It’s been four years since Engr. Mary Jane Alvero Al-Mahdi has been hailed as one of Illustrado’s Women of Substance.

But through all the recent accolades – her recent Emirates Woman – Visionaries Award, the Bagong Bayani, her inclusion in the 100 Most Influential Filipinas in the World, among other commendable developments in her life.

Her story remains the same – that of an empowered Filipina who has shown the world that she can compete, excel and eventually lead, with sheer talent, determination and hard work – as well as a generous helping of good old Pinay charm.

We look back at Mary Jane’s past (from Illustrado’s Women of Substance 2009) –

Engr. Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi

Outstanding Professional-Trailblazing Filipina

from ILLUSTRADO WOMEN of SUBSTANCE 2009

Story by Lalaine Chu-Benitez; Photography by Mac Antonio

She led us through chemical labs smelling of foul waste water, through to dusty corridors where concrete slabs were stacked and tested for torque, weather resistance and other technical parameters mere mortal like us do not understand. Along  the way, she stops and points to a nuclear  test  lab in one corner of  the complex. All this time, her elegant abaya was fluttering  in her stride as technical staff, mostly male, acknowledged the presence of  ‘madame’. Taking in the surreal scene, I had to make a mental note to remember that this confident  lady before us, is in fact a Pinay –  a simple Filipina who has managed to break quite a few stereotypes in her trailblazing professional life.

Engr. Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi, is quite the picture of female empowerment – a role model not only for Filipinas but for Emirati women as well. The San Pablo, Laguna native is the first Filipina to have won in the prestigious Emirates Business Women’s Award (EBWA) in 2008, the first runner in the Professional Category – now part of an elite group of females lauded by the UAE government in lieu of their professional excellence, exemplary works and leadership. CEO of Geoscience Testing Laboratories (GTL) a multi-discipline testing company, Mary Jane runs a multimillion company with over 700 employees, with 4 branches around the country and 54 laboratories. GTL counts the prestigious Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Metro as but a few of their impressive projects.

A Chemical Engineering graduate, she started as a humble chemist in Al Futtaim in 1992, armed with a hard work, patience and typical Pinoy talent for fostering good relationships, not to mention putting a premium on her professional education by earning two masters degree, one in Quality Management and another in Engineering System Management, the GTL in 1998 – before her birthday. She was eventually promoted to CEO in 2003. Mary Jane admits that she has been very fortunate to have been nurtured by the company which has puts so much trust in her abilities. She also explains the definitive reason for her success _”My failures. If I didn’t make mistakes, I will probably not be successful as I am today.”

Married to an Emirati man and mother of two, the self made top executive says that she is also lucky to have a husband and in-laws who have welcomed her to their family and have given her support in her endeavors. “My mother and father-in-law were the proudest parents when I received my award last year,” she remarked.

With the EBWA just recently concluded, Mary Jane has been occupied with invitation to high profile events, speaking engagement, interviews, and has been featured in a documentary on local TV channel City 7. Through all the flurry of activities, she confesses that she’s surprised with all the fuss and how much attention has been given to her because, according to her, she still feels the same normal person. Truly, it is quite refreshing to see that despite success and good fortune, Mary Jane does not exude an air of arrogant self-importance and instead retains her sweet Pinay persona. She also still finds the time and motivation to support the Filipino community as one of the founders of the Filipino Digerati Association providing free computer application training to kababayans in the emirates.

Whether she is making a groundbreaking statement of empowerment for Filipina and Emirati women, or showing that a simple girl can carve out her own hugely successful future, or debunking the myth  that money and power corrupts, the story of Engr. Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi serves as an inspiration from quite a number of outstanding angles.

The post Engr. Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi – Trailblazing Filipina appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Illustrado threw a community event for Filipinas from all walks of life in the UAE on the 6th of April 2012 at the Almas Tower, Jumeirah Lake Towers area, Dubai.  Dubbed the Day of Sisterhood (DOS), the day affair dedicated to celebrating “Pinay power” saw a gathering of 400 Filipinas who came together for a whole day of learning and bonding.

Seen here are Dove Friends celebrating their real natural beauty with the popular skincare brand.

Photos by Cristina Linaza and Mariyah Gaspacho

The post Dove Friends at Illustrado Day of Sisterhood appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Story by Lalaine Chu-Benitez

Photography: Eros Goze

Hair and Make-Up: Frankie Melendez

Rowena Gungon Niduaza brought pride to the Filipino community when she won the Toastmaster Competition in the UAE in 2005. That win took her to Jordan where she competed with winners from all over the Middle East.  There, she ultimately took the top prize, and became the first Middle East representative to the 2005 Toastmasters International Convention for World Championship in Public Speaking in Toronto, Canada.

That feat seems significant enough.  In reality, however, what’s even more significant was Rowena’s triumph on another level – how her win allowed her to keep a sacred promise and mend old wounds with her family.

Rowena had a flourishing career as a design and retail professional in the emirates. Just like most career women, she was consumed by a demanding job, while juggling motherhood, her work taking much of her time from her family, especially in lieu of frequent travels.  She was stopped in her tracks when she was suddenly diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1995.  Rowena and her husband were devastated. She shares, “I prayed as I’ve never prayed before. I asked for another chance in life – to live a life more meaningful and to live with a purpose. That moment made me realize how lucky I was for having such a loving husband, wonderful kids and a beautiful life. I cried but then I thanked God for all that He had given me. Everything, including my cancer.”

Ironically, going through that difficult period, turned into a breakthrough for her. Suddenly, she was forced to look at life differently and her priorities appeared clearer.  “I realized then that the substance of life is not about [work] success, but about the little things you see every day.”

Around the same time Rowena’s father, who was estranged from the family, died all alone in the Philippines. The loss was a deep source of regret for Rowena, and it created resentment from her dad’s family.

Come her day of surgery, little did Rowena know that she was fated to experience her very own miracle. After several tests at various hospitals confirming her illness, for some reason the doctors were not able to find any cancer cells and she was declared well.

Furthermore, having been told by doctors that her ovaries have been totally damaged, she was amazed that she became pregnant with her third child after five years. Rowena declares, “A thankful heart had not only healed my cancer but had also given me another gift, another life.”  

Ecstatic that she was given a new lease on life, Rowena recounted, “I made a promise to God to share my story and His message of love. My only request from Him was to bring me where He wanted me to share that story.”

As though it were a part of a grand plan, Rowena’s opportunity to fulfill that promise came when she got into the Toastmaster championships.  Her speeches in Jordan, entitled, “Why” and “Two Words” chronicled her journey through cancer and the unfolding of blessings and gratefulness she experienced in the process.  Her words resonated so much with the audience that many wept.

The fact that a Filipina claimed the top award, in a place where Filipinas were greatly looked down upon, made the moment even more meaningful.  “I stood there as a Filipina in a place where our women were referred to as ‘kamsa-kamsa’ [meaning five-five, it is a derogatory term to mean ‘cheap’ – Ed]. It gave me tremendous satisfaction to hold my head up high and see that everybody was applauding a Filipina.”

As she accepted her award, Rowena touched her locket which contained her father’s ashes and silently promised him that her speech at the World Championship in Public Speaking would be for him.

She didn’t win the competition, but her speech “My Father” gave her the chance to say things that were not said while her father was still alive and be heard by relatives who attended the event. Rowena emerged winning so much more – reconciliation with her family.

She said, “All this time in these competitions, I never really hoped to win.  I went there to fulfill my promise – to share God’s work and mend ties with my family. And thank God that He gave me a way.”

These days, Rowena makes it a point to celebrate life each day, focusing on her family and making sure that they constantly feel her love.

The specter of cancer has revisited her once again, but Rowena who participates in a cancer support group, will not let it bring her down.  She says thoughtfully, “For me, having the cancer was an advantage.  I was given a warning. I was able to prepare myself and my loved ones and be conscious enough to live right. All of us are going to die eventually and that can happen anytime without us knowing.”

More than anything else, she’s gained, is the gift of a deeper spiritual understanding which she shares with anybody who would care to listen. “Believe that there’s always a reason, a meaning for everything… it’s just like when the wind blows…we can’t see but we can feel it.”

The post WOS 2012: Joy – Rowena Gungon Niduaza, A Voice for Gratitude appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Story by: Toni Loyola

Photography: Eros Goze

Hair and Make-Up: Frankie Melendez

Her gift of wisdom helped her rise beyond the status she was born with. Not one to be hampered by circumstances, Marietta Morada used her knowledge to serve and give back to the Philippine government and Filipino community here in the UAE, proving very well that other than being gifted with superior intellect, she is also blessed with a good heart.

Marietta “Ayet” Morada’s story is perhaps a common one. Born a farmer’s daughter, Ayet had to weave ‘buntal’ hats so they could put food on the table. Some of her siblings (a total of six) even had to work as helpers and seamstresses. But this poor family was gifted with a child with remarkable intelligence, something Marietta said, she got from her father.

Excelling in academics opened many doors and opportunities for Marietta. In 1964, she was awarded a full scholarship to attend the Philippine Science High School in Quezon City.  Known for its rigorous curriculum, studying at PSci meant that academic excellence was not only expected, it was demanded of it students.

For Ayet, it provided to be a conducive environment where excelled even more.

Graduating from PSci, Ayet became a full scholar at the University of the Philippines where she studied Mathematics. With her passion for knowledge and impressive credentials, many more doors opened for Ayet; this time to lucrative positions in the corporate world.

Instead of joining the private sector, Ayet decided to take a job at the Philippine National Statistics Office (NSO) in order for her to pay back the government that gave her the opportunity to finish her studies.

A big fan of numbers and having the knack for digging up and managing data, Marietta joined the said government agency as a statistician. There at the NSO, Marietta’s career flourished fuelled by her unquenchable thirst for information and knowledge. There, she also met Hector, who shared the same interest, and later became her husband.

Throughout her career, Ayet would be invited by multinational corporations and major conglomerates to join their ranks, but Ayet politely declined each time.   It was not a high profile corporate career she aspired for, but to give back in the Filipino tradition of “pagtanaw ng utang na loob”. To Ayet, being an Iskolar ng Bayan (a name given to all UP students because their tuition fees are subsidized by the government) had a deeper meaning and significance.

“I would not have been able to study if not for the help of our government. It was my time to give back.”

Marietta came to a crossroad when her husband, Hector received and decided to take a job offer in Dubai. After almost thirty years of serving the government, Ayet finally bid goodbye to the NSO. It was a fulfilling career, but she knew that in order for them to pursue their personal interests, it was time to leave Manila for Dubai.

Here in the land of gold, Marietta joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Back in 2003, when she started with the organization as researcher, she was the sole Filipino working there.  Combining talents and dedication to her job, she has risen over the years and now holds the manager position at the Data Management Center.  She has become to her colleagues an example of a true talented, respectable and hard working Filipina. Now, the 61-year old diminutive and young-looking Marietta is still an active contributor to the attainment of the objectives of the organization.

Career achievements and accolades never made Ayet forget to look back to the chances she was given and the doors that were opened for her through her education. She was always mindful of looking for ways to continue being of service to the Philippines.

In 2004 Ayet and Hector joined the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) UAE chapter and became instrumental in helping put together the organization’s constitution and by-laws, as well as supporting the club’s objective of providing scholarships to deserving underprivileged youth, and facilitating workshops and training for Filipino youth in the emirates.

The couple also serves as informal advisers to the FILCOM, the umbrella organization of the Filipino associations in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

Currently, the couple is also exploring projects with the Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC) to bring licensing exams to Filipinos in the UAE and hopefully around the world.  In the future, she dreams of establishing a Filipino club for women where Filipinas can help each other and discuss issues.

Ayet’s life and career is testament to the fact that intelligence doesn’t diminish when shared. Rather, it is multiplied a thousand fold as it opens opportunities for others who, like Ayet, chose to give back by paying it forward.

The post WOS 2012: Love for Country – Marietta Morada, The True “Iskolar ng Bayan” appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Story by: Lalaine Chu-Benitez

Photography by: Eros Goze

Hair and Make-Up: Ginno Alducente

Engr. Emelyn Martinez cuts the picture of a respectable, well put together, progressive female professional, thriving in the male dominated field of construction. At just 34 years old, Emelyn has managed to excel in a highly competitive business area which, at times is “color and gender sensitive.”

Emelyn works as a Managing Consultant at Hill International’s Dubai, a claims group handling contractual disputes and arbitration proceedings in the sector. She’s worked her way up in the UAE, from being the Head of Planning at the Makati Development Corporation, to serving as planning consultant and then manager at several other companies, including one of the region’s biggest construction firms.

Equally significant, Emelyn was also the former President of the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineers International (AACEI)-UAE – which she has grown into the largest chapter in the world outside their headquarters in the USA during her tenure – and where, she is the lone woman, and the youngest member of the board of directors.

Early in her career in the emirates, Emelyn experienced being told in job interviews that a Filipina would not be a good candidate for the job.  That didn’t faze her, however. Instead she just kept moving ahead.  One continuing source of frustration though was often being told often that she was “too young” for her work.

Speaking about her constant push to excel, the charming Bicolana recounted, “I’ve always dreamt of making it big someday. It was hard growing up without a father; we lost him when I was 10 years old.  And it was difficult for my mom to provide for all our needs. So I’ve always had this ambition to succeed.”

Going into construction was somewhat of a tribute to her father’s own work as a civil engineer.

“When I was young I was often told that engineering is only for men, but I decided to make it in the field, no matter what.”

Emelyn’s work ethic is her simple secret to success.  “I am very brave and I work hard. While most people my age would spend their free time clubbing or going to parties, I’m working and studying. Though of course, sometimes I go out with friends too.”

Indeed, Emelyn’s hard work is evident in her exceptional credentials. She has degrees in BS Civil Engineering from Bicol University and a Masters in Engineering Management Major in Construction Management from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Add to that her qualifications from the Royal Chartered Institute of Surveyors, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International (AACEI), the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Professional Regulation Commission of the Philippines, and it’s easy to see where Emelyn has invested most of her efforts.

Currently, she is studying for a Masters in Law degree at the Robert Gordon University in Scotland.

Emelyn reinforces the adage that first impressions always count, saying that she makes it a point to establish her professionalism to make sure that she is taken seriously.  “Apart from dressing the part, at work, I also have a totally different persona.  I am very focused and disciplined.  But of course, outside of work, I am more relaxed.”

But even her idea of relaxation demands focus and competitiveness. Emelyn has been a marathon runner since 2008 but she candidly admitted that before that, she could not run even a 1km race straight. To Emelyn, this was again proving that anything is possible. “I ran a 42km marathon before, but I had to cut down this year since I suffered from shin splints. Hopefully, I can run my next race in April in Madrid. I am also trying to get into cycling.”

This year, Emelyn also used her participation at the Dubai Marathon for a much greater cause than merely sports; she ran to raise money for the victims of typhoon Sendong in the Philippines and received some AED10,000 in donations within two weeks of her campaign through her charity website. “It might not be a big amount but I think it should help quite a few people back home,” Emelyn shared.

Her little free time is spent volunteering in the community as a trainer and speaker, sharing her knowledge and experience with her peers, always making it a point to encourage, inspire and motivate other professionals to work harder for success through continuous education.

Emelyn’s stellar achievements are proof that nobody is too young to make a mark, or too feminine to lead.

The post WOS 2012: Ambition – Engr. Emelyn Martinez – Brilliant, Young & Unstoppable appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Photographer: Johnbert N. Dacanay; Assistant Photographer: Dave A. Pongasi

Make Up Artist :Tonirose B. Roquim

There are events in life that mark one’s character. For some it is a time of crisis, for others it is a time of great opportunity. For nurse Mary Jane Tupas, it was the prospect of a baby being born in an airplane and the ironic life and death situation that came with it that marked her innate nature to help others. 

She has a handful of accomplishments to her name, yet Mary Jane Tupas, refuses to take all the credit.

“It’s not just me,” she said. “It’s every person out there, big or small, in high or low places, who take time out to help other people.”

Indeed, helping others seems to be second nature to Mary Jane, a quality instilled in her by her parents, especially her very religious father. “Even when I was still young, my father made sure that I prayed before I went out of the house,” Mary Jane related. In this way, Mary Jane stated, her father taught her to stay close to God at all times, whether struggling with difficulties or in the midst of blessings. “My father also taught me to always do only what is good. People may not recognize the good things that one does, but God certainly sees.”

These must have been the words that rang in Mary Jane’s ears during a flight to the Philippines, when a pregnant passenger suddenly went into labor. When the pilot announced the need for a medical professional, Mary Jane promptly volunteered herself. She adeptly examined the woman, recognizing right away that she needed IV fluids, as the woman was bleeding profusely. Unfortunately, save from some medicines, the plane had no other medical paraphernalia onboard.

“I told the pilot that we needed to make an emergency landing. We were over India at that time,” Mary Jane said. The pilot wanted to try to land, not in India, but in Thailand, which was approximately three hours away. “I told the pilot that the woman needed medical help right away and that waiting a few more hours would put her and her baby in jeopardy,” Mary Jane explained.

The plane landed in India, where the woman was met by an ambulance and a medical team. Meanwhile, the rest of the passengers, including Mary Jane, had to stay overnight in India. While most commended Mary Jane’s deed, some were irritated by the inconvenience of an unplanned stay in India. “It, after all, took time away from their holidays, so I understand them,” she said. “But I told them that I couldn’t just let the woman and her baby suffer, knowing that I could do something about it.”

How could someone be so selfless and always ready to help? “It’s my passion. I do it in my daily life and in my work.” Mary Grace is currently the head of the Nursing Department of Mohammad Dossary Hospital in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, a reputable medical center that employs highly-qualified staff. It is a job that is fitting for someone of Mary Jane’s character, because it entails responsibilities that extend beyond work hours. “Sometimes, I would be ready to sleep when I would get a call from the hospital or someone else. They need my help so I go,” Mary Jane explained.

Mary Jane is also the President of the OFW 5^th Congress as well as the Ro Aklanon Saudi Arabia (an organization of Filipino from Aklan), both of which, under her leadership have spearheaded several public service initiatives including a seminar on “Tamang Pakikitungo sa Kapwa Manggagawa.”

Her consistent acts of service earned Mary Jane the Blas F. Ople Award para sa Natatanging Bagong Bayani in 2007, which recognizes OFs who foster goodwill among different peoples in the world, promote the image of the Philippines and contribute to the socio-economic development of their communities and the country.

Despite this accolade, Mary Jane is hard put to amass all the praises. In fact, the award has inspired her to do even more. “All that I am now, I owe to the community. In turn, I owe it to the community to help those who need me,” Mary Jane said.

For those who are starting to feel a passion to help others and make life better for them, Mary Jane has these words of advice: “Do your best to love your neighbor, whether they are good to you or not. Don’t expect anything in return.”

Mary Jane also has a lot of faith in the Filipino women, and she has this message for them: “We are all talented and smart in our own ways. So, do your best in everything that you do, whether as a mother, as a housewife, as an employee. Never let your gender get in the way. Just do what is good always, fear God and persevere. Everything else will be easy.”

The post WOS 2012: Service – Mary Jane Tupas – A Deep Passion for Helping appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Story by: Lalaine Chu-Benitez

Photography, Hair and Make-Up by: Les Fiestan

Hilde Capanang has a couple of very simple rules she lives by: respect yourself, respect others, know your limits, and know what is right and what is wrong. As a nanny who has nurtured her ward for 27 years, from the day she was born, she has imparted values to help groom the child into the considerate, cheerful and talented young woman that she is today. Like so many of our unsung heroes, Hilde is a shining example that even in the most modest of professions, a Filipina’s love and care are simply priceless.

Twenty eight years ago, Ilo-ilo native Hilde was a social worker serving at the Vietnamese Refugee Center in Palawan.  Hilde originally wanted to be a nurse but couldn’t, due to her family’s financial limitations.  Social work was an ideal substitute. She recounted, “Dahil mahirap kami, naiintindihan ko yung pangangailangan ng mahirap; gusto kong magserbisyo at tumulong…kung ano man ang magagawa ko.” [“Because we were poor and I understand the needs of the poor, I wanted to serve and help in whatever way I could.]

Fast forward to today, Hilde has been living in Riyadh for almost three decades now, working for the Al Ammary family, taking care of their daughter Nourah.

Nourah, now all grown up, works as an Art Director, but still affectionately calls Hilde “Nannay”, a symbol of the special relationship they share since the day she was born.  Nourah explained, “She is like a mother to me.  I cannot deny the bond we share. I was lucky because she didn’t just take care of me. She raised me the way she would her own child and never held back emotionally. She always reminded me how loved I was.”

Hilde shared the same sentiment, “Parang anak ko na rin si Nourah.  At natutuwa rin ako na ngayong malaki na siya, kahit saan siya magtrabaho, o magpunta, pinagmamalaki niya ako bilang nagpalaki sa kanya.  Mahal din niya ako at sinusuklian niya yung pagmamahal na inukol ko sa kanya.”

[“Nourah is like a daughter to me.  And I’m very happy that now she’s all grown up, wherever she goes, she’s proud to tell people that I was the one who raised her. She loves me and she returns the love that I’ve given her.”]

Her 28 years of service just flew by, said Hilde. The Al Ammarys are kind, generous and treated her like family. Hilde also mentioned that they have given her the right to provide guidance to Nourah.  “Katulad rin ng mga tinuturo nating mga Pilipino sa mga anak natin – yung maayos na pamamaraan sa buhay; yung maging respectful kahit kanino, maging bata man o matanda, pangit o maganda, yun and tinuro ko sa kanya,” Hilde recalls. [“Just like we Filipinos teach our kids – to live life properly; to have respect for anybody whether they are young or old, ugly or beautiful, that’s what I taught her.”]

On the other hand, Nourah said that from her “Nannay” she learned “appreciation, patience, trust, honesty, ambition and devotion, as well as keeping things tidy.”   She adds, “Nannay always had the best work ethic. She worked from the heart and is very trustworthy. I learned my work ethic from her.”

Serving one family for over three decades is a feat for any one, and to Hilde the secret of maintaining good ties with her employer is by returning their kindness with kindness and wholehearted commitment to her work.   “Respeto ang pinaka-importante. Respetuhin natin ang kultura nila. Hindi sa natatakot ka sa kanila, iba yung meron kang respeto. At pag maganda ang ugali na ipinakita natin sa kanila, magugustuhan at mamahalin din nila tayo.” [“Respect is of utmost importance. We should respect their culture. It’s not because you fear them, having respect is different.  If you show them goodness, they will also appreciate you and love you.”]

Hilde, who has remained single, admitted that she also had moments when she would miss her own family in the Philippines and instances when she would be tested with men trying to pursue her. She shares, “Tao lang din ako; meron ding damdamin.  Pero importante sa akin yung respeto sa sarili ko, alam ko kung hanggang saan limitasyon ko.  At yun ang sinusunod ko.” [“I am also human; with emotions. But what was important for me is my self-respect.  I know my limitationsAnd that is what I live by.”]

But now, at 59, Hilde is content with her life.  Together with her sister who also worked in the same household, they’ve been able to provide for their family back home. She takes pride in saying that in their family now, they have a medical technician, a Computer Science graduate, and a nurse, because of their hard work.

“Para sa sarili ko, wala na akong iniisp na iba pa. Pangarap ko lang bigyan lang ako ng good health and long life at maging maayos yung pamilya ko sa Pilipinas.” [“For myself, I can’t ask for more.  I only wish for good health and a long life and that my family in the Philippines will do well.”]

Though Hilde does have one more dream, and that is for the child who has grown up to credit her Nannay for the person that she is today.

“Pangarap ko kay Nourah, na kung ano man ang ambisyon niya, sana maabot niya yun. Gusto ko siyang maging successful. Natutuwa ako na may naibigay ako sa buhay niya.” [“My dream for Nourah is to be able to achieve her ambitions. I want her to be successful. I am happy that I was able to contribute to her life.”]

The post WOS 2012: Devotion – Hilde Capanang: Of service and motherly love appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Story by: Barbara Marchadesch; Photography: Rxandy Capinpin

Styling: Red Mil; Makeup: Hanna Pechon

You can say that Nina Quintos has built a career for herself as one of the top architects working in the Middle East and Southeast Asia brick by brick. With a career that spans more than two decades, Nina has carved out her own trail in a man’s world and has come out on top.

“This is what I’ve always wanted to be,” said Nina Quintos about her being an architect. As project manager for Cadiz International, Nina, 46, has managed several significant projects in the Middle East, such as the Al Hamra Mall in Ras al-Khaimah, which won the prestigious Design Merit Award from the ICSC MENA (International Council for Shopping Centers, Middle East and North Africa Region) in 2011, for the Design of a New Shopping Center.

A graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, Nina’s 22-year career in international concept architecture evolved as a result of her drive to become the best she can be.

Currently, Nina is the project manager for several Master Plan projects — which she emphasizes are team efforts — such as the Lausanne Golf Village, a 250-hectare integrated residential development in Kyrgyzstan with a championship golf course, a commercial area and a hotel; and the 20-hectare Uptown Tbilisi Mixed-Use Development in Tbilisi, Georgia, which will have a retail mall as well as office, hotel and residential tower developments.

Nina has built a career as impressive as the structures she plans. But being a woman professional in the Middle East and a Filipino also has its share of difficulties.

She credits her firm, which employs a number of women, for supporting her and her colleagues.  It also helps that she has made her mark as an expert in her field. Now, “it’s not highlighted that you’re a woman doing architecture, but that you’re [simply] an architect.”

As a solo mom, Nina feels the pressure of balancing her family with her career, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. Her daughter Crista is 12 and quite used to her mom traveling on a regular basis.  Though it’s hard when she has to leave her daughter for a business trip, she wants to serve as an example to her as well. “I don’t think that your passion for your work should change, and I want my daughter to see how much I love what I do. I show her the finished product of my work whenever possible. She’s totally supportive, and I want her to be true to herself too.”

Nina is extremely grateful for her support system — her family. “When I’m traveling, Crista is with my mom,” she said, adding that her sisters and their families are also there to help. “I wouldn’t be able to do this without them.”

When she’s not at work, Nina unwinds by taking aikido with Crista or rowing with the Manila Dragons Dragonboat Rowing Team. “I need to be active!” she declared. The team regularly rows in Manila Bay and takes part in international and local races and regattas.  “Our team is very diverse, with a very wide age range. We have professionals, we have students, and there are some breast cancer survivors. They’re all very dynamic, very strong women — and I’m not just talking about physical strength, but the strength of character of the people in the team.”

It’s not just for fun and exercise, either. The Manila Dragons are competitive, and in fact took the Diamond Cup at the Hong Kong “King of the World” International Dragonboat Race in October.

Nina not only feels a responsibility to be a good representative for women, but for Filipinos as well. “It’s something that’s been tugging at the back of my mind — how we as a people can be strong and make our real mark. I think my longing is to see an awareness and pride about who we are.”

To Nina, there is something missing in our collective perception of ourselves. “Sometimes it’s shaky; sometimes we give in to the thinking that they’re better than we are. I want us to see how far we’ve come. We have to find ourselves — and it has to come from us, from the inside, not from others — to become comfortable in who we are as Filipinos, so that we can move forward and be better.”

Outside the Philippines, said Nina, there is an extra responsibility for us to be our best and to show what we can do. “And we can—we’re well-trained, we have the experience, we have the skills.”

“Career should be beyond work — it should be something you enjoy and give you purpose, so that you want to do it well. And be true to yourself. Don’t let anyone set the limits for you. If you know what you want, go for it and enjoy where you are.”

Said like a true global creator and trailblazer.

The post WOS 2012: Leadership – Nina Quintos, Architect of Her Dreams appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Story by: Toni Loyola

Photography: Eros Goze; Hair and Make-Up: Ginno Alducente

Lou Parocco has an interesting view of what makes one rich. It is what she calls, an “abundance mentality.” To Lou, when you recognize all that you have been given, sharing a part of it with others comes naturally.

Lou’s climb up the Emirati corporate ladder started with the sales staff job she took at the Dubai Duty Free. It was not a desperate move, “I was just being practical,” rationalized Lou, who held a Human Resource management position in Bacolod before moving to The Gulf.

Her instincts paid off. After a brief 6-month stint on the shop floor, Lou was able to put her Human Resource experience back into practice when she got promoted to the HR department.

Now, she works as Global HR Manager for LMKR, a technology provider of software and services  for the oil and gas industry. Lou handles the corporate affairs of LMKR employees spread all over the world.

More than just a Filipino role model, Lou is the Filipino “professional” model. Respected by her colleagues, she was once described by a company head offering her a job: “a [calm] ship on the outside but can be a [fierce] shark inside.”

Lou has proven that one can rise above the ranks through hard work, dedication and giving beyond expectations. But while her career is based on a company’s success metric of developing the talent of their people, Lou’s own personal success metric is to reach out to others and help them harness their own potential and live out their dreams.

Not known to many, the professional and firm lady in the company is also a charitable and sensitive woman.

Since 2009, Lou and her husband Cesar, have spearheaded different charities and outreach programs that benefit fellow Filipinos both in the UAE and at home.

Their desire to help can actually be traced back to two life-changing instances. For Lou, it was witnessing her mother scraping off every single dot of lipstick on an already empty tube with a matchstick. To Lou, it symbolized how her mother had to scrimp on many of her own comforts to provide for their family. Seeing this, Lou swore she would use her first paycheck to buy her mother the finest lipstick. Unfortunately, her mother died before she could do so.

In 2008 Cesar had an emergency angioplasty after it was discovered that he had a blockage in his major and minor arteries.

These two instances combined was a turning point for Lou and Cesar. The couple, who both celebrate their birthdays in the month of May, decided to do charity work instead of having lavish birthday parties.

Their first project was “Shoot and Shelter,” a series of photography workshops, which intended to raise enough funds to provide a house for one family through the Gawad Kalinga Foundation. The project, which was supported by different photography clubs in the UAE, as well as volunteer models and make-up artists, was so successful that it was able to provide houses to two families, instead of just one.

In May 2010, the couple embarked on another charity concept, “Color for Her” to realize Lou’s dream of providing an emotional boost to Filipinas unable to afford themselves the smallest measure of vanity: lipstick.  Together with friends, Lou and Cesar were able to collect more than a thousand tubes of lipstick.  And from the moment they stepped foot on Philippine soil, were they spend their annual vacations, they started distributing lipsticks to cleaners, street vendors and metro aids.  They also visited markets and schools, handing out lipsticks to vendors, and public school teachers.

In May 2011, the Parrocos celebrated their birthday month with a dance.  In cooperation with the Filipino Dance Club of Dubai, they organized “Hearty Party” a series of two-hour dance parties featuring Zumba and aerobics, aimed at promoting health awareness in the community.  Proceeds from the AED30 entrance fee were donated to the Anawim Foundation in the Philippines, particularly those suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

This year, Lou and Cesar are planning to stage “Hear Me”, a mini-concert for local budding artists who want to be heard, but don’t always get a break.  Proceeds of the concert will be for the benefit of deaf patients in the Philippines.

Ulitmately, Cesar and Lou dream of putting up a scholarship program in the Philippines someday. They hope that their endeavors would encourage other Filipinos to look for opportunities to help those in need.

Lou stressed, “We do not need to be rich to help. An abundance mentality and a grateful heart is something my husband and I both share and we are both committed to seek every opportunity to pay forward all the blessings bestowed upon us by helpings others in need.”

See what Lou has to say about charity and sharing one’s blessings –

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gPrijvxqWE

The post WOS 2012: CHARITY – Lou Parroco – Sharing Abundance appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Photographers Dionisar Baseleres (UAE), Arian Marcos (UAE) and Christopher Sanan (Kuwait) won first, second and 3^rd prize at the recently concluded Nikon photo competition with the theme “I AM an Empowered Filipina” in conjunction with Illustrado’s Women of Substance 2012 Event

The much-awaited contest received over 500 entries from 212 Filipino photographers around the Gulf, out of which 36 finalists’ works were exhibited at Illustrado’s annual event dedicated to Filipina empowerment held at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai.

The judging panel included Vice Consul Geronimo Suliguin of the Philippine Consulate General of Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Nikon Brand Manager Shaji Shanmughan and Ramon Benitez, Creative Director at Leo Burnett, UAE.

Thousands of Filipino photo enthusiasts also contributed to the scores, as 10% of the judging criteria was based on the amount of votes photos received on Illustrado’s Facebook page dedicated to the competition.

The winners will be receiving Nikon DSLR cameras, while a 4^th prize will be given to the person who has correctly predicted the top winner and has given the best answer as to why the image is a winner through Illustrado’s Facebook page.

The competition is the 3^rd in a series of collaborations between Illustrado and Nikon celebrating the image of the empowered Filipina.

The post Baseleres, Marcos & Sanan Win Nikon “I AM an Empowered Filipina” at Illustrado’s Women of Substance 2012 Event appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.