Megaworld is the biggest winner at the 2017 Philippine Property Awards

Property giant Megaworld once again topped the 2017 Philippine Property Awards by taking home the Best Developer award during the black-tie gala dinner held at Fairmont Hotel in Makati City.

Megaworld bagging the “Best Developer in the Philippines” award for the second consecutive year was forthcoming as the organization was   at top of this year’s competition with 25 appearances in the final shortlist given last April..

Megaworld Corporation also  picked up  eight other gongs and special awards, and a mantle of 17 Highly Commended honours, out of 25 nominations – the most for any developer this year.

“The blueprint for Megaworld’s success is not only apparent in its pioneering integrated urban township concept that’s been perfected for many years, but also in its dedication to nation building by introducing the world-class developments in provincial areas,” said the 10-member judging panel led by JLL Philippines chairman Lindsay J. Orr.

Citing that Megaworld projects are aesthetically pleasing, sustainable and environment friendly, the panel said that “the company in the past year has excelled in producing some of the industry’s best designs and commercial development, earning once again the distinction of being the year’s Best Developer.”

One of the recognitions for the Dr Andrew L. Tan-led conglomerate is Best Universal Design Development, a new category this year that was awarded to its low-rise project St. Moritz Private Estates, which has been noted for promoting cosmopolitan features underlined by Filipino ethnic accents, as well as top-of-the-line amenities and recreational facilities that cater to all age groups and families.

From Cebu, AppleOne Properties Inc collected the award for Best Condo Development (Cebu) for AppleOne Banawa Heights, which received a Highly Commended honour last year. Further development has allowed the project to compete again this year. According to the judges, the project also introduces many firsts for Cebu, including its nature-centric approach to development, 70 percent open space, keyless entry, and a total of five swimming pools and three gymnasiums at the development.

Further down south, Damosa Land took home the gong for Best Residential Development (Davao) for the “functional and innovative” Damosa Fairlane, beating another Damosa project in the same category. Damosa Fairlane’s outstanding feature is the various “pocket parks” throughout the property and open, green spaces that evoke residential communities in the 1950s.

“Although Manila remains the heart of the real estate industry, quality developments can now be found everywhere in the country,” said Terry Blackburn, founder and managing director of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards, in his opening remarks.

 “As well as residential development giving more and more Filipinos the chance to own their own home for the first time, economic growth continues to be supported by world class retail and office developments,” he added.

With an abundance of BPO office buildings in the country, Best BPO Office Development awardee Scape by Prince Allumer Development Corp stood out against the competition for incorporating many green elements and resource efficient amenities.

Implementing a well-planned “garden mall” concept, Robinsons Galleria Cebu by Robinsons Land Corporation, winner in the Best Retail Development category, was rewarded for highlighting Cebu’s memorable sceneries through its glass façade and green spaces throughout the project.

Robinsons Land Corporation collected several other special awards, including a Special Recognition in Sustainable Development that it shared with green boutique developer ArthaLand, and an honour for its company president Frederick D. Go, who has been chosen by the editors of Property Report magazine as the 2017 Philippines Real Estate Personality of the Year for “leading the company that transforms people’s dreams into reality through real estate projects that last generations.”

“We want to leave a legacy of having improved the quality of life of everyone we have touched in our businesses, whether they are a mall customer or partner, an occupant in our office buildings, a hotel guest or a homeowner,” Go said on behalf of his firm. “We are building the business of building dreams and making life better.”

A total of 29 Winners and 35 Highly Commended recipients were announced during the awarding ceremony that recognised established and up-and-coming developers from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao that are increasingly paying more attention to green features and sustainability.

The main category winners in the Philippines are now advancing to the seventh annual PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards grand final in Singapore this November at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, where they will compete with 15 other markets in the region and be crowned the “best in Asia.”

Hari V. Krishnan, CEO of PropertyGuru Group, commented: “I would like to congratulate the Winners and Highly Commended companies and projects at this year’s PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards. Continued commitment to the property sector’s growth definitely fuels progress and the Philippine real estate market has shown a lot of promise on this front.

“At the same time, there are lots of opportunities for growth and improvement, specifically on transparency and sustainability. As developers across the archipelago become more focused on their goals, I can see a fantastic future for the industry and it will be great to witness its ongoing transformation into a regional real estate player with outstanding and innovative commercial and residential offerings.”

Presented by title sponsor Kohler, PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards 2017 gala dinner was attended by around 250 key industry figures and government VIPs, including Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo, who acknowledged the contribution of the real estate sector to the growing tourism industry and importance of sustainable development in her keynote address. Other officials in attendance were Tourism Undersecretary Alma Jimenez, and Atty. Amado Valdez, chairman of the Philippine Social Security System.  Issa Litton was the master of ceremonies.

The event was supported by co-sponsors JLL Philippines and Regus Philippines, official broadcaster The ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), official newspaper The Philippine STAR, official property portal Zipmatch.com, official charity CARE Philippines, official supplier Titania Wine Cellar Inc, media partners INQUIRER.NET, Oxford Business Group, HGTV Asia and PropertyGuru Property Report magazine, supporting associations British Chamber of Commerce Philippines and European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, and official judging supervisor BDO, the world’s fifth largest auditing and accountancy firm led by co-managing partner Paul Ashburn.

Do visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com/philippines-property-awards/ for more information on the PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards.