Little did Dero realize, too, that the truth of his lyrics would cover more than shoes and clothes and household appliances. From selling shoes in Carriedo nearly 50 years ago, SM super mega salesman Henry Sy Sr. is now helping sell the Philippines as a tourist destination.
Last week, his son Henry Sy Jr., unveiled SM’s latest project called Hamilo Coast. It is a piece of paradise in Batangas that covers 13 coves linked by poetic hills, green forests, limestone cliffs, sloping mountains and lush valleys. It has 32 kilometers of breathtaking coastline and dramatic views of the South China Sea. The huge photomurals unveiled at Peninsula Manila during the launch said it all  beautiful enough to inspire another song.
More so after vice chairman Henry Sy Jr. presented the details of this ecotourism project of SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) that will transform Hamilo Coast into a coastal residential and resort town, balancing the beauty of nature with modern living.
"Hamilo Coast is envisioned to be a complete destination. It will have everything that tourists would want to experience," Henry Jr. explained. "Only two and a half hours by car from Manila or one hour by ferry from SM Bay City, it will have full-service beach and country clubs as well as a golf course, forest parks, marine sanctuaries, exclusive beach enclaves, a marina yacht club, resort hotels, convention facilities, condominiums and townhouses. It will have its own power, water and communications systems."
The first phase of its development centers on Pico de Loro Cove, which is envisioned to become the ideal model of a coastal community. Pico de Loro Cove features residential condominiums, a beach and country club, a boardwalk with al fresco entertainment, facilities for snorkeling, swimming, hiking, biking and adventure trails.
Architect Josefino "Jess" Lucas, executive vice president of SMIC, proudly described the contemporary tropical architecture that will highlight the natural beauty of the Hamilo Coast. It is designed and master-planned by Cadiz International, Manila and ML Design, Brisbane to be an integrated network of coastal resort communities that combines ecotourism with residential, commercial, cultural and recreational amenities. "We are providing the infrastructure to serve as a catalyst for the development of world-class tourism. Our goal is to encourage the government and the private sector to take part in the tourism development initiatives of our country."
The vision for Hamilo Coast was inspired by SMIC chairman Henry Sy Sr., who said: "Promoting Philippine tourism should be every Filipino’s task. It is through tourism that we can compete in the global marketplace."
SM’s expertise in real estate-tourism has been demonstrated in its world-class projects: Tagaytay Highlands, the favorite weekend sanctuary of urbanites which has clearly made Tagaytay the new Baguio; Taal Vista Hotel which embodies the best in a five-star resort hotel; and the SM Mall of Asia, which shines with the biggest malls in the world, and which tops the chain of SM Supermalls nationwide that has defined a whole new lifestyle for Filipinos by including art galleries, chapels, travel agencies, convention halls, exhibit area, clinics, medical and automotive stores, pet shops, arts and crafts shops and payment centers and in its shopping and dining mix.
Echoing the vision of his father, Henry Sy Jr. declared: "The time has come for the Philippines to be recognized as a premier tourism destination. While our country is world-renowned for its beaches and islands, we know we can offer more than that. We have adventure and eco-travel destinations, flora and fauna found only in this part of the world. We are the world’s center of marine biodiversity. We need to be globally competitive, and with Hamilo Coast we hope to put the Philippines on the map of international tourism."
With this vision comes that desire to preserve the natural beauty of the place. SMIC has sought the help of ecological experts so that local and international tourists can enjoy this piece of paradise and still preserve it for future generations. SMIC has partnered with WWF-Philippines, the global conservation organization.
"What is most exciting about this partnership is that a company of this size has decided to go green, and instead of retrofitting our program to an already existing development, SMIC is actually already laying the groundwork for ecological sustainability," said Lory Tan, president of WWF-Philippines.
SMIC has also partnered with Sandugo, the country’s premier adventure specialists, who will define an eco-friendly and safe adventure course custom-designed for Hamilo Coast’s unique topography. SMIC is asking Sandugo to design challenging treks and bike trails that will allow maximum enjoyment and appreciation of the coast’s pristine beauty.
SM has done it all to make shopping a more complete experience. Now it transcends the realm of retailing and wants to sell the Philippines in the global marketplace. Tourism Secretary Ace Durano’s dream of luring five million tourists yearly may happen sooner than expected. In Hamilo Cove, SM has got it all for tourists.
Dero Pedero, it may be time to update your 30-year-old jingle.