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.

Ayala Land to focus on middle-income segment

Ayala Land Inc. plans to intensify this year a “transformational” growth strategy that will further expand the geographical footprint of the previously Makati-centered property developer and shed a predominantly upscale orientation.

The strategy will see ALI relying less on its high-end residential brand Ayala Land Premier (ALP) and growing more the middle-income brands Alveo and Avida and newly launched economic housing units this year. ALP’s contribution is seen declining to 40 percent this year from 50 percent last year.

ALI will focus about 95 percent of its business in the Philippines, targeting new areas not just in Luzon but also in Visayas and Mindanao, company president Antonino Aquino said in a briefing Wednesday.

But ALI is always seeking pockets of overseas investment opportunities, such as its ongoing foray in an eco-city development in Tianjin, China, and the recently launched Seasons Marketplace in Milpitas, California, a new community retail complex catering to the Filipino-American community, Aquino said.

Company chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala said during ALI’s stockholders’ meeting Wednesday that 2010 was a truly “transformational” and “landmark” year as it launched more than 10,000 residential units and doubled its sales take-up to more than P33 billion as it moved to new products, segments and geographic markets.

“Historically, we had been Makati-centric but now you’re seeing us all over the place and before, we were focused on high-end but now, we’re in all product brands and we’re trying to be aggressive in all the product segments,” Aquino said.

While about 90 percent of ALI’s business was currently focused on Luzon, Aquino said the company would scale up projects in the Visayas and Mindanao not just for the residential business but also for other business segments like retail and business process outsourcing office property development.

Outside Luzon, he said ALI would focus on key growth areas in Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

For more details on Ayala subdivision and condo projects, you may contact Reby Ramirez @ +63 919.699.3572 / +63 922.883.9308 / +63 916.4044.555 / +632 404-4534 or e-mail her @ reby_ramirez@yahoo.com.

Lastly, FYI for related information on the new real estate law, RA 9646, please proceed to www.RA9646.com, the online repository of updated information on Real Estate Service Act of 2009 (RESA).

source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 13 2011

BOI incentivizes Avida Towers Cebu

The Board of Investments has granted various fiscal and non-fiscal perks to four projects—three in housing and one in dessicated coconut production—worth more than P2.4 billion.

The largest project to get the BoI’s nod was that of SM Development Corp. for the P1.7-billion Mezza II Residences vertical housing project.

It involves the construction of a 40-story tower with 1,344 housing units. The condominium building will be built on a 2,592-square-meter property in Quezon City.

The P444.9-million Avida Towers Cebu housing project of the Ayalas’ Avida Land Corp. was also approved by the BoI.

The residential building, to be built on a 3,131-sqm piece of land within the Asiatown IT Park in Lahug, will have 22 stories and three podium parking floors.

The third housing project approved was that of Asiatic Development Corp. in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. The P280-million Townsville-Sto. Tomas Phase 2 entails the construction of 558 housing units.

Scheduled to start commercial operations in July, the project is seen generating 240 new jobs.

The BoI also granted incentives to Celebes Coconut Corp. for the expansion of its dessicated coconut manufacturing business in Butuan City.

The P38.6-million expansion project will allow the company to produce an additional 6,912 metric tons (MT) of dessicated coconut a year via a new production line that can churn out eight MT every eight-hour shift.

For more details on SM, Ayala and Asiatic Development Corporation, you may contact Reby Ramirez @ +63 919.699.3572 / +63 922.883.9308 / +63 916.4044.555 / +632 404-4534 or e-mail her @ reby_ramirez@yahoo.com.

Lastly, FYI for related information on the new real estate law, RA 9646, please proceed to www.RA9646.com, the online repository of updated information on Real Estate Service Act of 2009 (RESA).

source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 13 2011

Ayala Land forms new unit to handle hotel, resort ventures

PROPERTY giant Ayala Land, Inc. has formed a new subsidiary to handle its hotel and resort business, documents showed.

The Securities and Exchange Commission approved the articles of incorporation of Ayala Hotels and Resort Corp. last Sept. 21. The firm has authorized capital of P1.175 billion divided into 235 million shares.

The corporate regulator allowed the firm “to acquire and own, hold, use, sell, assign, manage, deal, transfer or otherwise dispose of real and personal property ... and engage in the general business of a hotel, apartment hotel, inn, resort, restaurant, café, bar, entertainment and other allied business.”

It can also acquire land and buildings, and undertake necessary improvements.

Ayala Land first ventured into the resort and leisure segment in 2007, with the P4-billion development of the 320-hectare Anvaya Cove in Bataan. It was followed by the 46-hectare Amara development in the municipality of Liloan in Cebu.

Last year, Ayala Land signed a deal with the government to develop a 7.5-hectare lot within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The firm is also in a joint venture to develop parts of the El Nido Resort in Palawan.

The 50-year lease agreement with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority will involve the development of a property on Rizal Highway or between the two main gates linking the free port zone to Olongapo City.

Ayala Land will invest P3 billion for the development of hotels, retail spaces, and business process outsourcing offices. Some 10,000 jobs will be generated by the venture.

Ayala Land subscribed to P1.17 billion in shares of the new unit.

Shareholders Antonino T. Aquino, Jose Emmanuel H. Jalandoni, Emilio J. Tumbocon, Michael Alexis C. Legaspi and Ma. Luisa D. Chiong paid P1 each.

Shares in Ayala Land, whose profits jumped by 34% to P2.51 billion in the first half, shed 1.85% or P0.32 to close at P17.30 apiece yesterday.

Source: Businesworld, 19 October 2010

For details on the Real Estate Service Act or RESA Law > www.ra9646.com

Ayala Land beefs up property

Just as it promises to launch more projects to ride the wave of market revival, property developer Ayala Land, Inc. (Ayala Land) is also beefing up its manpower tasked with maintaining its developed properties.

Jorge T. Marco, Ayala Land investor relations head, told Malaya Business Insight that the company’s current head count of employees detailed for asset management is only enough for buildings and properties that the company already have. Expansion of developments would require additional hands.

"We need people for administration and property management. The more projects going up, the more that we need additional people," said Marco.

"In every vertical project that we build, we handle the management of that building," he added.

Marco failed to reveal how many additional staff Ayala Land needs but stressed that as the company builds, it will hire more people.

Ayala Land chief finance officer Jaime Ysmael earlier said that the company is ramping up its project launch of residential projects to 12,000 from the original plan of 9,275 units "driven by strong take-up of units."

Ysmael noted that the industry has become "quite good" that it has led many developers to launch lots of projects.

"Everybody accelerated because of good take up," he said adding, "we have accelerated to a certain extent."

The increase however does not require additional investment by the company, said Ysmael, adding that the cashflow from existing projects is enough to cover for the needed cash of the expansion.

The expansion of manpower is also seen by some in the market as Ayala Land ’s way of keeping assets in shape as it eyes to fold properties into the real estate investment trust being cooked up in the financial market.

Ayala Land recently incorporated unit Ayala Land Commercial REIT Inc. (ALCRI) which will serve as the company’s vehicle into the REIT.

The P1.2 billion company "will own and select investment properties for long-term investment" which will include mature assets like shopping center and office assets currently under Ayala Land ’s portfolio, the company earlier said.

Ayala Land said these assets will have recurring income streams and stable occupancy rates.

Aside from folded assets, ALCRI will also look for acquisition opportunities of additional high quality assets that will further enhance and grow its portfolio.

Out of ALCRI’s authorized capital of P1.2 billion, P300 million was subscribed and paid up.

Ayala Land previously expressed its intention to participate in the REIT industry, eyeing to raise about $300 million in new funds.

Tapped as underwriters for the REIT were investment banks JPMorgan and UBS, for the foreign offering, while BPI Capital has been tapped for the local counterpart.

Source: Business Insight Malaya, 06 October 2010

For details on the Real Estate Service Act or RESA Law > www.ra9646.com

ALI starts construction of 1st BPO campus in Negros

MANILA, Philippines - Property giant Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) has started the construction of its first business process outsourcing (BPO) campus in Talisay, Negros Occidental – Ayala North Point TechnoHub – with the first phase slated for completion in the first quarter of 2011.

The initial phase of Ayala North Point Technohub will involve the construction of the first two-story building with approximately 4,500 square meters of gross leasable area.

When completed, the campus will consist of several low-rise BPO facilities with a total gross leasable area of approximately 40,000 square meters, supported by a retail component on the ground floor of each office building, all within a 215-hecatare property that ALI is developing in the city.

“We are immensely pleased that we continue to increase our presence here in Talisay City. This is in line with Ayala Land’s growth strategy to bring our developments across the country through the creation and development of sustainable communities, and Talisay is one of the major growth centers Ayala Land would like to have a strong presence in,” ALI senior vice president Marivic Añonuevo said.

ALI’s existing residential projects in Talisay include Ayala North Point, Verdana Homes Plantazzione and Verdana Homes Asyana.

Añonuevo said the project brings the success of the company’s existing environment-friendly office developments such as the UP-AyalaLand TechnoHub in Quezon City and One Evotech in Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna to the Talisay community.

Upon full completion, the BPO campus is expected to generate more than 15,000 jobs for the local community from the BPO offices, retail establishments and support maintenance services.

Source: Philippine Star, 06 October 2010

For details on the Real Estate Service Act or RESA Law > www.ra9646.com

Avida Towers Cebu in Asiatown Park

Avida Land launches second tower at Cebu’s Asiatown park

CEBU CITY -- Avida Land Corp. launched its second residential tower within Asiatown IT Park, just three months after it broke ground for the project and launched the first tower.

The second of two towers that comprise the P1.2-billion Avida Towers Cebu will offer more garden units, said Ryan L. Ybañez, project development associate manager. Tower 1 was launched in July and in less than four months, over 90% of the 518 units have been taken.

While the two towers are under construction, Avida Land is aggressively scouting for properties that could be developed, and planning the establishment of an office to serve the growing Visayas market.

“We’re looking at setting up a branch in Cebu to cater to the fast growth in the Visayas. Our land acquisition group is also scouting for properties right now for other projects,” Mr. Ybañez said.

New projects could either be another condominium development or a “horizontal” development with house-and-lot packages. By the fourth quarter of this year, Avida will also launch house-and-lot developments in Bacolod City in Negros Occidental and Pavia town in Iloilo, both in Western Visayas region.

At Asiatown IT Park, the 25-storey Avida Towers Cebu will be completed in 2013, Mr. Ybañez said. The first tower is slated for completion in the third quarter of 2013 while the second will follow in the fourth quarter of the same year.

Both towers offer studio, one-bedroom units, and two-bedroom units that will be telephone, cable and Internet-ready. Each unit will also be equipped with a fire protection system. Amenities for both towers include adult and children’s swimming pools, a clubhouse with a function room, a children’s play area, an outdoor gym, a garden area and a jogging path.

Avida Towers Cebu is the first project of Avida Land, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ayala Land, Inc., outside Luzon. It is a joint venture project with Asian I-Office Properties, Inc., a subsidiary of Ayala-led Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corp.

The project is located within Asiatown IT Park, a 29-hectare cyberpark developed by Cebu Property Ventures which hosts about 70% of the business process outsourcing companies operating in Cebu and employs about 13,000 workers.

For details on Avida Towers Cebu, please contact Reby Ramirez @ +63 916.4044.555 / +63 922.883.9308 / +63 919.699.3572 or e-mail her at reby_ramirez@yahoo.com.

Source: Businessworld, 06 October 2010

For details on the Real Estate Service Act or RESA Law > http://www.ra9646.com/