PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. inaugurated Megaworld’s Mactan Expo, a two-level standalone convention center with a beachfront location within the 30-hectare Mactan Newtown township in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
“The Mactan Expo serves as an important platform for Cebu and for the Philippines, opening new opportunities for tourism, business, and investment in our country. It is a strong example of how the government and the private sector can work together — from start to finish — to deliver something meaningful and successful,” Kevin L. Tan, president and chief executive officer of Alliance Global Group, Inc., the parent company of Megaworld, said in a statement on Monday.
The inauguration coincided with the 505th anniversary of Ferdinand Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines and supports Lapu-Lapu City’s goal of becoming a premier meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) destination.
“In many ways, Mactan Expo will become a lasting legacy for our country — a place where the Philippines can host major international gatherings for many years to come. And right beside Mactan Expo, we are also developing the Mactan World Museum, which will celebrate Cebu’s rich heritage and its important role in shaping our nation’s story,” Mr. Tan said.
“Together, these developments further strengthen Cebu’s role as a gateway for tourism and business in the Philippines,” he added.
After recently hosting the ASEAN Travel Exchange, Mactan Expo will also host the 48th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in May, with heads of state expected from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Located opposite Megaworld Hotels & Resorts’ Mercure Mactan Cebu and Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown, Mactan Expo features a high-ceiling, pillarless convention hall that can accommodate nearly 3,000 guests in a theater setup.
The hall includes an expansive foyer and pre-function areas and can be divided into three smaller halls. Additional facilities include meeting rooms, foyers, VIP lounges, a showroom, and a veranda overlooking Mactan Newtown Beach and the island’s coastal landscape.
Megaworld said the Expo incorporates elements of Filipino design through collaborations with designers and Cebuano artists. The structure uses indigenous textures, natural finishes, and materials inspired by Cebu’s landscapes and craftsmanship, with walls featuring embedded shells sourced from local shores.
Shares in Megaworld Corp. fell by 0.47% to P2.10 apiece on Monday. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno
