Megaworld to invest P30B to boost office portfolio, on track to reach 2M sqm by 2030

Property giant Megaworld is further ramping up its office portfolio by investing P30-billion in the next five years to build new office buildings, as well as reinvent, reinvigorate, and reimagine its existing office developments in its various townships across the Philippines.

These new office developments will soon rise within Megaworld townships in Bulacan, Pampanga, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu, Davao, Metro Manila, and other new growth areas where Megaworld townships will be built. All these office developments will be LEED-registered and certified, and packed with sustainability features and several new amenities.

“We are optimistic about the office sector in the Philippines, particularly as more international companies continue to come in, either to establish their presence or expand their operations here. We see a significant spike in demand for office spaces, not just among BPO companies, but even from traditional tenants as well,” says Kevin L. Tan, president and CEO, Alliance Global Group, the parent company of Megaworld.

Just this year, Megaworld opened office towers in its provincial townships covering around 60,000 square meters of gross leasable area (GLA). These include Enterprise One in Iloilo Business Park, No. 1 Upper East in The Upper East Bacolod, and Pasudeco Tower in Capital Town Pampanga.

Within the year, the company is opening another 50,000 square meters of office inventory, particularly in Bacolod, Iloilo, and Cebu. 

“The new office towers will highlight our continuing thrust towards embracing sustainability. We have been putting greater emphasis on this aspect of our business. This is part of our commitment to become more mindful about how we can help protect and preserve the environment together with our tenant partners,” says Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso, president, Megaworld.

In 2024, Megaworld announced that it aims to have 2,000,000 square meters of gross leasable office space by 2030. Currently, the company has about 1.6 million square meters of leasable office space in its portfolio, making it the biggest office developer and lessor in the Philippines.

Megaworld has maintained its leadership status in the office market in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) with close to 900,000 square meters of office space in the entire district alone.

(PR)

Philippine Eagles Return to Leyte: Landmark Reintroduction Program Strengthens Conservation Efforts

In a groundbreaking effort to restore the Philippine Eagle population in Leyte, conservationists, community members, government officials, and private partners gathered on March 21, 2025, at the DENR Mahagnao Ecolodge for the official turn-over ceremony of the Philippine Eagles to DENR Region 8 as part of the Philippine Eagle Species Reintroduction Program for 2025. The date also coincides with the celebration of the Internation Day of Forest. This initiative is part of a multi-year conservation translocation effort led by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), aiming to establish a new breeding population of the critically endangered raptor in Leyte’s forests. 

Leyte was once home to the Great Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), but sightings became increasingly rare, and none have been recorded since the devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. Studies suggest that the species was extirpated from the island due to prolonged human persecution and habitat loss. However, with 91,000 hectares of intact forest still available in the Anonang Lobi Range and Mt. Nacolod, The PEF and DENR identified Leyte as an ideal site for reintroduction.

To rebuild the population, three rehabilitated eagles from Mindanao—Lakpue, Lyra Sinabadan, and Kalatungan 1—were translocated and prepared for their eventual release. These birds were selected based on their health, survival potential, and genetic viability, following months of conditioning at the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City. Their release follows the successful reintroduction of Carlito, a female eagle released in 2024, who has since established a territory within the Anonang - Lobi Mountain Range. 

Hon. Raissa Villasin, Board Member of Leyte’s 2nd District, welcomed the guests and highlighted the significance of this initiative in restoring Leyte’s ecological balance. She emphasized that bringing the Philippine Eagle back to the island is not just a conservation effort but a powerful statement of resilience and hope. She called on local communities to take pride in this historic reintroduction and actively participate in ensuring the eagles' safety and survival. 

Mr. Arturo N. Salazar, Regional Executive Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 8 underscored the critical role of habitat protection in making the reintroduction successful. He noted that while releasing the eagles is a significant milestone, sustaining their population in the wild depends on maintaining the integrity of Leyte’s forests. He urged local communities, policymakers, and conservation groups to work together to protect natural habitats from deforestation and other environmental threats. 

Forester Victor Billiones, Assistant Regional Executive Director of DENR Region 11, took reference from the case of Uswag to enhance methodologies and strengthen partnerships to ensure the birds’ survival in the island of Leyte. He reaffirmed the commitment of DENR Region 11 and of their counterpart in Leyte in supporting the Philippine Eagle Species Reintroduction Program. 

Representing the private sector’s commitment to conservation, Mr. Raoul E. Littaua, President & CEO of Insular Life and Trustee of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), reinforced the idea that conservation requires long-term partnerships and shared responsibility. He stressed that corporate support plays a vital role in ensuring the success of initiatives like this and that Insular Life remains dedicated to investing in programs that secure the future of Philippine wildlife. 

Dr. Antonette Sia, Brand Supervisor of Lakpue Drug, Inc. and adopter of Philippine Eagle Lakpue, spoke about the importance of direct involvement in conservation efforts. He shared how Lakpue Drug, Inc. has committed to continue their support to Philippine Eagle conservation through their remaining adoption of Philippine Eagle LDI – an education ambassador at the Philippine Eagle Center. 

Local government representatives, including Hon. Vincent Enerlan of Burauen, Hon. Froilan Pundavela of La Paz, and Hon. Norly Manza of MacArthur, expressed their unwavering support for the initiative. They acknowledged the Philippine Eagle as an ecological treasure generations will continue to witness its presence in their local landscapes. 

A symbolic ceremonial turnover of Philippine Eagle stuffed toys signified the shared responsibility among conservation groups, government agencies, and private entities. This was followed by the signing of the commitment mural, where stakeholders pledged their continued dedication to Philippine Eagle conservation. 

The event culminated in the much-anticipated transfer of the Philippine Eagles to their hack cages in Barangay Kagbana, Burauen. They will undergo an acclimatization period of two months before they will be released to Leyte’s forest. 

The PEF and DENR are attempting to form a breeding pair between Lakpue and Carlito. Lakpue, a male from Mindanao, is being introduced into Carlito’s established territory using a controlled acclimatization process, including a temporary hack cage, supplemental feeding, and audio playbacks of eagle calls. This method encourages natural pair bonding, which could lead to the first recorded Philippine Eagle breeding attempt in Leyte in decades. 

A separate experiment focuses on socially bonding Lyra Sinabadan and Kalatungan 1. Instead of immediate pairing, they are undergoing cohort bonding, where they are housed in one hack cage to build familiarity and trust. Once released, their strong social bond is expected to increase their chances of survival by encouraging cooperative hunting and territory establishment. 

The reintroduction program is the result of years of conservation planning, habitat assessments, and collaborative efforts among government agencies, conservation organizations, and corporate partners. This initiative aims not only to restore the eagle population in Leyte but also to inspire stronger conservation actions across the country. 

(PR)

Art Watch: "Traces" at La Herencia

"Traces" is a tribute to women, a collection of prints featuring female figures, real and imagined. Get enamored by these women at La Herencia. 

Exhibit notes:

"Traces" explores the mars, imprints, and echoes women leave behind-both visible and unseen. it speaks to resilience, honoring the lasting impact of women's contributions throughout history and the personal and collective memories they carry. 

"Traces" also reflects the struggle for visibility, examining the remnants of past generations that shape contemporary identities. this exhibition also highlights the timeless medium of traditional printing-like women, a practice rooted in history yet continuously evolving. through printmaking's ability to leave lasting impressions, artists explore how women's narratives are preserved, repeated, and transformed across generations, emphasizing the enduring nature of both the medium and the stories it tells.

Art Watch: "My Tree" x Artists' Initiative at ARC Art Space, La Herencia

Artist's tree on canvas. 33 artists, 33 trees. Each painter interpreting a specific genus -- Molave, Narra, Kamagong, etc.--as they see it. 

Drop by the ARC Art Space of La Herencia, hug the trees and take one home! 

Exhibit notes: Trees are a symbol of life. they are the veins of the earth that hold the ground together, and give ne and shade to living rings. they are a vital part of keeping the balance in the earth's ecosystem.

As our world modernized, buildings replaced trees in our natural landscapes. cutting trees to build a more modern landscape gave way at times to unnatural terrain and a weakened state of the earth's ecosystem.

"My Tree" is a painting exhibit to raise awareness in preserving and nurturing trees, especially rare species like hardwood. with this project, participating artists also get to uniquely portray the interconnectedness between nature - symbolized by trees - and human life.

Photos shown are details of the actual paintings.

Art Watch: "The Davao We Love: An Exhibit of Davao's Historical Streets & Structures" photo exhibit at La Herencia

Davao City Hall & Rizal Park. Circa 1970s

Curious as to how Davao looked like in the past? "The Davao We Love: An exhibit of Davao's Historical Streets & Structures" photo exhibit will take you to a trip (nostalgic, to many) to old Davao. "The Davao We Love" is a photo-narrative exhibit that features the transformation of Davao from a town to the city it has become today.

"Photographs bring people, events, and places back to lite. Here the intimate and specific memories intermingle with collective history as a generalized record of the past.

The exhibit presents the historical structures, streets, schools, seaports, institutions, maps, and ancestral houses from the last century to the present."

"The Davao We Love" photo exhibit is a collaboration between the Davao of the Past - The Memory Project, the Institute of Davao Studies of the Holy Cross of Davao College, and the La Herencia Davao Art & Events Pavilion to celebrate the 88th year of Davao City inauguration. 

"The photographs that appear in the exhibit havew been previously published in the digital archives on the internet, from the photographers themselves, the social networking sites, from family albums of kind contributors and individuals, ad from generous families who share their knowledge of Davao's past. The photographs have been reshared through the Facebook page of Davao of the Past - The Memory Project."

Ateneo de Davao High School Campus. 1960s.

San Pedro Cathedral. Circa late 1970s.

San Pedro Church with convento. Circa 1888

Sa Pedro Street. Circa 1980s.

San Pedro Street. Parade of Cadet Corps. July 4, 1931.

Traffic in Matina. 1964.

Protest by drivers, operators &automobile owners against the Cotabato automotive concern. Circa 1928. 

Jones Circle. Circa late 1940s to early 1950s

The Oboza Heritage House. 1949.

The Pedro Lat Ancestral House. The stone house remains on Pelayo Street (formerly known as Legaspi Street)

Gaisano Ilustre. Circa 1970s-1980s

Leon garcia Street corner Magsaysay Avenue fornting Magsaysay Park. Circa 1970s.