Claiming success with confidence

CEBU, Philippines — If there is one thing that brought Beverly Morales Dayanan on top in the overly competitive real estate development industry, it is her ‘posture of confidence.’

She established her own property development firm Contempo Property Holdings, Inc., in 2006, when Cebu market was too hungry for modern urban living facilities. It was also a perfect time for new comers like her to build their names in this fertile industry.

Beverly's claim to success is her flagship project called Bamboo Bay, a condominium enclave located in the heart of Cebu's central business district in barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City.

This P1 billion project promised to provide over 700 residential units and today, it is a community of over 200 residents living in their little oasis.

While Bamboo Bay's success proved Beverly's eloquence in playing the game in real estate, she immediately ventured into the horizontal residential project, as she saw the need of middle income earners for decent and comfortable homes, without putting a hole on their pockets. This is the introduction of her house and lot offering she named ‘Sunberry’ subdivision in Lapu-Lapu City.

Her Way Up

What sets this woman of confidence apart from the others is her story that most of us can relate to. Born in the uncomfortable world of poverty, Beverly's only dream as a child was to finish college as a nurse, work abroad and earn dollars to support her family back home.

But, the tides of fate brought her to something more than that of what her innocent heart was praying for.

She finished elementary and high school education as working student. She said she knew that she cannot allow her family to stay needy forever, and that she has to work her way up, no matter what it takes, to earn a living and feed her family well, and taste the comfort of life.

Beverly earned her high school education at Our Lady's Academy, now St, Mary's College in Baganga, Davao Oriental, as helper of the nuns in the academy.

In her tender age, her pastime was hard-work. Her playground was her imagination. Everyday, she put the vision on her mind that she will become someone who gives, and be the source of help, instead of a recipient of help.

Her guts, confidence and a strong spice of faith ushered her to study college in Cebu at the University of San Carlos (USC), again through scholarship. But, her world crumbled after she was rejected to enroll at the college of nursing. Nevertheless, she pursued Political Science and shifted her game-plan-this time setting her goals on to becoming a lawyer.

Her need to immediately get a well-paying job after college found her employed in the banking sector, a direction she never expected to happen. Her dreams of becoming a lawyer had to take the backseat.

To her surprise, the world of finance impressed this pretty and charming lass from the province. Working as a bank teller, Beverly made friends and connections in the financial world and it opened her eyes to greater possibilities.

It never occurred to her that she will build her own company in the future though, considering that what she earned was enough for her and her family back home to survive.

But, whenever she goes, she said she always dressed with confidence, and feel confident too. Perhaps, this is the magic that consistently worked in her favor.

Her stint in the banking industry only lasted for three years, as she sensed that growth is not apparent for her there. From a mere bank teller, Beverly insisted to apply for a managerial position in an insurance firm bringing with her, her zero experience in the industry, only her confidence to speak eye-to-eye with the firm's vice president, uttering loudly "I can surely do it."

After making a name in the insurance sector, she was assigned to several non-earning locations to turn the performance up. And she always delivered.

Building Relationships, Not Business

Her mastery in handwork and eloquence in self-confidence made her a talk-of-the-business-circle in the area where she was assigned.

Beverly mastered the art of nurturing relationships beyond the borders of business. She earned the trust and integrity of the bigwigs in Cagayan de Oro, where she managed the insurance company for years.

Despite attractive offers, and that satisfaction of being on top of the industry she's in. She said the thought of going back to Cebu always lightened her mood, then she sensed that "something big" was waiting for her if she will obey her hunch.

Coincidentally, a millionaire businessman ushered in a partnership offer to start off a new real estate company in Cebu.

"I always felt that there was something big for me to do in Cebu," she shared. Aligned with what was in her heart that time, Beverly was excited to jump to a new journey. This time, the men dominated industry of real estate.

Born under the zodiac sign of Gemini, Beverly is a graceful "go-getter". She gets her way  because she built relationships along the way, strong enough not to be limited in the boardrooms and strictly business chit-chats.

Burning bridges in relationships in the business circle is not in her vocabulary. Ironically, she experienced her bridge burned, which she described as humbling, painful and crashing.

Something Borrowed

When Beverly's partner in building economic housing projects in Cebu decided to burn their bridges and let her go without apparent reason, she hit bottom while aggressively fighting for her right.

Indeed, it is during the painful and darkest moments in a person's life that miracles can work through. Beverly lost the company she built in Cebu to her partner.

This aching stage of her career allowed her to see the realization of her game plan — to be a sole source of happiness, fulfillment to many.

Capitalizing on the connections she built over the years, without putting a dark-spot in her name, Beverly was able to borrow a huge sum of capital to start her own company.

Because of her stubborn faith, and confidence that she can get up with grace after every challenge, and a painful one at that! Beverly established her own company, the Contempo Property Holdings Inc., from a "something borrowed" capital.

Today, her company is one of the prestigious residential developers in Cebu, providing decent homes to families. The reason, she has been reaping awards here and abroad.

Onwards, Beverly is brewing more residential projects in southern, western parts of Cebu.

Pay It Forward

While she embraces the peak of life and the realization of her game-plan, Beverly kept her heart grounded, as she pursues a nobler dream of inspiring other women trapped in poverty to fashion themselves in the posture of confidence,

She realizes that in and outside business, the ultimate goal is to provide happiness, and getting rich and reap a lot of money is only secondary.

She said at the end of the day, the performance indicator is not how much you have keep in your account, but how much you have shared and make people live better and happy.

Starting with her own organization, Beverly is persistent in making sure that everyone is happy in what they are doing.

"If your drive is not to get money, but happiness, everything will take care for itself," she said.

Beverly is not only in the business of building homes, but also building happiness along with it.

Women specifically, should be empowered and be inspired to reach what their hearts are desiring, regardless of financial, educational, and social stature.

After all, everyone can buy the priceless cloth of posture accentuated by relentless confidence of self.

Beverly is not only generous in giving back the favor she considered as "borrowed" from the kind-hearted souls along her journey. But, she is not stingy in sharing her story to inspire people, especially women who were not born with silver spoons. (FREEMAN)