Megaworld chief Andrew Tan named ‘Adopted Son of Bacolod’

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia (left) confers the title of honorary mayor on Megaworld Corp. chairman and chief executive officer Dr. Andrew L. Tan, who was also named “Adopted Son of Bacolod.” (Photo by RONNIE BALDONADO / Inquirer Visayas)

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines — Dr. Andrew L. Tan, Megaworld Corp. chairman and chief executive officer, was conferred the title of “Adopted Son of Bacolod” and “Honorary Mayor” as the city marked its annual BacoLaodiat Festival to usher in the Chinese New Year on Saturday.

Tan thanked Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the city officials, saying Bacolod was the first city in the country that gave him the distinction.

“Bacolod City has so much potential, and we look forward to helping shape Bacolod into a dragon city,” he said.

Tan said he was delighted to see how the city gathered the entire Filipino-Chinese community to celebrate the BacoLaodiat, demonstrating unity amid cultural diversity.

“Tourism programs like this allow us to discover more about our culture, and for tourists and visitors to learn more about the locality,” he said.

According to Tan, Megaworld is building two townships with a total of 87 hectares in Bacolod.

“Part of our vision for these townships is to be able to contribute to Bacolod’s booming tourism industry,” he said.

In Northill Gateway development along the new Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road, he said Megaworld built a Bacolod welcome marker, on the suggestion of Leonardia to provide visitors and tourists with a perfect spot to drop by and take their pictures.

Next year, a modern McDonald’s store will open beside this Bacolod welcome marker, he said.

Tan said Megaworld would also build the Northill Town Center, its first commercial development right in front of Forbes Hill, where restaurants, cafes, and pasalubong centers will be located — all for the benefit of both locals and tourists going to and from the airport.

At the Upper East, which Megaworld is currently developing near the Bacolod Government Center, it would build a first-of-its-kind shopping mall that would showcase an iconic clock tower, envisioned to be another landmark for the city.

In the township, Megaworld would also build a hotel to further boost the city’s capacity to accommodate more tourists and visitors, he said.

Megaworld hopes to invite the Bacolaodiat Festival to hold its major events and activities at the Upper East.

“We see a lot of opportunities to expand our businesses here, so we can generate more jobs, help more communities, support local entrepreneurs, help boost tourism, and contribute more to the city’s economic progress,” Tan said.