From the Philippines and beyond

EYES WIDE OPEN

- IRIS GONZALES

The first time I met AppleOne Properties president and CEO Ray Manigsaca was when I visited the Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort on Punta Engaño Road last year.

The Sheraton, owned by AppleOne Pr, is quite a leisure destination—compact yet complete with a relaxing vibe, excellent hospitality and service and delicious food. At the time of my visit, there were mostly families of foreign guests enjoying the outdoor swimming pool and the white-sand beach.

It was also the first time I learned about AppleOne and its businesses. The Cebu-based property company was founded by Ray and his wife Venus some 13 years ago to diversify their then 17-year-old construction company, VenRay, which focused on building roads and bridges.

Fast forward to 2024. On a recent visit to Cebu, I had a chance to catch up with Ray and was pleasantly surprised to learn that AppleOne is now even bigger amid a well-crafted expansion plan.

This is a good indicator that local businessmen like Ray are optimistic about the economy's trajectory and growth potential.

There's a lot to look forward to from AppleOne.

For instance, Ray said Mahi Center, the company's integrated business and leisure destination in Mactan, is slated to open in the first quarter of 2025.

"This will also include the opening of our business hotel, Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan, which is part of the center and in close proximity to the Mactan Cebu International Airport," Ray told me during our recent chat.