IT’S AN extraordinary experience to sit and dine with people of importance. As a young professional exploring the “real world,” these brief encounters are unique and vital -- for they leave you with valuable life lessons. My encounter with Faith Bautista is quite unique -- especially since we both experienced calamities on the road.
I guess we were just severely unlucky at that time. Who would have thought that we would be stuck on the road for almost ten hours, choosing Baguio over Boracay to avoid Typhoon Pedring? We had to return to Manila the following day, because Typhoon Quiel was on its way to Baguio.
And now, here we are, stuck in the car for another ten hour-drive.
Nevertheless, it became the perfect setting for Faith to share her childhood memories, social commentaries, and most importantly, how her optimism (as a young lady back then) paved the way for her to become one of the most influential Filipino-Americans in the United States.
When a barrier becomes an advantage
Faith related that when she first came to the United States, she asked her mentor how she could make it through, with her Filipino accent, short stature and lesser education, compared to her peers.
“He turned to me and answered that all the things I have mentioned is to my advantage. And true enough, it is all for my advantage,” she said.
Now, Faith is a businesswoman, an advocacy leader, a communicator and a force to reckon with, when it comes to changing the landscape for minority groups (especially Filipinos) in America.
She is optimistic and purpose-driven and would constantly remind me that when a door closes, another one opens. Sometimes, five doors open all at the same time.
But she is quick to quip “that a door has to close first, before another one opens.”
This is the wisdom that Faith brought with her, when she first migrated to America. Born and raised in Pandan Antique, she grew up in a small and simple family. She earned her marketing degree from the Philippine School of Business Administration and had no clue about her future in America -- except that she was there to take care of her sick father.
Meant for greater things
At age 19, Faith found herself settled in her new home and working for Hewlett-Packard. But despite a competitive salary and a bevy of benefits, she knew that she was meant for other things.
In 1986, at age 26, Faith decided to start her own company -- the San Diego Advertising Specialties, which became a million-dollar earner because of her dedication and hard work. She has been hailed as one of the best lady entrepreneurs from a minority group in the United States.
From invisible to formidable
In 2004, Faith decided to form Mabuhay Alliance -- a non-profit which united almost 80 Filipino organizations in the US.
Filipinos are the second largest Asian group in the United States, but according to Faith, “Filipinos are a minority among the other minorities. Filipinos are not raised to become civil rights advocates. They don’t want to rock the boat. I started it because I see so much potential.”
She formed Mabuhay Alliance because she knew that Filipinos have so much to offer. Investing time and patience, Faith encouraged her kababayans to position themselves as a good market to companies, politicians and government officials -- that we are highly-educated and have respectable incomes, as proven by our capabilities to send remittances back home. For Faith, it’s a win-win situation.
But the crux of all the organization’s efforts is for Filipinos to learn to assert themselves and be able to occupy top positions, whether in the corporate arena, in politics, economics -- even the Forbes 100 list.
“I want to be a king maker,” said Faith in a very firm and confident tone.
Stepping up
After the success of Mabuhay Alliance, Faith took it one step further and formed the National Asian American Coalition (NAAC).
Through NAAC, Faith became the voice of different minorities in the US. Through the collaboration of Asian minorities, NAAC has become the most influential Asian organization in America, which enabled Faith to meet with top-ranking officials (like the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Comptroller of the Currency, and CEOs of big corporations) in order to improve laws and regulations affecting Asians.
Through NAAC, minority groups have become part of the decision-making, in areas like public policies, home ownership, loan modifications, loans for small businesses and reduction of tuition fees. NAAC also provides assistance in credit scoring and broadband literacy, among others.
NAAC is recognized by politicians and corporations in fighting for program implementations.
Faith made sure that NAAC did not become a for-profit organization. Instead, it is an advocacy making a difference.
When she first started the organization, Faith had her share of lows. But her optimism shone through.
“I can give you all examples of defeat, but I always know that these things shall pass. Even if it is the worst thing that could happen to you, I always remember that there is something in it for me,” she quipped.
Yet despite all her achievements, Faith remains humble -- she is still the same petite lady who, on her vacations in the Philippines, gathers little kids in her small hometown to impart the knowledge and wisdom that she has acquired and to inspire them to keep the faith, and to never lose hope in living their dreams.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend Jan 7-10, 2012 Sec A pg. 10)
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
