At home with Joey Antonio: The Century man loves art and photography

He may be the CEO and chairman of the largest private real estate company in the Philippines, but from his easy manner and friendly demeanor you would never know it.  

We’ve met on several occasions, and in intimate gatherings the subject of the conversation invariably drifts to Joey Antonio’s favorite pastime traveling.  It’s about learning what makes a place become a destination, or visiting remote lands to discover cultures that are largely unknown.  It is also about capturing particular moments or people going about their ways of life before it is lost to memory  such are the wonders of photography, another of Joey’s pursuits.  Beyond bringing world-class urban developments to our country along with the leading names in the world of architecture and design, this is a man who has found a balance between work and life, and pursues both with a passion.

On a late weekday afternoon, we meet in his Makati residence to have a freewheeling conversation on anything and everything beyond his business life.  He welcomes this break from a busy workday.  His home exudes elegance and a distinct continental flair. The inviting space brings together cream-colored walls, sofas and armchairs in lively yellow tones and carpets in shades of sea blue.  Silk drapery in hues of golden yellow and deep blue frame the glass sliding doors that open to the lanai and the garden beyond. Adjacent to the main living room is a sitting room of finely upholstered furnishings in patterned red silk and pale yellow accents.  A still life painting by Betsy Westendorp hangs on the center wall, and family photos are poised around the room.  Floor-to-ceiling windows allow vistas of a lush tropical garden.

In the living room, we have green tea and several servings of apple strudel.  He then shows me some rare black-and-white photographs of John Lennon and Marilyn Monroe, as well as two photos he took while on a trip to Bhutan.  One frame shows a group of student monks and another is of a monk prostrating before the entrance to a temple.  What strikes you is the deep red robe that envelops his figure and his act of reverence.  Both frames provide glimpses into the last surviving Buddhist Kingdom in the Himalayas and a deeply spiritual people whose customs are untouched by modernity. 

“Photography is a fantastic recorder of history.  It enables me to connect with a particular community, to chronicle places, people and moments I might have forgotten,” Joey says.  One place that stands out for Joey is Mongolia.  “In Mongolia, its about the fortitude, steadfastness and the hardiness of the people.  You learn that they are survivors because of their environment, the harsh weather conditions, their history as nomads and because they have been thrown into wars,” he says.  

On photographic expeditions, Joey says it is the one time he forgets everything, as he gets lost in the subject at hand, and the art form itself.  In the Gobi Dessert at sunrise, he captures the golden sand dunes of this vast landscape that lies in the south of Mongolia.  The curves and contours of the dunes are a testament to nature in perfection.  Apart from visiting exotic locations, Joey has a preference for classical art, and visiting famous landmarks.  For him, some of the most beautiful structures in the world are also the world’s finest museums  the Louvre in Paris, the Hermitage in Russia and the Frank Gehry Museum in Bilbao.  All the same, he says, local markets such the souks of Istanbul have their own appeal. “The souks are a source of pride and joy for a lot of people even though they are ordinary structures.” 

In the Philippines, his favorite spots are Palawan, Central Luzon and the Candaba Swamp during the migrations of the birds.  Intramuros is especially meaningful for him. “It a place we should preserve because it is the closest link we have to our history it embodies 400 years of Philippine history. It was a fort but also the scene of commerce  even then we already had a commercial center.”

  Though Joey and the Century Properties team are at the forefront of building cutting-edge residential and urban developments around Metro Manila, I wondered if he might like to shift gears someday and become part of an effort to restore and transform Intramuros and its surroundings.  “If given the chance,” he says.  “Because these are national assets and only the government can determine what to do with them. Right now, it’s a mix breed of history and local commercial establishments.  Would you like to go there and look at a chain of franchise stores?  We must be determined and know what we really want.  Xintiandi in China is one example, which was done by Vincent Lo.  These were old homes he assembled and then he created a pedestrian walkway.  That was a very commendable project that turned out to be a commercial success,” he points out.

Though we are seeing some of the best years in our country by way of economic growth, we still find ourselves still lagging behind our neighbors in terms of tourism.  “Malaysia beats us, Thailand has 22 million tourists, Phuket alone has 15 million and we have 4.5 million. Doesn’t that make you feel sad”?  Joey says.  “We have a bigger shoreline than Thailand because of our many islands. I have a simple approach to opening up tourism in our country it’s called AHA.  First, we must have the attitude  do we really want tourists to come here?  If the answer is yes, then H is for hotels and A is for airports. The solution is simple airports, hotels and the attitude to do it.  In the 1990s, Phuket was an island filled with coconut trees and beaches.  So they built an international airport that allowed direct flights from Europe to Phuket.  Lauda Airlines was first, with one flight a week and 400 passengers  all backpackers.  You need backpackers to pioneer a place and but the basics have to be there  an international airport, good roads and the rest is automatic.  All the private investors and brands of hotels are in Phuket.  Why can’t we do the same?”

Late afternoon has turned into early evening when we continue our conversation in the lanai.  The lanai looks out to a vibrant and well-planted garden.  The relaxed setting features a sofa, a day bed and accent chairs in warm neutral tones.  A fine selection of arts, crafts and antiques from around Asia are artfully arranged on the coffee table and two consoles situated on opposite ends of the space.  These treasured objects were selected by the couple Hilda and Joey Antonio over the years when traveling around the region.  Artworks in bronze, silver and brass serve as accent pieces.  A Balinese painting of a lady in traditional dress hangs on a sidewall.  A pair of Chinese bronze warriors stand on a console table  something Joey picked up during the years he served as Special Envoy to China.  

Hilda and Joey are avid travelers and are keen on exploring diverse cultures as well as savoring unique dining experiences.  Hilda is partial to French cuisine, and Joey prefers Italian food because of its simplicity and hearty flavors.  The love of travel is something they share with their four sons who all have executive roles in the company.  When time permits, the family travels together as a way of rewarding themselves for their hard work.    

Downtime for Joey is sitting in the lanai and looking out to the garden. This is the time he catches up on emails and the latest news.  He enjoys browsing the Web and still marvels at the fact that it connects people to the world. “The other day I was looking at a broadcast on BBC about a man who aims to build a 200-storey building in six months.  So I googled him and saw the history of this man. He also built a 30-storey building in 15 days.  I am now following his career.  If he can do it, he can teach us something about doing the same.”

What’s next for Joey Antonio? “There are still so many things I haven’t done.  I would like to travel to places way up north and way down south. In terms of work, I want to build things that are relevant to the lives of Filipinos  I want to help preserve our culture, perhaps take a crack at Intramuros,” he says.  “Have you visited Vigan lately?  Vigan is wonderful because the Singsons have really preserved the place.  The Casa Felicidad Hotel is fantastic  all the furniture is of old Ilocos.”

On the way out, I stop in the main hall where a winding staircase leads to the second floor.  On the wall leading upstairs, four life-size Betsy Westendorp paintings hang side by side  ethereal landscapes set with romantic flowers, each part of a series called, “The Reverse Stream.”  Joey will bequeath one painting to each of his sons  John Victor, Marco, Robbie and Carlo.  Close to the entrance door is a wooden structure crowned with domes and spires.  Joey explains it is a birdcage made of wood and metal, with built in drawers to hold birdseeds and supplies. The cage itself is detachable and may be set on top of a larger table or a stand.  “It’s Byzantine in influence and something I saw in an Italian architectural magazine placed in the foyer of a 16th-century apartment,” he says. 

In the space of our long conversation, we hardly spoke about his recent projects  the Trump building rising in Century City, the condominium residences that will feature the interior designs of Versace, Missoni and Philippe Starck or the urban beach club built to the specifications of Paris Hilton.  In time, these projects will speak for themselves.