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.
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| At the lobby of the Fiesta Pavilion |
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| Maita and I before joining the tables of our respective boards |
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| Together with the members of the Muntinlupa Realtors' Board led by its President Atty. Dominique Inigo (left) |
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| With my colleagues from PMRB (seated from L-R: Lucille Cuasay, TA Antonio, Yvonne Apad, Monette Vicencio and Charrie de Jesus.) |
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| Maita and I with PMRB President Atty. Nelson Arquiza |
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| 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. |
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| Among those early to arrive for the sunset pictorial at the Sofitel |
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| (L-R) With Art Evangelsta, Paul Reyes and Gilbert Yupangco-- happy with 2 thumbs up! |
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| Maita having fun posing with some of the PMRB ladies |
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| Beside PMRB VP Rene Castillo from whose album some of the photos in this blog post were taken |
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| Maita and I (left in shades) together with fellow PMRB members anticipating the sunset |
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| In the middle, posing on the grass, is Marlene Galeos, from whose album some of the photos in this blog post is taken |
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| PMRB Adviser Phil Coquia (L) finally caught up with the group. |
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| Maita, enigmatically smiling by the sunset |
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| Finally, a moment with the sea breeze and the setting sun |
