Tags: Outsourcing
By Alexander Villafania
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – In the last decade, several “cyberzones” cropped up in and around Metro Manila to accommodate the growing business process outsourcing and information and communications technology (ICT) industry in the Philippines.
One of the earliest such locations is Eastwood City in Libis, Quezon City, a 17-hectare space along E.Rodiguez Avenue.
In the mid-1990s, developer Megaworld took notice of this space and saw the potential of creating a Mecca for international business that is similar to places like Hong Kong and Singapore.
Back then, the challenge was not on who will put up an office in a grassy, barren lot but on the ongoing Asian financial crisis. The location had a nearly bare human and vehicular traffic that might turn away potential locators and international businesses.
As Megaworld carried on with its development, a few companies started to take bold steps and locate in Eastwood City. Among these were IBM and Citibank. Encouraged by the presence of big brands, other companies followed suit and soon, Eastwood gradually grew, quickly filling up empty spaces with commercial offices as well as residential buildings.
This success inspired other developers to start looking for other prime lots in Quezon City, the latest of which is the UP-Ayala Technohub along Commonwealth Avenue.
Nearly 14 years since its official launch, Eastwood City has literally become a city on its own. With “new money” coming in from the BPO companies located in Eastwood City, shops catering to mid- to high-end consumers have started putting up shop.
There are fine dining restaurants catering t o a wide variety of tastes from Filipino, European, Middle Eastern to American and Asian. Special activities like concerts or exhibits are held on a regular basis, such as the German festival, a “pet blessing” in October, and the yearend countdown just last December 31.
Near the restaurant area is an activity center where concerts are usually held. Duplicating Hollywood’s famous Walk of Fame is the Eastwood Walk of Fame which is located in the activity center. This one has the names of famous Filipino actors and actresses.
One of the main highlights of Eastwood City is the Eastwood Mall, a sprawling, multi-level shopping center. Unlike most Metro Manila malls, this one has huge spaces reminiscent of the shopping areas in Los Angeles or New York. At the center is an open park with a fountain that has an entertaining musical dancing water show.
Due to the presence of tall buildings, the open park only gets a few hours of direct sunlight, giving visitors and shoppers a lot of shade where they can relax.
Eastwood’s main “residents” are employees of BPOs and contact center firms and many of the shops here operate almost 24×7. This literally makes Eastwood a city that never sleeps. A welcoming mood at any time makes Eastwood a want-to-visit place for everyone.
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Hello Alexander,
I found your article very informative and enticing too. Honestly, I haven’t been to that place yet though I live right now in Quezon City. I wish I can visit there one time to see the rich economic condition of that place. I really loved tall buildings, I really want to see modern things. I can’t wait for that time. Thanks for this info.