$_helper = $this->helper('personalize');
$FavBrands= $this->getBrands();
$count = count($FavBrands);

echo get_class($this);

$newobj = new YOUR_CLASS_PATH(); //YOUR CLASS PATH FROM STEP-2
$FavBrands= $newobj ->getBrands();
$count = count($FavBrands);

$FavBrandsblock=  $this->getLayout()->createBlock('block_keyfrom_confignxml/blockfilepath');

$FavBrands= $FavBrandsblock->getBrands();
$count = count($FavBrands);