Insider Spotlight
The visit came as the township marked the first anniversary of its designation as Iloilo City’s Center of Arts and Culture, an honor formalized through Executive Order No. 021 signed by Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu on July 9, 2025. But after walking through the estate, it became clear that the recognition was less a starting point than an acknowledgment of years of work that had already been underway.
Megaworld executives led by communications chief Harold Geronimo pointed out that long before the official declaration, the company had been staging exhibitions, cultural performances, community festivals, and public art installations while partnering with local artists and cultural groups to make creativity part of everyday life rather than something confined to museums.
Why it matters
Developers today are no longer just selling residential units or office space. Increasingly, they’re creating destinations and experiences. In Iloilo, Megaworld’s bet is that culture can become as much a draw as commerce.
That philosophy is perhaps best represented by the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art, or ILOMOCA, which remains the country’s first museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art outside Metro Manila.
Its galleries feature a mix of paintings, sculptures, mixed-media installations, and contemporary works from established Filipino artists alongside emerging Ilonggo talents. The museum has previously hosted exhibitions by National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera and fashion icon Patis Tesoro, while international exhibitions such as Connecting Borders have introduced works by artists from across Southeast Asia.
The company believes these exchanges have helped elevate Iloilo’s standing as a destination for contemporary art while giving local artists greater exposure to international audiences.
Beyond the canvas
Just across from ILOMOCA is another unexpected attraction — the Brandy Museum, the first and only museum of its kind in the Philippines. Its interactive exhibits trace the history and craftsmanship behind one of the world’s oldest spirits, offering an experience that blends education with heritage.
Outside, the township continues telling Iloilo’s story through public spaces. Plaza del Gado honors Ilonggo revolutionary hero General Martin Teófilo Delgado, while Pagsinapol, unveiled to commemorate the township’s first anniversary as the city’s cultural center, serves as both an art installation and gathering space. Derived from the Hiligaynon word meaning “coming together,” it symbolizes unity and community—values Megaworld hopes will define the township.
One of the most innovative aspects of the entire township was the Iloilo Business Park Art Trail, where office lobbies were transformed into interconnected galleries showcasing Ilonggo artists. The experience extends outdoors through colorful murals, artistic pedestrian crossings, and a striking Paraw Regatta-inspired installation at Festive Walk Mall that celebrates one of Iloilo’s most enduring cultural symbols.
Culture beyond museums
Megaworld has extended this cultural narrative into its hospitality offerings.
Belmont Hotel Iloilo features artworks by Ilonggo artists throughout its guestrooms and public spaces, while also housing a gallery dedicated to singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan, one of Iloilo’s most celebrated cultural icons.
At Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, the experience continues through Degustacion, a dining concept centered on heirloom Ilonggo recipes. The menu includes regional favorites such as tinuom, carne frita, KBL, laswa, pancit Molo, batchoy, and traditional desserts—proof that preserving culture isn’t limited to paintings and sculptures but also includes cuisine.
Festive Walk Iloilo reinforces that idea with restaurants serving local specialties, giving visitors another way to appreciate the province’s heritage.
Music, too, plays a central role. Throughout the year, the township hosts concerts, cultural showcases, acoustic performances, and community events that provide platforms for Ilonggo musicians while celebrating local artists and personalities.
The takeaway
After spending an afternoon touring Iloilo Business Park, I came away with the impression that Megaworld is trying to build something more ambitious than a mixed-use development. It is creating an ecosystem where business, hospitality, tourism, history, food, music, and visual arts reinforce one another.
One year after earning its designation as Iloilo City’s Center of Arts and Culture, the township appears intent on proving that culture doesn’t have to be experienced only inside museums or during festivals. Here, it is meant to be encountered while walking to work, checking into a hotel, dining at a restaurant, or simply exploring the neighborhood—a vision that could make Iloilo Business Park as much a cultural destination as it is a commercial one.
— Edited by Daxim L. Lucas
