CREBA: Pillar builders inspiring all

"A leader is best when people barely know he exists when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say, ‘We did this ourselves.’"

This quotation from The Way of Life According to Lao-Tzu (an American version, by Witter Bynner) can be said of CREBA’s founding fathers. Their dreams, pioneering spirit, conviction and hard work gave wings to the organization, and yet they remain self-effacing. They submerge themselves in the sea of the organization as they provide wisdom and support to the officers and other leaders in their work. In a real sense, the founding fathers serve as CREBA’s pillar builders.

CREBA was founded in the early 70s by 16 men who had been drawn together by a common conviction: to empower the Filipino families with the dignity of shelter security. Eleven of them, however, have gone ‘Home’ permanently. They are: Antonio Avecilla, Luis Bernasconi, Victor Buencamino Jr., Cesar Caliwara, Demetrio Capuyoc, Rosendo Donida, Mariano Goce, Oscar Ilustre, Octavio Kalalo, Mariano Lucero, and Ariston Nakpil.

Those who are left behind still actively pursue CREBA’s mission. They are Atty. Manuel Serrano, Victorio Soliven, Atty. Romulo Reyes, Artemio Valencia, and Rodolfo Valencia.

The following interview with Atty. Manuel M. Serrano, CREBA’s leading founder, is meant to inspire and motivate all CREBANS.

Q. You are a lawyer by profession, but you are noted for your strong and relentless advocacy for the real estsate industry. Why is this so?

MMS: Because I find CREBA’s mission far more fulfilling than my business gains. I have quite a number of business interests: subdivision and housing development, aquaculture, mining and livestock production. But as CREBA’s founder, I devote more time to the association than to my other business projects. People are amazed that while I pay for my legal retainers who attend to my business cases, I serve as CREBA’s legal and economic mind – for free.

Q. When you decided to organize an umbrella advocacy group for real estate developers and builders, what mission or project was first and foremost in your mind?

MMS: My major obsession was to use CREBA as a tool to improve the quality of life of our people through housing and community building. To achieve this end, CREBA would have to forge an effective partnership with the government for the following purposes: (1) to install the necessary infrastructure for housing; (2) to extend appropriate incentives to all industry players involved in housing delivery; and (3) to give the homeless Filipino households the opportunity to acquire decent homes.

Q. What were the initial problems/trials that you encountered in setting up CREBA?

MMS: One initial and major problem was the reluctance and skepticism of the first 15 national organization led by Subdivision Owners Association of the Philippines (SOAP) of which I was then president and chairman. The reluctance stemmed from their concern that an umbrella organization might curtail their independence and autonomy. But the problem was resolved in no time at all as evidence by CREBA’s growth, strength and achievements.