ALREADY
a thriving community, CDC Holdings’ 1.9-hectare Lions Park Residences
in Sun Valley, Parañaque City is home to scores of OFWs and their
families.
Philippine Daily Inquirer - As a banker, manufacturing executive and real estate developer, Elsie
Chua has been a frequent visitor to the Middle East, Europe, Japan and
the Unites States.
On many such occasions, the president and CEO of CDC Holdings, a real
estate developer, would often meet Filipinos who were struggling to
make ends meet as their families back home mismanaged their hard-earned
money or he himself fell victim to some get-rich-quick scheme while
abroad.
“Most of the time they would shun offers that us developers present.
It’s understandable: A lot of these individuals lack the acumen to do
business or take on risks intelligently. So instead of just offering
them projects, I decided to offer them basic financial advice, telling
them it’s prudent to invest in something that appreciate and gain value
over time, that they have to set aside a percentage of their earnings
(especially if the family back home cannot be trusted to make sound
financial decisions) or the fact that if it sounds too good to be true,
then it is most likely to be a financial scam,” Chua said.
She recalled that the OFWs were disillusioned and reluctant as most
of them were no longer convinced that the country’s property sector will
improve or could no longer be relied on.
Reorient
“During those times, it was no longer so much in selling homes and
properties, but in reorienting these OFWs to believe in the Philippines
once more, help them realize the importance of saving money as well as
making sound investment,” explained Chua who several years ago began a
series of information campaigns abroad.
Once Chua was able to convince a handful of OFWs, she was able to
show others that it’s not all bad news in the Philippine property
sector.
“Those who were able to buy house and lot packages or condo units
were able to tell others the value of what I have been telling them
during my information campaigns,” she recalled.
She added that she was able to assist them become entrepreneurs.
“Real estate is not just a roof over one’s head, it’s also a business.
It can give the hardworking OFW recurring income and stable cash flow
that enables them to come home to the Philippines and enjoy the fruits
of their labor, and ultimately be their own boss,” she added.
Helping OFWs
She believed early on that assisting OFWs make the right financial
decision could further help improve the country’s property sector. “The
continuous remittances of OFWs could become a powerful source of
investment to spur if not sustain economic development here,” Chua said.
She noted that OFW remittances have increased over a billion dollars
in the last two years. A Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data showed that
remittances from overseas-based Filipinos reached $1.7 billion (P71
billion) in April, up 5.3 percent from $1.62 billion (P68 billion)
posted in the same month last year.
“If OFWs are more financially stable, it would be much easier for us
to offer them our various projects. This is one market that my group
will always support since they have the capacity to improve the life of
their families here and in the process uplift standard of living of
Filipinos,” Chua said.
25 years
As the company celebrates its 25th year, CDC Holdings has come up
with a new tagline—We make it easy—that will serve as its guideline for
its current and upcoming projects.
“This phrase describes the company’s efforts to make owning a home
easier for the Filipino whether they are here or still working abroad.
Whether it’s a high-rise condominium, a subdivision, a townhouse, or a
mid-rise community development, our properties are built and designed to
represent the most valuable real estate investment that our clients can
make,” she said.
The company’s earliest developments such as Quadrillion Mansions in
Pasig City, Somerset Millennium Suites and Millennium Plaza Serviced
Residences in Makati City, and Platinum 1000 and Platinum 2000 in
Annapolis, Greenhills serve as examples of what sort of innovative
residential projects CDC Holdings could deliver.
“These developments established us as a trendsetter when it comes to
real estate concepts. We pioneered the condotel and hotel serviced
apartment movement in the country. In the last 25 years, CDC Holdings
has grown and expanded its set of core businesses to meet clients’
specific needs and uphold its commitment by delivering almost 10,000
quality investments,” Chua said.
Today, CDC Holdings maintains a team of over 300 sales professionals
and more than 140 marketing representatives in various global offices
who continuously foster positive relationships with OFWs and exercise
responsible stewardship of their investments.
More enticing projects
“This time, we have more enticing projects to offer. With the economy
now improving these OFWs have a number of projects to choose from: the
recently completed La Joya De Sta. Rosa, a
Spanish-Mediterranean-inspired subdivision in Laguna; Lions Park
Residences, a vibrant 1.9-hectare community of 11 low-rise condominiums
in Sun Valley, Parañaque; and the Manila RiverCity Residences, a
1.4-hectare riverside condo community with nine buildings set on the
scenic banks of Pasig River in Sta. Ana, Manila,” Chua enumerated.
In addition, CDC Holdings is also set to launch two major projects
for 2012: Sentrale on Dian Sreet, Makati and Rivergreen Residences in
Sta. Ana Manila.
“While each boasts its own unique architectural and design
inspiration, the developments all carry the signature qualities of CDC
Holdings’ work: concept innovation, excellent investment potential
(especially for OFWs), and the unwavering support of a company known for
transforming prime real estate into dream homes for every Filipino,”
Chua promised.
For more details on CDC Holdings
projects, you may e-mail reby_ramirez@yahoo.com or contact her at 0922.883.9308
/ 0916.4044.555 / 0919.699.3572 / 4044-534.
For latest update on real estate
development and its RA 9646, the Real Estate Service Act of 2009, visit
www.ra9646.com.
