Ayala unveils 'biggest investment' in one area

ed 06/28/2012 6:10 PM
SUPER BLOCK. The site may be relatively bare now but Ayala Land CEO Antonino T. Aquino says, "We called it the super block. It really connotes that this is going to be the center piece of High Street." Photo by Katherine Visconti.
RAPPLER - The Ayala group and its partners are pouring P30 billion over 4 years into the development of a prime real estate block in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

At a press launch on Thursday, June 28, Ayala Land CEO Antonino T. Aquino referred to this block as "the biggest investment in one single area."

Situated between 3rd Avenue and 30th Street is One Bonifacio High Street, a name apt to show its "importance" as "the principal address" in Bonifacio Global, explained Aquino.
ONE BONIFACIO HIGH STREET. The new mixed use block will be bound by 28th Street, 3rd and 5th Avenues.
Aquino said half of the costs would be taken on by the Shangri-La Group, which will erect a 5 star hotel. "This is going to be the best Shangri-La put up in this country," he added.

He said the remaining P15 billion of the investment will be shared by Ayala Land (via unit Ayala Land Premier), Campos-Ayala venture Evergreen Holdings, and Fort Bonifacio Development.

Of this amount, the following real estate projects will be built;

• P2 billion to P3 billion for a retail component featuring 63 stores

PREMIUM RETAIL. A 4-level premium lifestyle hug will feature premium stores, luxury stopes, refined leisure activities, and fine dining options. Photo courtesy of Ayala Land.

• P9.9 billion for The Suites, a premier residential project

GRAND SUITE IN 3 BEDROOM APT. Ayala Land says residences in The Suites will be characterized by larger-than-usual unit areas and soaring ceilings. Living spaces range from 136 square-meters to 430 square-meters. Photo courtesy of Ayala Land.

• P3.5 billion for the new Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) tower

NEW HOME. The new corporate headquarters of the Philippine Stock Exchange will be on the eastern side of the 'super block,' the high-end Shangri-La hotel on the northern side, and a mall and a residential building on the southern side. Photo courtesy of Ayala Land.

Below is the location of the future PSE tower within the premier block:



'The Suites'

The market has been receptive for the high-end real estate products. Buyers for the suites is "a very discerning affluent" one, said Aquino.

After priority selling for the 298-unit residential suites started on June 24, 99% were reserved within 96 hours, leaving only 3 units of 298 left as of June 28.
SKY VILLAS. The 63-storey single tower will feature limited edition sky villas. Photo courtesy of Ayala Land.
He said Fort Bonifacio is the neighborhood to be in and that One Bonifacio High Street will "cut at the heart of the district."

"The defining element that we will always set in any Ayala Land Premier project is location," said Aquino.

Beyond Wall Street
"If we consider Makati to be the Wall Street of the Philippines, Ayala Avenue is effectively [that] Wall Street.

In Bonifacio, we did something better… the center is called Bonifacio High Street, the longest pedestrian mall in the country -- one kilometer long," said Aquino.

"This (One Bonifacio High Street) is where we are going to offer nothing but the best in terms of living in the suites, working, living… and a lot of entertainment and dining," said Aquino.

For more details on Ayala Land projects, you may e-mail reby_ramirez@yahoo.com or contact her at 0922.883.9308 / 0916.4044.555 / 0919.699.3572.

For latest update on real estate development and its RA 9646, the Real Estate Service Act of 2009, visit www.ra9646.com.

Bicol revs up economic engine

INQUIRER, 25 January 2012 - In this Year of the Water Dragon, Bicol is poised to take off. The optimism stems from the region’s economic growth in previous years as most of its provinces turned to tourism and services to boost their standings. Some, however, were hobbled by challenges brought about by high power costs.

The economic landscape, Salceda says, “looks different, and the momentum of growth it had taken had been decisive.”

In Albay, the official says he needs to focus on addressing high power costs, which he describes as “the biggest single stumbling block to faster, more sustained and more inclusive economic growth.”

Rising power costs have emerged as the biggest disincentive to more domestic and foreign investments, he adds.

“While provinces like Albay have been providing Luzon with cheap geothermal energy of almost 464 (megawatts) while getting virtually nothing, under Epira (Electric Power Industry Reform Act), (Albay) is now compelled to purchase the same power at WESM (Wholesale Electricity Spot Market) for P7.8 per kilowatt-hour (kWh),” he says.

Salceda says the RDC would endorse flagship infrastructure developments, particularly on multimodal transportation infrastructure and the Bicol River Basin Project which are both under way, and the P3.4-billion Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) in Daraga town.

“The SLIA is seen to uplift the economy and position of Bicol on the global tourism map,” he says.

CamSur-driven
Provincial administrator Fermin Mabulo, who spoke in behalf of Gov. Luis “LRay” Villafuerte, says that aside from tourism, the financial standing of the largest province of Bicol was fed by a boom in the housing industry.

The entry of real estate giant Ayala Land in the property adjacent to the Capitol complex would be complemented by the improvement of the facilities of the capitol, including the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC), he says.

“The improvement of the CWC is included in the overall development of 9,000 square meters of provincial land near the capitol, which would be turned into a convention area as Camarines Sur poises to market itself as the convention hub of the country,” says Mabulo.

While CamSur would be harshly affected by the cut in the internal revenue allotment from the national government this year, he says it would remain an affluent province—even if the proposed Nueva Camarines province materializes. He says the partition could hurt growth plans, but he remains hopeful it would not push through.

In Naga, planning and development coordinator Wilfredo Prilles says the city’s economy did very well amid continuing challenges, mainly coming from a slowdown in the property sector.

Last year, the total number of registered firms grew by 33 percent in terms of new business and renewals, says Prilles. “For 2012, we expect this trend to continue,” he adds.

“We see more businesses opening at the same pace, especially with the PNR (Philippine National Railways) services to Bicol now restored. Tourism will continue to be a sunshine industry, with at least two hotels expecting to operate next year,” he says.

In Iriga, tourism is expected to provide an “additional shot in the arm in the short term” as Iriga stages the second “Gayon Bikol” Festival in February, says city information officer Francisco Peñones Jr.

Maj. Angelo Guzman, spokesperson of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division based in Camp Elias Angeles in Pili, Camarines Sur, sees “improving peace situation” as the government’s anti-insurgency program that was implemented starting last year “was slowly harvesting its fruits.”

He claims that more communist rebels will go back to the fold of the law because of dwindling mass support.

Sick man no more
The “newcomers,” Sarion says, includes Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., which has started installing facilities.

Daet is also undergoing an urban renewal program, including the construction of an integrated terminal, a well-lit plaza, and a renovated government center.

Evelyn de Leon, chair of the small and medium enterprises council of the province, says the entry of McDonald’s, 7-Eleven, Liberty Commercial complex and other investors augurs well for Camarines Norte.

The influx of tourists in the Calaguas group of islands is another boost, along with the growing popularity of the province as a water sports destination.

But De Leon says a slowdown is expected in the mining industry because of the nonissuance of permits to small-scale miners by the provincial government.

Looking bright
In Sorsogon, Gov. Raul Lee expects an improved situation, pinning the fortune of the province mainly on tourism.

“On the peace and order side, we are relatively peaceful. On the economic side, business in the province is relatively slow.” Lee says.

He says he is hoping that 2012 will be a year of less crime and improved economy for the province famous for the butanding or whale sharks that feed off its shores.

In Masbate, Placer Mayor Joshur Judd Lanete, son of Gov.  Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, sees a rosy future despite the province being put in bad light due to political violence and criminality.

“The economy and peace and order situations are looking bright. With the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, it seems that the people feel safer already. It bodes well for the tourism industry in the province,” he says.

Prospects are up in Catanduanes despite a significant drop in the buying prices of abaca fiber and a steep rise in power rates beginning this month, according to Ireneo Panti, Jr., provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry. The island produces 20 percent of the country’s annual production.

Panti says the plunge in the price of abaca fiber has kept businessmen worried even as the trade in abaca bacbac (dried leaf sheaths) continues to expand.

Over 20,000 farmers and their families depend on the abaca industry for subsistence.

Catanduanes is also burdened by the unreliable and expensive cost of power, with the Energy Regulatory Commission recently approving six petitions to increase power rates filed by National Power Corp. to recover losses in fuel costs and foreign exchange fluctuations.

The increases, which will bring the cost of residential power to over P12 per kWh, will be implemented over the next four years.

Bishop Manolo delos Santos and Provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council chair Rene Abella have appealed to Malacañang to defer the power-rate increases. They suggested that these be stretched over six years to cushion their impact on consumers.

For latest update on real estate development and its RA 9646, the Real Estate Service Act of 2009, visit www.ra9646.com.

For more details on Ayala Homes, you may e-mail reby_ramirez@yahoo.com or contact her at 0922.883.9308 / 0916.4044.555 / 0919.699.3572 / 4044-534.

Turning ‘Banig’ Into Symbol Of Patriotism

Manila Bulletin – Whenever Filipinos see a banig (native hand-woven mat), chances are, they would instantly conjure up images of themselves having a relaxing sleep.

With the country’s 114th Independence Day celebration fast approaching, leading real estate developer Ayala Land, Inc. sought to associate banig with something other than nap time – transforming the hand-woven wonders into the ultimate symbol of Philippine patriotism.

What symbol? The Philippine flag, of course. After all, somebody would’ve gotten killed waving such flag over a century ago.

Friday night, Ayala Land, in partnership with the Makati City government and the Makati Commercial Estate Association, Inc. (MACEA) unveiled the largest hand-woven Philippine flag at the Ayala Triangle Garden. It is the first and only Philippine flag made out of banig.

Mounted horizontally at the heart of the Ayala Triangle Garden, the imposing masterpiece was crafted by artisans in Basey, Samar, said Ayala Land Assistant Vice President Mel Ignacio.

“It is 50 square meters and is made of tikog grass, which is the material used to make banig. The weaving was done by 25 people and they worked on it in a little over a month,” Ignacio said.
Incidentally, the old practice of tikog-weaving still flourishes in the old town of Basey even as banig took on other forms and uses such as bags, throw pillows, framed decors, and furniture matting. Souvenir-hunters and tourists eat it up, too.

“The flag symbolizes our independence. We wanted to do something to symbolize our ingenuity and culture. Our ancestors have been using it for a long time. The banig has also proven to be important in the lives of many people,” cited Ignacio.

Indeed, banig is symbolic of Filipino culture and identity.

The beautiful stories behind these hand-woven mats are further showcased in a Banig Exhibit, which complements the huge flag display and was put up in with the help of the Filipino Heritage Festival.
The banig flag may be the most meaningful Philippine flag-inspired, large-scale installation yet at the Ayala Triangle Garden.

Ignacio said that last year’s display, which was also unveiled during Independence Day celebration, featured a “3-D flag” while the previous year saw a Philippine flag image formed from plants.
“Maybe the school children can come here. We want them to be proud about their heritage and see the flag,” Ignacio said.

For his part, Ayala Land, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Tony Aquino, said: “Ayala Land is committed to continue working with key stakeholders, led by the local government of Makati City, to ensure the growth and development of Makati as it evolves beyond its borders into the country’s leading city for business, lifestyle, entertainment and culture.”

The banig flag, Ignacio said, would be on display for up to a month. Hopefully, the message of this powerful symbolism would linger.

For latest update on real estate development and its RA 9646, the Real Estate Service Act of 2009, visit www.ra9646.com.

For more details on Ayala real estate projects, you may e-mail reby_ramirez@yahoo.com or contact her at 0922.883.9308 / 0916.4044.555 / 0919.699.3572 / 4044-534.