Tag: cebu city

The Rise of Columbaries in Cebu

A New Wave of Real Estate Investment Emerges

In recent years, Cebu has witnessed a quiet yet powerful shift in its real estate landscape , the rapid rise of columbaries as a preferred investment and memorial option. Once seen merely as sacred resting places, columbaries are now gaining ground as high-value properties, attracting both end-users and bulk-buying investors who recognize their long-term potential.

True Vine Garden. Cebu City

At the forefront of this trend is the True Vine Garden Columbary, an architecturally striking, Kenneth Cobonpue-inspired garden columbary envisioned to be one of the most luxurious in the country. True Vine has been drawing attention not just for its serene ambiance but also for its impressive investment performance. Inurnments at the property are steadily picking up, and investors are flocking in, purchasing niches in bulk.

True Vine Garden, Cebu City

Market watchers note that prices at True Vine Garden Columbary have appreciated by an average of 15% per year, a figure that rivals returns from some traditional real estate sectors. This consistent growth has fueled a surge in confidence, turning what was once a sentimental purchase into a strategic addition to many investors’ portfolios.

True Vine Garden, Cebu City

Adding to the momentum are two newly launched columbaries that have entered the Cebu market within just 60 days. Golden Gate Memorial Garden and Columbary in Daanbantayan, and the San Vicente Parish Columbary in San Vicente, Liloan. Their swift emergence signals a strong and growing demand for memorial spaces in northern Cebu, a region that is also seeing a rise in residential and commercial developments.

Golden Gate Memorial Garden, Daanbantayan, Cebu

Industry insiders say the rise of columbaries is being driven by several factors: increasing land scarcity, the shift toward more sustainable and space-efficient memorial options, and a cultural shift in how Filipinos approach end-of-life planning. For many Cebuanos, pre-need columbary investments are becoming as normal as buying a condominium or memorial lot.

With prices climbing, demand surging, and new players entering the scene, the columbary sector in Cebu is no longer a niche. It has become one of the fastest-growing segments in local real estate, and for many, a lasting legacy that also makes sound financial sense.

True Vine Garden, Cebu City

Successful Cebuano Brands

They said that ‘if it sells in Cebu, it will sell anywhere’. There must be some truth to it as many things Cebuano are now trending all over the country, if not the world!

Take the case of Cebu lechon or Carcar chicharon, Liloan Rosquillos or even the Siomai at Tisa. Add to that list the world-famous dried mangoes.

Cebu made products that are now considered essential in every Filipino home include Efficascent Oil, Omega pain killer, Casino alcohol, Bambi cooking oil, Lion Tiger katol and Virginia hotdog.

Among the Cebu homegrown companies that made it big are Penshoppe, Island Souvenirs, Bo’s Coffee, Orange Brutus, Thirsty and Dewfoam.

Of course, the different Gaisano department stores and supermarkets all originated from Cebu.

The Robinsons department store and Universal Robina also traces its roots to Cebu, in fact, it is the company that made Cebu fly with its airline, Cebu Pacific.

The highly successful Rose Pharmacy is also from Cebu.

The number one drinking water brand in the country, Nature’s Spring, is also proudly Cebuano.

But perhaps nothing beats the popularity of the following brands that you can easily spot them in every major town and city in the country.

1. M Lhuillier – In 1935, Henry Lhuillier, an Honorary French Consul in the 1970s, together with his wife, Angelita Escano Jones, started a series of pawnshops all over the country called ‘agencias’. His son, Michel Jones Lhuillier, together with his wife, Amparito Llamas Lhuillier, then founded the M Lhuillier Group of Companies and opened the first M Lhuillier pawn and jewelry shop in the 1980s in what is considered the country’s oldest thoroughfare, Colon Street in Cebu City.

With this, Michel Lhuillier envisioned expanding further the company within the next 30 years by establishing over 1,000 M Lhuillier branches all over the Philippines.

Since then, M Lhuillier has earned its reputation as the largest non-bank financial services network in the Philippines, with over 3,000 branches nationwide.

It is worth mentioning that M Lhuillier is also the company behind the world-class Cebu Safari and Adventure Park.

2. Cebuana Lhuillier- In 1969,

Henry Lhuillier’s second son, Philippe Jones Lhuillier, opened his first branch at Libertad Street, Pasay and in 1987, the original Agencia Cebuana adopted the name Cebuana Lhuillier as its trade name.

By 1994, it opened its 200th branch and in 2000, Cebuana Lhuillier opened its 700th branch and was recognized as the largest chain of pawnshops in the world by Guinness World Records.

Today, it has more than 2500 branches all over the country and has diversified into banking, insurance, hospitality and other

industries.

3. Julie’s Bakeshop- Known as the Philippine’s favourite neighbourhood bakery, the first Julie’s bakeshop was established in January of 1981 in Wireless, Mandaue City. 40 years later, there are now more than 450 stores and 100 franchisees all over the country. There is even a Julie’s bakeshop in Calgary, Canada.

What other Cebu brands did we miss? Add your thoughts in the comment section so we can add them in the next list.

Uswag pa Sugbo!

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𝘾𝙀𝘽𝙐 𝙌𝙐𝙄𝙉𝘾𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙀𝙉𝙉𝙄𝘼𝙇 𝙃𝙊𝙏𝙀𝙇

Where Cebu’s story of faith is shared everyday

Get a new appreciation of Cebu culture and faith that are intricately intertwined with this beautiful island’s 500-year recorded history.

🏨 The Cebu Quincentennial Hotel stands in the heart of Cebu City’s commercial district as a monument of faith that persevered and strengthened through five centuries. It is the perfect starting point for your Cebu trip, whether to attend an event or enjoy a vacation.

🏨 Put up for the 500th anniversary of Christianity in 2021, the hotel serves as a repository of memorabilia from a once-in-a-lifetime celebration that distinctly depicts the Spirit at work in the Catholic Church.

🏨 From the first baptism in Cebu to the gift of the Sto. Nino image and its subsequent loss and recovery to the spread of Christianity throughout the Philippine islands. Cebu Quincentennial Hotel bears witness to the evangelization of the Philippines, the bastion of Catholic faith in Asia.

🏨 The hotel lobby will feature the first baptism into the Catholic faith of Rajah Humabon, his wife Juana, and their followers; and other Quincentennial highlights. Guests get to experience the interior of the Spanish ship through lobby furnishings that simulate into a galleon feel and ambience.

🏨 Imagine being able to revisit the Quincentennial Year celebrations even beyond 2021 through the photos, paintings, dioramas, and other religious artifacts on display in the rooms, hallways and open spaces of Cebu’s first ever hotel with a faith theme. Some hotel spaces will showcase tableaus of key religious events that will underscore Cebu’s reputation as a top faith tourist destination

🏨 The hotel is located right next to Landers Superstore at the east entrance of Cebu Business Park.

🏨 Opening on June 20, 2022, you may inquire at: Cebu Quincentennial Hotel or at 032-520-4488.

🏨 Cebu Quincentennial Hotel is a member of Duros Group of Companies

Cebu’s 7 Guinness World Records

Cebu is a colorful place with a vibrant and proud people. It is a famous world-class destination with so many distinct characteristics that make it uniquely Cebu

Here are seven records that Cebu currently hold in the journals of the prestigious Guinness Book of World Records.

1. Largest Chess Tournament

Many Filipinos are fond of playing chess as pastime sport, inspired by world renowned Filipino chess masters like Eugene Torre, Richard Bitoon, Rogelio Antonio, etc.

In January 22, 2012, the largest board game tournament consisted of 43,157 participants playing chess was achieved by the Cebu City Sports Commission breaking the previous records of Guinness Book.

Read more:

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/othersports/268974/cebu-gets-new-world-record-for-biggest-chess-tournament/story/

2. Most Firework Rockets Fired in 30 Seconds

The most firework rockets launched in 30 seconds is 125,801, in an attempt organised by Pyroworks International Inc. (Philippines), in Cebu, Philippines, on 8 May 2010. 16 stacks with 8,000 rockets in each were used for the attempt. All successful rockets were launched within 17 seconds.May 8, 2010

Source: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-firework-rockets-launched-in-30-seconds

3. Largest Wooden Coat Hanger

The largest wooden coathanger is 15.24 m (50 ft) long and was created by H&M Philippines (Philippines) and measured at Cebu City, Philippines, on 27 November 2015. The coathanger was built to commemorate H&M’s first store opening in Cebu City.Nov 27, 2015

Source:

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-wooden-coat-hanger

4. Largest Arnis Class

Arnis is the national martial art of Filipinos. In Cebu, the Doce Pares Club of Canete brothers popularized the full contact stick fighting of the sport that has become a discipline with followers all over the world.

In 2015, 5,000 Cebuano arnisadors showed up at the Cebu City Sports Center to set the largest arnis class record in the world.

Image by Sunstar Cebu

Source:

https://www.worldrecordacademy.com/sports/largest_arnis_class_Cebu_City_breaks_Guinness_World_Records_record_215586.html

5.World’s largest Dancesport Class

In July of 2009, Cebu City broke the record of Életfasök tornája with Norbert Schobert leading 2,289 participants at the Puskas Stadium in Budapest, Hungary.

Cebu City had a total of 7,770 participants for the record setting feat initiated by DanceSport Team Cebu International Incorporated.

6. Worlds Largest Archery Lesson

In October 18, 2014, the Largest Archery Lesson with 745 students, and have beaten the world record for the Largest Archery Tournament with a total of 13,102 participants was achieved by Cebu City Sports Commission

Source:

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/44407/cebu-city-logs-world-records-for-largest-archery-lesson-and-archery-tournament/amp

7. Most Number of Inmates Dancing Simultaneously in One Place

This one is obviously familiar. The record holder is no other than Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center with its dance routines that became viral on the early days of you tube.

They hold one other record before, the most number of persons dancing to the tune of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, but that has been broken already by a group in South America.

To this day, the dancing inmates of Cebu, still give periodic dance performances to visitors and guests.

Read more:

https://www.worldrecordacademy.com/mass/most_inmates_dancing_world_record_set_by_Philippines_prisoners_70669.htm

Until the next record, good luck Cebu!

📸 | CTTO

A Defining Era in Cebu Real Estate (2010-2019)

As we draw this decade to a close, let us look back to the past ten years of Cebu’s Real Estate industry.

The 10’s decade (2010-2019) is the most progressive time in Cebu’s history by far. The skyline and the transformation of its landscape will tell you that. But what, and who defined Cebu’s growth during this period?

The rise of homegrown developers

After the 1997 Asian Crisis and during the early years of the new millenium, the industry was only growing moderately in mostly horizontal projects, but when an upstart local developer, Fuente Triangle and Realty Development Corp. started offering a series of high-rise condominiums in the uptown area, a sudden condominium frenzy was ignited and has not slowed down since then.

New local developers like Cebu Landmasters, AppleOne Properties and Innoland sprouted up and even the big companies from other industries were also inspired to diversify to real estate business.

Taft East Gate by TAFT Properties

From Metro Gaisano, TAFT Properties was born. It constructed Cebu’s tallest building today, Horizons 101, and also developed Taft East Gate.

Duros Land Properties is an offspring of a construction powerhouse while King Properties and Priland Development Corp. are from Heavy Equipments and Food.

Optimism of national developers

It did not take long for Manila based developers to notice that Cebu is ripe for more vertical projects and getting ready for a condominium lifestyle.

Ayala Land brought down its four brands altogether. Ayala Land Premier developed 1016, Park Point Residences and now, The Alcoves. Alveo Land had Sedona Parc then the Solinea series. Avida Land focused in I.T Park area, building its 7th tower now while Amaia is establishing a hub in Mandaue City.

Mactan Newtown

Federal Land took advantage of its landbank adjacent to Marco Polo Hotel and built a series of upscale towers overlooking the city.

Robinsons Land built a signature Galleria Mall and built condominiums on top, while another mixed-use development, Isla dela Victoria is just being started at the SRP.

Megaworld had its eyes fixed in Mactan island with a multi-billion township, Mactan Newtown.

By a similar strategy, Filinvest also pooled its resources around City di Mare, its massive township in South Road Properties.

Meanwhile, Rockwell, Arthaland and DMCI are also beginning to establish their own footholds in the city.

World-Class Cebu

Aside from the homegrown and the national developers, Cebu’s charm has also caught the eye of international property builders.

Hongkong Land, one of Asia’s oldest and biggest developers is building a game-changing sea-front development in Mandaue City called Mandani Bay. (In joint-venture with local TAFT Properties).

Another Chinese group, City Clou is investing in a 5-tower project in D. Jakosalem St. while a Korean group, Saekyung, also joined the fray as well with its affordable condominium projects in Mactan island.

Other proposals from a Singaporean firm and a large Dubai based developer are also now pending approval.

Strategic Alliances

Instead of engaging in cutthroat competition, developers have smartly combined their forces when necessary, to maximize productivity especially in a place like Cebu where land is getting scanty and scarce.

TAFT Properties for instance, has partnered with Hongkong Land for Mandani Bay in Mandaue City and Ayala Land for Sea Grove project in Mactan.

On the other hand, Ayala Land also has a consortium with SM Group for a 27 hectare project across SM Seaside City and another partnership with Aboitiz Land for a business district development in Mandaue reclamation area called The Gatewalk.

Aboitiz Land also inked a deal with Cebu Landmasters for a multi-tower residential project in another part of Mandaue City.

Cebu Landmasters, meanwhile, has a joint-venture with the Borromeo family in an office building project in Cebu Business Park and another with the Gothong group in a residential project inside I.T. Park.

Value of dormant land unlocked

Even church-owned estates in key areas of the city are now developed by private developers under a usufruct agreement, effectively unlocking the value of the land.

23 Minore Park by Duros Land Properties is an example and more recently, the Patria de Cebu re-development of Cebu Landmasters.

All these things happened in the last decade, where Cebu will be after another ten years is anybody’s guess.