Last Updated on January 31, 2020

Behind towering skyscrapers and well-built condos and villages, there are people who poured blood, sweat, and tears. It’s difficult to imagine mere humans building grand, majestic structures, but to put it simply, it’s the genius of mankind.

Putting a face on real estate’s most successful projects shows that people form the heart and soul of every notable development. More importantly, however striking or impressive a building is, it won’t be what it is if not for the hard work of the individuals behind it.

At last year’s The Outlook Awards, Lamudi interviewed some of the representatives of real estate brands in the country to know the people behind the success of their developments. Here’s what they shared:

Cebu Landmasters, Inc.

For Jose “Joe” Soberano III, family is the first thing that came to mind, sharing that his wife has always been there for him. He also mentioned the contribution of the members of his team.

Taking a trip down memory lane, he also shared, “Even before I set up the company, my former bosses have been very instrumental. I’ve learned a lot from them, even from the mistakes that we committed together.” Today, he said he’s harnessing those experiences to make things a lot better.

Meanwhile, Joie Soberano-Bergundthal recognized the efforts of each member of the entire company, big or small. She mentioned that it was “a cumulative effort” from all the departments, from the heads down to the staff level.

Franco Soberano echoed the same sentiments, saying, “I think it’s the big team at CLI, from the design team to the construction team, and now to the property management team. It’s end-to-end and I thank everyone for really working hard.”

Cebu Landmasters took home the awards for Best Affordable Condo (Casa Mira Towers Labangon) and Best Developer for Visayas and Mindanao. Joe Soberano was also named the Personality of the Year at The Outlook Awards 2019.

DMCI Homes

Carlo Gahol, Corporate Communications Manager of DMCI Homes, says their sweet success comes from the strategic direction of their leaders. A close-knit group, the team staff pays tribute to their president Mr. Alfredo Austria for his guidance on the team all throughout their 20 meaningful years. Their long-standing history in the property sector proves that embracing the leaders’ vision bears fruit that lasts.

He added, “We also thank DMCI Holdings, or the Consunji family because if not for them, DMCI Homes wouldn’t exist.” The team shared that the awards they’ve received over the past years are meaningful reminders of the milestones they achieved in the last decades, pushing them further to greater heights.

DMCI Homes took home the award for Best Developer in Luzon at The Outlook Awards 2019.

AboitizLand

Rafa de Mesa of AboitizLand attributes their success to the members of the team who are dedicated to carrying each project into completion. He shared, “First and foremost, we have to thank our team who put in the hard work and brought this from a sheet of paper to an actual house.”

From humble beginnings to one great finished project, he said that the cooperation of each one, from their consultants, the Buensalido architects, up to the master planners, is crucial.

He also said their clients are part of the key people behind their developments’ success, thanking them for believing in AboitizLand’s product.

AboitizLand took home the award for Best House in Visayas and Mindanao (Amoa) at The Outlook Awards 2019.

SM Prime Holdings and SMDC Development

The SMDC Development team credits their achievements to chief executives, their chairperson Mr. Henry Sy Jr., president Mr. Jeffrey Lim, senior vice president Mr. Jomari Banzon, and project development executive vice president Ms. Grace Sta. Ana. They also acknowledge the huge contribution of the rest of the SMDC team.

SM Prime Holdings pays tribute to the people who have put their trust in the company’s capabilities: “We’d like to thank our executive community, SM Prime Management, for allowing us, and believing in our efforts, to develop a sustainable building.”

SM Development Corporation took home the award for Best Affordable Condo in Luzon (Cheer Residences), and SM Prime Holdings took home the award for Best Green Project (Three E-Com Center) at The Outlook Awards 2019.

Federal Land, Inc.

For Sunshine Fort North Bonifacio Realty Development Corporation, the reliable partners they’ve had over the years are the key to their success. Federal Land partnered with Nomura Real Estate and Isetan Mitsukoshi for the project. They shared, “We [Federal Land] bring in the Filipino pride of knowing the local market and what works with the Filipinos, [while] Nomura Real Estate brings in their know-how in innovation in terms of Japanese design.”

“For Mitsukoshi, they are the oldest in the retail business in Japan, so together, we are bringing in the Japanese experience in shopping. Aside from that, we have consultants from Japan as well as the top consultants in the local industry,” she added.

Sunshine Fort North Bonifacio Realty Development Corporation took home the award for Best Innovation Project (The Seasons Residences) at The Outlook Awards 2019.

Filinvest

The Peak is one of the first upscale subdivisions in the east of the metro. The team behind it chalks up their success to the entire project development group, especially the planning and engineering teams. They noted, “Even the clubhouse of The Peak is in-house designed, so it shows the talent of Filinvest. Even if it’s in-house, it’s really award-winning.” They also mentioned the sales team who firmly stood by the promise of the project.

Sanremo Oasis also has the people in Filinvest to thank for their success. They’re the ones who create tight-knit communities, turning mere development projects into homes.

Filinvest Land, Inc. took home the awards for Best Premium House in Luzon (The Peak) and Best Premium Condo in Visayas and Mindanao (Sanremo Oasis at City di Mare) at The Outlook Awards 2019.

Megaworld

“Our architects are in-house. We are proud to have a lot of homegrown talents,” Noli Hernandez, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Megaworld Corporation, shared about the success of The Mactan Newtown. The beachfront-inspired township boasts of condo towers, office buildings, a hotel, and a beachtown facility. The team added that they’re able to pull off such a grand project with the help of world-class consultants.

The Albany, the luxury condo building located at Mckinley Hill, BGC, acknowledges their globally-renowned partners as the key to notable developments, including their major consultant, Broadway Malyan. “We are using top European brands for the bathroom fixtures, the cabinetry, and all the things that you can find inside,” adds Hernandez.

Megaworld took home the awards for Best Luxe Condo in Luzon (The Albany) and Best Mixed-use Development in Visayas and Mindanao (The Mactan Newtown) at The Outlook Awards 2019.

DATEM Homes

Annacel D. Birao, Vice President for Operations of DATEM Homes, mentioned their first president, Architect Arnulfo de Asis, as the one who was most instrumental to their success as a real estate company.

She shared, “He really is the visionary behind it. His dream is to be a developer, to build spaces that are aesthetically pleasing, and still very useful for all kinds of people from all walks of life.” It’s worth noting that indeed, development projects from DATEM exceeds standards not only in aesthetics, but also functionality.

DATEM Homes took home the award for Best Boutique Developer in Visayas and Mindanao at The Outlook Awards 2019.

Costa del Hamilo, Inc.

Teamwork makes the dream work is the mantra for Costa del Hamilo, Inc. Highlighting the contributions of each member, they shared, “It really is a team effort. We’ve got the project development team and the business development team, which together with the project development team come up with these new projects that cater to our target market.”

They added, “From the estate managers to their staff, they make sure that everything within Hamilo Coast and Pico de Loro Cove always runs smoothly. Finally, we’ve got the backroom support, so to speak, from our administration staff to the key people that make sure that Hamilo Coast runs like a well-oiled machine.”

Costa del Hamilo, Inc. took home the award for Best Mixed-Use Development in Luzon (Hamilo Coast) at The Outlook Awards 2019.

Philippine Urban Living Solutions, Inc.

Trusted for their high-quality affordable rental housing communities, PULS is able to deliver what they promise through a team effort. They’re notably a tight-knit group, composed of entrepreneurial professionals who have seen the ups and downs of the industry over the years, as they’re led by an international management team.

On the key people behind their successful co-living communities and professionals’ dorms, PULS says it’s a team effort, from the “top management, our investors, and the young professionals who’ve been using this [co-living community].”

Philippines Urban Living Solutions, Inc. took home the award for Best Co-living Space (MyTown Co-Living Hubs ) at The Outlook Awards 2019.

Great development projects come from the great minds of great people. Its foundation isn’t made of concrete and steel. Instead, it’s the heart of the people committed to seeing it through. At this year’s The Outlook Awards, let’s appreciate the collective effort of individuals coming together, committing to making something great.

This article was first published at Lamudi.com.ph