My Thank You List for Today

Janette Toral, program director for the blogging course I am taking up at Ateneo de Manila, invited me to join this writing contest on “Thank You Day Philippines.“ It required my submitting a photo entry with a short write-up. Prize is a box of Toblerone. To read more about the contest, go to http://www.thankyoudayphilippines.com

Though I like Toblerone, I sent in an entry not for the prize, but for the experience of it. Then I thought that perhaps I could also list down things that I am thankful for as a realtor. Here are some that  came to mind:

1. RESA Law (Real Estate Service Act). Starting this 2010, real estate brokers licenses will now be issued by the Philippine Regulation Commission. Brokers are now in the same “licensed” league of doctors, lawyers, accountants and engineers and other regulated professions.

2. Local Realtor Boards. I belong to (PMRB) Pasay Makati Realtors Board while Maita, to Muntinlupa Realtors Board. It is good to deal with fellow brokers who belong to realtor boards: we adhere to the same code of ethics and we have recourse in case there are professional conflicts or differences to be addressed.

3. PAREB (Philippine Association of Realtor Boards). Given the nationwide reach of PAREB, we brokers can network with colleagues from other regions. We can all tap in to its active MLS or multi-listing service. And given its current affiliation with the National Association of Realtors –USA, we can use the designation “REALTOR.”

4. Noynoy Aquino. Others can say what they want, but Noynoy’s promise of change is confidence-boosting for business and economy. One just has to drive along the streets of  Makati CBD, Ortigas and Bonifacio Global City to see the renewed level of construction activity. We brokers have a lot of selling to do.

5. St. Joseph. I am glad to know that we brokers have a patron saint to call on. St. Joseph-- the carpenter and guardian of the Redeemer-- built and kept a house then for the Holy Family. He too can help us today, if we believe.

Let me close by gently asking this question: “What are you thankful for today?”

MAITA H. SIQUIJOR: Former Electronics Marketer

I knew right away that the  first real estate broker whom I would feature in this series of  cross-over stories would be no other than  my own life partner, my wife Maita.

Maita, prior to switching to real estate was working for Herts Corporation, a company founded by her father Ramon D. Herce.  Herts  was into distribution of uninterrupted power supply equipment.   

Immediately after   completing her BS Management degree at the Ateneo in 1988, Maita joined  Herts Corporation  where she  took on  sales and marketing responsibilities. It was her involvement in her family's business that she showed her aptitude in computers.

When I met her in 1993,  Maita and I were both classmates in the MBA program of de la Salle University-- yes, we were the only 2 Ateneans in that class when I first met her.  After we got married in 1995, Maita decided to go full time in  real estate to  allocate more time to  starting our family.  She first went into  into project selling.  She joined Ayala Land Inc., then later,  Filinvest-- the office of which was closer to our home in Paranaque.

After our daughters were born in 1998 and 1999, Maita and I benefited from the flexibility of  her  real estate practice.  While I held on to an office job, Maita was attending to our children while closing occasional deals.

When I was posted in Singapore with my family  from  2002  to 2005,  Maita took the opportunity to enroll in a master's degree in E-learning at the Sheffield University.  

For her graduation, we as family flew in to Beijing, China  where the rites for Asian students of Sheffield University were  held .  What was very memorable was that the graduation  it was held on April 6, 2008-- coinciding with  Maita's birthday.

When we returned to Manila in 2005, Maita readily touched base with her network of fellow brokers to resume with her real estate practice. She signed up with Muntinlupa Reators Board,  where eventually  she was elected Director.  Most of her   transactions were  in  Alabang, Makati  CBD and The Fort at Bonifacio Global City.

Aside from attending to her real estate clients and occasionally holding  lectures on internet marketing, Maita is very much involved   with  internet sites that complement  her  practice:  architerra.com,   residencesmanila.com, myeleganthouse.com  and   condoinmanila.com.  Currently, she is putting up a site for our company La Maisonette Manila.

Read more about Maita. Click here.

MAITA H. SIQUIJOR
Landline : (632) 809 5412