The SM Group, through the Henry Sy Foundation and SM Foundation, is quietly carving out a new legacy: heritage restoration.
Its latest project, the revival of West Visayas State University’s Quezon Hall in Iloilo, shows that preserving history can be just as ambitious as building it.
“These cultural landmarks are irreplaceable—once lost, we cannot bring them back,” said Deborah P. Sy, executive director of SM Foundation.
“Preservation is a collective responsibility. It goes beyond installing commemorative plaques; it means breathing new life into these spaces so they continue to serve, inspire, and remain accessible to future generations,” she added.
Bringing the past into the present
Through the Henry Sy Foundation and SM Foundation, SM restored the 1920s-era Quezon Hall, a recognized cultural landmark under the National Heritage Act of 2009, with full oversight from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).
The project balanced historical preservation with modern upgrades, adding energy-efficient lighting, inverter air conditioners, and sustainable paint to optimize power use without altering the building’s original charm.
WVSU’s chief administration officer Julius Undar said, “I believe it is captured already in this slogan: People Helping People. The two foundations and WVSU have a common understanding on the pursuit of changing people’s lives for the better.”
The restored hall now stands as a symbol of collaboration between private institutions and public education.
Inclusion through infrastructure
SM’s heritage push doesn’t stop in Iloilo.
In Pasay, it helped transform the Philippine School for the Deaf’s senior high school building into a modern learning hub with specialized rooms for IT, electronics, and the performing arts.
“In restoring these heritage educational institutions, we honor the generations of learning they have nurtured. Our hope is that through preservation, we help spark more opportunities for education and personal growth—not just today, but for many years to come,” Sy said.
Restoring icons
SM has also preserved other cultural icons, including Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay and China Bank’s original Binondo headquarters—both lovingly restored to reflect their storied pasts while serving present-day needs.
A tribute to banking heritage
China Bank’s century-old headquarters in Binondo has also been lovingly brought back to life. The restoration honored the building’s original Neo-Classic Beaux Arts design. It now stands as a proud symbol of both the bank’s legacy and Manila’s rich architectural past.
Another example is the restoration of the original headquarters of China Banking Corporation (China Bank) in Binondo, Manila.
Dubbed the Binondo Heritage Restoration Project, the bank’s century-old building was rehabilitated to its former Neo-Classic Beaux Arts luster. The restoration became the centerpiece of China Bank’s centennial celebration in 2020.
In 2021, China Bank received a historical marker from the NHCP and an Important Cultural Property marker from the National Museum which recognized the bank’s unwavering commitment to protecting not only its corporate history but also the national heritage.
