Building on ‘JOY’: Sy sees deeper meaning in creating inclusive communities
Recognition is a strange thing. Often, we are our own toughest critics, measuring ourselves by what’s still undone rather than what we have accomplished.
I’ve always been focused on the next step—what can be improved, what more can be done. It drives growth, but it also means I rarely pause to acknowledge the wins.
So when I learned that I had been named PropertyGuru’s Rising Star for 2025, my first reaction wasn’t excitement. It was hesitation. Am I truly worthy of this? Does this feel self-serving? Should I talk about it at all?
A privilege and a responsibility
Those questions stayed with me, even as I accepted the award. But I realized that while doubt will always whisper, it doesn’t have to dictate the story. I could see this award not as a spotlight on me, but as a platform, a position of privilege and responsibility from which I can do good.
That mindset shaped my acceptance speech at the PropertyGuru Awards Gala Night where I shared a guiding principle: J.O.Y., which means “Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last.”
For me, it’s a way of aligning my priorities. Without God, nothing has lasting meaning. Putting others before myself strengthens the fabric of our communities.
When we choose to protect, serve, and uplift others, we do more than meet immediate needs. We set a tone for a culture where people look out for one another. In a world that often rewards self-interest, J.O.Y. is a countercultural way to lead.
Helping shape communities
I am still early in my career, but I take seriously the influence my role affords me.
Within the SM Group of Companies and across the Philippine real estate industry, I have the chance to help shape communities that are healthy, sustainable, and full of possibility.
This work is not just about buildings. It’s about people. It’s about creating environments where families thrive, livelihoods grow, and the next generation dreams bigger. I have been deeply shaped by the example of my father, Henry Sy Jr., whose vision for homeownership for all was always part of a larger belief: that our work in real estate must serve as a foundation for national growth and progress.
From him, I learned the importance of having a clear vision, not just for building homes, but for building a country where lifestyle, affordability, and sustainability go hand in hand. That philosophy continues to guide me as I work to create spaces that enable both personal and collective flourishing.
The true heartbeat
None of this happens alone. The milestones I’ve reached are the product of incredible teams and colleagues who share the vision, work tirelessly, and bring creativity to every challenge. The SM teams I work with daily are the true heartbeat of these achievements.
To be recognized by PropertyGuru is humbling, but it underscores a truth: awards are not the destination. They’re checkpoints. They remind us what’s possible when dedication meets purpose.
We all share the responsibility to do right by others, whether in our work, relationships, or use of resources. If each of us took one step daily toward putting others first, the cumulative effect would be transformative.
So while this award bears my name, it belongs to everyone who has walked alongside me, believed in the vision, and helped bring it to life. I hope it also belongs to the communities we serve, because their growth, safety, and well-being are the real measure of success.
To the PropertyGuru Group, thank you for this recognition. And to my SM family, thank you for proving every day that great things are possible when we work with excellence, humility, and heart.
The author was named as this year’s “Rising Star” at the 13th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards. She is also the vice president and head of Design, Innovation, and Strategy at SM Prime and SM Development Corp. (SMDC)
