The Megaworld Corporation is currently the most active property developer in the country. The first time I heard the name of Megaworld’s founder, Andrew Tan, was when he developed the Eastwood City complex. The firm then went on to develop Resorts World Manila.
Today, his son, Kevin Tan, is the corporation’s chief strategy officer and is in charge of the P1.2 billion lifestyle mall, a portion of their P28 billion Upper East Township project in Bacolod City.
Once completed, the mall is expected house several rows of dining establishments, a garden of century-old trees, four state-of-the-art cinemas, and a 48-meter high clock tower. The mall will be a major landmark.
Entrepreneurs like Tan see a future in investing in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental. Business is what drives them to make such long-term investments and not politics. Government officials change while corporate investment remains.
It is a similar situation in Iloilo City. After Megaworld acquired the old airport, they have since erected the Iloilo Business Park, which includes hotels, call centers, restaurants, shopping malls, and night life venues.

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This column greets Rommel Gonzales, Nate Dacua, Harold Geronimo, Jennylind Cordero, Jo-ann Yoshida, Mitch Rico, Sharina Domingo, Natalie Lim, Patrick McDaniel, Richard Sechico, Vanni Teves, Jane Javellana, and Rolando Dabao/WDJ