By Jomarc Angelo M. Corpuz, Special Features and Content Writer

Behind the towering skylines and the glamour of Metro Manila's bustling business districts, and the stellar emergence of regional hubs beyond the capital, stand Philippine real estate developers who have built structures and communities that symbolize progress across the country.

On Aug. 20, they took center stage at the 14th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards, where 16 organizations were recognized across 46 categories for projects and initiatives spanning residential, commercial, hospitality, industrial and mixed-use developments, as well as architecture, interior design, sustainability and social impact.

Held at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, the annual gala carried the theme "Defined by Excellence," exemplifying an industry that has powered through varying circumstances in recent years, such as volatile market conditions, global geopolitical tensions, and increased expectations around sustainability, wellness, and community impact.

Cebu Landmasters reclaims the summit

Regaining its position at the highest echelon of Filipino real estate, Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI) emerged as the evening's top winner, making history with its second Best Developer title and its first since 2019.

For CLI President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Franco B. Soberano, the moment carried both professional and personal significance.

"We were awarded and very honored to receive it in 2019," Mr. Soberano said, recalling the company's first Best Developer win. "We've also landed here in Manila; we're going to start our first Luzon project. So, we're excited to work more closely with you all here in the capital."

CLI is beginning to enter the Luzon market, having secured a 70-hectare property in Dasmariñas, Cavite for a planned township development. In partnership with Singapore-based real estate firm NTT UD Asia Pte. Ltd., it will also develop a mixed-use project in Pasig City.

The Visayas-based developer also won Best Housing Developer, Best Developer (Visayas) and Best Developer (Mindanao), underscoring its dominance in its home regions while proving it can compete with the best Metro Manila has to offer.

CLI's projects were recognized across several categories as well. Radisson RED Cebu Mandaue was named Best Next Gen Hotel Development, while North Grove at Pristina Town and The Wave Towers won Best Mid-End Condo Development (Metro Cebu) and Best High-End Condo Development (Metro Cebu), respectively. Similarly, Casa Mira Homes GenSan was named Best Housing Development (Mindanao), while AstraLifestyle Centre received the award for Best Retail Architectural Design.

Winners from across the archipelago

The awards also highlighted the growing diversity of Philippine real estate, with developers from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao earning recognition alongside usual names in the industry.

In particular, the Aboitiz Group's integrated real estate subsidiaries brought home awards in various categories. Aboitiz Economic Estates was named Best Industrial Developer and Best Sustainable Commercial Developer, while Aboitiz Land was honored for the Best Lifestyle Housing Development for The Villages at LIMA Estate. Both companies shared the Best Developer (Luzon) award.

Landco Pacific Corp. took home awards for Best Lifestyle Boutique Developer, Best Sustainable Residential Developer and Best Luxury Developer, while one of its remarkable structures, The Spinnaker in Batangas, won Best Condo Development (Philippines) and Best Condo Development (Luzon).

Other winners showcased the breadth of the industry. Filinvest Land, Inc. was named Best Large Scale Housing Developer, while Marikina-based Taylormade Development Corp. won Best Townhouse Developer. Additionally, Damosa Land, Inc. was recognized as Best Boutique Developer, and PHirst Park Homes, Inc. was named Best Community Developer. Finally, Primehomes Real Estate Development Inc. won the Sustainable Residential/Township Developer award, while the Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit Association Inc. was recognized as the year's Social Impact Champion.

Individual leaders honored

Individual leaders were also lauded for their contributions to Philippine real estate. Jorge L. Araneta, CEO, chairman, and president of the Araneta Group, received the Life Achievement Award for his role in pushing the boundaries of the country's retail and mixed-use real estate landscape through developments such as Araneta City.

"Mr. Araneta pioneered integrating entertainment with retail long before it became normal in development. [He] also pioneered the concept of transit-oriented development even before Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Railway Transit (LRT) [were created]. So, those initiatives that Mr. Araneta did are reflective of his pioneering legacy in the property industry," said Araneta City Senior Management Consultant Rowell Recinto, who received Mr. Araneta's award on his behalf.

Likewise, Lourdes T. Gutierrez-Alfonso, president and CEO of Megaworld Corp., was named Real Estate Personality of the Year, while Monica D. Lorenzo, director for leisure and business development at Torre Lorenzo Development Corp., received the Rising Star award.

"This award is not mine alone; it belongs to the entire team of Megaworld Corp. I would like to tip my hat to the property developers here that are also awardees. Together we continue to champion the real estate industry, with our developments that address the needs of the sector, the market and our dear country," Ms. Gutierrez-Alfonso said during her acceptance speech.

An evolving recognition

For Jules Kay, managing director of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, the continued growth of the awards is the result of the work behind the developments being recognized.

"The reputation of the PropertyGuru Awards has grown over 14 years, but that reputation has been earned," Mr. Kay said. "It's been earned by the hard work of our team, of our judges, and of course, the developers in the Philippines. These awards have also evolved over the years to recognize innovation, to recognize design excellence, to recognize sustainability, to recognize wellness development. And the developers are not only judged on what they do and what they build, but also how and why they build it."

He explained that the evolution has placed greater emphasis on innovation, design excellence, sustainability and wellness, as developers respond to the demands of communities and the wider market.

Mr. Kay also pointed to the Philippines' performance on the regional stage, noting that the country garnered 10 Best in Asia awards in the previous year, showing the quality and competitiveness of Philippine developments.

"Across Asia's biggest, largest, most respected marketplace, PropertyGuru is not easily come by. Yet, we have residential, commercial, retail, office, and industrial awards that we give out in the Philippines, so the sector is very broad and very resilient," he said.

Focusing on the resilience of the sector, Cyndy Tan Jarabata, chairperson of the awards' judging panel and president of TAJARA Leisure & Hospitality Group Inc., described how the number of awards represents an industry with grit amid prevailing global uncertainties.

"Against a backdrop of mounting pressures, developers adapted and stayed committed to building for the Filipino people, finding innovative ways to deliver quality homes and commercial spaces," she said.

Ms. Jarabata also observed that the awards saw regional developers competing alongside national players, while projects increasingly pursued sustainability and wellness certifications, embraced placemaking and local heritage, and expanded into new territories through estate planning and portfolio diversification.

"Across these pockets of resilience, our winners prove that Philippine real estate remains steadfast and forward-looking," she concluded.

Integrity of the selection process

Recognition through industry awards such as PropertyGuru can encourage developers to pursue higher standards of quality, sustainability and professionalism. Central to that recognition is the integrity of the selection process. HLB, a global network of independent advisory and accounting firms, supervises the judging and verification procedures of the recognition body, from the validation of entries and short-listing stages through to the review and approval of the final winners. The process is designed to ensure transparency, fairness and adherence to established criteria, with safeguards in place to address potential conflicts of interest.

The winners were selected by an independent panel comprising industry leaders from architecture, design, property development, engineering and real estate services. The process was supervised by Diaz Murillo Dalupan and Company — HLB Philippines.

Philippine winners may next represent the country at the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, where they will compete for Best in Asia titles on Dec. 11 in Bangkok, Thailand.