20 must-love things in Eastwood City
A look back at the 20-year milestones that made the country’s first-ever township development—a pioneering concept from Megaworld—a real success
T
he glorious rise of Eastwood City is filled with lots of remarkable firsts—a fitting milestone for a pioneering development that has become the yardstick for how townships in the Philippines should be built.
Twenty years since property giant Megaworld broke ground for Eastwood City, the developer can now look back with great satisfaction at how it was able to transform a 13-hectare textile plant along C5 Road in Quezon City into what is one of the country’s most vibrant master planned, mixed-use communities.
Before it could become what it is now, it required the vision and the commitment of one man, Megaworld’s Dr. Andrew L. Tan, to succeed in writing a legacy of his own.
Here are 20 things to know about Eastwood City, Megaworld’s blueprint for its burgeoning townships throughout the country.
1 A CITY WITHIN A CITY
Tan’s vision was to create a “city within a city” where one could live, work, play and learn in a highly integrated environment. Eastwood City carried this concept and its success has created ripples across the industry.
The formula that fueled Eastwood City’s rise to the top has also been the same idea that Megaworld built on as it grew its portfolio of townships to 25.
2 PH’S FIRST PEZA-ACCREDITED HUB
Truly a first-of-its-kind development,
Eastwood City blazed a trail in the Philippine real estate industry by being the first to become a Peza-accredited IT-BPO Cyberpark in 1999.
3 BIRTHPLACE OF THE ITBPO SECTOR
With the opening in quick succession of the IBM Tower, Cyber One Tower, and the Eastwood Corporate Plaza, Eastwood City rightfully claimed the status given to it as the birthplace of the Philippine IT-BPO industry, changing the sector’s landscape and spearheading one of the most productive drivers of the country’s economy for the past several years.
Today, Eastwood City buzzes with activity from around 90,000 office and BPO workers hosted in 11 first-class office buildings at the township.
4 FIRST TO THE SKYLINE
Megaworld began construction of the Citibank Square 1 building, which officially became the very first structure to dot Eastwood City’s dynamic skyline.
5 THRIVING TOURISM COMPLEX
Eastwood City is the first Accredited
Tourism Entertainment Complex by the Department of Tourism. It has over 4,000 commercial and retail establishments offering the finest choices in shopping, dining, leisure and entertainment.
6 FIRST RESTAURANT TO LOVE
Did you know that Mcdonald’s was the very first restaurant to be built in Eastwood City?
7 CAN’T MISS DINING DESTINATION
Eastwood City has become a melting pot of flavors with a multitude of dining destinations. Have your fill of Thai fare at Easy Tiger, delicious Japanese tempura at Tendon Kuhaku, or your favorite ramen from Ramen Nagi. Those who prefer snacks to eat while on-the-go can get their fix at Avocadoria with its avocadobased desserts, Greenstop and its selection of healthy grab-and-go treats and fresh juices, and Hui Lau Shan with its mango-based beverages.
Those craving for some chicken and biscuits, meanwhile, need not wait for long as Popeyes will soon be opening its branch in Eastwood City. Indulge in your milk tea favorites from Tiger Sugar, Gong Cha, Cha Tu Chak, and soon Macao Imperial Tea. Talk about more reasons to experience the best of Eastwood City!
8 PET FRIENDLY
Eastwood City is the first-ever shopping center in the Philippines to allow people to shop, dine and stroll along the township together with their furry pals.
Eastwood City was also the first to host an annual ‘Pet Blessing,’ the country’s first and longest-running pet blessing event. Successfully engaging pet lovers of all kinds has been one of the reasons why Eastwood City was inducted the Order of the Platinum Paw, the highest distinction conferred by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society to its partners who continue to support animal rights.
9 MASSIVE NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION
Eastwood is also top-ofmind as the venue for numerous concerts and world-class performances. The annual Eastwood City New Year’s Eve countdown is one of the most anticipated events in Metro Manila.
10 RETAIL THERAPY
Eastwood Cybermall and Fashion Mall opened to the public. Occupying the first four floors of the Cyber One building, the mall offers a selection of specialty retail stores and restaurants to township residents.
11 A HIP URBAN ADDRESS
Eastwood City has become one of the metro’s
most coveted addresses as Megaworld filled the township with residential condominium towers that exude utmost elegance. These include the Eastwood Lafayette, Eastwood Excelsior, One Orchard Road, Grand Palazzo, and Olympic Heights that gave people the chance to have a new home in such a diverse township.
Two decades since its inception, Eastwood City has become home to about 30,000 residents living in 21 high-rise residential towers inside the township.
12 A VIBRANT NIGHTLIFE DESTINATION
In 2001, Megaworld opened the Eastwood Citywalk, which was designed to be the heart and soul of the township’s nightlife.
13 A ‘CITY OF STARS’
Inspired by the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Eastwood City brought the Philippines’ brightest stars together through the Eastwood City Walk of Fame. Today, close to 400 celebrities including actors, TV hosts, writers, film producers, directors, singers, songwriters, news personalities and athletes, have been inducted into the distinguished circle.
14Citywalk FAVE HANGOUT
Lined with classy restaurants and bars, Eastwood
instantly became a favorite hangout place, earning the distinction as the metro’s most happening place.
15 CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE
To complete the whole leisure and nightlife experience, Megaworld brought shopping and movies to the fold via Eastwood Citywalk 2. The four-level mall has retail shops and cinemas that are open until the wee hours. Its Gold Cin 5 and 6 and Ultra 7 Cinema are outfitted with the country’s first fully reclining twin seats. Viewers are served refillable popcorn and bottomless drinks by butlers. There’s also the newly launched Tipsy Tales, an immer sive experience which al lows to escape reality and visit parallel worlds.
16 A GROWING URBAN HUB
Office buildings like the Techno Plaza 1, E-commerce Plaza, and ICITE building were built to accommo date demands of more compa nies to own an address in such a diversified township. Those living and working in the township can also hear regular masses held at the St. John Paul Parish. All of them can also rest assured knowing that Eastwood City has its own police station and fire on.
17 EASTWOOD MALL
In another major breakthrough, Megaworld opened a new modern shopping mall, which was later named Eastwood Mall, occupying the podium. Offering a holistic lifestyle ex perience Eastwood Mall was awarded the “Best Shopping Cen ter of the Year” in 2010 and 2012 by the Philippine Retailers Association.
18 FUN FOR FAMILIES
Eastwood Mall Open Park’s man-made lagoon is famous for its dancing fountain and lights. It’s a real treat for families, particularly on weekends and nighttime when the entire fountain comes to life, bursting with splashes of color.
19 SHOPPERS’ HAVEN
Bringing in popular foreign fashion brands and top local clothing lines and services, Eastwood Mall’s newest stores to open include Birkenstock, Ayumi Salon, the first Filipinoowned eyelash and nail art salon, and N. Cat, a Korean fashion accessories boutique. Grocery shopping has also become easy with two supermarket chains inside the township to choose from, Robinsons and Rustan’s.
20success, ACCLAIMED PROPERTY BLUEPRINT
Given its remarkable
Eastwood City has become Megaworld’s most bankable blueprint for its succeeding township projects throughout the country.
Twenty years after it first broke ground, Megaworld’s Eastwood City now proudly stands as the most successful township project the Philippines has ever witnessed.