San Miguel Properties Set to Become Major Player in Real Estate

Manila, Philippines July 29-31, World Trade Center

IN PHOTO - GM Atty. Karlo Estavillo and endorser Fr. Suarez brief Vice President Jejomar Binay on San Miguel Properties' Projects at the Phil. Real Estate Fair. Seen here is a scale model of the over-100-meter statue of the Virgin Mary slated to rise in Monte Maria in Alfonso, Cavite.

San Miguel Corporation, the Philippines’ top food and beverage conglomerate, has been aggressively diversifying its business portfolio over the past years by heavily investing in key industries such as power, telecommunications, energy, banking, infrastructure, and mining.  Recently, it formally announced its foray into real estate via its wholly owned subsidiary, San Miguel Properties, which aims to fully capitalize on the vast opportunities in property development as well as tourism promotion.

At the recently concluded Philippine Real Estate Fair (PREF) held at the World Trade Center, San Miguel Properties took a major step in re-branding and re-launching itself by formally announcing its ambitious plans for its current and upcoming projects that have gotten the whole real estate industry abuzz.  Even before the formal opening of the fair, San Miguel Properties was at the forefront, inviting “Healing Priest” Rev. Fr. Fernando Suarez to officiate the holy mass and bless the event and the participants - and later on, fulfilling his role as one of San Miguel Properties’ corporate partners, endorsers, and guest speakers.

Poised to be one of the major players in the Philippine real estate industry, San Miguel Properties unveiled an impressive 400 square-meter display area, featuring a remarkable centerpiece at the reception area which executives called, “Promised Island,” an inspiring 3-D scale model highlighting San Miguel Properties’ tourism-focused real estate projects.  The first among its ambitious real estate tourism efforts is the MonteMaria project.  Situated in the town of Amuyong in Alfonso, Cavite, this venture is a multi-faceted development envisioned to serve as the country’s hub for “spiritual tourism”.  A collaborative brainchild of Fr. Fernando Suarez and SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang, MonteMaria is envisioned as San Miguel Properties’ initial venture into building up the country into a “spiritual mecca”.  This is in line with the Department of Tourism’s objective to provide quality over quantity when it comes to tourism spots in the country.  Unofficially dubbed as San Miguel Properties’ “New Jerusalem,” the project will cover a vast 33-hectare area, with spacious venues for weddings, baptisms, and other religious ceremonies, several retreat houses, and most amazingly, the world’s largest statue of the Virgin Mary.  Rivaling the famous statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro and towering over the Tagaytay ridge, the over-100-meter statue will serve as a beacon to attract the faithful from all over Asia, if not the world.  This project is also in line with a vision shared by Chairman Ang, Fr. Suarez, and San Miguel Properties, which is “to create an international pilgrimage site for healing and a center whose goal is to allow pilgrims, especially the poor, to experience the Lord’s greatness through its commitment to poverty alleviation and development programs.”  In what used to be the site of the Magnolia Dairy and Poultry Farm, a refuge shall be made available for tired souls to withdraw, to find peace, spiritual healing, and solace.Apart from MonteMaria, San Miguel Properties has other exciting tourism projects which it intends to hype up with the rallying cry, “Only in the Philippines,” putting a positive spin to an old expression that usually connotes something negative about the country.  With the “Only in the Philippines” campaign, San Miguel will promote its projects in Boracay, Busuanga, and Baguio.  In Boracay, San Miguel Properties’ project will be situated in Puka Beach, an undeveloped 28-hectare strip of white sand.  Created naturally by thousands upon thousands of ground-up snow-white Puka shells, Puka beach will be the scenic location of low-impact, low-density accommodations.  It is here where travelers can have a sustainable “oasis of serenity and natural beauty,” away from the other noisy, now-crowded beaches in Boracay.  As for Busuanga, similarly low-impact projects will be put up, with the difference being that “it will be hi-tech, and will be like nothing you have ever seen in Asia, if not in the world,” Chairman Ang promises.  In Baguio, the country’s “summer capital,” San Miguel Properties intends to develop low-impact condotels along Outlook Drive, right between Mines View Park and Baguio Country Club.  There will also be an enclave of vacation homes set right in the center of a pine forest, affording visitors accommodations that not only offer a variety of recreational choices, but also a “guilt-free” sustainable lifestyle.

Although Chairman Ramon S. Ang won’t as yet, go into concrete plans about these and his company’s other tourism-related projects, he does promise that San Miguel is going to come in “in a big way.” “We are going to make our presence felt,” he says.  And at the Philippine Real Estate Fair, prospective investors, buyers, and even competitors were treated to a “sneak peek” of what Chairman Ang and San Miguel Properties will have in store for the next few years.  In addition to its thrust on real estate tourism, San Miguel Properties also re-introduced to the market its current real estate developments:  Bel Aldea, ,  Maravilla, and Muralla in Cavite – as well as the picturesque mountain enclave, Wedgewoods, in Sta. Rosa Laguna.  It also formally introduced for the first time, San Francisco Laketown, a development that will recreate the beauty of San Francisco City, USA right at the heart of bustling Cavite.  During the Fair, San Miguel Properties also formally introduced the endorsers for its projects-- CNN Hero of the Year 2009, Efren Penaflorida for Bel Aldea, and lawyer, philanthropist, and author of the best-selling book, “12 Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help the Country,” Alex Lacson for Maravilla and Muralla. Each of these projects have compelling unique features to offer to prospective buyers and investors.   Finally, the company also announced its full support for the global design competition, “Design Against the Elements” or D.A.t.E., which is spearheaded by social entrepreneur and inventor and Ten Outstanding Young People in the World awardee, Illac Diaz.   The design competition aims to tap the talents of the most brilliant architects around the world to come up with a home design that will finally be able to withstand the ravages of the elements and natural calamities.  The winning design will be called “The House of San Miguel:  Built to Last.”  All of these endorsers of San Miguel Properties were guest speakers at the Philippine Real Estate Fair – and all of them commended San Miguel Properties’ vision and projects.

With its refreshing “People, People, People” campaign (as opposed to the old real estate maxim of “location, location, location”), it is clear that San Miguel Properties is not only focused in simply developing and selling property.  It approaches its corporate mission with a deep sense of social responsibility and commitment to country. Mr.  Ang stressed that ultimately, San Miguel Properties is venturing into these projects for the benefit of all Filipinos, and the country as a whole.   Thus, it’s slogan – “Where People Make the Property Prime.”

For now, team San Miguel Properties has its hands full. “We believe San Miguel Corporation is the best example of what a company should and can be,” adds Chairman Ang,” particularly as it contributes to our country’s growth. In wanting to make a positive difference, we want to turn our work into our prayer – and when your work is your prayer, you can achieve great things.”

With its mission and vision, it won’t be long before San Miguel Properties will soon be known as the “developer of paradise.”

For inquiries, please visit www.sanmiguelproperties.com.ph, or you may call at 632 2313 or  632 3270 or 0917-863-5106.