FIABCI-PHILIPPINES' 2006-2007 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS headed by Arch. JUN PALAFOX as Chairman of the Board and BOBBY SY as President, INDUCTED INTO OFFICE BY HIS EXCELLENCY VICE-PRESIDENT NOLI DE CASTRO
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FIABCI-PHILIPPINES JOINS FIABCI 2006 WORLD CONGRESS IN BANGKOK , THAILAND
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FIABCI-PHILIPPINES ATTENDS FIABCI 2005 ASIA-PACIFIC REAL ESTATE CONGRESS IN OSAKA , JAPAN

The Asia Pacific Real Estate Congress (APREC), a bi-annual congress hosted by the FIABCI-Asia Pacific Committee, a sub-organization of FIABCI, was held at the Royal Rihga Hotel in Osaka, Japan last September 28-30, 2005. With the theme “Urban Renaissance and Real Estate Industry”, APREC focused on how countries around the world nowadays are facing the common material issue of creating sustainable cities and towns. FIABCI-JAPAN President and concurrent President of FIABCI Asia Pacific said that “the constant renewal of urban functions, an important local foundation for the stability and development of each country's social economy is an important theme even in terms of increasingly serious environmental issues and handling of natural disasters.” He further continued that “among others, the revitalization of large metropolises that have continued to grow without limit is a critical issue.”

Our very own, Arch. Jun Palafox presented the Philippine property situationer entitled “Postcards from the Future”, unlike a concept paper, his “urban renewal” recommendations for local government unit leaders were presented in postcard form perspectives that show what can be done to areas that need to be rehabilitated and redeveloped immediately in the Philippines in the belief that “For the Philippines to become like other progressive cities of the world, its political leaders must have visionary leadership, which involves the need to first reeducate them about the need for a ‘well-master-planned society.'  And further believing that the private sector can be tapped for this endeavor.”

FIABCI-Philippines delegation was headed by Chairman Vic Soliven; President Jun Dulalia; Vice-President Bobby Sy; Vice-President Jun Palafox; Vice-President Willy Tan; Vice-President Edith Manansala; members Purita Soliven, Jexter Dulalia; and accompanying spouses Atty. Janet T. Salazar-Sy and Mrs. Palafox.

FIABCI-PHILIPPINES PARTICIPATES IN THE 2 ND FIABCI ASIA PACIFIC REGIONAL SECRETARIAT SUMMIT IN PETALING JAYA , MALAYSIA
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FIABCI-PHILIPPINES JOINS 2005 WORLD CONGRESS IN ATHENS , GREECE
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FIABCI-PHILIPPINES PARTICIPATES IN THE 1 ST FIABCI ASIA PACIFIC REGIONAL SECRETARIAT SUMMIT IN KUALA LUMPUR , MALAYSIA

FIABCI is expected to see its membership from the Asia Pacific region grow following the inauguration of FIABCI Asia Pacific Regional Secretariat Summit held in Kuala Lumpur on the 23 rd and 24 th July, 2005. This anticipated growth is part of the global membership drive spearheaded by World President, Dato' Alan Tong Kok Mau who also hosted and chaired the two-day summit which was attended by almost 40 delegates from 10 countries comprising, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, United States and Russia. Among these delegates were World President-Elect Mr. Owen Gwyn and FIABCI Board members Mr. John Pinson who is the president of the Membership Committee and FIABCI-USA president and Mr. Jim Miller who is the president of the Strategic Planning Committee.

The summit laid the groundwork for the formalisation and operations of the Asia Pacific Regional Secretariat, which will play an instrumental role in his membership drive for this part of the world. “The Board of FIABCI International had during the recent World Congress in June given the go-ahead for the formation of the Asia Pacific Regional Secretariat to serve the eight member countries - Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand, India, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia,” said Dato' Alan Tong. The presidents of these countries including Cambodia who elected to be under the regional administration during the summit will sit on the Board of the Asia Pacific Regional Secretariat of which Dato' Alan Tong is the chairman. Also on the Board is the Secretariat's secretary-general, Mr. Kumar Tharmalingam. “Delegates agreed at the summit that the day-to-day operations of the Secretariat will be left to the executive council whose members will be from Kuala Lumpur – with the exception of Mr. Wong Ah Long, FIABCI-Singapore president – where it (the Secretariat) is based,” said the World President. The summit also deliberated on the discounted unitary fee of 50 euros for members under the Asia Pacific Regional Secretariat. This reduced unitary fee will, instead of being remitted to Paris for the operations of the Secretariat there, be retained for the use of the Kuala Lumpur-based Asia Pacific Regional Secretariat.

The summit also discussed chapter performance and activities, of which those who were present received some ideas on how to make their respective chapters and membership more dynamic through a presentation by Mr. John Pinson, the president of the Membership Committee.

FIABCI-PHILIPPINES INDUCTION OF 2005-2006 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS headed by VICTORIO “VV” SOLIVEN as Chairman of the Board and FLORENTION “JUN” DULALIA as President At Manila Hotel

The founding officers of FIABCI-PHILIPPINES were inducted into office by Philippine Vice-President Noli De Castro last March 30, 2005 at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel. The event opened a new chapter in the history of the country's real estate and property industry. “The formation of the Philippine Chapter of FIABCI comes at a very opportune time, as the country's real estate industry is enjoying a renewed dynamism following the government's intensified efforts to boost and strengthen private sector participation in the National Shelter Program”, said Vice-President De Castro. Concurrently, Vice-President De Castro chairs the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) which oversees and coordinates the functions of the country's public housing agencies.

In his speech, Vice-President de Castro enumerated five policy reforms being carried out by the government to push the Philippine housing and real estate industry: (1) reduction of the processing time for housing permits from 90 days to 30-45 days; (2) limiting the number of signatories/ signatures in documentation from 288 to 40; (3) setting a seven day period to process housing loan applications; (4) cutting the number of documentary requirements for the Community Mortgage Program from 56 to 8; and (5) reduction of the interest rates for housing loans especially in PAG-IBIG fund to make it more affordable to the low salaried employees who would like to own a house.

Before the event, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sent a written message commending those “who have in unity founded the association to make the Filipino presence felt in the international real estate arena through FIABCI”. She also said that the creation of “global portals of opportunities for local properties” will help uplift the country's overall economy.

Then incumbent FIABCI World President, John E. Greig, also sent his felicitations, welcoming FIABCI Philippines to the network and anticipating a “fruitful relationship” that will ensure the building of a “strong and prosperous chapter.”

On the other hand, then incoming FIABCI World President, Dato' Alan Tong Kok Mau through FIABCI MALAYSIA President Dato' Teo Chiang Kok sent a message calling attention to the “FIABCI spirit that crosses international boundaries to facilitate cross border business opportunities and networking”. He further added that FIABCI “transcends the divided self-interests of profession-specific organizations, providing members with a unique and distinct way of viewing and understanding the property market and its challenges.”

Also in attendance were delegates from FIABCI-THAILAND and FIABCI-JAPAN. FIABCI-JAPAN representative Katsuhiko Minohara read a message from FIABCI-JAPAN President Shin-ichiro Takagi, recalling that in 1982, Manila was the venue of the Asia Pacific Real Estate Federation Congress, a congress independent of FIABCI but which paved the way for the setting-up of APREC, a bi-annual congress hosted by FIABCI-Asia Pacific Committee, a sub-organization of FIABCI.

FIABCI-PHILIPPINES CHARTER MEMBERS RECOGNIZED AT MANILA HOTEL

The charter members of FIABCI-PHILIPPINES were sworn in by FIABCI-MALAYSIA President Dato' Teo Chiang Kok last March 20, 2005 at Manila Hotel. The charter membership of FIABCI-PHILIPPINES represents developers and their marketing arms involed in lifestyle, commercial, industrial, residential properties.

For more information on the membership roster of FIABCI-PHILIPPINES, please click here .

FIABCI-PHILIPPINES CONDUCTS INVESTMENT FORUM

An investment forum was conducted by FIABCI-PHILIPPINES last March 30, 2005 at Manila Hotel in order to provide a venue for information exchange on investment opportunities and open-market forces particularly in the Philippines . Deputized by FIABCI Secretary-General Atty. Luis T. Pangilinan to provide a legal structure for the investment forum was Atty. Janet T. Salazar-Sy, FIABCI Asst. Secretary-General, who presented the legal aspects of foreign investment in the Philippines as well as the priority and preferred areas for real estate foreign investment in the Philippines . Atty. Pangilinan served as the forum facilitator.

The forum then went on to the specialized topics of “Investment Opportunities in Islands and Beaches in the Philippines” by Rovel D. Tomambo, President of Elysian Fields Realty Group; “Outlook on Business Development and Environmental Preservation” by Engr. Vitaliano Lombos, Sr., Vice-President for Business and Development of R-II Builders Group of Companies; “Investment Opportunities in NHA held real estate assets” by Atty. Joseph Peter S. Sison, NHA Asst. General Manager. Focus was made on market-based reforms and policies adopted by the government to meet the requirements of local ang global integration.

FIABCI-PHILIPPINES ATTENDS FIABCI-MALAYSIA PRIX D' EXCELLANCE GALA NIGHT AT KUALA LUMPUR , MALAYSIA

FIABCI-MALAYSIA honors YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad with the FIABCI Award of Distinction for Nation Building at a Gala Dinner held in his honor last September 24, 2004 at Shangri-la Hotel, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia . No person is more eminently qualified than former Prime Minister Mahathir for single-handedly providing the vision and leadership to lead Malaysia through an unprecedented growth and development to what it is today. The affair was graced by no less than HIS ROYAL MAJESTY Seri Paduka Baginda yang Di-Pertuan Agong XII Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail and HER ROYAL MAJESTY Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Fausiah Binti Al-Marhum Tengku Abdul Rashid.

Upon the invitation of then Incoming World President Dato' Alan Tong Kok Mau, FIABCI-PHILIPPINES, graciously attended this historic event and was represented by Chairman Victorio Soliven, President Florentino Dulalia, Jr., Vice-President Pedro C. Tario; Vice-President Bobby Sy and member Cheyenne Morrison, who all brought their respective spouses Past CREBA President Purita Soliven, Mrs. Rose Dulalia; Mrs. Gloria Tario; Atty. Janet T. Salazar-Sy; Mrs. Bernadette Morrison and daughter Conirose Dulalia.