It is quite interesting to note that Hankyu Hanshin Properties—an Osaka-based real estate firm with a history dating back to 1907—has chosen to partner with a relatively young developer here in the Philippines to take part in the country’s ever-growing demand for residential homes.
“P.A. Properties may be young—at 23 years—but what we saw as something similar to our 111-year-old organization is that strong sense of community prevailing within the company. Like us, P.A. Properties is able to impart this relaxed, close-knit workplace culture to its homebuyers, providing them affordable living solution as well as communities where they will want to raise a family,” said Masahiko Toda, Hankyu Hanshin Properties overseas business division general manager.
Masahiko Toda
The company from which Hankyu Hanshin Properties originated started as an operator of electric railways. As its urban transportation business grew, the company had set its sights on building communities and cities along railway lines.
“Even in its early years, this Japanese company’s philosophy is to serve families, providing them with communities along transport hubs, enhancing connectivity and unlocking the potential of regional areas. P.A. Properties started similarly—from a modestly sized property in Laguna, we were able to build a neighborhood where families grew more attached to over the years. Not only that, the location of the community, being near major thoroughfares, helped these families get to their work places and improve their lives. That initial triumph only inspired us to build more,” said P.A. Properties chair Romarico Alvarez.
Romarico Alvarez
Proud partner
Alvarez is proud that their partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, forged just last year, is already taking shape.
“The 11-ha Idesia Dasmariñas in Cavite is steadily attracting homebuyers particularly starting couples, growing families, young professionals and families of overseas Filipino workers,” Alvarez said.
Idesia Dasmariñas will offer a variety of home units: single detached, single attached, as well as townhouses. Alvarez added that with these houses, the rest of the amenities are also being completed.
Recently, Idesia Dasmariñas adopted the “Ideal way of living” campaign to further highlight the project’s aim to foster social cohesion and equitable community, improving health and wellbeing in the process.
This new campaign evolved from the “Life balanced by nature” campaign, which was rolled out when Idesia Dasmariñas was first launched. At that time, three zones—active zone, relaxation zone and recreation zone—were presented.
The active zone will include the basketball court, covered badminton courts, a children’s playground and a jogging path. The recreation zone will feature the swimming pool, a clubhouse with function rooms, indoor and outdoor gyms, an activity area and a provision for an open-air cinema. The Idesia garden, picnic and pond areas, a reading area and a leisure games area will be built for the relaxation of the township’s residents.
With over 900 residential houses being offered, Alvarez explained that homebuyers would find Idesia Dasmariñas’ location in Barangay San Agustin is similar to how Hankyu Hanshin Properties positions its developments.
“(It’s) situated along main roads, in this case, Governor’s Drive and Aguinaldo Highway that lead to either Manila-Cavite Coastal Road Expressway or the South Luzon Expressway. It sets to complement surrounding areas where there are malls, industrial parks, educational and medical institutions, as well as office and retail establishments like neighborhood centers, supermarkets and shophouses,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Toda explained that the joint venture between P.A. Properties and Hankyu Hanshin Properties was created out of a mission to realize the dreams of the people to “live in a place they truly want to live in.”
“Hankyu Hanshin Properties, which was founded in 1947 and is the property arm of Japanese conglomerate Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc., chose the Philippines along with Thailand and Vietnam for its expansion in the region. Choosing the Philippines is timely considering the country’s ever-increasing demand for homes among young families, and P.A. Properties is able to do its part in addressing such demand,” he said.
Combined expertise
According to P.A. Properties president Jonathan Lu, Hankyu Hanshin Properties’ long experience in building communities in Japan is providing the company a quality management system that allows P.A. Properties to identify and implement improvements.
“This newly implemented system only shows how serious we are in our commitment to convince more homebuyers and complete on time everything inside Idesia Dasmariñas. Like all our developments, our aim for Idesia Dasmariñas is to build quality yet affordable homes and create a community that our buyers will love to live in,” Lu said.
Jonathan Lu
With the success of the first phase of Idesia Dasmariñas, Alvarez reported that the partnership is looking forward to not only begin the development of neighboring areas but also build another Idesia brand in Lipa, Batangas. “We need to maintain our momentum as we feel more Filipinos will buy more homes in the coming years as their family income improves.”
With Idesia Dasmariñas, P.A. Properties is already hitting the 19,000 mark (housing units), with developments spread across Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga and Metro Manila.
“We hope to significantly ease the more than 6 million housing backlog in the Philippines. We want to further build 15,000 more housing units in the next four years, creating comfortable, safe and joyful Filipino communities,” promised Alvarez.