Time to shine

Sunshine Roxas casts an inspiring glow in the world of real estate and beyond

By Deneb Batucan

LIFE is unpredictable. No matter what path you choose to take, fate could always have something else in mind for you. That’s why for Sunshine Roxas, it’s important to know who you’re living for to know where you are going.

Sunshine’s life, as she says, is a roller-coaster ride filled with ups and downs and head spins. She didn’t become today’s international senior sales director for Century Properties without going through hell and back.

Growing up, she was the unica hija and had everything she wanted and more. She grew up in the care of her grandmother and aunt since her parents were busy with work to provide for her every want and need.

“My family didn’t have much time for me growing up because they were busy making a living. I couldn’t understand why at that time because all I wanted was their time,” Sunshine said.

When Sunshine was in her senior year in college, she was up for an award in school. She wanted her parents to be there during her graduation and have a simple dinner with her family and some close friends. But when she woke up that day, all she had was an envelope with some money.

“I ended up not going to my graduation and just partied with my friends,” she said. “I wanted everything to be gone. I promised myself that I will work hard for my family so that they could stop working and have time for me instead.” Later did she know that one should be careful with what they wish for.

In a snap, Sunshine’s family went from financially stable to bankrupt. Her grandfather got diagnosed with prostate cancer and they spent millions on his medication. In the end, he died and along went the family house, properties and business. They had to give everything up to shoulder the medical expenses. But that wasn’t the end of it.

“I was sleeping in my room with my daughter. Our family’s last money was in my cabinet for safe keeping because we were going to use it for my grandfather’s burial. In the dark, I was shocked when I saw a huge man inside my room just beside the cabinet. He was holding a bolo. I was about to scream but nothing came out. Good thing there was still an angel who protected us since the man didn’t harm us. But he took with him my family’s money,” she shared.

Goal-driven

Sunshine had no choice but to deal with all those piled up problems. She did everything she could to provide for her family. From selling dried fish to selling alcoholic drinks to managing a bar and restaurant and even went into show business and commercial modelling — she did it all for her family’s sake. “It was hard that time because people knew me from who I was before we went bankrupt. But out of despair and love for my family, especially my daughter, I needed to do everything I can to provide from them,” she said.

But managing the bar and restaurant took its toll on her body since she couldn’t keep up with the working hours and take care of her daughter. So that’s when she got into real estate.

Sunshine was hesitant at first. She thought of what people would think of her handing out fliers to strangers and similar tasks. But when she knew about the earnings, she didn’t give it a second thought. “I told myself to work hard. It was tough because the business was very competitive plus the crab mentality of the people surrounding me. But I am not working hard because of them. My goal is to raise my family and give them the good life that they gave me as a sense of gratitude,” she said.

Turning things around

Sunshine has been in the real estate business for six years and counting It was hard at first, especially when people declined. But Sunshine knew how to turn things around. “Rejection is not bad. Just accept it and make things better next time. Strategies will always come once you know why you are doing what you’re doing. Once you know your reasons, you will find the solutions on how to make a sale,” she said. “At the end of the day, it’s not what other people think or say that’s important. My family and especially my daughter will always be the reason I’m working so hard. They are my life.”

As Sunshine goes into a greater heights with her real estate career as the new international senior sales director of Century Properties, a renowned national real estate company in the Philippines, she focuses on cultivating salespeople by knowing each of her staff and helping them to overcome their weaknesses and turn them into strengths.

On a personal level, Sunshine still wants to pursue her dream to be a successful actress, TV host and commercial model. She hopes to become some sort of celebrity entrepreneur in the future. And with Sunshine’s sunny outlook in life partnered with her perseverance and hard work, the future looks bright indeed.

Photos: Alfred Gregory E. Bartolome
Make-up Artist: Carlo Damolo
Hair Stylist: Jerwin Bastatas