Salady, Korea's biggest salad chain, to open at PNB Makati Center

 

A fresh dining experience is set to open at PNB Makati Center as (from left) Palette Passion Inc., Head of Operations Austin Villamanca, President Arvin Pitao, PNB Holdings Corporation President Karlu T. Say, and PHC Chief Financial Officer Ponciano S. Carreon Jr., formalize their partnership through a ceremonial lease signing on July 29, 2026

PNB Makati Center is set to welcome Salady Philippines, bringing Korea's  biggest salad chain to the heart of Makati's business district and further strengthening the property’s evolving dining and retail offerings.

Through its Philippine master franchisee, Palette Passion Inc., Salady has begun expanding its footprint in the country following the brand’s success in South Korea. Known for its menu of fresh salads, grain bowls, wraps, and protein-rich meals, they have built a loyal following by making healthy eating accessible, convenient, and affordable for everyday consumers.

The partnership was formalized through a ceremonial lease signing ceremony attended by PNB Holdings Corporation (PHC) President Karlu T. Say, PHC Chief Financial Officer Ponciano S. Carreon, Jr., and representatives from Salady Philippines, including Palette Passion Inc. President Arvin Pitao and Head of Operations Austin Villamanca, on July 29, 2026.

For PHC, the arrival of Salady reflects the changing role of commercial developments in business districts. As consumer preferences continue to shift, office properties are increasingly becoming destinations that blend work, lifestyle, convenience, and community.

Salady's entry to PNB Makati Center's introduces a globally inspired dining concept that

aligns with the growing demand for healthier food choices among urban professionals. Its presence is expected to appeal to office workers, nearby residents, and visitors seeking fresh and convenient meal options in Makati's central business district.

The Korean salad chain is among the new dining concepts expected to join PNB Makati Center in the coming months, gradually transforming the property into a vibrant food block in the heart of Makati's central business district.

It is set to open later this year on the Ground Floor of PNB Makati Center along Ayala Avenue, becoming the brand's first branch in Makati and its first location within an office development in the Philippines.

The same Brutalist icons, but not as you know them

PNB Financial Center-scanned from PNB 100 coffee table book

 It is said that Brutalist architecture asked for patience. Its language was not immediately inviting and resisted quick affection for it stands firm in raw concrete and heavy, geometric forms.

Appreciation for this style came with distance. That return happened around 2019 across cities, including in the Philippines, when the culture began to look again and see intent behind the weight. Buildings that were once dismissed as severe began to draw in a new audience. Architects, designers, and the public revisited them with a fresher perspective.

Lobby PNB Makati Center

Iconic properties of the Metro skyline

In Makati and Pasay, two such structures are among those that gained renewed attention: the PNB Makati Center and the PNB Financial Center, properties managed by PNB Holdings Corporation (PHC).

Spaces, PNB Makati Center, PNB Holdings

From the street, both buildings read as resolute. The PNB Makati Center, designed by Filipino architect Carlos Arguelles, a key figure in modern and Brutalist architecture, holds its place along Ayala Avenue with a sense of order, set against a district in constant evolution.

On the other end, the PNB Financial Center, found nearer the bay, stretches across a wide footprint of almost 90,000 sqm. Designed by noted Filipino architect Gabriel Formoso, it carries the same material honesty, set against an open horizon.

When PHC assumed stewardship, the shift began at the threshold. They ensured not to erase time but work with it, leaning toward adaptive redevelopment. They ensured that the structure remains legible and that interventions respond well to present-day use.

PNB Financial Center Events Spaces Grand Atrium meetings exhibits conferences

When one steps inside the PNB Makati Center, the experience becomes less measured. Light softens the entry as the lobby leads with clarity. Materials move from exposed concrete to finishes that are easier on the eye and touch.

Workspaces, found from second to penthouse levels, follow a similar intent. Color pops in controlled accents and seamlessly blends with the structure. They feature layouts that support employee interaction without forcing it. There are open zones for team collaboration, alongside areas that allow for focus. The choices reflect the building’s current priorities—health, safety, and a more human-centered way of working.

At the PNB Financial Center, the narrative expands. The building has long functioned as a headquarters. Its expansiveness allowed it to house offices and institutional tenants over time. Under PHC’s direction, parts of the complex have taken on a new role.

Certain interiors have been adapted into event venues. This move leans on the asset that Brutalism provides, volume. Large spans and high ceilings offer a flexible canvas. The spaces can host formal gatherings or more relaxed assemblies. The bay area setting adds another layer. Natural light shifts across the day and gently spills through the windows. The edge between inside and outside becomes part of the event experience.

This reprogramming extends the building’s original identity. Where there were once purely administrative spaces, there are now areas, such as The Grand Atrium, that invite the public in a variety of ways.

Both buildings show that preservation is not fixed, but a process where change unfolds with discipline, allowing the original architecture to remain clear as new interventions settle in with intent. And, when updated with care, they can support contemporary life without losing character. The current work at PNB Makati Center and PNB Financial Center reflects precisely this.

For those who pass by, the first impression may still be distant. The silhouettes have not softened. Yet beyond the facade, the spaces tell a whole new story, one that considers how people move, gather, and work today. In this way, the buildings continue to shape the spaces they hold. They define their legacy not only by what they were, but by how they are used today.