For fitness professionals across Panay Island, learning an international fitness format no longer necessarily means traveling to Manila or going overseas.

This October, YogaFit Worldwide, in connection with Gold’s Gym Philippines, is opening an opportunity for fitness professionals to participate in PilatesFit and PilatesFit 2, two live online training programs designed to develop Pilates-based movement and teaching skills.

The sessions will be conducted on October 23 and 24, 2026, making the program accessible to interested participants from Capiz, Iloilo, Aklan, and Antique, as well as other fitness professionals who want to expand their teaching capabilities.

But for someone who has never tried Pilates before, what exactly is it, and why has it become such a significant part of the global fitness industry?

What Is Pilates?

Pilates is a system of exercise centered on controlled movement, core strength, stability, flexibility, mobility, posture, and body awareness.

Instead of simply asking how fast or how heavily the body can move, Pilates places particular emphasis on how well the body moves.

Exercises typically require concentration and controlled execution, with movements that can be adapted to different abilities and fitness levels. This has helped make Pilates relevant across different areas of fitness, from individual exercise and group classes to complementary training for people involved in other physical activities.

PilatesFit takes inspiration from these principles and translates them into a format designed for fitness instruction.

For PE teachers, coaches, personal trainers, and group fitness instructors, that means the training is not simply about learning another workout. It is an opportunity to develop another approach to movement that can complement existing knowledge and teaching experience.

Why PilatesFit Could Matter to Fitness Professionals

A fitness professional’s career can evolve with every new skill they learn.

A PE instructor may want to introduce more movement and mobility concepts into appropriate classes. A personal trainer may want another approach to core and stability work. A group fitness instructor may want to broaden the types of classes they are equipped to facilitate.

PilatesFit is designed to give participants additional knowledge in areas such as:

Core strength

Stability and balance

Flexibility and mobility

Body awareness

Exercise sequencing

Class instruction and cueing

Adapting exercises for different fitness levels

The training is particularly relevant to PE teachers, sports and fitness instructors, personal trainers, coaches, group exercise instructors, yoga teachers, and other wellness professionals interested in adding Pilates-based training to their professional skill set.

Train Live Online with YogaFit Worldwide

The program comes from YogaFit Worldwide, an international yoga education and training organization founded by Beth Shaw.

YogaFit describes PilatesFit as a specialty training that combines Pilates principles with mindful movement and functional fitness. Its training materials are designed to help instructors develop skills that can be incorporated into group fitness and individual training environments. 

Because the October sessions are conducted live online, participants from Panay Island can take part without needing to travel outside the region.

That opens an international learning opportunity to fitness professionals based in cities and communities across the island.

PilatesFit 1: Build Your Foundation

The first day focuses on establishing the foundations of PilatesFit.

Participants can expect to develop their understanding of Pilates-based exercises and how these movements can be incorporated into a structured fitness experience.

The program introduces exercises across different ability levels while developing skills relevant to creating safe, engaging, and effective classes.

For instructors, the objective goes beyond performing the exercises themselves. The training is intended to help participants understand how they can teach and communicate movement more effectively.

Participants may also earn 0.8 ACE Continuing Education Credits (CECs) or 4 canfitpro CECs, according to the program information provided by YogaFit.

PilatesFit Training Details

Date: October 23, 2026, Friday
Time: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM PHT
Format: Live online via Zoom
Program: PilatesFit
Training Provider: YogaFit Worldwide

Register for PilatesFit Live Online

PilatesFit 2: Take Your Teaching Further

After building the foundation, PilatesFit 2 takes participants into more advanced applications.

The second training is designed to help instructors introduce greater variety, creativity, and progression into their classes.

Participants explore areas such as advanced Pilates sequencing, exercise variations, prop-based exercises, cueing, and techniques for challenging different fitness levels.

YogaFit’s PilatesFit 2 program also covers the use of equipment such as Pilates balls, Pilates circles, loop bands, and light hand weights, alongside techniques for modifying and progressing exercises. 

The progression makes the two sessions complementary:

PilatesFit 1 builds the foundation. PilatesFit 2 expands what instructors can do with it.

PilatesFit 2 Training Details

Date: October 24, 2026, Saturday
Time: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM PHT
Format: Live online via Zoom
Program: PilatesFit 2
Training Provider: YogaFit Worldwide

Participants may earn 0.8 ACE CECs or 4 canfitpro CECs, based on the training information provided.

Register for PilatesFit 2 Live Online

An Additional Credential for a Growing Fitness Career

For professionals across Panay Island, the potential value of training extends beyond the two-day program.

Completing additional professional training can broaden the range of techniques and class formats an instructor is prepared to work with.

A personal trainer can integrate appropriate Pilates-based principles into training. A group fitness instructor can expand their teaching repertoire. PE and sports professionals can gain additional knowledge about movement, stability, flexibility, and body awareness.

For those considering careers beyond Panay Island or even outside the Philippines, additional training can also become part of a broader professional portfolio, subject to the certification, licensing, and employment requirements of individual countries, facilities, and employers.

The same applies to employment opportunities with Gold’s Gym. Completion of PilatesFit training does not guarantee employment, but the additional training can form part of an instructor’s professional development when pursuing opportunities within the fitness industry.

The Gold’s Gym Connection in Roxas City

For participants based in Capiz, there is also a local connection.

Gold’s Gym Roxas is located within the Pueblo de Panay township in Roxas City, adding fitness and wellness to the township’s growing mix of places for work, business, education, dining, recreation, and everyday life.

The PilatesFit sessions themselves are live online trainings, rather than on-site classes at Pueblo de Panay.

The presence of Gold’s Gym within the township, however, represents something increasingly important for a growing regional community: access to spaces and organizations where people can continue pursuing healthier lifestyles and professional opportunities in fitness.

International Learning, Accessible from Panay Island

Professional development does not always have to begin somewhere far away.

For a PE teacher in Antique, a trainer in Aklan, a fitness instructor in Iloilo, or an aspiring coach in Capiz, an online program can provide access to training that might once have required considerably more travel and expense.

That is what makes the October PilatesFit program particularly relevant.

It brings together an international training organization, an established fitness brand, and professionals from communities across Panay Island who want to keep learning.

Whether the goal is to teach additional classes, strengthen an existing fitness career, explore opportunities with gyms and wellness facilities, or simply become a more knowledgeable instructor, the next skill can start right where you are.

Move better. Teach better. Inspire others.

Registration Information

PilatesFit 1
October 23, 2026, Friday
8:00 AM–6:00 PM PHT
Live via Zoom

PilatesFit 1 Registration

PilatesFit 2
October 24, 2026, Saturday
8:00 AM–6:00 PM PHT
Live via Zoom

PilatesFit 2 Registration

Contact Person: Paolo Sason

There is a moment before every memorable event when the room is not yet full.

The tables are set. The lights are on. The program has not started. Somewhere, someone is checking the microphone for the third time. A bride is getting ready. A speaker is reviewing a presentation. Guests are beginning to arrive.

And then there is the place itself.

For anyone planning a wedding, conference, milestone celebration, company gathering, or destination event in Roxas City, choosing a venue can easily become an exercise in numbers: How many people can it accommodate? Is there parking? Is there internet? What does the package include?

Those questions matter.

But perhaps there is a better one to ask first:

How do you want people to feel when they are there?

It is an interesting question to consider at Circulo Convention Center, a hilltop events destination inside Pueblo de Panay Township in Roxas City, Capiz.

Because Circulo makes a compelling argument that an event venue should do more than contain an event.

It should become part of it.

An Events Venue in Roxas City With a Sense of Place

Roxas City is often introduced through food, particularly the seafood for which Capiz has long been known.

But drive into Pueblo de Panay and up toward Circulo, and another side of the city begins to emerge.

Here, the landscape opens.

Circulo sits on a hill, giving gatherings a feeling of separation from the usual rhythm of streets, offices, errands, and commercial districts. The change is subtle but important. You have not necessarily travelled far, yet it feels as though you have arrived somewhere.

That quality matters more than one might think.

For a wedding, the setting can make a celebration feel more intimate and intentional. For a conference or planning session, leaving the conventional office environment can change the energy of the room. For visiting delegates, it offers something difficult to manufacture inside a standard ballroom: a genuine sense of destination.

And then there is sunset.

Late afternoon is arguably when Circulo reveals its personality best. Guests arrive while there is still daylight. Photographs happen almost instinctively. Conversations begin. Then the sky changes and the atmosphere changes with it.

The view is no longer simply something outside the event.

It becomes part of the evening.

One Venue, Very Different Occasions

The difficulty with an events venue is that no two events really ask for the same thing.

A wedding needs romance, movement and room for deeply personal details.

A corporate conference needs connectivity, sound, comfortable seating and a layout that helps people pay attention.

A birthday wants energy.

A workshop needs focus.

A formal dinner might require an entirely different atmosphere again.

Circulo approaches this through a collection of spaces rather than a single room expected to do everything.

Its smaller function rooms can accommodate approximately 15 to 30 people, while the Café Terraza Pavilion is designed for roughly 40 to 50 guests. Heritage Hall accommodates approximately 80 to 125, while the Circulo Convention Hall is intended for events of around 100 to 150 guests. Across its venues, Circulo currently states a collective capacity of up to 460 people.

The practical advantage is flexibility.

An organizer can begin with the nature of the gathering and choose a space around it rather than forcing an event into a room simply because that room happens to be available.

Layouts and setups can also be adapted according to the purpose, scale and atmosphere of the occasion.

It is an obvious idea, perhaps, but good event planning often comes down to getting obvious things right.

For Weddings, Beauty Is Only the Beginning

Couples naturally notice how a wedding venue photographs.

They should.

But anyone who has actually planned a wedding knows that beautiful photographs are only one part of an extraordinarily complicated day.

People have to arrive. Suppliers have to coordinate. Food has to appear at the right moment. The couple needs somewhere to prepare. Guests need to be comfortable. The reception has to move from one part of the program to another without everyone noticing the machinery behind it.

Circulo’s approach to weddings brings several of these pieces into the same experience: the hilltop setting, adaptable event spaces, food and event support.

There is also a dedicated bridal room for pre-ceremony preparations, equipped with features including seating, mirrors, natural lighting, a private lounge area and bathroom.

It is the sort of detail that rarely becomes the hero photograph in a wedding album.

On the day itself, however, it can matter enormously.

The best event operations are often invisible. Guests see the finished room, the food and the celebration. They do not see the equipment checks, coordination, preparation, timing and dozens of small decisions happening before and during the program.

That is precisely the point.

A couple should be able to experience their wedding rather than spend it managing one.

Then There Is the Food

There is a particular danger in treating event food as an obligation.

Guests may forget the exact shade of the tablecloth. They may not remember every slide in a presentation.

They tend to remember whether they ate well.

At Circulo, dining is not entirely separate from the identity of the place. The complex includes Café Terraza, its open-air hilltop dining destination, and Cocina de Pueblo, which leans into Spanish and Italian influences alongside the wider food offerings available within Circulo.

Menus for events can draw from Filipino, Spanish and Italian cuisine, giving organizers room to consider food as part of the occasion rather than simply the meal scheduled between two program segments.

That distinction is especially interesting for destination events.

If people have travelled to Capiz, there is little reason for the experience to feel as though it could have happened in any city in the Philippines.

Food is one of the easiest ways to give a gathering a sense of where it is.

What About Conferences and Corporate Events?

This is where Circulo becomes more interesting beyond the social-events market.

A company in Manila, Cebu or Iloilo considering Roxas City for a conference, seminar, strategic planning session, workshop, training program or product presentation may reasonably ask whether the city can provide the facilities expected of a professional event.

Circulo is designed to serve the MICE market, or Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, alongside weddings and social gatherings.

Its facilities include internet connectivity, audio-visual equipment, sound systems, air-conditioned spaces and flexible event configurations. The venue has also hosted professional gatherings in Roxas City.

But facilities are only part of the proposition.

The more distinctive advantage may be what happens when the session ends.

Delegates can leave the meeting room and find themselves in a hilltop environment rather than another dense commercial district. A formal program can transition into dinner. Colleagues can continue conversations outside the confines of the meeting itself.

The day can be productive without feeling relentlessly corporate.

That balance matters because some of the most valuable moments at a business gathering happen after somebody closes the presentation.

An Event Can Become a Reason to Discover Roxas City

Imagine coming from Manila for a conference.

Or Cebu for a wedding.

Or Iloilo for a company gathering.

The event might be the reason you booked the trip, but it does not have to be the entirety of it.

A guest could spend the morning exploring Roxas City, have lunch somewhere that introduces them to local flavors, return to their accommodation in the afternoon, and arrive at Circulo before sunset.

By early evening, the main event begins.

Dinner follows.

The sky changes.

And somewhere along the way, a trip that began as an obligation on a calendar starts feeling like travel.

This is one of the overlooked advantages of destination events: the venue can become a doorway into the destination itself.

Circulo’s own team sees events in much the same way. For guests coming from outside Capiz, the experience can extend into local food, culture, attractions and the relaxed character of Roxas City.

Being Inside Pueblo de Panay Changes the Logistics

Romance and atmosphere are wonderful until somebody needs a hotel, a meal, a pharmacy, a place to shop or simply something to do between activities.

This is where Circulo’s location inside Pueblo de Panay Township becomes particularly practical.

Pueblo de Panay is a mixed-use, master-planned township in Roxas City, bringing residential, commercial, business, hospitality, dining and leisure uses into one larger development.

For an organizer, having supporting establishments around the venue can simplify planning.

For an out-of-town guest, it makes the experience less fragmented.

The idea is not that every minute of a visit has to remain inside the township. Roxas City deserves to be explored.

Rather, it is reassuring to know that an event is taking place within an environment where many everyday needs are already nearby.

Attend.

Meet.

Eat.

Stay.

Explore.

There is less friction between them.

The Ripple Effect of a Full Room

There is another reason events matter to a city that is easy to overlook.

A wedding with out-of-town guests is not only a wedding.

A national conference is not only a conference.

Every visitor needs somewhere to sleep. People take rides. They eat before and after the program. Organizers hire photographers, stylists, performers, technicians, printers, production teams and other suppliers.

A gathering can therefore create economic activity far beyond the walls of the venue.

Circulo describes this as a ripple effect: larger events can create opportunities for accommodation providers, transport operators, restaurants, creatives, performers and local suppliers across Roxas City and Capiz.

This connects naturally with Pueblo de Panay’s stated mission of being “a meaningful catalyst and a source of pride in the communities that we do business in.”

Seen from that perspective, an events venue is not simply hospitality infrastructure.

It can also be part of a city’s economic infrastructure.

What a Convention Venue Says About a City

Cities reveal their ambitions through the things they make possible.

An airport says: arrive.

A business district says: invest.

A university says: learn.

And a capable convention and events venue says something equally important:

Gather here.

For Roxas City, venues capable of hosting conferences, trainings, corporate gatherings, weddings and other major occasions help expand what the city can offer visitors and organizations.

Circulo’s history reflects that evolution. What began with catering in 2012 developed into a broader hospitality and events complex, later adding Café Terraza and Cocina de Pueblo while building its convention business.

Today, its role is larger than providing tables, chairs and a stage.

It gives companies another reason to consider bringing people to Roxas City.

It gives families another reason to celebrate here.

And it gives visitors who may know Capiz primarily for seafood an opportunity to discover something else: a city with hospitality, local talent, enterprise, culture and an evolving business community.

So, How Should You Choose an Events Venue in Roxas City?

Start with the practical questions.

How many guests are coming?

What kind of layout does the program require?

Is there parking?

What are the audio-visual requirements?

How reliable is the internet?

Where will out-of-town guests stay?

What will everyone eat?

Who will help coordinate the details?

Those questions can prevent problems.

But before making the final decision, ask one more.

What do you want people to remember?

Perhaps it is the food.

Perhaps it is the moment the doors open and everyone sees the room.

Perhaps it is a conversation after a conference session that eventually becomes a business partnership.

Perhaps it is your family gathered in one place.

Or perhaps it is something as simple as watching the sun disappear over Roxas City while the evening is only beginning.

Because the best venues do not merely provide somewhere for an event to happen.

They give the event a setting, a rhythm and a sense of place.

And sometimes, long after the tables have been cleared and everyone has gone home, the place becomes part of the story people continue to tell.

Planning an Event at Circulo Convention Center?

Circulo Convention Center is located inside Pueblo de Panay Township, Brgy. Lawaan, Roxas City, Capiz. Its event spaces accommodate gatherings ranging from intimate meetings and celebrations to weddings, conferences and larger corporate and social events.

For current venue options, packages, availability and booking information, visit the Circulo Convention Center official website or contact the venue directly.

HP5V+PXX, Pueblo de Panay Township, Brgy. Lawaan, Lungsod ng Roxas, Lalawigan sg Capiz

Monday – Sunday 
9:00AM – 9:00PM

sales@circulo.com.ph

(+63) 917 312 1498 (GLOBE) 
(+63) 939 927 1447 (SMART)

The idea was simple: meaningful business activity should not have to remain concentrated in the  country’s biggest cities. 

That sounds obvious today. It was less obvious when PDP TechnoPark first started taking shape. 

Companies do not move because of good intentions. They look for talent, infrastructure,  reliability, access, business continuity, room to grow and a place where people can actually live  and work well. 

That is why the story of PDP TechnoPark has never really been about office space alone. 

It is part of a larger story about Pueblo de Panay and what we believe countryside development  can become. 

Our mission is to be a Meaningful Catalyst and Source of Pride in the Communities we  serve. 

Our vision is to become a Leader for Inclusive Growth in the Philippine Countryside by  2035. 

Those are ambitious statements. What matters is whether people can eventually see them taking  shape on the ground. 

PDP TechnoPark is one of the places where that is happening. 

There is a moment every Filipino recognizes.

September arrives, a familiar Christmas song plays somewhere, and suddenly December does not feel so far away. The weather may still be warm. There may be no snow and no winter coats. Yet the mood has already changed.

Someone starts planning the family reunion. Shops bring out their Christmas displays. Group chats begin talking about exchange gifts. Hotels and event venues receive early inquiries. Parents start thinking about what to serve for Noche Buena. Before long, warm lights and parols begin appearing across the city.

This is how Christmas often arrives in the Philippines: not all at once, but through little signs that begin in September and grow brighter as December approaches.

There is no official rule declaring September 1 the start of Christmas. In the Catholic calendar, Advent begins much later. The Filipino “Ber months” are instead a much-loved cultural tradition shaped by faith, family, homecomings, music, shared memories, and the joy of looking forward to something together.

At Pueblo de Panay, that spirit feels right at home. The 670-hectare township in Roxas City brings together places to eat, gather, stay, worship, work, shop, and unwind. It is the kind of community where Christmas can be enjoyed slowly, one meaningful moment at a time.

Here are seven ways to experience the Filipino “Ber months” and make new Christmas memories at Pueblo de Panay.

1. Welcome the season with a familiar Christmas song

Filipinos do not need cold weather to know Christmas is coming. Sometimes, the opening notes of a familiar song are enough.

For decades, radio stations, television countdowns, Christmas station IDs, and now social media have turned September 1 into an unofficial national cue. The four “-ber” months also give the season a catchy name and an easy starting point.

What makes the music powerful is not only the melody. It brings back memories: decorating the house as a child, hearing carols from a neighbor’s radio, travelling home to the province, or celebrating with people we miss.

Start your own “Ber months” tradition at Pueblo de Panay with a relaxed drive, a coffee date, or dinner with family and friends. You do not need a grand event. Sometimes, the best way to welcome Christmas is simply to hear an old favorite while spending time with people who feel like home.

2. Make time for family before the calendar fills up

For Filipinos, Christmas is rarely limited to December 25. It includes all the planning, travelling, cooking, catching up, and making time for one another.

That takes weeks, especially when family members live in different cities or countries. Returning overseas Filipinos may arrange trips months ahead. Balikbayan boxes and gifts are prepared early. Reunion dates are negotiated in busy group chats. Even deciding where everyone will eat can become a family project.

Research on Filipino transnational families has explored how gifts and material exchanges help communicate love and maintain belonging across distance. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has likewise observed stronger remittance inflows during the holiday season.

At Pueblo de Panay, returning Capiznons and visiting relatives can find hotels, restaurants, leisure destinations, and everyday conveniences within one township. It makes planning easier and leaves more time for what matters: stories shared over food, cousins meeting again, and relatives rediscovering Roxas City together.

3. Gather around food, because every reunion needs a table

In a Filipino Christmas, the table is never just furniture. It is where stories grow longer, extra chairs appear, and “Kain pa” becomes a love language.

The long season gives families and barkadas many opportunities to gather before the major celebrations begin. There are early reunions, office dinners, weekend merienda dates, and spontaneous meetups with friends who are only in town for a few days.

Pueblo de Panay makes it easy to turn those meetups into a full day. Explore its dining destinations, enjoy coffee after a meal, or continue the evening with entertainment nearby. Whether the plan is a simple merienda or a large year-end gathering, the township offers settings for different tastes, group sizes, and moods.

The best Christmas meals are not always the most elaborate. They are the ones where no one is in a hurry to leave.

4. Keep faith at the heart of the celebration

Beneath the lights, presents, and parties, Christmas remains a deeply spiritual season for many Filipinos.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2020 census, 78.8% of the country’s household population identified as Roman Catholic. Traditions such as the belen, parol, Simbang Gabi, Misa de Gallo, and family prayer have been passed down through generations.

The study “Christmas in the Philippines: Beyond Popular Religious Tradition” describes Filipino Christmas as a meeting of cultural and religious traditions. This is why the season can feel joyful and reflective at the same time.

At Pueblo de Panay, the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus offers a place to pause, pray, and remember the meaning behind the celebration. A quiet visit can become a grounding family tradition before the calendar becomes crowded with parties and errands.

5. Turn barkada catch-ups into playful Christmas memories

Christmas is also reunion season for the friends we have not seen enough during the year.

The first message may be, “Kailan kayo free?” What follows is often a long exchange before everyone finally agrees on a date. That is why the early “Ber months” matter. They give barkadas more weekends and evenings to reconnect before December becomes too busy.

At Pueblo de Panay, friends can go beyond the usual dinner. Meet for bowling, billiards, karaoke, arcade games, coffee, or an easy night out. A little friendly competition can break the ice after months apart, while a shared activity gives everyone something new to remember.

Not every Christmas memory needs matching outfits or a formal program. Sometimes, it is the unexpected strike, the off-key karaoke performance, or the joke that keeps returning all night.

6. Enjoy the happiness of looking forward to something

One reason the long Filipino Christmas feels good is that the anticipation becomes part of the celebration.

Psychologists call this “anticipatory savoring”: enjoying a positive experience before it happens by imagining, planning, and looking forward to it. A 2021 review on savoring discusses how anticipating positive moments may encourage hope and optimism. Another study in *Frontiers in Psychology* found that looking forward to positive events can help sustain positive emotions during stressful times.

The research does not mean psychology invented the “Ber months.” It simply helps explain why Filipinos enjoy extending the feeling. Planning a reunion, choosing gifts, booking a celebration, and watching the city gradually light up allow Christmas joy to begin long before Christmas Day.

Create your own countdown at Pueblo de Panay. Plan a weekly family dinner, a weekend activity, an after-work catch-up, or a quiet township walk. When the season is long, there is no need to fit all the happiness into one day.

7. Celebrate a Christmas that feels distinctly Capiznon

The most memorable holidays feel connected to place.

Christmas in Roxas City does not need snow-covered scenery or borrowed winter traditions. Its warmth comes from homecomings, local flavors, easy conversations, familiar faces, faith, and the generosity for which Capiznons are known.

Pueblo de Panay can help tell that local Christmas story. Families can welcome returning relatives, visitors can discover more of the city, businesses can create seasonal experiences, and community groups can gather in a township designed for many parts of everyday life.

With commercial areas, hotels, dining, recreation, schools, workplaces, event destinations, residential communities, and places for reflection, Pueblo de Panay gives the season room to unfold. It is not simply somewhere to pass through during Christmas. It can become part of the tradition.

Christmas begins wherever people come together

Perhaps Filipinos celebrate Christmas as early as September because one month has never felt long enough for everything the season carries.

There are relatives to welcome home, friendships to renew, prayers to offer, meals to share, gifts to prepare, and communities to celebrate. The “Ber months” give us time to do all of these without waiting for December 25.

At Pueblo de Panay, Christmas can begin with something beautifully simple: the first familiar song of the season, a table filled with people you love, a quiet prayer, or an afternoon that turns into an evening because nobody wants to go home yet.

This September, follow the lights, bring your favorite people, and make the Filipino Christmas feel at home in Pueblo de Panay.

Plan your Christmas visits, reunions, and celebrations at Pueblo de Panay Township in Roxas City. Discover more destinations and township updates at www.pueblodepanay.com . For event partnerships, commercial spaces, and leasing inquiries, connect with Pueblo de Panay through its official website.

At the company’s 2026 Annual Awards Night, Jose Nery “Bub” Ong reflected on SHJDC’s beginnings and shared the values that transformed an ambitious vision into a lasting enterprise.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Development Corporation marked its 34th anniversary by honoring the people whose work, belief and perseverance helped turn a family enterprise into one of the most influential development companies in Capiz.

The milestone was celebrated during the SHJDC Annual Awards Night on August 28, 2026, at the Circulo Grand Hall in Pueblo de Panay, Roxas City.

Carrying the theme “Wika ng Tagumpay, Isang Pagpupugay,” the gathering brought together SHJDC executives, employees, property specialists, sales leaders, brokers and business partners for an evening of recognition and reflection.

The program celebrated the company’s outstanding performers across its sales organization, from quarterly producers and million-sales achievers to top property specialists, executives, managers, brokers and agency leaders. More than an awards ceremony, however, the occasion became a tribute to the generations of people who helped sustain SHJDC across 34 years of challenges, expansion and transformation.

At the center of the anniversary celebration was the message of Pueblo de Panay President and CEO Jose Nery “Bub” Ong, who used the occasion to reflect on his own journey as an entrepreneur and the role of salesmanship in building the company.

“I stand before you tonight in total admiration,” Ong told the company’s sales force. “I have always admired salespeople because, for me, they can do things I could only dream of.”

It was an unexpected admission from a business leader who has spent more than three decades persuading investors, institutions, partners and communities to believe in a vision for Roxas City that had yet to be fully realized.

From a quiet beginning to a transformative enterprise

Ong described his younger self as shy, quiet and deeply introspective. He recalled being hesitant to begin conversations and believing that he could never become good at sales.

When the family business began 34 years ago, however, Ong understood that even the strongest idea could not survive if no one could communicate its value.

“I knew that weakness had to be addressed,” he said. “There was a need for people who did not only talk but could actually sell. Otherwise, the family startup would surely fold up.”

His conclusion was simple and direct: “If you cannot sell, then you will be out of business.”

For SHJDC, selling was never limited to offering properties. In its early years, the company also had to sell a vision of what undeveloped land could become. It had to convince people to believe in future communities, institutions and commercial centers before these were visible on the landscape.

That challenge would eventually define the development of Pueblo de Panay.

During his speech, Ong recalled a time when many of the township’s present-day landmarks existed only as plans. There was no bridge connecting the development to the city’s expanding urban areas. The transport terminal, police station, commercial establishments, educational institutions, business process outsourcing facilities, convention center and government centers had yet to take their places within the community.

Today, these developments form part of Pueblo de Panay, a 670-hectare master-planned township spanning the plains and hills of Roxas City.

“Upon closer reflection, I now agree, and I hope you will too, that I am not too bad as a salesperson,” Ong said.

The remark drew humor from the contrast between his self-described introversion and the scale of what SHJDC has accomplished. More importantly, it captured one of the central messages of the evening: salesmanship is not defined by personality alone. It is the ability to build trust, communicate value and inspire others to believe in an idea.

“There is a salesperson in all of us,” Ong said.

Believing in what one sells

The first principle Ong shared was also the foundation of his anniversary message: a salesperson must believe in the product.

“We cannot sell something that we do not believe in,” he said.

Without genuine belief, sales become exhausting and unsustainable. With belief, however, the work becomes connected to a larger purpose.

Ong encouraged SHJDC’s sales professionals to see beyond individual transactions and recognize the human value of their work. A home or property can represent security, stability, opportunity and a better future for a family.

“Believe in your mission as a salesperson,” he said. “In doing your job every day, you help others and families sleep better every night.”

The statement reflected the larger story of SHJDC. Over the past 34 years, the company has expanded from its beginnings as a family enterprise into a developer whose projects have influenced housing, commerce, employment, education and investment in Roxas City.

Its growth, Ong suggested, was possible because people inside and outside the company believed in what it was working to build.

Turning failure into an advantage

Ong’s second lesson focused on failure.

In sales, he explained, not every prospect will buy. Rather than treating rejection as defeat, sales professionals should examine what they can learn from those who decide not to proceed.

“Failures will always be part of the equation,” he said.

For Ong, resilience is not merely the ability to continue after disappointment. It is the discipline to study failure, make adjustments and return better prepared.

He also challenged SHJDC’s sales force to commit to continuous learning as artificial intelligence and other technologies begin transforming the way companies communicate with customers and conduct business.

The tools may change, but the willingness to learn remains essential.

Success is built on daily discipline

Ong then turned to the importance of work ethic, asking a series of questions that brought the discussion from broad business principles to everyday professional conduct.

Are salespeople excited to work each day? Do clients notice their effort to arrive on time or ahead of schedule? Are customer concerns addressed promptly? Are they consistently building and nurturing their networks? Do they maintain a sales funnel? Are they fully prepared before facing a client? Do they follow through?

The questions were straightforward, but their implications were significant.

Large achievements are often attributed to strategy, vision or timing. Ong’s message was that enduring success is also built through ordinary disciplines practised consistently.

“The simple point here is basic diligence and work ethic,” he said.

The same principle could be seen in SHJDC’s 34-year history. The company’s anniversary represented not one moment of success but thousands of daily decisions made by generations of employees, leaders, sales professionals and partners.

Listening before selling

While salespeople are expected to communicate and present, Ong reminded his audience that effective salesmanship also requires the ability to listen.

A salesperson’s role is not simply to promote a product. It is to understand a need and determine whether the product can provide genuine value.

“Could we really do this without listening with empathy?” Ong asked. “Are we still providing solutions and value to our clients?”

His emphasis on empathetic listening placed the client, rather than the transaction, at the center of the sales process.

For a property developer, this distinction is particularly important. Purchasing a home, commercial space or investment property can be one of the most significant financial decisions a person makes. Trust is therefore not an accessory to the transaction. It is its foundation.

A reputation built across 34 years

Ong’s final lesson concerned reputation.

“Reputation is not gained overnight,” he said. “It is built consistently over time.”

For individual sales professionals, that reputation becomes a personal brand. For a company, it becomes the basis of relationships that can extend across generations.

The principle carried particular weight during an anniversary celebration. SHJDC’s 34 years were not only a measure of longevity. They represented more than three decades of promises made, expectations managed, challenges faced and relationships maintained.

“When we make a career out of something, let us commit to it,” Ong said.

He summarized the values he wanted the organization to carry forward: belief in oneself and the product, resilience in learning from mistakes, commitment to continuous improvement, disciplined work, and a determination to put clients first by staying relevant and listening to their needs.

“If we do these things, we will be shaping our own personal brand as effective sales professionals,” he said.

A tribute to the people behind SHJDC

The anniversary message became more personal when Ong acknowledged “Tita Art,” one of the company’s earliest employees.

She began working with the family 34 years ago as the secretary of Ong’s mother, who was then an insurance underwriter. Ong remembered her as someone with a ready smile, persistent spirit and enduring optimism.

As the business grew, she and other employees became part of the Ong family’s extended family. Together, they experienced business crises, personal difficulties and victories.

“The trials we faced have cemented our bond,” Ong said.

Her presence connected the company’s earliest days with the organization gathered inside Circulo Grand Hall that evening. She represented the many people whose daily contributions helped transform SHJDC from a young family business into an established development company.

That recognition gave deeper meaning to the awards presented that night. While the trophies celebrated measurable accomplishments, the anniversary also honored the loyalty, resilience and relationships that sustained the company between those milestones.

Carrying the story forward

The SHJDC Annual Awards Night concluded with recognition, fellowship and a renewed sense of direction for the company’s sales organization.

Yet the defining moment of the evening was not a recital of figures or developments. It was Ong’s reminder that SHJDC’s accomplishments began with people who believed in something that did not yet exist.

“To wrap up, a salesperson’s journey is a journey through life,” he said. “There is a salesperson in each and every one of us.”

As SHJDC enters its 35th year, the scale of its developments may provide the most visible evidence of its progress. Its deeper legacy, however, rests in the people who learned to communicate a vision, earn the trust of their clients and persevere through uncertainty.

The company’s first 34 years were built by selling more than property. They were built by selling possibilities and then doing the work required to make those possibilities real.

That was the achievement SHJDC celebrated at Circulo Grand Hall, and the challenge it now carries into its next chapter.

Someone wants dinner. Another person wants drinks. Someone wants to sing, while somebody else wants to play. Then there’s always that friend who says they’re fine with anything.

At Shuffles Roxas, you don’t really have to choose.

You can start with bowling, move to billiards, try darts, grab dinner, play arcade games, or end the night singing karaoke. There are also pickleball courts for guests who want something more active.

Located inside Pueblo de Panay Township in Roxas City, Capiz, Shuffles brings several activities together in one place. As a result, families, friends, students, professionals, companies, and tourists can enjoy the venue in different ways.

However, there is more to Shuffles than games and entertainment.

Behind it is a personal story that began decades ago.

Shuffles Roxas Started With One Billiard Table

Long before today’s Shuffles became a modern entertainment destination, the concept was much smaller.

According to Shuffles, the story began in the 1990s. The CEO’s older sister managed a small resto-bar with a single billiard table. Eventually, the original operation closed.

Still, the idea remained.

Years later, Shuffles returned on a much larger scale as a tribute to the CEO’s late sister. The new venue officially opened on July 5, 2025.

Although the scale changed, the original idea remained familiar.

People still come together to eat, play, talk, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company.

In fact, Shuffles says it wants guests to leave with more than memories of a good meal or an enjoyable game. Instead, it wants people to remember the time they spent together.

That idea continues to shape the Shuffles experience today.

Things to Do at Shuffles Roxas

So, what can you actually do at Shuffles?

Quite a lot.

Bowling is one of its biggest attractions. According to Shuffles, the venue introduced the first ten-pin bowling experience in Roxas City.

However, bowling is only one option.

Guests can also enjoy billiards, darts, karaoke, arcade games, dining, live events, golf-related recreation, and pickleball.

The variety is important because people enjoy their free time differently.

For example, one guest may want a competitive game of bowling. Another might prefer dinner and drinks. Meanwhile, younger guests can enjoy the arcade, while singers can head to karaoke.

Because everything is in one location, groups don’t have to agree on just one activity.

That flexibility is a big part of the appeal.

Why Multi-Activity Entertainment Works

The way people spend their free time continues to change.

Today, a night out often involves more than one activity. Dinner can turn into drinks. A casual game can lead to karaoke. Meanwhile, a quick visit can easily become an entire evening.

Shuffles was designed for this kind of experience.

Professionals can unwind after work. Students can spend time with friends. Families can choose activities that different age groups can enjoy. In addition, companies can use the venue for celebrations, meetings, and team activities.

Therefore, Shuffles doesn’t ask every guest to enjoy the venue in the same way.

Instead, it gives people options.

Bowling First. Karaoke Later.

The easiest way to understand Shuffles is to imagine a typical night.

You arrive for bowling.

After a few games, someone gets hungry, so dinner follows. Then somebody suggests karaoke.

Before long, the person who insisted they wouldn’t sing is holding the microphone.

By that point, nobody remembers who won the bowling game.

That’s part of the fun.

More importantly, experiences like these show why entertainment venues can become valuable social spaces. They give people somewhere outside home, school, or work to meet and spend time together.

For a growing community, those places matter.

When Efren “Bata” Reyes Came to Shuffles Roxas

Shuffles’ first anniversary showed how large that community can become.

Throughout July, the venue hosted several events and tournaments. These included bowling, pickleball, darts, and billiards.

One celebration brought a particularly famous guest to Roxas City.

Efren “Bata” Reyes, one of the Philippines’ most celebrated billiards players, visited for a rematch against local rising player Elijah Alvarez. Roxas City also formally recognized Reyes during his visit for his contribution to Philippine sports.

According to Shuffles, the anniversary events attracted individuals and groups from neighboring provinces.

The celebration wasn’t limited to sports either.

Singer Bituin Escalante also performed during the anniversary festivities, bringing families and friends together for live entertainment.

Together, these events showed what a multi-activity venue can become when people actually use it as a gathering place.

Why Shuffles Works in Pueblo de Panay

Shuffles could have operated as a stand-alone entertainment venue.

Instead, it sits inside Pueblo de Panay Township.

That location changes the experience.

Pueblo de Panay brings together workplaces, schools, businesses, residences, restaurants, hotels, government services, and recreation within one growing township.

Shuffles adds another important element to that mix.

It gives people somewhere to go after the day’s responsibilities are finished.

For example, employees can head to Shuffles after work. Families can add bowling or dinner to an afternoon in the township. Students can meet friends without traveling far between different activities.

As a result, recreation becomes easier to include in everyday life.

Shuffles says Pueblo de Panay felt like a natural home because the township brings together places to live, work, unwind, and have fun.

In that sense, Shuffles gives Life.Work.Balance a more playful meaning.

Recreation Helps Build Community

Entertainment may not sound as important as education, healthcare, employment, or transportation.

However, communities need more than necessities.

People need places to meet. Families need places to celebrate. Friends need somewhere to reconnect. Colleagues need opportunities to know one another outside work.

Young people also benefit from social spaces, while visitors need experiences worth remembering.

Shuffles helps provide that space.

A family can share a meal and a game. Students can make memories with friends. Meanwhile, colleagues can strengthen relationships outside the office.

Businesses can also bring teams together in a setting that feels different from a meeting room.

These moments may seem ordinary.

Together, however, they help create a stronger sense of community.

How Shuffles Supports Pueblo de Panay’s Mission

Pueblo de Panay’s mission is to be “a meaningful catalyst and a source of pride in the communities that we do business in.”

Shuffles brings that mission into everyday life through recreation.

The venue creates jobs. It supports sports and entertainment. It attracts visitors and provides another space for community activities.

In addition, events can bring people from outside Roxas City into Pueblo de Panay.

When visitors arrive, they don’t necessarily experience only Shuffles. They may eat somewhere else, stay nearby, shop, meet people, or discover other establishments within the township.

Therefore, one destination can create activity that benefits a wider area.

For a growing township, that activity matters.

Why Lifestyle Matters to Business and Investment

Businesses usually consider practical factors when choosing a location.

Access matters. Infrastructure matters. Costs matter. Talent matters too.

However, quality of life also deserves attention.

Companies are ultimately asking people to spend a significant part of their lives in the communities where they operate.

Employees need places to eat and relax. Families need things to do. Clients may need somewhere to be entertained. Teams need places where they can gather outside the office.

As a result, lifestyle destinations can support a stronger business environment.

They help make communities more enjoyable to live in.

In turn, places where people enjoy living can become more attractive to workers, families, businesses, and investors.

This is where Shuffles becomes relevant beyond entertainment.

It represents the leisure and social side of the Pueblo de Panay ecosystem.

A Different Thing to Do in Roxas City

For tourists, Shuffles adds another option to the Roxas City experience.

Capiz is naturally known for seafood and destinations around the province. However, not every hour of a trip needs to be spent sightseeing.

Sometimes you simply want to have fun.

Shuffles gives families and groups somewhere to spend an afternoon or evening without requiring everyone to enjoy the same activity.

Parents can have dinner while younger guests play. Friends can challenge each other to bowling or billiards. Meanwhile, active guests can try pickleball.

Eventually, the singers usually find karaoke.

And if you’re visiting with someone who says, “I’ll just watch,” give them time.

They may end up playing too.

Growing Alongside Pueblo de Panay

Shuffles hopes to grow together with Pueblo de Panay.

Its vision includes creating more jobs, supporting sports and entertainment, attracting visitors, and providing more opportunities for people to connect.

That goal fits naturally within a township built around different parts of everyday life.

People learn here.

They work here.

Businesses grow here.

Families spend time here.

And at Shuffles, people get to play here.

Recreation may seem like the least serious part of that equation.

Yet it may also be one of the most human.

Come for One Thing. Leave With a Story.

Years from now, people probably won’t remember every ordinary Tuesday.

They will remember the night Dad somehow bowled a strike.

They’ll remember the friend who took karaoke far too seriously. They’ll remember the first pickleball match nobody fully understood, the company outing that stopped feeling like work, or the birthday that went on longer than expected.

Those are the moments Shuffles was built for.

So come for the bowling. Come for the food, pickleball, billiards, or karaoke.

Whatever gets you through the door is up to you.

The best reason to stay will probably be the people you came with.

So your car is safe, right?

Maybe.

One uncomfortable truth about car ownership is that some problems announce themselves loudly. Others don’t.

Weak brakes, an oil leak, worn parts, or a problem underneath the vehicle can exist long before you notice anything wrong. When you’re traveling at highway speed, however, that’s a terrible time to find out.

This is where Panay Quality Motors Services, Inc. (Panay QMSI) comes in.

Located inside Pueblo de Panay Township in Brgy. Lawaan, Roxas City, Capiz, Panay QMSI operates a Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center or PMVIC. It uses automated and computer-assisted equipment to check vehicle condition and roadworthiness for LTO registration requirements.

Official Land Transportation Office records identify Panay QMSI at Pueblo de Panay Township, Lawaan, Roxas City as an authorized PMVIC. The facility was granted provisional authority to operate by the Department of Transportation and LTO in December 2020.

But the paperwork isn’t the interesting part of this story.

What matters is knowing whether the machine carrying you and your family is truly fit for the road.

A Car Can Feel Fine and Still Have a Problem

Ask most motorists whether their car is roadworthy, and they’ll probably answer based on how it feels.

Does it start? Does it stop? Does it drive straight? Are there any weird noises?

If everything feels normal, we assume we’re good to go.

Unfortunately, vehicles don’t always work that way.

Panay QMSI says its inspections have uncovered problems such as faulty brakes, oil leaks, worn tires, and even missing bolts. In some cases, owners did not know about these problems before the inspection.

That distinction matters.

“It drives fine” and “it is roadworthy” are not necessarily the same thing.

One is an impression from behind the wheel. The other requires checking whether important vehicle systems are actually performing as they should.

Motor Vehicle Inspection Is More Than an Emissions Test

For many Filipino motorists, vehicle testing is still closely associated with one familiar requirement: emissions.

However, Panay QMSI says modern PMVIC testing goes further.

Its inspection process uses automated and computer-assisted checks to assess roadworthiness beyond basic smoke emission testing.

In simple terms, the objective isn’t only to ask whether your vehicle produces acceptable emissions.

The bigger question is:

Is this vehicle safe enough to be on the road?

That changes how we should think about inspection.

Instead of treating it as another box to tick for registration, motorists can view the process as a periodic health check for a machine they depend on every day.

When Failing Can Actually Be Good News

Nobody wants to hear that something is wrong with their car.

But consider the alternative.

During Panay QMSI’s early operations, one motorist brought a vehicle in for inspection. The results showed that its brakes were not holding properly.

The customer could have viewed the result as an inconvenience. Instead, according to Panay QMSI, he was thankful and planned to bring the vehicle to a repair shop.

That’s when an inspection proves its value.

The problem was discovered inside an inspection center, not while approaching an intersection, descending a road, or carrying passengers.

Sometimes a failed test isn’t simply bad news.

Sometimes it’s a warning that arrives early enough for you to do something about it.

Your Old Car Isn’t Automatically Unsafe

Panay QMSI would also like motorists to reconsider a common misconception: old cars automatically fail inspection.

They don’t.

According to the inspection center, an older vehicle can still pass as long as it is properly maintained and meets the required standards.

Car enthusiasts should appreciate that distinction.

Age alone doesn’t determine whether a vehicle deserves to remain on the road. Condition does.

In fact, a well-maintained older vehicle can be safer than a neglected newer one. What matters is whether its important systems continue to perform properly.

The lesson for owners is straightforward.

Don’t wait for registration season before you start caring about your car. Proper maintenance should happen throughout the year.

Machines Testing Machines

Modern vehicles have become more advanced. Naturally, the equipment used to inspect them has evolved too.

Panay QMSI relies on automated and computer-assisted testing. However, even advanced equipment is useful only when it remains accurate.

The company says its Motor Vehicle Inspection System equipment undergoes preventive maintenance and annual calibration by an authorized service provider.

It also follows standard processes to help keep inspections consistent and operations running smoothly.

This matters because motorists need confidence that a result isn’t based simply on someone’s opinion.

A proper inspection should provide measurable information about the condition of a vehicle.

Five Minutes Before You Drive Can Matter

Roadworthiness doesn’t begin at an inspection center. It begins in your garage.

Panay QMSI encourages motorists to perform basic checks before driving. Look at your tires and make sure they have enough air. Check your fuel and confirm that your lights are working.

Safety also involves the people inside the vehicle. Always wear your seatbelt when the vehicle is moving.

Meanwhile, pedestrians are part of the same road-safety equation. Looking both ways before crossing may sound elementary, but that doesn’t make it less important.

Most road-safety habits aren’t complicated.

The challenge is practicing them consistently.

Road Safety Starts Before the Engine Does

We often associate road safety with driving skill.

Don’t speed. Keep your distance. Use your signals. Avoid distractions.

All of that matters.

However, defensive driving can only do so much if the vehicle itself isn’t fit for the road.

A responsible motorist therefore has two jobs: drive properly and maintain the vehicle properly.

Panay QMSI also believes road-safety education should begin much earlier. In fact, the organization supports introducing road-safety lessons in schools, starting from younger grade levels.

There is logic to that idea.

Today’s pedestrian is tomorrow’s passenger. Eventually, that passenger may become a driver.

A culture of safer roads begins long before someone receives a driver’s license.

Why Panay QMSI’s Motor Vehicle Inspection Center Works in Pueblo de Panay

Vehicle inspection facilities need something that can be difficult to find in busy urban areas: space.

Panay QMSI says Pueblo de Panay offered the spacious site it needed, including room for customer parking. Moreover, the township’s wider roads and less congested surroundings make entering and leaving the facility easier for motorists.

For a center handling vehicles throughout the day, those details matter.

After all, nobody wants to finish a roadworthiness inspection only to immediately deal with a cramped and congested environment outside the gate.

Pueblo de Panay is a 670-hectare mixed-use township in Roxas City with areas for business, education, residential development, recreation, services, and other uses.

Naturally, mobility is part of that ecosystem.

The township has also participated in transport modernization through the deployment of modernized public utility vehicles in Roxas City. This reflects a broader interest in safer and more efficient transportation.

Panay QMSI adds another layer to that story.

It’s not only about how people move. It’s also about the condition of what moves them.

Roadworthiness Is Community Infrastructure

As a community grows, more vehicles inevitably follow.

People drive to work and bring their children to school. Customers visit businesses, while delivery vehicles move goods. Companies operate fleets, public transportation carries commuters, and visitors arrive every day.

As a result, road safety becomes more than an individual concern.

It becomes a community issue.

Pueblo de Panay’s mission is to be “a meaningful catalyst and a source of pride in the communities that we do business in.”

In the context of Panay QMSI, that mission becomes surprisingly practical.

A safer community isn’t created only through sidewalks, streetlights, wider roads, and traffic management. The condition of the vehicles using those roads matters too.

For families, having vehicle inspection services nearby provides easier access to an important part of responsible car ownership.

For businesses with fleets, proximity can reduce travel time for inspections. It can also help companies include roadworthiness in a more organized maintenance routine.

For the township as a whole, Panay QMSI represents another piece of everyday infrastructure supporting the people and businesses moving through Pueblo de Panay.

What This Means for Businesses

Imagine operating ten delivery vans, twenty service vehicles, or an entire fleet that moves employees, products, equipment, or customers every day.

Every hour a vehicle spends away from operations matters.

Likewise, every mechanical problem that could have been discovered earlier matters.

For companies considering Pueblo de Panay as a business location, having an authorized motor vehicle inspection facility within the township offers a practical advantage.

Fleet inspections can take place closer to operations, reducing unnecessary travel. At the same time, businesses can make roadworthiness part of a more organized maintenance and compliance routine.

It isn’t the glamorous side of doing business.

But anyone who has managed vehicles knows that unglamorous problems can become very expensive when ignored.

Toward a More Complete Motoring Hub

Panay QMSI sees room to grow alongside Pueblo de Panay.

Its longer-term vision includes becoming more of a one-stop hub. At the same time, it aims to continue creating employment opportunities and promoting road safety through vehicle roadworthiness checks.

According to Panay QMSI, its automated inspection processes also work within the LTO ecosystem through integration with the Land Transportation Management System.

Ultimately, the larger opportunity is convenience.

As more automotive brands, vehicle services, businesses, and motorists become part of Pueblo de Panay, mobility-related services can exist closer to one another.

For customers, that means less running around. For businesses, it means access to supporting infrastructure.

For Pueblo de Panay, it adds another useful function to a township designed around the realities of everyday life.

Panay QMSI Roxas City: Location and Office Hours

If it’s time to have your vehicle inspected, Panay Quality Motors Services, Inc. is located inside Pueblo de Panay Township in Brgy. Lawaan, Roxas City.

Its spacious location and parking area make it convenient for motorists bringing vehicles in for inspection.

Panay Quality Motors Services, Inc.

Location:
Pueblo de Panay Township
Brgy. Lawaan, Roxas City, Capiz 5800

Landmark:
After Bureau of Fire Protection Lawaan

Office Hours:
Monday to Friday: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Cut-off for Acceptance:
4:30 PM

Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays:
Closed

Motorists planning an inspection should arrive before the 4:30 PM acceptance cut-off.

The Best Problem Is the One You Find Before the Road Does

Cars are remarkably good at creating confidence.

You press the starter, and the engine wakes up. Select Drive, pull away, and everything feels normal.

Most days, that’s exactly what happens.

But roadworthiness isn’t about how confident your vehicle makes you feel in a parking lot. It’s about whether the systems underneath that confidence are actually doing their jobs.

Brakes need to hold. Tires need to grip. Components need to stay where they belong, while leaks need attention.

Most importantly, the vehicle carrying you, your family, your employees, or your customers needs to be worthy of the road ahead.

That’s the point of inspection.

It isn’t simply about passing a test or renewing a registration. It’s about finding a problem while the vehicle is still sitting safely inside an inspection bay.

Because the best place to discover that something is wrong with your car is before you need it to save your life.

From Tumandok Hill, the towering image of Christ watches over the communities, roads, schools, businesses, and green spaces steadily growing across Pueblo de Panay Township. Pilgrims come to pray for healing. Families visit to give thanks. Others make the journey simply to find a quiet place where they can breathe, reflect, and feel close to God again.

For Victoria Hariette Ong-Banzon, one of the seven Ong siblings who helped develop Pueblo de Panay, the township has always meant more than land, infrastructure, or commerce.

“To me personally, it is a gift from God,” she shares.

Today, Pueblo de Panay is a 670-hectare master-planned township where residential communities, commercial spaces, educational institutions, government centers, leisure destinations, and open spaces come together.

At its spiritual heart, however, is something that cannot be measured in hectares or investments: a family’s gratitude for a life preserved and prayers answered.

The Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Pueblo de Panay

The Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus stands on Tumandok Hill, surrounded by the rolling landscapes of Pueblo de Panay Township.

The 102-foot figure of Jesus stands on a 30-foot pedestal, giving the entire monument a base-to-top height of approximately 132 feet. Widely regarded as the tallest monument of Jesus Christ in the Philippines, it is also among the tallest in the world. Compared on the same base-to-top measurement, the Sanctuary monument stands about seven feet taller than Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer, which measures approximately 125 feet, including its 26-foot pedestal.

Yet the monument was never built simply to achieve a record.

Its true significance is found in the story behind it.

The Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus represents an offering of thanksgiving from the Ong family. It remembers a time when they were confronted by fear and uncertainty, turned to God in prayer, and discovered a mission that would eventually touch the lives of many others.

The Ong Family’s Story of Faith and Healing

In 1990, Hariette’s younger sister, Hyacinth Ong, now Hyacinth Ong-Viterbo, was only 17 years old when she developed a rare and life-threatening autoimmune kidney disease.

She was brought to the National Kidney Institute, where the family faced the frightening possibility of losing her. Treatment in the United States was being considered, but amid the uncertainty, the Ong family held on to the one thing that remained constant: their faith.

The siblings had received their early Catholic formation at St. Mary’s Academy of Capiz, a school administered by the Religious of the Virgin Mary Sisters. There, they learned the foundations of prayer and the Catholic faith.

But as Hariette reflects, faith becomes most real when life asks us to carry a cross we never expected.

“Little did we know that the real test of faith begins in facing the challenges of our life and carrying the crosses that God allows us to bear,” she says.

The family prayed fervently for Hyacinth. They surrendered their fear to God and placed her life in His hands.

In December 1990, they received the gift they had been praying for: Hyacinth was able to return home where Pueblo de Panay is.

Her recovery continued over the following months, and she would live with one functioning kidney. More than three decades later, her life remains a powerful witness to the faith that carried the family through one of its most difficult seasons.

What could have remained a private family experience gradually became a mission of prayer, service, and healing shared with the wider community.

How Hyacinth’s Story Inspired a Mission

The Ong family regarded Hyacinth’s recovery as an extraordinary blessing from God.

Their gratitude inspired a continuing commitment to the Catholic faith and eventually helped establish the Holy Trinity Divine Healing Ministry, a community centered on prayer, catechism, healing, and the sharing of testimonies.

Its name reflects the Catholic belief in one God in three Persons: the Father who created us, the Son who saved us, and the Holy Spirit who continues to guide and sanctify us.

Through the ministry, Hyacinth’s story became more than a memory of illness. It became an invitation for others to hold on to faith, especially when life feels uncertain.

The ministry does not teach that faith removes every difficulty. Instead, it reminds people that suffering does not have to be faced alone. Prayer, the sacraments, family, community, and professional care can all become part of a person’s journey toward healing and renewal.

At Tumandok Hill, that mission found a permanent home.

A Sanctuary for Those Seeking Healing and Peace

At the foot of the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue now stands a beautiful church designed by BAAD Studio and implemented by Blue Chip Builders Incorporated. Its architecture complements the natural surroundings and provides a welcoming space for prayer, worship, confession, catechism, and healing activities.

Every visitor arrives carrying a different story.

Some come to pray for physical recovery. Others seek comfort after grief, guidance during a difficult decision, strength for their families, or hope amid emotional struggles. Some arrive without a specific petition. They simply long to become still.

Surrounded by hills and open skies, prayer takes on a gentler rhythm.

The journey to Tumandok Hill becomes a moment of reflection. The panoramic view inspires gratitude. Above it all, the image of the Sacred Heart reminds pilgrims of Christ’s compassion and His enduring love for every person.

The sanctuary is not a promise of a life without suffering. It is a place where people can bring their burdens to God and be reminded that no cross has to be carried alone.

Healing Activities and Mass Schedule

The Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus holds healing activities every Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM for pilgrims and visitors seeking prayer, guidance, and spiritual renewal.

The Friday program includes opportunities for:

Confession

Catholic catechism

Prayer and healing sessions

Sharing of healing testimonies

Confession is available one hour before every Mass. Blessings for the sick, vehicles, pets, sacramentals, and other religious items are offered after every Mass.

Regular Masses are celebrated according to the following schedule:

Monday to Friday: 5:15 PM

Saturday: 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM

Sunday: 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 5:00 PM

Visitors are encouraged to contact the sanctuary before traveling, as schedules may change during special celebrations, Church events, or holidays.

A Township Blessed by Nature

The journey to the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus also reveals the natural character of Pueblo de Panay.

The township spans both plains and hills, with panoramic views extending toward the Sibuyan Sea. Its landscape is shaped by waterways, green spaces, native trees, and wildlife, including sightings of the Philippine grass owl.

This meeting of rivers, sea, hills, and greenery gives Roxas City a beauty all its own. Hariette lovingly describes it as a kind of “Venice of the Philippines,” where waterways and nature become part of everyday life.

Pueblo de Panay was originally envisioned as a small residential community. Its first plans eventually grew into Verdant Meadows, a residential development surrounded by rolling landscapes and fresh countryside air. Orchard Lane, One Waterfront, and Monte Vista followed, forming four distinct residential villages within the township.

From that beginning, the vision expanded into a 670-hectare mixed-use township. Today, Pueblo de Panay is home to two residential condominiums, three academic institutions, and a seven-hectare PEZA IT Ecozone with two IT-BPO buildings.

Its continuing growth is further strengthened by the new Capiz Provincial Capitol, the new Roxas City Hall, a transport terminal, a cold-storage facility, a seafood-processing plant, and a hilltop convention center. Restaurants, hotels, and other commercial, government, and non-government institutions complete a community designed for both everyday life and long-term opportunity.

Roads and bridges made the area more accessible from central Roxas City, allowing these residential, educational, commercial, institutional, and leisure destinations to grow together within one connected environment.

What started as a small community became a township. What began as land development became a long-term mission for countryside growth.

Where People and Possibilities Grow

The story of the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus reveals something essential about Pueblo de Panay Township.

Growth here has never been understood only in terms of buildings, roads, or commercial activity. It is about creating a place where businesses can prosper, families can establish meaningful lives, young people can learn, communities can connect, and the human spirit can find room to breathe.

Around the sanctuary, Pueblo de Panay continues to welcome educational institutions, government offices, residential developments, hospitality establishments, leisure destinations, and enterprises serving Roxas City and the wider Northern Panay region. It is also home to locators in Pueblo Technopark, Northern Panay’s first PEZA-registered IT Park, which now serves both local and international clients.

Its scale, accessibility, infrastructure, natural environment, and expanding community make Pueblo de Panay a compelling location for businesses and institutions with a long-term vision.

Perhaps its greatest advantage, however, is more difficult to place on a map.

Pueblo de Panay was built with a sense of purpose.

It demonstrates that economic progress and spiritual well-being do not have to exist separately. A township can welcome enterprise while caring for nature. It can pursue development while respecting its history. It can create investment opportunities while remaining grounded in faith, service, and community.

For families, entrepreneurs, institutions, and investors, Pueblo de Panay offers more than space to build. It offers an environment where aspirations can take root and where growth can create a meaningful impact on the lives surrounding it.

Here, businesses have room to grow, but so do people.

A Family’s Legacy Entrusted to the Church

The sanctuary’s relationship with the Archdiocese of Capiz began during its earliest phase. His Eminence Jose F. Cardinal Advincula, who was then Archbishop of Capiz, personally blessed the site and received the lot and development plans as the project began. His presence marked the Church’s guidance from the sanctuary’s beginnings.

Years later, on June 7, 2024, Pueblo de Panay, Inc. formally donated the completed Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to the Archdiocese of Capiz.

Hariette Ong-Banzon, Nery Joachim Ong, and Hyacinth Ong-Viterbo represented Pueblo de Panay during the turnover. The donation was received on behalf of the Archdiocese by the Most Reverend Victor B. Bendico, D.D., Archbishop of Capiz.

The turnover marked an important new chapter in the sanctuary’s history. What began as a family’s offering of thanksgiving was entrusted to the local Church so that it could continue serving generations of pilgrims, families, and faithful seeking prayer and renewal.

It transformed a deeply personal testimony into a spiritual legacy belonging to the wider Catholic community.

Visit the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus welcomes pilgrims, families, prayer groups, and visitors seeking a peaceful spiritual destination in Capiz.

Location: Tumandok Hill, Pueblo de Panay Township, Roxas City, Capiz

Opening hours: Daily, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Recommended attire: Casual, modest clothing that honors the sanctity of the consecrated worship space. Sleeved tops with the back covered and skirts or pants extending at least to the knees are preferred. Shawls are available at the Shrine Store for a minimal price when needed.

Friday healing activities: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Mass schedule: Monday to Friday at 5:15 PM; Saturday at 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM; Sunday at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 5:00 PM

Confession: One hour before every Mass

Blessings: After every Mass for the sick, vehicles, pets, sacramentals, and other religious items

Contact number: +63 999 991 0662

Email: holytrinityministry@gmail.com

Website: www.sacredheartshrine.ph

Visitors are encouraged to contact the sanctuary to confirm the latest healing and Mass schedules before traveling.

While in Pueblo de Panay, guests may also explore nearby dining, leisure, accommodation, and lifestyle destinations throughout the township.

Helpful Links for Exploring Pueblo de Panay

Pueblo de Panay for a tour of the township’s amenities and must-visit destinations

Circulo for hilltop dining, its events venue, the Heritage Wall Painting, and the first “I Love Capiz” marker

For current announcements, events, and visitor updates, guests may also follow Pueblo de Panay and Circulo through their official social media accounts.

Come and Be Renewed

The Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is more than a monument overlooking Roxas City. It is a living testimony.

It tells the story of a family who turned fear into prayer, healing into thanksgiving, and gratitude into a mission shared with others.

It tells the story of Hyacinth, whose life continues to remind people that even the most difficult chapters can lead to a greater purpose.

It also tells the story of Pueblo de Panay, a township that grew from a small community into a place where faith, nature, enterprise, and everyday life come together.

Whether you are praying for healing, searching for clarity, giving thanks for a blessing, or simply longing to rest in God’s presence, there is a place for you on Tumandok Hill.

Come to Roxas City.

Come to Pueblo de Panay.

Come to the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and allow your heart to be reminded that you are seen, you are never alone, and you are always loved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus located?

The Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is located on Tumandok Hill within Pueblo de Panay Township in Roxas City, Capiz, Philippines.

How tall is the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue?

The figure of Jesus rises approximately 102 feet and stands on a 30-foot pedestal, giving the entire monument a base-to-top height of about 132 feet. On the same measurement, Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer stands approximately 125 feet tall, including its 26-foot pedestal. The Sanctuary monument is therefore about seven feet taller overall.

When are healing activities held at the sanctuary?

Healing activities are held every Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Confession is available one hour before every Mass, while blessings for the sick, vehicles, pets, sacramentals, and other religious items are offered after every Mass. Visitors should confirm the latest schedule with the sanctuary before traveling.

What inspired the establishment of the healing ministry?

The Holy Trinity Divine Healing Ministry grew from the Ong family’s experience of faith during the serious illness and recovery of Hyacinth Ong-Viterbo in 1990.

Can tourists visit the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus?

Yes. The sanctuary is open daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM and welcomes pilgrims, Catholic groups, families, tourists, and individuals seeking a quiet place for prayer and reflection. 

Visitors are encouraged to wear casual, modest clothing that honors the sanctity of the consecrated worship space. Sleeved tops with the back covered and skirts or pants extending at least to the knees are preferred. Shawls are available at the Shrine Store for a minimal price when needed. Visitors should also confirm the schedule before traveling during special celebrations or holidays.

What else can visitors experience in Pueblo de Panay?

Pueblo de Panay offers residential communities, schools, government institutions, restaurants, accommodations, shopping, leisure destinations, and open spaces, all within a growing master-planned township in Roxas City.

This article is based on the personal testimony of Victoria Hariette Ong-Banzon, one of the seven Ong siblings behind the development of Pueblo de Panay Township and a core member and catechist of the Holy Trinity Divine Healing Ministry.

In Capiz, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) is doing exactly that. Through its commitment to serving farmers, fisherfolk, entrepreneurs, local government units, cooperatives, and businesses, LANDBANK has become an important partner in building a stronger local economy.

Located within Pueblo de Panay Township in Roxas City, the LANDBANK Capiz Corporate Center is more than a banking facility. It serves as a strategic financial hub that supports the province’s continued growth while reinforcing Pueblo de Panay’s vision of creating a community where people can live, learn, work, invest, and grow.

A Bank with a National Development Mission

Established through Republic Act No. 3844, also known as the Agricultural Land Reform Code, the Land Bank of the Philippines is a government-owned financial institution with a unique purpose.

Unlike traditional commercial banks, LANDBANK was created to provide responsive financial solutions that empower Filipinos from the countryside to the country’s growing urban centers. Its mission goes beyond banking by supporting sectors that directly contribute to national development, including agriculture, fisheries, local government, infrastructure, education, and entrepreneurship.

This commitment to inclusive development continues to guide the services offered by the LANDBANK Capiz Corporate Center today.

LANDBANK Capiz Corporate Center: More Than a Traditional Bank Branch

The LANDBANK Capiz Corporate Center was established to serve clients whose financial requirements extend beyond everyday banking.

Rather than functioning solely as a retail branch, the Corporate Center specializes in institutional and development banking for:

Local Government Units (LGUs)

Farmers and fisherfolk

Cooperatives

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

Government institutions

Large corporations

Its services include project financing, government fund management, institutional banking, agricultural financing, infrastructure support, and large-scale loan processing.

This allows LANDBANK to actively participate in provincial development while providing specialized financial solutions that support long-term economic growth.

Supporting Farmers, MSMEs, LGUs, and Businesses Across Capiz

The financial needs of Capiz have changed significantly over the years.

Farmers are investing in modern equipment and climate-resilient farming. Entrepreneurs are expanding their businesses. Cooperatives are scaling their operations. Local government units are accelerating infrastructure and public service projects.

To meet these evolving needs, LANDBANK offers specialized financial programs designed to help every sector succeed.

Among its flagship programs are the AGRISENSO PLUS Lending Program, which supports agricultural modernization, and LIFTING MSMEs, which provides financing opportunities for business owners looking to grow. The bank also delivers specialized credit facilities for LGUs and institutions while offering supply chain financing and digital banking services.

These financial solutions help increase productivity, improve access to capital, generate employment, and strengthen the province’s economy.

Why LANDBANK Chose Pueblo de Panay Township

Pueblo de Panay has emerged as one of Capiz’s premier business and administrative destinations.

Its strategic location provides convenient access to municipalities throughout the province while placing businesses close to government offices, educational institutions, commercial establishments, healthcare providers, and major developments.

For LANDBANK, establishing the Capiz Corporate Center inside Pueblo de Panay was a natural decision.

The township’s master-planned environment aligns closely with the bank’s mission of supporting sustainable development. As Pueblo de Panay continues to grow, LANDBANK is well positioned to finance new investments, infrastructure, and businesses that will contribute to Capiz’s long-term prosperity.

Convenient Banking in a Modern Integrated Township

Accessibility plays an important role in delivering excellent banking services.

Being located within Pueblo de Panay allows clients to enjoy a convenient banking experience thanks to:

Easy access from major highways

Ample parking

Close proximity to government offices

Nearby commercial establishments

Safe and organized surroundings

Faster and more efficient transactions

Whether visiting for personal banking, business financing, or government services, clients benefit from an environment designed to make banking easier and more efficient.

Supporting Pueblo de Panay’s Vision of Living, Learning, Working, and Growing

Pueblo de Panay was designed as an integrated township where people can build their future in one connected community.

LANDBANK helps make that vision possible through financial solutions that support housing, agriculture, entrepreneurship, education, and business expansion.

Affordable financing enables families to build better lives, entrepreneurs to launch and expand businesses, farmers to improve productivity, and institutions to strengthen the communities they serve.

By making financial opportunities more accessible, LANDBANK contributes to a township where growth benefits everyone.

Building Stronger Communities Beyond Banking

LANDBANK’s contribution extends beyond financial products.

The bank actively participates in programs that improve the quality of life throughout Capiz by supporting financial literacy initiatives, social welfare activities, environmental sustainability programs, and community partnerships.

It also works closely with local government units to facilitate the efficient distribution of government assistance and encourages sustainable practices among farmers and businesses.

These efforts help create financially capable, resilient communities prepared for long-term growth.

Strengthening an Inclusive Business Environment

One of Pueblo de Panay’s greatest strengths is its ability to bring together residents, businesses, schools, hospitals, government agencies, and investors within one master-planned township.

This integrated environment allows LANDBANK to deliver faster and more connected financial services.

The bank provides customized financial support for startups, MSMEs, established companies, institutions, and investors, ensuring every stage of business growth has access to the capital needed to succeed.

This partnership between LANDBANK and Pueblo de Panay helps create a business-friendly ecosystem where enterprises of every size can contribute to Capiz’s economic progress.

Digital Banking That Keeps Capiz Connected

Modern banking extends far beyond physical branches.

LANDBANK continues to improve accessibility through digital platforms such as LANDBANK iAccess, the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App, and LANDBANK Link.BizPortal.

These services allow customers to transfer funds, pay bills, manage accounts, and complete merchant payments anytime and anywhere.

Digital innovation complements the services offered by the Capiz Corporate Center, giving individuals, businesses, and institutions greater flexibility while reducing waiting times and improving efficiency.

Investing in the Future of Roxas City and Capiz

Looking ahead, LANDBANK remains committed to supporting the continued expansion of Pueblo de Panay and the broader economic development of Roxas City and the Province of Capiz.

The bank aims to finance infrastructure projects, commercial developments, agricultural modernization, tourism initiatives, community facilities, and small business growth while attracting new investments throughout the province.

By working alongside local governments, businesses, institutions, and communities, LANDBANK continues to build a stronger foundation for inclusive and sustainable progress.

A Community Where Confidence Grows

For entrepreneurs planning their next venture, families looking for stability, and investors searching for long-term opportunities, the presence of LANDBANK inside Pueblo de Panay provides confidence.

Entrepreneurs gain access to financing that helps turn ideas into thriving businesses. Families benefit from trusted savings, housing, and financial services. Investors have a reliable financial partner capable of supporting large-scale developments and future expansion.

More importantly, LANDBANK’s presence reflects confidence in Pueblo de Panay itself.

It demonstrates a long-term commitment to the township’s future and reinforces its position as one of Western Visayas’ leading destinations for business, investment, education, healthcare, and modern community living.

As Pueblo de Panay continues to grow, partnerships like this ensure that progress is not measured solely by new buildings or investments. It is measured by the opportunities created for people, businesses, and communities to succeed together.

That is how stronger economies are built. That is how inclusive communities thrive. And that is how Pueblo de Panay continues to become a place where people can truly live, learn, work, invest, and grow.

Could it find the people it needed here?

The company was looking for a third Philippine location. Like any IT BPM operator considering a new market, it could study population figures, graduate numbers, schools, infrastructure and the availability of office space. All of that mattered.

Before choosing a location, however, ePerformax recruited candidates from the markets it was considering, put them through training and certification, and brought qualified recruits into existing operations to see how they actually performed.

Roxas City eventually stood out.

In 2018, ePerformax Contact Centers & BPO opened its third Philippine location at Pueblo de Panay TechnoPark in Roxas City, Capiz.

Eight years later, its experience in Roxas is worth sharing, particularly at a time when the industry is looking more closely at talent outside the country’s traditional outsourcing centers.

It is also a story about what can happen when jobs that once required people to leave home begin arriving closer to where they live.

Why Roxas?

ePerformax was not new to the Philippines when it began looking for another location.

The company had been operating in the country since 2002 and was already serving global clients. Choosing another site meant finding more than a building. It needed a place where it could recruit people, develop them and build an operation that could meet the same expectations as its existing sites.

Roxas was not the obvious choice.

It did not have the labor pool of Metro Manila or Cebu. It was not yet an established outsourcing center. For many young people in Capiz who wanted careers connected to global companies, leaving the province was still a familiar path.

That was part of what made ePerformax’s decision interesting.

The company looked at the quality and availability of talent, schools, community and government support, safety and the amount of competition for workers. More importantly, it had already put potential recruits through its own process.

So when ePerformax chose Roxas, it was not relying only on studies or projections about what the local workforce might be able to do. The company had already seen some of it for itself.

Building Talent Instead of Waiting for It

One thing becomes clear when looking at how ePerformax built its operation.

The company did not expect Roxas to come with a ready made population of experienced contact center professionals. It invested in developing people.

Through its Global Customer Experience & Management Academy, employees receive training intended to strengthen communication, digital capability and customer experience skills before and during their work on client programs.

That approach matters in a regional market.

A city may not have thousands of people who have already spent years in the industry. What it can have is a population of young professionals with the ability to learn the work and grow into more demanding roles.

You can see what that means more clearly in the experience of individual employees.

Jobelle’s Story

Before joining ePerformax, Jobelle worked as a cashier at a hotel in Roxas City.

She applied to the company, went through training and became a frontline agent. Over time, she became one of the stronger performers in her account.

She later joined the company’s Leadership Exploration & Advancement Program, where she developed further skills in communication, problem solving, analytics and business operations.

Today, she works as a Performance Analyst, using data to understand performance and help improve customer and business outcomes.

Career progression inside a large company is not unusual. What makes Jobelle’s experience interesting is where it happened.

She did not have to move to Manila or Cebu to begin building that career.

She did it in Roxas.

Her story is only one example, but it shows that the local talent story does not have to end with an entry level job. People can learn the business, take on more responsibility and move into analytics, training, supervision, management and other more demanding roles.

That is how a labor market develops. Not all at once, but person by person, as companies and their people grow together.

Building a Career Closer to Home

For many families in the provinces, pursuing a career elsewhere has always carried a cost that never appears on a payslip.

Children leave. Families live apart. Young professionals spend years building careers in cities far from the communities where they grew up.

There are good reasons people make that choice. Larger cities offer opportunities that smaller ones often cannot.

The growth of IT BPM in regional locations has started to change that equation.

When a company such as ePerformax establishes an operation in a place like Roxas, it gives people access to work connected to clients and businesses far beyond Capiz.

The job may be local. The work is not.

And when people earn and build careers locally, more of that income circulates through the local economy. Employees eat in local restaurants, use local transportation, shop, find homes, seek healthcare and support other businesses.

The effect is gradual. It happens one employee and one household at a time. Eventually, a workplace becomes part of the economic life around it.

Then the Industry Changed

The industry ePerformax entered in Roxas in 2018 is not quite the same industry operating today.

Artificial intelligence has moved quickly into customer service. Routine transactions that once required an agent can increasingly be handled through automation, conversational systems and self service.

That understandably raises questions about the future of contact center employment. But it also raises another question. What happens to the work that still needs a person?

As simpler transactions are automated, the interactions that reach people can be the more complicated ones. They may require judgment, empathy, communication, problem solving and the ability to deal with customers who are frustrated or worried.

That changes the talent challenge.

For regional IT BPM locations, the future may depend less on how many people can be placed into seats and more on how well those people can continue learning as the work itself changes.

For Roxas, that may be the more important test in the years ahead.

The Place Around the Workplace

There is another part of the ePerformax story that is easy to overlook.

Its Roxas operation sits inside Pueblo de Panay.

Around the ePerformax operation, Pueblo de Panay has continued to develop as a mixed use township, bringing workplaces closer to residential communities, schools, healthcare, restaurants, shops, recreation and government services.

That mix becomes more relevant as employment grows.

People experience a workplace through more than the hours they spend inside an office. There is the commute to get there, the place where they have lunch, where their families live, where they go when they need a doctor and what they can do after work.

These may sound like ordinary concerns. They are. That is precisely why they matter.

For a growing city, they are also part of the environment that allows employment to take root and people to build their lives around it.

ePerformax became part of that environment when it opened in Pueblo de Panay TechnoPark in 2018. Its presence gave the TechnoPark something that plans and presentations could not provide: an actual operating history.

What Eight Years Can Tell Us

Eight years is long enough for circumstances to change.

Since ePerformax opened in Roxas, businesses have dealt with a global pandemic, remote and hybrid work, changing labor markets, inflation, shifts in customer behavior and now the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence.

The company has continued operating in Roxas through that period.

That does not mean Roxas is automatically the right location for every IT BPM company. Different operators have different clients, workforce requirements, technology, costs and risk considerations.

Any company considering a new location still has to do its own work.

It has to examine talent depth, connectivity, power, accessibility, business continuity, costs and whether the local workforce can scale with the operation.

But there is an important difference between evaluating Roxas today and evaluating it before 2018.

The market is no longer completely untested. People are working in the industry here. Some have moved beyond entry level positions. An established operator now has years of experience in the city.

For anyone studying Roxas as a possible business location, those are useful facts to have.

What Comes Next

Pueblo de Panay TechnoPark is a 7.4 hectare PEZA accredited Information Technology Park within the township. It was formally designated as an IT Park through Presidential Proclamation No. 1034 in 2015.

Development of the TechnoPark continues, including additional space intended for IT BPM operations.

Buildings, however, will not determine what happens next.

People will.

The future of the TechnoPark will depend on whether Roxas can continue producing and developing the talent companies need, whether the surrounding community can grow with them, and whether businesses looking beyond the country’s established outsourcing centers see enough opportunity here to take a closer look.

ePerformax made that decision eight years ago. Other companies will have to make their own.

If this story has made you curious about what is taking shape in Roxas City, we invite you to take a closer look.

Explore Pueblo de Panay TechnoPark and see what Roxas City could offer your business:

A Story Still Being Written

There is a temptation when looking back at an investment like this to treat it as proof that a particular strategy worked.

The reality is more interesting.

Roxas is still developing. The IT BPM industry is still changing. Artificial intelligence will change jobs in ways that are only beginning to become clear. And the next company considering the city will probably ask different questions from those ePerformax asked years ago.

What Roxas has today is experience. A company came, hired local people and built an operation. People like Jobelle joined, learned the business and moved into roles they might once have had to leave Capiz to pursue.

A TechnoPark that began as a development plan became a place where globally connected work was actually being done.

That is why, eight years later, the story is worth sharing.

Not because it tells us exactly what will happen next, but because it shows us what has already begun.