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“Balesin and Baguio Log
Cabins are our projects with
Alphaland. In true Alphaland
style, they were done in record
time, overcoming massive
logistic issues of materials
and manpower due to their
locations. The can-do attitude
of Ongpin and her team is
inspiring.” – Mark Taylor, CEO,
Sterling Construction and
Development Corporationa 7.5 per cent increase on 2015. That doesn’t
mean Alphaland is without challenges,
though. In particular, congestion at Manila
International Airport hinders access to the
exclusive Balesin Island Club. Recent
government regulations, including a curfew
from midday to 7pm, were, in Anna’s words,
“hurtful to business”.
“That put a real damper on our operation
because a lot of people like to arrive or leave
in the afternoon. Now we limit our flights to
mornings and evenings,” she says. In response,
Alphaland has spent money on installing
runway lights on the Balesin property. It has
also acquired a second, 68-seat ATR 72-500
aircraft, bringing its tally of planes owned
to five: two ATRs, two Cessna Caravans
and one Jetstream. The plane acquisition
has increased Alphaland’s capacity so it can
now transport as many as 500 members and
guests to and from the island daily. Further,
Anna adds, Alphaland is about to unveil
its private hangar at the nearby Clark
International Airport.
“Flying out of Clark is great because
there’s no slotting and there’s no air traffic
and everything is very organised.
Unfortunately, it’s two hours away from
Manila, but if you live in the north, it’s
probably a better deal for you than driving
all the way to Manila,” says Anna. “Most
of our members live closer to Manila, so
improving Clark won’t solve 100 per cent
of the problem, but our hands are tied
because of the government.”
Despite possessing a project portfolio
unlike any other property development firm
in the country, Alphaland’s approach to
supplier relationships is very much by the
book. Since its founding in 2007, the firm
has maintained a loyal relationship with
construction suppliers that have consistently
met deadlines and offered the best value and
service. However, Anna notes, “Nothing is
written in stone. We’ll always consider new
suppliers that come along and offer us really
good service and value,” she says. “It’s never a
done deal just because someone’s supplied us
PVC windows for the past six years.”
As for foreigners wanting to do business
in the Philippines, Anna says that, while quite
Westernised
compared with
the rest of Asia,
there are still
facets of the local
culture they need
to understand
in order to
do business
efficiently. For
example, Anna
says getting the required permits to complete
projects takes a longer time in the Philippines
than it does in Western countries and even in
many Asian countries.
Especially for those wanting to start up
new firms in the country, Anna thinks it is
helpful to maintain a very collegial attitude
and not be bound by the traditions of an
established big company, like the hierarchical
structure of many Western organisations. “We
were an American colony for 50 years, but
some things are hard to change. The work
culture is very different from that in the US
or even in Europe,” she says.
“It helps having a business partner who
can guide you through the ins and outs of
the workplace culture and the ways to get
things done. Also, hire the best people and
enjoy the people you work with. If you don’t
like the people you work with, they won’t
like you and the company’s not going to
go anywhere.”
But throughout Anna’s career, which
includes stints in law and management
consulting in the US before moving to
Alphaland, she has found that crossing
cultural boundaries boils down to working
in a team, gathering information, and
considering other people’s preferences when
making decisions. “This is very helpful when
you’re at a meeting and you have differing
opinions on something. It’s important to
understand where other people are coming
from, rather than just butt heads and not get
anything done,” she says.
“Even though it’s a completely different
culture here in the Philippines versus the
work culture in the US, the same lessons
still apply. I apply these lessons and this
knowledge every day.”Alphaland’s Aegle
Wellness Center
is the only health
and wellness
facility in the
Philippines to offer
thalassotherapy, or
sea water therapy.INSPIRE | Interview