PAREB President Manny Bocaling giving plaque of appreciation to REALTOR Castañeda

I was fortunate to hear PAREB history as narrated by Realtor Ernesto G. Castañeda during the PAREB Induction and Awarding Ceremonies last December 9, 2010. The event was held at the Manila Hotel as part of the Christmas Party celebrations of the Philippine Association of REALTORS® Boards, Inc. (PAREB). PAREB is the leading brokers association in the Philippines with more than 4,000 members. Mr. Castañeda is 96 years old and was the PAREB National President from 1968 to 1969.

When he walked to the stage to induct the new set of national officers for 2011, most of us couldn’t believe that at his age he is as strong as any of the younger Realtors. He spoke clearly and has good eyesight as he was able to read the Oath of Office without glasses. His memory was still sharp; in fact he remembers well the story that led to the creation of PAREB 50 years ago.

According to him, PAREB was created from a group of Manila-based real estate brokers with two American journalists. They planned to have the group accredited with the REALTORS® association in the United States. A special mention was made of ethics as a character of the new organization and its goal to set a high ethical standard in the real estate profession.

Members of the Pasig REALTORS Board at the 2010 PAREB Christmas Party

As a practicing licensed broker (DTI Lic. No. 19164), I liked Mr. Castañeda giving importance to ethics because I believe ethical practice is one of the distinctive mark of a REALTOR®. My analogy to this is, if there are “high end” and  “low end” products, a “special” or “regular” food; in real estate brokerage there is a REALTOR® who is distinct from an unlicensed practitioner.

I must confess I was awed by Mr. Castañeda. For me he exemplifies the highly ethical and principled Realtor. It was his loving concern for the well being of others that made him share the secret on the ingredient of his long life.

And do you now know what that secret is? Just listen to Realtor Raffy Salaveria’s video below.

I won’t tell you myself. After all it is a secret.