From a single restaurant with 30 employees, Antonio "Chef Tony Boy" Escalante managed to translate his love for cooking into a culinary empire of multiple restaurants across the Philippines with support from LANDBANK.
TAGAYTAY CITY – Just like having the right ingredients to create gastronomic experiences, to having an excellent team of chefs in the kitchen, it also takes the right people and partnerships to build a successful restaurant business. This adage rings true for Antonio "Chef Tony Boy" Escalante and the remarkable journey of the Antonio’s Group of Restaurants.
Chef Tony Boy started his career not in the kitchen but in dentistry school. He then traded the dental chair for the open skies, working as a cabin crew member for Philippine Airlines for nearly a decade. However, he was only able to spread his wings and fly when he finally decided to pursue his ultimate passion – cooking.
His culinary journey began at the Regency Park Institute of TAFE in Adelaide, Australia, where he honed his skills through various kitchen jobs before returning home to the Philippines. In Manila, he spent three years refining his culinary skills at the prestigious Tivoli Grill in the Mandarin Oriental Manila.
In 2002, Chef Tony Boy's culinary dream materialized with the opening of his namesake restaurant in Tagaytay City. The establishment quickly became a hallmark of fine dining, lauded for its exquisite cuisine and impeccable service.
Antonio’s Restaurant soon garnered numerous accolades as one of the country’s most celebrated restaurants. From 2007 to 2014, it consistently won the Best Continental Restaurant Award at Manila's Best Kept Restaurant Secrets Awards. From 2008 to 2013, it was the sole Filipino entry in the Miele Guide's Top 20 Southeast Asian restaurants, even reaching number five in the 2010 edition. Antonio's also secured the top 48th spot on Asia's Best Restaurants in 2015.
Expanding the Culinary Vision with LANDBANK
Chef Tony Boy wanted to expand Antonio’s operations beyond a single restaurant. In 2006, he established the Escanova Ventures which housed Antonio’s Restaurant and Breakfast at Antonio’s.
He then embarked on a new venture in 2015 and put up “Balay Dako,” a restaurant offering traditional local fare and fusion cuisine with great views of Taal Lake. This required significant financial investment, with more capital needed to see plans for further expansion materialize.
In 2017, Chef Tony Boy turned to Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) for a P113-million loan. This was the start of a productive partnership that laid the groundwork for sustained growth and success.
The LANDBANK support supplemented Escanova Ventures’ capital, which enabled the expansion of Antonio's Fine Dining and the renovation of Breakfast at Antonio's. The loan also helped build BP One Foods Inc. to spearhead the restaurant chain's expansion across Luzon.
The state-run Bank also remained a steadfast partner throughout crises, offering financial solutions and support when Antonio's Group was tested during the 2019 Taal Volcano eruption and the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic.
"At the height of the pandemic, LANDBANK was there for us. They provided deferments, helped us analyze our finances, and offered tailored products that perfectly addressed our needs," shared Chef Tony Boy.
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Basti Escalante led the pivot to distribution and sale of Antonio’s popular products in Metro Manila during the pandemic through Pedro the Grocer. He has since played a significant role focusing on the retail side of the business.
From then on, Basti became an active partner, focusing on the retail and business side of the Antonio’s chain of restaurants. This father-and-son collaboration further strengthened the Antonio's Group, allowing them to adapt and thrive amidst challenging circumstances.
Empowered by LANDBANK's support, Chef Tony Boy emerged from the pandemic with renewed confidence to expand further. This financial backing and trust allowed the Antonio's Group to navigate the crises and adapt to grow amidst uncertainties.
"LANDBANK believed in us, our goals, and how we run our business. This trust, even during the pandemic, was a stamp of approval that gave us the confidence to expand our ventures," said Chef Tony Boy.
Cooking a Culinary Legacy
What started as a single restaurant with a team of 30 has blossomed into a culinary empire of almost a thousand employees. Today, the Antonio's Group of Restaurants continues to flourish, driven by Chef Tony Boy's passion, Basti's innovative spirit, and the unwavering support of LANDBANK.
"With LANDBANK's help, their banking expertise, and the dedication of their employees, we have been able to expand into Metro Manila and other cities. They have been instrumental in realizing our expansion plans," said Chef Tony Boy.
Fueled by LANDBANK's commitment to empowering Filipino entrepreneurs, Chef Tony Boy’s story transcends mere culinary success. It's a narrative of how the right ingredients, the right people, and the right partnerships can create a recipe for business excellence.
ABOUT LANDBANK
LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the country promoting inclusive and sustainable development to benefit Filipinos. The Bank is present in all 82 provinces in the country, committed to providing accessible and responsive financial support to key players and industries as part of its broader thrust of serving the nation.
LANDBANK branch rises in Burauen, Leyte
(front) LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (center) and Burauen Mayor Juanito E. Renomeron (rightmost) lead the opening of the LANDBANK Burauen Branch on 18 July 2024, alongside Julita Mayor Atty. Percival S. Cana (2nd from left), Burauen’s Association of Barangay Captains President Fe S. Renomeron (4th from left), and LANDBANK Executive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron (leftmost). BURAUEN, Leyte – As part of its continuing commitment to bringing banking services closer to local communities, Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has officially inaugurated a branch in Burauen, and its eighth in the Province of Leyte. LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and Burauen Mayor Juanito E. Renomeron led the inauguration rites for the branch on 18 July 2024. They were joined by Julita Mayor Atty. Percival S. Cana, Burauen’s Association of Barangay Captains President Fe S. Renomeron, LANDBANK Executive Vice President Liduvino S. Geron, and other local government officials. Located in Brgy. Poblacion District 8, the LANDBANK Burauen Branch will cater to the banking needs of residents from the 77 barangays of the town. This eliminates the need to travel to the Tacloban City branches, saving clients two (2) hours of travel time and approximately P200 in round-trip expenses. The branch’s strategic location also allows it to reach the 142 combined barangays of the municipalities of Dagami, Julita, Tabontabon, and La Paz, servicing over 11,000 farmers and fishers, 16,700 beneficiaries of the Conditional and Unconditional Cash Transfer (CCT/UCT) programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), government employees, and private depositors. “Our mission is clear – to drive transformative progress from countryside to countrywide by delivering secure and reliable financial services up to the farthest corners of the archipelago. With the new LANDBANK Burauen Branch, we aim to enhance the accessibility of banking services for local residents,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz. She also committed to supporting the Province’s entire agricultural value chain by continuously extending loans to local farmers, fishers, and other players from the sector, as well as local government units for the development of essential infrastructure. The LANDBANK Burauen Branch is equipped with two automated teller machines (ATM) and features a Digital Corner where clients can open a deposit account in 15 minutes or less using the LANDBANK Digital Onboarding System (DOBS). “All of this means only one thing and that is more opportunities for us, Burawanons, in terms of financial inclusion, financial growth, and financial development. As an agricultural municipality, this would mean a lot to our farmers and to our business sector who would no longer need to travel just to inquire and avail the services of this financial institution. Truly, LANDBANK in Burauen is a blessing for us,” said Burauen Mayor Renomeron. The new branch complements the operations of seven other LANDBANK branches in Leyte located in the cities of Baybay, Ormoc and Tacloban, and the municipalities of Carigara and Hilongos. For fast, safe, and convenient cash withdrawals and transactions, LANDBANK has 61 automated teller machines (ATMs), six cash deposit machines (CDMs), and a LANDBANKasama Agent Banking Partner strategically located across the Province. Customers can also enjoy free cash withdrawals at 43 ATMs in 7-Eleven convenience stores, as part of the Bank’s partnership with Pito Axm Platform, Inc. (PAPI). As of end-June 2024, LANDBANK operates 607 branches and branch-lite units, along with 60 lending centers nationwide. This extensive network is complemented by 3,112 ATMs and 232 CDMs, 3,399 7-Eleven ATMs, and 1,101 LANDBANKasama Partners operating 1,859 point-of-sale (POS) terminals. ABOUT LANDBANK LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the country promoting financial inclusion and digital transformation to advance national development. Present in all 82 provinces in the county, the Bank is committed to provide accessible and responsive services to empower Filipinos towards a better future of inclusive and sustainable development from countryside to countrywide.
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A-FLOW signs P2.4-billion Tranche 1 Loan of a P10.8-billion 10-Year Facility with LANDBANK
In the photo from left are Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) Vice President and Treasurer Jose Eduardo A. Quimpo II, ALI Senior Vice President, Chief Finance Officer and Chief Compliance Officer Augusto D. Bengzon, ALI President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and AyalaLand Logistics Holdings Corp. (ALLHC) Chairman Anna Ma. Margarita B. Dy, FLOW Digital Infrastructure CEO and A-FLOW Properties I Corp. (A-FLOW) President Amandine Wang, ALI Senior Vice President, ALLHC President and CEO and A-FLOW Chairman Robert S. Lao, Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz, LANDBANK Executive Vice President and National Development Lending Sector Head Ma. Celeste A. Burgos, LANDBANK Vice President Lucila E. Tesorero and LANDBANK Vice President and Corporate Banking Department 1 Head Jell B. Ong. Makati City, Philippines – A-FLOW Properties I Corp. (A-FLOW), a joint venture between Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) subsidiary AyalaLand Logistics Holdings Corp. (ALLHC) and FLOW Digital Infrastructure, and Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) announced the signing of a P2.4 billion loan agreement representing Tranche 1 of a P10.8 billion 10-year loan. The signing of the loan facility agreement underscores the mutual commitment to advancing the nation’s digital infrastructure and supporting the Philippines’ transition towards a more digitally integrated economy. The loan facility is intended for the development of the initial phase of the first A-FLOW data center campus located in Biñan, Laguna. Currently under construction, the 6MW-IT capacity Phase 1A of the three-building data center campus project is targeted to be ready-for-service by the end of the year. A-FLOW President Amandine Wang said, “This agreement marks a significant step forward in our shared commitment to develop the largest carrier-neutral data center campus in the Philippines. We are excited to build an ecosystem to attract a combination of international hyperscale customers and local enterprise customers.” LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz emphasized the importance of collaborating with key stakeholders, “We recognize that partnering with key players like A-FLOW is essential for advancing national development. And in this era of rapid digitalization, we are likewise ready to drive investments into the local data center market, along with other sectors contributing to our nation’s technological progress,” she said. Ortiz further commented, “This is the first data center project financed by LANDBANK, and with this new partnership, we are confident that this project will yield significant economic benefits.” For ALI President and CEO and ALLHC Chairman Anna Ma. Margarita B. Dy, digital transformation, cloud computing, and the rise of artificial intelligence are technologies that require robust and scalable data center solutions. “Ayala Land is proud to be participating in this new opportunity leveraging our land and our capabilities to contribute to the country’s move towards a digital economy,” Dy said. “Like any other infrastructure project, capital is key. So, we thank LANDBANK for the P10.8 billion loan facility to A-FLOW, a critical enabler for this project,” she added. A-FLOW’s partnership with LANDBANK enables both companies to capitalize on each other’s strengths, marking a shared vision of fostering innovation and sustainable growth. This milestone collaboration underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in serving the country and achieving the nation’s development goals. About A-FLOW A-FLOW is a joint venture between FLOW Digital Infrastructure (“FLOW”), an investor, developer, and operator of digital infrastructure in Asia Pacific, and AyalaLand Logistics Holdings Corp. (“ALLHC”), the largest developer of industrial parks and real estate logistics facilities in the Philippines. A-FLOW’s first data center is strategically located in Laguna, accommodating a total of 36MW IT load capacity. With the launch of A-FLOW, the partnership supports the digital growth and expansion of businesses in the Philippines, leveraging FLOW's deep data center expertise and ALLHC's established record in industrial real estate development. About LANDBANK LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the country promoting financial inclusion and digital transformation to advance national development. Present in all 82 provinces in the country, the Bank is committed to provide accessible and responsive services to empower Filipinos towards a better future of inclusive and sustainable development from countryside to countrywide.
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LANDBANK-backed co-op empowers rice, onion farmers in Nueva Ecija
TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija – For the longest time—despite working long, hard days in the field—rice farmer Ricardo Buenaventura struggled to improve his farm’s productivity and profitability due to lack of capital. Ricardo could not pursue opportunities that would help expand his operations, such as acquiring a bigger farmland or investing in farm mechanization, with income that was just enough to sustain his family’s daily needs. Determined to provide a better life for his family, Ricardo called on his fellow farmers facing similar challenges to work together to boost their production and income. They officially formed the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka Agricultural Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PMPC) in 1992 with 16 members, and Ricardo as their Chairman. As a newly-established cooperative, seeking credit assistance to support their operations proved to be a hurdle seemingly too difficult to overcome. Lenders often turned them away or offered hefty interest rates they could not afford at the time. They found the boost they needed when Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) granted the co-op their very first loan amounting to P120,000.00 to fund their working capital. “Nagtiwala sa amin ang LANDBANK kahit nagsisimula pa lamang ang aming kooperatiba. Binigyan nila kami ng pagkakataon para palakasin ang aming koop at pagbutihin ang aming kabuhayan,” said Buenaventura. Growing with LANDBANK The co-op invested in farm machinery and equipment such as hauling trucks and mechanical dryers, and was able to improve its production to around 70,000 - 100,000 sacks of rice per cropping season. That initial partnership has come a long way. LANDBANK has since increased its total loan to Nagkakaisang Magsasaka Agricultural PMPC to P1 billion to fund its expanded operations, which now include relending to finance the production of its members, rice and agri-inputs trading, diesel retailing, rice milling, onion cold storage rental and trading, and importation of milled rice and fertilizers produced by the co-op. LANDBANK has also financed the construction of warehouses and an onion cold storage, as well as the purchase of farm machinery and equipment to improve agricultural productivity. From having only 16 members, Nagkakaisang Magsasaka Agricultural PMPC’s membership base has grown to 1,500 consisting of farmers producing rice, onion and other high-value crops, backyard poultry and livestock raisers, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) such as sari-sari store owners. "By empowering agricultural cooperatives, we are also enhancing small farmers’ access to credit, technology and other critical resources for growth. We look forward to partnering with more agri co-ops towards increasing productivity and ensuring food security in the country,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz. Uplifting lives of Nueva Ecija farmers With their fully-integrated services, the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka Agricultural PMPC is now able to support the growth requirements of its members throughout the entire rice production process, from planting to marketing and distribution. Aside from financing the purchase of their members’ farm inputs, the co-op also serves as a ready market for their produce, buying wet palay at a fair price. The co-op produces around 70,000 to 100,000 sacks of rice per cropping season under its own rice brand and distributes rice to consumers in Metro Manila, Quezon City, Marikina, Taguig, Parañaque, Bohol, Pampanga, and Tarlac. The co-op is also diversifying its operations to provide more assistance to its onion farmer-members and strengthen the local onion value chain. Of their P1-billion LANDBANK loan, P112 million was allocated for the construction of an onion cold storage which has allowed their members to reduce agricultural losses and improve their income. The co-op’s cold storage has a capacity of 60,000 bags of onions, allowing farmers to reduce agricultural losses and improve their income. “Sa tulong ng LANDBANK, marami na ang naipundar ng aming kooperatiba at naitulong sa palay farmers. Ngayon, nakakatulong na din kami sa onion farmers dito sa Nueva Ecija na palakasin ang kanilang produksyon,” said Ricardo. Fully operational since April 2024, the co-op’s cold storage can accommodate up to 60,000 bags of onions and is expected to benefit onion growers from the municipalities of Bongabon, Guimba, Gabaldon, Llanera and Talavera. The co-op also extends credit support to finance onion production and buys members’ produce at a more lucrative price compared to other markets in the Province in support of the local onion industry. ABOUT LANDBANK LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the country serving the growth requirements of the local agriculture sector and the entire agri-value chain. Present in all 82 provinces in the country, the Bank is committed to providing accessible and affordable financial support towards boosting food security and advancing inclusive and sustainable development from countryside to countrywide.
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