Based in Cebu, the AppleOne Group distinguishes itself by focusing on community upliftment and contributing to regional development.
AppleOne emphasizes using local materials and supporting local suppliers and artisans from the Visayas and Mindanao (VisMin) region for its hotel projects, which are primarily collaborations with global brands.
The company believes that sourcing locally and employing local labor will stimulate the area’s economy.
This initiative positions AppleOne to create more opportunities for the local workforce and economy, establishing VisMin as a cutting-edge destination for “bleisure” — a blend of business and leisure travel. Bleisure is identified as a rapidly growing global trend.
AppleOne aims to lead this opportunity, aspiring to make VisMin the next world-class bleisure destination in the Philippines.
AppleOne’s partnerships with global giants like Marriott International facilitate the introduction of international standards to southern Philippines, coinciding with an anticipated tourism surge. The company sees the current landscape as a chance for responsible future regional development.
According to projections by the Department of Tourism, international tourist arrivals are expected to hit six million by 2025, signaling a tourism resurgence. AppleOne highlighted that Visayas and Mindanao, particularly Cebu, have shown substantial growth, with over 5.1 million tourist visits in 2024, a 37 percent rise from the previous year, transforming areas like Cebu and Cagayan de Oro into key MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) hubs.
AppleOne’s Mahi Center, a new mixed-use complex in Lapu-Lapu City, will feature office spaces, a boutique mall, and the Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan, catering to both business and leisure tourists. Additionally, the Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort sets a new standard for luxury bleisure, combining international hospitality with local charm to attract corporate retreats and incentive travel.
In Northern Mindanao, AppleOne is launching the Radisson Blu Hotel & Residences Cagayan de Oro, its first five-star hotel, which positions the region as a burgeoning MICE destination.
Together, these projects highlight AppleOne’s dedication to transforming tourism into a sustainable, community-focused bleisure hub.
Demonstrating its commitment to sustainability, AppleOne recently launched Astronergy, a subsidiary focused on renewable energy.
Astronergy’s inaugural solar farm in Zamboanga del Norte, Mindanao, spans 23 hectares and contains 10,000 solar panels. It is expected to produce up to seven megawatts of power in the first phase, with plans to expand to 25 megawatts, supporting the local grid through an agreement with the Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative.
AppleOne remains committed to sectors that offer long-term value and address essential needs, with a strategic entry into healthcare complementing its real estate roots.
Ray Manigsaca, President and CEO of AppleOne, emphasized the company’s strategic growth approach, seeing renewable energy as a natural progression to add community value and support national energy independence efforts.
The launch of Astronergy aligns with the Philippine government’s push for energy self-sufficiency and reduced reliance on imports, underscored by a study from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis stressing the need for local and renewable energy expansion.
