SMDC The Strip at Wind hosts first ever Wind Busker Festival

by Info @Business | December 19, 2025

SMDC The Strip at Wind hosts first ever Wind Busker Festival

Massive music showcase of more than 50 buskers, Aquila Packing celebrate Filipino musical talent, host fun time for friends and families

Families, barkadas, and music lovers alike experienced a different type of chill overcoming the holiday weekend at the inaugural Wind Busker Festival in SMDC Wind Park Tagaytay.

The first massive busking and lifestyle showcase of its kind gathered more than 50 buskers from all over the metro in a relaxed setting where families and friends got to escape the busy city and indulge in the best of budding Filipino musical talent.

Through its grand stage concert in the morning and the more intimate performances in the evening, the never-before mounted music event gave buskers their very own day and platform to share their artistry. 

Special guest and local viral Bossa Nova sensation Aquila Packing also serenaded the crowd with her rendition of hits like “Only Yesterday” and “Mr. Postman” from The Carpenters, Bread’s “Make It With You” and OPM classics like Rey Valera’s “Naaalala Kita”, Iluna’s “Panaginip” and “Bakit Nga Ba” by Dina Bonnevie.

Aquila Packing

A new weekend escape 

Opened just this year, Wind Park served as the picturesque setting for the festival. 

The scenic, laid-back charm of its breath-taking view partnered with weather that was just right served as the ideal set up for the morning concert. Busking acts took over the stage, treating attendees to the perfect weekender break—a taste of good times, good vibes, and a good life with an inviting hum of acoustic songs further brightening the day.

A new weekend escape

Kids enjoyed playing around giant interactive

Kids enjoyed playing around giant interactive inflatables and getting their faces painted with their favorite cartoon characters or with fun designs. Families also made new memories together as the weather was also perfect for building and flying kites with their kids.

In the afternoon, as the setting sun veiled the open grounds in a golden hue, the program broke off into the classic busking set up all around the area. Event goers were treated to a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere enlivening the evening’s cool air. 

Massive music showcase of more than 50 buskers, Aquila Packing celebrate Filipino musical talent

Visitors and residents were serenaded while they indulged in a variety of delectable food choices served up by the tenants of SMDC Wind Residences—The Bakery, Liminvl Coffee, Kurimi Milktea Bar, and Dairy Queen.

A celebration of local talent and their passion for raw, unfiltered music through the art of busking

Event goers were treated to a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere enlivening the evening’s cool air

In line with its mission of providing Filipinos the best leisure places with safe spaces for vacations and making new memories, SMDC Wind launched the Wind Busker Festival to give local artists a special day to shine. A celebration of local talent and their passion for raw, unfiltered music through the art of busking, the event also served as a new weekend highlight residents and visitors could enjoy to escape the city grind and unwind. 

But even with the successful conclusion of the whole-day music festival, residents and visitors can always stop by Wind Park to enjoy year-round activities such as weekly runs with the Tagaytay Run Club as well as picnics and outdoor sports around the venue’s greenery. Exciting returning seasonal events are also scheduled for next year such as SUMMER FUN at WIND, the Push Bike Tournament, and the next installment of the Wind Busker Festival.

Planning your next perfect weekender break? Follow @SMDCTheStrips for more info on exciting upcoming Tagaytay events for you and your family to enjoy!

Pag-IBIG Fund, Megawide partnership to build over 7,000 socialized homes

by Info @Business | December 18, 2025

Pag-IBIG Fund has entered into a partnership with Megawide Construction Corp. to accelerate the delivery of 7,143 housing units in medium-rise residential developments under the government’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program, or Expanded 4PH. Pag-IBIG Fund said the homes are expected to be priced below typical market prices for comparable units, bringing them within the socialized housing range, with amenities more commonly found in higher-priced developments, and be available within two to three years.

The partnership will cover two initial sites in Dasmariñas, Cavite, consisting of 4,185 housing units in the Dasmariñas-Salitrán site and 2,958 housing units in the Dasmariñas-Paliparan site, supporting the national government’s push to scale socialized housing through greater private sector participation and faster project delivery.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling, chair of the Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees, said the partnership is designed to expand the supply of socialized homes while enabling faster construction and more accessible pricing for Filipino families.

“This approach supports the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to widen access to practical homeownership options for Filipino families by enabling the private sector to build faster and at scale under the Expanded 4PH,” Aliling said. “By strengthening partnerships that increase housing supply, we help create more opportunities for Filipino workers and their families to move closer to homeownership. We hope this will further stimulate private sector participation in building affordable homes.”

Megawide is a leading Philippine engineering and construction company and a strong government partner in public-private partnerships, with extensive experience and track record in delivering large-scale projects.

Under the partnership, Pag-IBIG Fund will invest up to P10 billion through a subscription to preferred shares in the project company, to be funded in three tranches: P5 billion for the first tranche, and P2.5 billion each for the second and third tranches. The preferred shares carry 9 percent annual cash dividends, payable annually, with a step-up to 18 percent if the shares are not redeemed.

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta said the investment advances Pag-IBIG Fund’s twin mandate to expand homeownership opportunities for Filipino workers and to prudently manage members’ savings so these continue to earn and grow.

“Every peso our members save with Pag-IBIG Fund represents their hard-earned money and their hope for a better future,” Acosta said. “By supporting the development of thousands of housing units while securing investment returns, we strengthen Pag-IBIG Fund’s capacity to serve more members, grow their savings and promote homeownership.”

Acosta added that the partnership model aims to demonstrate how structured and secured investments can encourage broader private sector engagement in housing, helping accelerate project rollouts and expand the inventory of affordable, ready-for-occupancy homes.

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Condotel Boom: Tagaytay Clifton Resort Suites bilang susunod na smart investment para sa ating mga OFW

ni Chit Luna @Business News | December 10, 2025

Kasabay ng pag usbong ng Condotel trend next level ngayon ang real estate market ng Tagaytay, at nangunguna nga sa new wave ng leisure-investment ang Tagaytay Clifton Resort Suites (TCRS) ng CitiGlobal Realty and Development, Inc. Sa isinagawang Grand Sales Launch nitong December 06, 2025, binigyang-diin ni Ms. Elizabeth To, CEO ng CitiGlobal, na ang TCRS ang “susunod na smart move lalo na para sa ating mga OFW na naghahanap ng matatag at pangmatagalang investment.” Sa patuloy na paglakas ng turismo at lumalawak na pangangailangan para sa passive income, nagiging mas kaakit-akit ang condotel model para sa maraming Pilipino, lalo na sa mga nagtatrabaho sa abroad.

Ayon kay Ms. To, mabilis ang pagtaas ng demand para sa resort-style living na malapit sa Metro Manila, kaya’t ang TCRS ay dinisenyo upang dalhin ang vacation ambiance sa mismong tahanan. “Bakit ka pa lalayo kung puwede mo namang maranasan ang resort experience araw-araw, sa mismong tahanan mo?” aniya. Ang bagong masterplan ng TCRS—mas malalawak na open spaces, upgraded amenities, at greener environments—ay nakahanay sa lumalaking lifestyle trend kung saan ang wellness at nature-inspired living ang hinahanap ng mga investors.

Para sa mga OFW, mahalaga ang investment na may balik na kita at pangmatagalang seguridad. Ito ang ginagarantiyahan ng TCRS sa pamamagitan ng managed hotel operations, na nagbibigay-daan sa unit owners na kumita ng passive income nang hindi nila kailangang hawakan ang operasyon. “Ang real estate ay hindi lang asset — ito ay kinabukasan na puwedeng ipamana,” dagdag pa ni Ms. To, na nagpapatibay sa misyon ng CitiGlobal na tulungan ang bawat Pilipino na makapagpundar ng generational wealth at matatag na financial future.

Hindi lamang investors ang nakikinabang sa proyekto. Itinampok din sa media launch ang malaking ambag ng TCRS sa job creation sa Alfonso at mga karatig-bayan nito. Sa pagsasakatuparan ng proyekto, inaasahang magbubukas ang daan-daang trabaho mula sa construction phase hanggang sa hospitality and hotel operations. Ani Ms. To, “Layunin naming bumuo ng mga proyektong nag-aangat ng komunidad at nagbibigay ng oportunidad sa mga pamilyang Pilipino.” Ang condotel model ay hindi lamang para sa kita ng owners—isa rin itong hakbang tungo sa pag-unlad ng lokal na ekonomiya.

Sa kabila ng mga matitinding pagsubok—kabilang ang pandemya at ang pagpanaw ng founder ng CitiGlobal—nagpatuloy ang kumpanya na may mas malakas na pananalig at direksiyon. Ayon kay Ms. To, “Hindi kami nanghina. Hindi namin iniwan ang aming investors. Ang proyektong ito ay isang legacy — itinayo sa pananampalataya, pagpupursige, at layunin.” Inilahad niyang ang biyaya at gabay ng Diyos ang naging pundasyon ng kanilang pag-angat. Sa kanilang muling pagbangon, mas malinaw umano ang misyon: magtayo ng developments na may integridad, kahusayan, at layuning makapagbigay ng tunay na halaga sa mga Pilipino.

Matatagpuan sa Alfonso, Cavite ang TCRS—isang mataas, malamig, at tahimik na bahagi ng Metro Tagaytay na malapit sa city center ngunit malayo sa congestion. Kasabay ng mabilis na infrastructure-driven growth tulad ng CALAX at bagong Tagaytay bypass routes, lalo pang tumataas ang land value at tourism flow sa rehiyon. Dahil dito, nakaposisyon ang TCRS bilang top-choice ng modern investors dahil sa Strong Value Growth, Effortless Returns, at Wellness by Design—tatlong haliging nagpapatunay kung bakit ito ang smart investment ng panahon.

At sa harap ng lumalaking property opportunities sa Metro Tagaytay, nananatiling tanong ng marami—lalo na ng ating mga OFW: Ano ang susunod mong smart move? Para sa maraming investor, malinaw ang sagot: siguraduhin ang iyong investment habang bukas pa ang oportunidad. Sa pinagsanib na resort-style living, passive income potential, at lokasyong may mataas na growth trajectory, ang Tagaytay Clifton Resort Suites ay hindi lamang property purchase—isa itong strategic move tungo sa mas matatag at mas maaliwalas na kinabukasan para sa ating mga kababayang naghahanap ng matatag na oportunidad at siguradong pagkakakitaan.