Executives from Alsons Dev and The Abba’s Orchard join parents and young learners in celebrating the school’s opening at Avia Estate, marking a new chapter for quality Montessori education in SOCCSKSARGEN.
Alsons Development and Investment Corporation (Alsons Dev) celebrated a major milestone in its flagship township, Avia Estate in Alabel, Sarangani, with the opening of The Abba’s Orchard School on August 11, 2025. The launch marks the arrival of authentic Montessori education in SOCCSKSARGEN and reinforces Avia Estate’s commitment to building a holistic, future-ready community.
Nurturing minds with Aauthentic Montessori learning
The Abba’s Orchard is the country’s first and only high-fidelity Montessori school system offering programs from infancy through adolescence. At its core is the Erdkinder program—German for “children of the earth”—a distinctive adolescent curriculum that integrates academics with practical learning through farming and micro-economy activities. Students learn responsibility, independence, and self-worth by engaging directly with the land and their community.
With its new Avia Estate campus, The Abba’s Orchard becomes the first true Montessori school in the SOCCSKSARGEN region. The campus initially offers preschool to Grade 3 programs, with planned expansions to Upper Elementary and High School.
“We envision this campus as more than a school—it’s a place where children can grow through meaningful and authentic experiences,” said Chris Barrameda, President and Founding Director of The Abba’s Orchard. “Through our partnership with Alsons Dev, we are making quality Montessori education more accessible to families across SOCCSKSARGEN.”
Alsons Dev Vice President and General Manager Eric de la Costa, Assistant Vice President for Business Development and Operations Jolla Soriaga, and The Abba’s Orchard President and Founding Director Chris Barrameda and Chief Growth and Marketing Officer Abram Barrameda during the ceremonial tree planting held on June 24, 2025, at the Avia Estate campus. The activity served as a symbolic gesture of both organizations’ shared commitment to nurturing thriving communities.
Ahead of the school’s opening, a ceremonial tree planting was held to symbolize the joint commitment of The Abba’s Orchard and Alsons Dev to sustainability and nurturing growth within the community.
Partnership rooted in community building
The school’s establishment was made possible through a two-hectare land donation by Alsons Dev. This initiative underscores the developer’s vision of embedding quality education within its master-planned communities.
“At Alsons Dev, we believe that schools are essential pillars of thriving townships,” said Miguel Rene A. Dominguez, President and CEO of Alsons Dev. “The Abba’s Orchard enriches Avia Estate by giving families access to high-quality, transformative education right at their doorstep.”
This collaboration reflects Alsons Dev’s mission of integrating essential institutions and lifestyle drivers into its developments—ensuring that its communities evolve into more than just residential spaces, but into vibrant centers of growth and opportunity.
Driving Avia Estate’s transformation
The opening of The Abba’s Orchard is the latest milestone in Avia Estate’s transformation into a dynamic township. Earlier this year, the Alabel Public Safety & Security Complex was formally turned over, furthering the estate’s commitment to safety and community well-being. By September 2025, the Avia Estate football field will open, enriching recreational amenities for residents.
Infrastructure works are also progressing, including the development of the township’s main spine road and commercial zones. Meanwhile, Narra Park Residences Avia, the estate’s first residential community, is on track for its first house turnovers in early 2026, with parks, gates, guardhouses, and shared amenities nearing completion.
A future-shaping community in Alabel
With quality education, security facilities, recreational spaces, and housing projects coming to life, Avia Estate is fast emerging as a future-ready township where families can flourish. Each milestone reflects Alsons Dev’s broader vision: to build inclusive, purpose-driven communities that uplift lives and strengthen Mindanao’s growth story.
For more information on Avia Estate’s evolving township features, visit www.aviaestate.ph.