A quick look into the most promising destinations for business and leisure from Megaworld’s iconic Visayas townships
By ROBERT CASTOR
In a country as richly diverse as the Philippines, it’s easy to imagine the wealth of untold stories of growth and experience waiting to be discovered all over the country. This sense of wonder and progress is precisely what property giant Megaworld brings closer to Filipinos as it continues to develop its townships in key growth hubs across the Visayas.
Of the 36 townships Megaworld has launched over nearly four decades, six are located in the Visayas, with three integrated developments—Iloilo Business Park in Iloilo City, The Mactan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, and The Upper East in Bacolod City—already emerging as icons of progress, vibrancy, and regional pride.
This strong footprint across some of the region’s most dynamic cities reinforces Megaworld’s distinction as ‘Best Developer in Visayas,’ a recognition the company received at the 2024 Philippines Property Awards by PropertyGuru, Asia’s leading real estate authority. More than a title, it affirms the company’s unwavering commitment to inclusive development—creating spaces that celebrate local identity while unlocking new opportunities for business, tourism, and community life beyond Metro Manila.
All eyes on The Upper East and Northill Gateway in Bacolod
Known as one of the most livable cities in the Philippines, Bacolod City remains an attractive location for investors, particularly due to the rapid urban development happening in the city.
Among the things that excite people and investors about Bacolod is the emergence of the city’s modern central business district, the 34-hectare The Upper East township. Home to a variety of themed residential condominium developments, office properties, and commercial components, including the country’s most beautiful McDonald’s and the Philippines’ biggest Landers Superstore. Soon, Megaworld’s tallest residential condominium in the entire Visayas will also dot The Upper East’s skyline: the 26-story Kensington Sky Garden.
Also driving more excitement among Bacoleños is another Megaworld township, the 53-hectare Northill Gateway along the Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road. Located just 10-minutes from the Bacolod-Silay International Airport, Northill Parade is gradually filling up with lots of exciting brands coming in, such as the Philippines’ only Denny’s with a Drive-Thru. Lifestyle brand Adidas is also opening its very own outlet store in Western Visayas, while Puma will soon have its first-ever outlet store in Iloilo and Bacolod to be located in the township.
Iloilo’s most vibrant addresses are in Iloilo Business Park and Sta. Barbara Heights
As the newly proclaimed ‘Center of Arts and Culture’ of Iloilo City, Iloilo Business Park continues to define the region’s creative pulse through its cultural institutions and landmark initiatives. Anchored by two premier museums—the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA) and the Brandy Museum—the township has elevated Iloilo’s reputation as a flourishing destination for arts and heritage appreciation.
The township features two world-class hotels, Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo and Richmonde Hotel Iloilo. Soon, a third hotel—Belmont Hotel Iloilo—will be opening, bringing the township’s total hotel room count to nearly 900. At the heart of Iloilo Business Park and hosting a variety of local and multinational businesses are 12 premium office towers, offering close to 200,000 square meters of leasable space. There’s also the three-level Festive Walk Iloilo and the 1.1-kilometer Festive Walk Parade, that punctuate the township’s standing as a thriving address for business, tourism, and innovation.
The township also features themed residential condominiums carrying different architectural concepts—from classical, French, Italian, and European influences—all connecting Iloilo to global design traditions that elevate the IBP’s character. The latest of these is the 22-story Firenze, an exciting residential development offering 415 ‘smart home’ units and whose architecture and appeal is inspired by the picturesque Italian City of Florence.
And then there’s Sta. Barbara Heights, a 173-hectare integrated lifestyle community by property giant Megaworld’s subsidiary Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI). Linked directly to the Iloilo International Airport via a four-lane Spine Road, Sta. Barbara Heights features its very own Shophouse District where entrepreneurs can set up both their homes and their businesses in one address. Mercato Sta. Barbara is also becoming a must-visit destination on this side of Iloilo, featuring pasalubong shops, local handicrafts, food outlets, and even live band performances throughout weekend afternoons.
Year-round holiday vibes at Boracay Newcoast
A trip to one of the world’s best islands wouldn’t be complete without a stop at what is perhaps Boracay’s best-kept secret to date: the 150-hectare Boracay Newcoast, a master-planned sustainable tourism township in the northeastern part of the island by Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI), a subsidiary of property giant Megaworld.
More than a destination, Boracay Newcoast is a place where you can enjoy your time in the island from one of Megaworld’s homegrown hotels, or even consider owning a Boracay address of your own. Aside from having its own exclusive stretch of white sand beach, the township features a variety of retail and dining outlets, including the island’s only Wolfgang Steakhouse, a shophouse and boutique hotel district, three homegrown hotels, a 1,200-seater convention facility, a sprawling residential village, and rows of residential condominiums that allow residents to enjoy views of the sea, the mountains, and the rest of the township.
Must-experience lifestyle at The Mactan Newtown
Already home to iconic residential condominiums and office towers, Megaworld’s 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown recently welcomed two first-in-the-Philippines dining concepts from internationally renowned Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay: Gordon Ramsay Street Burger and Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips. These globally celebrated restaurants are just a short walk away from the Mactan Newtown Beach, a pristine coastal escape offering everything from water sports to beach gatherings.
Soon, The Mactan Newtown will unveil even more landmark attractions with the Mactan Expo set to open this year as Cebu’s largest standalone convention facility with a beach. Also rising is the Mactan World Museum, a cultural institution that will showcase centuries of Filipino-Spanish heritage through curated galleries, life-size monuments, and immersive exhibits.
Indeed, all eyes remain on these key destinations in the Visayas, as Megaworld’s townships continue setting the standard for vibrancy, innovation, cultural pride, and global excellence.
