As the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards celebrates its 20th year, the Philippines is emerging not just as a participant in the regional real estate conversation but as one of its most visible contributors.
At the 2025 Asia Property Awards Grand Final in Bangkok, Philippine developers and projects secured 10 Best in Asia titles, underscoring the significant progress made by the local real estate sector. The wins — spanning luxury, hospitality, offices, industrial estates, and connectivity-driven housing—reflect a market that has grown more diverse, decentralized, and competitive on a regional scale.
In an interview with Property Report, Jules Kay, general manager of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said the Philippines’ performance this milestone year reflects a deeper transformation taking place across the country’s development landscape.
“The milestone year shows that the Philippine market is not only keeping up with regional peers but also shaping the conversation around what future-ready, investor-friendly, and community-centred real estate looks like in Asia,” Kay said.
From modest beginnings to regional recognition
The Philippines joined the PropertyGuru awards program in 2013, beginning with a modest local gala where only 17 awards were presented. Since then, both the program and the market it represents have expanded significantly.
“Our journey in the Philippines started in 2013 with a modest gala at the former Raffles and Fairmont Makati,” Kay recalled. “Since then, the program has recognized excellence in around 500 awards from 2013 to 2025, across an expanding range of development, design, and ESG categories. In 2025 alone, around 70 categories were presented, reflecting just how diverse and sophisticated the market has become.”
That growing sophistication was evident at the regional level this year. Twenty-four Philippine projects competed at the Asia Property Awards Grand Final, ultimately bringing home 10 Best in Asia titles.
“Innovation in Asian real estate is no longer limited to a few gateway cities,” Kay said. “It is now evident across a wide range of markets and asset classes, and the Philippines is a very strong example of this shift.”
What the Philippine wins reveal
The breadth of Philippine winners offers a clear snapshot of where innovation is gaining traction.
Robinsons Land emerged as one of the strongest performers, securing four Best in Asia titles, including Best Luxury Developer (Asia), alongside project wins for The Mall | NUSTAR, The Victor at Bridgetowne, and work.able GBF Center 1. Robinsons Hotels and Resorts was also named Best Hospitality Developer (Asia), while RLC Residences earned regional recognition for both SYNC and The Residences at The Westin Manila.
Beyond the Robinsons group, other Philippine developers showcased the market’s growing depth. LIMA Estate by Aboitiz Economic Estates was awarded Best Industrial Development (Asia), highlighting the increasing importance of industrial and logistics-anchored estates. Seafront Residences by Aboitiz Land, Inc. and FIESTA Communities Aguso by FIESTA Communities Incorporated reflected how waterfront living and connectivity-driven housing are gaining regional recognition.
“Altogether, they highlight key directions in innovation,” Kay explained. “Integrated lifestyle retail, flexible workspaces, high-end urban living, hospitality portfolios, connectivity-driven housing, waterfront communities, and industrial-anchored estates—these are the areas where developers are clearly responding to how people want to live, work, and invest today.”
The Philippines’ strong regional showing also reflects the decentralization of development beyond Metro Manila, driven by infrastructure investments and emerging growth corridors.
“Master-planned communities from North Luzon to Northern Mindanao already show sophisticated urban planning, mobility integration, and placemaking aligned with international benchmarks,” Kay said.
These developments are not only serving domestic demand but are also reshaping how Philippine real estate is perceived by overseas investors and Filipino communities abroad.
Looking ahead
As the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards looks toward its next decade, Kay sees the Philippines continuing to play an increasingly visible role in shaping Asia’s real estate future.
“The strong representation of Philippine finalists and winners demonstrates that Filipino developers can compete and excel on equal footing with their counterparts across the region,” he said. “With sustained focus on innovation, sustainability, and long-term value creation, the Philippines is well placed to help define the next chapter of real estate in Asia.”
Philippine Winners at the 2025 PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final
Developer & Company Awards
Development & Design Awards
