red-letter day

February 15, 2008 marked a turning point for Big Dipper: it was when we successfully delivered CIDA's Gender and Business books on time, despite the limited time we had for design and production. Even if this was not our biggest account, it was significant because the funder was a foreign government which required suppliers to meet "international standards." The satisfaction expressed by CIDA over our work is a positive affirmation, almost like a seal of good housekeeping. The Canadians believe that the Philippines is ready to "graduate" from the ranks of developing countries and for take-off, as reflected in their plan to progressively redirect aid to more needy countries within the next five years.

Above is one of three cover design studies that we executed for the design competition, the only one which didn't see print. Drawing inspiration from the successful visit of Jackie Kennedy to Canada in May 1961, which cemented ties between the U.S. and the host country, I asked artist Borriz Caparuzo to adopt for the studies the shade of red used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on their uniform.

This project has sentimental value as well, since one of the first words I uttered as an infant was "Nanada." Canada was where Mom took up graduate studies in Social Work/ Community Development.

She and Tatay would send tapes to each other. In our 45-D apartment, Tatay would press the record button on a black tape recorder and ask me, "Where's your Mommy?"

While playing with my toys on the cool floor, I would distractedly answer, "Nanada."

I was around two years old: this is my earliest memory.

mahal kita 2

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You already met Dona. This week, we came out with a coffee-table book on micro-finance entitled Pagbabasbas (Benediction).

Remembering the first time I told someone, "I love you," through Dona's encouragement, I searched my journal for the entry describing what happened.

It was the evening of 31 March 1994 and we sat on the grassy, sloping edge of the Sunken Garden, looking at the sky. When I finally managed to say the words, it was "like resolving to jump off a diving board and feeling some fear and anticipation before hitting the water."

I am able to express my feelings more openly and naturally now, but I've reached this blissful place in relationships only because I took the first step that night.

Thanks to Noel Cabangon for the haunting love song, "Uunahin Ko Kayo" (I Will Put You First).

mahal kita

Hahamakin ang lahat, masunod ka lamang. (To brave all odds/ That I may follow thee.) -Francisco Balagtas (1788-1862)

entrepreneur

If I am able to excel, it's because, like Newton, I stand on the shoulders of giants. My gurus are from diverse fields: Justice Mendoza in constitutional law, Senator Salonga in politics, Christina Pantoja Hidalgo in creative writing. As an entrepreneur, I've learned a lot from taipan Leticia Uy.

I first heard about the fascinating rags-to-riches story of "Aling Letty" from Tita Violy and Tito Doc one night after dinner in Cabanatuan. She was a battered wife who, after escaping from her husband, supported her two sons by selling sotanghon and pilipit (fried bread) in the public market. Through hard work, she slowly grew her business until she was able to build a bakeshop and then a string of department stores and malls, called N.E., in Central Luzon.

I wrote a cover story about Aling Letty in Entrepreneur's July 2004 issue, after which I began applying what I learned from my interview. At first, I sold prepaid cellphone load and phone cards; later on, I sold indigenous handicrafts, hamburger patties and chicken nuggets. It was a humbling experience, because I grew up with the subconscious belief that selling is demeaning. Yet- I asked myself- if it was demeaning, why was it that Aling Letty, who finished only fourth grade, makes substantially more than I do, despite my two college degrees? I was determined to change and succeed.

Months after the article was published, I got a call from Aling Letty: would I be willing to assist her in reviving her philanthropic foundation? I shared my knowledge about foundations and, in return, I received valuable lessons on business in the span of almost a year.

Below is the sidebar to my Entrep story; looking back, I find it amazing how it encapsulates Aling Letty's business philosophy as I've seen it applied.

Aling Letty's Recipe for Success

1. To succeed, take care of your employees. “Give them a sense of ownership in the company,” Aling Letty said. “I provided P600,000 for our employee coop. I pay for my employees’ hospital bills when they get sick.”
2. Inculcate loyalty to the company and honesty in your employees. “I tell them, ‘If I find out that you’re wasting money on gambling, I’m never lending you money again.’ ”
3. Fulfill your word of honor in order to gain people’s trust. “If you have a good reputation and credit standing, luck will come to you.”
4. Try to maintain your integrity and good reputation. “They’re more important than money.”
5. Borrow money, if you want to make it big. “You just need guts and you should know how you’ll be able to pay your loans.”
6. Read up. Aling Letty continued to educate herself even after she stopped going to school by borrowing her brothers’ schoolbooks. These days, she likes to read the biographies of successful businesspeople like Akio Morita and Lee Iacocca.