Work hard, act with integrity and just ‘BE’
Grand Benedicto makes no grand claims about the BE Group of Companies’ success.
If anything, the company’s president and CEO humbly acknowledges that not every move was planned to perfection, some opportunities came unexpectedly, and not every win was his alone to claim.
That modest telling, however, significantly understates how far the business has come, particularly the group’s real estate portfolio. The BE Group is now expanding steadily across the residential, office and hospitality segments, building on the family’s long-standing interests in cement and furniture.
A natural progression
“(Real estate) was a natural progression for us. We were into furniture and cement, so we were in the construction and manufacturing industry. And I think the next thing was really just to own our own buildings, considering that we have these materials in place,” Benedicto said in an exclusive interview with Inquirer Property.
At the time, the group already understood construction materials and had landholdings that provided the starting point. Timing helped determine what to build. Strong tourism encouraged the group’s entry into Mactan, and a casual conversation with a friend led to its venture into residential condominiums.
Rather than claim having perfect foresight, Benedicto credits BE Group’s growth to well-placed properties, favorable timing, capable partners, and, most of all, the people behind the business.
First foray into real estate
The group’s first move into real estate shows how those elements came together. Hospitality came first, driven by a beachfront property in Mactan that the family had initially considered turning into a private beach house.
They, however, chose to build a business. The property became BE Group’s first resort, marking its first foray into real estate. While it initially took in an experienced partner, it eventually carved out its own identity, converting the property into BE Resort Mactan.
According to Benedicto, timing worked in their favor. Cebu tourism was strong, Korean arrivals were rising, and demand made the learning curve more forgiving. Benedicto is candid enough to admit that entering the same business under present conditions would be much harder.
Residential development grew from another opportunity. The family had considered using one of its properties for a condominium development, but had not reached the point of committing to the idea until an exchange with a friend.
“I was just toying (with that idea) with (BE Group COO) Nova J. Noval. I told her, hey, why don’t we do something? Then one thing led to another. It just happened so fast, and now we’re into residential condominiums,” he told Inquirer.
Expanding the portfolio
The exchange may have been casual, but the business that followed was not. BE Group now has seven residential projects moving toward eight, with developments already turned over and others under construction and pre-selling. These include BE Residences Lahug, Balai Punta Engaño, Balai Cordova, Balai Helena, and BE U Talamban.
Its latest project is the BE Uptown Park along Juana Osmeña Street in Cebu City. This promising eco-conscious development brings together upscale residential units, premium accommodations by AC Hotel by Marriott, a three-level commercial center, and world-class amenities like green spaces and sustainable designs.
This residential footprint adds to the company’s hospitality portfolio. The company operates BE Resort Mactan, BE Grand Resort Bohol and BE Pods Lahug. BE Pods Alona is targeted to open by the end of 2026, while BE Resort Siargao is expected in the first quarter of 2028.
The group also has two office buildings namely Mabuhay Tower in Cebu IT Park and Mabuhay Tower in Cebu Business Park.
Strengthening foothold
According to Benedicto, their real estate expansion will remain largely within the Visayas, with Siargao extending the hospitality business into Mindanao. Metro Manila remains an ambition, but it may take time as the company focuses on opportunities in the markets it knows best.
That doesn’t mean though that it hasn’t taken steps to start securing its foothold in the capital region. Earlier this year, the BE Group opened its Luzon office in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), creating a strategic base for strengthening partnerships across its real estate businesses.
Raising the bar
Still, Benedicto does not measure progress by the number of places BE Group enters. While a wider footprint can grow the company, a higher standard can help move the industry forward.
BE Group wants more distinctive projects, better service and firmer commitments to help reset what buyers expect. If that pushes competitors to improve, the entire industry moves up.
Benedicto explained that location and amenities can win attention, but delivery earns trust. For the BE Group, going the extra mile begins with keeping its word.
“We are a company that will stand by our commitments, no matter what it is,” he stressed.
Impact that lasts
Helping raise industry standards is only part of the contribution Benedicto wants BE Group to make. He also wants it to become a company that communities respect and people genuinely want to work with.
“If we’re able to build this company into a company that people look up to and people want to work with, I think that will be most gratifying,” he said.
That ambition is also personal. BE Group carries a family name built across generations, and Benedicto sees its reputation as something to protect, not merely inherit. His message to the next generation is simple: work hard, act with integrity and leave the name stronger.
For him, legacy is inseparable from business performance. Every project either strengthens or spends the trust the family has earned thus far.
After all, the BE Group’s footprint may show the scale of its ambition, but its lasting impact will be measured by the expectations it raises, the promises it keeps, the communities it builds, and the people it brings along.
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