For so long in real estate — once considered a male dominated industry — women were often confined to roles lower than executives, perceived as less critical compared to the technical aspects of property development. Societal shifts, however, have brought about a welcome change. Today, the hard hat of real estate can be donned by anyone, regardless of gender.

Leading this transformation is Ma. Charina “Chay” S. Garcia, the CEO of Community Creators Inc. (CCI), a prominent real estate management company in the country. Over the years as head executive, Chay, together with her team, has earned recognition for a diverse range of successful projects and challenging stereotypes.

Empowered woman

Behind Chay’s successful journey is an empowered woman who also encouraged her to break barriers. When times get tough for Chay, she finds the ultimate pick-me-up in the words of empowerment from another woman — her mother, Cynthia Garcia.

Cynthia embodies strength for Chay in the demanding realm of real estate. She not only served as her biggest supporter but also as a role model whom she always admired. Additionally, Cynthia empowered her to assert herself in a male-dominated world, imparting valuable advice: “Assert yourself. Speak out. Give your opinion. As long as you are respectful, it doesn’t matter who’s in the conversation.”

From her college years, Chay demonstrated her ability to excel in any endeavor she pursued. Graduating cum laude with BS in Management from Ateneo de Manila University in 1993, Chay's scholarship underscored her determination to achieve her goals despite any obstacles.

Her desire to provide stability for her family, coupled with her innate drive, fueled her ambition to succeed. “I wanted to provide something more stable for my family. Financially, I wanted to be able to help; to give them a more stable life,” shared Chay.

Path to success

Entering the workforce, Chay honed her skills in real estate, navigating the complexities of planning, land acquisition, and collaboration with professionals in the field. Despite her initial setbacks, including a retrenchment due to a financial downturn in the industry, Chay's resilience prevailed.

Instead of pursuing a master's degree as initially planned, she heeded the advice of a former colleague to establish a real estate consultancy firm, Landworks, Asia Inc. (now Community Creators, Inc.) in 2003.

After investing her money to start the business, months passed, and she found herself struggling financially, with only ₱2,000 left in her account. “Looking back, I can’t even remember how I survived it. I can’t recall who I borrowed money from. The point is, we overcame the hardships,” Chay said.

For five years, they operated solely as consultants. After the fifth year, they ventured into development. Their very first project, initially five hectares in size, expanded successfully to 20 hectares.

In 2014, when her colleague decided to retire from their office, Chay became the sole owner of CCI — a challenge she faced head-on. Today, Chay oversees a growing team of employees at CCI, with over 100 staff members and continues to expand.

Leading by example

As a real estate executive, Chay has collaborated with top developers and landowners in planning and developing close to 30,500 hectares of land. She has co-owned and managed several development companies that have spearheaded the development of over 100 hectares of residential, commercial, resort, memorial, and mixed-use projects, resulting in the sale of over 12,500 units of inventory.

Under Chay's leadership, CCI has embarked on six developments, four of which have already been completed. These projects include the 15.6-hectare Monte Brisa and the 2.9-hectare Florenza, both located in Rodriguez, Rizal; the 3.1-hectare Valle Rosa and the 5.8-hectare Altana, both situated in Malolos, Bulacan; and Chay's most notable project, Amiya Raya — a 46-hectare mountain-side residential development and the first nature park in San Mateo, Rizal. Within Amiya Raya, Shanti Condominium, her first-ever condo project, is set to rise, featuring 11 stories and 148 units.

With her vision, Chay sees CCI continuing to expand, not only providing employment opportunities but also sheltering Filipinos for years to come. When asked about how she leads women empowerment, especially at work, Chay proudly stated, “I lead by example. They just have to look at me and see that being a woman is not a hindrance in terms of what you can achieve.”