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Silicon Valley Realtors congratulate Filipino American real estate group’s 2007-2008 officers and directors

FAREPA 2007-08 President Judy Lamar is pictured with SILVAR President Mark Burns, who congratulated Lamar and the 2007-08 officers and directors during FAREPA’s installation banquet.

Members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors® (SILVAR) congratulated the Filipino American Real Estate Professionals Association (FAREPA) - Santa Clara County Chapter’s 2007- 2008 officers and board of directors at their installation in June. The celebration also marked 100 years of Filipino migration to the United States.

FAREPA’s 2007-2008 officers are Judy Lamar, president; Robert Resuello, president-elect; Theresa Dwyer, vice president; Amy Belano-Cardoway, secretary; Judy Lee, treasurer; and Paul Stewart, sergeant at arms. The 2007-2008 Board of Directors include Tess Crescini, Ric Bareng, Jr., Juncy Almonia, Jamie Ortega-Juni, Wilma Baltar, Edelith Obas and Flavor Dyer. Santa Clara County Association of Realtors® President Warren Winsness installed the new officers and board of directors.

Special guests included Jose Esteves, mayor of the City of Milpitas, and the Honorable Philippine Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza-Sanchez. The association also recognized Congressman Mike Honda with the Philippine Hero Award for his leadership on Filipino issues like veterans’ benefits and justice for Filpinas forced into prostitution by the Japanese during World War II.

“We congratulate FAREPA and are honored to support them. We look forward to maintaining good relations with this year’s officers and board and supporting the association in their activities,” said SILVAR President Mark Burns.

SILVAR was a major sponsor of the event. Attending the dinner were SILVAR President Mark Burns, Director and Cultural Diversity & Equal Opportunity Committee Chair Josie Gambera, Cupertino/Sunnyvale District Chair Carolyn Miller, District Council members Fariba Lighvani, Niki Maroko and Sue Bose, Interim Executive Officer and Government Affairs Director Paul Cardus, and Public Affairs Coordinator Rose Meily.

Lamar said FAREPA’s goal is to promote the interests of Filipino real estate professionals, to elevate their level of professionalism through education and networking events, and to create a unified voice within the real estate industry.

“We seek to raise the bar in professionalism and standards and focus on some community involvement projects. We want to reach out to the community and show them that we do care,” said Lamar.
This year, the Filipino American real estate agents are reaching out to their homeland through the Gawad Kalinga (“to give care”) program. Gawad Kalinga actively works in poverty-stricken areas to improve their quality of life by providing decent homes and the resources for the poor to become self-sufficient. The program’s goal is to transform poverty stricken areas by building 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities, in seven years (2003-2010). 

GK provides a Christian-based holistic approach to poverty alleviation dealing with all community aspects that include values formation, community organization and involvement, education, basic health care, and livelihood programs. Beneficiaries of the  GK homes undergo a 13-week values formation course, provide sweat-equity by building their own homes and the homes of their neighbors and abide by the rules of the community association, which include maintaining cleanliness, peace and order, and upkeep of their GK village.

Theresa Dwyer, vice president of FAREPA, said the Filipino American real estate agents, many of whom were raised and educated in the Philippines, plan to raise $60,000 by the end of the year to build a FAREPA village in the Philippines. The village will not only consist of homes, but include essential services needed by a community, such as a community center and health center. She indicated it takes $1,500 to build one home.

“The best years of our lives have been in the U.S. We believe it’s time we give back to our homeland, which is the country that educated and nurtured us,” said Dwyer.

All three chapters of FAREPA (Santa Clara County, Alameda County and San Francisco/Peninsula) will kick off fundraising for Gawad Kalinga with an event on Friday, Aug. 10, 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Embassy Suites in Burlingame, 150 Anza Blvd. There will be dancing, food, entertainment and silent auctions. Tickets are $50 per person. Sponsorships are also available. Contact Ric Bareng (408) 509-9999, Theresa Dwyer (408) 221- 5380, Maris Reyes (650) 438-7190, or Dexter Lat (510) 499-9988, for tickets and more information.
     

The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.

For further information, please contact Rose Meily at SILVAR Public Affairs, e-mail , or phone (408) 200-0109.

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