Man Behind Cebu Landmasters Is Entrepreneur of the Year

Jose Soberano III, the chairman and chief executive officer of Cebu Landmasters Inc., (CLI) has been chosen by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) as this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year.

Soberano, who left Ayala Land in 2000 to build on what now becomes the number 1 local housing developer in Metro Cebu, received the award during the Grand Chamber Awards and Fellowship Night. It was held at Marco Polo Plaza on Friday, June 30, 2017 to cap the celebration of Cebu Business Month 2017.

CCCI President Melanie Ng nominated Soberano for having distinguished himself as the only entrepreneur who steered his 14- year old homegrown real estate business to IPO early this month.

The Entrepreneur of the Year award is the most prestigious among the five awards bestowed by the chamber. The other awards are Corporate Social Responsibility Institution, Small Business Entrepreneur, Countryside Entrepreneur, and Young Entrepreneur.

The awardees were chosen by the CCCI board of trustees and past presidents.

During the awards night Soberano highlighted: “Receiving this most prestigious award is thanks to my whole Cebu Landmasters team whom I consider family. They are the main reason why CLI is where it is today: number one in Cebu and soon to be number one in Visayas and Mindanao.”

Soberano, earlier this year, announced a P12 billion expansion in the Visayas and Mindanao to address the need for housing, offices, and commercial spaces. At present, CLI has simultaneous development projects in Cebu, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao for the year 2017.

Exuding confidence on the economic prospects of Visayas and Mindanao, Soberano urged local entrepreneurs to become champions in their turf, and at the same time, leverage opportunities beyond Cebu and the region.