Amid a construction boom that has seen high-rise buildings sprout all over Metro Manila, a development in Makati has grabbed the attention of an international real estate award-giving body.
The newly constructed Zuellig Building has made it to the top three in the "Best Office and Business Development" category of MIPIM Asia Awards.
This qualifies the 33-storey office building to vie for gold against two other shortlisted development: the Tianjin Global Financial Center in China and the 50 Connaught Road Central Building in Hong Kong.
The building, located at the intersection of Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas, was developed by Bridgebury Realty Corp. and designed by architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP.
It is the first real estate development in the Philippines to be recognized by MIPIM.
"The Zuellig Building's commitment to environmental responsibility, its distinctive facade, and superior finishes will enable it to become Metro Manila's premier business location," MIPIM said in its website.
The building has also earlier been awarded a gold pre-certification under the "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" program of the U.S. Green Building Council.
The Zuellig is "the first 21st-century Premium Grade office building in the Philippines," MIPIM said further.
MIPIM (Le marché international des professionnels de l’immobilier) is a group of industry leaders which recognizes "excellence and innovation in Asian real estate development," the group's website showed.
A jury composed of experts met in July to shortlist three winners in 10 categories.
Aside from Best Office and Business Development, other categories are Best Hotel and Tourism Resort, Best Industrial and Logistics Development, Best Refurbished Building, Best Residential Development, Best Shopping Centre, Best Futura Project, Best Futura Mega Project, Best German Project and the Special Jury Award.
For the first time this year, MIPIM will also determine the winner of a People's Choice Award through online voting.
Results of the poll will meanwhile comprise 50 percent of the final scores of the shortlisted buildings, thereby determining the gold, silver and bronze winners.
The Philippines vowed Thursday to fight China "to the last man standing", as a Chinese warship patrolled around a remote reef occupied by a handful of Filipino marines in disputed waters.
