I always say – despite our circus-like politics and many economic challenges – there will always be a place for the Philippines in the grander scheme of things. Our weapon? The Filipino people themselves.
Let me take a break from heavy themes and shine the light on four Filipino achievers who are making an impact in the world. We could all use some inspiration at this time.
We’ve all heard how our very own Alliance Global Group now controls the largest brandy manufacturing entity in Spain. We’ve also heard how this same company is rapidly expanding its property development footprint, beginning with the acquisition of one of Madrid’s four iconic skyscrapers. All these are happening while an army of young Filipino entrepreneurs (most of whom earned their collegiate and post graduate degrees in Spanish universities) launches new ventures in hospitality, finance, retail and technology. Indeed, a reverse colonization is happening as Filipinos conquer the Spanish business firmament.
The good news is that the conquest is happening in the political sphere too. A 41-year-old Pinoy, Richard Caballes Lewington, is running for municipal councilor of Oñatu, Guipuzkoa in the Basque Country. The Basque Country is where prominent Spanish-Filipino families hail from including the Ayalas, Aboitiz’ and Elizaldes. Lewington is running under the banner of a major political party called Partido Popular.
Lewington’s mother hails from Batangas while his father is of British decent. The young politician is a licensed nurse who moved to Spain in 2007 and settled in Oñatu. Lewington’s platform revolves around assisting rural businesses, enhancing public services, promoting cross-cultural understanding and supporting the town’s candidacy for UNESCO heritage status. He also vows to promote Filipino culture if elected.
Lewington is not the only Pinoy gunning for an elected position. Jordi Callejo, a pure Filipino, is running for a second term as Councilor in the Raval district of Barcelona.
The 36-year-old Callejo hails from Cavite. Fluent in Tagalog, Callejo admits being racially stereotyped and having to work double as hard to prove that an immigrant can be just as competent as their Spanish counterparts in government. The fact that Callejo continues to enjoy high approval ratings proves that he has succeeded.
There are more than 100,000 Filipino living in Spain and their interest must be protected. Elections were held last Sunday and we hope both Lewington and Callejo emerge victorious in the final counting.
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A Filipina is making waves in the United States, this time, in the field of film. Bettina Campomanes is the daughter of accomplished medical doctors, Benjo and May Campomanes. She is among the few Filipinos privileged to earn a college degree in film from New York University, another degree in film and electronic art from Bard College and a Masters Degree in Cinematography from the American Film Institute. At 27, Bettina represents the best of the emerging generation of Filipinos.
Bettina is presently an in-demand Film Director, Cinematographer and Musician based in Los Angeles. She has collaborated with notable personalities such as British writer and comedian Demi Adejuyigbe, and indie music heavyweights Sure-Sure, Miel and Hiya.
She was tapped to do work for great American institutions such as MAC Cosmetics, the National Collegiate Athletic Association and Twitter.
Bettina’s work has been featured in Time Magazine, Rolling Stone, New York Magazine, Scout Magazine, and Color X Studios.
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Nothing gives me greater gratification than to see determined Filipinos succeed despite the odds.
Cyril Mitchel Agan’s background is typical of many lower-middle income Filipino families. His father, Leonardo, immigrated to Manila from Siquijor to seek a better life. His mother, Lucille (nee Tecson) a native of Marinduque, did the same. The Agans lived modestly in a rented apartment in Paco, Manila. Leonardo was a tailor while Lucille worked as a bank teller.
Cyril has always been academically gifted. He studied at JASMS Manila where he was an honor student. He did so well that he was transferred to Manila Science High School as a scholar. Cyril eventually earned a medical degree from the UP College of Medicine.
After passing the board exams, Dr. Cyril found it difficult to launch a career in the Philippines given the intense competition to penetrate Grade-A hospitals and the prohibitive cost of setting-up his own clinic. His best option was to work as a doctor onboard a cruise ship. There, he honed is skills in facial enhancements such as Botox, Hyaluronic Acid fillers, Poly-L-lactic Acid threads used for face lifts and Deoxicolic Acid used to melt facial and neck fat. Cyril has always had a natural gift for aesthetics.
He built his reputation as a facial enhancement expert. Clients travelled across the US to see him. Eventually, the young doctor saved enough money to establish his own clinic in Manila. In 2017, Lift Aesthetic Clinic was born in BGC. Since then, Dr. Cyril has become the preferred aesthetic doctor of most politicians, business luminaries and celebrities.
Last week, Dr. Cyril made headlines by becoming the exclusive distributor of APTOS, a product of European technology that uses threads to rectify sagging skin, wrinkles and facial shape.
For those unaware, thread lift technology is the most advanced method of facial sculpting today. The results are instant and patients need not go through down-time (unlike old-fashioned surgeries). The procedure can be done in under one hour.
Dr. Cyril is now acknowledged as the vanguard of APTOS technology in the Philippines. He is also among the very few that specialized in male clients.
Rising from humble beginnings to prominence in his field, Dr. Cyril proves that success can be achieved with grit and hard work.
Young Filipino achievers like Lewington, Callejo, Campomanes and Agan give us reason to be optimistic about the future of our country.
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Andrew Masigan’s e-mail address is andrew_rs6@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @aj_masigan.