COY LEDESMA: Former International Flight Stewardess

PMRB’s incoming  2012 President  is used to soaring the heights,  literally.    After earning her Economics degree from Assumption College-Makati in 1987,  Coy Ledesma  embarked on a 9-year career as an international flight stewardess at Philippine Airlines.

Coy’s shift to real estate is an interesting story of a wife and mother who wanted to spend more time with her young family.

In  1994, Coy started with project selling while holding on to her job as an international flight stewardess. With the support of her husband Dice, Coy  gradually made the transition to real estate;  she passed the licensing exam in 1996  and  in  1998  went full-time as a broker.

Gracious, intelligent and articulate,  Coy can  readily win support as President in steering PMRB--PAREB’s Best Board-- towards  greater achievements.  

Read more about Coy here.

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

Three PRC Board Topnotchers from Pasay-Makati Realtors Board

Last Wednesday, I attended the  PMRB (Pasay- Makati Realtors Board) CRESAR Testimonial  and Members' Night at Amber Ultra Lounge at the Fort Strip in Bonifacio Global City.

It was an evening organized by PMRB President Nelson Arquiza and his board of directors to give a toast for the  successful examinees-- who were trained by PMRB for the recent Real Estate Broker Licensure  Exam conducted by the Board of Real Estate Service under the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC).   Out of more than 600 participants of the Comprehensive Real Estate Seminar and Review (CRESAR) by PMRB, about 550 took the exams of which, 427 passed.  Three PRMB CRESAR participants were in the top 10:

• Dennis Desoloc Lim-- 5th place,  87.25%,
• Charlene Camilla Baustista Lao-- 6th place,  87.00%
• Basilisa Palencia  Padua-Macaranas-- 7th Place, 86.75%

During the PMRB event at Amber,  I was able to speak briefly  with Lisa Padua-Macaranas.   She revealed to  me that she was a researcher  by profession, and that she was a case writer for the Asian Institute of Management before she decided to devote her time   as a mother to 3 growing children.  Lisa is from Ateneo de Naga and has an MBA from the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

I look forward to  meeting  Dennis Lim and Charlene Lao.  I am optimistic  that  they too have  highly interesting backgrounds.

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!

Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon with PMRB

On April 9, Saturday,  Philippine Red Cross Chairmnan Richard   Gordon will  be  the guest of honor at  PMRB's "Proactive Emergency Preparedness Program"  at 1:00 p.m. at Metroclub Makati.

In line with this  event, there  will  be a blood letting activity-- members of Pasay Makati Realtors Board  are specifically enjoined to make blood donation-- and safety seminars will also be conducted by  representatives of Philippine Red Cross.

Below is the program of activities on April 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m at Metroclub.

MORNING SESSION

9:00AM Registration
9:30AM Peptalk for Donors
11:00AM Safety Services Program on Basic Life Support and Disaster Preparedness demo

AFTERNOON SESSION

1:00PM Talk by Chairman Gordon
2:00PM Peptalk for Donors
3:00PM Safety Services Program on Basic Life Support and Disaster Preparedness demo
4:00PM Turnover of Donations for Philippine Red Cross

*For those donating blood in the morning, please attend the 9:30AM peptalk. For those donating in the afternoon, please attend the 2PM peptalk.

For more details, please call PMRB Chairperson for Corporate Social Responsibility,  Lesley B.  Geronimo, at (02) 211 0252.

LESLEY B. GERONIMO: Former Associate TV Producer

PMRB’s 2011 Candidate to the Search for  Most Popular Lady Realtor is Lesley Geronimo—a  graduate of Ateneo de Manila,  who  was once the Associate TV Producer for   “Money Talk,” a program  by Anthony Pangilinan.

Lesley shifted to real estate in 2006  and joined PMRB in 2009 where she is now the Committee Chairperson for  Corporate Social Responsibility.   Among her current CSR projects is the Blood Letting Activity with the Philippine Red Cross at Metroclub Makati on April 9.

Outside of work, Lesley enjoys traveling and dancing. As an avid salsa dancer, she even goes abroad to join International Salsa Festivals. 

 

Lesley’s  engaging  nature  helps her relate very well with children.  Since 2010, she has been organizing quarterly activities for  orphans, street children and those  suffering from  leukemia.

Read more about Lesley  here.

MARCO M. BENITEZ: Former UAAP Basketball Player

Note:  Marco is our first featured broker   for the year.  The last  one was Sweetie Gardiner-Manez (Former TV Host) in November 2010.

The parents of  Marco must be  very proud of him— among his other qualities, he is an achiever in more ways than one. 

Marco was a  member of the  Ateneo  Blue Eagles that won the 2002 UAAP Basketball Championship—a credential that   helped him clinch the position of  Assistant Coach to the Ateneo Blue Eaglets Juniors Basketball Team.

After completing his degree in Management Engineering—one of the most  academically demanding  courses at  Ateneo de Manila, he  joined Nestle Philippines  as a Management Trainee and later assumed the position of  Regional Field  Operations Executive.  Along the way, he also finished his MBA from the Ateneo Graduate  School of Business.

In 2007,  upon the encouragement of his father , Marco   took up the  Comprehensive Real Estate Seminar or CRESAR.    He passed the broker’s exam,   got his license and  eventually  joined the Pasay Makati Realtors Board.

Marco  shifted to real estate to join   his father in  running the   family businesses that include Chiron Development Inc..
    

Read more about Marco here.

Making it to the PRC list

I woke up this morning to find a piece of great news on my cell phone's text screen.

"Congratulations!! for d approval of ur application for registration as a professional real estate  broker by the PRC-PREBRES. I hope this news brightens ur day."

For a split second, I thought it was just a prank until I saw that it was sent that by no less than PMRB  adviser Phil Coquia.

I right away logged on  and searched for the Philippine Regulation Commission website.  And there on my screen before me was  the latest entry on PRC's website:  "January 2011 Real Estate Consultants/Appraisers/Brokers – Approved for Registration W/out Exam."

I opened the link and I found not only my name but also of Maita's on page 13. It was a great feeling to see our names on that government list.  Sure brightened up my day!

So on February 10, at 1:00 p.m., Maita and I -- together with some of our fellow real estate brokers who filed our application last November-- will be at the oath-taking event organized by  PRC  at the Fiesta  Pavilion of Manila Hotel. 

To those also  want to  see their names in the PRC list of professional real estate brokers soon, PMRB is offering a Comprehensive Real Estate Seminar starting January 19.  Call Tere at 8930585 right away.

Do you want to be a Licensed Real Estate Broker?

This just came in from PMRB or Pasay-Makati Realtors Board.  In preparation for the first Real Estate  Broker Licensure Exam under the Philippine Regulation  Commission on March  27, 2011,  PMRB is offering  three tracks,   each  running for  4 weeks that will  allow participants to earn  as many as  120 units.  

Weekend: Every Saturday and Sunday
Jan. 22, 23, 29, 30, Feb. 5, 6, 12 & 13, 2011

Weekday:  Every Wednesday and Thursday
 Jan. 19, 20, 26, 27, Feb. 2, 3, 9 & 10, 2011

Weekday:  
 Feb. 15, 16, 17, 23, 24, March 1, 2 & 3, 2011

[ Subjects covered pursuant to Sec. 13 of R.A. 9646 ]

TIME : 8:00AM – 5:00PM

WHERE : Metropolitan Club, Estrella cor. Amapola Sts., Makati City

CREDIT HOURS : SIXTY-FOUR (64) HOURS

SEMINAR FEE : P10,000.00 (Inclusive of seminar materials, lunch, snacks
& Certificate of Attendance)

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT. : Less P1,000.00 if paid 2 days before the seminar date

Remember,  the new year can be a time for a new career!  Call PMRB right away. (Tere:   893-05-69 or 893-05-85)

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.

Considering a Career in Real Estate?

I just received today an email from Pasay-Makati Realtors Board that there will be a Comprehensive Real Estate Seminar  (CRESAR) that will be conducted on November 13, 20 and 27 at FEU Makati, Arnaiz Avenue (formerly Buendia).

This is an excellent first step  for those considering a real estate service as a profession.   It will prepare one for the licensing exam that is scheduled sometime next year. It is certainly advantageous to be prepared well ahead of time.

Fee is only Ps 4,000 for the 3 Saturdays (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) inclusive of lunch, snack, hand outs and certificate). Please call PMRB Secretariat to reserve a seat: 893 0585.

Act fast. Seats are limited.

For more details, please click here.

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. 

ATTY. NELSON W. ARQUIZA: Former Career Director at Malacanang Palace

Photo by Marlene Galeos

Pasay-Makati Realtors Board's  2011 President Atty. Nelson W. Arquiza has many  attributes not quite obvious to many of  his  fellow real estate brokers.

Aside from his degree from Ateneo Law School, Nelson holds a Master's  Degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines. He is actually a Lieutenant Colonel in the Philippine Army, which could explain why his photo in his business cards has him garbed  in a military attire.

His switch to real estate was not only motivated by monetary rewards but by a nationalistic purpose. Not surprising for someone who devoted  the first  years of his  career in government service. Under the terms of three Philippine Presidents, Nelson was a Career Director at the Malacanang  where he served in different capacities-- as Chief of Staff  of  the Executive Secretary, Head of Special Concerns Group and as Head Of  Legal Team.

After his stint at the palace, he was tapped to champion the  corporate re-engineering of Maybank Philippines resulting in the turnaround of its operations in less than 2 years.

HOW I GOT HERE

With my wife, Realtor® Maita Herce-Siquijor

I am not entirely new to real estate practice. For one, I am married to Maita who  has been  a real estate broker for more than  10 years now.

Actually,  I got my  real estate broker's license   in 1996,  Only my family knew  this story.  When I was courting Maita in 1994, she decided to take up the Comprehensive Real Estate Seminar or CRESAR-- an 8-weekend course that prepared a candidate for the licensing exam.

To be with Maita, I also enrolled in the same course. I sat through the lectures and  really studied the course materials.

 We both passed the licensing exams.  Eventually, we applied for our licenses.  She pursued her real estate practice while I went on to move up on the proverbial   corporate ladder in the pharmaceutical industry.

Since then, I have referred to Maita a number of  my office mates for  their real estate requirements.  I am glad that Maita was able to successfully close deals  for them.

Up until 2009, I did not see  the need for me to  renew  my real estate license.  I was just  happy to give Maita referrals.  But now that we have put up La Maisonette Manila, Inc. -- a general real estate brokerage-- there is that obvious benefit for me to get my license renewed.

With the enactment of the Real Estate Service Act in 2009,  the licensing authority for real estate brokers was shifted from the Department of Trade and Industry to the Philippine Regulation  Commission.  One of the requirements for me to  renew my license was to take up 24 units of Continuing Professional Education units or CPEs.

CPEs are offered by local realtor boards.  Maita belongs to the Muntinlupa Realtors Board or MUNREB.  Sometime  July 2009, she received an email  from  Pasay Makati Realtors Board or PMRB that  a course on CPE would be offered.  Maita forwarded the email to me and I looked up PMRB on the net. The course lecturer was Atty. Ariel Martinez,  whom I have met in one of the seminars on estate planning.   I wanted to sign up for the course but there was a conflict in my schedule.    I called up the PMRB secretariat and spoke to Tere Santana who advised me that  there was another CPE course to be offered by the Paranaque Las Pinas Realtors Board or PLAREB.   To cut the story short, I attended the course organized by PLAREB that was conducted by Mr. Cesar Santos, another prominent real estate lecturer.

In  August 2009, I decided to apply  for membership with  the Pasay Makati Realtors Board.   Maita and I agreed that it would be better for me to sign up with another board so that we could expand our business  network,  I chose PMRB because I knew Atty. Ariel Martinez and because I actually grew up in Pasay City.

Maita is very proficient in the use of the net  for her real estate practice.  She has a Masters Degree in E-learning from University of Sheffield in UK.   But instead of me taking her time away to teach me concepts on e-commence and blogging, I decided to sign up for  a blogging course at Ateneo de Manila   One Saturday in   October 2009, I went back to my alma mater and  found myself again in a classroom.  The program director was Janette Toral, one of the most influential names in  blogging and e-commerce in the country.

To comply with   one of our course requirements, I put up this blog.  And that's how I got here-- literally and figuratively speaking.