MANILA, Philippines – Sta. Lucia Realty & Development Inc.’s success in real estate is due in part to its marketing and sales strategy called Orchard Property Marketing Corporation (OPMC). OPMC, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last October 16, was first put up in Cebu by Eduardo U. Tirona, its founding president, and Exequiel Robles, chairman and president of Sta. Lucia.
The company has since evolved to become the biggest marketing arm of Sta. Lucia, employing over a hundred people. It now also boasts over 12,000 trained agents spread throughout Metro Manila, Quezon City, Bulacan, Lucena, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Bacolod. Aside from the projects that were recently sold out, OPMC currently markets over 35 quality real estate projects of Sta. Lucia.
During the company’s anniversary celebration held at Fairmont Hotel in Makati, Tirona related how OPMC, Sta. Lucia’s first in-house marketing department, was born. “Exequiel Robles has initially given me the privilege to sell club shares at Alta Vista in Cebu,” he began. “In October 1995, we decided to put up an office in Cebu with only a handful of staff. Our operations became an overwhelming success, and so we were offered another opportunity — this time, to sell beach club shares at Vista Mar which is also in the nearby area of Alta Vista.”
The combination of the beach club and the golf shares, aptly called “Doble Vista,” became a big hit, paving the way for the further growth of OPMC. “Baby Agbayani, Terry Gambito and Dinah Wei; they were all a big part of our success,” said Tirona. “Our special thanks also go to Tonet Robles, who served as the company’s VP for Finance.”
“If not for our joint venture partners, Sta. Lucia board of directors, the employees and especially the sales people, OPMC would not have lasted 20 years. I promise you a better 20 years,” Tirona said. “The benefit, care and support we have for our people is our biggest trade secret. In fact, over the last 20 years, we still have people working with us since the beginning.”
Today, the company is continuously growing and expanding — now with a total of 10 branches nationwide with more new projects being lined up each year. “Every branch established is a milestone since it means we’re getting bigger and that we’re becoming nationwide. Each of our branches is operations-independent, sourcing our staff and sellers wherever we are. OPMC’s back of the house support is also exceptional since we conduct operations audit which ensures that each branch follows a certain SOP,” added Tirona. “And since we emulate the values of Sta. Lucia, selling has now become very easy for us.”
OPMC is currently the largest subsidiary of Sta. Lucia that exclusively markets and sells the real estate firm’s over 10,000 hectares of properties comprising of over 200 residential estates, 12 golf courses, 11 country club houses and a grand mall.
For information, visit http://www.opmc.ph or call 635-4946.