SM Group builds first galleon museum
With world’s richest man Carlos Slim
SM Prime Holdings, Inc., the real estate empire of the Sy family, is currently building its first museum in the country in collaboration with the world’s richest man, Mexico’s Carlos Slim, who will donate some of his artifacts to the SM group.
SM Prime executive vice president Jeffrey Lim said in an interview that SM Group is now building a
Galleon Museum which will be located within the Mall of Asia (MOA) complex.
“It’s a galleon museum that traces history during the galleon trade,” he specified.
According to Lim, SM Prime Holdings President Hans Sy was in Mexico a few weeks ago to meet with Slim for the development of the museum.
Considered as the ‘Warren Buffett of Mexico’, Slim was hailed as the richest person in the world after a sharp increase was seen in its telecom giant América Móvil's share price, being traded both in the United States and Mexican markets.
“We will put up the building in the complex and then Carlos will bring some of the artifacts [he will donate to the museum],” Lim said.
The Galleon Museum will have a size of 2,000 square meters and will be located beside the IMAX Theater of SM MOA.
“It’s for the cultural aspect [of the business],” Lim said. “It’s more of social responsibility”.
Considered as the first museum to be built by the SM Group, the Galleon Museum is expected to open either by the end of this year or early next year.
More than a week ago, SM Prime emerged as the best property developer in the Philippines during the high-status Philippine Property Awards, beating last year’s champion Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) along with fellow nominee Megaworld Corporation.
The Philippines Property Awards 2015, which is part of the decade-old Asia Property Awards series, featured 25 award categories covering the best developers, developments and designs in the local real estate sector, the Awards recognized the finest current projects in the residential, commercial, office, retail, hospitality, villa and green segments in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao.
Aside from being the best developer in the Philippines, SM Group also had a total of nine nominations spread out in different award categories.
The listed firm was also declared the winner in several other categories, including Best Retail Development and Best Retail Architectural Design, both for Mega Fashion Hall (SM Mega Megamall Expansion 2) Bldg. D, through subsidiary First Asia Realty Development Corporation.
SM Development Corporation (SMDC), SM Prime’s residential unit, also bagged the trophy for Best Landscape Architectural Design for its Shell Residences project; the award for Best Affordable Condo Development (Metro Manila); as well as Highly Commended honors for another affordable condo project and a mid-range resort development.