A legacy project in partnership with Global-Estate Resorts Inc. and Rotary Club of Biñan, Laguna celebrates Filipino heritage and sustainability
Megaworld Hotels & Resorts (MHR), the Philippines’ largest hotel operator, has officially introduced its first-ever Sampaguita Park, located within Southwoods City in Biñan, Laguna. The park, spanning 4,300 sq.m. of green space, is being developed in partnership with Global-Estate Resorts Inc. (GERI) and the Rotary Club of Biñan, Laguna, with target completion date by 2nd quarter of 2026.
“Over the years, the Sampaguita has become more than just a symbol of our brand of service. It has taken on a deeper role, evolving into a full-blown advocacy that has moved beyond hotel operations and the four walls of our properties. Today, it reflects our collective desire to give back, to honor our heritage, and to build something that can uplift communities in a lasting and tangible way,” Cleofe Albiso, Managing Director of Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, said.
“With the creation of the Sampaguita Park, we don’t just celebrate Filipino culture, but also bring opportunities to the people who will nurture and enjoy it. This is our small contribution to preserving the beauty and meaning of our national flower while working alongside our partners and the community to create a space that inspires, educates, and sustains. We are honored to be part of something that may hopefully bloom beyond this one park and into many other places where our heritage lives,” Albiso added.
To mark the introduction of the park, MHR hosted an intimate media huddle on July 31 at Savoy Hotel Manila. The event was attended by key figures from MHR and its partners, including Albiso; Ederlinda Decano, Group Director of Finance and MHR’s Sustainability Lead; Charlene Go-Co, Head of Marketing Innovations at MHR; Dante Cerrer, Regional Township Director for Estate Management at GERI; and Serge Igonia, representing both the San Pedro Laguna community and the Rotary Club of Biñan.
The park is a tribute to the Sampaguita, the Philippines’ national flower, and the values it represents: love, honor, dignity, and healing. Almost 3,000 Sampaguita seedlings were garnered from the hotel group’s “Petal to Purpose” Earth Hour campaign last March and will be used in the upcoming sowing activity and will be nurtured by the local community of San Pedro, Laguna.
The Sampaguita Park serves as a cultural destination reinforcing the country’s push as a tourist destination. The park also provides sustainable livelihood opportunities for local farmers through the support of the Rotary Club of Biñan, Laguna. The local farmers will be assigned to maintain the park and create products from the harvested blooms.
Sampaguita Journey
MHR’s Sampaguita journey began in July 2023 as part of Megaworld Hotels & Resorts’ tangible efforts to embrace Filipinization in hospitality. At the time, the goal was to adopt the national flower and create a multi-sensory signature that welcomes guests with the scent, sounds, flavors, and stories of the Sampaguita.
By late 2023, MHR had planted 2,500 seedlings across four Megaworld townships and its Central Nursery in Ternate, Cavite. Today, more than 18,000 liters of our Cool Sampaguita scent have been used across MHR’s 13 properties, and over 30,000 grams of food-grade buds used in the curated Sampaguita menu. Through the group’s collaboration with Dwellbeing, more than 8,200 families have received meals through its extended partnership with Project PEARLS.
The Sampaguita Park marks a significant step in heritage preservation and community engagement and underscores MHR’s role in nation-building through meaningful private-public partnerships. With the support of its partners, government agencies, and guests, MHR hopes the Sampaguita Park will become a model project for replication in other communities.