CEBU's Modern Skyscrapers, new constructions, IT Parks, and UPDATES about CEBU

[rowell83]

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We had lunch at a restaurant on stilt off the coast of Olango island
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busog mi ani...hehe.

[diehardbisdak]

Korean-led firm kicks off 5-star resort development
By Ehda M. Dagooc
The Freeman 07/24/2006

Philippine BXT Corporation, a Korean-led company, officially started its P3 billion five-star resort development in Mactan Island, adding another 600 premium accommodation in Cebu.

The Imperial Palace WaterPark Resort and Spa, situated in a 7.5 hectare property in Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City, kicked off its development in a ceremonial ground breaking event, graced by Department of Tourism (DOT) chief Joseph Ace Durano.

Phil. BXT Corporation, the developer of the project, has tapped the services of Imperial Palace Hotel in Seoul, Korea to run and manage the resort. Imperial Palace Hotel is one of the finest in Korea with a vast network in their home country and the rest around the world.

"This is the single biggest [so far] Korean investment in the country," said Durano in an interview during the groundbreaking ceremony.

The resort will be fully operational by 2009. It will also finish its 110- hectare development project in Cordova as an added facility for the 27-hole golf course, and other leisure facilities, said project consultant Jefferson Lim.

According to Durano, five-star resort projects promise good return of investments (ROI) in the Philippines, specifically Cebu, as 90 percent of tourists prefer to stay in four-star or five star resorts or hotels.

To complement Mactan's existing hotel and resort establishments, Phil. BXT Corporation, which was organized in 2005, plans to develop a 616-room world class AAA resort consisting of six medium rise, three low-rise buildings, and 40 single units complete with amenities. The company also planned to develop complete recreational facilities inside the hotel, which includes swimming pools, tennis courts, water-park, ballrooms, and among others.

This project is the first venture of BXT Busan Express Terminal Corporation, the Korean-based counterpart of the Philippine BXT Corporation.

In an earlier interview with the company's chairman Yong Jun Park, he said Cebu is one of the feasible sites for investments in the Philippines, especially in tourism-related facilities. Park used to engage in construction business and shipping trade in Korea, now likes to take advantage of the good tourism prospects in Cebu.

The land, which was owned by the Woolbright family, the family that developed Beverly Hills Subdivision, was purchased by the Joil UBF Corporation, which is 60 percent owned by Cebuanos, and 40 percent owned by Korean nationals.

Park visited Cebu April of last year, and easily got interested into investing hotel project with the help of Augusto Go, Consul of Korea to Cebu, upon noting that the province desperately needs hotel accommodations, especially five-star resorts.

The 600 five-star room accommodation, however, will not totally solve the room shortage in Cebu, Durano said but it is a great help.

"As the capacity expands, more and more tourists will be lured to come to Cebu," Durano said adding that building these kinds of facilities are still encouraged especially in Cebu.

Even if Cebu will have to build 1,000 more rooms, Durano said shortage will not be totally solved, as the demand is continuously increasing.

With the additional pool of five-star rooms in the Philippines, or Cebu , there is no reason why the country will not hit 20 million tourist arrivals in the next few years, complemented with the right infrastructure.

The Imperial Palace WaterPark Resort & Spa will be the fourth five-star resort in Mactan Island, including Shangri-La Mactan Island Resorts, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, and the Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa.

[diehardbisdak]

SM’s expansion wing to copy Mall of Asia

SM City Cebu aims to target the upper class market with its expansion building dubbed, the Northwing.

Marissa Fernan, SM Prime Holdings vice president for marketing said the 10.9—hectare Northwing, which will replicate the ambience of the SM Mall of Asia in Manila, is scheduled to open in May next year.

“We are very excited. SM will try to exude the same kind of ambience in the Mall of Asia in Cebu. The interiors of the Northwing will be done by a Singapore-based designer. SM will be putting up features not seen in Cebu yet,” she told a press conference last Friday.

With regard to the hotel constructed by SM next to the mall in Cebu City, she said the Sy’s are constantly looking for partners willing to infuse investment to complete the hotel’s construction.

Fernan denied the rumor that the reason for the stoppage of the hotel’s construction is the mall management’s misunderstanding with the contractor due to errors in construction.

Nothing wrong

“There is no truth to that. There is nothing wrong with the construction of the hotel. In fact, our employees have been using the basement as parking area,” she said.

Despite its failure to complete the hotel, Fernan said SM will pursue its commitment of helping Cebu attract both foreign and local tourists through completing their shopping experience in Cebu at the SM Southwing, or the main mall, and in the Northwing.

The Northwing, which will have a net leasable area of 17, 677-square meters, will feature higher-end tenants such as Junior Anchors, Ace Builders, Our Home and Al Fresco Dining. Branded retail and specialty shops, a comfort lounge, concierge and entertainment area, will also be found in the annex building.

“Many tenants have already expressed intention of locating in the Northwing,” Fernan said.

The Northwing will have some 1,946 parking lots—three levels of covered parking and one level roof deck parking.

Fernan said the north reclamation rehabilitation and beautification project initiated by SM, in cooperation with the Cebu City Government, will enhance the atmosphere that the mall would like to radiate in the Northwing and the entire shopping complex. (JBN)

[arnoldsa]

Photos by paolo ortega


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[arnoldsa]

Crown Regency Suites







City of the dead
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[martiano]

^^ hala preho lagi nako ug nawong ang kanang naglakaw sa crown regency suites..

[naz]

ikaw man gud tingali na boss..

[arnoldsa]

Party to usher in ASEAN
120-day countdown starts next week


Cebu will have a big street party next week to mark the 120-day countdown to the opening of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in December.

Cebu City ASEAN summit preparations action officer Nagiel Bañacia said August 7 to 11 would be declared ASEAN week in Cebu in line with the founding anniversary of the 10-member ASEAN.

The cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and the town of Cordova will jointly hold various celebrations. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will culminate the week with a program on August 8 in Los Baños, Laguna.

In Cebu, the grand celebration will be anchored on the unveiling of a huge digital countdown clock, which will count the 120 days leading to the formal opening of the summit in December.

The clock, to be put up at the Fuente Osmeña rotunda, would be donated by the M. Lhuillier Group, Bañacia said.

That same day, parade contingents from Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue cities will converge in Fuente Osmeña where Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia will lead a program.

Goodbye sore eyes

For Cebu City, Bañacia said next week would also start the beautification of the city’s “Ceremonial Route.”

The Ceremonial Route includes the streets of Sergio Osmeña at the North Reclamation Area, Juan Luna Avenue from SM City to Salinas Drive in Lahug, and the Veterans drive going to Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.

These streets will be cleared of structures that encroach on the sidewalks.
Elegant street lamps will also be installed on these streets, Bañacia said.

Beautification of the Cebu City streets will cost the city P5 million.

In Mandaue City, Mayor Thadeo Ouano said the city’s ASEAN Task Force already listed buildings along its own Ceremonial Route that need repairs.

The ceremonial route will span the second Mandaue-Mactan Bridge, Plaridel Street until the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).

Ouano earlier banned billboards, streamers and posters along the route as early as May.

[tolstoi]

Ouano earlier banned billboards, streamers and posters along the route as early as May.

did he impose ban on his own poster?

[socevans]

did he impose ban on his own poster?

He should remove his face from all streets.