Will it finally be Megaworld Corporation’s year at the Philippines Property Awards, or will SM Group repeat its triumphant run last year? The Dr Andrew L Tan-led firm received an unprecedented 16 nominations at the country’s biggest real estate awards programme, which will hit the Philippines on Thursday, 7 April, to be held at the Fairmont Makati. SM Group got a total of 10 nominations for its various subsidiaries.
Megaworld is odds-on frontrunner to win in several Development and Design categories, with notable projects in its Uptown Bonifacio development alone receiving a total of six nods, including Best Luxury Condo Development (Metro Manila) for Uptown Ritz, Best Retail Development for Uptown Mall and Best Office Architectural Design for Uptown Tower 3.
But with last year’s champion, the Henry Sy Sr-led SM Group, garnering 10 nods, it’s going to be difficult to predict who will dominate the awards. SM Development Corporation (SMDC), the group’s affordable condominium subsidiary, is again a favourite to win at the Best Affordable Condo Development (Metro Manila), with two nominations. The rest of SM Group’s nominations are for its commercial development arm, SM Prime Holdings, which came in strong in the hotel, retail and office sub-categories.
This is the fourth consecutive year of the Philippines Property Awards, which is widely recognised in the industry for its fairness and transparency. Free to enter, the Awards process began six months ago, with nominations coming from developers and the general public. All entries were supervised by BDO, one of the world’s biggest auditing firms.
“This year we’ve seen approximately double the number of entries than last year, which shows the Awards is becoming recognised nationwide,” says Lindsay J Orr, chief operating officer of Jones Lang LaSalle Philippines and chairman of the independent panel of judges.
“Whilst there is still an emphasis on Metro Manila, there is an increase in the number of entries from Cebu and also Davao,” he adds. “What we need to do now is to continue to bang the drums and build the awareness for the Philippines Property Awards so that next year we make sure that we’ll have an even larger section of entries from other regions.”
Some regional firms will even compete against themselves, including Primary Homes Inc, with two nominations in the Best Condo Development (Cebu) category, and Cebu Land Masters, with two nods for the Best Housing Development (Cebu) award.
Major Manila-based developers are also broadening their property investments across the country. For instance, four-time nominees Alveo Land and Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc will go up against Megaworld for the Best Residential Development (Davao) gong.
“It’s definitely a priority to widen the scope of the Philippines Property Awards each year, and in 2016 we have found a great selection of entries from Cebu and Davao,” says Terry Blackburn, founder of the Asia Property Awards and managing director of awards organiser PropertyGuru International. “We also recently launched the Awards in Cebu City to show our commitment to look beyond Metro Manila in rewarding the nation’s finest.”
The rise of the country’s emerging markets will feature prominently at the Property Report Congress Philippines, a high-level forum that will discuss the past, present and future of the real estate industry. It will be the first time that the Congress will take place in the country, which will welcome speakers from all over the archipelago and overseas, including current and former Winners and Judges from the Philippines Property Awards.
Top winners from the Philippines this year will get the chance for international acclaim when they compete with their counterparts from eight ASEAN countries of the Asia Property Awards at the grand finals in Singapore in November at the South East Asia Property Awards 2016.
“Beginning this year, we’re also thrilled to be part of PropertyGuru, Asia’s leading online property group. With their 14 million real estate consumers, the most exceptional developers in the Philippines will get the proper international exposure for their world-class developments,” Blackburn says.
Presented by Property Report, Asia’s leading luxury real estate, architecture and design magazine, the Philippines Property Awards will also recognise former Senate President Manuel B Villar Jr, founder of the Vista Land Group, as the Real Estate Personality of the Year. The self-made billionaire, who has been a presence in the real estate industry for four decades now, has won the hearts of Filipinos for his masterplanned communities for families, having built quality housing in 35 provinces and 85 cities and municipalities across the country.
Official shortlist of the Philippines Property Awards 2016:
DEVELOPER
Best Boutique Developer
AppleOne Properties Inc
King Properties
DEVELOPMENT
Best Luxury Condo Development (Metro Manila)
Admiral Grand Suites by Anchor Land Holdings Inc
Uptown Ritz by Megaworld Corporation
Best Mid-Range Condo Development (Metro Manila)
Acqua Private Residences by Century Properties Group Inc
Salcedo Square by Vista Residences (A Vista Land Company)
Sorrento Oasis by Filinvest Land Inc
The Lerato by Alveo Land
The Residences Commonwealth by Century Properties Group Inc
Best Affordable Condo Development (Metro Manila)
Grace Residences by SM Development Corporation (SMDC)
Hacienda Balai North Quezon City by Phinma Properties
Suntrust Shanata by Megaworld Corporation
Trees Residences by SM Development Corporation (SMDC)
Best Condo Development (Cebu)
8 Newtown Boulevard by Megaworld Corporation
AppleOne Banawa Heights by AppleOne Properties Inc
Avenir by King Properties
Mabolo Garden Flats by Primary Homes Inc
The Courtyards at Brookridge by Primary Homes Inc
Best Housing Development (Cebu)
Casa Mira Linao by Cebu Land Masters
Solare by Primary Homes Inc
Velmiro Heights by Cebu Land Masters
Best Residential Development (Davao)
Abreeza Place by Alveo Land
Northpoint by Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc
One Lakeshore Drive by Megaworld Corporation
Best Condo Development (Resort)
Kasa Luntian by Alveo Land
Splendido Taal Tower 2 by Sta Lucia Land
The Vineyard Residences by Megaworld Corporation
Best Housing Development
Camella Palawan by Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc
Royal Palms Dos by Primary Homes Inc
Best Hotel Development
Admiral Hotel by Anchor Land Holdings Inc
ANC Hotel Development by Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corp
Conrad Manila by SM Prime Holdings Inc
Marriott Courtyard Hotel by Megaworld Corporation
Best Office Development
Arthaland Century Pacific Tower by ArthaLand
FiveE-comCenter by SM Prime Holdings Inc
Menarco Tower by Menarco Tower
Ore Central by Monte de Tesoro Corp
Best Office Development (Cebu)
BPI Cebu Corporate Center by Alveo Land
Best Retail Development
SM Seaside City Mall by SM Prime Holdings Inc
Uptown Mall by Megaworld Corporation
DESIGN
Best Residential Architectural Design
Salcedo Square by Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc
Uptown Parksuites by Megaworld Corporation
Uptown Ritz by Megaworld Corporation
Best Residential Interior Design
8 Newtown Boulevard by Megaworld Corporation
Admiral Grand Suites by Anchor Land Holdings Inc
Salcedo Skysuites by Megaworld Corporation
Best Retail Architectural Design
SM Seaside City Mall by SM Prime Holdings Inc
The Venice Grand Canal Mall by Megaworld Corporation
Uptown Mall by Megaworld Corporation
Best Office Architectural Design
ArthaLand Century Pacific Tower by ArthaLand
FiveE-comCenter by SM Prime Holdings Inc
Ore Central by Monte de Tesoro Corp
Uptown Tower 3 by Megaworld Corporation
Best Hotel Architectural Design
Admiral Hotel by Anchor Land Holdings Inc
ANC Hotel Development by Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corp
Conrad Manila by SM Prime Holdings Inc
Best Hotel Interior Design
Conrad Manila by SM Prime Holdings Inc
Marriott Courtyard Hotel by Megaworld Corporation
Best Landscape Architectural Design
8 Newtown Boulevard by Megaworld Corporation
Ore Central by Monte de Tesoro Corp
SM Seaside City Mall by SM Prime Holdings Inc
Note: The winners of the Best Developer (Philippines), Best Green Development and Special Recognition in CSR awards will be revealed during the ceremony.
For more information about the Philippines Property Awards, visit the official website: asiapropertyawards.com/philippines-property-awards/. Sponsorship and media partner opportunities are still available. For details, email info@asiapropertyawards.com or call +66 (0) 2662 5195.
Follow #AsiaPropertyAwards to join the conversation about the Asia Property Awards series on social media, and find out who will win at the Philippines Property Awards on 7 April. ADVT