Did you know broadcast journalist Anthony Taberna used to live in a squatter area?
In an online presser held last weekend, the 46-year-old radio and television personality recalled living in a small space while trying to make both ends meet. That experience inspired him to encourage people to invest in having their own homes even in the middle of a pandemic.
“Ngayon may price freeze. Pababaan ang presyo actually so I think this is the best time to invest in property and housing projects,” Taberna, otherwise known as Ka Tunying, told Manila Standard Entertainment.
“Noong 1991, nang napadpad ako sa Metro Manila mula sa aming province sa Nueva Ecija, umabot sa 17 taon na para akong basang-sisiw na kung saan-saan tumitira. Una, tumira ako sa kamag-anak. Alam naman ninyo siguro gaano kahirap tumira sa kamag-anak. Umupa rin kami sa maliliit na espasyo sa isang squatters community,” he said.
“Napakahirap po talaga ng walang sariling bahay. Naranasan ko po yun. Umabot ako ng 33 years old at pinagbantaan ko ang sarili ko na hindi ako puwedeng mag-asawa kung wala akong sariling bahay,” he added.
During the online event, Taberna, who was accompanied by his wife Rossel, was introduced as the face P.A. Alvarez Properties & Development Corporation.
“P.A. Properties believes that his determination is aligned with the company’s thrust of helping the Filipinos achieve their dream to own a home,” said P.A. Properties chairman Romarico “Bing” Alvarez.
Before the endorsement agreement, Ka Tunying already featured P.A. Properties on his Youtube Channel; Tune in Kay Tunying. Through that episode, he learned that the heart of the company focuses not only on its stakeholders but also on its employees. There is a special arrangement for their employees who want to acquire a property.
Other attributes Ka Tunying liked are the affordability, architecture of units, and the planning of their properties that he personally visited. Its partnership with Pag-IBIG Fund made its property prices more cost-competitive; with as low as P6,300 monthly amortization.
"Another hallmark of their properties is project developments integrated with the basic necessities of the community. This concept ensures that the residents could avail themselves of basic services and products a few minutes from their own homes," Taberna shared in a statement.
P.A. Properties, with Ka Tunying as their new brand ambassador, seeks to pursue a brighter and smarter business ahead. They promise to continue building houses and dreams as they embark on new communities to develop in the CALABARZON, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila areas. It will also extend its arms to other progressive regions to cover a wider territory.
The vision to provide affordable housing to Filipinos was long etched on the company's chairman's heart. Hence, P.A. Properties developed 40 communities and constructed more than 20,000 housing units from its inception 26 years ago. It continues to open projects in pursuit of augmenting the production of housing supply in Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Metro Manila and they continue to help resolve the country's housing backlog estimated to reach 12 million units by 2030 per data provided by Subdivision and Housing Developers Association, Inc (SHDA).