By Alithea De Jesus
Admit it or not, the almost two years lingering and battling the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the lives of everyone we know. It has caused anxiety as health and safety concerns coupled with economic and income uncertainties weighed down in every people living in the Philippines setting back a broad spectrum of businesses.
On the other hand, the government continues to enforce policies that strike the perfect balance between lives and livelihood. While the private sectors and diplomatic communities have been doing their share contribute to ease up the burden on the shoulder of the government in various ways such as donations, reaching out to affected communities, supporting the healthcare professionals and other frontliners to ensure the Philippines will rebound soon and be able to hasten our economic recovery.
Speaking to THEPHILBIZNEWS, Asia CEO President and co-founder, the multi-awarded and one of the country’s most sought inspirational speakers Rebecca Bustamante-Mills said, “Everyone is affected by the pandemic. The whole world is still battling against the pandemic as new COVID variants surface from time to time. But the question is, “Are we going to allow ourselves to be victims of this predisposed forecast? Can we not find something good in a crisis?”
“This is what Richard and myself have been thinking about as founders of the Asia CEO Forum, Asia CEO Awards and Asia CEO Events,” Bustamante-Mills said.
“While many amongst us have already thrown in the towel, seemingly stuck in the fatalistic outlook. The real challenge, though, is for us to take on an action plan without denying the challenges brought by the pandemic. What lies underneath the dark clouds? And Richard and I said, silver linings!” she added.
“This is our competitive edge as Filipinos and as a country, and that is being resilient. We need a strong mindset that treads against the negativity in life. There is hope. The economy has opened up. Vaccinated people are increasing and the moment we sustain this critical program of vaccination rollout in order for us to jumpstart the economic recovery, then we can bring in more foreign investors and invest in our booming real estate industry here in the Philippines,” Bustamante-Mills explained.
For his part, Richard Mills, Chairman and founder of ASIA CEO said, “Our theme for the ASIA CEO Real Estate Forum 2021 is the Filipinos is worth building for. We have to build the country and take advantage of the real estate opportunities in the country,” Mills said.
“This is the reason why Rebecca and I wanted to make this yearend event of the Asia CEO Events on a high note. To ensure that it is not just a cliché, we invited illustrious companies and remarkable speakers who have shown their success and exciting forecast for the coming years in the real estate investment opportunities in the Philippines,” he added.
“They are all in the forefront of building our country and strengthening the real estate business opportunities that we can offer to the world. Like Tristan Las Marias, the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer and Vince Abejo, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Filinvest Land Inc. We are grateful that Filinvest Land was kind enough to be the main presentor of the Asia CEO Forum‘s ASIA CEO Real Estate Forum 2021,’ Mills explained.
“Currently, the Filinvest Land Inc. has currently 250 projects across the country with varying projects like condominiums, townships, BPO hubs, commercial and leisure buildings and other real estate property developments,” Mills noted.
Remarkable speaker Maricel Brion-Lirio, President and CEO of Filinvest REIT Corp discussed the emerging trends such as green and digital initiatives to keep business continuity and longevity in the real estate in the Philippines that would pave the way to our economic recovery for the Philippines. She further expounded why the real estate country in the Philippines will boom given the demand from locators and also from the BPOs in the country. Down the road, Brion-Lirio is bullish that there would be more opportunities in the country
While James Montenegro, Country Manager Chroma Hospitality, shared the expansion being done by Chroma in the key provincial cities in the Philippines and hopefully in other parts of the country to bolster local tourism.
Also on the roster of speakers who made a mark in the real estate industry are Michael McCullough, CEO of KMC group; Arthur Tugade, Secretary of Department of Transportation; Rosemarie Ong, senior executive vice president and CEO of Wilcon Depot; and Jun Palafox, principal architect and Urban Planner at Palafox Associates.
Other equally illustrious speakers during the forum were Dr. Bernie Villegas, economist and professor of the University of Asia and the Pacific; Joey Radovan, vice chairman of JLL Philippines; Joshua Bingcang, SVP of Business Development & Operations of Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA); Rosie Tsai, chairman of the Board of Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA); and David Rafael, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aboitiz Land.
Overall, the ASIA CEO Real Estate Forum 2021 highlighted what is in store for 2022 in the real estate industry of the country as everyone gears up for the economic recovery.
In closing, Rebecca Bustamante-Mills underscored what is her rosy forecast in 2022 and beyond.
“Amidst all the setbacks we encountered during the pandemic, we can all expect a strong rebound in 2022 not just in the real estate industry but across all industries. From our end as founders of ASIA CEO’s various programs such as Asia CEO Forum, Asia CEO Awards Asia CEO Events and Self-Made we are committed to support in building the country and the Filipinos because that is what we have been doing. That is ASIA CEO’s brand and mission, to showcase the Philippines to the world as a premier investment hub in the region and see beyond the beautiful places of our country and the enchanting smile and warm hospitality of the Filipino people, that there are so many opportunities that others can seize here in the Philippines,” Bustamante-Mills explained.
“Is Philippines and Filipinos are worth building for? Can Filipinos make it and turn our country into a better nation in the midst of the pandemic? I most definitely believe yes, if we will continue to work together in building our country and people. We have to show to the world our real character of being honest, hardworking, respectful and always able to see opportunity in every crisis. As Tristan Las Maria, EVP and Chief Strategy Officer at Filinvest Land Inc. rightly said, “Survival is a partnership.”
With the election also next year, let us hope and pray that the Filipinos will choose the right and capable leaders who show true love for the country and can be a magnet to the investors for the country as we all look forward to a stronger, better than before and better than others in the region. To all our supporters and subscribers expect more exciting and interesting events from ASIA CEO next year,” she added.