ABOUT BERNARD "BLUE" UMALI
Bernard Villaseñor Umali is a licensed real estate broker since 2006 and is currently the Senior Manager of the Broker and International Department (iBroker) of DMCI Homes, the real estate arm of DMCI Holdings Inc. for the past ten years. He is an active member of International Realtor Association under the National Association of Realtors – USA and received his Certified International Property Specialist Designation in 2015. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education major in Values Education at the Philippine Normal University (PNU). Alongside, he devoted time and effort in continuing his professional studies in the field as he completed a degree in Real Estate Management in partnership with The Chamber of Real Estate Board Association (CREBA) at De La Salle University – College of St. Benilde in 2010. He also attended a graduate program on Community Development at the University of the Philippines - Diliman in 2002. Currently, he is pursuing his post education degree in Philippine Normal University, taking up masteral study in Values Education.
As a real estate practitioner, he has an extensive training experience in module development, strategic planning, organizational development and process improvement in the various managerial and executive roles he embarked on, part of which includes a post in the Sales Training Department and the External and International Sales Department. He has actively engaged as well in various real estate activities as he was elected Executive Vice President of CREBA - Young Members Council Inc. back in 2012.
Mr. Umali also engaged in social and civic work as a volunteer at Remedios AIDS Foundation - a non-profit organization that promotes reproductive health and HIV/AIDS awareness/education in the Philippines in 2001. He has had professional teaching experience at St. Mary of the Woods School in Makati, a community caring school catering to students with special needs. He also worked in another non-government organization – The Asian Council for Peoples Culture dedicated towards developing academic curriculum for the indigenous peoples and communities. In addition, he handled project-based work with STI Academy as an instructional designer of Filipino Curriculum for 3rd and 4th year high school students. Also an active supporter of the Love Yourself Organization – a non-profit group dedicated to HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.
He remains an active alumnus of Philippine Normal University as a facilitator/trainer of Student Volunteers Organization and STEP (Samahan ng mga Tagapagpalaganap ng Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao).
Lastly, Mr. Umali also takes his time for his true passion - Filipino literature. He writes blog posts during his vacant time at his personal blog site. He also founded the Saranggola Blog Awards in 2009, an online writing competition aimed towards promoting Filipino literature in the digital age. From blogging, he started producing his first short film, entitled Firestarter, ready to release in a digital media.
Message to Future Teachers
"Kayo ang tutulong na magkaroon ng critical minds ang mga bata."