Illustrado Magazine – Filipino Abroad

Tag: The Empowered Filipina

  • Woman of Substance: Susan de Guzman

    Photo by Eros Goze, Styling by Ushi Sato, Make Up by Ginno Alducente
    “Mariposa” wrap by Dita Sandico-Ong and Diamonds from Liali Jewellery

     

    INFLUENCE

    Susan de Guzman

    Top Notch Educator

    There was a time at the beginning of Susan de Guzman’s career as a teacher in the Emirates, when a colleague, referring to her credentials and her pursuit of a Masters Degree, said to her, “But what do you need all that qualification for?  Don’t you know that Filipinas are seen as domestic helpers?”

    Sixteen years on, this humble and soft-spoken educator has stayed on-the-job, and stands proud as lead faculty at the Sharjah Women’s College – Higher Colleges of Technology. She has consistently driven her students to earn award after award, year after year, and is instrumental in helping the esteemed educational institution gain a reputation of excellence, especially in the field of graphic arts.

    Truly, this is one Filipina who has not only imparted knowledge and skill, but is also helping to shape the minds and values of young Emirati women set to be part of the country’s privileged circle of movers and shakers in the future.

    Susan de Guzman was born to parents who were both doctors.  She says, “My siblings and I were reared on the values of integrity, hard work, determination, and a sense of family.” Although her parents wanted her to follow in their footsteps, Susan’s calling in life was totally different, “I’ve always wanted to be an artist, for as long as I could remember. I love exploring and actualizing new ideas, and the fact that art is freewheeling.”

     

    From a very young age, her creativity was already apparent – Susan won countless art and talent competitions in school.  In college, she earned a degree in Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas.  But her quest for knowledge didn’t stop there, she pursued continued professional learning, while working as a teacher, and gained two masters degrees – Masters  in Educational Technology and a Masters of Education in Open and Distance Learning, both from the University of Southern Queensland, in Australia.

    Early on in her professional life, she dabbled both in advertising, working as a graphic artist, and in education, as a faculty member at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.  Somehow her career path led her completely to teaching.  She joined the Higher Colleges of Technology in 1996, first as Graphic Designer in the school’s Academic Services Department, and was eventually promoted to faculty when management took notice of her capabilities.  “People were telling me that I should be working in the advertising industry, especially here in the UAE, because there’s more money there,” she shares.  “But somehow, I’ve always kept it in my mind that I want to be a teacher, especially to these Emirati students.  So that when they become business owners someday, they will know how to treat their Filipino employees.”

    Susan’s approach to work extends well beyond just teaching her subjects.  She said that oftentimes, she provides guidance like a surrogate mother and friend, as knowledge is the least of the students’ challenges – some of them lack confidence and some have emotional issues.  As a Filipina educator, she credits her success in enriching her students learning experience with the innately caring attitude of Pinoys, “It’s probably our nurturing spirit.  It helps a lot.  There are certain students who need special attention.  So I make it a point to hold their hold through the process, and help them realize how good they are, in the process helping them gain confidence and motivation.”

    But all is not easy with this highly disciplined firm educator, she shares “Yes, I do fail students, sometimes too.  Strangely enough, there are students who thank me even when I fail them.  They say that because of the failure, they eventually realized how to correct their mistakes and improve upon their work.”

    And her formula for teaching seems to work wonders.  Since she has joined the college, Susan has helped the school secure countless honors from various academic award giving bodies, at one time orchestrating a grand slam earning 22 top awards in 2005.  Her efforts have been duly recognized as well. In 2008, she received the much coveted Director’s Award from the Higher College of Technology. Just recently, she has also been selected as Deputy Chief Expert for the World Skills Competition London 2011, the first Asian (carrying the UAE flag, at that) to have been given such distinction, in the global competition countries symbolizing excellence in vocational training with participants from all over the globe.

    Still, with all her accolades, Susan says she has one regret, “I wish that I was doing all this for Filipino students; helping them to be successful in life.”

    Regrets aside, it has to be said, that in the grand scheme of things, the role that Susan plays for Filipinos as a whole, is nothing short of priceless.

  • Woman of Substance: Ambassador Corazon Yap Bahjin

    Photo Courtesy of the Philippine Embassy in Bahrain

     

    COMMITMENT

    Ambassador Corazon Yap-Bahjin

    First Muslim Filipina Ambassador

     

    “Forget that you are a woman; because dignity and humanity has no gender.   Women do not need any special treatment, because we can do it just like everyone else can.”

    That philosophy might sound quite radical in a world where specific gender roles – male versus female – are still as distinct as night and day, but for the First Muslim Filipina Ambassador, who considers herself “feminine but not a feminist,” these are just simple truths founded on sound and pragmatic thinking.

    Ambassador Corazon Yap-Bahjin made Philippine Foreign Service history when she became the first Filipina Muslim to pass the career Foreign Service Officers’ examination, and then head a diplomatic mission, when she became the Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain in 2009 – the fourth female to have done so in the kingdom.

    Of Tausug roots, the eldest of two siblings born to highly educated parents – her father was a lawyer and her mother the first Regional Director of CNI (a defunct office in charge of indigenous people in the Philippines) who later became a college professor – Ambassador Yap-Bahjin takes pride in her parents’ legacy of good values. “The pursuit of excellence and hard work has always been a tradition in our family, with both my mother and my father.  We were taught to be honest and dedicated, and to be loyal to our service,” she shares.

     

    And indeed, her family’s principles put her in good stead, setting her up for a purposeful future.  She earned her Bachelor of Science in Education degree at the University of Santo Tomas in 1967, graduating cum laude with a co-major in English and Theology. In 1974 she finished Master of Arts, major in Social Studies, at the University of the Philippines, and went into a teaching career from 1967 to 1979.

    She joined the Foreign Service in 1979.  Rising from the ranks, she started as Acting Director of the Cultural Division of the Office of Islamic Affairs (now the Office on Muslim Affairs). Her first overseas posting was for a Vice Consul’s position in Jeddah in 1986.  Thereafter, she was posted as Second Secretary and Consul at the Philippine Embassy in Amman in 1990 where she assisted in the repatriation of Filipinos from Kuwait during the first Gulf War.  Her next posting took her to Cairo as Second Secretary and Consul at the Philippine Embassy.  She then moved to the same position in Bangkok in 1992 and was promoted to First Secretary in charge of Political Division and Consul and    Deputy Representative, ESCAP for the Philippine Embassy there.  Her last post before heading the Philippine diplomatic mission in Bahrain was in Xiamen, China as Consul General from 1995-2005.

    At the home office, she served as Acting Asst. Secretary of the Office of Consular Affairs in 1999, Asst. Secretary of the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Coordination 2006-2007 then Asst. Secretary of the Office of Personnel and Administration Services from 2007 to July 2009.

     

    Asked about her formula for success, the Ambassador credits it all to hard work, her commitment to her profession and her constant pursuit to improve upon herself and the work she did.  She explains, “I was never competitive.  I only competed with myself.”  She furthers, “At the end of the day, if you want to set your target on 80 percent, or 100 percent or even 120 percent, it is all up to you.”

    On being the first Muslim Filipina Diplomat, she says that certainly, there are challenges that one faces, not only because of being from a community that is considered a minority back home and one that suffers some negative stereotypes, but being a woman at that – “I have to prove that we also have what it takes to succeed and that we can be as good, if not better, as everybody else. But,” she counters, “in the long run, when it comes to my work, it is really not about me being a Muslim, or me being a woman, it is the work and the service that I am focused on. My output and work do not depend on my religion or gender.”

    The good Ambassador is constantly working for the betterment of some 45,000 Filipinos in Bahrain and hopes that someday the deployment of domestic helpers, the most vulnerable segment of Filipino expatriate workers, will eventually stop. She says, “It would be better if our women did not put themselves at such a vulnerable situation, for meager salaries, especially considering the social cost of such employment.” She continues, “We’re not belittling our compatriots, but if only they can be a little creative, they can earn more at home.”

    Ambassador Yap-Bahjin says that she has nothing against Filipinas opting to go and work overseas, as long as they are dignified.  She explains, “If they really want to work abroad, it is better for them to acquire some skills that will allow them to work in other fields, instead of having to take care of other people’s children.  Then at least, they will have the freedom to move and they will be treated better.”

  • The Empowered Filipina Documentary

    Almost a year on, and the dialogue still continues.

    Over the years, Filipina’s working overseas have been greatly stereotyped and put in a negative light. This documentary follows a collective group of global Filipina’s who have been deeply affected by these issues and how they chose to respond by sharing the positivity, and the advocacy of a common mission – uplifting the morale of Filipinas everywhere.

    A Film by Kamil Roxas

    Watch the trailer and complete film in 3 parts:

    The Empowered Filipina Trailer

    The Empowered Filipina Part 1

    The Empowered Filipina Part 2

    The Empowered Filipina Part 3

  • Illustrado’s Women of Substance 2010 Event

    Click on the image to view Illustrado’s Women of Substance 2010 event video


  • Nikon Photo Competition in Illustrado’s Women of Substance 2011

    1st March 2011 – Dubai, UAE – Following last year’s success, Illustrado’s Women of Substance 2011 is bringing back the Nikon Photography Competition with a new theme – “The Empowered Filipina.” Finalists’ works will be showcased at the Nikon Photo Exhibit during the annual elegant coffee-afternoon event which honors exemplary Filipinas and promotes female empowerment.

    Spearheaded by Illustrado, the Dubai-based Filipino lifestyle publication, the Nikon Photography Competition is calling for photo enthusiasts around the Gulf to submit their entries essentially portraying the different facets of the empowered Filipina. According to Lalaine Chu-Benitez, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Illustrado, “The amount of interest that we gathered from last year’s photo exhibit during Women of Substance 2010 has inspired us to continue contributing to the upliftment of the Filipina international image, as captured by the lenses of photography aficionados in the region.”

    She furthers, “We are returning this year with a more challenging concept ‘The Empowered Filipina,’ which we believe will be a vehicle to highlight not only the outer, but also the inner beauty of the Filipina, her strength of character, resilience and will to succeed and contribute not only to the Filipino community, but to society as a whole.”’

    Aside from the said photo exhibit that gained participation from the sizeable Filipino photo hobbyist community in the Gulf, Women of Substance is back on its fourth consecutive edition with amazing array of segments – from the talk show featuring Filipina achievers and a renowned guest speaker from the Philippines, the make-over runway show, to the bazaar slated to delight the over selected 600 guests, the event promises to be both meaningful and momentous.

    The event will also witness the screening of a mini-documentary, a sequel to “The Empowered Filipina,” by Dubai-based award-winning filmmaker Kamil Roxas.

    Interested photography aficionados can submit three images of Filipinas from all walks of life which embody ‘female empowerment.’ Images should be at least 300dpi and should be emailed to illustrado@inbox.com. The contest is open to all nationalities from all photography levels, strictly based in the Gulf.  Furthermore, heavy digital layering and editing are prohibited. Only the twenty best entries will make it to the Nikon Photo Exhibit during the event which will be viewed by over 600 attendees from the Filipino and international expat community.  Finalists’ photos will be published in Illustrado’s April 2011 issue.  The top winners will receive prizes from Nikon. Deadline for submissions is on the 17th March 2011.

    Women of Substance event is celebrated in the Gulf in conjunction with International Women’s Day. For more information, please contact Illustrado at 04-3654547 / 04-3654543.

    -Ends-

    About Women of Substance

    Illustrado’s Women of Substance is an advocacy in conjunction with International Women’s Day. It is a celebration of Filipina empowerment, achievement and contribution aiming to provide inspiration to boost the morale of the Filipino community, and to be a reflection of the positive and balanced international image of the Filipina.

    Every year, Illustrado presents Filipina honorees from the Gulf who exemplify achievement, societal contribution and exceptional character.

    For inquiries on the Women of Substance Event, please contact Johanna Dalocanog at +971 4 365 4543 or 365 4547, or e-mail johannadalocanog@illustrado.net

    For general inquiries on Illustrado contact the above numbers or e-mail us at: admin@illustrado.net