SMHS Alumni Homecoming 2007

Speech by Pedro “Pete” G. Futol

Delivered at the

STA MAGDALENA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

GRAND ALUMNI HOMECOMING

APRIL 8, 2007

Fellow alumni, guests, mga kahimongto, mga ginang, binibini at ginoo, Good Evening

Thank you Mrs. Marjubel de Vera for the nice introduction. I would also like to acknowledge, and express my appreciation to Tommy Alcancia, who first extended the invitation for me to be a guest speaker, and also to the other members of Solid Batch 82, including Rufina Fuellas Ganton and Peti Gallon Gaton who, together with Tommy visited me at home in Suba to confirm the invitation.

Bagama’t dito ako ipinanganak, lumaki at nag tapos sa ating ipinagmamalaking mataas na paaralan ng Sta Magdalena, I had mixed emotions and serious doubts about whether or not I should stand here before you tonight – unsure if I had anything interesting or inspiring to share.

But in looking back at my 15 year career in the Philippines, the nearly 30 years of living and working in Australia, the 30 jobs I have held in 10 different organizations, 42 years of married life, raising 3 daughters, being the proud grandfather of 2 granddaughters, and now coming back to live in our beloved town, I realized that I do in fact have things to share.

So if you would be generous enough to pause from your ‘palitan ng kuro-kuro’ and animated exchange of pleasantries, to give me about 45 minutes of your precious evening, I will share with you my personal and professional experiences, the hardships and triumphs, and difficulties and rewards.

To make optimum use of the limited time available, and enable others to better understand and appreciate the reasons behind my so called “lucky breaks”, I will share my experiences under four themes.

1) How, so often, we are our own worst enemy and unconsciously place limitations on what we believe we can achieve because of our humble beginnings, or our ethnic or Asian background when in the minority in a foreign country.

Kung sa tagalog: Kadalasan, tayo mismo, ang ating sarili, ang pangunahin nating kalaban at ang naglalagay ng pabigat at hadlang sa maa-ari nating maisakatuparan o pag unlad dahil sa maralita nating pinanggalingan; o sa ating lahing Pilipino o Asiano kung tayo an nasa ibang bansa.

2) Life can be hard and full of what seem to be insurmountable difficulties and challenges. But IT IS possible to overcome these things;

Ang buhay ay maa-ari at kadalasan punong puno ng kahirapan at mga balakid na halos ay parang walang lutas, katapusan o sulusyon. Pero, ang mga ito ay may posibleng kalutasan o puedeng harapin at magawan ng paraan;

3) Old age (defined as 40 years and above) is often perceived as a handicap or liability. But it can also be a great asset resulting in enormous dividends.

Ang katandaan ng isang tao (mulang 40 taong gulang at pataas) ay madalas ituring na kapansanan, hadlang o pabigat lalo na ngayong panahon ng mahigpit na labanan at palakasan.

4) Education and the continuing acquisition of new knowledge are fundamental, and should be considered as important as the air we breathe and water we drink.

Ang edukasyon at ang patuloy na pag iipon ng karunungan sa ngayon ay halos kasing halaga ng hangin na ating hinihinga at inuming tubig.

Let me now share with you my experiences and part of my life story under these themes:

Bago ko ipagpatuloy ang pag salaysay ng aking karanasan under this theme, gusto kung basahin ang isang napaka gandang sulat ng isang prolific writer sa larangan ng pakikipag sapalaran, pananampalataya at pag-ibig. And I quote from Marianne Williamson in her book “Return to Love”:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Kung iisipin at susuriin natin ng mataimtim ang sinulat ni Marianne ay hindi tayo mahihirapang tangapin na iyon ay makatutuhanan.

Fellow alumni at mga kababayan, all of us here tonight who finished high school in Sta Magdalena have basic things in common that we cannot and should not deny:

With very few exceptions, (and I am definitely not one of them) we came from poor families
Our town has come a long way and is certainly now more presentable, but still impoverished without much of the vital infrastructure and services of other more progressive towns. The majority of adults are either under employed or unemployed, with no relief in sight unless they relocate to other places like Metro Manila.
We have in our school system dedicated and qualified faculty and support staff, but our school buildings need repair and student access to good quality reference materials and computer facilities is still inadequate.
In general, less than one third of every graduating class proceeds to pursue tertiary studies, and for those who do, are typically limited in their choice of universities because of financial pressures.
In short we have humble beginnings.

But my experience and track record shows that despite humble beginnings, possessing drive, working hard, and being prepared to take advantage of opportunities as they come, can be enough to catapult you into whatever field, in whatever country you desire

In looking back to when I first joined the work force as a married man at 22 years of age, I admit to being self-conscious about my humble beginnings. But I decided early on, that I would not allow my past in this particular regard, to dictate my future.

I made a covenant with myself that I would always acknowledge and be proud of my humble beginnings, but that it would not become my prison cell. Instead it would serve as my inspiration to catapult me into whatever field I chose and country I desired.

So it was with gutsy determination, hard work, and the unqualified support of my ever faithful wife Rosing, who is somewhere out there listening, not to mention the help and consent of our Big Brother up above, I took advantage of the many opportunities that were presented to me here in the Philippines and in Australia.

In less than 12 years at Kodak, I moved steadily up the ranks - Clerk Typist, Steno-typist, Secretary, Credit Assistant, Branch Operations Assistant, the youngest Supervisor for Administration and Technical Operations in Cebu, Assistant to the Treasurer and Operations Manager and, finally, taking over from my previous boss as Credit Manager for the whole country.

When I left the Philippines as a company sponsored immigrant on Sept 15, 1977, I was a 35 year old man with a clear purpose and professional goal. I was aware of my humble beginnings, but felt completely liberated from it.

In Australia I was relentless in my pursuit for more responsible jobs, more senior and prestigious positions, and the handsome remuneration that went with them. My drive and sense of purpose were so strong, that most of the jobs in both private and public sector organizations that I went after, I attained. A lot of hard work and family sacrifices were involved, but it paid off in the end.

So fellow alumni, particularly the younger ones here today, and the middle aged of recent years, don’t allow your past to control your life and future. Alisin ninyo ang pagaa-alinlangan sa inyong kakayahan dahil sa aba ninyong pinanggalingan.

Tanggapin natin that we are the product of our past and humble beginnings. Pero huwag ninyong hayaan na kayo ay maging bilanggo ng mga ito. Get out from the prison of your humble beginnings and go for your dreams with all the might and wisdom that God has given you.

If I was able to do it, so can you. But no matter how successful you become, do come back to this beloved town of ours and tell your story. I might already be wearing a hearing aid, and in need of a walking stick by then. But God willing, I would patiently and with genuine interest, listen to you with a smile.

2) Life can be very hard and full of what seem to be insurmountable difficulties and challenges. But IT IS possible to overcome these things;

Ang buhay ay maa-aring punong puno ng kahirapan at mga balakid na halos ay parang walang lutas, katapusan o solosyon. Pero, ang mga ito ay pueding ma lusotan at magawan ng paraan

Like most couples who marry young and immediately start a family with little to no savings and an inadequate income, my first girlfriend and now my wife of 42 years experienced extreme hardship and many sleepless nights because, you guessed it, of financial pressures during the first two years of our marriage.

By getting married ahead of my older brother and sister, right after graduating from university, rightly or wrongly, my parents didn’t want to hear about or have anything to do with our difficulties and challenges. Hindi naman ako itinakwil and we were not completely disowned, but it was made clear to me that my wife and I had to face the consequences of not following house rules – pag dating sa paga-asawa, kailangan sunod sunod – panganay muna. Dahil naging suwail daw at lumabag sa patakaran ng pamilya, bahala na raw ako sa buhay naming magasawa, which I accepted without question or regret, but with a heavy heart and hidden fear.

Fear of the unknown, and that I might fail to adequately provide for my wife, who was leaving a comfortable lifestyle to live with me and our daughter, in order to stand by our promise in holy matrimony.

We encountered extreme hardship and difficulties some of which, at our young age with little experience, at the time seemed insurmountable. However, I was reflecting on the events of the last 42 years, and having heard first hand stories of hardships, difficulties and poverty since we arrived to live in Suba on Oct 17, 2006, I realized that our situation then was no different to many of our young kahimongtos now trying their so called ‘luck’ in Metro Manila. So I will spare you the details and go straight to what action we took.

Nagtanim kami ng tatlong punong malunggay, mga balaging ng kamote, at sili sa napakaliit na backyard ng una naming inuupahan.

On her own initiative, my wife managed to break our lease without incurring penalties. Then, in two moves, we ended up in a very small house without a bedroom or sala, and a common toilet shared by 3 other families. But our monthly rent went down from Ph70, to Ph50 then to Ph35.

Nag alaga ang Mrs ko ng baboy sa likuran ng bahay ng aming landlord pero kailangan linisin ng walang paltos, rain or shine, umaga at hapon para walang amoy.

Although it was readily available and very tempting, we resisted buying any appliances on installment. We purchased a TV and refrigerator in Cebu, when we could afford to buy them outright. A teacher by training, my wife kept our daughter occupied at home with learning aids instead of watching TV programs.

On weekends during busy periods, I offered to do typing jobs for the Office Manager and the Accountant at work. Instead of money, I accepted payment-in-kind, like a doll and dress for my daughter.

To avoid having to pay fees to undertake preparatory reviews for the Customs Examiner Examination, I arranged to work for free on weekends and some nights with one of my classmates whose parents owned a Customs Brokerage firm. I practiced tariff classification and duty calculations on the job instead of in the classroom. It was extremely hard and tiring but I passed.

When my wife was pregnant with our second child, she made a very risky decision. Unbeknown to me, she never went to a maternity clinic or consulted a qualified doctor for her monthly check ups. Instead, she relied on a local hilot where the fee was very cheap. As a consequence, Julie was delivered ‘suhi’ with her umbilical cord tied three times around her neck. She was delivered on the floor of our tiny one-bedroom house with only myself assisting the ‘hilot’.

My wife decided to sell mantika, kerosene, asukal at iba pang basic necessities sa pasamano ng aming nag iisang bintana. Para mas malaki laki ang tubo, we used to walk to and from Guadalupe market very early in the morning before I went to work.

During stock take and inventory taking time, I volunteered to work in the Cold Storage of Kodak, where the temperature was kept at 5 degrees below zero, to ensure that I was always on the short list of those who could work overtime.

Sa kabila ng kahirapan, madalas kaming magsimba sa Baclaran at pagkatapos ng misa ay namasyal sa tabing dagat kung lingo. That was then a great way to enjoy whatever leisure time we had as a family without spending any money. Ngayon, sa Suba, may sarili na kaming ‘tabing dagat view’ without having to travel anywhere; the reward of our years of hardships.

Our standard of living improved slowly but steadily as I was promoted to higher responsibility jobs after my Cebu posting. In 1970, after five years of marriage and with two daughters, we took a loan from the SSS and bought our own house in Moonwalk, Paranaque. With a car allowance built into my salary package, we also managed to acquire a brand new Toyota. In 1973 our third and youngest daughter, Jenny, was born. So, after the early years of struggle, we were finally living the comfortable lifestyle of a typical middle income family.

That was our living situation when the opportunity to go overseas came knocking.

With clear medium and long term family goals and objectives to underpin our decision to immigrate to Australia, we sold our house, car and most of our personal belongings. We left The Philippines as a family on September 15,1977.

Australia :

Planning and setting shared goals and objectives, including dress rehearsals of how every member of the family would conduct themsevles on arrival in Australia was a good way to get the family focused on why we were leaving the Philippines. But it quickly became clear that all the planning in the world, did not prepare us for the magnitude of cultural problems we would encounter, including severe discrimination in some instances.

As an immigrant to Australia, my family situation at that time, was very unique. My wife and I were both 35 years old. Our daughter Caroline was 12, Julie just turned 10, and Jenny was nearly 4. We were leaving behind a comfortable life, a well paid job and a very bright future in a progressive American company. The only uncertainty associated with The Philippines that troubled us somewhat at the time, was how Martial Law would play out. If I could rewind the clock and go back in time, I seriously doubt whether we would ever have left The Philippines.

Here are some of the hardships and difficulties we had to face at the time, that remain vivid in our memories:

Unbeknown to us, the ‘White Australia’ policy was still strongly embedded in the minds and manners of many Australians, particularly the less educated and those who had little exposure to cultures outside their own, let alone any real knowledge or understanding of The Philippines.

Our two elder daughters, particularly our first-born Caroline, suffered extreme cultural shock; there were no other students of Asian decent in the first two schools that my daughters attended during our early years in Australia

Professionally, I felt like a lamb let loose among the wolves. Discrimination in so many forms was prevalent, and often blatant, every where and at sometimes during the most unexpected moments.

At work, there were double standards, with expectations of what I should deliver being set unreasonably high relative to my peers; everyone seemed to just be waiting for me to make a mistake or error in judgment, to justify their preconceived idea that a Filipino was simply not good enough to be a Manager

Within nine months of arriving, I changed roles twice and was then promoted to a newly created position which combined the duties of two roles that used to be held by ‘old-timers’; one was demoted and the other one retired.

My 3 rd assignment on promotion was to a huge distribution centre where the blue collar workers that dominated the workforce had the most powerful union in Australia – Storemen and Packers. I caused a snap strike and stop work meeting when, unaware of the protocols then existing, I lifted a small, lightweight box to meet an exceedingly urgent order instead of waiting for one of the workers to do it – which would have taken twice the time, if it was done at all.

For fear of completely misunderstanding callers, because of the huge variety in accents many of which I struggled to understand, I avoided answering the phone directly without first asking the Switchboard who the caller was.

Just 18 months after we arrived, my two American and two Australian allies who all held very senior positions and acted as both mentors and protectors, left Kodak; one on promotion, one to join another American company in Melbourne, and two on retirement.

Our mental preparation and agreement to split household chores proved inadequate to minimize the impact on the family, particularly on my wife and eldest daughter

Individually, and as a couple, at the market and other public places, we were treated like second class citizens. Sometimes, we were made to feel as if we didn’t exist at all.

In one party we were invited to attend by a New Zealand school teacher married to a Malaysian woman, we were treated like domestic help. We were left in the kitchen to help clean and wipe the dishes, while all the other ‘white’ guests enjoyed pleasantries in the lounge area.

At the same time, we found ourselves starving with hunger when we discovered that “plenty of food around” meant a small piece of lamb and mashed potato with a small slice of tomatoe.

The Australian dollar equivalent of the proceeds from the sale of our house and car were insufficient for a deposit on a 3-bedroom home. This put tremendous pressure on our finances, and delayed our dream to immediately live in our own home.

What we did to cope with, and eventually overcome what seemed at the time to be insurmountable difficulties.

When we became aware of our daughters’ problems at the state school, we immediately pulled them out and literally begged for acceptance in a catholic girl’s school. There were no vacancies for late comers, but God made his helping hand known to us through a Catholic couple who offered to act on our behalf. To show our gratitude to the school, despite my heavy workload, I regularly attended working bees. The high school of about 700 year 7 to 12 students, did not have any Asian students other than our 2 daughters, but it at least contained a healthy mix of Italians, Greeks, Croatians, and Maltese. In one General Meeting to select a new group of officers to run the Parents and Friends Association, I nominated myself, to the utter disbelief of everyone, as Vice President. I got 75% of the available votes.

I drove the girls to school then dropped my wife at her work, before I proceeded to my own work in the morning, which was a whopping 70 kilometers in distance one way, five days a week. The girls then just took a tram, followed by a train in the afternoon. It was initially scary for Lyn and Julie, who were never allowed to travel by themselves in the Philippines.

In company meetings among staff or managers, I demanded the right to be heard, and politely stood my ground even if I was in the minority on some issues.

In one big conference attended by Regional Managers and most senior executives at Kodak, I took a calculated risk and volunteered to coordinate a very important problem solving exercise that led to an overhaul of the company’s approach to customer service. I slowly made my presence felt throughout the company and, as a result, began to be taken seriously and eventually gained the respect of my colleagues – subordinates, peers, and senior management.

The departure and retirement of the two Americans and two Australians who were my only ‘friendly allies’ in what turned out to be a hostile environment for a fast rising Filipino, eventually pushed me into a corner where my only sensible option was to move to other ‘pastures’ and changed career..

For the first time in our married life, my ever resourceful wife, inexperienced and with no idea about the employment market, looked for and found a job by herself, traveling by public transport and walking long distances.

We avoided attending parties unless we had to; and when we did, we made sure that we first ate at home, or brought our own food inside the car.

We sought advice and assistance from the Catholic Family Assistance Unit for culture shock management and relief. The advice we got was that I was good enough to conduct regular family problem solving exercises.

I took every opportunity at work to travel and meet customers personally at their premises. It fast tracked my understanding of the Aussie accent and idiosyncrasies, and soon became familiar with most places around Metropolitan Melbourne, Tasmania and Canberra.

We prayed hard. My wife said the rosary religiously while on the train to and from work and at home.

At the market and other public places where the tendency was for us to be treated like second class citizens, I refused to be ignored and demanded to be treated like everybody else – first come first serve.

Except for the very delicate and dangerous jobs, I did most carpentry, plumbing and electrical work around the house to save money. My wife made siopao, ensemada and other types of food that could be kept for a week or two in our large freezer for the same purpose.

While plotting my next career move after leaving Kodak, I worked as a Night Auditor at the Southern Cross Hotel (formerly Inter-Continental Hotel) and as a Sales Administrator at Rheem Australia during the day.

As my daughters gradually adjusted to the school environment, Lyn and Julie became active in athletics and other extra curricular activities. In their final years in high school, they won a Gold Medal as members of a 3-person debating team of the Sta Maria College Catholic School. I was always there driving them around, coaching them when asked, and providing moral support. My wife on the other hand was always at home doing all the work, ensuring that there was food on the table, baon for the following day, and our work clothes and school uniforms ready.

Jenny, who suffered severe discrimination and isolation at school and in our neighborhood without telling us until much later, focused her energy on her studies and finished high school with a perfect 100% score in the State English exams, became the Public Speaker of the Year at her High School in Year 10 beating out older girls in Years 11 and 12, and went on to win the Regional Finals earning her a place in the State Competition. In most of her contests during and after office hours, I was there to provide support, encouragement and a shoulder to lean on when competition results went against her or her team.

At the repeated request of the then Philippine Consul General in Victoria, Atty Lilagan, I assumed the role of the first Interim President of the Federation of Filipino Associations in Victoria.

I accepted an invitation from the then Dept of Family and Social Services to act as an informal counselor to mixed marriage couples, particularly between an Australian and a so called mail-order-bride, who were having problems because of cultural differences.

On several occasions, when faced with gut wrenching decisions, my wife and I, in consultation with our daughters as they grew older, revisited our lifetime goals, family objectives, always focusing on the bigger picture.

With my training as a Process Consultant in Problem Solving and Decision Making, we broke down the challenges into manageable pieces, tackling them 1 at a time, and 1 day at a time.

Later in my professional life I discovered that there is more to life than having a successful career and a well paid job. So my wife and I began to focus on our spiritual development. As a family we learnt to ask for God’s blessings and guidance through the practice of ‘Praying Over’ whenever one of us, or as a family we were faced with tough decisions, health problems, job interviews, etc.

3) Old age can often be perceived as a handicap or liability in today’s very competitive work environment, and with the globalization of economies, and the explosion of digital and information technologies. But it can also be a great asset resulting in enormous dividends.

Fellow alumni, when one reaches the age of 40 and above, most people start to worry, feel insecure or fear losing a job, much less contemplating a career change!

Many people I knew in Australia and here in the Philippines are no exception. Most are devastated when they lose a job or don’t know what to do when faced with an impending forced resignation or the now famous outcomes of ‘downsizing’, right sizing, or bankruptcy, even if they were to be given a ‘golden parachute’ or handsome payout.

It need not be so traumatic or disheartening if you know and accept that these things happen, and are part and parcel of the realities of the 21 st century.

You can ride the tide of inevitable change and the cruel reality of how impersonal most businesses are, which – at the end of the day - care most about profit, dividends and bonuses for their top executives and owners, IF you anticipate these changes, do your homework and prepare yourself. This is where the essence of my last topic “Education and the continuing acquisition of knowledge” comes in.

In her introduction Marjubel may or may not have mentioned that I resigned and changed career and industry at age 42/43, 52/53 and at age 58. I will later this year turn 65 but believe me that if my wife agrees and supports my next adventure, I am still optimistic that I would still have a better than 50% chance of finding another decent job somewhere, perhaps in a new field like academia or consulting.

My own personal journey shows that perceived old age doesn’t have to be a handicap or an insurmountable barrier to career transition. As some of our fellow alumni have shown by example, old age is not even a barrier to a new life when your partner is taken away prematurely.

Starting a new life at age 60 or above, I think, is a much more difficult challenge to face and adjust to. So if some of our fellow alumni can start a new life at age 60 or above and make a success out of it, and I was able to successfully change jobs at critical ages, SO CAN MANY OF YOU. You just have to figure out the best way forward to suit your circumstances. If you want some tips on how, ask me when I am in town.

4) Education and the continuing acquisition of new knowledge, are fundamental - perhaps as critical as the air we breathe and water we drink.

It should not be taken for granted. It is not just for the young, the fresh graduates and the up and coming generation who all must pursue it vigorously for their future’s sake. It is just as important for the middle aged and older, like me and some of my colleagues here tonight, if we are to remain competitive and continue to be active and useful members of our society. If we want to be respected and keep abreast of current events; if you want to become doers and leaders rather than just followers, then a philosophy of continuous education is key.

Fellow alumni, as you may or may not be aware, I do not have any formal qualifications in accountancy and am most certainly not a CPA or Chartered Accountant. I am not an engineer or a computer science graduate either. I am only a Business Administration graduate with a major in Tariff and Taxation that very few companies would be interested in, then and now. In short, I do not have any technical training or expertise like many successful Magdalenians.

But that big gap in my formal and educational background did not prevent me from moving into and making a successful career in jobs that require accounting qualifications, an engineering background, human resource management expertise, and/or legal training.

My secret is very simple. I made it my business to identify future jobs that I had interest in. I then researched the critical subjects that would provide me with the knowledge required for those jobs, borrowed or bought the prescribed text books and latest reference materials, and read and studied like crazy.

For example, I became a very effective Credit Manager in Australia and made a name for myself in that field, not because of my previous experience in the Philippines, although it helped immensely, but because I became a very knowledgeable Credit professional for the Australian market through intensive self study. I never sought nor applied for membership with the Australian Institute of Credit Management (AICM) where accreditation is almost a must before any company would even look at your application.

During my first trip to Australia, I purchased the AICM prescribed manual and text book, bought copies of the relevant Acts and Legislation that governed the extension of credit and collection of monies, in anticipation that a Credit Manager’s job could be a contingency position that I might one day want to get into if and when I succeeded with my immigration plans. In the end through self-study, I was already an expert in Credit management, before I even landed in Australia.

Two years before I left Motorola and joined the Victorian Roads Authority (the equivalent of the Land Transportation Commission) my research showed that the best entry point in the Public Service for my background was the Organization and Methods (O&M) Unit. Three of the basic training required to be an O&M person is time & motion, statistical simulation, and project management. I never had any exposure to any of these disciplines, but felt confident that I could acquire the required expertise through self study. And I did, just in time for an interview.

Formal accounting qualifications like CPA and others like it in Australia are almost a mandatory requirement to work as an Accounting or Financial Manager, Management Accountant or even just as a junior Accountant. It is even more acutely required to work as an Internal or External Auditor. And yet I succeeded in securing high level positions that required knowledge and skills in accounting and auditing, including the positions of Manager, Rental Accounting at the Ministry of Housing, National Credit Manager then Distribution Accounting Manager at Motorola, and Manager & sometimes Acting Director, Bureau of Internal Audit at the Dept of Treasury and Finance in Victoria, and recently as Manager, Financial and General Services, Australian Customs Service where I also acted as Director, National Payroll and Accounts Processing Centre.

Self study is very hard to do particularly when you have a full time job and are a father to three daughters who need support and guidance in their own studies. But with the right attitude, the support and encouragement of my wife, a clear purpose and a dream strong enough to make me prepared to undertake the gigantic task of studying, I was able to do it many times.

And I can assure you, when you succeed in securing a job through self-study, and subsequently perform to the levels expected and sometimes beyond, the feeling cannot be described. To those of you who like or enjoy a glass or two of your favorite drink, try to close your eyes and remember the satisfaction and feeling of that first glass. Ganyan ang nararamdaman ko kapag natatalo ko sa pag kuha ng promotion o position ang mga puti who think they are more entitled than me, because of their formal qualifications and color. But they don’t realize that I have just as much right because of the comparable knowledge I have acquired from the school of ‘hard knocks’, and the inspiration I derive from my humble beginnings - OUR humble beginnings.

Pero mga fellow alumni, for now just enjoy your next drink and celebrate our grand reunion. Thank you for your patience and for allowing me the privilege of sharing my personal and professional journey. Good Night.