Easter Sunday is about rejoicing for we are given by our Almighty God a new beginning, a new hope.
I am therefore changing my column’s title, from Filipino Excellence, which I have been using since 2011 starting with the now defunct Kabayan Weekly and then in 2022 with The Global Filipino Magazine, to Global Filipino Excellence.
It’s about time that excellent Filipinos in the UAE and in the Middle East who thrive in a global environment to collectively inspire and encourage their ‘kababayans’ (compatriots) to believe in themselves that they, too, can be at par with other nationalities, especially with those from Europe, North America, South Africa, and Australasia.
There are many Filipinos who can really raise the Philippine flag in the global community. You might be wondering who are these? They are Articulate with their thoughts using the English language extemporaneously. They are Assertive when proposing and defending an idea. They are Adventurous and are not afraid to fail because they are confident with their ideas. And they are Authentic 24/7. What you see is what they really are in front and behind the scenes.
These individuals did not attain their current state easily. They also struggled and perhaps some even reached rock bottom. Here are some quotes from famous and successful people about failure:
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” —Thomas Edison
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” —Albert Einstein
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” —Robert F. Kennedy
“When you take risks, you learn that there will be times when you succeed, and there will be times when you fail, and both are equally important.” —Ellen DeGeneres
“It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.” —Bill Gates
“Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.” —Richard Branson
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” —Paulo Coelho
“The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.” —Mark Zuckerberg
“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” —Winston Churchill
“I thank God for my failures. Maybe not at the time, but after some reflection. I never feel like a failure just because something I tried has failed.” —Dolly Parton
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything–all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure–these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.” —Steve Jobs
“I can accept failure; everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” —Michael Jordan
“Failure is so important. We speak about success all the time. It is the ability to resist failure or use failure that often leads to greater success. I’ve met people who don’t want to try for fear of failing.” —K. Rowling
I also had my encounters with failure. I tried to be a full time PR consultant targeting Filipino companies and UAE-based companies targeting the Filipino Community in 2009. I failed financially so I went back to the full-service advertising agency which hired me as Head of the PR Department in 2008. In a few months in 2010, I was laid off due to poor business as an after effect of the global financial crisis at that time. Then in 2011, a company in the exhibition industry hired me only to let me go after five months. And finally, a third company offered me a good package in late 2011, but abruptly cut my probation in early 2012. Three layoffs where in between I also did some small one-off PR projects that helped me get by with my monthly bills.
Now, I am celebrating my 13th year with Tristar Group as a member of the Senior Management Team in charge of Corporate Reputation and Branding. Tristar is a fully integrated Energy Logistics Solutions provider that offers a comprehensive list of services to cater to the needs of the petroleum, chemical and petrochemical industries, both in the Middle East region and globally. The company’s core expertise lies in its ability to safely house and distribute all types of retail fuels, lubricants, chemicals, petrochemicals and liquid gases by road, sea, or air.
I joined on April 29, 2012, to set up the Corporate Communications unit when our global footprint was in 12 countries, including the UAE where the company was founded in 1998. Today, we have a global presence in 30 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the Americas, and Europe.
Why am I thriving? Because of the lessons I learned from my failures. There are many but the two most important practices I have been maintaining are to always have the mindset of a consultant so that you are brave enough to express your thoughts during meetings and to always pray and ask for God’s mercy and grace because there will be times when you will just be surprised that your ideas are eventually accepted and implemented without you pushing hard.
Go for it dear readers. You, too, can become an excellent Filipino in the global community. Just try and be courageous. There’s always a new beginning, a new hope.
Note: The columnist is a 24-year resident of Dubai and is currently working as Head of Corporate Communications of a global energy logistics company. He is a former Filipino Community Leader and is now active with a global Catholic movement promoting the renewal of Christian family life. He can be reached at artlosbanos@gmail.com
