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

RAYMOND TIONGSON: Former Junior Wall-Climbing Champion

From the PAREB Mini-Olympics held last May at  La Salle Greenhills,  one member of Pasay-Makati Real Estate Board  was adjudged Most Valuable Player or MVP.

He is Raymond Tiongson, a La Salle Greenhills alumnus, who  during his  high school days was actually one of the national junior champions  in the field of wall-climbing. 

Figuratively speaking,  walls could very well represent the personal  challenges that Raymond have to surmount .  He lost his mother when he was 17; and his father, when he was 21.  His siblings either  already have their own families  or  have  migrated to the United States.  Early in life, Raymond had to learn to live on his own and fend for himself.

Today, Raymond is  a single professional, very much  engaged in real estate where he  is  making the most of every opportunity to excel--same way he did when he won 4 golds and  2 silvers during the PAREB Mini-Olympics.

Read more about Raymond here.

How PMRB Won the PAREB Mini-Olympics by 100+ Points

Last Sunday, May 29,   a number of local realtor boards under PAREB (Philippine Association of Realtor Boards) gathered at la Salle Greenhills for the annual  PAREB Mini-Olympics.

Real estate brokers from as far as Angeles City made it in time for the formal start  before 8 a.m.    After the invocation, PAREB President  Atty. Ariel Martinez welcomed the delegates.  PMRB (Pasay Makati Realtors Board) Vice-President Rene Castillo led the assembly in reciting the Oath of Sportsmanship.

During the last  PMRB General Membership Meeting at Metroclub,  I  was  furnished by our Secretariat (thanks to Tere and staff) with the tally of how our board fared in the 14 events.

• Biggest Delegation
• Local Board President's Run: 3rd Place. Atty. Nelson Arquiza
• Women's 50 Meter Dash:  1st Place. Paz Bentulan
• Men's 100 Meter Dash: 2nd Place. Raymond Tiongson
• Men's 4x100 Meter Relay: 1st Place. Raymond Tiongson, Ashley Valera, Gail Esmino, Wilfredo Monzon
• Egg Relay: 1st Place.  Ashley Valera, Egay Olimpo. Atty. Rhodora Dapula, Elena Jove, Amor Milana
• Sack Relay: 1st Place.  Paul Eyes, Jaime Aldenese, Edgar Olimpo, Paz Bentulan, Elena Jove
• 3-Legged Relay.  Carlos Pascsio, Gail Esmino, Edgar Olimpo, Jimmy Aldenese, Atty. Diana Mamaril, Elena Jove, Amor Milana, Mercy Reyes
• Obstacle Course: 1st Place.  Raymond Tionson, Ashley Valera, Christian Yap, Paz Bentulan, Elena Jove
• Swimming Relay:  1st Place.  Raymond Tiongson, Rene Castillo, Paul Reyes
• Mixed Free Throw: 1st Place. Marco Benitez, Paul Tan-Chi, Raymond Tiongson, Paz Bentulan, Elena Joves
• Men's 3-Point Shoot-out:.  1st Place.  Marco Benitez, Paul Tan-Chi
• Buzzer Beater: 2nd Place Marco Benitez, Rayomnd Tiongson, Paz Bentulan, Elena Jove
• Tug Of War: 1st Place. Christopher Ong, Oliver Co, Erickson Rodriguez, Paul Reyes, Gilbert Yupangco, Marlene Galeos, Amor Milana, Atty. Diana Mamaril
• Cheerdance Competition: 2nd Place.  Rene Castillo, Erickson Rodriguez, Edgar Olimpo, Carlos Pascasio, Jaime Aldenese, Ralph Tsai, Sweetie Manez,  Elena Jove, Paz Bentulan, Star Alayon, Lesley Geronimo

PMRB won  the championship for  the  second time in a row, with  205.5 points-- more than 100 points ahead of  runners-up Pasig Realtors Board (101 points) and Manila Realtors Board (58 points).

So how did  PMRB do it?  Let the pictures speak for themselves.

Photo credits:  Phil Coquia, Nelson Arquiza, Rene Castillo,  Sweetie Gardiner, Marlene Galeos, Gilbert Yupangco and Amor Milana.

A part of the Biggest Delegation

... and another part

At la Salle Greenhills field for the opening ceremonies

Revving up for No. 1

Before the PMRB Streamer

At the parade of colors

With  the PMRB Best Board Banner

PMRB President Atty. Nelson Arquiza escorting PMRB MPLR Candidate and Muse Lesley Geronimo

Paz Bentulan  leaving rivals  behind

Ashley Valera  ahead in the race, while Carlos Pascasio cheers  at the background

Atty. Nelson winning the preliminary heat in the President's Run

Taking the lead  in the Obstacle Course

On the way to the Sack Race  Gold finish

Tugging to Win

This time with feeling

With 2 of the PMRB Mermen

Center: The  three Champion Mermen:  Raymond Tiongson, Paul Reyes and  Rene Castillo-- wearing "blue"

A Blue Eagle shooting for the win in la Salle

Group Shot before the Awarding of Medals

Bemedaled Athletes and Cheer Dancers

"Glee"

Phil Coquia thumbs up for 3-Point  Shootout Winner Marco Benitez  (Paul Tan-Chi is the other gold  medalist) with Lesley Geronimo, Sweetie Manez and  Elena Jove

PAREB President Atty. Ariel Martinez handing over the Championship Plaque

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.

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?”

SWEETIE GARDINER-MANEZ: Former TV Host



Photo by Marlene Galeos

 She was Pasay -Makati Realtors Board (PMRB)’s bet to the 2010 Most Popular Lady Realtor contest, a yearly search organized by the Philippine Association of the Realtors Board or PAREB.

Being in the limelight looks like a breeze for Sweetie, and this is not a surprise to her friends and colleagues. As a student at St. Paul’s College-Manila, Sweetie already became comfortable being on stage. She was after all a Vicor/Blackgold dancer.

Sweetie was also in the hotel business and in TV show hosting at RJ-TV before she became a real estate developer and broker.

She credits her dad for giving her that break in real estate -- it came when her dad and his co-Rotarian put up a real estate company where she served as treasurer.

Currently at PMRB, she is Director for Public Relations and her  role suits her  perfectly well. 

MY FIRST PAREB CONVENTION

PAREB stands for the Philippine Association of Reators Board. It  is an umbrella organization  of    government-licensed real estate brokers-- a number of which are  also licensed appraisers, real estate consultants, property developers, builders, and practitioners of other professions. 

As of 2007, PAREB is composed 42 boards from Luzon, Visayas  and Mindanao. 

Since its foundation,  PAREB enjoys the privilege of  being the only national association  accredited by the NAR (National Association of Realtors)- USA to use "Realtor" for its members.

Not every real estate agent or broker is a REALTOR^®. The  trademark REALTOR^® and the familiar block “R” logo are patented to the National Association of REALTORS^® of the USA. Only members in good standing of NAR-USA and its foreign affiliates are authorized to use them.

Source: http://www.realtor.org.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=6

This 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of PAREB. Maita and  I had  the opportunity to sign up for the national convention  with the theme "PAREB @ 50: Solid as Gold", which  was held at the Century Park Hotel  from October 7 to  9. 

The convention program was filled with  so many sessions on various topics relevant to real estate practice that participants who attended the 3-day  event were awarded 15  CPE units-- all creditable for  PRC registration.

Among  the speakers with whom I was able to approach and speak with was Larry Gamboa (in photo),  author of best-selling "Think Rich Pinoy" and  known proponent of foreclosure investments. 

Other popular figures who graced the convention were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Chiz Escudero and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. 

There were also fellowship events,    the most memorable of which  were the board "talent" presentations during the "Broadway Night" on October  8 and  the search for the Most Popular Lady Realtor held on October 9.

Cebu Realtors Board won the judges nod during the talent night, while the Candidate from Quezon City Reators Board bagged the MPLR title.  This year's search, according to the organizers, raised a record  high of  Ps 3.2 million.

The PAREB elections were held on December 9, where  outgoing President  Manny Bocaling passed on the leadership to Atty. Ariel Martinez.

My colleagues and I from Pasay-Makati Realtors Board (PMRB) could not be any happier for Atty. Martinez.