Property giant wins big at the 8th PropertyGuru Awards
Success is not just good luck: it is a combination of hard work, good credit standing, opportunity, readiness and timing. Success will not last if you do not take care of it – Henry Sy Sr.
The late legendary taipan’s words still ring true today, many decades since he started laying the foundations for what would be one of the country’s biggest empires.
Indeed, the success story continues, a testament to the SM Group’s DNA of hard work, perseverance, inclusiveness and quality.
SM Development Corp., the group’s residential development arm spearheaded by Sy’s eldest son Henry Sy Jr. is no exception and shares in this continuing success story.
BEST DEVELOPER AWARD
Besting other Philippine property developers, SMDC bagged the most coveted Best Developer Award at the 8th Property Guru Awards held last Wednesday.
SMDC’s success comes not just from decades of building quality developments but really on enabling more Filipinos to experience luxury and resort-style condominium living at attainable prices.
Indeed, gone are the times when such hotel-like condominiums were only for the rich, thanks to developers like SMDC.
SMDC introduced attainable luxury not just in Metro Manila but in the whole archipelago, enabling more Filipinos to own condominiums and in the process, pump-prime local economies in the host communities as well.
“We are now seeing the fruition of our vision of making luxurious urban dwelling affordable. In the past, condominium living – with generous amenities and hotel-like services – was only for the rich. We have changed the landscape of urban dwelling by providing a product that gives residents the feeling of luxury through generous amenities, resort-type lobbies, complete developments with commercial establishments and a hotel-like experience,” said SMDC president Jose Mari Banzon.
Although relatively young — in business for only 14 years — SMDC has already launched 47 projects in major central business districts not only in Metro Manila but also in the provinces.
Over the course of its young life, SMDC has turned over more than 70,000 units, significantly contributing to the country’s economic growth and social development by investing about P164 billion in the residential construction industry over the years and creating more than 350,000 jobs for skilled workers, technical professionals and office employees.
The 8th PropertyGuru Philippines Awards is spearheaded by the PropertyGuru Group, touted as “Southeast Asia’s pioneering and most trusted property technology company.” It aims to recognize, reward, and celebrate the biggest achievers in real estate development in Asia.
BEST LIFESTYLE DEVELOPER
SMDC also bagged the Best Lifestyle Developer Award for its unique approach in not just simply developing infrastructures but also providing Filipinos with a lifestyle they want.
This it does through its impeccably designed, hotel-like lobbies; masterfully-planned resort-style amenities; communities built in prime locations; well-planned mixed-use developments with a built-in commercial establishment or an SM Mall right beside it; and professional property management that ensures the safety, security and integrity of its developments.
SMDC’s strategy for success in a competitive market has a lot to do with its forward-looking approach to design and development.
“We are ever-mindful of the emerging needs of our customers, we always think ahead, we always ask what else we can offer, how else we can make our next development better than the last. We try to understand what the market needs and adjust accordingly to ensure that we stay true to our vision,” Banzon said.
The COVID-19 pandemic for instance is no exception.
“We understand the realities of situations such as this pandemic so we make appropriate adjustments not only in terms of the design of our developments but also in providing flexible payment schemes that are sensitive to the economic situation,” he added.
THE GOOD GUYS
Special Citation in CSR
As an ode to its moniker, The Good Guys, SMDC integrates its corporate social responsibility into its business model. The program continuously works towards building a thriving community where people are secure, happy and healthy.
“We constantly look for avenues to understand what our residents and stakeholders — especially the socially disadvantaged like the elderlies and the PWDs, or the economically displaced — need and address them through projects that not only provide for those needs but also strengthen the community spirit,” Banzon shared.
SMDC launched The Good Guys program in 2019. The program was composed of a health and wellness program for PWDs and seniors; crime awareness and prevention workshops in partnership with PNP, BFP and Red Cross and mental health seminars for the youth.
Responding to the needs of its communities, especially during the pandemic, the Good Guys also launched weekend markets, personalized shopping for PWD and elderly residents, health and wellness caravans, and bloodletting program.
A nation of homeowners
Building a nation of Filipino homeowners is the core of SMDC’s mission.
Thus its approach to design and development evolves with the Filipino’s changing needs.
SMDC is ever mindful of the need to bridge the gap between the modern urban dweller’s aspiration for luxury and affordability.
And the recent accolades are indeed validation that SMDC’s vision has turned into a reality.
“It is a validation that we have indeed turned our vision into reality, that we are contributing to building a nation of homeowners; not just any home, but a home that allows the homeowner to live his best life,” Banzon said.
Banner caption: Sail Residences. Best Landscape and Best Condo Architectural Design awards