SURPRISES DURING THE 51st PAREB CONVENTION IN CEBU

Last Thursday, I flew in to Cebu for the 51st PAREB (Philippine Association of Real Estate Boards)  Convention.  I was with over 40 members of PMRB (Pasay Makati Real Estate Board),  who set aside time  for this annual event  participated in by fellow brokers from  various chapters-- now totaling 60 as reported by 2011  PAREB  President Ariel T. Martinez.

Maita was supposed to join me in  this 3-day convention held at Cebu Waterfront Hotel, but last Wednesday, one of our daughters fell ill. She was having  intermittent fever and had to be under medical observation to rule out dengue fever.  Maita decided to stay behind in Manila.

I made multiple hotel bookings-- so when I had to confirm my accommodations  I had to give up my reservation at Citi Premiere Suites-- a new hotel that offers value-for-money packages.   Instead, I firmed up  my  arrangements at  another place-- where Maita and stayed  2 years  ago--  which I would rather not disclose for privacy reasons.

To me, the convention turned out to be peppered with surprises.     At the airport,  I  saw a group of  ladies  holding a welcome banner.  It turned out that one of those who  patiently stood there was Marilou Canizares  of Cebu Real Estate Board.  When I decided to share a cab  going to the city with fellow brokers from the same Cebu Pacific flight that I took that Thursday morning,   they turned out to be  two fellow alumni from San Jose Seminary--  Leo Hernandez and George Pimentel--   who would later be re- elected  regional director and elected national  director, respectively.

There were about 700 delegates to the 3-day convention and I was glad to have come across some members of PAREB-Lucena City.   Among them were Ramon Tan and Arman Valencerina-- who was elected regional director for South Luzon.   This in the light of  my parents'  recent  decision to sell a   2.8 hectare property in their  hometown of Lucban, Quezon-- what makes this property distinct  is the fact that is almost adjacent to the famous "Kamay ni Hesus" Shrine  that was put up by  Fr.  Joey Faller.

During the 80's theme night last Friday, my colleagues from PMRB-- Sweetie Gardiner and Ashley Valera won best costume.   And the biggest surprise that evening-- finding myself on center stage, pitching in for a colleague who was not able to fly in to Cebu at the last minute.   And somehow,  PMRB still landed 3rd place   among 6 real  estate boards  that competed.

Before the convention ended last Saturday night,  we at PMRB had more  reasons to celebrate.  Our candidate to the Most Popular Lady Realtor Lesley Geronimo finished 2nd Runner-Up.

Our President Atty.Nelson  Arquiza was elected national director.  That was not a surprise though.  One of Neslson's  favorite rallying points for our  board is "together we get there!"  In Cebu, I believe,  PMRB got  somewhere memorable.


51st PAREB Convention Photos in my Facebook Wall.

Photo Credits:  Coy Ledesma,  Vinia Lapuz, Elena Jove,  Atty. Nelson Arquiza,  Sweetie Hardiner, Mercy Reyes, Paz Bentulan and Paulo Pilar.

Group Shot with Outgoing PAREB President Ariel T. Martinez (in grey  blazer to my right)

At the Gala Night with  Mercy Reyes, Manny Boacaling, Art Evangelista, Rene Castillo, Newly Elected National Director Atty. Nelson Arquiza, Nympha Bocaling and Anton Bocaling

Group Shot with 2012 Most Popular Lady Realtor 2nd Runner-Up Lesley Geronimo

Real Estate Brokers' Oath-Taking at PICC Today, April 26, 2011

Real Estate Brokers Oath-Taking at PICC

At 1:00 p.m. today,  those who successfully hurdled the   March 2011  Real Estate Brokers' Examinations will be assembling at the Philippine International Convention Center  for their oath-taking before the Real Estate Board of the Philippine Regulation Commission.

The Pasay-Makati Realtors Board or PMRB, headed by Atty. Nelson Arquiza, is proud to have  helped  train  426  --  out of the 3,185  (or 13.4%)   successful examinees.  Among  the 426,  three made it to the top 10:  Dennis Desoloc Lim-- 5th place,  with a score of 87.25%, aCharlene Camilla Baustista Lao-- 6th place,   87.00%,  and Basilisa Palencia  Padua-Macaranas-- 7th Place, 86.75%

To all my fellow brokers who will take their oath today-- here's wishing you all a thrilling and  productive real estate practice!

REAL ESTATE BROKERS' PHILIPPINE REGULATION COMMISSION (PRC) OATH-TAKING AT MANILA HOTEL

February  10, Thursday,  was memorable for Maita and me-- and for any PRC-registered  real estate broker,  who was scheduled to take oath that day at the Manila Hotel.

We arrived at the Manila Hotel exactly at 12:30 noon,  a full half hour earlier than  the stated start of the program.  When we reached the  lobby of the the Fiesta Pavilion, we were greeted by a representative of Jun's Photography-- the PRC- designated official photographers for the event.    As I did not want to lug around a camera,   I agreed to get their services.  I was asked to fork over Ps 1,400 as each inductee is charged Ps 700  for a set of 10 shots. So Maita and I were entitled to a total of 20 shots by any of the roving photographers.  ( Later,  I would learn that there was the Ps 400 package, good for 6 shots).

After having our first 4 shots taken at the lobby, we proceeded to the registration table where  we signed up,  given a copy of the program and a  tag that read "Inductee." At the  entrance of  Fiesta Pavilion,  a stub from our ticket was taken by one the reception ladies.  By the way, each ticket cost Ps 1,000 and we got our tickets at the PRC office when we registered weeks earlier.
 
Among the  first to arrive in Fiesta Pavilion was my Pasay-Makati Realtors' Board ( PMRB)  colleague Marlene Galeos. She was able to "save" 2 tables for PMRB, but by the time Maita and  I reached those tables, the seats were already taken.  PMRB President Atty. Nelson Arquiza then led us to another table -- No 128-- where I sat with other PMRB colleagues.  Maita sat at table No. 118, together with her colleagues from the Muntinlupa Realtors' Board.

After the welcome remarks  by Hon. Eduardo Ong, Chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Real Estate Service  (PRB-RES);  the inspirational message by  Hon. Rodolfo Valencia,  Chairperson of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development; the address of keynote speaker Hon. Alfredo Po, PRC Commissioner--   the actual induction of real estate brokers led by  Hon. Po  was  efficiently conducted.  All of us inductees were asked to stand up from our seats,  we raised our right hands and  recited  the PRC oath.  The induction  ceremonies were completed in less than 10 minutes.

What took time was the pictorial with the PRC officials and member members of the  PRB-RES.  To ensure order,  inductees were called to come up on  stage  based on their table numbers.   Inductees waited for their turn while taking the snacks that were served at around 3:30 p.m.

We got our PRC certificates and IDs  at the lobby of Fiesta Pavilion.   We lined  up before the PRC staffers and queues  were based on the first letter of each inductee's family name.  The line at letter R-Z was comparatively longer than the rest-- must be because of the all the Reyeses and Santoses among my fellow brokers-- I supposed.

Then off Maita and I went for our pictorial at the hotel  with the roving photographers from Jun's.  I knew that I had to make the most of the 20 shots that we were entitled.   (I have to claim  the photos at PRC office  starting Feb 21-- that would be another trek, literally.)

Before 5:00 p.m., Maita and I drove  up to Sofitel Hotel.  PMRB members  were invited by Atty. Nelson to have our photos taken by the bay before sunset.    We were a group of about 20 Filipiniana-clad real estate brokers who gamely  took pictures of  one another. 

Just like our PRC-oath taking, the sunset that day was worth waiting for.

At the lobby of the Fiesta Pavilion

Maita and I before joining the tables of our respective boards

Together with the members of the Muntinlupa Realtors' Board led by its President Atty. Dominique Inigo (left)

With my colleagues from PMRB (seated from L-R:  Lucille Cuasay, TA Antonio, Yvonne Apad,  Monette Vicencio and Charrie de Jesus.)

Maita and I with PMRB President Atty. Nelson Arquiza

On our way out of Manila Hotel, stopped by the entrance to  Champagne Room.  Those are the envelopes with our PRC certificates and IDs that I was holding.

Among those early to arrive for the  sunset pictorial at the Sofitel

(L-R) With Art Evangelsta, Paul Reyes and Gilbert Yupangco-- happy with 2 thumbs up!

Maita  having fun  posing  with some of the PMRB ladies

Beside PMRB VP Rene Castillo from whose album some of the photos in  this blog post  were taken

Maita and I (left in shades) together with  fellow PMRB members anticipating the sunset

In the middle, posing on the grass,  is  Marlene Galeos, from whose album some of  the photos in this blog post is taken 

PMRB Adviser Phil Coquia (L) finally caught up with the group.

Maita, enigmatically smiling by the sunset

Finally, a  moment with the sea breeze and the setting sun

PMRB: Best PAREB Board, Again!

Pasay-Makati Realtors Board (PMRB) -- under Nympha Bocaling--  claimed the Philippine Association of Realtors Boards  (PAREB) 2010 Award for Best Board last night at the Manila Hotel.   This is a  big  feat-- given that PMRB also won the same award under the term of Art Evangelista in 2009.

As soon as I reached the Centennial Ballroom,  Atty. Nelson Arquiza-- 2011 PMRB President--  handed   me a button that read:  "Back to Back!  PMRB,  Best Board 2010."  What  could   I say about that?  I pinned it right away  on my barong.

I sat beside Rene Castillo, 2011 PMRB Vice President, and he said fhat for PMRB  to get the Hall of  Fame Award, we would have to win  5 times.  He explained that PMRB already won the Best Board  award  4 times to-date.   So apparently  the challenge to get to to the Hall of Fame  is now on  Nelson and our  current board-- and yes,  on all of us PMRB  members.

Below are some of the posterity shots I took. P.S.  Maita  could not join me at Manila Hotel last night.  Our daughter Mira   needed to review for her quarterly exams at Woodrose and had not been  feeling well  practically  during the  entire exam week;  so Maita-- the good mom that she is-- though already made up and set to party, decided to stay home and attend to Mira.  To me,  that is another thing to cheer about.

Two Big Parties with Realtors

This week promises to be extra memorable for me.  After going to church for the  Feast of the Immaculate Conception  tomorrow,  Dec.   8,  I am  going to  2 big parties! 



Date Place with Maita: Manila Hotel (http://hechoayer.wordpress.com/)

 On Thursday, Dec.  9,  the Manila Hotel will be filled with fellow  realtors  for the oath-taking of the 2011  PAREB (Philippine Association of Realtors Boards)  new officers and Christmas Party.  Glad to know that 2010  President Manny Bocaling   and 2011  President Atty. Ariel Martinez are both from PMRB.   My date for the night (and I must say any other night) --  is of course Maita.   I already made our reservations last month and we are excited to celebrate and meet up with our colleagues  from various realtor  boards.  

On Friday, Dec 10,  I will definitely  be at the Clubhouse of Urdaneta Village in Makati for the  Pasay- Makati Realtors Board PMRB  Party.  Preparations have been frenetic-- for the past few weeks I having been seeing the email and text messages  -- from  Nelson Arquiza, Rene Castillo,  Sweetie Gardiner-Manez , Marlene Galeos, Glad Ramos, and Raymond Tiongson.  This is party going to be a Homecoming of sorts  for past  members of PMRB so a big attendance is expected. 

I will come in  red with something Michael Jackson to go with it -- as specified by Marlene. Now  that's  certainly a  different  party  twist.

Real Estate Broker Registration at PRC

Exactly a week ago,  I -- together with some fellow members from the Pasay Makati Realtors Board-- went to the office of the Philippine Regulation Commission  along Morayta, Manila.  We finally filed  for our real estate broker registration! 

Highlights of our  trip to  PRC:

• Process Guide.   We were  fortunate to have  a step-by-step guide  from   Manny Bocaling, 2010 PAREB President, on how to go about with our registration.  The guide was  a big help -- among other things, it  reminded us of the items  to bring, the windows to approach and the time to allocate for  the process. 
• Less than 3 hours.   That is  about the time we  spent inside the PRC compound.  We arrived at  PRC shortly before 9 and we were already out  before 12 noon.   This included  the time for photocopying some documents that we forgot to make copies of, the leisurely merienda at one of the kiosks  inside the PRC compound and the waiting time for our fellow  PMRB brokers to  finish their application -- one of us actually brought the wrong envelope of documents,  thet fellow broker had to return home somewhere at The Fort and still managed to catch up with us at PRC!
• Van ride.    Thanks to 2011  PMRB President Nelson Arquiza who provided an Urvan that morning with driver even.  There were 11 of us when we left  Metroclub-- our meeting place--  at  8 a.m.  The trip was comfortable and lively--  just what  one can expect when you have a vanful of animated  real estate brokers!
• Pictorial.    This was considered a "mass-filing" event, so there were cameras, and I mean lots of camera phones,  courtesy of course of our fellow brokers. There was even a video recorder.   Marlene Galeos took the "official shots" some of which I posted here.

Before we headed back for Metroclub, we stopped by for lunch at  Golden Fortune Seafood Restaurant along T. M. Kalaw.  Gilbert Yupangco made excellent dish recommendations and I was glad he did.



At Metroclub, after reviewing our documents prior to trip to PRC

 


At Metroclub Makati, before boarding the Urvan

 


At the line on the 3rd Floor Window at PRC




After the registration process, at the PRC Office Lobby




All smiles after a hearty meal at Golden Fortune Seafood Restaurant.
Lunch recommendation and photo courtesy of Gilbert Yupangco. 


Conclusion: the actual registration process was not tedious at all.  What was time-consuming was the  completion of  all the required documents which included among other things-- a Ps 20,000 surety bond from a PRC accredited company, the original NSO copy  of  birth certificate and  NBI clearance.

BTW, we were told   by a  PRC  employee (the one at the 3rd floor window)  that we could expect our  registration approval after 3 months. Yes, that would be February of 2011-- perhaps in time for the Chinese New Year.  Anyway, I can go about with our real estate practice as I already have an official PRC claim stub for a 3-year registration card. That will do for now.

FLASH:  The list of  488 real estate brokers who can take oath this November was just released by PRC. Click here.

MY JOINING PMRB

After Maita and I  agreed that I should join a realtors board other than MUNREB (Munitilupa Realtors Board), I decided to apply with PMRB (Pasay Makati Realtors Board).

I called up the secretariat and spoke to Tere Santana, who immediately sent me by email the application form and requirements for membership.  Among the documents I had to submit was a copy of my real estate broker's license (REBL).  It was a good thing that I was able to  retrieve my original  license that also indicated my HLURB (Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board) control number issued back in 1996.

Tere informed me that  I would be interviewed by the head of the membership committee-- Rene Castillo-- on  August 26, Thursday afternoon, at Max's  Restaurant, Greenbelt 3-- before the MLS  (multi-listing service) meeting. 

When that day came, I was at the venue before  my   1:30 p.m. interview.  The first ones I met  in the room   included the  2010 President Nympha Bocaling and  Most Popular Lady Realtor candidate Sweetie Gardiner-Manez.

While waiting for Rene, Nympha asked me about my background. I  did not immediately realize that her questions were already part of the screening process.

When Rene arrived, we headed for a dining table outside the meeting room. During my interview, one of the first things he asked about was my REBL number.  I said it was 13489 and it was issued to me almost 14 years ago.  I later would find out that Rene's number was only 4 digits, meaning he got it  in the 1980's.

Rene saw in my resume that I was from Ateneo de Manila.  He said that the 2010 Vice-President was  from  Ateneo Law School. I  smiled.  I asked Rene which school he was from.  He said, "la Salle."  I paused, then just smiled again.

At the end of the interview,  Rene said that  I could join PMRB and that he hoped I would be actively particpate-- specially in view of the board's experience with new members who rarely showed up in the meetings after they were sworn in.

Rene excused himself  to go to the MLS meeting room. When he returned  shortly to our table, he was with     Atty. Nelson Arquiza, PMRB  Vice President-- the Ateneo alumnus he earlier spoke about.

Nelson was  young-looking ,  energetic and  very engaging. In the course of our discussion,  I informed him that I  was into marketing, advertising and promotions. 

"Great, see you at the next general membership meeting!" Nelson said. Then we shook hands.

As I walked back to my car, I knew I reached another chapter of my life.