Facets of One Global Center

One Global Center, the current operation site of Transcom Asia continues to uplift the lives of Ilonggo call center workforce in Iloilo City. The various facets of this prestigious BPO building energizes the BPO sector in Iloilo Business Park, conceptualized by Megaworld to complete the biggest IT Park in the region. One Global Center is a modern BPO office building located in nearby conveniences and prestigious establishments in Iloilo Business Park. It is located across the Festive Walk Mall and Street of Festive Walk, two commercial centers in the township where sprawling restaurants, bistros, retail shops, boutiques and event centers will create shopping and dining excitement to its call center workers. Richmonde Hotel Iloilo and the Iloilo Convention Center are just a few steps away for those looking for luxury and ultimate leisure. Beside the building is the Bike Lane of Megaworld Boulevard solely intended for healthy lifestyle activities among the visitors and residents like walking, jogging or biking. Working as a call center professional in Iloilo City has never been this exciting with Iloilo Business Park as a township where everything you're looking for a stylish and desirable lifestyle can be yours. One Global Center as part of the highly-integrated IT-BPO district of the township will continue to provide more than 30,000 jobs in the next 10 years.  

SPOOKY PAW-RADE on Oct. 24 @ IBP

SPOOKY PAW-RADE (coining the words- spooky, paw and parade) , the biggest Halloween Costume Party and Fun Match for a special Dog Appreciation Day is happening this Saturday, October 24, 3:30PM at Iloilo Business Park.

 Megaworld – Iloilo Business Park in partnership with Pack Leader K9 Dog Training and Jaro Dog Lovers will gather dog owners in Iloilo City for an exciting activity that would not only bring joy but celebrate a uniquely-themed Halloween celebration in front of The Palladium Showroom, ground level of Richmonde Tower in Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. Expect exciting activities with dogs and their owners such as dog parade, dog blessing, dog training lecture, dog fun match, pet product kiosks, display booths, and Halloween-themed dog costume contest with mini-fashion show. Dog participants will have a registration fee that can be availed ahead of the event for only P150.00 at The Palladium Showroom and Pack Leader K9 Dog Training staff or call (033) 330-3465.

To get all the dog owners excited of coming in the event , here are 40 fun facts about dogs that will starve your appetite for knowledge, and get you eager to own a dog pet for life:

1. There are hundreds of different breeds of dogs, and around 400 million dogs in the world.
2. The most popular breed of dog is the Labrador, with their gentle nature, intelligence and obedience they make for excellent pets and reliable workers. They often work as guide dogs.
3. Dogs have much better smell than humans, and can detect different odors nearly 100 million times lower than humans can.
4. Dogs hearing is also much better, and they can hear sounds four times further away than humans.
5. An average dog will live to between 10 and 14 years of age.
6. Dogs are omnivores, which means they feed on a wide variety of foods including meat, vegetables and grains.
7. There are 18 different muscles that dogs use to move each one of their ears.
8. Dogs release sweat through the pads of their feet.
9. Apart from barking, growling and whining, dogs use their ears and facial expression to communicate what they are feeling.
10. Puppies are born blind, without teeth and the ability to hear. Their eyes only open at around 10 to 14 days old, and their hearing will start after this. Their teeth start coming through at 6 weeks.
11. During the first week of a dog’s life, 90% of their time is spent sleeping, and 10% is spent eating.
12. Puppies are considered adults when they are one year old.
13. The domestic dog is a descendant of the grey wolf, in a process that took around 100,000 years.
14. The nickname “man’s best friend” is believed to have come from a courtroom speech in Missouri America in 1870 where a farmer was suing his neighbor who shot his dog.
15. The very first animal to go into space was a dog, a Russian dog named Laika who travelled in the spacecraft Sputnik around the earth in 1957.
16. Some dogs change colors as they grow, like Dalmatians which are born white and then develop black spots as they mature. Airedales are similar, born completely black they will grow grey, black and tan fur as they get older.
17. To many dogs showing a smile (baring your teeth) is an act of aggression. Most dogs don’t smile with their mouths like people do, but show happiness and excitement by wagging their tails.
18. A dog’s vision is not as good as a humans, and they are much better at seeing moving objects rather than those standing still. If you’re 300 yards away from your dog they will be unable to see you, until you wave your arms or move around.
19. Small dogs are often called toy dogs, or lap dogs – because they’re so small they look like a toy, or can easily fit on your lap.
20. There is a hunting dog that comes from Africa that cannot bark, it is the only dog like this and the sound is makes is commonly known as ‘barroo’.
21. The largest breed of dog in the world is the Irish Wolfhound, and the smallest dog breed is the Chihuahua. St. Bernard’s are the heaviest breed of dogs.
22. The fastest dog on earth can reach speeds of 45 miles an hour, and is the Greyhound.
23. The oldest dog who ever lived was a cattle dog from Australia called Bluey who lived to be 29 years and 5 months old. In human terms that makes him over 160 years old!
24. Dogs cannot eat raisins, grapes, onion, chocolate or garlic because it makes them very sick.
25. The first thing you should teach your dog is how to ‘sit’.
26. When your dog goes to sleep you notice he turns in a circle a few times, this is an instinct from when they were a wild dog, as they did this to pat down the grass before they slept. Despite thousands of years, they still have this instinct.
27. If your puppy takes something you don’t want them to have, don’t chase them. Instead make it a game where they chase you (and you run away) and you’ll have the item back in no time.
28. Dogs see much better than humans at night because they have a special light reflecting layer behind their eyes.
29. Dogs hearts beat much faster than ours, between 10-120 beats a minute while humans are 70-80.
30. The world record for the heaviest dog ever recorded was set in 1989, an Old English Mastiff that weighed 343 pounds and was 8 feet 3 inches long.
31. The rock star Ozzy Osborne rescued his wife’s Pomeranian from a coyote by wrestling the coyote until it released the dog.
32. The most dogs ever owned by a single person was 5,000 Mastiffs which were owned by Kubla Khan.
33. The weirdest law about dogs is that in Paulding, Ohio police officers are allowed to bite a dog to get it to be quiet.
34. In Iran, it is against the law to own a dog as a pet, you need to be able to prove they are a guard or hunting dog.
35. There are cave paintings of dogs in Spain in Europe that are over 12,000 years old.
36. Even the presidents love their dogs, and President Franklin Roosevelt sent a destroyer to the Aleutian Islands just to get his dog Fala, who had been left behind.
37. A dog’s nose print is unique, and similar to human fingerprints that no two are the same.
38. Bloodhound dogs have the best sense of smell of all dogs, and have been used to track down criminals since the middle ages.
39. The Beagle and the Border Collie are the dogs that bark the most.
40. A survey found that 33% of dog owners talk to their dogs on the phone when they are away, or leave messages on the answering machine.

Vibrant Faces of Iloilo

Iloilo City, the "City of Love" is on the verge of celestial rise as an economic center in the Southern Philippines. Culture, history, legacy and beauty converges to replicate the face of vibrancy... Progress and Passion become one.
Megaworld - Iloilo Business Park passionately captures the vibrant faces of Ilonggos that beautifully transform Iloilo City into one heart, one vision, one dream - The cultural campaign begins - I LOVE ILOILO!

IBP’s SPOOKY PAW-RADE Halloween Sensation

There’s a new Halloween sensational event coming in 5 days at Iloilo Business Park – yes, we’re talking about your cute and cuddly dogs turned into scary, SPOOKY PAW-RADE stealing the spotlight!

SPOOKY PAW-RADE is a Halloween-themed costume and dog appreciation day organized by Megaworld – Iloilo Business Park in partnership with Pack leader K9 Dog Traning and Jaro Dog Lovers. Set on October 24, Saturday, 2:30PM in front of The Palladium Showroom in Richmonde Tower, the event ensures dog lovers and owners for an exciting treat. It will start with a registration period for each dog participant and by showing the dog’s latest vaccination papers. It will be followed by an interaction activity with dog and their owners for an early warm-up. By 3:30 PM, the Dog Parade around Iloilo Business Park will start followed by a formal opening of the event. There will be a Dog Blessing and Dog Fun Match which include the following game categories – Puppy and Small Breeds, Medium Breeds and Large Breeds at around 4PM to 6PM. At 6:30 PM, Expert Dog Trainer, Joseph Jiro Gabasa of Pack Leader K9 Dog Training will showcase training demonstration tips and techniques to dog owners. The most awaited part of the event is the Dog Halloween Costume Contest and mini-fashion show that will put all dog participants in the spotlight for the most unique and creative costumes. Awarding of prizes for the winners in various dog fun match games and Halloween contest will end the event with a bang.

Come and join the biggest dog show event in the region’s largest business and leisure destination where BIG things are happening. Join now and register your dogs now to SPOOKY PAW-RADE!    

For more inquiries and ticket reservation, please call us (033) 330-3465, visit us online at www.iloilobusinesspark.ph.

PLAY a fun life at IBP

There's always a reason to "play" and experience ultimate pleasure, recreation and adventure at Iloilo Business Park with the Street of Festive Walk, considered as the longest avenue for endless shopping and dining. Prepare for international and local restaurants to tickle the discriminating palate of Ilonggos and visitors. Enjoy shopping, relaxing walk and al fresco dining in this grand destination set to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2016. IBP is inspired by Megaworld's "live-work-play" township concept. 
‪#‎lovelifelivebig ‪#‎Iloilobusinesspark ‪#‎Megaworld ‪#‎Streetoffestivewalk‪#‎longestshopanddinestrip

It's time to "Play" soon and enjoy the high-end shopping experience, non-stop spectacles and fun at the Festive Walk Mall, still under construction and scheduled in the fourth quarter 2016 opening, this new leisure destination will showcase classy clothing brands, boutiques, retail shops, restaurants and 8 world-class cinemas. Festive Walk Mall will complete Megaworld's township vision of "live-work-play" in Iloilo Business Park.
‪#‎lovelifelivebig ‪#‎Iloilobusinesspark ‪#‎Megaworld ‪#‎Festivewalkmall‪#‎shoppinginIloiloCity

Spooky Paw-Rade invades IBP on Oct. 24

Iloilo Business Park is more than just a township for business; it is also a destination for unique leisure escapades. The 72-hectare Megaworld township takes pride not only of its stunning scenery, wide spaces for recreations and impressive buildings, it is a place where bikers, health buffs and of course, dog owners can find a perfect getaway to enjoy a day of relaxing activities.

It’s time for a very unique Halloween event with “Spooky Paw-Rade” on October 24, 2:30PM at The Palladium Showroom in front of Richmonde Tower, Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo City. This special event is a dog-appreciation day organized by Megaworld – Iloilo Business Park to give credit to our fury best friends and their owners in time for the Halloween season. There will be various activities highlighted by Dog Parade wearing spooky Halloween-themed costumes, Dog Blessing, Fun Match Dog Show, Dog Games and Halloween Dog Costume Fashion Show as the main event that will mesmerize visitors and onlookers. Pre-registration for participants started last October 9 at The Palladium Showroom. Tickets sold at The Palladium Showroom, McDonald’s IBP and Joseph Jiro Gabasa – owner of Pack Leader k9 Dog Training School costs P150.00 per one dog participant. Dog owners are encouraged to bring in their pet’s latest vaccination papers upon registration.

So what are you waiting for? It’s time to dress-up your fun-loving dogs and enjoy a day full of fun, excitement and freebies this Halloween. For ticker reservation and registration, call us at (033) 330-3465, 09173524888, 09399256430, or visit us at www.iloilobusinesspark.ph.

Useful Tips When Buying Pre-Selling Condo

Artist's perspective - Lafayette Park Square, the vintage-inspired residential tower

Artist's perspective - The Palladium, the sky garden lifestyle

Artist's perspective - One Madison Place, the home of the privileged few

Pre-selling properties are those sold to home buyers or investors very early on in the construction process. These are also called “off-plan” properties in other parts of the globe, as buyers are buying nothing more than a plan.

Many property developers offer pre-selling condos to buyers in order to finance the development itself. The customers, on the other hand, as early adopters are rewarded with a discounted price and the promise of capital appreciation once the property has been turned over and, in cases of townships and mixed-use projects, all infrastructures and amenities have been put in place.

But buying a pre-selling property is not for the faint-hearted. For starters, there’s the chance the buyer will get disappointed when the turned-over product looked nothing like the swanky model unit the property agent showed you. It’s like a major Hollywood studio adapting your favorite book into a film, only to discover that the characters did not turn out to be all you imagined them to be.

Then there’s the risk of the place stagnating in a few years’ time. Since the turnover date is 2 or 3 years away, you can’t be sure if your chosen area will deliver that much-publicized capital growth.

How do you protect yourself and your investment then? Here’s a list 8 useful tips when buying a pre-selling condo.

1. Have Some Money for Down-payment

Even if you plan to apply for a bank loan to finance your purchase, you still need to shell out a certain amount for down-payment. Usually this may cost you 20 percent of the purchase price (high-end ones usually require a higher down-payment).

Some developers also require a reservation fee, but this will eventually form part of the down-payment should you decide to push through with the purchase. However, in most cases the reservation gets forfeited if the buyer decides against buying after a certain number of days, so make sure to ask this. In addition, it’s also prudent to have at least an amount equivalent to 5 percent of the purchase price ready for taxes and other fees associated to the purchase.

2. Choose Your Developer Wisely

Some buyers are apprehensive about buying preselling condos because they fear that the finish product may not turn out to be what the sales agent promised it to be. Or worse, the project may not materialize at all. This, sadly, is sometimes true. But it can be prevented by carefully choosing your developer.

This is an easy toss between developers who have just launched their first project and established ones who are generally well-funded, have reputation to protect, and highly unlikely to default.

First-time developers are generally cash strapped and are up against the odds when trying to market pre-selling properties. Hence, they are in urgent need of buyers to help them cover their upfront financial requirements and help ensure the success of the project. When they fail in this, the project will surely not materialize.

Established developers, however, are more financially secure and are highly likely to deliver their promise since they have a reputation to protect. Therefore, it makes more sense to purchase from them.

3. Location Is King (Most of the Time)

They say that the worst house on a good area is still better than the best one on a bad area. The same is true for pre-selling condos. But this doesn’t mean that only those within newly minted townships or mixed-use projects are worth buying. Make sure to research about the area, though. Is it served by good transport links? Is the area prone to flooding? Knowing these things will allow you to plan your purchase accordingly.

4. Get Financing Ready

If you plan to purchase your preselling condo through bank financing, make sure to have your loan approved. The first step to getting your loan approved is to have all the required documents ready, which typically will include credit history, financial statement, bank statements, and proof of income.

In addition, one of the common mistakes many homebuyers commit when applying for a home loan is getting the lowest rate without carefully studying the terms. In many cases very low loan rates are offered only on a promotional basis, and the borrower gets hit with the “real” rate later on. This is often the case when interest rates have been falling for some time. Borrowers should instead focus on a stable rate, not necessarily the lowest, that their monthly can accommodate.

5. Snoop Around

A prudent and resourceful buyer knows the advantage of snooping around before making a major purchase (and house shopping certainly qualifies as one). Before entering into a contract with a developer, do a bit of background check by visiting the company’s website. Know more about the developer’s reputation and integrity first before saying yes to a purchase.

According to Portfolio Property Investments’ Josh Atherton, it will definitely be prudent for the buyer to ensure that the developer is actually commencing the project by visiting the site. Another way to guarantee the developer’s financial status is to have the same written into the contract if possible, to avoid encountering financial complications with the developer. Also ask to see the developer’s balance sheet to determine its financial strength. If the developer goes into liquidation before the property is finished you may lose your deposit and other costs.

Lastly, make sure that the developer has a License to Sell issued by the HLURB for the project it is selling. This can be verified in the HLURB website.

6. Read the Contract

When buying a pre-selling property you’re most likely be coordinating with the developer’s property agents or consultants. Make the most of your interaction with these people by asking the right questions. Sit down with them to discuss the contract thoroughly, and remember to ask questions to determine what is covered as part of the purchase price (fittings, floor coverings, painting, decorating, etc.). Also discuss your expectations for the property with your developer and, if possible, have them written into the contract to avoid disagreement at the completion of the project.

7. Carefully Inspect the Display Home or Model Unit

As you’re buying an as-of-yet non-existing property, carefully inspect the display home or model unit. In most cases these model units are poshed-up versions of the actual property (fancy lightings, decor, and lavish draperies are the usual tricks used to make these more photogenic), so make sure to ask questions as to what type of finishes, fittings, and, in some cases, furnishings are included in the contract.

However, as developers are up against time to complete a project, they usually are given plenty of flexibility in how the project is to be completed. A pre-selling contract will usually stipulate that the property will be constructed in accordance with the finishes and materials described, but as a buyer you should be aware that it also provides the developer the sole right to alter the finishes and materials in certain circumstances, provided the alternatives are of no less quality.

In the case of defects in the turned-over unit, pre-selling contracts normally stipulate that the developer is to remedy any defects identified by you as the buyer, prior to you settling on your purchase so make sure to inspect your property.

8. Carefully Follow Market Conditions

Pre-selling condos are indeed useful for investors because of the promise that these properties’ market value will increase by the time of their completion. But then again, there’s the risk that they won’t. To counter this, make sure that you follow the prevailing market conditions. Real estate consulting firms come up with annual and quarterly data on capital appreciation and rental yields. Prevailing interest rates, on the other hand, can be found in the website of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Knowing all these can help you plan your next move.

Investing in pre-selling property is like any other business venture—you have to play your game really well to maximize your profit. One way to help you achieve this is by studying carefully the prevailing market conditions, which, by the way, doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand. A bit of cunning and a calculator will usually do the trick.

Iloilo Business Park’s residential tower are assured to offers the most prestigious, first-class lifestyle concept and comes in high standard of quality, all encompassing the expectations of condo buyers and clients. One Madison Place, a 10-storey, 3-tower residential tower with great amenities is a reflection contemporary lifestyle. Lafayette Park Square offers classic concept of lifestyle accentuated by extraordinary amenities. The Palladium is the tallest tower in the region with 22 floors, 4 sky garden, infinity pool and the only one with Loft Units in its penthouse level. When buying a condo at Iloilo Business Park, clients will also have exclusive access to the whole township where vibrant pleasures and exciting destination await residents.

Iloilo Business Park - the biggest and most prominent 72-hectare business and residential township in Western Visayas. Photo by Felipe Uygongco

Choose only the country’s leading real estate developer as Megaworld assures you with “Live-work-play” lifestyle vision. Interested to invest? Call us at Call us at (033) 330-3465 or visit us at http://www.iloilobusinesspark.ph. Check out our IBP Showroom at the ground level of Richmonde Tower, Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

Festive Walk Mall Redefines New Lifestyle Culture

Artist's perspective of the Festive Walk Mall

Lifestyle shopping in Iloilo will never be the same with Festive Walk Mall

What makes metropolises exciting to visit and teeming with recreation is the existence of various shopping malls. Embedded in the notion of most Filipinos is the concept of shopping malls as the oasis of relaxation and a place to enjoy. The culture of “malling” has long been etched in the mindset of a typical Filipino mentality for the past decades. Since Iloilo City is on its way to take the spotlight as the next “wave city” and economic center in the Visayas with influx of investments, “malling culture” and the lifestyle sensation its brings to Ilonggos is once again heightened with the anticipated opening of another world-class shopping center – the Festive Walk Mall. Rising in the heart of Iloilo Business Park, the 72-hectare business township developed by Megaworld in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, Festive Walk Mall has two phases of leasable areas such as Festive Walk 2B-1 with 2,666 square meters and Festive Walk 2B-2 with 1,923 square meters. Inspired by the classy concept of its popular predecessors in Manila – the Megaworld lifestyle malls, Festive Walk Mall is a unique convergence of contemporary architectural design and international line-up of world-famous clothing brands, boutiques and retail shops. For leisure lovers and movie enthusiasts, there will be 8 world-class standard cinemas set to open in the mall. A classy food court, a selection of first-class bistros and restaurants, and spacious events center will complete the lifestyle mall expected to have its soft opening in the fourth quarter of 2016. Across the center mall, a Mall Annex will open to offer extended shopping and dining escapade for mall-goers and visitors. Beside the Mall Annex, another landmark leisure destination will open with great anticipation – the Street of Festive Walk, a 1.1-kilometer shop-and-dine strip, the longest in the country so far. The name of the highly-anticipated mall, inspired by the “festive” cultural vibrancy of Iloilo’s world-class Dinagyang and Paraw Regatta Festivals, is a stunning depiction of Ilonggos’ passion for leisure, shopping and love for gastronomy rising in the middle of a sparkling business township of opportunities and commercial epicenter. The mall is a just a few steps away from the residential district which will become the home of a privileged few residents in One Madison Place, Lafayette Park Square and The Palladium, condominium towers with unique facets of lifestyle concept. The prestigious lifestyle mall is surrounded and adjacent to Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, BPO buildings One Global Center and Two Global Center, the biggest McDonald’s in Panay Island, and a few steps away from the Iloilo Convention Center and soon-to-rise Courtyard by Marriot Hotel.

October 2015 Construction Update of Festive Walk Mall

Lifestyle-wise, no other shopping malls in Iloilo City can offer this magnitude of conveniences, pleasure options and exclusive link to a complete, modern commercial township. The Festive Walk Mall is a stunning definition of Iloilo’s future “malling culture” and a level up experience that Ilonggos, visitors and investors will find only in the ‘city of love.’

Embrace the new lifestyle concept at Iloilo Business Park. For more information on how to invest, call us at (033) 3303465 or visit our website at www.iloilobusinesspark.ph.

10 Best Reasons to Move Out of the Metro for a Stress-Free Lifestyle

  

Photo from Skyscrapercity.com

There’s more to lifestyle perspective in “megacities” than meets the eye. What makes bigger cities in the Philippines like Manila a notch higher than any other highly-urbane metropolises in the country is its economic dominance and “investment magnet” image. Megacities have established a reputation as melting pots of opportunities from business, finance, tourism and leisure that shine brighter than its stunning city-lights at night. But behind this fast-paced lifestyle, uprising cities in the provinces offer more than a promise of opportunities: the priceless advantage of a stress-free and pleasurable living.      

Pleasurable, pollution-free and healthy lifestyle in Iloilo City, photo from iloilo.net.ph

1. Pollution

Everyone hates pollution in big cities. It’s absolutely suffocating, health hazzard and down-right deadly. But, don’t worry because you can always run away from this never-ending metropolitan syndrome. There is a huge difference in the air quality and pollution levels from big metro cities to out-of-town provinces. Just like Iloilo, this city has more air quality control than common metropolitan areas, signifying a more liveable atmosphere for people. Vehicular emissions are more controlled and minimal often emphasize by its environmental-centered community and a city government that promotes healthy lifestyle.

Photo from thenewstoday.info

Less traffic roads and streets in Iloilo City

2. Traffic

And while everybody hates a deadly pollution problem, people are also whining about megacities’ traffic. If you search www.google.com with the terms, “traffic in the Philippines”, nine (9) out of (10) of the search results will show unsatisfactory descriptions of the traffic in major metropolitan areas. Thinking of moving out from a big city? Well, Iloilo is the place for you with wide main roads and fast-moving highways.

Photo by Felipe Uycongco

Photo from pinasmuna.com

3. Overcrowding

Metro Manila is one major example of an over-crowding megacity where limited spaces are available for recreation and promote healthy lifestyle. Dense urban cities have a hard time managing their space, compared to the ratio of the people residing in such areas. If one million people are living within one small street side, that’s a lot of heads to turn to if you want to say “hi.” If you want to live in a place with enough people to get by, fly to Iloilo and leave your claustrophobic fears behind. In this city, more relaxing areas are open for public like the Iloilo River Esplanade, bike lanes along Diversion road and Iloilo Business Park.

Iloilo City Police Officers are always on the road to do their public service, photo from ilongo.weebly.com

4. Crime rate

It would be traumatic for someone to get robbed in the sidewalk or get mulled by a violent gang over a dark street. But in big metropolitan areas, it’s part of the normal day-to-day scene. Another data from Numbeo suggests that the safety one feels walking alone during night time drops to 23.71%. Try coming to Iloilo and see all the bright lamp posts from one street to the next, ensuring your safety even after the daylight hours. Iloilo City is noted for being one of the world’s safest place to live with less number of crimes recorded every year.

Stress-free city streets and typical public transportation vehicles in Iloilo City, photo from projectiloilo.com

5. Public transportation and driving

Megacities in the Philippines tend to get confusing and crowded with the existence of public utility and private vehicles filling up the roads. Traffic system in these major cities is constantly innovating to maintain smooth flow such as color coding and number coding of vehicles.  Streets are full of so-called “public utility vehicles” for any distances and people moving to their destinations in these huge cities are always in a hurry that often resulted to a congested atmosphere. Though megacities have wide roads and highways, these are not spared from the non-stop influx of vehicles of both public and private. Iloilo is still a rising megacity, its roads and highways are still sparred from traffic congestion. To create consistency, road widening projects are ongoing and well-managed traffic controls are being implemented by the city givernment to maintain a stress-free ambiance for motorists and vehicles.

Expanding IT-BPO industry in Iloilo City, photo from panaynewsphilippines.com

6. Affordable Cost of living in out-of-town provinces

Living in major metropolitan cities can be a rewarding lifestyle perspective because you have the best access to a lot of things: amenities and opportunities. But there’s always a catch living in big cities: the cost of living. According to Numbeo.com, 31.1% is spend on average monthly house or apartment rent and 28.8% is spend on food and groceries for a resident in a big city based on distribution of expenses statistical model. If this is the case, the slightly minimal low cost of living in the provinces in the Philippines could directly affect the expenses of a resident compare to those living in megacities. Since Iloilo City is experiencing a booming economy and influx of investments, multinational companies are opening jobs that offer higher salary close to other megacities like Manila or Cebu. Combined with the slightly low cost of living in Iloilo and better salary compensation from companies, this city could be an employment destination in the future.

Photo from iloilo-travel-guide.blogspot.com

Weekend cultural and special events at Calle Real, Photo from iloilo.net.ph

Zumba session and activities at Iloilo River Esplanade, Photo from Skycraperscity.com

The annual Iloilo Bike Festival in Iloilo Business Park, Photo from Iloilo.net.ph

7. Accessibility to modern amenities in Iloilo

Everything is within your reach in big cities when it comes to business opportunities, entertainment and leisure. Iloilo City is on fast-paced infrastructure developments from roads, shopping malls, business and having a new convention center which are all accessible to locals. To counter the stressful lifestyle in the metropolis, wellness centers and public parks hold wellness programs or activities. On Sundays, the city’s old business center, Calle Real where heritage buildings are being rebuilt to its original form is usually closed for public transportation and holds Zumba sessions, cultural shows and local concerts to emphasize significant weekend attraction to locals.  The city government is also establishing wellness-inspired recreation areas. One of them is the long-stretching Iloilo River Esplanade where wellness activities often attracts passersby, giving a boost both on its economy, tourism and additional modern amenities.          

Iloilo River Esplanade, Photos by Felipe Uycongco

8. Appreciation of Nature

Looking for greens and bio-diversity in major cities? Crammed and congested it may seem to be but major cities are innovating to counter stressful lifestyle and avert the effects of pollution. High-end malls and shopping centers feature pocket gardens and trees within commercial areas. Bistros and restaurants are placed in open spaces or along the seashore to appreciate nature. Wellness activities are encouraged in open parks. Moving away from megacities, Iloilo City have the Iloilo River Esplanade with a glimpse of a protected bio-diversity, wide-roads with bike lanes for health buffs, and consistent wellness activities in public parks, a convergence of a nature-centered expanding metropolis with uprising progress.     

9. Proper Sanitation

Most megacities have similar problems when it comes to their garbage accumulation and sanitation issues. Every day, tons of garbage are collected in the city to minimize pollution. The average garbage collected in most megacities is high compared to out-of-town provinces. Megacities have serious garbage problems due to lack of proper dumpsites. Proper sanitation is worse and public toilets are congested compared with those in provinces due to consistent influx and daily activities of people. Try visiting Iloilo and you’ll see minimal trash problems and public toilets are less congested. The city government of Iloilo is doing its best to counter the problems of garbage, littering and push for more clean-up drive projects in local communities.

Iloilo Floodway Project in Jaro District, photo from livefromiloilo.wordpress.com

10. Less flood levels

Probably one of the most visible dilemmas in major cities especially in the Philippines, is the unstoppable flooding during rainy season. Big metropolitan cities suffer a lot and cause delays such as suspension of work and classes in schools during typhoon. A lot of investment and business opportunities are lost for multinational companies, government services are delayed and millions of calamity funds from the city’s tax are spend to fix infrastructure damages and support victims of flooding. Flood levels in Iloilo have been minimized over the years because of a major flood control project centered in Jaro district. The local government is also pursuing an improved drainage system project within the city.

The surging investment and business opportunities in the country has long been potentially presented by megacities but less popular for their beneficial lifestyle and stress-free elements that can be seen in provinces. Iloilo City’s relentless rise as the next economic center point in the Visayas may prove as a game-changing concept of business mixed with desirable lifestyle for investors, visitors and its locals. The infrastructure and economic developments are elevating but the vision of ecological conservation is prominently emphasized. Leading real estate company, Megaworld Corporation has long seen this unique potential in Iloilo City by transforming the 72-hectare old Iloilo Airport in Mandurriao district into a mixed-used development community, a township solely dedicated for business and high-end leisure facilities known as Iloilo Business Park.

Who said megacities have everything it has to offer in determining its prominence and promising opportunities? Think about another concept of it: a city of greens and swift infrastructure expansion leaping a notch higher in defining a better quality of life.