Don't look now, but the once-sleepy city of Las Piñas is about to transform itself into a "mini Las Vegas with a touch of Disneyland" in the south of Metro Manila. 

A scion of the  Villar-Aguilar clan revealed that this will be made possible with the opening of "the first integrated resort under the Villar group of companies sometime in 2025." With world-class facilities for hotels, gaming, convention,shopping, entertainment and wellness, the property complex, located in the Global South township traversing C5 Road Extension, will position Las Piñas as an alternative entertainment capital and must-visit destination. It will feature the concerts of international artists, shows of local entertainers and other worldwide acts.

Businessman Carlo Aguilar, a nephew of Sen. Cynthia Villar, pointed out that a change in the city's landscape is very much welcome and called for. He said that aside from its proximity to the airport,  Las Piñas is "the last city in Metro Manila before people go to provinces like Cavite, Laguna and Batangas so definitely, we would like to promote the city, especially its tourism aspect."

Details of the integrated resort project released to the media stated that the first phase will open sometime in 2025, in an 8.7 hectare property in  Global South . About 21,000 square meters will be allotted for retail shops and thematic shopping while 18,300 sq.m. will be dedicated to the casino with live performances and celebrity shows. Another 5,800 square meters is being reserved as a separate venue for concerts, sports and cultural exhibits.The developer of the complex is Vertex Entertainment and Resorts Corp., a subsidiary of the Villar Group.

Aguilar ticked off the numerous benefits that the project will bring to Las Piñas such as "employment to thousands of residents, surge  in visitors, the revival of businesses around the area, and increased revenues which the city government will then use to provide better social services for the people."

He noted that the "integrated resort is just right across Padre Diego Cera Avenue, the location of the Las Piñas Historical Corridor which includes the famous Bamboo Organ. Visitors will have the golden chance of seeing the old and modern parts of the city in one strip."

"Si Senator (Cynthia), it's really her advocacy to promote the cultural history of Las Piñas, like the festivals and our tourist spots. I can help her with that," Aguilar said.

The young Aguilar was a councilor of Las Piñas from 2010 to 2019 and is now being groomed for the top post in the city. He is the philanthropist behind the Zero One Volunteer Fire Brigade and is also a graduate of the management development program of the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

He expressed approval about supporting the showbiz industry, knowing that there are a lot of celebrities who live in Las Piñas. "Yung ancestral home ng late grandfather namin na si Dr. Felimon Aguilar, nasa likod  ng bahay nila sina Christopher de Leon at Sandy Andolong. Neighbors sila. I remember when I was small, lagi ako doon," he remarked.