The 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards marks a milestone for Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI), a company that has grown from its beginnings in Cebu into one of the country's leading property developers. The PropertyGuru awards, an annual regional program that recognizes developers and projects across Southeast Asian markets, are judged by an independent panel of industry professionals, making the national Best Developer title one of the Philippine real estate industry's most closely watched honors.

CLI took home nine awards at the ceremony held on Aug. 20 at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, led by its recognition as Best Developer in the Philippines. The company also won Best Housing Developer, Best Developer (Visayas), and Best Developer (Mindanao), along with five awards for developments spanning residential, hospitality, housing, and retail categories. For a regional developer headquartered outside Metro Manila, a sweep of this scale reflects how much the center of gravity in Philippine property development has broadened beyond the capital in recent years.

The national title was CLI's second as Best Developer, following its first recognition in 2019. The latest victory also brought the company its fourth Best Developer (Visayas) title, its second Best Housing Developer award, and its sixth consecutive Best Developer (Mindanao) recognition.

Seven years ago, CLI won four awards: Best Affordable Condo for Visayas and Mindanao, Best Mixed-Use Development for Visayas and Mindanao, Best Premium Condo for Visayas and Mindanao, and Best House of the Year for Visayas and Mindanao. Alongside those recognitions, CLI Founder Jose R. Soberano III was honored as Personality of the Year.

While the company prepares for a new chapter beyond its traditional markets, its latest awards underscored the strength of the foundation CLI has built across the Visayas and Mindanao. CLI is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange, and its trajectory from a Cebu-based housing builder to a nationally recognized developer has made it one of the most prominent provincial-origin companies in the local property sector.

The sixth consecutive Best Developer (Mindanao) recognition in particular highlighted the company's growing presence in the region. CLI has established developments in Cagayan de Oro (CDO), Davao, General Santos (GenSan), and Butuan, with CLI President and CEO Jose Franco B. Soberano pointing to Mindanao as a resilient and increasingly important investment destination. Mindanao has drawn growing attention from property firms as urban centers such as Davao and CDO expand, and CLI's sustained run of awards there reflects its early and continuing positioning in those markets.

"I guess we're able to ride the growth there. In fact, a lot of our inventory is practically sold out in Mindanao. We're in CDO, Davao, GenSan, and Butuan. It's a very strong and resilient place for investment," Mr. Soberano said during the ceremony.

The nine awards also told a story about the breadth of CLI's portfolio. From high-end condominiums in Cebu to economic housing in GenSan, hospitality projects in Mandaue, and retail destinations, each win represented a different dimension of the company's approach to real estate.

One of the evening's major project wins went to The Wave Towers, named Best High-End Condo Development (Metro Cebu). Located in Cebu IT Park, the project is CLI's premier residential development and its first international joint venture with NTT UD Asia, fusing premium residences with Japanese-inspired design and amenity areas designed for wellness and recreation. The partnership with the Japanese urban development group also marked a step in the growing involvement of foreign partners in Philippine provincial property markets.

At the other end of the residential market, North Grove at Pristina Town was named Best Mid-End Condo Development (Metro Cebu). CLI's first residential development within the 70-hectare Pristina Town, North Grove consists of 1,029 units across two towers. The project integrates green spaces, resort-inspired amenities, and a nearly 3,800-square-meter retail podium, reflecting the company's approach to building residential communities that extend beyond individual living spaces.

Together, the recognition of The Wave Towers and North Grove illustrated the breadth of CLI's residential portfolio, spanning market segments while maintaining a focus on design, amenities, and community.

CLI's growing hospitality presence was also recognized, with Radisson RED Cebu Mandaue receiving the title of Best Next Gen Hotel Development. The 144-key lifestyle hotel is the first Radisson RED in the Philippines and forms part of CLI's integrated Astra Centre in Mandaue City. Combining contemporary design, Cebuano influences, and a vibrant guest experience, the hotel represents the company's expansion into a broader range of property formats.

In Mindanao, Casa Mira Homes GenSan was named Best Housing Development (Mindanao), adding another dimension to CLI's awards sweep. The 21-hectare development is the company's first solar-integrated economic housing community, offering 1,218 homes alongside open spaces, with select units equipped with built-in 2.2-kilowatt solar systems. The project is now 100% sold out. The solar integration also reflects a broader shift among Philippine developers toward energy features in affordable housing, where electricity costs weigh heavily on household budgets.

The recognition underscored CLI's continuing presence in the economic housing sector, an area closely connected to the company's origins and one where the country continues to face a substantial housing backlog.

"This is to honor my father. He started CLI with 200 houses back in 2004. We are now approaching 50,000 houses in a few months. Housing is really a necessity; we treat it as a mission," Mr. Soberano said during his acceptance speech.

That mission was also reflected in another project win. AstraLifestyle Centre was named Best Retail Architectural Design, recognizing CLI's retail and lifestyle destination in Mandaue City. Part of the larger Astra Centre, the development brings together dining, retail, wellness, and everyday conveniences, adding a design dimension to CLI's victories and demonstrating that the company's recognition extends beyond traditional residential development.

Taken together, the five project awards offered a snapshot of CLI's expanding portfolio: The Wave Towers representing premium residential development and international collaboration; North Grove highlighting mid-market residential communities; Radisson RED Cebu Mandaue marking a growing hospitality footprint; Casa Mira Homes GenSan reflecting a commitment to accessible housing; and AstraLifestyle Centre demonstrating a presence in retail and integrated development.

"When I joined the company 16 years ago, we were just a team of 20 — now, we have a workforce of 1,500," Mr. Soberano said. "It's been a journey filled with a lot of hard work but definitely defined strongly by the purpose of CLI, which is to treat real estate as a service for our countrymen."

For a company that began with 200 houses in Cebu and is now approaching 50,000 homes, its nine-award night marked both a celebration of its past and a recognition of the portfolio it has built across the country. How the company executes its planned expansion beyond its traditional Visayas-Mindanao base will be a key thread to follow in its next chapter.

As Mr. Soberano put it, echoing the spirit of the evening, it is about "staying positive and continuing to make waves in our industry."