The old Iloilo Airport in Mandurriao, Iloilo City (photo by JunJun Mendoza)
Pelagia Longno remember how she used to say “goodbye” to her husband, Jonathan Longno, a seaman OFW before leaving for his flight to Manila at the Iloilo Airport 15 years ago. That very moment left a pinch in her heart. Like the Longno couple and other Ilonggo OFWs, venturing professionally to look for high-paying jobs in other countries to provide a better future for their family, they are doing a great sacrifice.
(Photo by Gettyimages.com)
A Place of Sentiments and Dreams
According to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) records in 2014,there are more than 60,901 OFWs coming from the Province of Iloilo out of the estimated 187,971 OFWs throughout Western Visayas leaving to work in other countries. Iloilo City has the biggest number of OFWs with 28,890 who send large amount of remittances and taxes that helps our economy. For nearly 8 decades, the old Iloilo Airport in Mandurriao district served as the airline domestic entry point for Iloilo and other neighboring provinces. For most OFWS and their families, this airport has been a part of their lives. It leaves a sentimental spot, a place where they used to say their precious “goodbyes” to their loved ones and create bittersweet memories before leaving each other for the sake a better life.
Since its operation in the 1930s, the old Iloilo Airport in Mandurriao District ended its operation in 2005. It was replaced by a much-bigger and modern Iloilo International Airport in the nearby municipality of Cabatuan in Iloilo. After its closure, the old airport property had its untimely slumber – the place became sleepy and the noise of the airplanes died down. The Iloilo City Government formulated a plan to revive the area into a possible commercial and residential complex ushering an extension of the city’s unstoppable progress. Megaworld Corporation, the country’s leading real estate and township developer saw the property’s investment potential. In 2007, they successfully acquired the 72-hectare old airport property. Soon, Megaworld unveiled their visionary plan of transforming the property into one of their biggest township projects, their most ambitious venture outside of Luzon with a total of P35 billion investment – the Iloilo Business Park.
Iloilo Business Park's Megaworld Boulevard (Photo by Marx de Silva)
Relentless Developments
“Iloilo Business Park is the city’s new central business district, a most welcome addition to the city’s urban development landscape that will help realize the city’s vision of becoming a premier city,” says Jose Ronie Penalosa, Iloilo City Planning and Development Coordinator. He believes that Iloilo Business Park is a “strategic location, a valuable connectivity and carefully planned mixed-use development that strongly supported by an eco-friendly network of walk-able green urban spaces, bikeways and public transport-oriented corridors that makes it an excellent place to live, work and play in.” The township perceived to be the most high-end infrastructure and business-related project in Iloilo City since it features significant developments that would pave way for strong investments, commercial and employment opportunities.
Megaworld’s 72-hectare master-planned township was carefully envisioned to unlock Iloilo City’s global potential with the opening of Iloilo Convention Center equipped with a massive seating capacity of 3,700 audiences where this year’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) side events are set to take place. The township is teeming with commercial investments where a lifestyle mall – the Festive Walk Mall, a mall annex and the long-stretching 1 kilometer Street of Festive Walk, a shop-and-dine avenue are preparing to rise very soon. The Information Technology – Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry is destined for a global boost with the opening of BPO office buildings where multinational companies like StarTek, Reed Elsevier, Transcom and many others will find a new home, giving local graduates and professionals the most competitive employment opportunities. Comprising the Boutique Hotel and Commercial District, international hotels such as the 10-storey Richmonde Hotel Iloilo designed by Getty’s, the world’s most prestigious hotel interior designer, and the first of its kind hotel in the country from the Marriot group - the Courtyard by Marriot, are both looking forward to provide world-class hotel accommodation for visitors and investors.
(From the top) Two Global Center - BPO Company StarTek office and operation site, a local call center agent, Megaworld Boulevard with the construction site of Festive Walk Mall and One Global Center - BPO Company Transcom office and operation site (Photos by Marx de Silva and Ronelo Ladiao)
Life-changing Jobs
“I’m lucky enough to be able to have my OJT (on the job training) in one the best call centers in Iloilo Business Park. The opportunity provided young people with a better-paying job. Young professionals like me are hoping to stay and get employed locally rather than to leave our city,” says 20-year-old James Tan, a graduating IT professional from a provincial state university. Tan is one of the competitive young professionals who is now taking part, and will soon benefit from the expected 30,000 job openings foreseen by Megaworld when most of their BPO buildings will open in full swing for the next 10 years. The continued infrastructure developments within the area have benefited local engineers and construction workers. It includes 30-year-old Joemar Villanueva who is working full-time to complete the Festive Walk Mall, the city’s next shppping center. Villanueva hopes to work in the mall as utility staff with his friends soon after the construction of the mall is complete. Iloilo Business Park is currently providing significant employment opportunities to local workers who are all looking forward to benefit from its existence.
Richmonde Hotel Iloilo and Two Global Center (Photos by Ronelo Ladiao)
Significant Changes
With Iloilo Business Park’s larger-than-life significant relation to Iloilo City’s urban development, Peňalosa of the Iloilo City Planning and Development Office has further expressed his thoughts: “Hosting the city’s taller and modern buildings, IBP is going to be a showcase of contemporary Philippine architecture and urban design that is executed in ways at effectively complementing the old world charm and historic beauty of the city’s other districts.” With the township’s promising concept of viability for future businesses, tourism industry and commercial sector, it can usher a new age of economic renaissance for Iloilo City, giving the locals the chance to experience how their vibrant city will grow and prosper as one of today’s most livable cities in the world. For visitors and investors who will be looking for the best place to travel or to relax can fully appreciate their stay in Iloilo as they can see the past being revived and embed in the present. Investments will soon start to pour in and serve as seeds to lay the groundwork for a long-term, sustainable developments and progress. Iloilo City equates in its people’s heart the value of treasuring the past and keeping it all alive, a true inspiration to build a better future.
True progress transcends more than just the physical infrastructure development of a certain city or locality. If its locals are experiencing better and promising opportunities that could raise their standard of living, such change will socially and economically indicate significant elevation, a higher step to sustain competitive progress. In its vision to shape the future Ilonggo lifestyle, Megaworld is sharing their dreams to put Iloilo City in the forefront of swift developments.
On a sunny afternoon, Pelagia was passing by the very site where the old Iloilo airport was once located. She can’t it help but put a smile in her face, and most of the time, she feels enthusiastic to look ahead in the future. In this very site, a new dream destination – Iloilo Business Park will vibrantly emerge in this city where her retiring OFW husband Jonathan will be coming home soon. One of her two grown-up sons is already an employee working in the township’s BPO company – Reed Elsevier. She’s hoping to spend quality time with her family after her early retirement. Her beautiful city, Iloilo is now teeming with better opportunities for everyone willing to stay home and chase their dreams.
She thought that maybe there will be no more “goodbyes” but a heartfelt “hello” for a bright future and a possible investment opportunity for their family. Well, buying a condominium unit might be a good start of her new life in this bustling township where memories of love was once built. (Ronelo Sanchez Ladiao)
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