The Araneta Center seeks to regain its lost glory with massive redevelopment, led by the PHP2.5-billion five-star Gateway Mall. We speak to Jorge Araneta, the family scion in charge of the monumental task
This feature story was originally titled as The Empire Strikes Back, and was published in the March 2005 issue of Tatler Philippines. Today, Araneta Center is now known as Araneta City and the Araneta Coliseum as the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Also, there is now two Gateway Malls in the district and plans for a third one. Moreover, international hotel brand Novotel opened its Manila property in October 2015, situated at the heart of the Araneta City.
Back in the days when most of Makati and Ortigas Center was just grassland, there was already a development in Cubao, Quezon City that was known to all as the Araneta Center. Built by and named after the late great Don Amado Araneta, it was a pioneer in many aspects for shopping and family entertainment. Since those halcyon days, its glory slowly faded. But don't count them out just yet. The lustre it lost years ago, it now seeks to regain with massive redevelopment. Proudly overseeing the project is Don Amado's son, Jorge Leon Araneta.
Araneta always wears a gold cross around his neck, a sentimental purchase from the Bulgari boutique in Paris in 1960. It had vanished mysteriously twice in the past, but miraculously came back to him. During parties, clad in custom-made shirts and dark slacks, he is often mistaken for a priest. Invariably, he replies in jest, "I gave you my blessings."
"Dreamer" is Araneta's term for his role in the family business. His mind, above ground and bright with ideals, has envisaged progressive lifestyle alternatives.
"My job is to dream up things and to ask my people, 'Why not?' I challenge them to initiate changes. the world is revolutionizing very fast. To keep up, you have to change," says the chairman and CEO of the Araneta Group. Since the 18th century, the family established its wealth in a sugar plantation in Negros and exportation before the Aranetas shifted to real estate, entertainment and food services. Araneta's career has been characterized by large-scale ventures, his style illustrated by thinking away from traditions and modernising the mundane humdrum while maintaining the highest moral beliefs and fervour to see things through. This explains the corporate motto that he personally coined: "Creating Value Through Change."