Villar: Filipinos can earn from real estate during pandemic


The various residential brands under the Villar Group of developers presents an opportunity for those who are looking for alternative or even main source of income as the local economy continues to reel under the impact of the pandemic.

Villar Group Chairman Manuel B. Villar Jr., the country’s wealthiest individual, urged Filipinos here and abroad to join the company’s pool of real property agents, licensed brokers and referral partners for its wide-range of housing portfolio.

Villar Group of Companies Chairman Manuel B. Villar, Jr.

The Villar Group has successfully held its second convention that gathered the country’s real estate brands in one giant virtual property expo, reaching about 3,000 interested buyers, sales agents, brokers, students, and young professionals.

In his speech at the Villar Group Convention: Business OpportunitieS Summit, Villar talked about how one can turn the pandemic into an opportunity to establish a career in the real estate business or shift to this new hustle to earn a living for one’s family.

“There has to be ViCon meetings like this one, we owe this to our brokers, our friends, our agents so that they will know that they are welcome; everybody’s welcome to sell for us,” he said.

Villar, who has retired from politics, said he has been very hands-on on the property developments.

The Villar Group has showcased its housing brands ranging from social housing to the most expensive projects during the event, namely, Bria, Lumina, Lessandra, Camella, Camella Manors, Vista Residences, Crown Asia and Brittany.

Golden MV, the country’s biggest development in the death care sector, was also part of the expo.

Villar remains committed in making sure that he would help realize every Filipino’s dream to have his or her own home and now go a little further, to provide them opportunities to become his business partners.

He shunned impressions that it is very hard for a seller to join the Villar Group. “On the contrary now, the easiest way to do is to sell for us,” he said.

“Right now, we want to build a very good relationship with everyone, especially in the industry,” Villar said noting that, “Sayang, (It is unfortunate) if the brokers will not be able to promote the projects.” Villar, also known as the country’s brown taipan, showed the public once again how he and his team are able to overcome the challenges of the pandemic by pursuing more projects despite the various community lockdowns.

“What we did in the last six quarters, we completed the unfinished houses... We improved our services further... We have improved significantly our property management. We have improved our customer care, and physically, we have improved our model houses and our subdivisions,” he said.

He noted that, “The more I am amazed by the breadth and depth of our projects. So, I say, we have to share this with our friends.” Villar dubbed the 2nd ViCon as a beacon of strength for both the company and its roster of real property agents and business partners who continue to thrive despite the challenges of the pandemic.

The event is a follow-up on the first ViCon launched in June this year.

Villar spoke proudly about the Villar Group’s presence in almost all of the regions in the country—from Tuguegarao in the Northern Philippines down to Pagadian in Zamboanga.

“Once you got to know or you get to understand the Villar Group, you don’t need to go far. We have everything - from socialized (housing) to the most expensive house and lots or lots only,” he said.

He said the Villar Group’s property development covers all segments from lower-middle class to upper class.

Whether one is looking for house and lots or condominium units, the Villar Group is ready to provide choices for every discerning and practical buyers here and abroad.

“If you look at the subdivisions, you would be impressed. I’m willing to compare our projects with the other developers. Maybe, in the last two years, they were more popular than us because we were focused on low cost (housing), but we really have beautiful projects,” he said.

The Villars’ housing developments are synergized with Vista Mall and Starmall as well as its retail stores such as AllDay Supermarket and AllHome, which branches are located within or near the group’s subdivision and condominium developments.

“Even our malls are the most beautiful in the Philippines. Even our restaurants and coffee shops, they are the nicest (shops) around,” he said.

He added that, “Even our supermarkets and home improvement stores, they are very nice, very pretty, most complete, that is why, I said, we should make them more beautiful. I said, it would be unfortunate if we would be unable to share this with our friends.”