How do you build the next generation of Filipino communities? Renowned architects turn to local heritage and climate-conscious design to shape tomorrow’s residential developments
Step into one of the boutique designer townhouse communities of Likha Residences and the first thing that will strike you is the quality of light. Sunbeams filter through modern interpretations of jalousie blinds, casting familiar patterns across polished floors that any Filipino would recognize from childhood memories.
The gentle whirr of chic ceiling fans circulates air through spaces designed with recessed cove ceilings for optimal air circulation. Custom-sized windows that let natural light come in and frame the lush landscapes nearby.
PHINMA Properties has long been known for creating dignified housing for the Filipino, but with their Likha line, the company aspires to go beyond—offering communities that elevate everyday living while staying rooted in culture.
Likha Residences, a boutique community of townhomes designed by Mañosa & Co., and Likha Estates, an exclusive collection of premier residential lots brought to life by Royal Pineda+, feature spaces that speak to both memory, aspiration, and values that care for climate, community, and local heritage.
All the Likha Projects in Alabang, Davao, and Bacolod offer all the amenities needed to live that comfortable lifestyle, each with its own clubhouse, fitness gym, multi-purpose hall, and 24-hour security. Residents can also enjoy swimming pools, beautifully manicured landscaping, and underground cabling—a rare feature in the Philippines today.
“We didn’t want something rigid or cookie-cutter. We wanted something that will resonate with buyers in terms of values and identity, we wanted homes that mean more,” says Alice Villanueva of PHINMA Properties.
“Modern Filipino architecture deserves to be seen, to be celebrated, and to be lived in. At the end of the day, if you design with intention, you attract people with the same values, building a true community. With walkways, parks, and shared spaces, we create places for meaningful experiences.”
Arch. Mañosa and Arch. Pineda’s local design renaissance
At the center of these significant creations are two of the most renowned architects in mindful Filipino design: Arch. Gelo Mañosa, with his heritage-inspired townhouses in Alabang and Davao, and Arch. Royal Pineda, who masterplanned the dynamic Saludad township in Bacolod, home to the premier residential development Likha Estates.
Over a panel discussion on “Building on Heritage” on March 27 at the Likha Residences Alabang Clubhouse, the architects asserted how in a market filled with premier developments, Likha stands apart as a rare offering- a thoughtfully crafted collection of spaces poised to spark a cultural renaissance both in Philippine architecture and in the Filipino way of life.
“The French have their French houses, the Japanese have their traditional homes—why should Filipinos settle for Mediterranean villas or designs that don’t reflect our way of life?” asks Arch. Pineda on his cause for promoting homes with local flair. “I feel a little bit uncomfortable, it’s like wearing a suit that’s not for you or a barong that’s not for you when you’re being forced to live in a house that’s not for you.”
Mañosa echoes this sentiment. “In the ’80s and ’90s, my father was carrying the Filipino flag in an era when everyone was into Mediterranean houses, post-modernism, Mexican, and Asian. Today is what I call Pinterest architecture. The problem with copying is when you import foreign culture into our climate in the Philippines, and you try to force foreign culture with Filipino culture—it doesn’t work.”
Likha Residences Alabang: Where it all began
Just off the service road and right beside Hillsborough Alabang and PAREF Southridge School, Arch. Gelo Mañosa has continued the philosophy of Modern Filipino design of which his father, Arch. Bobby Mañosa, a National Artist for Architecture, was a prominent advocate for.
“When we were looking at the initial design consideration, one of the things was we wanted the design to actually be more generational, as opposed to just another townhouse,” he explains.
The spaces seem to resonate with cultural memory and Filipino family life, all the while addressing contemporary needs. In the Likha Residences Alabang townhomes, the spaces flow naturally from private to communal areas, with clever transitional zones that can expand for those quintessentially Filipino gatherings like birthday parties, Christmas celebrations, and impromptu reunions that define our social fabric.
Davao’s tradition woven into design
Traveling south to the Likha Residences Davao, Arch. Mañosa’s approach is specific to the region, incorporating motifs from Mandaya traditions into the designs.
The buildings themselves seem to breathe, with passive cooling strategies that make air conditioning optional rather than essential. “We study sun paths and see how the structure is hit by the sun. We look at landscaping and how that mitigates indirect solar radiation,” he explains.
“There’s a word in Filipino—maaliwalas—which doesn’t have a perfect English translation. It’s more than space. It’s a feeling of openness, lightness, and ease. That’s what we aim to achieve in our communities, an experience that feels undeniably Filipino.”
Likha Residences’ attention to green architecture isn’t just for marketing purposes either but is also meant to make the inhabitants more comfortable, with climate-responsive design drawn from generations of vernacular wisdom about living comfortably in a tropical climate. Large overhangs shield interiors from harsh sunlight while channeling cooling breezes—techniques Filipino builders understood long before LEED certification existed.
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How Bacolod treats landscape as heritage
Meanwhile, in Bacolod, Arch. Pineda draws inspiration not from textiles but from the region’s agricultural legacy—particularly its iconic sugar plantations. “What really inspired me there was the sugar cane,” he recalls, voice warming with the memory.
“I stayed in Bacolod for almost a year… and the feeling of expanse is really beautiful. The sugarcane is something that becomes the memory of all of the people of Bacolod.”
This connection to landscape translates into color palettes that match the leaves of the sugar cane, and a “cane red” that reflects the rich redness of the sugar cane skin, wrapped together with the immaculately bright “hacienda white.”
“All these things we carry and bring to the next generation, but in a fresher, more progressive way,” says Arch. Pineda. “At the end of the way we have to create a chain of history.”
Standing on a terrace in the Bacolod development and seeing the vast fields, surrounding mountains, and glimpses of the sea, you understand viscerally what Pineda means when he says, “We need to be able to amplify the nature of the place, and nature does not mean just the place, but also the people.”
Likha’s purposeful luxury
The architects note how preferences for way of life have changed, evolving into something more practical and comfortable. They trace an evolution in Filipino housing aspirations: from one-hectare estates in the 1950s to 2,000-3,000 sq.m. lots in the 1980s, to today’s more manageable 200-300 sq.m. spaces.
“Townhouses tend to be a structure that right-sizes your life, sitting between a condo and a 300 sq.m. house,” observes Arch. Mañosa.
It’s a perspective shared by many young professionals who grew up in expansive family homes but have different priorities for their own living spaces. “Many of us millennials aren’t looking for big houses anymore,” says Villanueva. “We’re drawn to homes that are more flexible and convenient. A lot of us grew up in large houses but now I can’t imagine living in one that’s too big because it’s just too much to maintain. Still, we want homes that reflect our values and offer the kind of comfort we were used to. For us, purposeful luxury means living in a space that’s well-designed, meaningful, and aligned with how we actually live today.”
Likha Residences isn’t about imported marble or crystal chandeliers. Instead, it aims to enhance daily life thoughtfully, mindful of the Filipino experience, taking care of heritage, and taking the time to help it evolve and flourish.
The premium finishes feature durable fixtures and top-of-the-line built-in conveniences, while the spacious bathrooms with walk-in closets reflect the need to unwind in contemporary lifestyles. Cove ceilings add architectural interest without ostentation. Everything serves a purpose while still delighting the senses.
“We want to be able to build homes that people want to live in and pass on to their children,” explains Villanueva. “We’re able to create sustainable legacies, wherein we’re able to pass this down to generations to come.”
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PHINMA Properties paves the way to cultural change
As the Likha Residences developments rise in Alabang and Davao, and Likha Estates in Bacolod, these projects represent something larger than premium housing. The spaces show a cultural change, which reclaims local architectural identity that has been long forgotten.
“Architecture still defines the growth and record of time and its culture. Why not take it to the next level? Why can’t our architecture design a lifestyle?” challenges Arch. Pineda. “This progress in doing something that is more modern and more Filipino will always be a guiding principle. I think that will become a continuum that every Filipino of every generation will look for. We’re not just designing homes; we’re creating an experience,” Pineda continues. “How does it feel to drive through the streets, walk into your house, or even arrive at your doorstep? It should feel like home, not just any home, but a Filipino home.”
“The more architects and designers start looking at going local and seeing local as world-class, then the better the Philippines becomes,” adds Arch. Mañosa, “And I think that companies like PHINMA drive the social norm of how society looks at architecture, especially Filipino architecture. So kudos to them.”
As the sunset casts a golden light through the modern jalousie windows and families begin to gather in the Likha Residences, the homeowners aren’t just finding new places to live in but rediscovering what it means to live as a modern Filipino, in the best way possible.
Home means more here—Likha by PHINMA Properties is a premium residential concept that bridges Filipino heritage with contemporary living.
From boutique townhomes at Likha Residences in Alabang and Davao to premier residential lots at Likha Estates Saludad in Bacolod, each community is thoughtfully designed to reflect the values of the modern Filipino.
Explore refined living at likharesidences.com and Likha Estates in the Saludad Township. Private viewings available by appointment.
