Show that took participants on a digital tour of the famed memorial parks of Golden Haven, giving them a glimpse of its memorial lots and columbarium vaults. As our kababayans continue to recognize OFWs for their supreme accomplishments, Golden Haven endeavors to give back to them by helping ensure their families’ future through sound property investments. The post Golden Haven’s OFW week event a success appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Villar’s Vista Land net gains hit P2.7B
Riding on the country’s sustained economic recovery, integrated property developer Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. owned by the Villar family reported a double-digit profit growth during the first quarter of the year. In a stock report on Monday, the company disclosed that its January to March net income reached P2.7 billion — 16 percent higher than the company’s bottomline in the same period a year ago. Consolidated revenue, on the other hand, clocked in at P9.2 billion, up eight percent annually. Sustaining growth momentum To sustain its growth momentum, Vista Land chairman Manuel B. Villar Jr. said the company will continue to launch more projects this year, especially amid consistent demand from overseas Filipino workers as well as domestic buyers, which brought about the 11 percent increase in the company’s reservations sales to P18.6 billion for the quarter. “We will continue with our strategy of maximizing our land potential and announce more offerings in the upscale, vertical, and commercial projects this year,” Villar added. During the first three months alone, the company already launched P10.4 billion worth of projects. Notable improvements Meanwhile, Vista Land president and CEO Manuel Paolo A. Villar pointed out that the company saw notable improvements in its residential and leasing businesses. Real estate revenue as of end-March was at P4.5 billion while rental income amounted to P3.6 billion and residential gross profit for the period reached P2.6 billion. For this year, Vista Land has earmarked P28 billion to bankroll project launches and expansions. From January to March alone, it already spent P5.5 billion to finance project construction and land development. To date, Vista Land’s total assets stood at P323.8 billion, while equity amounted to P126.5 billion. The post Villar’s Vista Land net gains hit P2.7B appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
First Asterra project to rise in Gen Trias
Real estate tycoon and Vista Land founder and chairman Manuel Villar will put up his first personal project, the Asterra brand of affordable residential condominiums, in Gen. Trias in Cavite......»»
Vista Land brings condo living to the countryside
Vista Land and Lifescapes, the flagship property development firm of real estate tycoon Manny Villar, has unveiled its latest offering which is being touted as a personal project of the country’s richest man......»»
P120-B road project pushed to pave growth of former no man s land
P120-B road project pushed to pave growth of former no man s land.....»»
David Licauco amazed by Kathryn Bernardo s humility, wants to have project with her
Kapuso star David Licauco reacted to a viral photo with Kapamilya star Kathryn Bernardo. .....»»
Lovi Poe’s own production outfit to champion Filipino stories abroad
Lovi Poe is the latest Philippine born, bred or based actor to land a Hollywood project, joining the likes of Dolly de Leon, Liza Soberano, Inigo Pascual, and Ruby Ruiz......»»
DMCI Homes putting up 2nd leisure project in Benguet
Following the success of the company’s first leisure property in Batangas, Consunji-led DMCI Homes is developing an eco-agri mountain resort condotel in the town of Tuba, Benguet......»»