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Malacañang tells agencies to ensure prompt infrastructure completion

MALACAÑANG has ordered all state agencies and offices “to ensure timely completion of government infrastructure projects,” with President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s spokesman citing his “frustration” with red tape and cumbersome processes that have caused “delays in the implementation of projects.”
Memorandum Circular No. 57 — signed on Feb. 7, distributed to reporters on Monday and which takes immediate effect — covers “all government offices, agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and -controlled corporations, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges, and local government units.”
Warning that causing undue delays in projects is covered by penalties under Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Practices Act, RA 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act and Executive Order No. 292, or the Administrative Code of 1987, the circular reminded all officials involved to “strictly observe the laws, issuances and policies pertaining to the timely completion of government infrastructure projects,” warning of “the imposition of appropriate sanctions for infractions and violations” on this matter.
Asked in a press conference what prompted Malacañang to issue the circular, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo replied: “It should be that way because there have been delays in the implementation of projects.”
“And as we know, delays will hamper the services that are supposed to be provided by the government,” he added, recalling Mr. Duterte’s “frustrations over the requirements… legal restraints; kung minsan naman (at times) bureaucracy, bureaucratic red tape.”
For Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, “We’re doing good, much better than any administration in recent Philippine history” in terms of state infrastructure spending.
“We just have to go better if we want to deliver on our ambitious BBB (‘Build Build Build’ infrastructure development) programs and our goal to reduce poverty,” he added. “There is no room for complacency. I see the Memorandum as a reminder for all to work harder…”
Economic managers will ask the Commission on Elections to exempt work on major infrastructure projects from the 45-day ban on public works ahead of the May 13 midterm polls. — Arjay L. Balinbin

FDCP unveils plans for box-office tracking system, film archives

THE Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has unveiled plans to create an online box office tracking system in order to “take the guesswork out of box office grosses,” according to the council’s chief executive.
“One of the biggest challenges in the industry is we’re uncertain of how much a film earns,” Mary Liza Diño-Seguerra, chairman and CEO of the FDCP, said in vernacular during a press conference on Feb. 7 at Iago’s Restaurant in Quezon City.
The system, to be called Box Office Online System and Tracker (BOOST), will be done in partnership with the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) and is aimed to provide data-driven and evidence-based analytics for the Philippine film industry.
“It can give us box-office data [as often as] every 15 minutes,” she said before adding that a similar system is in place in South Korea and that it is one of the reasons why the country’s film industry is booming.
The 2017 report on the South Korean film industry published by KOFIC showed it earning more than $20 billion and reporting 219.87 million admissions.
“This is the heart and soul of [South] Korea’s [film industry] success, because they can analyze how many people watch comedy films, etc.,” Ms. Diño-Seguerra explained.
The system will also provide data to track trends in the industry, said Ms. Diño-Seguerra, and will show which films are popular in regions, the number of admissions, etc.
She also reported that the Department of Budget and Management has given them P3.6 million to put up the system and another P8 million for the system’s maintenance for the year which Ms. Dino said will cost upwards of P400,000 a month.
The budget for the online system is in addition to the P192 million budget the FDCP has been given for 2019, according to Ms. Diño-Seguerra.
Though no specific date has been announced for the system’s rollout, Ms. Diño-Seguerra said “it’s only a matter of time.”
Asked whether the data from the system will be available to the public, she said that the council will be releasing reports every quarter and the data will be accessible to “industry stakeholders: the distributors, producers, and FDCP.”
“It was difficult for the FDCP to call cinemas one-by-one just to get box-office data. We’re blind, we’re completely blind… that’s why we need the system,” she said before adding that they would want to implement the system’s pilot test during the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), arguably the country’s most popular film festival, which is held annually from Dec. 5 to the first week of January.
Aside from the box-office tracking system, Ms. Diño-Seguerra also announced that they already have a site for the Philippine Film Archive Heritage building and that the groundbreaking is scheduled for September.
The 2,500-square meter facility will be located behind the Pamantasang ng Lungsod ng Maynila in Intramuros, Manila, and will house the film archive, a media library, and a film museum.
Ms. Diño-Seguerra said the structure for the archive will be done in partnership with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the investment arm of the Department of Tourism (DoT).
“We’re bringing in consultants from [L’immagine Ritrovata], the film restoration lab from Bologna, Italy,” she said before explaining that the personnel from the restoration lab will help them construct the interiors of the building to make it perfect for film storage and archiving.
After the September groundbreaking, Ms. Diño-Seguerra said they hope to see the archive up and running a year later.
Currently, thousands of films are stored in the unofficial film archive inside the FDCP offices in Ermita, Manila. — Zsarlene B. Chua

SM Prime profit jumps 17% in 2018

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter
SM Prime Holdings, Inc. increased its net income by 17% in 2018, driven by the growth of its shopping mall and residential property units.
In a statement issued Monday, the Sy-led firm said consolidated net income stood at P32.2 billion in 2018, higher than the P27.6 billion it posted in the year before. This came on the back of a 14% uptick in consolidated revenues to P104.1 billion.
In the fourth quarter, SM Prime’s net income rose 16% to P8.7 billion. Consolidated revenues also firmed up 13% to P29.5 billion during the quarter.
“Driven by our goal to deliver more innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities, SM Prime is aiming to sustain this growth trajectory in the coming years,” SM Prime President Jeffrey C. Lim said in a statement.
The listed property giant’s shopping mall unit accounted for bulk of its revenues at P59.3 billion, 11% higher year-on-year. The firm said it benefited from the malls it opened in the provinces from 2017 to 2018, particularly SM CDO Downtown Premier, SM City Puerto Princesa, and SM Center Tuguegarao Downtown, among others.
Mall rental income also increased by 11% to P50.5 billion during the same period. Same-mall sales growth across all mature malls, meanwhile, stood at eight percent.
The company ended 2018 with a total of 72 malls in the Philippines covering 8.3 million square meters (sq.m.) of gross floor area, in addition to seven malls in China spanning 1.3 million sq.m. It plans to launch four new malls this year, namely SM Center Dagupan, SM City Olongapo Central, SM City Butuan and SM Mindpro Citimall in Zamboanga.
SM Prime’s residential unit, SM Development Corp. (SMDC) delivered P36.5 billion in revenues last year, 22% higher than in 2017, resulting to a 38% climb in operating income to P12.3 billion.
SMDC attributed its positive performance to the higher construction accomplishment of projects launched from 2015 to 2017, including Shore 2 Residences, Coast Residences, Shore 3 Residences and S Residences in Pasay City, Fame Residences in Mandaluyong City, and Spring Residences in Parañaque City.
Reservation sales for the period went up by 25% to P72.3 billion. This translates to 21,157 unit sales, 23% higher year on year.
The company also noted that the consolidated cost of real estate sales went up albeit at a slower rate of 17% to P17.8 billion, which translated to higher gross profit margins of 50% from 49%. Net income margin also improved by 25% from 24% in 2017.
This year, SM Prime is set to launch around 15,000 to 18,000 units, from a combination of high-rise buildings, mid-rise buildings, and single detached house-and-lot projects.
Meanwhile, SM Prime’s other business segments generated combined revenues of P8.4 billion, seven percent higher year-on-year. Combined operating income accordingly rose by 10% to P4 billion.
SM Prime’s other business segments include the commercial properties, hotels and convention centers group. The company currently has a GFA of 623,000 sq.m. across 11 office buildings, with about 238,000 sq.m of office portfolio in the pipeline.
The company also operates six hotels with more than 1,500 rooms, four convention centers, and three trade halls. It will be unveiling two new hotels this year, namely Park Inn by Radisson-Iloilo and Park Inn Radisson-North EDSA.
Shares in SM Prime jumped P0.65 or 1.68% to close at P39.30 each at the stock exchange on Monday.

The Favourite rules BAFTAs with most wins; Roma takes top prize

LONDON — Costume romp The Favourite was the biggest winner at the BAFTAs on Sunday, taking seven awards, but Netflix black and white film Roma picked up the Best Film prize, as well as Director, at Britain’s top movie honors.
Alfonso Cuaron’s semi-autobiographical film, about a domestic worker in 1970s Mexico, has won a string of prizes this awards season, further cementing its path to potential Oscar success.
On Sunday, the critically acclaimed movie had four wins, including Cinematography and Film Not In The English Language.
“To see a film about an indigenous domestic worker embraced this way in an age when fear and anger propose to divide us means the world to me,” Mr. Cuaron said as he accepted the Best Film prize.
“Reverting back to a world of separation and isolation is not a solution to anything,” Mr. Cuaron added, at a time when US President Donald Trump is demanding a wall be built on the US border with Mexico.
Mr. Cuaron thanked Netflix for getting behind the film, which is in Spanish and has garnered 10 Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture, a major recognition for the streaming service.
“If they do good movies, they should be recognized…I’m very happy that they’re embracing diversity… in a time in which the theatrical experience had become so gentrified,” Mr. Cuaron said on the red carpet about Netflix.
“I just hope that this opens up the game. And what is very needed is a balance between the two economic models — the theaters and the (streaming) platforms, because that’s only going to be good for cinema.”
Period drama The Favourite, in which Olivia Colman stars as Britain’s 18th century Queen Anne, won seven BAFTAs, including Outstanding British film, Original Screenplay, Production Design, Costume Design, and Make Up and Hair.
Ms. Colman, who portrays the monarch as frail and tempestuous, won the Leading Actress category, a victory that had been expected by many. Her co-star Rachel Weisz scooped up the Supporting Actress prize, an award for which fellow The Favourite star Emma Stone was also nominated.
“We’re having an amazing night aren’t we. We’re going to get so (drunk) later,” Ms. Colman told her fellow The Favourite nominees as she picked up the award to loud cheers.
“As far as I’m concerned, all three of us are the same and should be the lead… This is for all three of us. It’s got my name on it, but we can scratch in some other names.”
Rami Malek took the Leading Actor prize for his portrayal of late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, adding to his Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award wins for the role. He paid tribute to Mercury in his acceptance speech.
Cooper picked up the Original Music prize for A Star Is Born, while Adapted Screenplay went to Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman.
Mahershala Ali took the Supporting Actor prize for his role in Green Book, set in the segregated US South in the early 1960s. — Reuters

Bloomberry units ink P40-B loan deal for Quezon City casino-resort

UNITS of Bloomberry Resorts Corp. have signed a P40-billion loan agreement with several banks to finance the company’s integrated resort and casino project in Quezon City.
In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Monday, the Razon-led firm said its units Sureste Properties, Inc. (SPI) and Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels, Inc. (BRHI) have signed an omnibus loan and security agreement for a 10-year combined loan facility.
The lenders include Philippine National Bank, BDO Unibank, Inc., Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company, Union Bank of the Philippines, Bank of Commerce, China Banking Corp., and Robinsons Bank Corp.
BDO Trust and Investments Group acted as the security trustee, facility agent, and paying agent for the loan, while BDO Capital & Investment Corp. was its lead arranger and sole bookrunner.
“The proceeds of the loan will be used by SPI and BRHI to partially finance the design, construction and development of an integrated hotel and gaming resort located at the Vertis North Complex in Quezon City, Metro Manila,” the company said.
Bloomberry earlier said it will start the construction of its integrated resort and casino project in Quezon City by the middle of 2019, with target completion by 2022.
The project will carry the Solaire Resorts and Casino brand, and will be the listed firm’s second in the country.
The first Solaire, located in Entertainment City, Parañaque City, opened in 2013. BRHI is the license holder and operates the casino, while Sureste operates the hotel and other non-gaming business.
For the January to September period last year, Bloomberry’s attributable profit went up by 8.45% to P6.47 billion, after revenues improved by 14% to P31.91 billion. — Arra B. Francia

Cebu Pacific looks at other hubs for Japan route expansion

By Denise A. Valdez, Reporter
NAGOYA — Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific is looking at launching a direct flight to Japan from Clark, as well as expanding routes from Cebu to address the slot shortage in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Tomohiko Matsumoto, the country manager of the budget carrier in Japan, told reporters over the weekend they are looking to utilize other international airports in the Philippines to cater to the growing demand for flights to and from Japan.
“I think (in) Cebu, Japan is one of the favorite destinations… Right now Narita to Cebu is the only route that we have with Cebu and Japan, direct route, but we may have the routes too from other points to Cebu,” he said.
“I think another one is maybe Clark. That is also another international point… and other international routes are also flying directly (from Clark),” he added.
Cebu Pacific currently has direct flights from Manila to Osaka, Narita, Nagoya and Fukuoka, as well as a direct flight from Cebu to Narita.
“Because Manila is too full, we need to develop (our other hubs)… To grow more, we need to have more hub points to fly in,” Mr. Matsumoto said.
He noted there has been an increasing for flights between the two countries. In 2018, he noted there was a total passenger volume of about 1.1 million to and from the Philippines and Japan.
Data from the Department of Tourism likewise showed Japan is among the country’s top five visitors in terms of volume in 2018, with a total year-to-date tourist arrivals of 485,121 as of September.
“For 2019, the target arrivals from Japan is about 800,000 visitors,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a text message on Monday.
Mr. Matsumoto said the Japanese government would also like to increase its tourism volume from the Philippines.
“I think it’s doable with our capacity increase and… of course other carriers are also increasing their capacity because they see the market growing,” he said.
Of Cebu Pacific’s international operations, Japan contributes 3% of the total passenger volume, making it the third largest after Hong Kong and Singapore.

Gambino’s ‘This is America’ wins big at Grammys

LOS ANGELES — Country artist Kacey Musgraves won album of the year for Golden Hour, while “This is America” by Childish Gambino won both record and song of the year at the 61st Grammy Awards on Sunday in a breakthrough for rap at the most prestigious honors in the music business.
British pop singer Dua Lipa was named best new artist and popular rapper Cardi B won her first Grammy, taking best rap album for Invasion of Privacy.
Gambino’s searing “This is America,” about police brutality and racism, became the first hip-hop track to win record and song of the year Grammys, while Drake made a surprise appearance to accept the Grammy for best rap song for “God’s Plan.”
“This is America” also took Grammys for best music video and best rap performance.
Before Sunday the Grammys had frequently shut out hip-hop artists from its top prizes, despite rap’s dominance as the biggest music genre in the US.
Only two albums by hip-hop artists have ever won the album of the year Grammy — Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1999, and Outkast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below in 2004.
Gambino, alter ego of actor Donald Glover, as well as Canadian rapper Drake and Kendrick Lamar, were among several influential stars who were no shows at the biggest night in music.
Their absence was seen as a snub of an awards show that has often shut hip-hop artists out of its top prizes, despite rap’s dominance as the biggest music genre in the US.
Ms. Musgraves also won for best country album, song, and country solo performance.
Lady Gaga’s hit song “Shallow” from the movie A Star is Born won two Grammys, while the musician-turned actress took a third Grammy home for her “Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Going),” which won for pop solo performance.
An absent Ariana Grande, who pulled out of the show last week after a dispute with producers, won her first Grammy, best pop vocal album for Sweetener.
“This is wild and beautiful. Thank you so much,” Ms. Grande tweeted.
Grammy organizers this year expanded the top four categories — album, record, song of the year, and best new artist — to eight nominees from five in a bid to diversify the contest.
This year’s Grammy nominees were dominated by women and the awards show, hosted by Alicia Keys, reflected that with rousing performances by Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Janelle Monae, Katy Perry, and Musgraves.
The Grammys sprung a surprise by including Obama in an opening segment that also featured Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, actress Jada Pinkett Smith and host Alicia Keys talking about the power of music. — Reuters

BDO unit acquires rural bank in Bulacan

ONE Network Bank, Inc. (ONB) is acquiring Rural Bank of Pandi, Inc. (RBPI), which is expected to bolster its presence in Central Luzon.
In a regulatory filing Monday, BDO Unibank, Inc. said its rural banking arm has signed an agreement with the Bulacan-based lender to acquire its business and operations.
“The transaction is seen to provide ONB a stronger presence in the province and fast-track its expansion in Central Luzon, one of the most progressive areas in the country,” BDO said.
The transaction is still subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
According to its website, RBPI was established by the Andres and Santos families in 1967.
RBPI operates 10 branches in Bulacan, including in Sta. Maria, Baliwag, Angat, Balagtas, San Miguel, San Jose del Monte, San Rafael and Bocaue in Bulacan.
It offers savings and time deposit accounts, as well as agricultural, commercial, industrial and other loans.
As of end-June 2018, the rural bank has total assets amounting to P1.31 billion. Total loans were at P775.68 million, while total deposits amounted to P1.05 billion.
In July 2015, BDO completed the acquisition of Davao-based ONB from the Consunji group. ONB operates 120 branches and over 220 automated teller machines, most of which are located in Mindanao.
As of end-June 2018, ONB was the biggest rural bank in the country in asset terms with P27.15 billion, central bank data showed. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal

KPO sector to drive office demand this year — Colliers

TRADITIONAL offices and knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) providers are seen to sustain the demand for office spaces in 2019, although the delay of accreditations by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority continue to pose a threat on their expansion in the country.
This is according to the fourth quarter 2018 Property Market Report of real estate consultancy services firm Colliers International Philippines, which noted that 33% of total net take-up of 1.18 million sq.m. in 2018 came from traditional firms, government agencies, and flexible workspace operators.
Meanwhile, KPO providers accounted for 27% of the net take-up, or around 381,000 square meters (sq.m.).
“Colliers sees the KPO sector driving office demand in the next 12 months. KPOs provide higher-value outsourcing services such as health information management, software engineering, and finance and accounting,” according to Colliers’ report prepared by Research Manager Joey Roi H. Bondoc.
Among the KPO companies that occupied space during the fourth quarter of 2018 are Infosys and AECOM, joining the ranks of Amazon and Google which are already holding office in Metro Manila.
“The entry and expansion of Amazon and Google indicates that Metro Manila is able to successfully compete for major KPO business.”
On the other hand, offshore gaming operators occupied about 303,000 sq.m of office spaces in 2018, or about 21% of total net take-up. This is slower than the sector’s share of 35% to 2017 net take-up.
“It might appear that there was a decline from the offshore gaming from 35% down to 21%, but if you look at the absolute figures, the offshore gaming sector continues to record high occupancy in Metro Manila,” Mr. Bondoc said during a presentation in Makati City on Wednesday, adding that offshore gaming operators have taken up 710,000 sq.m. since 2016.
Demand for more office spaces will likely continue in the next 12 months, with 28% of buildings due for completion this year are already 28% pre-leased, according to Colliers data. Based on pre-commitments, Alabang, Makati Central Business District, Fort Bonifacio, and the Bay Area are set to record the strongest take-up this year.
Colliers’ projected demand of about 1 million sq.m. this year will be able to absorb the 1.2 million sq.m. of new office space set to come online in 2019, leading to a vacancy of five percent by the end of the year.
Mr. Bondoc however pointed out that the main challenge for this year is the sustainability of these growth drivers. PEZA proclamations have been facing delays since 2016, which could hamper outsourcing firms’ interest to expand in the country given the lack of incentives.
The property consultant said that there are 805,000 sq.m. of office space in Metro Manila that are pending PEZA approval from 2016 to 2018, while there are 184,000 sq.m outside the metro.
Since 2016, buildings covering 586,000 sq.m were approved in Metro Manila, with only 62,000 sq.m. in Cebu.
“Colliers encourages the government to expedite the approval of PEZA applications to sustain the outsourcing sector’s growth. In our opinion, stakeholders such as developers and qualified occupants should aggressively call of the proclamation of new PEZA spaces in Metro Manila and provincial areas,” the company said. — Arra B. Francia

Key winners at the Grammys

LOS ANGELES — The Grammy Awards, the music industry’s highest honors, were handed out at a live ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday hosted by R&B singer Alicia Keys.
The following is a list of winners in key categories:
• Album of the Year: Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves
• Record of the Year: “This Is America,” Childish Gambino
• Song of the Year: “This Is America,” songwriters Donald Glover and Ludwig Goransson
• Best New Artist: Dua Lipa
• Best Pop Solo Performance: “Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?),” Lady Gaga
• Best Pop Vocal Album: Sweetener, Ariana Grande
• Best Rap Album: Invasion of Privacy, Cardi B
• Best Country Album: Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves
• Best Rock Album: From the Fires, Greta Van Fleet
• Best Music Video: “This is America,” Childish Gambino — Reuters

AAA Equities to launch online trading platform

AAA Southeast Equities, Inc. looks to attract more retail investors into the stock market with the launch of its online trading platform next month.
The local stock brokerage will be unveiling AAA Equities on March 1, where it will introduce standard online trading features with the additional option of being able to automatically execute trading strategies such as cut-losses and buying on breakouts.
“These are two fundamental strategies of any successful trader, and right now it’s very hard for anyone to do it because to do it you have to be physically at your computer at the exact moment that your stock hits the price when you’re cutting losses or buying the breakout,” AAA Equities President William Matthew M. Cabangon said in a press briefing in Makati on Monday.
Mr. Cabangon said that a trigger mechanism for such processes is currently unavailable at other brokerage firms, noting that this automated setup will allow investors to be prepared for the market’s movements.
The company’s online platform will also offer “off-hours orders,” where investors can set their strategies before the market opens. Orders will then be automatically sent to the exchange when the market opens.
AAA Equities is targeting retail investors for the online platform, since its traditional business currently caters to institutional investors.
“The target market really is online retail…(but not necessarily young investors) because the functionality is such a fundamental strategy for any investor that we think any investor online should be on this platform,” Mr. Cabangon explained.
The company highlighted the importance of encouraging more Filipinos to invest in the stock market, given its strong performance this year.
“We’re the second best performing stock market in the world in 2019, but if you ask the average person, they don’t really feel the effects. It’s in the best interest of Filipinos to be invested in the market, to take part in the growth that we’re experiencing,” Mr. Cabangon said.
AAA Equities projects the market to reach the 8,900 level by the end of the year, supported by easing local inflation, the US Federal Reserve’s decision to stop hiking interest rates, the easing of trade tensions between the US and China, as well as the consistent buying momentum of foreign investors in the local market.
“This year if everything goes well, I can see the PSEi going back to 8,900. This is a very reasonable target…So I think those three factors combined, along with the Philippines’ easing inflation will be a huge tailwind to our economy,” Mr. Cabangon said.
With the launch of its online trading platform, AAA Equities will join the roster of about 20 brokerage firms with an automated stock trading system. The company requires a minimum investment of P20,000 upon signing up. — Arra B. Francia

How pineapples inspired the design of RLC’s newest mall

By Zsarlene B. Chua
Reporter
ROBINSONS Land Corp. (RLC) ended 2018 by opening its 51st mall — the 80,000 square meter Robinsons Place Valencia in Valencia City, Bukidnon, a second-class city with a population of more than 20,000 people.
“Malaybalay might be the capital [of Bukidnon] but Valencia is the economic center,” Arlene G. Magtibay, general manager, commercial centers division of RLC, told BusinessWorld during the opening in December.
The mall was a long time coming, said Ms. Magtibay, as it took them a long time before finding a property suitable to build a mall in Valencia.
“Sometimes, even if we want to go to a certain city, the right property isn’t available — such was the case here,” she explained.
The wait was worth it as the mall, designed by Pasig-based Lichauco Guilas+Villanueva (LG+V) Architects, focused on creating open spaces, taking advantage of natural light and of course, paying homage to one of the province’s main produce — pineapple.
(It was in 1926 that American company Del Monte opened its first pineapple plantation in Asia which resulted in the 5,000-hectare plantation located in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, roughly two hours away from Valencia).
Valencia City is located almost three hours away from Malaybalay and has a climate similar to Baguio City due to its higher elevation — an average of 300 meters above sea level, although some parts reach as high as a kilometer above sea level.
The new mall’s facade features yellow accents with a pattern suggesting the skin of a pineapple, and because of the city’s cool weather, Robinsons Place Valencia features an open-air Skypark overlooking the Pantaron mountain range — which is said to offer a beautiful view of the golden rice fields during harvest season — and a koi pond.
The interiors also feature pineapple-inspired pillars while a sculpture by Manila-based artist Sam Penaso decorates the mall’s atrium. The work, titled Seven Tribes, celebrates the diversity and unity of ethnic tribal groups of Bukidnon: the Higaonon, Matigsalug, Manobo, Talaandig, Tigwahanon, and Umayamnon.
Dining options abound at the mall including Gerry’s Grill, Choobi Choobi, and Bigby’s, alongside Valencia City favorites including Hinam-Is, a cafe known for its homemade and Bukidnon-sourced desserts.
The mall also includes Robinsons’ anchor tenants including the supermarket, department store, Tom’s World, and Daiso Japan.
Ms. Magtibay also noted that they put six cinemas inside the mall — with one 3D cinema — so residents don’t need to travel for hours just to watch the newest releases.
In 2018, RLC opened four malls — Pavia in Iloilo, Ormoc in Leyte, Tuguegarao in Cagayan Valley, and Valencia in Bukidnon — bringing its total leasable area to 1.508 million square meters.
This year, the company is poised to open malls in San Pedro and Antipolo while expanding Robinsons Magnolia in Quezon City.

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