“Isang Pag-IBIG, Isang Pamilya”

This is the focus of Pag-IBIG Fund as it  celebrates the 28th year founding anniversary.

The Pag-IBIG Fund or the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) celebrates its 28th year as one “Big Happy Pag-IBIG Family”.

Vice President for Southern Mindanao Jose W. Banzon, Jr. in his message during the Family Day on Sunday, December 14 at the SM City Event Center said that Pag-IBIG in itself is a big happy family as he stressed that every employee of the Fund help one another and support each other collectively.

“Each one of us belong to the Fund family and we must have in our desire to help and assist the members of this family,” he said.

The family always look up to its upliftment and well being and each one share common values, he said.

Families may differ in their values he said either centering their direction to God while others on material acquisition, characrer building or the making of good citizens.

But as member of the Pag-IBIG Fund family he said everybody is expected to adhere to the Fund’s core value of SPICE G meaning Service, Professionalism, Intergrity, Commitment, Excellence, Growth.

He said imbibing such core values, they can as a family respond effectively and deliver good service to the Fund members.

“If the employees think that they belong to the Pag-IBIG family, the Fund’s success will also be their success,” he said.

He urged the employees to see to it that Pag-IBIG Fund fulfills its commitment and achieve its objective.

He said ahead of them are lots of challenges but working as one they could hurdle any challenge.

Meanwhile Banzon said that as Pag-IBIG Fund turns 28 this year, there are lots of reasons to celebrate.

He said 2008 saw the expansion of the Fund, as more branches opened both within the country and overseas. The membership base continues to grow and the membership services continue to improve.

“Pag-IBIG Fund is growing. Our family is growing,” he said.

However, let it be said that amidst our growth, we remain rooted to our mandates, we stay connected to each other, we are one big happy family, Banzon added.

He said Pag-IBIG Fund may be situated in different locations – from the headquarters, to the regions, to overseas – but no distance could distinguish them from one another when it comes to their ideals in public service.

“Ours is a collective style of public service, as we work together for the benefit of our members, the true owners of the Fund,” he said.

With this year’s theme “Isang Pag-IBIG, Isang Pamilya”, the Fund aside from holding the Family Day, put up exhibits showcasing the gains of Pag-IBIG and capped the 28th year founding anniversary celebration by honoring outstanding employers whose employees are members of the Fund. The outstanding employees of Pag-IBIG Fund were also given recognition during the culmination activity held at the Fund’s headquarter at the Atrium, Makati City.

Pag-IBIG Fund Family Day in December @ SM

Both young and the young ones had fun in celebrating family day instead of the traditional Christmas party of employees.   Kids also were smart to answer trivia questions all about Pag-IBIG Fund with questions ranging from the date of the creation of the Fund to what does Pag-IBIG stands for and who are the officers of the Fund.  Names that children readily answered were RSQ, Sir JAF, Sir Joe, Sir Bong.  For the names  their  answers were marked wrong because the quizmaster would accept only the correct and complete name. I guess parents have to double time so the kids could answer correctly the trivia questions on the next Family Day. VP Jose W. Banzon, Jr. was given a surprise tribute by  the Pag-IBIG Fund Family of Davao headed by Manager Manolito Olegario for his December 14 birthday  while daughter Kim  shared messages for his Dad.  Sharing you some  photos taken during the  Pag-IBIG Fund  Family Day at the Event Center  of  SM City Davao …

Pag-IBIG @ 28

Pag-IBIG Fund getting stroger, growing bigger @ 28

Photo shows Pag-IBIG Fund vice presidents (right) Jose W. Banzon, Jr for Southern Mindanao and (center) Ophelia dela Cerna for Northern Mindanao with Davao branch manager Manolito O. Olegario during the opening of exhibit at the Pryce Tower Business Park in Davao City.   The exhibit features the highlights of the Fund’s accomplishments since it  was established in (December 14) 1988 to 2008.

Real estate sector sees bright prospects in Davao

Despite the economic slowdown in the global market, a major real estate player is anticipating bright prospects in Davao next year.

Maryline Lim, general manager of Samantha Homes said there is a large housing need in Davao City saying that the company is targeting the medium level market.

She said the newest Samantha Homes project is at Bago Gallera where they enrolled as Pag-IBIG City of over 800 units. The site she said will include playground and multi-purpose hall that will later be turned over to the homeowners association.

She said their company caters to employees, the overseas Filipino workers and the self-employed.

The subdivision features include water facility sourced out from the Davao City Water District, an overhead transmission lines provided by the Davao Light and Power Company, underground drainage and concrete roads with curbs and gutter.

But Lim said they don’t just build houses because they see to it that they would also introduce some new designs in their projects.

In the pipeline next year she said is the 400 units project in Panabo City.

All in all she said to include the new projects, Samantha Homes house and lot units accounted to 3,120.

Their other projects are found in Matina Aplaya, Barangay Lizada in Toril, Paligue in Padada, Davao del Sur, Catalunan Pequeno, Catalunan Grande.

Lim said they are careful with the supervision of the project because of the “buy back” policy ofPag-IBIG Fund.

She said Pag-IBIG Fund for that matter pay particular attention to project development including the first years of repayments of homebuyers.

She said they do not want also to be remiss of their responsibilities saying that they need to comply what has agreed between them and Pag-IBIG Fund.

“What Pag-IBIG Fund had invested are the funds of the members and we make good of our investment because these are money of the Fund members,” she said.

Lim however stressed that they reach out to their homebuyers in order for them to make good of their repayment record.

She said with the reduced interest rates extended by the Pag-IBIG Fund the rebate extended to homebuyers who are “good payors,” now owning a house is very affordable.

Meanwhile Davao City Investment and Promotion Center head Engr. Roberto Teo expressed good prospects for real estate in 2009.

Teo in a separate interview said real estate will continue to pick up in Davao City next year.

He said a new subdivision project with investment of P120 million will commence next year.

He also said that constructions of two the big investments on real property are on-going while developers of new condominium projects have already shown keen interest for new construction here. These are in addition to the DMCI condominium and that of the Filinvest development