Wilcon blooms in Daraga

Wilcon Depot successfully opened its retail outlet in Daraga, Albay. Photo shows (from left) Philippine Institute of Interior Design (PIID) chairman Arch. James Jao; Wilcon Depot SEVP-COO Rosemarie Ong; Daraga Mayor Victor U. Perete; Daraga Vice Mayor. Gerry Raphael Z. Jaucian Jr.; Wilcon Depot president and chief executive officer Lorraine Belo-Cincochan; Matimco Inc. CEO Charlie Liu; Lixil Philippines asst. country manager Joralyn Ong; and Mariwasa Siam Ceramics president Jakkrit Suwanslip during the ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday.

Legazpi, Albay—Albayanons are now afforded with more convenience and choices when it comes to transforming their living spaces to be even more magayon.

Wilcon Depot formally opened last week the doors to its first branch in the province of Albay—and the second in Bicol Region—in the town of Daraga. This first class municipality is also famous for being home to the landmark Cagsawa Ruins.

Most promising

“Daraga is considered as the most promising municipality in the region,” said Wilcon Depot’s senior executive vice president and chief operating officer Rosemarie Bosch Ong.

“This is our second store in the region so this is very important for us. This is really a milestone for Wilcon because we are partnering with a region that envisions of being globally competitive and being the most progressive in the Philippines,” Ong further explained .

According to Ong, Wilcon is well aligned with the province of Albay because as the company continues to expand outside Metro Manila and opens new stores, it always strives to be a better version of itself.

“As you can see, whatever we have in Metro Manila or any of our other locations (outside the capital region) you will see the same excellent brand of service and excellent product selection of both international and local brands,” she continued.

The sprawling 12,000-sqm Wilcon Depot Daraga is the company’s 58th store. It is the second branch in Bicol, the first one being in Naga City, Camarines Sur, which opened in 2018.

Household name

A household name when it comes to home building and improvement needs, Wilcon Depot saw the town of Daraga as a perfect location as it is gearing up for the opening of Bicol International Airport, which is expected to be operational in the second half of the year. The opening of what is touted as the most scenic gateway in the country is expected to boost tourism in the region.

Likewise, many Albayanons are looking forward to having the major retailer in their town as they would be provided with more choices and would no longer have to drive far to source their home building and improvement needs.

“Daraga is ever ready for investors,” said Daraga Mayor Victor U. Perete as he gave his assurance that Wilcon Depot made the right choice in setting up shop in the town. Perete thanked Wilcon Depot for choosing Daraga and for the employment opportunities the company has provided the residents of the town.

Wide product offerings

Wilcon Depot Daraga has the Living, Kitchen and Bath (LKB) showrooms where one can get design inspirations from. Natuzzi Editions, Heim Home Interior and Housewares, Heritage Furniture, Homebasics Housewares, Interdesign Housewares and Hamden Kitchen Appliances all await to spruce up the homes of Bicolanos. There is also the Design Hub which will allow customers to come up with their own layouts with the help of a trained personnel.

Also at the company’s newest branch are Grohe and Kohler Sanitarywares, Franke Kitchen Systems, Pozzi Bathroom Solutions, Sanitarywares, Bathtubs, and Ceramics, Koller Whirlpool Bathtubs and Shower Enclosures, Ariston Water Heaters, Geberit Monolith Puro, Macroair HVLS Fans, Bull Outdoor Products, Rubi Tile Cutter, and Rehau Premium PPR pipes.

Albayanons will likewise get to choose from a wide array of Italian tile brands such as Novabell, Energie Ker, Gardenia, Imola, Herberia, Opera, Castelvero, Keradom, and Naxos and Spanish tile brands Alcalagres, Grespania, Rocersa, Cifre, Emigres, Keros, Tesany, Onix, Oset, Vitacer, Grupo Halcan, MYR and Eco Ceramica, which are made available in the Tile Studio inside the store. Customers can also choose from Asian tile brands Arte, Sol, Lola, Huanqiu, Verona, Picasso Mosaic, Roman, Mulia, Kia, China Natural Granite, Basel, Saigres and Gemma.