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.

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.

How difficult is it to apply for an NBI clearance?

Depends on whom you ask. 

One does not really have to go to the NBI Head Office in Manila to apply for a new clearance or for a renewal. 

But  before we proceed, one might ask, why this question on this blog?  An NBI clearance is actually  one of the documents  that are  required for a broker's registration at the Philippine Regulation Commission. 

Now  back to my  most recent  experience with NBI-- my wife Maita and I headed last Nov 4 for the NBI satellite office within the compound of  Las Pinas City Hall.  With us was our new maid,  whom  we required to apply for a clearance too, as a matter of  family policy.

We were there  before 9:30 a.m.  Since it was not my first time to apply, I knew that we had to get our Community Tax Certificate or "cedula" at the main building.  

There were  already  long queues when we reached the  NBI satellite office  that was located just a short walk behind the main  building.  One line was for males and another for females. 

Prominently displayed was a warning sign not to deal with "fixers."  There were no "fixers" in operation then. What we saw were  young men, probably new NBI recruits who were managing the traffic of applicants.  One was assigning a number depending on one's position in queue.  Maita got number 51  and my new maid, 52.  I on the other hand was in the longer line for males.  I got number 81.

For a moment I thought that it would  take endless hours in the humid but shaded waiting area.  It was a consolation to see the lines moving at a reasonable pace.

Step 1: Payment.    I paid  Ps 115 for a copy of the clearance.  I showed my  cedula and a valid ID to get  a card where my name was quickly  printed on.  This card had to be filled out with  personal information.

Step  2. Finger Printing.   The card had those boxes on one side  for  marking one's finger prints.  A veteran looking NBI employee assisted me here  fast and efficiently.  To remove the ink off my fingers after,  I was handed what seemed to be alcohol dipped paper wipes.  I was asked to fork over Ps 10, which I gladly did.  Consider it a tip.

Step 3.  Review.  I approached a window where an NBI rep examined my entries in my finger print card.  There were no questions on my card so I quickly went to the next step.

Step 4.  Picture-taking.  I was made to stand before what seemed to be a movable wooden backdrop painted in white.  In front of me was a digital camera that recorded my image in black and white.

Step 5. Clearance Release. I was  told to wait at the nearby open area.  A short while later--at about 11:45 a.m--   I was able to get  Maita's and my own clearance.   My new maid was not that fortunate though.   Her name was fairly common so there was a "hit"--  this meant that the NBI had to further check  the results.  My maid was asked to return after 5 working days.    Tough luck for our maid.

By lunchtime that day,  we were already at SM Super Center in Las Pinas situated almost across the Las Pinas City Hall . The entire  process  after all was  not as long as I anticipated it to be.

There are other NBI satellite offices around the county, this way we all do not have to go at all to the head office in along Taft,  Manila or to the  Clearance Center in Monumento  Check out NBI's website: .http://www.nbi.gov.ph/clearance.htm

By the way, while I was waiting for my turn, an NBI employee at the Las Pinas Satellite office gave me this advice:    It would also help to keep the personal copy portion  of the clearance. In the future, one does not have to go to any NBI  office at all for securing a  clearance renewal.   Just ask  a friend or relative  a favor.   Simply give him or her your  personal copy of the last clearance you applied for together with  2  passport size pictures and  he or she can apply for renewal on your behalf.  

I will certainly remember that next time around.

•    

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?”

PMRB 2011 Planning and Team Building

Shortly after Atty. Nelson Arquiza was elected  2011 PMRB  President, he organized  a planning and team building workshop at Evercrest in Nusugbu,  Batangas  last October 22.

I felt privileged to be invited to the workshop, where I met  almost all of  the board's new officers:  Rene Castillo, Vice President; Atty. Diana Mamaril, Secretary; Sweet Gardiner-Manoz,  Joseph Aragon (who arranged for the venue), Carlos Pascasio and Roel Ramos-- Directors.

The trip to Evercrest started at 7:00 a.m. for me   I met up with Marlene Galeos, Balui Tort and Ashley Valera-- all committee volunteers-- at Starbucks Madrigal Avenue in Alabang.  We shared a ride going to Evercrest using Marlene's car. 

Upon reaching   Evercrest, we  had  our group pictorials.  We had fun and it showed.







Lady PMRB Officers & Committee Volunteers with President Nympha Bocaling (center)

  We had team building exercises conducted by Marlene. Later that day, we had our planning sessions. . We were divided into 3 groups:  Internal Com, Internal Com and Strategic Business Com, of which I was assigned to join.




 With the  Men of PMRB (Me 3rd from left)

     It was a highly stimulating discussion for all the three groups.   We broke up for dinner past 8 pm.  I think that would be an indication of the things-- the  work--  to come.

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.

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.

ST. JOSEPH: Patron Saint of Real Estate Brokers

Out of plain curiosity, I searched  the net for the patron saint of real estate brokers.  To my pleasant surprise, I was led to numerous sites  pointing to St. Joseph-- the head of the Holy Family and  the Guardian of  the Redeemer.

St. Joseph was a carpenter.  He  built a home for   Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Although he is not officially named by the Catholic Church as the patron  saint of real estate, a number of brokers consider him as their de facto patron saint.

I came upon a number of sites promoting prayers to St. Joseph for help in selling houses.  In fact, there is a practice among home sellers and brokers in the United States that involved the burying upside down of a wrapped  statue of St. Joseph in  the  garden or yard of a house marked for sale.

Being raised Catholic, I do not agree with the burying of the image of St. Joseph to facilitate a house sale. However, I am all for saying a prayer or a novena to  implore the aid of St. Joseph, and for displaying his statue in a place of honor, whether or not a  house is for sale.

Below is an example of a prayer  to St. Joseph (source:http://www.stjosephsite.com/SJS_Prayer_To%20sell%20a%20home.htm ).

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.  

Come to my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Almighty God, Father of mercies and giver of all good gifts, I come before you to honor you in your saints and ask their help in my many needs.

You promised those who ask, would receive, those who seek, would find, those who knock, would have doors opened to them. Hear the prayers of your church, grant my requests, and pardon my sins. Amen.

St. Joseph, just and true, with a father's care you raised the child Jesus, and with a husband's love, you shared your life with Mary, His mother.

I entrust myself to your care and place in your hands this request of mine (say request)….

In quiet Nazareth, long ago, the Holy Spirit spoke to your heart and you followed God's will with wonderful faith.

In the quiet of my days, and in the hard choices I must make, help me follow the Spirit's guidance and believe when I cannot see.

Here are  other links to prayers to  St. Joseph:

• http://www.bulin.com/stjoe/sjprayer.html
• http://www.st-josephstatue.com/prayers.htm
• https://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/Favorite-Prayers-to-St-Joseph

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

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.

WHERE I HAVE BEEN

Since I graduated from college in 1984, I have practically spent all my working years  as a marketer.  I started out as a Product Associate, moving up to various positions in brand management  for  prescription, over-the-counter (OTC)  and consumer products across several pharmaceutical  companies. While working my way up  on  the proverbial corporate ladder, I met and   married  Maita-- my wife for  more than 15 years now.  She  is a veteran of more than 10 years in the  real estate  business.   While pursuing our professions, we have been raising two  precocious  children.

Prior to our  putting up  a real estate company named Architerra Manila Properties as a division of  La Maisonette Manila Inc  in  2010,  I was  Marketing Director in  a multinational  pharmaceutical company. 


I am optimistic that  my stint in  pharmaceutical marketing  can serve as a valuable platform from which Maita  and I can draw learnings, and the much needed contacts, to grow our company.    

My posts will not all be about Maita and myself.  Through this blog,  I  intend to  provide  interesting write-ups on  current issues and concerns in the industry,  and on fellow real  estate brokers whom we have personally met and dealt with.

I know that there are many fellow real estate brokers  out there   who have had colorful careers prior to shifting to  real estate.   They too will be featured here,  for their stories to serve as  inspiring examples of successful cross-overs. 

Our accounts  of  our cross-overs can benefit not only those who are new  in  the  profession-- but  also our  our prospective  and current clients,   who   can have a gleam  of  our backgrounds.  We hope that our clients, both now and in the future,  will  find  in all of  us the qualities that they expect from real estate professionals.