The Abba's Orchard School opens first Iloilo campus in Sta. Barbara Heights as GERI builds a more complete community

Taking another major step toward building one of Iloilo’s most complete master-planned communities, Megaworld subsidiary Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI) welcomes the opening of The Abba’s Orchard School, one of the country’s leading Montessori institutions, as a pioneering addition to the growing lifestyle ecosystem of its 173-hectare Sta. Barbara Heights.

The new campus marks The Abba’s Orchard’s first-ever presence in Iloilo, bringing its distinctive Montessori education system to a one-hectare, tree-covered site at the heart of Sta. Barbara Heights. This much-anticipated milestone signals the evolution of Sta. Barbara Heights into a more complete, family-oriented community—one designed around where people live, but more importantly, how they learn, grow, work, and build their lives.

For GERI, bringing a respected educational institution into the township is part of its broader vision of creating a fully integrated, future-ready lifestyle community that responds to the needs of modern families.

“Having The Abba’s Orchard’s presence at Sta. Barbara Heights is a milestone in our vision to continue building a complete, master-planned lifestyle community. By welcoming one of the Philippines’ most respected Montessori institutions, we are creating a holistic environment where families can live, learn, and thrive,” says Monica T. Salomon, President, GERI 

 

Building a community around families

 

The Abba’s Orchard School continues to accept enrollees for school year 2026–2027, offering CASA programs for children ages 3 to 6 and Elementary Level 1 for Grades 1 to 3.

Plans to expand into the Erdkinder level, a distinctive adolescent Montessori curriculum that combines academic learning with real-world experiences such as farm-based education, form part of the school’s long-term plans. By engaging children through meaningful experiences and a thoughtfully prepared environment, the school nurtures independence, curiosity, confidence, and a genuine love of learning.

The campus is strategically located at the heart of Sta. Barbara Heights, allowing the school to become an integral part of the township rather than a standalone institution. Its presence further strengthens the community’s appeal to families looking for an environment where education, nature, recreation, residential living, and connectivity come together.

Founded in 1999 by Chris and Ann Barrameda, The Abba’s Orchard has grown into a respected Montessori school network with presence across Metro Manila, Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The institution is known for faithfully implementing Dr. Maria Montessori’s educational philosophy, emphasizing child-led learning in carefully prepared environments that foster independence, curiosity, responsibility, and a lifelong love of learning.

A township designed to grow with its community

The opening of The Abba’s Orchard School–the institution’s 16th campus in the country–comes as Sta. Barbara Heights continues to take shape as a master-planned lifestyle destination strategically positioned in one of Iloilo’s emerging growth corridors.

The township continues to grow into a comprehensive community anchored by a vibrant town center, a soon-to-rise business park, and themed residential villages that will help create a diverse mix of spaces for living, business, education, leisure, and community activities. Its strategic location provides direct connectivity to the Iloilo International Airport through the Iloilo International Avenue, while its proximity to landmarks such as the historic Sta. Barbara Church and the Iloilo Golf and Country Club gives the development a distinctive setting where Iloilo’s rich heritage meets modern township living.