Established in 1933 with a fleet of only five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines now has a fleet of 325 passenger and cargo aircraft flying to 304 destinations in 122 countries – including the Philippines.
The national carrier of Turkey, which flies to more countries than any other airlines, holds itself to high passenger comfort standards. And this is best embodied by its Business Class that offers seating designed to take passenger comfort to the highest level.
Business-class passengers of Turkish Airlines get to enjoy seating features, which may vary depending on aircraft type, such as in-chair massage, reading lamp, power supply and the facility to screen off their private area. They can sleep in comfort with fully lie-flat seats and complimentary pillows and blankets.
In addition, each one of them is furnished with an amenity kit containing an assortment of items they may find useful – eye mask, ear plugs, lip balm and socks. Denon headphones that deliver perfect sound and minimize ambient noise by as much as 99% are also provided to them. Denon is a world-renowned manufacturer of audio and home entertainment systems.
Turkish Airlines has developed an innovation called “Sky Illusion Sleeping Collection” that enables its business-class passengers on intercontinental flights to enjoy the best Turkish hospitality within the concept of privileged travel, and promises home comfort on the clouds during extended range flights.
What’s more, chefs ply business-class passengers with lip-smacking Turkish and world cuisines served up on stylish porcelain tableware.
Istanbul Atatürk Airport, the main international airport serving Istanbul, a major city in Turkey, is home to one of the world’s most awarded private passenger lounges, Lounge Istanbul, which occupies 6,000 square meters and seats up to 1,100 people.
Business Class passengers traveling with Turkish Airlines, Miles&Smiles Elite and Elite Plus cardholders traveling in Economy Class, Star Alliance Gold and Turkish Airlines Corporate Club members are allowed access to Lounge Istanbul.
Lounge Istanbul, where the modern blends with the traditional, offers an atmosphere that’s tranquil and filled with entertainment.
Besides the unique tastes of Turkish and world dishes, the lounge offers a great range of services and activities, including a realistic racetrack providing the excitement of a car race, video game consoles, a cutting-edge golf simulator, private resting suits and showering areas, media wall, cinema, a play area for children, a library, a pool room, a prayer room, a teleconference hall, and massage service.
Passengers who fly through Istanbul and have a waiting time of at least six hours are welcome to Touristanbul. After arriving at Istanbul Atatürk Airport, they will be picked up and taken to the most significant historical sights of the city, where some of the world’s major civilizations emerged and flourished, as well as to its natural beauties. Once the sightseeing is over, the passengers will be taken back to the airport for their next flight.
For more information, visit www.turkishairlines.com, e-mail MANILASALES@THY.COM or TICKETING@THY.COM.PH or contact (+632) 894-5416 or (+632) 864-0600.

“The kind of success I’m looking for is when someone says ‘Pepsi’, it comes with a bright smile,” said Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) Independent Director Rafael Moreno Alunan III.
Asked in 2007 by then Chairman Micky Yong to join the PCPPI Board, Mr. Alunan accepted the invitation because of its global reputation and fond memories he had of the brand when he was young.
“I accepted Micky’s invitation to join the PCPPI board as an independent director because it was a prestigious company known for good corporate governance worldwide and producer of quality products, from beverages to snacks,” he said. “Moreover, I had a personal affinity for Pepsi.”
“First, from a personal it was already my favorite drink in my younger years when I lived in Bacolod. There, the brand was number one. Second, my son and I were in a Pepsi Christmas TV ad that was chosen as the best Christmas ad in the late ‘70s. It was directed by Jun Urbano who later became a famous comedian on TV known as Mr. Shooli.”
“As PCPPI endeavored to get itself publicly listed, the board set the tone for management to improve its bottling and distribution operations, expand the company’s non-carbonated beverage lineup and strove to transform our company culture,” he said.
It was clear early on to Mr. Alunan that the success Pepsi aspired for rested on two arms: a strong company culture based on clearly defined values and persistent improvement across the entire business chain. PCPPI upholds important values that guides the company and its employees — passion, excellence, professionalism, service and integrity.
Company culture steers everyone onward

“It’s about unity of purpose, solidarity with corporate goals and targets, all-around teamwork, and professionalism. The board sets the tone for professional conduct and provides clear business directions while management executes policies and plans to build the business and constantly improve shareholder and stakeholder value.”
Mr. Alunan noted that transforming the company’s competitiveness requires taking care of its employees’ growth and development to instill a culture of performance excellence and teamwork.
A desirable culture, according to him, is a mindset that strives to achieve the company’s productivity, quality, integrity, compliance and competitiveness targets year-on-year.
“There has been a big change since I came to the company — our employees are now more cohesive and mission-focused. They routinely surpass their annual operating targets. We’ve been able to overcome challenges to our business by moving as one. Consequently, their morale and fighting spirit steadily produced profitable outcomes at the end of each fiscal year,” he said.
Public service is serving the public quality products as good corporate citizens
Although the primary benchmark of success for any company is profitability, Mr. Alunan maintains that there are other yardsticks that measure an organization’s progress and development such as: measures of time, quality, cost and effectiveness and customer satisfaction.
“We derive financial, operational, and governance standards from our principal shareholders, Lotte and Pepsi International, as well as from the beverage industry,” he stressed. “For example: just in time inventory, cost control, distribution, target market penetration, market share, fiduciary responsibility, transparency, accountability and regulatory compliance.”
Apart from producing and delivering excellent quality products to the public, Mr. Alunan says that PCPPI must be a good corporate citizen, too. “Giving back to the community is crucial because they take care of us. For example, we draw our employee force from our communities and our customers’ loyalty keeps us competitive. That’s why we reciprocate by looking after their needs. An example is providing potable or purified water to poor communities because water is life and life depends on good health.”
Through the years PCPPI has undertaken social responsibility projects that are integral to their operations — e.g., school feeding programs and water supply projects for indigent communities — apart from ensuring consistent product quality and affordable products.
“We want our customers to see that we’re doing everything within our power to constantly build our value chain,” Mr. Alunan said. “Ultimately, Pepsi’s brands should be endearing to the public, brands closest to their hearts that bring a smile to their faces as they line up for more. That’s the ultimate benchmark.”

As the Philippines continues on its path of greater economic growth and development, the demand for electricity among industries, communities, and households will also continue to grow,
and this demand can only be addressed by strengthening the nation.
As a response to this growing demand for reliable electricity transmission, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) launched the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP), eyed to connect the three power grids of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao into one unified national grid by 2020.
“With One Gridwe envision2020, a strong, unified power transmission network that can meet the country’s future power needs,” said NGCP.
What is the MVIP?
The MVIP is NGCP’s latest project that aims to connect the Minda and which will ultimately lead to a single, unified national grid by the time of its completion in 2020.
“With a unified national grid, power transmission services in the there will be less power interruptions nationwide due to the sharing of local energy resources.
Reliable electricity transmission, in turn, could help boost investments, infrastructure development, and commerce in the country,” said NGCP.
After five years of careful research and planning, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has authorized the NGCP to start building the MVIP in 2017, with the project set to be completed by December 2020.
Currently, the country harnesses most of its electricity from the interconnected Luzon and Visayas grids, which was linked in 1998 and uses a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system with a 440-megawatt (MW) capacity. Once the MVIP is complete by 2020, it will be using an HVDC system with a 450-MW initial capacity.
The MVIP will employ 184 circuit-kilometers of submarine cables, plus 526 circuit-kilometers of overhead wires, to connect Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte to Santander, Cebu using HVDC submarine cables, which will transmit energy efficiently between Visayas and Mindanao with minimal loss.
The completion of the MVIP will result in a more stable and secure supply of power in the country, and will maximize the use of available local energy resources.
“This will support the national government’s vision tohichinterconne would then help improve the overall power supply security of the country through the sharing of reserves,” said the company. “This will also support the overal electricity market by allowing the optimization of all available energy sources, including the additional generation capacities that will be implemented in Visa.
While the final cost of the project has yet to be determined by the ERC, NGCP has filed the estimated cost of the project to be at PHP52 billion. Depending on the regulatory reset by 2020, consumers might also notice the immediate effects of the project on their electricity bills as its completion will result to a price increase of PHP0.03 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
“To date, the biggest part – off-waytheaccessMVIPand acquisition,rightwhich we expect to secure by the end of December 2018. Therefore, as early as now, we are reaching out to the public, especially all national and local government units, to collaborate with us for the successful completion of the MVIP to meet our goal of One Grid 2020,” appeal
The Long Road to a Unified National Grid
While the completion of the MVIP by 2020 bodes well for the country and its electricity transmission reliability, NGCP braved a long and challenging road to ensure that its vision of a strong, unified national grid will become a reality.
As early as 1980 and on through 2004, numerous studies have been conducted by various international development agencies such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), among others, to determine the feasibility of the MVIP.
However, it was only between 2011 and 2014 when NGCP prepared an updated feasibility study for the MVIP and completed the hydrographic survey for its Eastern route. The desktop study and the hydrographic study for the Western route, on the other hand, were initiated in 2015 and completed in 2016, which showed favorable results for the Zamboanga del Norte-Cebu interconnection.
In 2017, the ERC finally approved the implementation of the MVIP via the Western route through the Zamboanga del Norte-Cebu interconnection.
Executive Order No. 30 was issued in July of last year, creating an Energy Investment Coordinating Council to streamline regulatory procedures affecting energy projects. By virtue of the Executive Order, the Department of Energy (DOE) declared the MVIP as an Energy Project of National Significance (EPNS) last 08 May 2018.
As an identified EPNS, the issuance of regulatory and documentary requirements by different local and national government agencies will be expedited. “The declaration of the MVIP as an EPNS is a welcome development. This will definitely help us meet the target completion date of December 2020,” the company said.
Under a government-granted 25-year concession, NGCP holds the rights to operate and maintain the country’s transmission system and other related servicesfacilities, a that will maximize the utilization of the power transmission network and infrastructure. By making a unified national grid possible through the MVIP, NGCP bridges power and progress by addressing the country’s increasing electricity demand and en transmission.
NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately-owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s-ownedpowerstategrid,and is led by majority shareholders Henry Sy, Jr. and Robert Coyiuto, Jr.

The automobile industry is currently undergoing a transformation. Amid the many technological advancements made by the world’s best carmakers, including great strides in the fields of battery technology and artificial intelligence, what would the car of the future be like?
Hyundai, as one of the carmakers pushing the limits of what cars can become, is exploring that exact question, as well as the question of maintaining relevance in such a highly competitive industry landscape.
“We are adapting to our uncertain and constantly changing business landscape by redefining and expanding the concept of mobility, thinking beyond product and technology to create meaningful experiences, as people no longer just buy products, but experiences that they associate with a product or brand,” Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said.
That same concept of mobility is needed, not simply as the core of their products, but as a lifeline toward navigating the disruptive roads of the automobile industry. Ms. Perez-Agudo believes that the same philosophy can steer the company toward adapting to the rapidly changing needs of its consumers, letting technology bridge the gap between those behind the wheel, and those who design it.
“We are no longer just in the business of selling cars — we are in the business of empowerment, of enhancing lives through innovative products and customer care. But this demands agility and, to be an agile company, one must boost capacity in the digital space: automation for operational efficiency; using big data and analytics to draw meaningful insights on customer needs, wants, and pain points; continuously enhancing customer experience; and developing new markets,” she said.
As the official importer and distributor of Hyundai passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the country, HARI gives customer experience top priority, and significant efforts are being put into a new operating model that would put the customer at the front and center of the business. The new model will be the company’s attempt at “harnessing social listening tools to understand the highs and lows of the Filipino consumer and so better connect with customers; leveraging the new and the traditional media to engage our diverse markets via the channels of their choice; and building capacity in order to become a digitally-agile company.”
HARI is also putting in work to establish its digital presence to keep in touch with its customers 24/7. In its efforts enhancing customer experience on that front, the company has received recognition, not only from its parent company, but also from prestigious consumer watchdogs.
The company maintains that its digital platforms are a key method to maintaining relevance in the Filipino market. As technological innovation makes even bigger strides in the coming years globally, Hyundai vowed to make it a point to engage in the partnerships it has made with the community, advancing new modes of collaboration that underscores the heart and the human face of its business.
“As we adapt and build on our digital platforms in the coming years, we are always mindful of what Hyundai and HARI are all about: the Filipino’s lifetime partner in mobility and beyond. The way we communicate this objective may change, but our company’s mandate shines through,” Ms. Perez-Agudo said.
Doing business right, and working for the prosperity of all, that remains the core of Hyundai’s business.
“I am not referring to isolated CSR efforts, but to a business culture that is self-sustaining while responsibly working for the benefit and sustainability of all stakeholders—and the environment,” she added.

This advanced wireless technology promises huge benefits, ability to handle large amounts of data at lightning-quick speeds with ultra low latency
Globe Telecom formally announced its fifth-generation (5G) wireless technology adoption in the Philippines, with the first 5G Globe At Home service to be commercially available by the second quarter of 2019.
The 5G network will boast of higher speeds, lower latency, and better capacity. This will enable Globe to deploy fixed wireless broadband at a fiber speed.

Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu said the 5G technology would enable Globe to use Air Fiber technology in relation to deployment of fixed wireless broadband that would benefit individual customers at home and business clients alike. “Air Fiber internet, which makes use of fixed location wireless radios instead of fiber, could provide speeds ranging from 50 Mbps to 100 Mbps,” Mr. Cu added.
Globe will start rolling out 5G services commercially in the Philippines mid-2019. “We have been preparing our network for sometime now with our existing vendor partners, including Huawei Technologies. We are happy to bring the Philippines in line with other countries that are early adopters of 5G. Once again, we stay true to our commitment to bring first-world internet in the country,” Mr. Cu said.
The technology will also enable the company to go over the circuitous approval process of deploying a fiber optic cable, which involves multiple permits from local government units (LGUs). The right of process can sometimes take years to obtain delaying fiber optic rollout completion. “We can bring internet to more homes by deploying 5G compared to a typical fiber optic rollout,” Mr. Cu said.
The 5G technology is expected to accelerate the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) in the country. Globe earlier announced said it is enabling its network by utilizing its spectrum assets particularly the 700-megahertz band.
Globe is currently piloting Narrow Band-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) technology while enhancing its mobile data services. Due to its inherent advantage of long reach, this spectrum is ideal to support NB-IoT services. NB-IoT is one of the three 3GPP standards-based low power wide area (LPWA) technologies developed to enable a wide range of new IoT devices and services. NB-IoT, as a standard, is more developed as compared to other defined 3GPP standards. Globe and Huawei are collaborating in this journey, ensuring network readiness to support these services.
The Globe network has one of the largest deployment of Massive MIMO (MM) in Asia as part of its strategic technology road map since 2016. MM is the fundamental radio access technology for 5G.
Globe has been spending over 31% of its annual total revenues to upgrade and expand its telecommunication and IT infrastructure. For years, Globe has been ramping up its capital spend from P21.1 billion in 2012 to P36.7 billion in 2016 and P42.5 billion in 2017, in order to provide its subscribers of better broadband services. Globe recently disclosed that it will further accelerate its capital spend to over P43.5 billion this year.
Back in November 2015, Globe extended its partnership with Huawei, signing a five-year contract involving the planning and design of a wireless broadband network, as well as the creation of a wireless innovation center. Huawei was also the technology partner of Globe when it implemented a $700-million network modernization program that began in 2011.

There is an ongoing revolution in the global energy industry. Countries like Germany, Chile, India, and even China are weaning themselves off conventional fuels like oil and coal and are switching to renewable energy sources.
Worldwide, massive efforts are being made to relieve the environmental pressures brought about by the world’s reliance on conventional fossil fuels and to find an affordable, sustainable alternative. The United Nations, in its Sustainable Development Goals, highlighted the demand for universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy by 2030.
In the Philippines, Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is leading the way toward that goal.
“We in EDC, took these disruptions as an opportunity to keep on creating a positive impact in the local and global society as we generate clean, renewable, and reliable power that is cost-competitive. We are bullish in steering the country toward a cleaner and more sustainable future with the shift to renewable energy – such as geothermal,” EDC said in an interview.
EDC is currently the world’s largest vertically-integrated geothermal developer and the country’s premier renewable energy company , delivering 1,457.8 megawatts of clean and renewable energy to the country. Wind, solar, and hydroelectric power are also part of EDC’s portfolio.
“As the global demand for energy continues to change, we also keep up through expansion and technological advancements. We aim to continue to take the necessary steps to increase efficiency and reliability as we build resilience in our assets and develop agility in our people and processes,” the company said.

Having successfully harnessed geothermal energy for over 40 years, EDC possesses the experience necessary to pave the way toward the country being recognized as a leader in renewable energy. In its long history, EDC has managed to keep up with the transforming needs of the industry through the ups and downs of disruption, committing to its mission of ensuring a clean and green environment for Filipinos, as well as adopting concrete steps to ensure sustainability in the long run.
“This age of disruption dictates that we need clean, renewable, reliable, baseload energy that is cost competitive to power our growing economy without contributing to climate change. Geothermal energy is the only source of power that has all that. Geo 24/7 is the holy grail of RE–it is low-carbon, flexible, renewable, and it can supply baseload power 24/7. Geo 24/7 is EDC’s solution to climate change amidst all the disruption,” the company said.
As the world’s largest vertically integrated geothermal producer, EDC has the drive and capability to steer the country toward sustainability and decarbonization. In addition to providing clean, renewable geothermal energy to the Philippines, the company continues to blaze the trail in environmental preservation with its BINHI greening legacy program, a species conservation initiative that focuses on rescuing and propagating premium endangered native tree species.
Under BINHI, EDC built two Vegetative Material Reproduction (VMR) nurseries to propagate 96 premium endangered native tree seedlings. As the seedlings are carefully grown in the VMR nurseries, they will be kept safe and secure from external factors. The seeds planted in the nursery will then be used to grow mother trees to ensure the survival of high-value and fast-dwindling native trees.
“For over 40 years, we have applied our expertise not only in providing clean and reliable geothermal energy in the country, but also in protecting the environment. We continue to build on this legacy, with the hopes of achieving a clean, coal-free, and sustainable future,” EDC said.
The world is undergoing a period of rapid change. More than ever, stewardship of the world’s natural resources and the well-being of the environment necessitates the swift action of leaders in every industry.
“As part of the Lopez Group of Companies, we have made a commitment to not invest in coal because we want to be a part of the country’s solution to climate change through the way we do business. We believe that we have a very pivotal role in protecting our planet from the disastrous effects of carbon emissions to ensure a sustainable future for our children. We are committed to maintaining our foothold in geothermal energy production as we remain laser-focused in our use of technology to improve our efficiency and lower the cost of generating renewable and reliable energy for the benefit of our customers,” EDC said.
“It is our ultimate goal to provide accessible and cost-competitive geothermal energy for all Filipinos. We likewise hope to inspire others to take a step towards a sustainable development, so, collectively, we can find solutions to our most pressing climate and environmental issues.”

In the 21st century, disruptions abound. Companies large and small must contend with the challenges of an ever-changing corporate environment. At the same time, consumers seek out services that cater to their needs more efficiently. In this milieu of constant change, businesses must be agile and adept — at once masters in their respective fields as well as innovators advocating continuous improvement.
GT Capital Holdings, Inc. is aware of the many disruptions in the business landscape, as a listed major Philippine conglomerate with interests in market-leading companies across an array of industries, such as banking, automotive assembly, importation, wholesaling, dealership, and financing, property development, infrastructure and utilities, and insurance. As the primary vehicle for the holding and management of the diversified business interests of the Ty family in the Philippines, the corporation has to keep abreast of the various developments in each of the sectors it is present.
Today, GT Capital owns market-dominant businesses in five vital, underpenetrated high-growth sectors that drive the Philippine economy, namely banking (Metrobank), automotive (Toyota), property development (Federal Land and Pro-Friends), insurance (AXA Philippines), and infrastructure and utilities (Metro Pacific).
As these industries experience significant changes in the way they do business, GT Capital’s component companies strive to provide even more innovative solutions to consumers by embracing disruption.
“To navigate in this age of various disruptions, GT Capital harnesses the expertise of its global strategic partners in this age of disruption. Instead of merely surviving in an ever-changing disruptor-filled economic environment, GT Capital and its component companies lead at the cutting edge of their various sectors,” the company said.
According to GT Capital, a key element in its business model is the establishment of long-term, strategic partnerships with best-of-class global brands. As these leading entities lend their expertise and technology to each venture, GT Capital provides valuable, in-depth local knowledge and access to capital, among others. These mutually beneficial alliances enable the ventures to be competitive if not dominant.
“Examples of this are Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation, the country’s number one auto company, Federal Land’s unique joint venture with Isetan Mitsukoshi and Nomura Real Estate, Metrobank’s partnership with ORIX Corporation, a Japanese pioneer in leasing, and AXA Philippines, one of the country’s pioneering insurers,” GT Capital said.
Embracing the age of disruption, GT Capital’s component companies continue to introduce innovative solutions for their respective markets. Metrobank recently launched its new mobile app that lets customers bank securely on the go. Toyota Motor Philippines is at the forefront of nation-building via its participation in the government’s CARS program, which aims to increase the local content of vehicles manufactured in the country. Federal Land’s innovative approach to social media contributes to the efficiency of the property company’s strong sales force. Pro-Friends uses innovative pre-cast technology to provide quality affordable homes for Filipino families. AXA recently opened its Shared Services Center in Manila to boost the productivity of its global business.
In addition to this, the company boasts that it has one of the most well-defined synergy stories among Philippine conglomerates.
“Our component companies benefit from vast cross-selling opportunities within the group. AXA Philippines, to illustrate, uses the branch network of Metrobank to market its bancassurance products. Similarly, Toyota vehicle sales are often financed by car loans from Metrobank, its subsidiary PSBank, and Toyota Financial Services Philippines,” the company said.
GT Capital is also taking the initiative by implementing a strategic vision aimed at strengthening the existing synergies among its component companies, expanding into sectors it is currently involved in, and venturing into new, underpenetrated markets of the Philippine economy.
All of this is in accordance with the strong principles and values that the company’s founder, Chairman Emeritus Dr. George S.K. Ty, has imbued the company with.
“While success in business is a source of pride, our contribution to nation-building gives us even greater satisfaction,” Dr. Ty said.
Through disruptions and the opportunities, GT Capital remains focused on the thrust to continue Dr. Ty’s mission of building the Filipino nation through helping the customers of the conglomerate’s component companies achieve their dreams—of starting a business through Metrobank, owning a quality vehicle through Toyota Motor Philippines, building a home through Federal Land and Pro-Friends, securing one’s family through AXA Philippines, and providing infrastructure and utilities through Metro Pacific.
“We will be a world-class conglomerate, dominant in all the key sectors where it is invested, most sought after by global investors seeking opportunities for strategic partnership in the Philippines, and a major contributor to nation-building,” the company said.
With that vision in mind, GT Capital Holdings, Inc. pushes forward as a Philippine conglomerate with a strategic business portfolio that has a heritage of leadership in the vital sectors of financial services, automotive assembly and distribution, property development, insurance, infrastructure and utilities that are essential to national progress.
“Anchored on our core values of integrity, competence, excellence, respect, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to value creation, we fulfill our mission to ensure sustainable long-term profitability, increase shareholder value, create synergies, provide career opportunities, and contribute to nation-building,” the company said.

Amid tough competition among property developers, coupled with various factors changing the market game today, investing in customer care as well as in the company’s own people can play a vital role in navigating this age of disruption.

This is what Suntrust Properties, Inc., (SPI) a wholly owned subsidiary of Megaworld Corp., is doing in order to remain as the Filipinos’ developer of choice.
“SPI sees to it that it is abreast with the marketing trends, especially in the real estate industry where the competition is head to head with other developers,” the property developer said.
“SPI continues to educate itself, noting that learning is limitless. Employees, managers, and even members of the executive committee are regularly given necessary trainings or seminars as part of their quarterly evaluation. This ensures that the people behind the brand are fully adept and efficient in their respective specializations to be able to deliver the utmost products and services to its clients. As a result, people at Suntrust tend to be more proactive rather than reactive.”

In relation to this, the company is also making sure to improve its way of communicating with its clients, admitting that the digital world has changed how brands develop their marketing and communication materials.
“We really make it a point to be digitally present and engaging as well. Communication in advertising is now two-way; the internet has opened a portal where the audience can give their feedback and concerns anytime. Our clients today are very much empowered. They clearly know what they want and they would definitely find a way to let you know about their thoughts,” SPI said.

The property developer realizes that while it expands its projects in various locations, it now caters to a wider and larger range of market, thus it needs to focus more on its after-sales services. Realizing that it is far from perfection in this aspect, it has created the Client Administration and Relations Department (CARE).
“SPI lives up to its promise of excellent sales and after-sales services when it put together a team dedicated for customer care that allows us to communicate with clients more effectively; they can be reached through social media platforms as well since this is where people are more active now. Suntrust is a client-centric business; we listen to our clients’ needs and their feedbacks are taken into consideration in every decision that the company makes.”

Apart from these services, SPI further enhances the lives of its people and clients through corporate social responsibilities. As shared by the company, SPI focused more on giving back as it celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2017, during which more than 2,500 workers and Suntrustees benefitted.
These initiatives are also a reflection of the property developer’s core value of “malasakit” or concern for others, which is also one of the company’s visions and goals to inspire Filipinos to aspire for better homes because SPI believes everyone deserves a home.

Looking ahead, SPI continues its mission to deliver superior and affordably priced homes and envisions itself to be the buyers’ first choice. With the recent acquisition of Stateland, Inc., this further strengthens the brand and enables it to deliver and help address the housing backlog.
The company added that it maintains its corporate identity as the yardstick for affordable township development. This is achieved by ensuring that its vision and mission are both embodied and implemented — externally through its brand and marketing collaterals and internally by its employees and the warm and welcoming ambience Suntrust office emanates.