All of us have our own idea of what a dream life is. To some, it would be financial freedom while others see it as the freedom to pursue one’s passion. Still others go further by bringing their dreams in the context of creating a positive impact on the community. Attaining the dream life need not be a far-fetched vision. Avida Land’s  Homepossible: Lifespiration conference which was held recently, sought to inspire the audience to look at life with a fresh and realistic perspective, proposing that a dream life is all about striking a balance between work and life. which includes pursuing passions.

avida lifespiration

The conference featured four guest speakers who shared with the audience not only the glossy aspects of their respective journeys but also the real challenges expected to arise in the pursuit of a dream life. It was an opportunity to learn how to manage personal and family finances, invest in real estate , and venture into social entrepreneurship.  The event was essentially an invitation for us to take charge and map out the path to success.

The Speakers

Reese Fernandez Ruiz

Social entrepreneur Reese Fernandez-Ruiz of Rags 2 Riches inspired the crowd with the fairy tale-like story of her brand that was developed with the women of Payatas, a dumpsite in Metro Manila.

“It is good to hear about the good stuff, but no success happens overnight. With Rags 2 Riches, we did not do it overnight, it took us seven years to be where the brand is today,” said Fernandez-Ruiz, adding that hard-work, dedication, and faith are the three things that really helped them succeed.

Aside from a success story in business, Fernandez-Ruiz sees the story of Rags 2 Riches as an inspiration for people who want to create a positive impact on their communities. The business model of Rags 2 Riches was not only praised for its keen business sense, but more for its social inclusiveness that created highly dignified jobs for the lower segments of society.

“Living your dream life is not just about you, it can also be in a way that by living your dream life, you also let others live the lives they only once dreamed about,” said Fernandez-Ruiz.

Reese Fernandez Ruiz

Rose Fres Fausto

“Living your dream life is not just about you, it can also be in a way that by living your dream life, you also let others live the lives they only once dreamed about,” said Fernandez-Ruiz.

The dream life that most people pursue can only be possible when the household is able to balance its finances, according to PhilStar.com columnist and financial literacy expert Rose Fres-Fausto said during her talk.

“The dream life is not just about working hard all your life or just spending endlessly. While that may seem exciting, it will just be a short-lived dream life. It is important that we live within our means, but it is also important that we enjoy the fruits of our labor,” Fres-Fausto said.

One of the points stressed upon by Fres-Fausto is making the children part of the financial planning of the family. “Teach them early and they will be actively part of the process even as they grow up,” Fres-Fausto added. While a lot of people are focused on pursuing their passions, very few realize that it entails a lot of discipline.

Rose Fres Fausto

Fritz Villafuerte
“Young people do not usually see the value of a budget system and will fall into a debt trap,” financial analyst Fritz Villafuerte said.

Analyzing and understanding of one’s cash flow is integral in budgeting. And for those who are swamped in debt, Villafuerte also offered a method he dubbed as debt snowballing – a process wherein an exact amount of money is allocated in the budget.

“Balancing the budget is the first step to be able to living the dream life,” Villafuerte said.

Fitz Villafuerte

Eden April Dayrit

If most people would stick with the jobs that their degrees in the university would dictate, it was the exact opposite for Eden April David, who ventured into the buy-and-sell of real estate property despite her engineering degree.

“It is something that I have always wanted to do, and the circumstances around me when I made the jump did not exactly allow for me to commit mistakes,” David said. “There were a lot of challenges when I started even my family was disappointed with my decision. I persevered and I have shown everyone that I am now happier where I am.”

Eden April Dayrit

My Say

It is never easy to attain a dream life and that it probably why it is called as such. The dream life that we envision can be a far cry from our own realities at present but that should not stop us from pursuing it. Life is best lived inspired for us to enjoy the quality of life we all deserve.

About Avida Land
Celebrating its 25th year as a consistently top-ranked developer for the mid-market segment of the industry, Avida provides sure, secure and sensible developments as it continues its mission to provide an enriched living experience to more Filipinos. Avida has built 60,000 homes within 73 projects in 29 strategic locations nationwide, making it the Ayala Land subsidiary with the most number of projects and broadest geographic presence in the country. For inquiries and appointments, visit their website at www.avidaland.com, email corporate.sales@avidaland.com or call (+632) 848 5200 (within Metro Manila) and 1-800-10 848 5200 (outside Metro Manila).