Written for The Philippine Star
I was at the Manila Polo Club waiting for my daughter to finish her swim training when I spotted a group of men and a couple of women huddled in a table, intent over some discussion that was clearly important because they were at once viewing a power point presentation from a laptop, engaged in animated conversation, and pouring over documents.
It was a curious sight because it was a Friday night and everybody else’s mindset seemed to have been switched on to country club mode. People were lounging on armchairs with a leg or an arm dangling off of the sides, sipping long drinks, sauntering off to some squash or tennis game, or strolling over to the barbershop for a haircut.
Curiosity was gnawing at me and I was contemplating some ploy to scoot over and have a listen when I was spotted by a cousin-in-law, Ernie Ordonez, who was quite involved in the meeting. I was beckoned over—hurray! Always the gentleman, he saved me the trouble.
Ernie Ordonez was one-time Cabinet Secretary for presidential flagship programs; Undersecretary for the Department of Trade and Industry; and Undersecretary for the Department of Agriculture, and I am his cousin by affinity—there, that’s my claim to fame! His curriculum vitae reads like a list of the various honors and awards of merit any Ivy League school hands out to deserving scholars but let’s not even go there; we neither have the time nor the space.
But for “Wow” factor, let it be said that not only is he is a graduate of the Ateneo University batch ‘69, he was also president of its student council, and was a founder of the local chapter of the international organization: AIESEC Ateneo. He has two Masters degrees from both Yale and New York Universities and a Ph.D. in Business Administration, also from NYU.
“This is an AIESEC Ateneo meeting,” Ernie said. “We are celebrating our 40th year and we are tying loose ends for the AIESECuarenta event this Saturday, November 14 and are brainstorming about AIESEC’s role in a ravaged Philippines.” A ravaged Philippines—this immediately caught my attention.
He proceeded to introduce me to the rest of the guys at the table and each one stood up to give me a firm handshake. I am impressed. Most everyone nowadays either just nod or utter some inaudible salutation. Not them: they are Ateneo AIESECers. They were: Leo Victorio, batch ’73; Marc Ablaza, batch ’88; Mia Florencio, batch ’90; Enrique Moran, batch 2008; Gab Medina, batch 2010; Sam Nepomuceno, batch 2010; and Jackie Crisostomo, batch 2010.
I didn’t want to let everyone on to how clueless I was, so I sort of finessed the question. “What is AIESEC? But shhh, don’t tell anyone I asked.” I whispered to Marc Ablaza, AIESEC International Director for Asia and the Pacific, ‘89. He said, “AIESEC is the largest student organization in the world. It has grown from 7 to 110 countries with a worldwide membership base of 35,000 and has earned the support of over 5,000 established companies. It has received the endorsements from country presidents, leaders, and Secretary Generals of the United Nations. Through this network AIESEC is able to facilitate its core work, the Global Internship Program that enables participating companies to tap and develop international talent. In other words, AIESECers are sent all over the world through this program to gain work experience for the purpose of intense personal and professional development.
Ernie Ordonez added, “AIESEC was founded in the forties to rebuild a war torn Europe. The Philippines is now a nation in crisis and a call to action is necessary. This is where AIESEC comes in. Finance and Accounting does not do the trick anymore as it did in the olden days. Organizations must be people-oriented and AIESEC’s move for excellence must be enhanced in specific ways. Its special projects must focus on sustainable development with a social consciousness. AIESEC must be anything and everything that will produce wealth for the country.”
According to Gab Medina (batch 2010), current AIESEC Ateneo President, AIESEC has partnered with NGOs in Manila fostering volunteerism, environmental awareness and activism. It espouses health awareness and joins wellbeing campaigns, on top of its traditional alliances with the country’s leading financial and commercial institutions.
I asked everyone on the table about what AIESEC has done for them and what members may look forward to. Ernie started with his own testimony. “I was Ateneo’s first outgoing trainee. I was already headed to the U.S. for a fellowship at Yale University and I was given a choice to work for the biggest insurance company before entering Yale. So, I went from school in the Philippines to international work. I had what you may call an Asian and American experience. My background may be considered more globally sophisticated in terms of experience. AIESEC taught me to be open to diversity and out-of-the-box ideas, which is probably why I am involved in different areas like agriculture, industry, and the arts. Now I want to give back and help students experience the same things and help the country.”
Leo Victorio (batch ’73), businessman, said, “I was abroad working for AIESEC for three years backpacking across Europe from the age of 20 to 23.” He took several moments to gather his thoughts and then he looked at me intently, raised his eyebrows, shrugged his shoulders, and said, “How do you top that experience?” He added after pausing, yet again, “Most if not all of my business partners up to today are from AIESEC.” He didn’t need to say anymore.
Marc Ablaza (batch ’88), businessman, said, “I lived in Belgium for a year and traveled nonstop. I visited dozens of countries in different continents while working for AIESEC. I worked ahead of people my age in an international setting and immersed myself in various cultures. I came back a different man—confident and ready to tackle whatever challenges were thrown my way.”
Mia Florencio (batch ’90), retailer, and known in Manila’s retail and social circles as a whip-smart charmer with a firecracker personality, said with a wide, dimply grin, “I joined AIESEC because I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere in college. With AIESEC I had a legit reason to attend meetings and gatherings. What did it do for me? Well, I am definitely not shy; I can talk to anyone and I will talk to anyone.”
Sam Nepomuceno and Jackie Crisostomo (both of batch 2010), current AIESEC vice presidents, said that as students, the unique experiences of dealing and negotiating with corporations for the traineeships programs of AIESEC to solicit their support in taking in international students and interns for some sort of knowledge and technology transfer cannot be duplicated. And again, the opportunity to go abroad under the AIESEC exchange program is priceless.
The opportunity to live, study or work abroad is one of the best things that can happen to any Filipino man. Ours is a matriarchal society—everything is hinged on the mother. And given that the basic, most important unit in our social structure is the family means that the mother lies at the center of it, while the father is busy providing a means of livelihood for his brood. Every Filipino mother’s brain is wired to dote on her son, therefore, the average Filipino male is spoiled and pampered.
The family driver drives him to and from school in the family car everyday, unless of course, he has already been gifted with his own car. He is served hand and foot by maids at home, fussed over on by his mother, and pampered by his girlfriend. That’s why in our country when people say that a man’s wife or girlfriend is fetching, they mean just that—literally: the girlfriend or wife fetches everything for the man. Plus, instead of holding part-time jobs, which is unheard of in this country, he can be found in bars and clubs wiling the time away after school hours and on weekends.
Compare that with an AIESEC member who earns the golden opportunity to travel, work, and live abroad. Yes, he works and learns in international settings; yes, he earns a global awareness of international issues; but over and above all that, his character would have already been weathered by homesickness, by loneliness, by the necessity to be self sufficient in terms of commuting, cooking, cleaning, housekeeping, laundering, and fending for himself in every imaginable way at a very young age. These are things that, sadly, most Filipino men may never get to do in their lifetime.
Aside from the global work experience these AIESECers take back, they come home better men because maturity for them is fast tracked. Even if they opt not to go abroad under the AIESEC exchange program, the fact that they involve themselves in such an organization is already a show of initiative. They could be busying themselves with leisure activities in their free time but that they devote themselves to AIESEC is testament to the fact that they believe in something bigger than themselves—a show of selflessness. Discounting attrition, those who stay on exhibit a strong sense of commitment, which instantly sets them apart from the garden variety Filipino student.
AIESEC, the world’s largest student organization, is the international platform for young people to explore and develop their potential so as to have a positive impact on society.
In addition to providing over 7,700 leadership opportunities and delivering over 470 conferences to our membership based of over 35,000 students, AIESEC also runs an exchange program that enables over 8,000 students to live and work abroad in another country every year. AIESEC is present in 110 countries and territories worldwide.
Thank you for your letters. You may reach me at cecilelilles@yahoo.com
