To friends, she is the kind, modest, cheerful, goofy girl-next-door.
To her family, she is loving mother, wife, and daughter.
Well, Sarah Chang is all that and more.
She is also an award-winning Hollywood actress. An international action star. A film producer and director. A former Wushu champion.
Sarah has also found success as a real estate entrepreneur.
She has since moved to the Philippines to be with her husband, Vincent Soberano, a Filipino filmmaker, actor and real estate entrepreneur.
Home Is Where the Heart Is
In a recent interview, Sarah told us what made her decide to live in the country.
“I starred in the movie ‘Blood Hunters’ which was shot in Bataan. Right after that, I starred in another international film, ‘The Trigonal,’ which was shot in Bacolod. Living and working in the Philippines in those months with my now-husband was absolutely life-changing for me. I really fell in love with the country and all that it offers.”
Her most favorite part of being in the country? The people.
She said, “Hands down, Filipinos are the coolest, easiest to get along folks I’ve ever met.”
“Working and doing business in the Philippines is not only really easy but a total joy. Of course, there are the not-so-good ones out there, but isn’t that the case everywhere else in the world? It’s the Yin and Yang of life.”
“The most important thing to remember is to learn how to walk away from bad elements with your head held high. No regrets, no grudges, just invaluable lessons learned and negativity released,” Chang added.
For Sarah, the Philippines is where her heart is.
“My husband and I go back and forth between Taiwan and the Philippines at least once a month. We spend between a week and three weeks each time. On special holidays when we bring our kids along, we’ll spend up to three months at a time. I don’t just come here for work or business. I have a lot of really close friends here that I consider family. Where we live, in the Clark/Angeles area in Pampanga, it is teeming with expats. We have a close-knit community there and it truly feels like home.”
Filmmaking in the Philippines
Sarah now also entices foreign film companies to shoot in the country.
She cites three good reasons why it’s a breeze to shoot films here in Manila.
“The first, skill set, is very important,” she said. “Filipinos are very skilled and competent technicians and artisans. They can operate filmmaking equipment just as well as any top-notch operators abroad.”
The second reason is finance related.
“The cost is a huge factor for producers, especially for independent films. Booking locations, renting vehicles, and labor costs, for example, could be as low as one-fifth the prices we would pay in the US. In short, we can potentially make a $5 million dollar film for $1 million in the Philippines.”
The third big advantage of working here said Sarah is the local’s knowledge of English.
“Most Filipinos understand, read and speak English, which is a universal language used by film crews from around the world. This makes for easier interaction and exchange of ideas. Some things are sometimes lost in translation, but for the most part, as long as you speak in slow, clear English, Filipino film workers will understand what you’re saying.”
There are challenges, too.
“Work habits and expectations may differ because of cultural orientation. For example, the Chinese film workers like to push as many hours as they possibly can just to cut costs for additional shooting days. American film workers strictly adhere to the US union regulations of working hours. There’s also the phrase I often hear from Filipinos, ‘For a while, ma’am.’ As an American, I’m interpreting this as, “It’s going to take a long time,” whereas Filipinos actually mean the opposite. It’s both endearing and annoying at the same time. (laughs) It would have been easier to say, ‘Just a minute, please.’”
“Other than that, and a few minor things, working with Filipinos in a film set is very rewarding and fun,” she continued. “Everyone is always cheerful and hospitable. Everyone always tries to do the right thing. Just be vocal and communicate your needs and expectations and the local teams here will definitely accommodate you. They have never failed me in all of my productions here. I couldn’t ask for a better team.”
Hands-on mom
Being a mom is Sarah’s biggest priority.
She said, “I need to take care of my kids. I don’t want to be an absentee parent. I want to be there for all my kids’ major events, from birthdays to recitals. Because my husband and I don’t have a conventional nine-to-five job, and we have the flexibility to create our own work schedules, it makes things a lot easier to spend lots of time with our kids.”
The real estate business
Other than acting and filmmaking, the Soberanos have invested in real estate here.
“We focus on acquiring below-market properties from the volatile Philippine real estate sector, turning these properties into cash generating assets,” Sarah explained.
Why invest in the real estate market in the Philippines? Sarah retorted: “Price, location, connections.”
“You can buy a large house in any progressive city in the Philippines for the price of a small apartment in New York City.”
“With my husband, who has the right connections and relationships, we are able to spot great real estate investment opportunities and snatch them up quickly. We then quickly turn around and put most of these properties in the rental market,” she added.
Note 95 percent of the Soberano’s rentals are currently occupied.
Sarah believes this is mainly due to “a strong property management team.”
Other ventures
Sarah is now also into beauty and wellness.
“I am also a distributor for Riman, a South Korean skincare brand and one of the top skin products in Korea right now. I established my business in Taiwan and am now in the process of establishing a distributorship in the Philippines. It is something I feel passionate about because I’m a successful user of these products. They really work!”
Secret sauce
The secret to their success?
“My team, starting with my husband Vincent. In filmmaking, just as much as real estate, your biggest asset is the people who work for you. When I started producing movies, my only background was as an actor. I had no idea how to produce a movie. Thus, I hired experienced line producers and production managers, and surrounded myself with positive, loyal people who could teach me and guide me on the job. That was my film school, really. On the job training! So yes, my not-so-secret secret weapon is my team.
Her advice to other actors, filmmakers and entrepreneurs?
“I say, pay attention, take advantage, focus on finances. Pay attention to the industry and the markets. Take advantage of job and investment opportunities. Focus on what you do with your money. Don’t just leave your money in your savings account. Inflation will depreciate all that. Budget your living expenses and put the rest of your money into assets that generate cash flow like high-yield fixed-term deposits, real estate, and small businesses.”
“Simply put, make your money make more money. The world economy is now in limbo and we don’t really know where things are heading financially. For the sake of your family and kids, be more mindful of finances and strategic with your money.”
