Landco Pacific Corporation’s CFO redefines leadership through sustainability, quiet strength, and empathy to transform communities and build legacies beyond structures
“True luxury is legacy—something that outlasts trends.” For Marycris L. Panganiban, Chief Finance Officer of Landco Pacific Corporation, genuine leadership transcends corporate responsibility. It’s a principle that shapes how she approaches her job: not as a series of transactions, but as a tapestry of nurtured communities, generational impact, and guided purpose.
In celebration of Property Report’s International Women’s Month and as part of our Anniversary spotlight, we celebrate women reshaping the Philippine property sector. Among those leading the way is Marycris Panganiban, a visionary CFO who blends financial acumen with heartfelt motivation to redefine what it means to lead in a dynamic industry.
Breaking barriers with the quiet power of precision
Marycris’ career is a testament to the strength of subtlety. With 20 years in finance and nearly a decade of pivotal roles steering the property industry’s fiscal helm, her journey in navigating a male-dominated arena with grace is one of quiet determination. “Never let your voice go unheard just because it’s soft. Results speak louder than words,” she shares. Her leadership proves that impact need not be loud.
As CFO, she oversees financial strategy, funding, and governance for Landco Pacific and its subsidiaries. Her approach—wielded by clarity and rooted in collaboration—has reshaped boardroom dynamics. “Early in my career, I learned that listening to diverse perspectives, regardless of hierarchy, leads to stronger outcomes,” she reflects. By prioritizing dialogue, Marycris ensures every stakeholder, from investors to junior staff, feels heard.
Leading with purpose at the heart of Landco’s luxury vision
For Marycris, luxury is not exclusivity but intentionality. Under her stewardship, Landco’s billion-peso resort developments in Batangas with the exclusive Playa communities: Laiya and Calatagan; Resort Estates CaSoBe (Calatagan South Beach) and Club Laiya featuring iconic condotels The Nautilus and The Spinnaker, respectively; and the last opportunity to be part of the premier beachfront community — The Residences at Terrazas de Punta Fuego, are designed to create lasting value.
“For every resort estate we develop, I think about the local communities we impact, the environmental footprint we leave, and the families that will one day call these places home,” she explains. This philosophy drives Landco’s commitment to sustainability, ensuring projects like Beachtown communities harmonize premium living with ecological and social responsibility.
Financial planning, for her, translates to a delicate equilibrium: it balances profitability and responsibility. “Luxury with purpose is about inclusivity, not exclusivity. If you have more, you should give more,” she asserts. By allocating resources to uplift local economies and adopt eco-friendly practices, Landco Pacific’s developments become catalysts for shared prosperity.
Landco Pacific’s The Spinnaker clinched the title of Best International Sustainable Residential Development at the 2024-2025 International Property Awards, making it the first Philippine property to receive such global recognition. The accolade was celebrated at a glittering gala at The Savoy in London.
The 22-storey beachfront condotel, an architectural icon inspired by a yacht’s headsail, stands within the 23-hectare master-planned Club Laiya Resort Estates in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas. It emerged victorious in the Asia-Pacific category, outshining nominees from Africa, Europe, the Americas, and beyond.
The Spinnaker, alongside The Nautilus at CaSoBe, is setting a global benchmark in sustainable design as both projects pursue EDGE Certification from the World Bank. The developments target at least 20% savings in water, energy, and materials, featuring innovations like a double-piped waterline system for non-potable water use and an Electric Vehicle charging station.
Club Laiya, home to these eco-friendly properties, is LEED-registered for its sustainability program. The resort offers tree-lined walkways, dedicated pedestrian and bicycle lanes, a beach promenade, and a comprehensive double-piped water management system. Additionally, it supports environmental conservation and local livelihood projects.
In a related achievement, Landco Lifestyle Ventures—Landco Pacific’s hospitality arm—secured the country’s first EDGE certification for a resort project with its Crusoe Cabins at CaSoBe in Calatagan, Batangas. The Philippine Green Building Initiative, Inc. awarded the EDGE certification for Crusoe Cabins’ eco-efficient design, which reduces energy use by 34 percent, water consumption by 57 percent, and embodied energy in materials by 65 percent compared to local benchmarks.
Personal balance is her strategy anchored in soul
Away from spreadsheets and boardrooms, Marycris finds solace and clarity in the simplicity of nature. Weekends often see her escaping to the coast with her family, where the rhythm of waves mirrors her leadership style: centered, deliberate, and values-driven.
“Whenever I can on weekends, I escape to the coast—it clears my mind and strengthens my bond with the people who matter most,” she says. This balance infuses her work, reminding her that real estate is ultimately about the lives intertwined with every development.
Building beyond brick and mortar: Mentorship and empowerment
Marycris’ influence extends far beyond financial models. A staunch advocate for women’s empowerment, she actively mentors young professionals, emphasizing financial fluency and self-confidence. “Understand your worth—then empower others,” she advises. In her view, women bring a unique sensitivity to leadership, prioritizing long-term impact over short-term gains.
Her collaborative approach, which involves listening openly across departments and hierarchies, has cultivated a culture where diverse perspectives thrive. “Leadership is rooted in collaboration. Better decisions emerge when we value every voice,” she reflects.
The woman behind the vision and numbers
As CFO, Marycris Panganiban is not just shaping skylines but redefining how real estate leaders think. Her quiet force resonates in Landco’s thriving communities, where families create memories and local economies flourish.
“Real estate involves significant investment, and buyers deserve trust,” she emphasizes. Landco Pacific’s latest developments stand as testaments to this trust—spaces where luxury meets legacy, and investors see returns through vibrant, sustainable communities.
For over 30 years, Landco Pacific Corporation has been at the forefront of premium real estate, crafting world-class leisure communities, resort-inspired condominiums, and luxury residential developments across the Philippines. As a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), under the leadership of business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan, Landco upholds a legacy of innovation, sustainability, and enduring value.
Among its flagship developments is Peninsula de Punta Fuego in Nasugbu, Batangas—the country’s first private seaside residential resort, boasting an impressive 1,200% property appreciation since its launch in the 1990s. With a track record of creating high-value properties, Landco developments offer not just dream beach homes and second residences but also sound investments that appreciate over time, ensuring financial security for generations.
Evolving from Millennial Resorts Corporation, Landco Lifestyle Ventures (LLV) enhances leisure destinations with unique accommodations and experiences. LLV manages Camperisti at Club Laiya, the Cocoons and Crusoe Cabins at CaSoBe and Costa Azalea in Samal Island, as well as the upcoming beachfront condotels The Spinnaker and The Nautilus. LLV blends vibrant hospitality with sustainability, offering seamless resort living.
Recently, LLV took on the interim management of John Hay Hotels—formerly The Manor and Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay—along with the John Hay Convention Center in Baguio City. Assisting the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), LLV ensures smooth operations as the properties transition to a new long-term private partner.
Landco Pacific continues to redefine premium leisure living, curating distinctive landscapes that elevate lifestyles today while preserving value for the future.
On aspiring leaders: Grow, learn, and trust the journey
To young women eyeing careers in finance or real estate, Marycris offers: “Opportunity comes to those who are prepared. Don’t chase success—focus on becoming a better version of yourself daily.” Her faith in continuous growth and divine purpose underscores a career built on resilience and heart.
A legacy of intentional spaces
Marycris Panganiban’s story is one of purpose—a reminder that leadership is not about titles, but the lives we uplift and the futures we build. At Landco Pacific, her legacy is etched not just in balance sheets, but in thriving communities, protected coastlines, and a blueprint for leadership that marries profit with compassion.
In her own words: “When we uplift others, value comes back tenfold.” For Marycris and Landco, that value is a legacy of luxury—one that outlasts trends and transforms landscapes, one intentional step at a time.
