One of the most common yet most difficult questions to answer—at risk of running into an existential crisis—is, “What would you do if you had the freedom to do anything?”
Most would probably be stumped with the question. After all, if you had so much freedom, you could do virtually anything. The tired ones would probably think of going on a long vacation to a postcard-perfect remote island. The hopeless romantic may choose to spend time with the love of their life. Both are perfectly acceptable options. On the other hand, the lucky ones who have found their life’s drive and inspiration would say perhaps that if they were independent and free to do what they wanted, they’d take the leap and pursue their dream. After all, who wouldn’t want that chance at attaining ultimate fulfillment, right?
But what if we don’t have to wait for the hypothetical “if we had all the freedom”? The truth is, the dreams we aim for are closer than we think. All we need is to recognize the seed of potential, hold on to a system that is both fully supportive and adaptive, and get up and do the work.
Enter JR Padilla. A devoted Christian and an avid reader, JR first dipped his toes into the world of real estate in 2006, despite initially having no idea what the profession entailed. But curiosity and interest got him immersed in the field, leading to him becoming a licensed broker. Sixteen years later, he says, “this is what I love, and real estate is already in my DNA.” So much so that in 2020, he became an active Ayala Land Estates Ambassador.
As someone who takes joy in meeting people and building relationships with them, becoming an ambassador seemed to be a perfect fit for JR. Fueled by the passion for helping others find the right spaces for their own dreams, JR says he realized that “selling a real estate product is an ethical obligation. That if you really believe that your product will fulfill someone’s need, whether professional or personal, then you have the obligation to offer it.”
This deeply ingrained sense of responsibility is what inspires JR to keep improving on his craft as a real estate broker and ambassador. “I became a vessel of happiness to someone who really wants to have a home or investment. So it’s more than just selling or making a commission,” he says.
As someone who believes in his responsibility to share and offer a property’s possibilities to those who may benefit from it, JR has come to discover and love a handful of developments he promotes.
With a forward-looking mindset and an understanding of current social needs, especially now that we’re moving into a more sustainable, post-pandemic period, JR boasts Nuvali as a prime place of investment. He cites “the location, the master-planning of the whole development, and the investment potential of the estate” as the top three reasons why he has always loved the Nuvali community.
It’s hard to disagree. After all, Nuvali is already well-established as a self-supporting estate, accessible from the bustling Metro Manila, but still away from the oftentimes tough concrete jungle. It also features a healthy mix of residential, commercial, and social spaces making it ideal for a variety of lifestyles.
The ability to cater to the needs of various property-seekers, started from residential to commercial property selling, has also been one of the reasons JR has taken much joy in the role of broker and ambassador. In recent times, he has expanded his reach and has been focusing now on offering commercial property investment opportunities to his clients.
“It’s become more challenging and exciting,” he says. “There’s a progression in terms of targeting clients… Now I get to meet and talk to CEOs and business owners. I get the chance to know them and learn from them, and at the same time, I give them the opportunity for their business and personal investments.”
The experience of being able to interact more with business owners has in fact also furthered JR’s inspiration to focus on his goal of building and diversifying his commercial property portfolio. “I’ve been selling residential properties for quite some time already, and now I think it is my time to go to the higher league or a higher level,” he says. Marketing these bigger projects and properties helps give JR more confidence to push his potential as a broker, he adds. “It’s not just the kind of income I will get, but more of the fulfillment I will get from selling these commercial properties that can also be a seed for business, generate employment and overall growth.”
While there has been much concern in the real estate industry due to the global health crisis dampening the economy, JR continues to be hopeful. Aside from seeing a growing demand for commercial property—which many real estate trend reports also note—the economy is now beginning to rebound, which spells good news for JR.
But what keeps him positive during this time is knowing that his career is well-supported. Working with and becoming an accredited broker for Ayala Land Estates has shown JR the values of adaptation and full support, he says, adding that it really resonated with him.
Among the ways Ayala Land adapted to the limitations of the pandemic, which JR was given a glimpse of, was having all the tools to present properties virtually. The interactive virtual tours of the estate developments being presented helped JR immensely, he said.
“I appreciate the full support Ayala Land Estates has been giving me, [like] the regular updates and briefings that equip us to appreciate and market the products they offer,” JR says. “It’s a win-win. Ayala Land helps us to achieve our goals, and at the same time, we help the company promote their vision of enhancing the lives of every Filipino by offering the best products we can offer.”
As we celebrate our Independence today, we remember how freely we can now search for and take opportunities to thrive on our own land, and to develop both ourselves and the land, too. There are a lot of opportunities in the Philippines, if one takes some creativity to look.
Ayala Land Estates, through its various offerings and network, has proven time and again their dedication to supporting Filipino careers in real estate. JR and his many opportunities to grow and thrive as an ambassador is a testament to it.
Truly, a strong support system and a strong sense of confidence in your potential is all the freedom you need to achieve. Coupled with a commitment to constantly improve, and a deep sense of empathy for others, you, like JR, can be well on the way to meeting and fulfilling your dreams.