A Look at The Business Manual’s New and Inspiring Workplace
Modern and designed with purpose, The Business Manual debuts its new headquarters in Estancia—an inspiration for the new generation of professionals.
Many factors have reshaped the way businesses run their day-to-day operations, whether that’s a new generation of professionals, the aftermath of the pandemic, or even a change in priorities, among others. This is why modern-day office spaces no longer use constricting office cubicles and have opted for a redesign to suit these ever-changing needs.
According to thehrdirector.com, “workers want to feel they’re looked after by the environment they’re in, as much as by the company they work for. That’s why people-centric layouts, and fit-out, are so crucial. Small, stuffy offices with inadequate lighting and poor facilities are now unacceptable as they are (rightly) perceived to negatively affect physical and mental wellbeing”.
And rightfully so! Employee productivity goes hand-in-hand with the company’s overall success and its employee’s performance, and what better way to achieve that than by creating a conducive space where people can work efficiently?
AGC Power Holdings Corp. (AGC PHC) understands this and has thus debuted its new home in Estancia Offices. As the holding company of the One Mega Group, its prestigious brands—MEGA, Lifestyle Asia, BluPrint, Modern Parenting, The GAME, and our very own The Business Manual—have likewise set base in its new location.
The Business Manual’s New Home
Set in the heart of Pasig City, the new office is located at the West Wing of Estancia Offices—proudly opening its doors on February 1, 2023. Designed with elegance and sophistication in mind, these modern-day spaces are made to be sustainable and efficient for the modern-day professional.
Aside from debuting a larger and more modern workspace, the unveiling of AGC PHC’s new headquarters is also a symbol of hope for the company. When the COVID-19 pandemic caused economic shutdowns in March 2020, AGC PHC was in its infancy. Moreover, the company and its people were still reeling from the loss of Sari V. Yap—One Mega Group founder and AGC PHC Chairman and CEO Archie Carrasco’s mentor.
With business repercussions and a global health crisis to deal with, things were looking bleak for the company. “In order to keep afloat during the pandemic without sacrificing the welfare of our people, we had to give up the space that has served as OMGI’s home for almost 27 years,” says Carrasco, recalling the time when the company moved to a smaller office and operated on a skeletal workforce to regain its footing.
Nevertheless, Carrasco’s ability to pivot during a crisis and his instinct to identify opportunities ahead of the pack has served him well, as he was able to navigate the post-pandemic market successfully—all without letting go of what he considers to be AGC PHC’s greatest asset: its people.
Two years later, AGC PHC has recovered from the pandemic and has even grown in leaps and bounds by diversifying its media brands and solutions. With that, the company was now ready to set base in its first true home.
“Being able to craft this workspace means more than just having a beautiful place of business,” shares
Carrasco. “Our headquarters represents a new beginning for AGC PHC employees and our subsidiaries
alike. After being in survival mode for the last two years, we’re finally in a place where we can provide a
comfortable space for our employees that’s truly ours—where we can all come in and say ‘This is our
home.’”
Designed With Purpose and Intent
All things are made with purpose and in the case of AGC PHC’s headquarters, practicality and efficiency remain at the forefront. Through a collaborative effort between Carrasco and Arch. RJ Zurita, the vision that the CEO had for the design and layout of the office was brought to life by the architect’s design and supervision.
“Just as with everything that we do, this office was carefully and thoughtfully designed with [a] purpose,” Carrasco explains. “We want the space to be fun, to inspire creativity, to evoke the positive energy that we try to keep flowing among our teams—all while being functional.”
With that being said, the office’s current design took note of the main population of the AGC PHC’s ecosystem, with Gen Z comprising almost 90% of the workforce. “Our company is very young—you can see it from our population. We have a long future ahead of us filled with opportunity as to where the company could and will go,” the CEO points out. “Our space was designed specifically for this younger generation, and with the needs of a growing organization in mind.”
By bringing together fun and functionality, the new AGC PHC’s headquarters combines traditional office desk space areas with “third spaces”—casual seating areas, commonly found in co-working spaces. “The initial concept we came up with during the early stages of planning was the concept of agile space,”
explains Zurita.
“To encourage collaboration, we want employees to be able to choose where they want to work, whether it’s a free-seating area in one of our lounges, a desk in one of our workstations, or the pantry,” he adds.
Of Open Spaces and Modern Design
Gone are the days of dark cubicles and boxy spaces. In a refreshing take on office design, the new AGC PHC headquarters is a 900-square-meter office with an open layout and glass partitions to maintain that open look and feel across the office. The blend of crisp white walls and gray concrete gives it a modern but minimalist feel, while fresh indoor plants and wooden panels add a touch of
nature to the space.
A more formal office setup, however, is reserved for the executive offices for the CEO and the COO with eight executive rooms; two boardrooms with a movable divider to easily accommodate larger meetings; multiple one-on-one huddle rooms; and designated areas for each company department for everyday reporting.
Meanwhile, modern-day third spaces take the form of multiple lounge areas such as the Tree Lounge, a reading nook, and a 50-seating capacity lounge with bean bags and multiple seating options. Made for a more casual setting, these spaces serve as a workspace for employees who thrive in cafe meetings.
While AGC PHC still maintains a hybrid work setup to this day—with subsidiaries each having their dedicated day to use designated areas in the office—the lounges provide free seating for employees who come outside of their schedule.
Throughout the expansive space that makes up the new AGC PHC headquarters, paintings that Carrasco personally curated himself can be seen. These include both pieces from his personal collection, as well as commissioned artworks from Filipino Abstract Painter, Kenneth Montegrande. While abstract in nature, his expressionist style sparks happiness, faith, love, and the personal mantra of the Chairman himself, “Good Vibes”.
“When looking at the paintings, it may seem unruly at first, but every detail has a purpose that leads to a bigger, more beautiful picture,” the artist says.
And just like every subsidiary at AGC PHC, every masterpiece produced is also made from different strokes that all work together. In his words, imperfect perfections—the very masterpiece that seeks to inspire us to see our purpose every time we step into our new home.
AGC PHC Headquarters: Our Home for the Next Five Years
Much can be said about the AGC PHC’s new headquarters, but this is not the only base it has built. In fact, the newly-opened office is just the company’s first step toward a more permanent space. “This beautiful office is only a stopover to the permanent home that is currently under construction,” reveals Carrasco.
“The office will be five times as big as our current headquarters—ample space to accommodate our projected growth in the coming years. We are expecting construction to be completed
in five years’ time,” he adds.
AGC PHC’s new headquarters may be a sign of new beginnings for its employees and subsidiaries, but it also serves as a beacon of hope for the media and publishing industry—that times will be better and that the industry will eventually return to its glory days.
With that, Carrasco hopes that the journey that the company has taken will uplift the industry as a whole by generating public interest in intelligent, inspiring, and intentional storytelling, impactful imagery, and a strong focus on the Filipino as a global standard for excellence.
“This new milestone in our organization is a strong sign that media and publishing is on the rise again,” Carrasco ends. “The industry has been in the shade of the sunset for a long time. Now it’s time for the sun to rise and shine once more on the media and publishing industry.”
As AGC PHC grows, we are always on the lookout for the best talent. We invite you to be part of our
journey to be ambassadors of Filipino excellence and to join our family as we continue to expand. Visit
the AGC PHC Careers page to view our full list of openings today.