Fil-Canadian real estate pros survey lay of the land

From left to right: Jane Saquian, current president; Benny Jose, VP Constitution Bylaws and founding president; Albert Lintag, VP Special Projects; Resty Ragragio, VP Public Relations; Myla Udaundo, VP Membership; Ramon Cesar, Treasurer; Allene Barcia, Assistant Secretary; Vic Salazar, Director; Virgie Tigas, Director; and Tony Arroyo, Director. Current directors not in photo are Willie Reodica, Jess Cubos, Pete Lintag, Joe Evangelista, Malou Nejal, and Rey Maestrado. PHOTO BY MARISA ROQUE

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario–The Filipino’s innate sense of hospitality and love of bonding over food and revelry edged out the bitter cold as community leaders, loans and mortgage officers, real estate lawyers, REALTORS®, their families and guests enjoyed a holiday potluck dinner December 28.

Guests at the dinner hosted by Jane V. Saquian, owner/broker of record of Homelife Hearts in Mississauga, and current president of the Filipino Canadian Real Estate Association (FilCREA) shared stories of 2014 deals and their expectations of what 2015 holds for the economy, in general, and real estate sales, in particular.

FilCREA was founded January 2005 when Filipinos in the real estate industry banded together to crystallize their vision of a progressive and highly respected professional association that will serve the needs of Filipino Canadian REALTORS®.

The organization’s mandate is “to be the voice of all real estate representatives in the greater Toronto area and the province of Ontario on all issues of concern to the Filipino Canadian real estate community.”

The organization’s mission statement goes further: “The Filipino Canadian Real Estate Association (FilCREA) is committed to serve the needs of its members by providing timely, efficient and effective tools, services, and information necessary to foster professionalism and maintain the real estate practitioner’s position as the primary focus in the real estate industry.”

FILCREA enjoins its members to work together, “to grow in their education, business, and community service … to make a huge difference in other people’s lives, locally as well as in the Philippines.”

FilCREA put its collective shoulder to the grindstone to raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013.

A fundraising dinner and dance raised over C$25,000, and the Government of Canada provided counterpart (matching) funds.  Among the sponsors were Novotel Hotel, the Toronto Real Estate Board, ReMax,  Century 21, Right at Home, various real estate lawyers and other real estate sales professionals.

Gawad Kalinga Canada and ANCOP (Answering the Cry of the Poor) International have also been the recipients of FilCREA’s fund raising campaigns to provide housing for the poor and homeless in the Philippines.

As stated in its information sheet, FilCREA “strictly adheres to the principles and code of ethics of the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB), the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), and the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO).”