Suntrust Properties senior manager Christine Bellen with one of Bentengkyu recipients
Trusted home developer Suntrust Properties Inc. knows by heart what it takes to make a difference.
Being in the business of building homes for decades now, the company is well aware that to become truly successful in this field, it had to go beyond creating quality communities.
To truly enable change and become an anchor for progress, Suntrust knows all too well that it needs to first look into the welfare and well-being of the people who catapulted the company to its current success in the market—its workers.
The company, led by its president Atty. Harry Paltongan, firmly believes that the same respect and care accorded to its customers should also be given to workers who ensure that Suntrust will only deliver high quality an d value-for-money developments.
Hence, as Suntrust Properties celebrates its 20th year of providing Filipinos affordable yet quality homes, it is thrusting into the spotlight the unsung heroes of the business—the faceless people who helped propel the brand to what it is today—a reliable partner and the preferred choice of every homebuyer.
Suntrust Properties, through its “Bentengkyu: Benteng Taon, Benteng Saya” program, hopes to continue to spread love and happiness through a series of activities that serve as an avenue for the company to recognize and give thanks to the people behind its success—workers and the so-called “Suntrustees.”
Among the activities under the said campaign include the “Bentengkyu Suntrust Moments: Kwento ng pasasalamat at pagbibigay pugay sa ating tahanan” which showed a series of personal Facebook testimonials by employees.
In today’s issue of Inquirer Property, we share with you stories of how the simple acts of Suntrust employees had significantly changed some of these people’s lives.
FELICIANO RIVERA
All around worker
It was a wish that may come off as too simple. But for someone like Feliciano Rivera, who has worked hard all his life to ensure his family’s survival, no wish or gift for that matter can ever be too simple.
The story of this 66-year-old all around worker, who is one of Suntrust Properties’ oldest employees, may sound no different from the others who similarly want nothing but the best for their loved ones—except that in Ka Momoy’s case, he lost a child.
“I’ve been with Suntrust for quite a long time—this is where I had gray hair. My life is similar to the others who had experience a few ups and downs except only that I lost a child,” Rivera related.
“We didn’t have enough money to spend and the really sad part was that we weren’t able to go to the hospital which could have saved the life of my child. When I got home, my child was already gone, and so all I could do was to say sorry. Recently I’ve been having dreams wherein my child is asking me to look after my grandchildren. That’s why now, more than ever, I am more determined to work hard and provide a secure future for them,” he further added.
It was Rivera’s wish to have a pangkabuhayan or grocery package that could help him start a small sari-sari store business. He believes that through such endeavor, he could provide better for his grandchildren, even after he retires.
Suntrust Properties senior manager Christine Bellen did not waste time in granting the wish of Rivera. After hearing his wish, Bellen went out of her way to personally hand over her surprise to Ka Momoy.
The surprise of a grocery package that Bellen gave signaled the start of a better future for the hardworking Ka Momoy—indeed a fitting reward to a loyal, hardworking employee.
ENRIQUE BALCE-AN
Foreman
Enrique Balce-an’s life was a perfect picture of how life should be—simple yet happy.
A look at his family and their humble home, one could immediately sense the feeling of happiness. But beneath the smile was a problem that Balce-an has been praying for to be solved.
“I knew early on that there was something wrong—my child was about 8 months old at that time. It was a big blow for me knowing that my youngest, Renzo, was sick and that we didn’t have enough to have him thoroughly checked and treated,” Balce-an shared.
“It was really painful to see that he couldn’t do the things that a normal kid his age could experience and enjoy. All he does is lie down—he couldn’t play or do other things. We’ve already asked for help from the government and other people to pay for his treatment but still, it wasn’t enough. My only wish right now is to again find someone who could help Renzo get better through treatment and medication,” he added.
Hearing Balce-an’s heartbreaking story, officers from Suntrust Properties’ mother company, Megaworld Corp., immediately provided financial assistance to ensure that Renzo could be brought to the hospital and be properly diagnosed.
Luckily, Renzo through the kindness of Megaworld officials is now going through a series of therapy that could eventually help him become better.