“People often believe that being open and vulnerable is a sign of weakness,” says Carlos “Charlie” Rufino, the driving force behind the bustling financial district of Bonifacio Global City (BGC). However, over time, this grounded and endlessly curious businessman has disproven this notion by realising that being open to ideas, collaborating with others, and seeking expert advice often leads to positive results. “When we constructed BGC, we aimed to follow the best urban planning practices from around the world,” the environmentally conscious builder explains, sharing his goal of building a world-class, master-planned business district. This vision led him to purchase the former military base during the peak of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. “My vision is to build a city and leave behind a better place for our children. I was inspired by the idea that land is not inherited from our ancestors but borrowed from our children. Our role is that of stewardship,” he says. This vision has been realised as BGC continues to thrive today as a business district that houses some of the world’s largest companies, including Google, Coca-Cola, and Lazada, to name a few.
While open-mindedness remains at the core of Charlie’s endeavours–whether for the company or his family–he firmly believes that trust
