Ray Manigsaka, President and CEO of AppleOne Properties

After recovering strongly from the COVID-19 downturn, Philippines-based AppleOne Properties is now looking forward to expanding the business. Led by president and CEO Ray Manigsaka, the business had to turn around during the global pandemic. “Our focus has shifted to healthcare,” he says. “Our three hospitals are very well run and run by professionals.”

Entering healthcare represented an opportunity for AppleOne to support the industry at a time when it was facing significant challenges. “We wanted to support the industry in the best way possible – by sharing our construction and operations expertise to modernize and better equip these hospitals, while diversifying our portfolio and expanding our knowledge in healthcare,” Manigsaka explains.

“We will continue to strengthen this part of the business in the coming years as we see the opportunity to take the industry forward by supporting and strengthening our local healthcare.”

The property group has a growing portfolio in its Cebu base and is optimistic that tourism will rebound strongly in the region. Talking about his medium to long-term vision, Manigsaka adds, “We will refocus on real estate. We just opened the Sheraton expecting that tourism will recover because we have good leaders in the government right now who are looking after our tourism.”

AppleOne’s CEO expects tourist numbers to normalize early next year or in the second half of 2023, but noted that all of his restaurants and hotels “are open right now and doing well.” Planning ahead, he is eyeing more branded hotels, resorts and residences in the Philippines.

The company also has another related business in the construction sector that was not affected by the pandemic. “It didn’t stop. The government is still proposing projects, huge projects. PPP [public-private partnerships] Philippines projects continued even during the pandemic.”

AppleOne was founded by Manigsaka and his wife Venus. He credits teamwork, hard work, caution and integrity for the company’s strong growth over the past 12 years.

As long as you are efficient in your business, your management team must perform at the same level.

A positive future

Witnessing a strong recovery from COVID-19, he is positive about the future despite the current global economic uncertainty caused by Russia’s war with Ukraine. “This is only very temporary due to the geopolitical situation and the pandemic. My expansion plan will not be hindered by these temporary events that are happening.”

His key area of ​​focus for business improvement over the next 6-12 months will be on strengthening his management team to handle the company’s expansion. “I’ll get more executives to join my core team, and then we’ll increase our technology expertise by recruiting the right people for that department,” he says. “I will welcome them so they can give me input on what is best to be more efficient and very competitive in the industry.”

Manigsaka recognizes the benefits of having a strong management team around him, but as CEO he needs to lead by example. “As long as you are efficient in running your business, your management team must perform at the same level.”

Talking about the strengths that set AppleOne apart from its competitors, Manigsaka says he treats everyone on his team like family. “I respect their ideas. I am open to their ideas. I cannot survive alone because I cannot know everything. So the executives I have now are productive and very helpful in running the business.”

Brand loyalty

This human touch extends beyond its workforce to its suppliers. “I’m very loyal to one brand. When I establish a relationship with a supplier by making a purchase, it is not simply on a product basis. I am pursuing a long-term relationship.”

Manigsaka reveals the reasons why he worked hard to build long-term and personal relationships with AppleOne’s stakeholders. “If you have a problem, you can call their chairman or whoever directly. They will act on it because not only am I loyal to their brands, but because we already have this long-term relationship. That’s really my style, my strategy.”

We are flexible enough to adapt to the market.

Flexibility is another strength he believes in as he develops his business ventures. Many large companies lack the ability to move quickly and make quick decisions given their large size and bureaucracy. Here he thinks the AppleOne has a definite advantage.

“We are flexible enough to be able to adapt to the market,” Manigsaka says. And those opportunities are coming, he adds. “As the world changes — and it changes fast — opportunities arise, and I think that’s how the business will grow.”

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