SINCE Bernie Velasco Ballao was born 59 years ago in Olongapo, he has made a habit of rising from the ranks to positions of leadership. Now one of the most influential leaders in the vast region of Alaska, Ballao has endeared himself not only with the Filipino-Americans across the state, but as well as with the natives and mainstream communities of the many different islands. Just 16 years after migrating to Alaska in 1973, Bernie has become an active and dynamic leader of various organizations in the City of Kodiak. In 1989, Ballao handily won a seat in the City Council and in 1994, he became Deputy Mayor of Kodiak.
A graduate of the Olongapo Provincial High School, Ballao was a laborer in his hometown when he joined the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in 1969, when he was just barely 20 years old. While with the Coast Guard, Bernie took advantage of the USCG’s educational program, taking up various courses to develop himself academically.
In 1973, Ballao was assigned in Alaska. He decided to settle in the city of Kodiak, which is one of the most picturesque and beautiful among the more than a dozen islands and inlets of Alaska. Kodiak is also known as a hub for the maritime industry of Southwest Alaska and home to a large and varied fishing fleet. It is a haven for providing employment with lucrative income, more especially in its salmon cannery and other seafood harvested in the rivers and ocean of Alaska during the summer months.
Ballao completed the required courses in Food and Beverage Management at the Naval Test Center in Pax River, Alaska in 1976. Two years later, in 1978, he completed the SPO Leadership School at the U.S. Coast Guard Petaluma Training Center. He rose to the rank of E-6. After completing his chosen courses at the USCG, Bernie was well- prepared and ready to move on from the service.
Ballao served as a bartender in 1981 at the Jack Allman Post 17 of The American Legion of Alaska, then rose to be its manager and eventually was elected as Commander of the Post, the highest position in the organization.
A few years later, Ballao set up one business venture after another, all of which became very successful --- the Atlas Sales Inc, the Kodiak Vending & Amusements, the Sampaguita Video Kodiak and the Island International Kodiak, a food and fish-food processing products exporting and importing to the Philippines.
For all his successes, Ballao never forgot his roots. He continued to maintain close ties with the Filipino American community. He served as President of the Fil-Am Association of Kodiak, and a Founding & Charter President of the Barangay Lions Club International in 1989. He is a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign War and an active member of the Fil-Am Political Action Group in Anchorage, Alaska.
Bernie Ballao and his wife, the former Emma P. Gonzalez of Manila, have two children: Toni Gayle and Sheena Marie.
( Published on December 24, 2008 in Asian Joournal Los Angeles p. B2 )
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