The Project Review : Philippine Real Estate News and Update

News and updates on real estate developments and projects; current event news updates; property listings; home and architecture; laws and regulations; education and seminars; people; ecology and environmental issues; geography and history; places of interest and events; travel and tourism; tips and how to; others matters allied to the the Philippine real estate industry. Trivia and rants on anything under the sun.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Announcement : MVRB General Membership Meeting and Annual Election


To All MVRB Members : 

Don't miss out on this very important event! 

Click poster to enlarge


Marikina Valley Real Estate Board Inc. 
General Membership Meeting and Annual Election 
Date : November 21, 2013
Time : 6:00 PM (Thursday)
Venue : Ling Nam Restaurant
Transcom Center, Frontera Verde,  
C-5 corner Ortigas Ave., Pasig City
(Transcom Center is just across Tiendesitas and Fun Ranch) 




Friday, October 25, 2013

Information : The Growing World Retiree Market (Part I)


In one of our meetings in a Kapitolyo coffee shop, my friend and colleague Mario Zavalla mentioned about his past experience in promoting and selling real estate to Japanese retirees. I learned that he was a member of the original core group who organized the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), the government agency tasked with promoting the Philippines as a preferred retirement destination for world retirees. I also found out that he used to head, for a number of years, the Marketing Group of the PRA which was then attached under the Office of the President of the Philippines. Being a retiree himself (though he wouldn’t tell me how long he had retired) and still active as a licensed real estate broker like myself, I requested him to write about the subject which I could publish on this blog. After some hesitation, he later acquiesced to my request after explaining to him that a  thriving retirement industry would not only benefit a wide segment of the  Philippine economy, particularly the real estate industry, but also his pet project . . . . The PHILISTINGS BANK


THE GROWING WORLD RETIREE MARKET :  
Marketing Challenges and Opportunities 
By Mario G. Zavalla


Introduction

This article is the first installment in a series of articles on the world retiree market. It provides valuable information, insights and related details into a global phenomenon called “global ageing”, a  situation described as unprecedented and unparalleled in human history. This report is a compilation of the findings contained in a report prepared by the Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations as a contribution to the 2002 World Assembly on Ageing, 2013 Demographics Profile of Japan and the Philippines sourced from the CIA World Factbook, Wikipedia and several websites featuring retirement communities, retirement destinations and facilities located around the globe. 

We hope that this treatise can provide the basic marketing inputs necessary to guide and prod Philippine entrepreneurs, especially real estate developers, marketers and other  retirement service providers to conduct follow-up research into a potentially humungous industry with its far-reaching benefits to our national economy. 


World Population at a Glance

Presented below are the latest statistics on world population by countries and by continents :    

World population (millions)
#
Top ten most populous countries
1990
2008
2025*
1
1,141
1,333
1,458
2
849
1,140
1,398
3
250
304
352
4
178
228
273
5
150
192
223
6
108
166
226
7
116
160
198
8
94
151
208
9
148
142
137
10
124
128
126

World total
5,265
6,688
8,004

Top ten most populous (%)
60.0%
58.9%
57.5%
1
1,613
2,183
2,693

+ China
1,141
1,333
1,458

+ OECD Pacific*
187
202
210
2
634
984
1,365
3
564
603
659

+ Russia
148
142
137

133
136
146
4
355
462
550
5
359
444
514
6
132
199
272


17
22
28

473
499
539

US + Canada
278
338
392

289
285
289
Geographical definitions as in IEA Key Stats 2010 p. 66
Notes:
·       Europe = OECD Europe + Non-OECD Europe and
excluding Russia and including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
·       ex-Soviet Union (SU) = SU excluding Russia and Baltic states
·       North America = US, Canada, Mexico
·       OECD Pacific = Australia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand
·       2025 = with constant annual 2007/2008 growth until 2025


Population by Region

Six of Earth's seven continents are permanently inhabited on a large scale. Asia is the most populous continent, with its 4.2 billion inhabitants accounting for over 60% of the world population. The world's two most-populated countries alone, China and India, together constitute about 37% of the world's population. Africa is the second-most-populated continent, with around 1 billion people, or 15% of the world's population. Europe's 733 million people make up 11% of the world's population, while the Latin American and Caribbean regions are home to around 600 million (9%). Northern America, primarily consisting of the United States and Canada, has a population of around 352 million (5%), and Oceania, the least-populated region, has about 35 million inhabitants (0.5%). Though it is not permanently inhabited by any fixed population, Antarctica has a small, fluctuating international population, based mainly in polar science stations. This population tends to rise in the summer months and decrease significantly in winter, as visiting researchers return to their home countries.

To be continued. . .


About the Writer :

Mario G. Zavalla is a seasoned professional who has accumulated 30 years experience in middle and top management positions in private and government corporations  engaged in housing finance, commercial and investment banking, retirement promotions, manufacturing, management services and real estate development and marketing. After graduating from the Ateneo de Manila University, he took up MBA subjects at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business. 

He is a licensed real estate broker, a member of PAREB-Marikina Valley Real Estate Board Inc. and Philippine Institute of Real Estate Practitioners Inc. (PhilRES). He is an active online member of PAREB-MLS and PAREB Online  and runs his own real estate brokerage office using the trade name The LIST and SELL REALTY GROUP, the owner and operator of  The PHILISTINGS BANK.

Contacts:

Mobile:  0916-6444677     Duo:  507-5801

Principal Email:  phil.listings@gmail.com

Alternate Email:  supermarioz@yahoo.com.ph


Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Information : PRC Resolution No. 2013-774(Series of 2013) - Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program Revised Guidelines

The PRC Resolution 2013-774 (Series Of 2013) 
The PRC Resolution No. 2013-774 (Series Of 2013) otherwise known as the Revised Guidelines on the Continuing Professional Development Program (CPD) for All Registered and Licensed Professionals,  officially took effect on August 10, 2013 after the 15-day publication in the Official Gazette. This new resolution repealed other previously issued resolutions, specifically PRC Resolution No. 2008-466 Series of 2008 and PRC Resolution No. 2009-542 Series of 2009, and amended other resolutions and issuances not consistent with it.

Under the Continuing Professional Development program, new rules and requirements will be followed  for the accreditations of CPD providers and their issuance of CPD credit units. Registered professionals will also be required to earn a new number of CPD credit units (the equivalent of what used to be CPE) units corresponding to their particular profession.

Please see table below for the required number of CPD credit units for each profession.




Note : 
Real Estate Service Practitioners (Brokers, Appraisers and Consultants), under the new guidelines on CPD program, are only required to submit forty five (45) CPD credit units for the renewal of their licenses. But this new number (45) of CPD credit unit requirement doesn't apply to them yet. PRBRES has maintained the old requirement of 60 credit units for the renewal of licenses. Please  check PRBRES for updates, and if when this new number of CPD credit unit applies. 


Please click link below to see complete PRC Resolution 2013-774 :
http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/RES_CPD_RevisedGuidelines_2013-774.pdf

Source :
PRC

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Trivia : Lowly Malunggay is a Superfood

Malunggay Tree
Everytime we would run out of vegetable to cook at home, we would immediately get some leaves from a "malunggay" or moringa tree in our backyard to use in a menu. This lowly vegetable would always save the day in our kitchen. Lately this leafy vegetables is found to be not as lowly as its status in the the vegetable kingdom but is now considered a superfood full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Benefits of  Malunggay 
For every pound, this leafy vegetable has seven times more Vitamin C than oranges, three times more potassium that bananas, four times more Vitamin A than carrots, two times more protein and four times more calcium than milk, according to the Moringaling Phlippines Foundation, Inc. (MPFI).

Despite the super qualities of this vegetable, I seldom see this vegetable tree planted in many backyards. Maybe because it's a cheap vegetable to buy, a bundle of  malunggay leaves cost only five pesos in the market. Very cheap, considering its nutritional contents.

This vegetable tree is very easy to grow and doesn't take much space, people should(must) plant it in their gardens, backyards and anywhere it can grow. Having a malunggay tree in your garden is like having a free multivitamin source in your garden.

Now that food researchers have proven this vegetable to be a superfood, people should now consider  malunggay a staple vegetable in their diets and menus.


News Source :
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/malunggay-garnering-recognition-superfood-rich-antioxidants-p-p-135401989.html
Picture Source :
http://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChĆ¹m_ngĆ¢y
http://earthnews.pinaymom.org/tag/malunggay-recipe/

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Technology : Laptops and Other Gadgets Changing Office Designs, Layout and Usage


Tablet

Laptop

The proliferation  and use of mobile computers and other gadgets e.g. laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc., has given companies and business owners many advantages and savings, because it has significantly reduced the required work space in their offices. With the increase in computing and processing capability of most mobile computers, there has been a shift from the bulky PCs to those of miniaturized mobile computers, thus eliminating PC tables and other office furnishings. The reduction of these big office furnitures has resulted to extra office spaces.

Years ago when PCs were the standard fixtures, a space in an office could only accommodate a few people with their assigned PCs, printers and connecting network of cables in their cubicles or big office tables. Now, the same space could accommodate more people using laptops, netbooks and tablets. A person with a laptop would only require a chair and a small table. Many offices now have community tables for their employees as workplace. Some have living room configurations with a common center table surrounded by comfortable sofas, and people literally used their laps as support for their laptops. These configurations also promote socialization and teamwork among the employees.

Offices with employees using laptops need more walls spaces, thus requiring designers to put more walls in their building designs.

Cloud Computing

The use of cloud computing, wifi connection and other wireless devices  have further reduced the need for space. Use of cables are becoming obsolete in offices. Mobile computers and cloud computing do not require physical presence inside your office to do your work. In fact many companies would allow their employees to work outside their office and even at home. Cloud computing also includes remote digital archiving and database. The use of digital files and high memory devices have also eliminated the use bulky filing cabinets which occupy a big part of the office, and has reduced paper use and printing significantly.

The decreasing demand and requirement for bigger office spaces have brought changes in office designs and building designs. Office design are turning offices into communal working areas instead of the common multiple separate cubicle layout  of offices.

These positive changes and effects in the office and business environments are brought about by these continuously miniaturizing mobile computers, gadgets, and the modern technologies of wireless communication, wireless computing and the internet.


Picture Source :
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/ComputaciĆ³n_en_la_nube


Friday, October 18, 2013

People : Dr. Noel Jusay Lacsamana - The Good Eye Doctor


Dr. Noel J. Lacsamana
I first heard the name of Dr. Noel Lacsamana on the long running noontime TV show "Eat Bulaga". Bossing Vic Sotto was recommending him to an audience with an eye problem. A month ago, listening to the radio, I chanced upon a talk show-medical program. It was hosted by popular comedian Shalala and . . .you guess it right : Dr. Noel Lacsamana. The hosts were talking about eye problems, and listeners were calling and consulting with the host-doctor. Having an eye problem myself, I continued listening. The program was rather educational and entertaining, both hosts were witty and funny with their repartee.

The second time I tuned in to the program, Dr. Lacsamana greeted some of his friends who to my surprise are also my friends. Learning that we have common friends I became curious who this doctor is.

A week ago, my good friend Ric Umali, a rotarian and the incoming president of Don Bosco High School-San Fernando mentioned that Dr. Lacsamana is an alumnus of Don Bosco and a friend. I realized  that it was my "cabalen" connection as the reason why I have common friends with the good doctor. A case of "six degrees of separation"*.

I found out that Dr. Lacsamana is a very popular eye doctor based in San Fernando, Pampanga. He studied at the Ateneo as a scholar, and took his medical degree at the Fatima School of Medicine.
He founded the International Eye Center**.

The few times I listened to his program, a lot of people and patients only have good words for him, not only for his skills as an eye doctor but also his being a good person.

But what really impressed me about the good doctor was learning of his giving free treatment to indigent patients on a regular basis. He said that it was his way of paying back to the society for the good fortune and blessing he has received. A good eye doctor indeed.




*"Six degrees of separation refers to the idea that everyone is on average approximately six steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person on Earth, so that a chain of, "a friend of a friend" statements can be made, on average, to connect any two people in six steps or fewer."

**International  Eye Center
    2nd Level Robinsons Gate, Robinsons Starmills, City of San Fernando, Pampanga
    Mon-Fri 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
    Tel no.: (045) 875 – 2009
    Cel. no.: (+63)920 – 909 – 9937
    IS Pavillions, Ground Floor, Banga, Meycauayan, Bulacan
    Sat 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
    Tel no. (044) 840 – 5094
    Cel. no.: (+63)916 – 309 – 8524

Related Link :
http://theprojectreview.blogspot.com/search?q=six+degrees+of+separation