HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPEVINE: OUR NEW ABNORMAL
Back to a face-to-face format after two years of virtual recognition, PropertyGuru’s Asia Property Awards saw the best of the best from the real estate industry, from all over the ASEAN region, plus Australia, Japan, India and China, descend on Bangkok for a glorious black-tie night of camaraderie and celebration. The real estate industry in Asia has been one of the more resilient industry sectors during the last year, so there was also an element of recognizing this admirable, survival trait.
Enthusiastic over the prospects for 2023, and how the further lowering of health restrictions across borders can only augur well for the near-future, the optimistic mood of those in attendance was contagious. I was fortunate enough to be present during the Friday night dinner and awards ceremonies, and especially proud to see the Philippines represented in several categories, and be called to the stage as Top Development and/or Developer in seven regional wins. Plus extra nice to see a Filipino, Issa Litton, co-hosting the event with a Thai personality.
AppleOne Mactan Inc., Global Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI), Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates, Cebu Landmasters, Inc., and Arquitectonica, were the Filipino companies making up these seven wins, with Aboitiz InfraCapital taking home three significant wins. Thailand similarly had seven wins, while Singapore and Indonesia scored six wins. Australia took home five wins, Vietnam had four, and there were two wins each for Cambodia and Malaysia. The regional wins were selected from the pool of country winners in celebrations held earlier in the year. Representing China (Hong Kong and Macau), the New World Development Company Limited took home the top honor of Best Developer (Asia).
For Aboitiz InfraCapital, first time to go up on stage was for Best Green Development (Asia), and this was for LIMA Estate, an industrial park. Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, president of LIMA Land Inc. & Cebu Industrial Park Developers, Inc., and head of Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates, was in for a surprise as they also copped the win for Best Industrial Development (Asia), and got called up for a third time for Best Industrial Developer (Asia).
LIMA is a 700-hectare Philippine Economic Zone Authority-registered mixed-use development that’s located in Malvar, Batangas. Presently, it hosts 111 locators, 100 retail stores and restaurants, a 138-room hotel, a transportation hub, and over 2,000 households. And Rafael was happy and proud to use his opportunity on stage to make the call that the Philippines is a great place to do business in. As part of the Aboitiz Group’s Great Transformations, I know the group will be especially proud of these awards, and the recognition it denotes of how progress can be achieved in a sustainable manner, without sacrificing viability and bottom line sense.
AppleOne Mactan took home the Best Branded Residential Development (Asia) for their The Residences at Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, and it was nice to see them in full force in Bangkok, with Mr. Rey Manigsaca, wife Venus, and daughter Samantha ascending to the stage. Arquitectonica was honored with Best Office Architectural Design (Asia) for the Mega Tower of SM Prime; and David Zaballero-Riba, their design manager received the award. The Global Estate Resorts Inc. (GERI) garnered the Best Lifestyle Developer (Asia), and Cebu Landmasters, Inc. was honored as Best Hospitality Architectural Design (Asia) for Sofitel Cebu City.
The Grand Final Awards Night was held at the Athenee Hotel, presented by Kohler, and supported by leading real estate companies of the world. PropertyGuru Group is Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company, and these awards were established in Thailand back in 2005, and over the years, has now expanded to 18 property markets. The program connects real estate developers, architects and interior designers; then expands to investors, locators and agents.
As Jules Kay, general Manager of Property Guru Asia Property Awards and Events was proud to say, “The winners... represent the diversity, progress and resilience of their respective property markets. With projects ranging from boutique residential developments to vast integrated districts, these award-winning developments offer an impressive snapshot of what the Best in Asia looks like... these awardees shine bright as the Gold Standard of Asian real estate, keeping true to our vision of building the region’s Property Trust Platform.”
The list was selected by an independent jury consisting of head judges of participating markets in the Awards. The judge from the Philippines was no other than Cyndy Tan-Jarabata, President of TAJARA Leisure and Hospitality Group Inc.
Congratulations to PropertyGuru on a wonderful event, and to the seven top-placing regional awards for the Philippines.