Alby Xerez-Burgos: A Journey of Resilience and Innovation
Introduction: Forest Lake, a prominent name in the Philippine memorial park industry, has carved a significant place in the hearts of families over its 25-year history. Renowned for its comprehensive memorial care services and its commitment to value and innovation, Forest Lake stands as a testament to a mission driven by accessibility and affordability. At the helm of this impactful journey is Alby Xerez-Burgos, Managing Director, whose vision and leadership have steered Forest Lake Development to national recognition and the highest operational standards. Alby Xerez-Burgos: A Journey of Resilience and Innovation Alby’s story is not one of conventional success but rather a narrative of overcoming challenges with a positive outlook and leveraging opportunities. His academic journey in Industrial and Chemical Engineering at De La Salle University laid the foundation for his diverse career path. Despite academic struggles, particularly in Mathematics and Sciences, Alby’s determination and adaptability shone through. His early professional experiences at Landco, amidst challenging economic periods like the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, highlighted his resilience and innovative mindset. His leadership and strategic decisions played a crucial role in overcoming financial hurdles and establishing new market trends. Forest Lake Development: Redefining Memorial Care Forest Lake Development (FLDI) stands out with a presence in over 36 locations across the Philippines, offering unique flexibility and comprehensive services to its customers. This includes the exchange of memorial lots and a range of complimentary interment services. Under Alby’s guidance, FLDI has embarked on ambitious expansion plans to cater to the growing demand for memorial products and services, aiming to decentralize functions for greater regional autonomy. The organization’s commitment to setting industry standards in death care services remains unwavering. Leadership Philosophy: Simplicity and Family Values Alby emphasizes a leadership style grounded in simplicity, family values, and open communication. He advocates for a family-oriented corporate culture, free from politics, where ideas are encouraged, and work is imbued with enjoyment and humor. This approach fosters a positive, resilient, and creative work environment. Monitoring Progress: Purpose Beyond Profit FLDI’s approach to monitoring progress is purpose-driven, focusing on making a positive impact and challenging industry norms, especially against predatory pricing practices. The company’s commitment is to offer dignity and respect in its services, striving to make every Forest Lake branch ‘A Better Place’. Advice to Emerging Leaders Alby advises emerging leaders to embrace their unique paths and resist conforming to conventional norms. He encourages focusing on strengths and navigating challenges with a sense of purpose and passion. The key, he suggests, is to find one’s niche and lead with conviction and a clear vision. Conclusion Forest Lake, under Alby Xerez-Burgos’s leadership, is more than just a memorial park developer; it is a beacon of innovation, resilience, and purpose-driven service in the Philippines. Alby’s journey and Forest Lake’s mission offer valuable insights and inspiration for both current and future leaders in the industry.
Your Guide to Thoughtful End-of-Life Planning
At Forest Lake, we understand the importance of facing life’s ultimate certainty with grace and preparedness. As the Philippines’ leading total death care provider, we believe it’s crucial for you to consider early end-of-life planning. It’s not just about being prepared; it’s a responsible financial decision that can spare your loved ones future stress and burden. We’re here to support you with services like “Libing Anywhere,” offering the flexibility to choose your final resting place in any of our parks nationwide. Our “Libreng Burol” service ensures a dignified farewell, including complimentary body retrieval, embalming, and casketing. Investing in a memorial lot with us is not only a wise financial move due to the steady appreciation of these assets but also a way to provide emotional security for yourself and your loved ones. By choosing to plan ahead with us, you’re ensuring peace of mind and a lasting legacy for your family. We invite you to consider the thoughtful, responsible options we provide for end-of-life planning. For more information, visit our full article at Tribune.net.ph and explore how we can help you plan with dignity and foresight.
Angelyn Aguirre Torre, A Modern Day Hero
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/884472191/66d953a153 Angelyn Aguirre Torre With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of Angelyn Aguirre, a devoted caregiver, loving wife, cherished daughter, and beloved sister. Angelyn’s life was tragically cut short at the age of 32, but her legacy of heroism will forever be etched in our hearts. Born in the Philippines, Angelyn dedicated seven years to caring for others in Israel, embodying the true spirit of compassion. Her final moments were spent protecting her charge, Nira, in an act of courage that has touched the world. Angelyn’s selfless love extended beyond her professional life, as she was a beacon of hope and strength for her family. She dreamt of returning to her homeland to start a family of her own, a dream that exemplifies her nurturing heart. She leaves behind a grieving family: her husband, her parents William and Erlinda, and her seven siblings, who will miss her more than words can express. As we lay Angelyn to rest in Forest Lake San Carlos, we not only mourn the loss of a hero but also celebrate the profound impact of her life. Her bravery in the face of terror will be remembered as a powerful testament to the human spirit. Rest in peace, Angelyn. Your heroism will never be forgotten.
Innovating Tradition: Forest Lake’s Creative Tribute to the Dearly Departed
A Festive Twist on All Souls’ Day Forest Lake is revolutionizing the All Souls’ Day celebration with our campaign, “Di Mo Ine-expect, no? ‘Di Ordinaryong Undas 2023.” Moving away from the traditionally somber observance, Forest Lake introduces a festive element, aiming to honor the dearly departed with creative initiatives and innovative services. As a premier memorial park in the Philippines, we will transform iall our parks into vibrant spaces from October 28 to November 5. Each park is uniquely decorated to reflect the local culture, offering Instagram-ready spots, attractions for children, light shows, and film screenings. This celebration of life underscores the importance of remembering loved ones with joy and positivity, without overshadowing the essence of the season. Enhancing Memorial Experiences Forest Lake enhances the memorial experience with services like “Libing Anywhere,” allowing families flexibility in choosing any Forest Lake park for burial, regardless of the original lot purchase location. They also offer “Libre Burol,” providing free funeral services at Forest Lake Memorial Chapels. Additionally, recognizing the digital era, Forest Lake enables online lot purchases, simplifying the process for customers and investors alike. Discover more about Forest Lake’s unique approach to memorializing loved ones in the original article on Inquirer Memories.
Celebrating Excellence: Forest Lake’s Triumph at the 9th National Sales Convention
A Night of Pride and Achievement We at Forest Lake are thrilled to share with you our recent achievements and future aspirations. Our 9th National Sales Convention, held at The Bellevue Hotel in Alabang, was not just a celebration but a reaffirmation of our commitment to excellence, themed “PRIDE” (Passion & Reliability In Delivering Excellence). It was an occasion to honor our dedicated partners and acknowledge their vital contribution to our growth. 2022 was a landmark year for us, with record-breaking revenues of P2.17 billion and a 12% increase in net income. We expanded with new parks, marking it as our most profitable year yet. Our network of over 35 parks across the Philippines is a testament to our focus on celebrating life and creating family-friendly, nature-themed spaces that cherish life’s precious moments. The convention was also an opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to our partners, who are the driving force behind our continuous evolution and success. Looking ahead, we are set on achieving even greater heights. Our National Sales & Marketing Head, Carlos Miguel Locsin, emphasized the importance of maintaining our leadership in the industry through a more organized regional approach and enhanced support for our partners. Celebrating over 25 years in the memorial park sector, we remain dedicated to providing personalized service and creating spaces where family memories can be celebrated and cherished. Join us as we continue to grow and serve with pride and excellence. For more information on our journey and services, feel free to read the detailed article on our recent convention and achievements at Forest Lake’s 9th National Sales Convention.
Forest Lake celebrates 25 years of revolutionizing total death care in the Philippines
Forest Lake celebrates 25 years of revolutionizing total death care in the Philippines https://youtu.be/9oVr4xdlvAI Manila, Philippines – The country’s largest total death care provider Forest Lake marks its 25th anniversary by recognizing its top-performing sales force through a National Sales Convention (NSC) held on June 8, 2022 at Okada Manila. Since 1997, Forest Lake has empowered not just its bereaved customers but also its employees and sales teams by revolutionizing total death care—one that goes beyond offering memorial lots for sale. With a nationwide footprint that spans Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, Forest Lake now has over 25,000 registered sales agents in more than 35 locations in the Philippines. Forest Lake President Alfred Xerez-Burgos, Jr. shares, “Over the last 25 years, Forest Lake has fulfilled its brand promise of being A Better Place in a multitude of ways. Our vision is to build a better place where generations of family memories are treasured, immortalized, and celebrated by the living and our mission is to offer accessible and affordable memorial parks and services managed by a professional team dedicated to providing value, innovation, and personalized service.” Revolutionizing total death care As a total memorial care company, Forest Lake provides not just memorial parks, but also cremation and interment services as well as chapel services which includes retrieval of a beloved one’s body, embalming, casketing, and viewing rooms. The intent is to provide clients with the highest quality of service and convenience and through the efficient integration of these memorial care services. Through this, Forest Lake becomes the one-stop memorial care provider. As an added bonus, Forest Lake lot owners are entitled to receive P45,000 worth of Libre Burol services which includes body retrieval, embalming, casketing and chapel viewing, all completely free of charge through the the Libre Burol Program. There is a qualifier however: Libre Burol is offered only where there is a Forest Lake Chapel in the Forest Lake Memorial Park and comes free for every interment service. Therefore, every lot owner who avails of the interment service is entitled to Libre Burol. This means that lot owners, for as long as an interment service can be performed, can avail of memorial services which include pickup, preparation, coffin and viewing for one night – amounting to at least P45,000 – for free. For Forest Lake Managing Director of Operations, Sales, Marketing, and Chapel Services Alfred Xerez-Burgos III, death care is an investment, not just financially but emotionally, as well. “Filipinos want more than just a memorial lot, chapel, a coffin, and a memorial service. When you invest in total death care, you’re investing in emotional support during your time of grieving. Every Filipino deserves to celebrate and immortalize the memory of their loved ones in a dignified manner,” said Xerez-Burgos III. Power of the Past, Force of the Future: Forest Lake’s 8th National Sales Convention With a theme, “Power of the past and Force of the Future” the NSC focused on remembering and honoring Forest Lake’s notable origins and encouraging its people to look forward to the incredible growth in the coming years. Forest Lake also unveiled its Digital Transformation updates through its upgraded customer digital portal, MyForestLake, as well as its business expansion plans for 2022. MyForestLake will allow Forest Lake lot owners to manage their memorial lot investments, purchase lots, pay their monthly amortizations, and access customer information and services, all from the safety, comfort, and convenience of their homes or anywhere they may be. The program, hosted by celebrity hosts Sam YG and Wacky Kiray, was nothing short of a star-studded affair. Forest Lake’s rich history was brought to life through El Gamma Penumbra’s interpretative dance number and famous OPM artists such as Ogie Alcasid and Jonalyn Viray took the stage. The evening included other performances from Buganda and Beast House. Between performances, Forest Lake also paid homage to its sales representatives who have shown incredible dedication and love for the company. Among these are those who have been with Forest Lake for over 20 years such as Pablo Layog who began his career in Forest Lake 25 years ago. “As much as we give importance to our past and our future, we also hold in high regard those who have dedicated their lives to helping the families of those who have passed on. It’s part of our vision and mission to create better places for Filipinos – not just for the bereaved, but for those who have the heart to help them through total death care, as well,” says Forest Lake Chairman Antonio V. Syyap. Forest Lake Senior Sales and Marketing Manager Carla Crisostomo shared as she introduced the tribute video, “Memories are more than just a link to the past. Sometimes they are all that we have that will last. As we celebrate our victories tonight from the challenges of the pandemic towards full recovery, towards the light of a new day, let us take this time to honor and remember the lives of our Forest Lake family members who have transitioned to their new eternal lives. We thank them for the lives they have touched, for their hard work, and contributions. Their memories will forever be in our hearts.” 25 Years of Being a Better Place Forest Lake’s signature personalized service, and family-friendly nature-themed parks have established it as one of the Philippines’ leading, trusted, and preferred memorial parks. In 2015, Forest Lake opened its first memorial chapels in Forest Lake Binan, Laguna for viewing chapels. With high occupancy levels in 2018 and 2019, a second building housing 10 additional viewing rooms were opened in March 2020, just before the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. In 2018, Forest Lake launched its grief counseling services which began as a partnership with grief coach, Cathy Babao for bereaved clients in Forest Lake Binan, Laguna. In 2020, Forest Lake planned to take the workshops nationwide, however, due to the pandemic, these face-to-face sessions were cancelled. Thus, the birth of Creating Better Days Webinar Series. Knowing how the pandemic brought
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CREATING A BETTER DAYS
#CreatingBetterDays webinar series is back! We are inviting you to our financial wellness webinar, The FUNDamentals of #CreatingBetterDays with Edric Mendoza, a Registered Financial Planner next Saturday, November 7, 2020. The webinar aims to boost awareness of the importance of financial wellness and financial planning. This will be a Zoom Webinar to be hosted and moderated by Ms. Danie Laurel. Forest Lake is a staunch advocate of preparing for the inevitable: death. However, aside from preparing for it emotionally and spiritually, one should also do so financially. One way to do this is by normalizing discussions about death and not shying away from death-fueled conversations while preparing for certain contingencies, such as investing in memorial lots as early as possible. Unfortunately, talk of death in the Philippines is still taboo. But fear of death should not hinder you from getting your affairs in order and being responsible for your future. Remember, today is the opportunity to build the tomorrow you want so join us in learning how to be prepared for the inevitable and give you essential principles on why it is important to be ready. Indeed, death is not something you should fear but prepare for. One key takeaway from the pandemic is how critical end-of-life planning is. REGISTER FOR FREE: Click here to register.
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