Vibo Land tops off West Jones residences

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY-- Vibo Land, the real estate development arm of Vibo Group of Companies topped off its West Jones residences, Friday July 30 at Uytengsu St., along Jones Ave., this City.

"The address itself creates a solid value proposition for both homeowners and investors," Vibo Group marketing head Allen Andre Suarez in a media briefing.  Suarez added that the location of West Jones makes for an iconic spot in the metro and its the perfect link between the historic downtown district and the modern uptown area of Cebu City.
  

Suarez bared that West Jones is the first residential project of Vivo Land even though the company has acquired the property in 1980. The  group have been into hotel/hospitality development.

West Jones Residences is a modern high-rise building that sits on 1,238 sqm of property with 307 living spaces spread across 15 floors.  The studio type is 22sqm unit while the one-bedroom unit is 41.45sqm. Both units are designed with the value of space and storage in mind.

According to Andre, West Jones' market are students within the university belt area around the property; young professionals and small families looking for balance and funtionality with leisure and 70 percent of its units are already sold out.

Some of the notable amenities of West Jones include swimming pools for adults and kids at the roof deck; amenity lounge, gym, function rooms, a prayer room, 24-houe security, elevators, standby generation system and parking spaces.

Vivo Land's target turnover for the units of West Jones is at the first half of 2022.   With the property's unit values showing a robust appreciation of up to 35 percent in the last four years, Vibo Land ia very optimistic that West Jones is a stable and sound investment amid the pandemic.

"We are grateful to be part of the industry that continues to thrive even with the challenges posed by a global health crisis.  Real estate is one of those sectors that can still offer rewarding returns for those who seek safe investment opportunities," Suarez said and he remains hopeful about the industry's growth in the next few years.

High-end, most luxurious resort to rise in Mactan in 2024

 MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Cebu Landmaster Inc. (CLI), the leading developer in the Visayas and Mindanao strengthened its hotel portfolio as it unveiled on July 28 its very first resort development, the Abaca Resort Mactan, worth P2.5 Billion and touted to be one of the most luxurious resort destinations in the world is set to be completed in 2024.

“We have always wanted to contribute towards making Cebu a thriving economic and tourism destination, we are all geared up for the recovery of tourism.  It was very challenging to build this most luxurious resort/hospitality in Cebu.  Abaca Resort Mactan will put Cebu on the radar of this emerging breed of global travelers seeking world-class, authentic and unique holiday experience,” CLI chair and CEO Jose Soberano III said during the virtual unveiling event.

Soberano believes in the Filipino hospitality and this is what Cebu deserves for Abaca to have a resort feel in Mactan, nothing like what the designers have come up to rebrand it to be one of the most-desired resort destinations not only in the Philippines and Asia but in the world.

To design the resort and infuse it with a unique sense of place sought by an emerging breed of high-end travelers, CLI tapped internationally renowned architectural firm Büro Ole Scheeren whose projects won numerous awards globally.

Some of its notable works are CTBUH Urban Habitat Award 2020 Winner DUO in Singapore; the World Building of the Year 2015 The Interlace in Singapore; and MahaNakhon Tower in Bangkok, a mixed-use high-rise development that upends the conventional typology of the skyscraper.

 

  
Abaca Resort Mactan’s design is also locally supported by the Philippines’ leading architectural firm AIDEA.

CLI purchased the property in 2019 and has signed up The Abaca Group to continue operating the hotel and providing luxury experiences tailored for local and global tourists.  

Abaca Resort Mactan is CLI’s first resort development and will feature a timeless Sky Villas concept to serve as the platform for memorable getaways.

The resort will have 125-room all-suite accommodation featuring exclusively panoramic ocean views envisioned to fill the gap for luxury resorts catering to global travelers.   It is a 17-storey- high building on a 4,500 sqm. property formerly occupied by the multi-awarded Abaca Boutique Resort in Punta Engano, Lapu-Lapu City.

Each room will offer the luxury of space that range from 40-50 sqm for the Oceanfront Suites, and up to 105 sqm for the Sky Villas which have its own one-of-a-kind floating infinity pools that are offered in both one- and two-bedrooms accommodations.

Aside from its awe-inspiring architecture, the resort will feature a luxurious infinity pool, an elevated cascading plunge pool, 360-degree roof deck bar, a private beach and panoramic ocean views. These will be enhanced by a gym and spa, kids center and function rooms for events.

Abaca Resort Mactan will also be distinguished by culinary offerings that have won for The Abaca Group a loyal following in highly cosmopolitan Cebu.

 The resort will have three outlets, offering new food and beverage concepts for the resort: a live-fire Asian concept on the main level, a new normal all-day dining format and fantastic banquet facilities that can seat over 200 persons and Abaca restaurant to return with a new home on the impressive rooftop with panoramic views of both the city and the sea.

“As one of the country’s preeminent developers, we are honored that CLI has chosen to partner with us once again through their hospitality arm. Being added to their portfolio of established global brands like Accor, Radisson and Ascott is so inspiring,” Abaca Group’s Founder, Managing Partner and Executive Chef Jason Hyatt said.

With the opening of the new Abaca Resort Mactan in 2024, Cebu Landmasters targets expanding its hotel portfolio to 1,433 rooms by 2025. This is in line with CLI’s strategy to build-up its recurring business contributing 10 percent to the company’s topline.

“We see tourism in the Visayas and Mindanao driving the economy once global mobility is restored,” according to Soberano.

With direct flight connections all over the world, Cebu will be the natural gateway to the Philippines for many travelers seeking to enjoy the country’s world-acclaimed beaches and other attractions. “We will be ready for that boom,” he said. (Photos: Google Images/CLI)

 

 

MCIA holds ‘Healthy Harvest Festival’ to promote health, wellness

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

LAPULAPU CITY – The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) holds the “Healthy Harvest Festival” from July 28 to August 1 at the Terminal 1 Pre-terminal Lobby and Airport Village to promote health and wellness to ensure a sound body and mind especially at this time of pandemic.

The festival will feature a farmer’s market, a bloodletting drive, free basic health checkup, and discounts and freebies for vaccinated customers against COVID-19.

“There are many ways to protect our health during the pandemic, and we have combined these into the Healthy Harvest Festival, which is intended to entice the public to become healthier,” according to Louie Ferrer, president, GMR MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), the  private operator of MCIA.

A variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, healthy ready-to-eat meals, essentials oils, and other products and services are available during the duration of the Festival to promote healthy eating and living.

MCIAA general manager Julius Jay Neri reiterated that there are three ways to prevent from getting COVID-19. One, practice all required safety protocols such as wearing masks, avoiding crowds, washing hands, and keeping a safe distance away from others. Two, get vaccinated as soon as possible and three, maintain a healthy lifestyle to build up your immune system. 

“These are good activities because they promote awareness and help people promote this healthy lifestyle and encourage everyone to get vaccinated,” Neri said.

MCIA also joined the commemoration of the National Blood Donor’s Month this July with a blood donation drive on July 28 and 30; August 4, 10 an 11 and “we encourage everyone to participate in the activity provided that they pass the assessment prior to donation,” Neri added. 

  
The activity is in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) Central Visayas – National Voluntary Blood Services Program, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Aviation Security Unit (AVSEU) 7, and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) Airport Police Division. 

Meanwhile, a free basic health checkup of blood pressure, blood sugar, and eyes will also be conducted on August 2 to 6 by Prime Care Cebu. 

Vaccinated customers, whether first or second dose, will also get freebies and discounts of up to 15% OFF from participating food and service shops by presenting their vaccination card and valid ID.

Strict health and safety protocols will be implemented such as wearing of face mask and full-face shield and practicing physical distancing. (Photos: Google images/MCIA)

A pioneer home developer in Lapulapu City sees surge demand of condo units amid pandemic

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

LAPULAPU CITY— A pioneering home developer in Lapulapu City-- the Primary Homes, Inc (PHI) has seen the surge in demand for value-for-money condominium units bolstering its sales performance despite the pandemic.

In a media/bloggers huddle on July 28, Primary Group of Builders chairman William Christopher Liu said that PHI has been the pioneer in the residential market for 30 years already and trends today are shifting more closely to resort-style condo development and living.

  

Liu said that the launching of PHI’s Royal Oceancrest Mactan, Wednesday at its site in Basak, Sugtungan in Lapulapu City is a testimony of the company’s latest vertical development worth two billion pesos that is 60 percent of the total project is sold out at the height of the pandemic.

 “We sell to real homeowners now with units that are ready to occupy.  We notice that the market today prefers for designs that are safe and secure with spaces for wellness and leisure and a good internet connectivity and bandwidth, which we have in all our projects,” Liu said.

According to PHI Vice president for sales and marketing Ramero Espina and marketing manager Michelle Cutang that at Royal Oceancrest Mactan, a lot is dedicated to free and open space, giving residents the opportunity to relax and reconnect, roam and immerse in the beauty of the gardens, bamboo tunnels, yoga pocket spaces, and other nature features.

Espina said that despite the difficulties and uncertainties brought by the coronavirus pandemic, they saw a high take-up of units in its resort condominium Royal Oceancrest Mactan— an indication that there is a strong demand these days for such types of properties.

“The lockdown last year greatly affected businesses but surprisingly sales for condo units picked up, quite significantly considering the challenging times,” Espina added.

Espina said many of their buyers are young professionals and starting families either looking for affordable living space that they can move in right away, or those who are looking for more valuable purpose for their money. They are generally first-time real-estate buyers.

The property offers finished and bare units with a floor area of 28sq m to 60sq m.  Finished units are priced between P2.4M to P6.1M while Bare units are priced at 20 percent lower from P1.9M to P4.8M. Prices already include taxes and transfer charges.

Royal Oceancrest Mactan is a four-tower development in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City, one of the fastest growing, highly urbanized cities in the country.  It sits on a 1.4-hectare property along Sudtunggan Road which development is made up of mid-rise buildings with a total of 952 residential and commercial units.

The community is designed as a safe and secure haven of wellness and leisure with 60 percent of the total development dedicated to free and open space, giving residents the opportunity to relax and reconnect, roam and immerse in the beauty of the gardens, bamboo tunnels, yoga pocket spaces, and other nature features.

Among the other amenities include a swimming pool, clubhouse, fitness gym, play areas, jogging paths, edible gardens, grilling station, and commercial spaces.

Royal Oceancrest Mactan is close to the Mactan International Airport (MCIA), the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), export zones, first-class resorts and hotels, export-oriented manufacturing companies and BPOs which makes it an attractive location for property investments.

“With billions worth of new industrial and world-class developments, Lapu Lapu City is arguably the perfect choice to settle or invest in Cebu.  Condos are great investments because they are easily acquired — buyers can get a condo through easy-to-pay financing and the younger generation now is becoming more and more financial and investment literate and we are here to support them with our flexible financing options,” Espina said.

Despite pandemic-disruptions, returns on condo investment and rental yield remain high. Owners may opt to lease out their units and have the rest of the mortgage be paid with the rental proceeds, Espina added.

Construction of Royal Oceancrest Mactan is at its full swing and is set to start turning over units to their buyers early next year. Its showroom is at the project site and it is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For details, contact Primary Homes at ‪032-253-9979 or visit www.primaryhomes.com.

 

 

 

 

 

Over 70% of barangays in Negros oriental are still drug-affected

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

NEGROS ORIENTAL – More than 70 percent of barangays in Negros Oriental, as of July this year, are still affected with illegal drugs, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) here reported.

PDEA officer Elmer Ebona in a July meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) at the Capitol Convention Center and based on the assessment of BDCP officers of the province on July 26 this year bared that 91 barangays here have been drug-cleared; two remained unaffected; 51 are certified unaffected while 413 barangays or 75.40 percent are considered drug-affected.

 

 

Ebona went on that of the 22 barangays in Sta. Catalina town, 20 have been drug-cleared and the two barangays are drug-free already.

He added that Sta. Catalina would have been declared as a "Drug-Cleared Municipality" but it lacks a drug reformatory facility or Balay Silangan, which is a major requirement before it can be declared by the Regional Oversight Committee as drug-cleared town.

According to Ebona, Balay Silangan is a community-based reformation program that takes care of the rehabilitation process of those drug dependents who surrender themselves for comprehensive rehab.

It also seeks to build temporary shelters for drug offenders for them to reform and become self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society, Ebona added that currently, there are five local government units (LGUs) in the province that started putting up Balay Silangan, namely: Canlaon City, Ayungon, La Libertad, Basay, and Mabinay.

He said that at the Balay Silanagan, drug reformists undergo month-long general interventions such as continuing education and health awareness and psychological/spiritual/physical activities, including counselling, moral recovery, values formation, personal and life skills, as well as livelihood and skills training programs to give reformers employment opportunities.

With Negros Oriental being the most drug-affected province in Central Visayas, Ebona said there is a need to further strengthen the tie-up between law enforcement units, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations NGOs) and other government agencies for a more concentrated effort in addressing the drug affectation in each locality.

“Local Anti-Drug Abuse Councils in each locality must implement the Barangay Drug Clearing Program to address the drug affectation in their respective areas,” he added.

According to PDEA that to declare a barangay as drug-cleared include the active involvement of barangay officials and the Sangguniang Kabataan in anti-drug activities such as maintaining drug-free status, drug awareness, IEC campaigns and putting up of drug treatment and rehabilitation processing help desks.