BACOLOD CITY – On the same evening that a large entourage of agents welcomed him to Negros Occidental, Filipinohomes founder and CEO Anthony Gerard O. Leuterio held back‑to‑back strategic engagements on May 5, 2026: a team leaders and unit managers meeting with the network’s Bacolod leadership, followed by separate talks with executives of Suntrust Properties Inc. The dual sessions, held after a full day that included a packed beginner seminar in Iloilo and a strategic housing meeting with Eon Realty, underscored the network’s focus on both internal capacity‑building and deepening relationships with major developers.
Team Leaders and Unit Managers Huddle
The closed‑door meeting brought together Bacolod’s unit managers, team leaders, and senior agents to review first‑quarter performance and align second‑quarter targets. Participants discussed recruitment pipelines, client follow‑up protocols, and ways to maximize use of Filipinohomes’ national multi‑listing platform. Leuterio, a 2024 International Realtor of the Year, also fielded ground‑level feedback on local market conditions, including the rising demand from overseas Filipino workers and first‑time homebuyers seeking affordable housing in Negros Occidental.
Unit managers presented updates on agent onboarding and training needs, while company leadership emphasized compliance with Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) regulations. The session also touched on upcoming product knowledge seminars with developer partners such as WeeComm and Cebu Landmasters Inc., ensuring that Bacolod agents remain well‑versed in the features and financing options of the projects they market.
Suntrust Talks: La Sonrisa and the Sugartown Pipeline
Concurrent with the leaders meeting, Leuterio held separate discussions with representatives of Suntrust Properties Inc., a wholly‑owned subsidiary of Megaworld. The talks focused on how Filipinohomes’ nationwide network of over 35,000 agents can help market Suntrust’s growing residential portfolio in the Visayas.
A key topic was La Sonrisa, Suntrust’s 15‑hectare residential community inside “The Sugartown,” Megaworld’s 97‑hectare township along the Bacolod‑Silay Airport Road in Talisay City. Megaworld is investing an initial P8 billion to develop The Sugartown over 7‑10 years, marking its 37th township and third in Negros Occidental. La Sonrisa officially broke ground on March 21, 2026, and will offer four house models: Enya (bungalow duplex), Kyra (two‑storey duplex), Gaia (bungalow single attached), and Ana (two‑storey attached). The development is located less than five minutes from the Bacolod‑Silay Airport and about 15 minutes from the Bacolod City Government Center, giving it strong access to the province’s employment and commercial hubs.
Both parties explored how to stage product knowledge sessions for Filipinohomes agents and streamline the buyer journey for OFWs and local families interested in Suntrust’s affordable house‑and‑lot packages. The discussion also covered the broader pipeline of residential projects within The Sugartown, where premium residential communities by both Megaworld and Suntrust will be complemented by a town center, commercial district, and unique tourism facilities.
Why Bacolod Is a 2026 Real Estate Engine
The meetings come at a time when Bacolod’s residential market is gaining momentum. SM Development Corp. (SMDC) is in the process of turning over approximately 1,100 units at Smile Residences within SM City Bacolod, with deliveries scheduled mid‑2026. The company is also developing Parkville, a residential community in Barangay Granada that will feature 2,394 lots, supported by a four‑lane elevated bridge providing direct access to Burgos Avenue.
Affordable housing is also expanding. The National Housing Authority turned over the first 104 units of MassKara Village in Barangay Sum‑ag on March 24, 2026. The 7.3‑hectare socialized housing development will have 500 two‑storey duplex units, each with an 80‑square‑meter lot and 60‑square‑meter floor area, available through Pag‑IBIG financing with monthly amortizations as low as ₱15,000 over a 30‑year term.
The Bacolod‑Silay Airport is among the gateways being considered for public‑private partnership development, and the national government has allocated ₱7.8 billion to modernize 21 airports under the 2026 budget. Improved airport connectivity would further raise the appeal of townships like The Sugartown, making them more accessible to visitors and investors.
Strengthening the Bacolod Sales Force
Following the leaders meeting, unit managers were tasked with disseminating the evening’s strategy points to their respective teams. The concurrent discussions with Suntrust opened a channel for product knowledge transfer, ensuring that Bacolod agents can accurately present La Sonrisa’s features and financing packages to prospective buyers. With infill housing, airports, and mixed‑use townships all advancing, the Bacolod market offers multiple entry points for first‑time buyers and investors. By synchronizing leadership alignment and deepening ties with Suntrust, the May 5 evening sessions positioned the Bacolod branch to capture a larger share of the province’s growing real estate demand, backed by the full resources of the country’s largest real estate network.
