A house is always a poetic entity for the Filipino. It is always more than just brick and mortar, more than the material it is made of.
Above and beyond a combination of materials, it is sweat and tears building up into something tangible. In this thing, a family expects to get a place for rest and security, and to find and make memories. Of this house, Filipinos make a home.
To the Filipino, a house is two things. First, it is a culmination. On that proverbial ladder of success, it is the highest token one claims—way higher in meaning than brand-new shoes, gadgets or cars. Second, it is a work in progress. It goes through upkeep or upgrade, changing or staying the same depending on the dwellers’ needs and sentiments.
With this duality, we will find that the house is the costliest investment most Filipinos will make in their lifetime. Of course, as in any investment, it can become a loss when things go wrong. It can become a loss in various ways in the Philippines, from natural calamities to manmade disasters to normal wear and tear. It can also turn into a loss if its design becomes unsuited to the family, whether it be in the design stage or over time, as the family grows.
Some dwellings meanwhile get damaged over time—it can be due to natural wear and tear, or it can also be because it was made of subpar materials and/or by people who lack foresight and expertise.
For a building that we expect to shelter us through days and nights, even through rough times and calamities, the best way to keep a house strong and resilient is to buy quality materials and employ skilled workers, among others.
This is what Suntrust Properties Inc. (SPI) believes in when it says it wants a “home for every Filipino.” It identifies itself with the Filipino who sees more than just materials in the home. As it instills in its corporate culture through its mission statement, it wants to provide “superior yet affordable homes.” Seeing the bigger picture, it has always endeavored to situate that address within a masterplanned and self-contained community.
This intimate understanding of the Filipino and his dream of owning a decent, quality home has been Suntrust Properties’ “superpower” in the real estate industry. It is this familiarity that enabled the company to become a partner of a multitude of Filipinos in realizing their dream homes. From building communities in the late 1990s in Dasmariñas, General Trias, and Silang in Cavite, it went on to spread itself to as far as The Fountain Grove in Bacolod and Palm City in Tagum, Davao del Norte.
Claiming its place in the vertical development sphere, Suntrust Properties built condominiums in key areas in Metro Manila—UN Gardens, Suntrust Capitol Plaza, Treetop Villas, among others. In recent years, it has expanded its footprint as introduced residential condominiums in Baguio (The Mist, Suntrust 88 Gibraltar) and in Davao (One and Two Lakeshore Drive).
Suntrust Properties’ acquisition of Stateland Inc. last year allowed the former to further grow its portfolio and expand its reach in key locations.
Its rich portfolio built over the past two decades would not have been possible if it did not take to heart the aspirations of the Filipino dreamer. Like no one else in the industry can, Suntrust understands the poetry that wraps the Filipino home.