President Benigno S. Aquino lll views the solar rooftop project of SM Supermalls at Northlink Building in SM City North Edsa Complex, Quezon City, during Lunching of Solar Rooftop Project on Monday, November 24, 2014.The solar panels spread across 11,511 square meters of the mall’s rooftop have the capacity of 1.5 MW. The energy of the sun captured by the panels is converted to electricity by 60 inverters which can provide 5 percent of daily supply of 179,793 average kilowatt. Also in photo is SM Prime Holdings President Hans Sy.(MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III attended Friday the 60th anniversary of the Araneta Center likening its success story to feats that the nation could achieve if Filipinos work together and love their country.
In his message during the event, the President reminisced on his childhood experiences at the Araneta Center, where he and his family attended social and sports events.
The President praised the Araneta family for their love of their property in Cubao, developing the Araneta Center into a major commercial and entertainment center instead of just concentrating on the family’s agricultural business.
He admired the visions and achievements of patriarch Don Amado Araneta.
At the 60th anniversary of the Araneta Center, the President said the dreams of the new generations of Aranetas is not completed yet and there are many more to come.
For instance, the family, together with its partners are building 18 towers of the Manhattan Garden City, with 10 already erected.
They are also building the Novotel-Araneta Center Hotel, the more modern New Frontier Theater, a Civic Plaza and an Integrated Resorts Complex, which will complete the Araneta Center Cyberpark.
With all these projects, 29,066 jobs could be created inside the 35-hectare Araneta Center, the President said.
All these developments were built or will be built by the Araneta family because of their love for Cubao and their property there, according to the President.
“Ang masasabi ko nga po, at ang personal kong nasaksihan mula kay Secretary Mar at sa kanyang pamilya: Nagbubukal po ang lahat ng proyektong ito mula sa isang bagay: Pagmamahal. Mahal po ng pamilya Araneta ang lugar na ito, at ang buong Cubao,” he said.
Filipinos can emulate the example by the Aranetas that if they love their country, they could realize their dreams, he said.
“Ang dating liblib na lugar, maaaring maging moderno at progresibong sentro ng pagkakataon para sa napakaraming Pilipino,” he said.
“Kung nagawa nga po ito sa Araneta, tiyak ko po, kung tayo’y magkakaisa, kung tayo’y mangangarap at talaga naman pong magbubuhos ng lahat ng ating makakaya tungo sa katuparan ng mga pangarap na ito, makakamtan din ang malawak at positibong transpormasyon sa bawat sulok ng Pilipinas.”
The Araneta Group is a progressive and diversified group of companies anchored on food, leisure and property development.
It is composed of four business units: the Araneta Center Inc., Philippine Pizza Inc., Uniprom Inc. and Progressive Development Corp. (MNS)