It’s been done before, resusitating life back into a dead property in what could be one of the costliest disasters in the country. On 15 June 1991, when Mount Pinatubo exploded, hurled its fury and spread its volcanic ashes, it resulted in 4,700 million damages, which included property, agriculture, forestry, and land, among others. It also heavily impacted businesses thriving in locations like Pampanga, Tarlac and neighboring provinces that suffered from the after-effects ot the eruption.
There were efforts to rise from the rubble of destruction, even attempting to make creative effort out of the volcanic ashes or lahar — as material for pottery and decor to revive livelihood opportunities in the area.
Meanwhile, parts of Pampanga, including Porac, remained a sleeping giant swathed with dusty lahar.
It practically took more than a decade before possibilities were awakened in this part of Central Luzon and as the local economy was starting to pick up. Property giant Ayala Land took interest in the area in 2014, forging a partnership with homegrown developer Leonio Land.
The project, Alviera, was developed into a sustainable estate, which also included the construciton of Sandbox to be enjoyed not just by locals but by tourists as well.
This time, the idea was to build a community that was resilient, boosting efforts to design spaces and structures that could withstand another eruption, earthquake, or flood.
In between creating structures, the Sandbox is the central hub for people to explore the outdoors again. A community, after all, isn’t just about brick-and-mortar places but also about engagements, interactions, and memories amongst its residents and visitors.
Alviera, the 1,125-hectare property, is easily accessible from Porac exit (NLEX-SCTEX), and close to the Clark Airport and Subic Freeport.
Purveyor of growth
Another decade later, Leonio Land continues its commitment in promoting growth in Pampanga. The real estate company went back to the days when its intention was to make best use of the Leonio family’s landholding in Porac, Pampanga.
Its visionary chairman, Leonardo L. Leonio, foresaw the growth in Central Luzon with the construction of SCTEX. Now, its joint project with Ayala Land is among the major townships in the area.
Its succesful founder and chairman of the board, Leonio, saw to it that his company’s diverse portfolio of businesses — from marine-related businesses from deep-sea fishing, shipyard operations, dry-bulk shipping, ports, and terminals to oil and gas tankering — would also reflect the same diversity in Alviera only the in the sense of offering many options for its stakholders and residents.
Leonio Land committed itself to partnering with only industry’s best when Alviera was first constructed. If one were to explore Alviera, it would seem tha the property was long masterplanned in a post-pandemic era where wide-open green spaces, mobility and access to essential establishments are part of its package.
Fast-forward to the near-end of the pandemic, the two property giants’ quest for excellence is a perfect fit for living through the challenges of Covid-19 truly livable as amenities and facilities are made for safe, steady and healthy living.
In one interview, Leanio Land president Clarissa-LeonioAsuncion had mentioned: “With the pandemic, the importance of the environment where you live, work or invest has been magnified significantly. And for Alviera, we made sure to provide everything our future residents and locators would need in a post-pandemic world while at the same time, ensuring that we continue to cater a variety of lifestyle needs and choices.”
Expansive growth center
Location matters in any masterplanned community and Alviera lives up to that standard. Its strategic location situates it near Clark Airport, Subic Freeport and provincial hubs like Angeles City and San Fernando City.
Alviera is also accessible to office and industrial areas due to its access to the North Luzon Expressway,
Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, which are also efficiently linked to the metro and other key cities in Luzon.
By its sheer size — five and a half times larger than the Makati central business district and about four times the size of Bonifacio Global City — once fully developed, it wil be able to accomodate about 20,000 office and industrial workers, 65,000 residents, and 20,000 students.
It is a sustainable and efficient city on its own with four main districts define Alviera: The City Center, Greenbelt, East and West, with settings for commercial, business, industrial park, academic zones, a country club, and more. And with roads and sidewalks that encourage healthy activities like walking and biking.
Clarissa added in the same interview, “The estate’s pedestrian and vehicular network is designed to encourage walking and biking around as alternative to commuting and to help promote an active and healthy lifestyle. Safe and ease of mobility is also a priority as we plan for years ahead, projecting population growth, usage and future technologies and trends.”
Upon its completion, Alviera would be a cornerstone for recovery and growth in a post-pandemic world — making it truly a city of the future.