Manila, Philippines — The Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) is bringing together key players in the country’s housing sector for the 4th SHDA Golf Cup, set on March 26, 2026 at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City, where developers, investors, financial institutions, and industry partners will connect through a day of sportsmanship and collaboration.Entering its fourth year, the SHDA Golf Cup has evolved into more than a tournament. It has become an annual gathering where leaders from across the housing ecosystem come together to exchange insights on emerging industry developments and strengthen relationships that support the housing sector's continued growth.
Anchored on the theme “Driving Developments Forward,” the event reflects how the strategy, focus, and discipline required on the golf course mirror the planning and long-term vision behind successful housing developments. It also underscores innovation and effective collaboration in advancing housing opportunities for Filipino families.
“Just as players approach the course with focus and foresight, real estate stakeholders advance projects through strategic planning and adaptability,” said SHDA Chairman Engr. Francis Richmond Villegas. “The SHDA Golf Cup goes beyond competition, serving as a symbol of progress and shared purpose to lead the industry forward.”
Scoring System and Competitive Edge
This year, the tournament will continue with a modified Double Peoria scoring system, evaluating performance across a broader set of holes to create a more balanced and competitive experience for golfers of all skill levels.
Participants will compete for a range of awards and prizes that recognize both overall performance and exceptional skills on the course. Special awards will be given to the Lowest Net Overall Champion, Lowest Gross Champions, First Runners-Up, and Second Runners-Up for Classes A, B, and C.
Adding to the excitement, fun hole challenges will also take place, such as Hole-in-One, Nearest to the Pin, Longest Drive, Most Accurate Drive, and Longest Putt, providing variety throughout the event.
Moreover, SHDA National President Mr. Kerwin Padua noted that the format continues to make the tournament accessible for participants across different playing levels.
“With the scoring system and awards, we continue to make the Golf Cup engaging and fair for all participants. It’s a chance to enjoy the game while bringing together people who shape the housing sector in a relaxed and collaborative setting.”
“We look forward to seeing participants from across the industry come together and enjoy the camaraderie that the tournament always brings,” Padua added.
Registration and Participation
The SHDA Golf Cup welcomes both golf enthusiasts and housing industry professionals. Full-package registration at ₱9,500 includes green fees, caddie service, shared golf cart, breakfast, lunch, grand raffle entry, and giveaways. Non-golfing participants can join the luncheon and awards program for ₱4,500, which also includes entry to the grand raffle.
Key figures from the real estate industry, relevant housing government agencies, and partner organizations are set to grace the ceremonial tee-off, underscoring the partnerships and collaboration that drive the broader housing sector.
The SHDA Golf Cup 2026 is supported by major partners and sponsors, including Avida Land Corporation, NOAH Business Applications/ Forecasting and Planning Technologies, Cathay Land, Inc., Malaya Business Insight, 8990 Housing Development Corporation, Manila Bulletin Citihomes Builders and Development, Inc., Phinma Property Holdings Corporation, SM Development Corporation, Wee Community Developers, Inc., China Banking Corporation, The Manila Times, WheninManila.com, Axeia Development Corporation, Homemark, Inc., Lynville Land Development Corporation, P.A. Alvarez Properties and Development Corp., Pontefino Hotel, Prominence Properties, Inc., Property Company and Friends, Inc., Red Oak Properties, Inc., Davies Paints, Inc., Hafele Philippines, Inc., Hocheng Philippines Corp., Pacific Paint Boysen Philippines, Shera Building Solution Philippines Corporation, World Home Depot, Community Property Managers Group, Inc., Phinma Prism Property Development Corp., Snapp Ventures, Inc., and Philippine Guarantee Corporation.
Participants and industry professionals can now register for the tournament. For inquiries and sponsorships, contact SHDA Secretariat through email at shda.secretariat@gmail.com, phone at (02) 8856-1554 / 8893-4328 / 8721-8188, or by visiting https://shda.ph/shda-golf-cup-2026/.
As the SHDA Golf Cup returns for a new edition, its commitment remains to fostering collaboration, celebrating sportsmanship, and connecting key players in the real estate sector, strengthening relationships, and inspiring initiatives that propel the industry forward.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - In the lead-up to its 2025 edition, the YGG Play Summit has revealed a major expansion of the Skill District, the learning hub within its City of Play experience. Designed by Metaversity, the educational arm of YGG Pilipinas, the district offers an immersive upskilling experience to uncover earning opportunities across Web3 and AI. Visitors can join workshops that teach practical, job-oriented skills for the digital economy in content creation, marketing, community management, game development, and more.
The Skill District is one of four themed zones in the City of Play alongside the Player District, Degen District, and The Arena. Three new experiences have been added: The Prompt to Prototype vibe coding workshop will teach aspiring builders how to create games using AI. The Metaversity Interactive forum will gather stakeholders across industry, government, and academe to work with students to address critical skills gaps in the emerging tech workforce. Finally, Metaverse Filipino Worker (MFW) City — the pioneering builder residency led by YGG Pilipinas and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) — will unveil the results of its pilot program to educate developers from the MIMAROPA region in the Sui blockchain’s Move programming language.
“This collaboration truly reflects the core of our DICT thrust in Digital Bayanihan, showcasing how industries, communities, and the government can work together to empower talent across all regions of the country,” said DICT MIMAROPA Regional Director Emmy Lou Versoza-Delfin. “Aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directives to create more jobs for Filipinos and Secretary Henry Aguda’s commitment to generate more digital and digitally enabled employment opportunities through our Trabahong Digital Program, initiatives such as MFW City in Puerto Princesa and the Skill District at YGG Play Summit are creating pathways for Filipinos to actively participate in the global digital economy. These efforts bring us closer to a future where Filipinos can build transformative, sustainable, and rewarding careers without having to leave the comfort of their own homes.”
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 identifies technology as the dominant force reshaping the global labor market, driving both job creation and displacement. Expanding digital access alone is expected to generate 19 million new roles while rendering 9 million obsolete. AI and information processing technology are forecasted to create 11 million jobs while displacing 9 million. For the Philippines, this underscores the urgent need to develop digital fluency and technical capabilities, so workers can seize opportunities instead of being left behind by automation.
Official school partner STI College - Bonifacio Global City will participate in the Skill District alongside IT, computer science, and esports organizations from more than 10 schools across different regions of the country, including:
- University of Santo Tomas
- National University
- Polytechnic University of the Philippines
- University of Southeastern Philippines - Davao City
- Philippine Christian University - Cavite
With Sui providing primary sponsorship as its anchor partner, the Skill District will feature three key sessions offering unique opportunities for skills development:
MFW City, a regional builder residency co-created by YGG Pilipinas and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), brought together more than 120 developers in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, to learn the Sui blockchain’s programming language, Move. As part of the Sui Builder Program initiative under the MFW City program, participants received mentorship from industry experts and built minimum viable products on the Sui blockchain. On November 21, two graduates will join James Wing, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Investments at Mysten Labs, developers of Sui, on the Summit main stage to share a first look at the results of the pioneering program and explain how the initiative is opening new pathways for Filipino talent in the provinces.
Metaversity Interactive will bring together industry leaders, government representatives, members of the academe, and Metaversity students to map the Philippines’ emerging tech skills landscape. The session will identify the most in-demand skills sought by global and local employers and assess the readiness of current job candidates across these skills. The resulting data and dialogue will inform the strategic development of future Metaversity programs, ensuring they are aligned with market needs to maximize students’ employability. The forum is scheduled for Friday, November 21.
Prompt to Prototype is a 4-hour vibe coding workshop where up to 50 attendees will learn how to turn their game concepts into playable prototypes using AI-powered, no-code tools. Participants will gain hands-on experience using infrastructure by B3, a Layer-3 open gaming ecosystem built on Base, and AI tools from OpenxAI, a P2P permissionless AI protocol. Sponsored by Base, the session will be led by Base Philippines’ Developer Relations Lead Ambassador, who will teach attendees how to use these tools and serve as a mentor throughout the process. The workshop will take place at 11 AM on Saturday, November 22.
“The YGG Play Summit’s Skill District is where learning meets play for those seeking actionable pathways into the digital economy. Anyone looking to level up their career or personal growth will find opportunities to gain in-demand skills that lead to real jobs. Through our programs, we aim to help Filipinos prepare for the future job market and ensure our communities are not just keeping up but leading the way,” said Mench Dizon, Country Head of YGG Pilipinas.
More Highlights Ahead at YGG Play Summit
Aside from the Skill District events, esports tournaments in the trading card games Parallel, Vibes, and Might & Magic: Fates will be held at The Arena on November 20-21, with a combined prize pool of US$125,000.
Industry leaders will also take the stage for panels, fireside chats, and keynotes. Speakers include Mench Dizon of YGG Pilipinas, Sylvain Loe Mie of Ubisoft, Luke Barwikowski and Heidi Christine of Pixels, Theo Agranat of Gunzilla Games, TK of Spekter Games, Jihoz of Sky Mavis, Kohji Nagata of Parallel, Roby John of SuperGaming, Hantao of Moku, Alessia Baumgartner of DWF Labs, Shi Khai Wei of LongHash Ventures, Daryl Lim of TRIVE Digital, Oliver Maroney of OpenSea, Wei Zhou of Coins.ph, and Joony Koo of AO Labs.
Summit sponsors this year include game studios Sky Mavis, Aurory, Pixels, Parallel TCG, and Vibes TCG; the Layer-1 blockchain Sui; creative powerhouse Spekter Agency; Web3 investment firm DWF Labs; and Philippine crypto exchange Coins.ph.
Set to run from November 19 to 22, 2025, YGG Play Summit returns to SMX Aura, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Metro Manila, Philippines. Tickets and the full event agenda are available on the YGG Play Summit website at yggplaysummit.com.
Negros Occidental, Philippines – In a move to boost local agricultural productivity and support rural employment, over 500 jobs have been created in the municipality of Candoni through the development of Hacienda Asia Plantations, Inc. (HAPI), a company managing an oil palm operation in southern Negros Occidental. This project aims to revitalize the local farming sector and provide meaningful employment opportunities to uplift nearby communities.According to HAPI, 90% of the newly filled roles are occupied by residents from Brgy. Gatuslao and the nearby barangays. The hiring covers a range of positions, including field engineers, pre-nursery leaders, site development managers, farm managers, heavy equipment operators, and administrative staff.
Established in 2023, HAPI manages a 4,000-hectare oil palm plantation in Candoni, which is the company’s sole agricultural site.
The development comes as the province continues to rely heavily on agriculture for economic activity. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show a 96.4% employment rate in Negros Occidental in 2023. However, lack of access to formal work remains a concern in rural areas, with a 3.6% unemployment rate recorded during the same period.
“By introducing oil palm cultivation, we aim to complement the province’s agricultural strengths while expanding job opportunities and modernizing farming practices in Candoni,” said Felix T. Occeña, Jr., Resident Manager of HAPI.
Oil palm is considered among the most efficient oil-producing crops globally, offering high oil yields per hectare. According to the Philippine Coconut Authority’s Palm Oil Industry Roadmap 2024-2033, oil palm cultivation in the country grew from 53,014 hectares in 2012 to 63,380.85 hectares in 2022. Industry stakeholders have noted its potential in supporting agricultural diversification and rural income generation.
HAPI said its current development aligns with these broader goals. The company has introduced training programs for newly hired workers, focusing on agricultural skills development and sustainable land management. It noted that Candoni could serve as a model for agricultural investment in remote municipalities, where formal employment and infrastructure remain limited.
“As the oil palm industry continues to expand, we see its potential to become a sustainable and economically viable crop for both farmers and agri-businesses in the Philippines,” Occeña added. “Our goal is to promote sustainable agriculture across the province while contributing to the growth of rural economies. We hope Candoni can serve as an example of responsible agricultural development that creates real value for local communities.”
For more information on available job opportunities, HAPI directs interested applicants to its official Facebook page.
