PROPERTY developer Megaworld Corp. last week gave the media a first look at Mactan Expo, a stand-alone convention center built for the meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) industry ahead of Asean Summit events to be held in Cebu and Bohol this year.
The media walkthrough was held amid final preparations for the venue’s hosting of gatherings including the Asean Travel Exchange and Asean Leaders Summit that would draw international delegates to Mactan.
The Mactan Expo was constructed following close coordination with the government as part of the country’s preparations as host of the 2026 Asean Summit.
“We wanted to build a convention center, specifically for the Asean Summit, [it is also] our gift to Philippine tourism. We want to contribute to the industry, particularly in MICE,” Megaworld head of public relations and media affairs Harold Geronimo said.
Designed by JSLA Architects, with interiors by Leandro V. Locsin partners, Mactan Expo puts cultural storytelling at the center of its design philosophy.
Its facade features dynamic, slanted elements symbolizing movement and progress, reflecting Cebu’s growth as a regional hub, while a strong structural core represents stability and continuity, values embedded in Cebuano culture.
Welcoming guests at the main entrance is a large-scale mural by the Cebuano Arts Club led by Jojo Gubalane, which captures Cebu’s heritage in abstract form, drawing from traditional crafts, guitars, weave patterns, marine life, waves, and sand.
Inside the facility, the design narrative comes alive through the theme “A Tapestry of Cebu: Uniting Nature, Culture, and Celebration.”
Indigenous textures, natural finishes, and layered materials evoke the island’s coastal landscapes, craftsmanship, and festive spirit, creating spaces that are immersive, welcoming, and distinctly Cebuano.
Megaworld will sustain and expand its investment in convention centers in the long term, Geronimo said, noting that such facilities are now integrated into the company’s broader township model to complement hotels, offices, and residential developments, a new pillar of its “live-work-play” concept.
Megaworld currently has 37 townships nationwide, many of which are located in key tourism growth areas.
For 2,500 guests
Mactan Expo consists of three high-ceiling convention halls that can be combined to accommodate 2,500 guests, with pre-function areas, foyers, meeting rooms, VIP lounges, and a showroom.
It is equipped with modern audio-visual systems, reliable back-up power, and full event-support amenities.
Mactan Expo is seen to boost economic activity in Lapu-Lapu City and strengthen Cebu’s position as a regional MICE hub.
“A convention center naturally creates an economic ecosystem. When you do events, it brings people together, and each activity needs manpower, supplies, logistics, transportation, and catering,” Megaworld head of events and conventions Louella Caridad said.
