“Filipinos deserve better” is a belief that property giant Robinsons Land (RLC) embodies in all its developments. 

Notwithstanding difficult circumstances and challenging market conditions, RLC’s management, currently led by its president and CEO Mybelle Aragon-GoBio, time and time again proves that Filipinos deserve nothing but the best. 

For the past 46 years, RLC has successfully raised the bar by delivering world-class developments and building spaces that support the way Filipinos live, work and grow. 

“At the end of the day, the message is that Filipinos deserve better. We deserve the best. We deserve world-class facilities, and we are there to create spaces for that—for us,” Aragon-GoBio told The STAR. 

“In anything that we do, it has to be really done in the right way. So, standards have to be high. They have to be world-class in standards,” she said. 

RLC’s journey started from a single development that has evolved to a diversified portfolio, emerging as an integrated property developer contributing to national progress. 

The Company’s growth is grounded in a belief that Filipino excellence can compete globally while remaining deeply rooted in local needs. 

For RLC, its strength lies in its balanced portfolio and disciplined strategy, allowing the company to navigate market cycles with confidence. This stability enables continued investment projects that support long-term national development. 

“It is our ability to really evolve alongside the changing market needs. We started with the vision of creating developments that uplift the lives of Filipinos, and we have expanded this vision to create a portfolio that is diversified and allows us to really serve a broader market in different segments of the economy,” Aragon-GoBio said. 

“The Gokongwei family legacy is very instrumental to our growth and sustained success because they have really instilled in us the value of disciplined growth. It is always a view of the long-term prospects of our developments,” she added. 

As one of the country’s major property developers, Robinsons Land plays a key role in generating employment across industries – from construction to operations.  

The Company likewise stimulates business activity through commercial, office, and logistics developments, as well as supports regional growth by expanding beyond Metro Manila into emerging hubs. Its developments act as economic anchors, attracting investments, creating communities and enabling industries to thrive. 

“We make big bets on provincial areas. There are many underserved areas in the Philippines so our entry into many of these areas, where we are usually the first mover, allows Robinsons Land to serve those underserved communities, and also because we think that growth should be inclusive,” Aragon-GoBio said. 

“We also take pride in the fact that wherever we go, the growth is really sustainable. RLC is the first mover, but then we are there for the long haul. It is always the long-term view,” she added. 

A trailblazer in the Philippine real estate, RLC continues to lead through disciplined expansion, forward-looking developments and integrated ecosystems.  

Going beyond building structures, the Company creates connected environments that unlock economic activity and improve everyday life.  "RLC’s approach is anchored in long-term value creation, ensuring stability across economic cycles while enabling future growth, state Aragon-GoBio.   

As it builds the Philippines of tomorrow, RLC remains committed to expanding thoughtfully, innovating continuously and contributing meaningfully to the country’s progress. 

Its goal is not just to grow as a company, but to help shape a future where Filipino communities thrive in well-designed, resilient, and inclusive spaces. 

“There are many other opportunities still. We have a very young population. We believe in the resilience of the Filipinos, and we believe that there are further opportunities to unlock growth in many sectors of the economy,” Aragon-GoBio said. 

“More and more, we are seeing Filipino excellence shining through. And having said that, I think there is still a lot of room to showcase Filipino excellence, and that's why we will be repeatedly communicating that because we are betting big again on the Philippines,” she added. 

At the heart of RLC is a commitment to Filipino talent, creativity, and resilience. By building platforms where Filipinos can succeed—whether as entrepreneurs, professionals, athletes, or artists—RLC reflects its broader ambition to help shape a Philippines that is globally competitive yet distinctly Filipino. 

At the end of the day, RLC believes that its role is straightforward—building the spaces where progress happens. When it does its job well, the company is not the only one who benefits, but it also contributes significantly to the country’s development. 

RLC’s commitment to nation-building, after all, is as firm as its commitment to its customers and partners.  

“When we say that we will build, we will deliver. Say our residential project, we have to complete it. It is a commitment, and we have to follow through and deliver. The same goes for all of our other developments. So, when you build that trust with the market, you are able to keep on elevating offerings, and the market will respond to what you put out,” Aragon-GoBio said.  

Premiumization and innovation 

In providing the best that Filipinos deserve, RLC has decided not to settle for the average. Through its premiumization efforts across all the business units, the company has been able to successfully pilot and provide elevated offerings to the market. 

“We have seen a lot of the tenants or a lot of the buyers or customers, their sight is toward flight to quality. So, you can obviously see that from the things that we are doing right now. You see that in our hotels, our malls, our offices,” said Jericho Go, RLC senior vice president and business unit general manager for Robinsons Offices.  

“Creating premium projects puts us on the world map because we are always being compared to other countries in terms of facilities. That is why the premiumization story is not the end goal in itself, but it is a tool for us to be able to do our share in terms of nation-building,” he added. 

GBF Centers 1 and 2 in Bridgetowne Destination Estate are among the premium developments of Robinsons Offices, the Office Buildings developer of the Company, that provides strategically located and future-ready workplaces to support business expansion. Robinsons Offices also plays a critical role in positioning the Philippines as a competitive business destination, particularly for BPOs and multinational firms. 

In terms of malls, RLC’s premiumization strategy is best reflected through Opus Mall in Bridgetowne. Since its launch in July 2024, Opus has quickly emerged as Metro Manila's premier destination for luxury, leisure, and lifestyle.  

“When you're at Opus, you feel that it's premium. Opus is one of our new malls that really serve the community. It is not just about the shops; it is the mall itself. It is premium in a way that we have a lot of areas where people can just sit and relax with the natural light, open spaces and garden,” Tina Real-Lim, deputy business unit general manager for Robinsons Malls, said. 

In the hospitality sector, Robinsons Hotels and Resorts (RHR) has introduced the first and only Filipino five-star hospitality brand in the country through Fili Hotel. 

Apart from showcasing world-class service infused with Filipino warmth, RHR likewise contributes to local economies by driving tourism, employment, and supply chain activity. 

“I always say this with a lot of pride that RLC is known for a lot of firsts. We were the first hotel group to bring essential value in a branded experience. We were the first Filipino five-star hotel brand, which is Fili, and the first ultra luxury homegrown brand, which is NUSTAR. So, I think one of the things that we are very proud, besides everything else, is that you know, RLC has an innovative spirit. We have gone where nobody else has,” RLC senior vice president and RHR business unit general manager Barun Jolly said. 

RLC Residences, for its part, continues to deliver thoughtfully designed homes that reflect changing Filipino lifestyles. On top of creating livable, connected communities with long-term value, the company is expanding presence beyond Metro Manila to support inclusive growth. 

RLC senior vice president and RLC Residences business unit general manager Teddy Bernas said that while the preferences of buyers in the residential real estate segment has remained almost the same, the competitive landscape of the industry has drastically changed.  

“There are a lot of developers out there, and we really have to be able to compete. And the way we want to do that is not to offer the cheapest or most affordable project. What we want to do is to come up with a premium project that they would really want to have to elevate their lifestyles,” Bernas said.  

“If you notice, we have really elevated most of our projects. In residential, premiumization does not mean the most luxurious or the most expensive. We want to be premium in each market segment. For example, if it is the upper middle class, you want to be the best among the developers in that particular segment,” he added. 

Premiumization in the logistics industry is likewise taking place, and Robinsons Logistix and Industrials Inc. (RLX), through its Grade A logistics facilities, is playing a key role in it by enabling efficient distribution networks critical to a modern economy and supporting industries by ensuring seamless movement of goods. 

RLX is also reinforcing its presence in one of the country's most active industrial and transport corridors with a new built-to-suit logistics facility for FedEx at Clark International Airport. Once completed, the facility will give the company a large-format, built-to-suit logistics development in Clark.  

“Our main objective in RLC really is to bring progress to the provinces. Because everything is concentrated in Metro Manila, so we try to uplift the lives of the community that we've served and where we are. And it is not after we build and we are gone already. I think that is one of our differences. We always stay. We are there for the long-term and it is not just the short-term development,” RLC senior vice president and RLX general manager Cora Ang Ley said.  

As part of investing in the Filipino potential, RLC has created a new business unit called Robinsons Sports and Leisure which is focused on building high-impact venues and experiences in the growing sports and entertainment space. 

The venture serves as a platform for developing Filipino talent across sports and active lifestyles, while also building accessible, future-ready spaces that respond to how people move and engage. 

“We have our malls that create communities. We have our homes that provide shelter. Our offices that enable productivity and innovation. Our hotels that offer spaces for rest and renewal. Our logistics that keep the economy moving. So, for us, what is next? What is the next thing we will build?” said Ramon Rivero, chief strategist and business unit general manager of Robinsons Sports and Leisure.  

“We are not building square meters, or we are not just building for profit. What we are actually building for is for human moments. If there is such a metric that I can use to create the lives we transform because of our spaces, that is something that wakes me up early in the morning, gives me the drive to talk to people on the ground and see what we can do for them. I think that is the genesis of Robinson Sports and Leisure,” he added. 

"Through Robinsons Destination Estates, RLC develops large-scale, master-planned developments that integrate all of the company’s business units. By creating self-sustaining ecosystems where people can live, work, play, and be inspired, Robinsons Destination Estates serve as models for next-generation urban development in the Philippines," shares Gerald Tambis, SVP and Head of Robinsons Destination Estates.  

“Robinsons Land has been very good at unlocking its land bank, acquiring and developing properties, turning them around quickly, and using that capital productively for other assets,” Tambis said.  

RLC has unveiled its Vision 5-25-50 roadmap that aims to deliver P25 billion in net income by its 50th anniversary in 2030.  Under the plan, the company is targeting an aggressive expansion that seeks to increase mall gross leasable area by 50 percent, office space by 50 percent, hotel room keys by 25 percent and double logistics capacity by 2030. 

“So, where RLC can participate, and I believe we can participate in many segments, we will be there. I think that is what excites me about the company’s next chapter. There are so many opportunities,” Aragon-GoBio said. 

As the Company pushes ahead with its plans and move to its next chapter of growth, Aragon-GoBio said she wants RLC to be positioned and regarded as a company that “develops quality projects and that is able to deliver on its commitments.”  

“Because at the end of the day, what does the public look for in a real estate company? It is stability, right? Because in a very big way, we are a bellwether of sorts for the economy. When somebody, like in the real estate industry, does not perform, the impact is so big. It is very important for us to show sustainable growth,” she said. 

“The bigger aspiration for the Filipino people is really victory. We are here to represent the people, to partner with communities and partner with all of these enterprises,” Aragon-GoBio added.