Plaque of Recognition: Ire Claudette M. Faelnar
At the 9th awarding of the Ten Outstanding Cebu Architect & Engineer Awards (TOCAE Professionals Inc.), held on December 16, 2023 at Golden Peak Hotel, Ire Claudette M. Faelnar was honored with the Plaque of Recognition as a Distinguished Awardee of the Ten Outstanding Cebu Architects, Engineers and Lawyers Award.
This recognition reflects not only her professional achievements but also the profound impact she has made across the real estate industry—an honor made even more meaningful as it bridges professions traditionally rooted in engineering, architecture, and law.
Award Narrative: Honoring a Legacy
The recognition is a humbling milestone for the awardee, who has long admired the expertise of engineers, architects, doctors, and lawyers. Although she did not pursue these professions, she embraces this award with deep respect for the legacy of her grandfathers—Engr. Antonio A. Mansueto, a multi-discipline engineer with 14 PRC licenses, and Atty. Vicente Villamala, a CPA-lawyer and pioneering real estate broker in Cebu.
Her journey into real estate began over 15 years ago, sparked by her grandfather Engr. Mansueto’s strong encouragement to take the Real Estate Brokers Licensure Exam. With no prior background, she studied diligently, passed the exam, and later joined PAREB-CEREB, the same organization her lawyer-broker grandfather, Atty. Villamala, once helped establish. From there, her appreciation for project selling, brokerage, and development grew deeply and steadily.
Aspiring to elevate her practice further, she pursued eligibility for the Real Estate Consultant Licensure Exam.
A Decade in Development and Leadership
For about a decade, she was appointed Project Director for a home-grown real estate developer—initially building a department from one person to over 25 team members and managing complex, multi-phase developments.
Her role encompassed the entire real estate development life cycle:
- lot acquisition
- business development
- concept and design development
- engineering and construction
- sales and marketing
- accounts management
- turnover and commissioning
- customer care
- property management
Despite the demands, she led with grit, faith, and dedication. She vividly recalls standing before the structural framework of her first multi-building condominium in Mactan—overwhelmed but determined. Through perseverance and God’s grace, she successfully delivered more than a thousand condominium units across Lapu-Lapu and Cebu City, contributing to easing the long-standing housing backlog and helping families transition from renting to homeownership.
Collaboration Drives Transformation
Central to her leadership is the conviction that collaboration drives transformation. She credits the synergy of brilliant professionals—architects, engineers of all disciplines, surveyors, lawyers, environmental planners, government agencies, and fellow brokers and consultants—for enabling the success of every project.
This belief aligns strongly with TOCAE’s theme:
“Creating and Sustaining Mindful Relationships to Foster and Strengthen Connections in the Collaboration of Professional Expertise.”
Her experience stands as a testament to the power of meaningful connections, multidisciplinary cooperation, and shared expertise in shaping communities and improving lives.
With heartfelt gratitude, she honors the men and women of the engineering, architectural, legal, medical, and allied professions who continue to elevate standards in the real estate and development sectors. She extends her appreciation to TOCAE for recognizing her work and allowing her story to be celebrated.
To God be the Glory.
Professional Profile Summary
With over 15 years of active experience in real estate, she first earned her Real Estate Broker’s license before further strengthening her credentials through licensure as a Real Estate Consultant. Nearly a decade of direct involvement in project development has equipped her with a strong, comprehensive understanding of each phase of the development process.
She currently leads a dynamic marketing organization specializing in service marketing across diverse real estate projects. At the same time, she manages her own realty and brokerage firm—continuously striving to exceed expectations and deliver value to clients and communities.