First was the Versace Home-designed The Milano Residences, and now comes the Trump-branded residential condominium called Trump Tower Manila.
Century Properties subsidiary Century City Development Corporation collaborates with The Trump Organization to bring to the Philippines the first Trump building called Trump Tower Manila, a 250-unit residential skyscraper that will be one of the country’s tallest buildings.
The tower, licensed to carry the Trump brand, will be located at Century City, a 3.4-hectare development on Kalayaan Avenue in Makati.
Century Properties managing director and Trump Tower Manila project head Robbie R. Antonio describes the tower as an “ultra-luxury” development, carrying the Trump standard. “Trump Tower Manila will have features patterned after Trump-owned developments in New York. These include a triple-height ceiling for the grand lobby. We have also incorporated into the design The Trump Plaza and water feature. The other common spaces include a restaurant, a business center with meeting and function rooms, a library, garden terrace and lounge, a fitness and spa center, and a pool and sky garden.”
Real estate magnate Donald Trump says, “The Trump brand stands for the best in everything — location, design, services, amenities and beyond. Trump buildings are always the most architecturally beautiful and are situated in the city’s prime location. We also deliver service that exceeds all others. That is what great real estate is all about.”
The tower’s units range from 57 sq.m. for suites to one- to four-bedroom units. The penthouses are very spacious at 425 sq.m. Prices start at P9 million. For the residential suites, three interior design themes will be reflected in the interior finishes: Downtown Soho, Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue.
“These interior themes will be likened to the combined designs of the various Trump towers in New York — contemporary yet timeless in its expression of luxury, with exquisite furniture, décor and design in every corner. We want unit-owners and visitors alike to recognize Trump Tower Manila as a destination and not just a residence,” says Antonio.
The Trump Tower Manila showroom is set to open in 2012, but unit reservations may be made starting this month.
Antonio adds that homeowners of Trump Tower Manila will “experience the trademark New York quality in terms of product and service, which means you are taking into account the crème de la crème of the world’s most influential and competitive projects. That means superior location, impressive amenities, and paramount service. From the magnificent floor-to- ceiling heights, glass walls, five-fixture bathrooms, etc., these are qualities that aren’t offered in Manila. We will be the first to execute a building of this magnitude into Philippine context.”
Antonio executed the licensing deal with Trump’s children, Ivanka and Eric, vice president and executive vice president for development and acquisitions at The Trump Organization, respectively.
“Robbie Antonio met with my team when he was based in New York City several years ago,” says Donald Trump. “In our meetings, Trump and Century discussed the opportunity of licensing the Trump name in the Philippines. We were very excited about the idea — Century is a great company that can execute and develop a Trump-branded product.”
Trump Tower Manila is a P6-billion project that will no doubt reinforce Century’s reputation of being a solid, credible and innovative property firm. “It is an honor for us to bring the Trump brand to Manila with this project, which we very much seek to achieve for the purpose of propelling the local landscape into a premier and global destination. Our bottom line as a developer has always been to sizably contribute to the progress of the Philippine real estate industry, and, in turn, provide a platform that benefits our country,” says Antonio”
Trump has been in the real estate business for 40 years. In 1971, he renamed his father’s company into The Trump Organization. To this day, he says, “I make sure that all of the details of a project — whether Trump-owned or branded, are executed at the highest level. We represent the gold standard worldwide and we make sure to live up to that reputation. We are not complacent. When you know that your location, design, interiors, amenities and services are the best available, there is no better feeling.”
How does Antonio foresee the future of Trump Tower Manila during these challenging economic times? “Manila and Asia are some of the more substantial markets in the world at this time. We wouldn’t have launched this project at this juncture if we didn’t believe in the viability of the local market,” he says confidently.
Century Properties’ other high-end project, Milano, which was interior designed by Versace Home, is approximately 80 percent sold since it was launched on Jan. 28. “Obviously, the overall perception of the economy does not encompass everyone. As much as we’ve expanded into catering to the affordable market, we’re also bullish about the business of luxury developments. There are several factors that contribute to the success of the upscale market, but what we have experienced firsthand is that our largest client base for the majority of our developments is Filipino expatriates who generate billions of dollars in revenues and investments for the country. In my opinion, that is what has made the Philippines a profitable arena for high-end projects.”
Century Properties sees the target market for Trump Tower Manila as being the “most discerning clientele in the country and the world. These are individuals who are familiar with the Trump Tower lifestyle heralded around the world and would like to experience it on a daily basis. We expect to have local buyers who would be considering this as a full-time residence. Furthermore, we are expecting foreign buyers who will use the unit as their pied a terre and who believe in the units as a solid real estate investment.”
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For more information, log on to www.trumptowermanila.com.