Written by: Amy R. Remo
It tells of a rich legacy deeply rooted in being of service to others.
The beautiful story of the Nepomuceno clan, one of the most prominent families in Angeles City, Pampanga, isn’t merely your typical narrative about a distinguished lineage that has successfully built their companies over the last century.
The generation of Nepomucenos leading today (from left standing): JDN Realty Chief Facilities Management Officer Noel Valdes, President Rick Wilkerson, (seated) Chairman Arni Valdes joined by Chairman Emeritus Peter Nepomuceno
It’s also an inspiring chronicle of the rise, fall, recovery, growth, and successful expansion of ventures that were created by the late Juan and Teresa Nepomuceno. Amid the challenges of the war, political upheavals, and natural calamities, the visionary couple had fought unrelentingly to keep their businesses afloat—committed as they are to be of service to their town, through ventures that include an ice plant, a power generation and distribution facility, soft drinks factory, school and real estate developments.
‘Partner in progress’
Beyond providing services and generating jobs for the town however, these ventures, more importantly, served as pillars that have helped propel the growth of Angeles into the thriving city that it is today—flourishing and rife with prospects for future progress.
The Nepomuceno clan has been a gamechanger in Angeles City’s progress.
In fact, the Nepomuceno family has been largely credited for helping the once small, rustic settlement become the first chartered city in the Kapampangan region—prompting many to regard the clan as a “partner in progress” of Angeles City.
Engr. Peter G. Nepomuceno, the youngest of the 10 children of Juan and Teresa, shared in an interview with the Inquirer that the businesses started by his parents were indeed geared towards serving the community and generating jobs for the people.
He explained that the power generation business began because his parents wanted to provide electricity to the church. The Holy Angel University, now the largest educational institution north of Manila, was built to address the need for a Catholic high school that can cater to Angeleños and other Kapampangans, regardless of their status in life.
Expanding the businesses
It was said that Peter, an engineer who graduated from Mapua University, is to be credited for the continued expansion of the family’s businesses.
According to the book “A Cofradia of Two”, it was Peter who decided to convert their agricultural landholdings, previously planted with rice and sugarcane, into a residential area.
The family has ventured into a number of businesses, from retail to power distribution and real estate.
“My father inherited that piece of land—42 ha—at the back of the church in the ’60s. I thought of developing it into a residential subdivision, while part of it would be a commercial area. In the mid-’60s, we put up Villa Teresa Subdivision, and it turned out quite well. A lot of prominent families bought lots there and stayed there. The other part is commercial—the Nepo Mart Commercial Complex built in 1968,” the family patriarch explained.
Currently, that area is known as Nepo Center, located in the heart of Angeles City’s central business district. It is home to a commercial center comprising retail hubs namely Nepo Mall, Newpoint Mall, Nepo Mart and Nepo Quad; three office buildings, eNtec1, eNtec2 and Angeles Business Center; as well as offices for its power distribution business.
At present, the family continues to have interests in power distribution (Angeles Electric Corp.); power generation (Angeles Power Inc. and Raslag Corp.); water concession (Teresa Waterworks); residential and commercial real estate (TGN Realty, JDN Sons Inc. and Angeles Industrial Park); and education (Holy Angel University).
Continuing a legacy
Today however, the Nepomuceno clan marks a new chapter in its revered, century-old legacy.
It partnered with Rockwell Land Corp. to build Rockwell at Nepo Center, a 4.5-ha mixed-use community that will soon be home to residential condominiums as well as the first Power Plant Mall outside Makati City. It will replicate the famed Rockwell Center Makati, one of the most dynamic and prestigious addresses in the metro today. Here, future residents can similarly expect refined lifestyles and well-appointed spaces in a self-sustaining community.
The Nepomucenos partnered with Rockwell Land Corp. to build Rockwell at Nepo Center, a 4.5-ha mixed-use community that will soon be home to the first Power Plant Mall outside Makati.
JDN Realty chairman Arni Valdes admitted that it took some time—about six years—for the partnership to materialize. While they were approached by other interested parties, they had sought to partner with the upscale developer, especially after having seen how it had created and continues to impeccably maintain Rockwell Center Makati.
Mutual trust and respect
Despite the long wait however, the partnership between the Lopez family-led Rockwell and the Nepomuceno clan was undoubtedly “meant to be” as it was founded on mutual trust and respect. After all, the family already had an existing partnership with the Lopezes for their power generation and distribution businesses even prior to the joint venture with Rockwell.
Peter shared that he had a chance to meet Eugenio H. López Sr. in his younger years when his eldest brother, Javier, brought him to a meeting at Manila Electric Co. (Meralco). But it was with the late Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez that he was able to create and nurture a connection.
Villa Teresa Subdivision (left) was developed by the Nepomucenos in 1965. Today, the Nepo Center (right), located right outside the village, complements it with its retail areas and office buildings.
According to Peter, the late ambassador, who was then the president of Meralco, helped them after the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. Lopez had sent a crew to help Angeles Electric put up the poles which would allow them to restore power faster in the city. The Nepomuceno family is also the partner of Meralco’s subsidiary, Miescor, in Clark Electric Distribution Corp.
“We have this rapport with the Lopez family. We have more or less the same values—their values of generosity and service,” Peter further said.
“It goes beyond a partnership—it’s more of a kinship, and there’s mutual affinity among the families,” added JDN Realty president Rick Wilkerson.
A new era for Angeles
A new era is indeed unfolding not only for the Nepomuceno clan but also for the entire Angeles City and the province of Pampanga.
While the entry of Rockwell marks the strong confidence that the upscale developer has on this market, it also signals better and more exciting times ahead.
“What’s really important is that Angeles City has taken a big liking to what we have to offer (at Rockwell at Nepo Center),” Valdes added. “We’re excited and I think the people of Angeles City are excited as well. We are looking forward to many years of being together with Rockwell Land, creating something of very nice value for our kababayans here.”
ADVT.