I see a divide between Manila's CBDs and their peripheral barangays. The far majority of wealth and infrastructure is located in these commercial islands (BGC, Makati CBD, Eastwood City, etc.). Going back to my experience in New York, young people actually prefer living in the peripheral neighbourhoods, where they can find more arts and culture. An example is the East Village in NYC. It started out as tenement housing but has morphed into a centre of nightlife and culture. I have a vision for the barangays of Manila, and that is to create the same for young professionals working here.  Cool bars in New York are rarely located in glass towers; same for restaurants. We want to democratise the wealth from Manila's CBDs and create more interesting—and of course affordable—neighbourhoods.

Yes! The market for housing is huge. But it's more than just providing a product. At the core of our business is proving that good design doesn’t have to be expensive. We want to make sure we have pride in our projects, regardless of location. So we need to study each location carefully to make sure that we continue to exceed market expectations.

With the help of other developers, we hope to transform the peripheral barangays to centres of gravity. From a company perspective—and not just through our current product—the long-term vision is to raise the bar. By hiring the best team, incorporating technology, and being truly thoughtful throughout our development and operational processes, our goal is to improve our city skyline.

The development of micro-studios in Makati and BGC is constantly proving this. And in time, you should see our products and philosophy grow across the Philippines.

For more information, visit pointblue.ph