If you look at Mactan island on the map, there is a part of its 65 square kilometers that juts out — a sliver of land on the water. On one side is Magellan Bay, on the other side is Hilutungan Channel. Mactan figures in our history in that it was a rare battle won — one in many losses throughout hundreds of years of resistance.
Today, there is another emerging battle on the island, if you will. And it’s one of development in Mactan between the country’s biggest players in real estate.
Rockwell Land, whose Rockwell Center and Power Plant Mall in Makati have some of the most loyal residents and shoppers in the country, is claiming its stake with a luxury beachfront development called Aruga Resort and Residences.
Located in Punta Engaño, which hosts Mactan’s most upscale resorts, Aruga last Saturday launched its onsite showroom, Aruga Pavilion, with Rockwell executives led by Nestor “Tong” Padilla, their buyers from Manila and Cebu, and Lapu Lapu Mayor Junard “Ahong” Ang.
It was an afternoon of Cebuano food — ever had danggit and cream cheese in turones? grilled seafood and cocktails — cruising the Hilutungan Channel and Magellan Bay and checking out the model unit.
Aruga Pavilion features a scale model of the entire five-hectare development and a bright, airy 67-sqm. one-bedroom model unit.
Tong Padilla explains that the property is shaped like a fan, hence Aruga Resort is flanked by Aruga Residences with the three buildings spread out to maximize sea views.
As with any Rockwell development, the finishings are top-grade, from the backsplash in the kitchen to the mirrored cabinets in the bathroom, and the textured doors of the cupboards and closets.
The interiors of the model unit reflect Aruga’s location — a refreshing seaside palette of mosaics and earth colors that are calming to the eye and spirit.
If you had a unit here, you wouldn’t need to go on vacation anywhere else because right in front of you is a 300-meter private beach. So when you tell your family, “Let’s go to the beach,” you just step out of your unit and walk down to the shore.
Aruga Residences have one to four-bedroom units, 19 villas that are located nearest the beach, and three penthouse units. The villas are 450 sqm. each and the penthouses 350 sqm. each.
One-bedroom units range from 67 to 69 sqm. and go from P16 to P24.6 million; the two-bedrooms on this reputation. We want to build projects that set the standard. We want to do a better condo, provide a better retail experience — it’s different projects that cater to new experiences.”
Rockwell’s loyal homeowners and investors know exactly the kind of quality and experiences they can expect from the brand. Now, they can add “tropical bliss” to the list.
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Aruga Resort and Residences Mactan’s residential and hotel towers are set to turnover in 2023. For more information, visit www.arugaresortandresidences.com/mactan.
Visit the author’s travel blog at www.findingmyway.net. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @iamtanyalara.
