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BusinessWorld Online Edition: Local talk show brings the world into one’s home

BusinessWorld Online Edition: Local talk show brings the world into one’s home

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Local talk show brings the world into one’s home

4 October – Picture this. An Indian-looking executive behind a table chats with a Southeast Asian-looking businessman, and surprisingly, opens the conversation with a pleasant “Bonsoir!” They spend a few minutes grappling with the correct pronunciation of Descartes. “But you didn’t pronounce the ‘s’!” the Indian-looking man mischievously chides the smiling Southeast Asian-looking man. They talk about what it’s like growing up in a French multi-cultural environment, and doing business in the Philippines.

It turns out that the former is a Filipino, and the latter a Frenchman. The scene is from Expat Insights, a weekly talk show on Global Destiny Cable’s GNN channel. Hosted on Sunday evenings by author, coach and trainer Raju Mandhyan, a naturalized Indian-Filipino who himself has been in the Philippines for close to 30 years, who has spent twenty years in international trade and provides management training in sales with NLP, creative thinking with mind mapping and other leadership skills. This particular episode featured Anthony Thor, a French national of Cambodian, Thai and Chinese descent. The friendly interchange brings home the point that not only have earthly boundaries collapsed, but lines have been crossed, meshed and woven into a (global) village tapestry of international colors. Mr. Thor summed it up nicely by saying that he thinks like a Frenchman, has the heart of a Chinese, and a smile that is Pinoy.

On the air since July this year, Expat Insights has already had guests representing over 10 countries, counting CEOs, nonprofit professionals, a motivational speaker, a missionary, a life coach, a counselor, entrepreneurs, an image consultant, and a social media expert in its roster.

“I had been dreaming of a show like this for the past ten years,” says Mr. Mandhyan, who also produces the show. “I wanted to tell stories of what brings people to the Philippines, expose the opportunities they see in the country, and highlight business successes of people from foreign lands who have made the Philippines their home. And also help sustain and support these beautiful 7,107 islands and its happy people.” Mr. Mandhyan is the author of The HeART of Humor and The HeART of Public Speaking.

American Brad Geiser, a recent guest, left everything behind when he found the love of his life in the Philippines, lived in the slums, and now owns and manages a social media consulting firm. Ecuadorian Esteban Vordeck heads Energizer Philippines, and runs the company with his ear firmly held to the ground, listening to what his employees want. He admits that Latinos are explosive temperamentally, and has yet to learn how to get a handle on that since he works with Filipinos whom he describes as “very, very patient.”

Canadian Robert Gregory Forbes, a motivational speaker, strongly believes that Filipinos are changing the world just by the fact that they carry their values of family and spirituality in whichever country they are, whether they occupy high or low positions. Irishman Robert Lane runs several companies, and observes that the Filipinos are the Irish of Asia, and finds many similarities historically. Dutch-American Steward de Boer, a missionary born and raised in India, knew he had to find a way to help the poor in the Philippines, even if it was outside the mandate of the organization he was heading at that time.

American Elizabeth Hoban, executive coach and trainer, was spurred to help street children upon the request of her then 3-year old son. While shopping with her son in Makati, she was approached by beggars for money. Her son asked her if they could take them home, “because we have so much, I can share.” Native-born Indian Ramesh Dargani, businessman and President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce, talked about the eye camps that are organized to give out free eye wear to various communities, and the long history of Indians in the Philippines.

These are only some of the fascinating people that have appeared on Expat Insights, a show that aims to take a comparative look at the strengths and synergies that exist between the Philippines and the home countries of foreigners living and working in the Philippines. Guests in the pipeline include the Ambassador of Mexico, Tomas Javier Calvillo Unna, Citibank Country Head Sanjiv Vohra, and Jack Canfield, co-creator of the insanely popular Chicken Soup for the Soul series, a recent visitor to Manila.

Flexible. Patient. Colorful. Provider of world-class quality of service. Brimming with potential. These are only some of the descriptions used by foreigners, expats, and immigrants in describing the Filipino as revealed in the show.

Casual and jovial, Mr. Mandhyan is able to draw honest insights, using his own coaching skills to the hilt. He is not interested in a show that merely tells expats where to go for information as they adjust to living in the country or what to do on a weekend, or reinforce a negative “Only in the Philippines” mentality. He has almost made it his personal mission to bridge cultural gaps, and leverage the uniqueness of one culture to enrich the other, while celebrating diversity. He coaxes guests to focus on successes and values, an approach influenced by a process known as Appreciative Inquiry, of which Mr. Mandhyan is an advocate.

“Expats and immigrants have contributed significantly to nation-building,” Mr. Mandhyan asserts. “They have incisive opinions and valuable points of view on current events and trends in the Philippines. Immigrants, especially those who have been around since the first half of the last century, have their own historical perspectives that are invaluable.”

Cultures have much to learn from each other, and Expat Insights offers a venue where conversations and inquiry can take place.

Expat Insights is on every Sunday, 9pm on Global Destiny Cable’s GNN. You Tube clips of past guests may be found on www.expatinsights.com

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'Siamese' Stories

In the late 90s, two Thai ladies embarked on a journey a little farther to the east and landed at the Philippine soil. Neither thought that they would be staying longer. Sasithara Sethanda-Moreno intended to attend college, while Sukhumarn Phanachet or “Pinky” to her friends was brought to the country by work at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The former returned home and came back six years ago for good while the latter stayed with an aim to help alleviate poverty in the region.

Sasithara almost looks (and sounds) like a Filipina with a little streak of an oriental appeal. If you have no clue about her background, you’d probably think that she’s that typical local lass who hails in the province with her demure appearance. That is because she’s a half Thai, half-Filipina, married to a Filipino, and has spent six years in our country.

Probably, it’s safe to say that Sasithara traded her city life back in Bangkok to experience the tranquil and easy-breezy life that a province like Nueva Ecija in the Philippines offers. “It’s like living freely,” she notes, describing her life at the ‘farm,’ managing a family-owned rice mill business with her husband.

Pinky has to agree. In her 12 years in the country, she came to love the country’s natural beauty. She believes, however, that there’s still more to see than what tourism campaigns show the world.

Thailand may differ from the Philippines in many ways but the two ladies were able to adapt to the latter’s culture. During the 2008 global crisis, Thailand almost effortlessly came out of the rut. This is because Thai people are very practical, says Pinky. “Politics aside, they keep on working and that’s what Thailand did. We learned from what happened in 1997,” she says. And this is something that the Filipinos could learn from.

And if there’s anything that the Filipinos taught them, Saithara says “Filipinos inspire me to look at the positive side of things.” Pinky, on the other hand, believes the Filipinos have this take-it-easy attitude. Their ability to take things lightly – similar to the Thais – makes it a home away from home.

The interview conducted by Raju Mandhyan at Expat Insights, aired every Sunday at 9PM on GNN, Destiny Cable in the Philippines was light and educational.

Brighter, Better and More Beautiful

I am not sure if I will ever get a chance again to chat with someone as bright and brilliant as my last guest, Executive Coach, Trainer and Consultant, Mrs. Elizabeth Hoban of the USA.

In the four or so odd years that she has lived in, and loved the Philippines with gusto and authenticity, she has helped support a local outreach program, trained and improved the effectiveness of thousands of executives in the corporate world and has also brought about major turnarounds for senior level executives through personal and executive coaching.

During and after typhoon “Ondoy,” she with her teammates from Reach Philippines not just helped the needy with food and medicines but also held hands of the victims during their most traumatic moments. Her view towards those that suffer and those that are considered “have-nots,” was simplistic, easy and matter-of-fact. It was like…”if there is a need and I have the resources then I will fill that need and I will come from a mindset of absolute abundance. I will have no expectations and not wish for any kind of applause.” Simply stated, if the world needs it and I have the resources to give then I will give. Period!

This wasn’t just true for her. She shared stories of how her parents and grandparents back home in Virginia, Arizona and Arkansas lived and thrived in a culture of sharing, giving and adding value to the world that surrounded them then and surrounds her and her children now in the Philippines.

At a personal level, Mrs. Elizabeth Hoban also showed her bias towards developing individuals through her one-on-one life and executive coaching. She claimed to rely on the method of Dr. David Cooperrider’s “Appreciative Inquiry,” to tap into the goodness of individuals and organizations and then follow a structured plan for the growth and development of existing strengths and synergies. She claimed her efforts turn individuals and organizations into systems which are brighter, better and more beautiful than before.

She and her family are migrating to Saudi Arabia soon but plan to come back to the Philippines someday. When asked if she would anything to be different in the Philippines when she gets back, she quickly replied, “Nothing! It is bright and beautiful as it is right now!”

Raju Mandhyan, Host & Producer, Expat Insights

Brian C. Lane - The man who found his Ireland in the Philippines

He set out into the world, outside the boundaries of his home country, Ireland, with a very clear goal – to succeed in life and make a better life for his family. And 30 years after first arriving in the Philippines, Brian C. Lane is now enjoying a lavish lifestyle that only a hard-working and successful expat can afford.

In between word inventions and a very impressive Sean Connery imitation, the 67 year-old is busy with the six companies (under the Lane Group of Companies) that he manages with his brother, Gerry. It was 1979 and the country’s economy was just picking up, Brian, together with his brother, found himself awed and excited at the same time by the first glimpse he had of the Philippines – a country brimming with opportunities amid a sickening poverty.

In so many ways, he believes that “the Irish are the Filipinos of Europe and the Filipinos are the Irish of Asia.” This is in reference to the many similarities that both countries share, among which include their colonial background, putting an emphasis on the importance of family ties and values, and their love for music. “My entry into this society was relatively painless,” he says.

On business, Brian embraces competition as it always keeps one on its toes. He says thriving on competition brings out the best in people. So far, there’s probably nothing yet to set the alarm as his companies have successfully earned the lead in their respective markets. He also learned that a good family business can be the core of the economy, or a foundation of a good one. Part of this success, he notes, is the outstanding contribution of his Filipino crew.

With a little bit of Irish luck and the innate willpower of the Irish to succeed, Brian’s family set out to conquer the world – or the Philippines for that matter. “Being Irish, we are probably too stupid to understand failure,” he jokes. The Lanes are practically the bridge that connects the Philippines to Ireland since most of his family members have already settled in the country.

And today, as much as he has nothing more to ask, he has everything to be thankful for.

How you are at anything is how you are at everything.

The good news is that Canada is so huge that every person there can own and live on a property the size of Luneta and the bad news is that if you need a can of sardines from the neighboring sari-sari store, you WILL have to take a bus.

Guest Robert Gregory Forbes, on his first ever visit to his Filipino in-laws was awestruck by the sheer number of his newly found relatives. Being a Canadian ‘probinsyano,’ the last time he had seen so many people at one single time on TV was during the inauguration of President Ronal Reagan.

What he most appreciated about the Philippines is the strength of Family Values and love and respect for each. He found that only in certain rural parts of Canada. He also appreciated very much the fact that the Filipinos are spiritual in nature and have a lot of simple faith towards things. This, he claimed, keeps them happy and going even during hard times and through lack of basic resources. It makes then resilient and peaceful at the same time.

He shared one good idea, “the Philippines as a country can emulate from Canada is giving a certain amount of autonomy to every region and placing optimal control and power in the central government.” That he said works for well for Canada and there are lessons to be learned from that.

The kind-hearted Canadian Coach and Trainer has two adopted kids of Filipino ethnicity, he is the regional director of Chalice International where they are currently looking after the growing needs of 1,600 Filipino kids and in his 30 year stay in the Philippines, he has been able to touch and shape the lives of nearly 40,000 Filipinos through his seminars called “People Synergistically Involved,” or PSI.

What was most insightful about the interview was a principle he quoted from the PSI philosophy, “How you are at anything is how you are at everything.” He was, of course, talking about our perspectives and attitudes towards life rather than our looks and skills at work.

We Walk the Line

Ever since I have made Philippines my home, I have been bombarded by rumors that the Filipino…
»Lacks social and economical discipline
»Lacks in moral values and integrity
»Can be bought and is easily corruptible

This to me is an ugly misconception and a huge lie! It is a lie that is propagated by a handful of people. It is a lie that has lived beyond its expected life-span and is fueled continuously by those whose only motive is to ravage these beautiful islands and its people.

Now, I have lived in this country for nearly 30 years. I have also heard someone say that a man is nothing but a product of his own perceptions. Perceptions, as we know, are influenced by the environment. My perceptions in the last 30 years have become Filipino. Would that mean that I lack in moral values and can be easily corrupted? The answer is … try me!

I have also raised three Filipino kids and if my assessments are unbiased of my love as a parent for them, I must state that they have better values and a better sense of integrity than many grown-ups across the world. They are a product of this environment and the values that hum through this nation’s heart also hums through their souls. They are high on discipline, high on moral values and integrity. If someone ever offered to corrupt them then he could get his head chewed off. My children also, sometimes, stop me from transgressions like jaywalking, littering or even falling prey to those that are corrupt. They help me, to constantly walk the line.

There are others that I personally know or know of and whose value systems are intact. Their sense of honor is soaked in sincerity and true Filipino pride. Names like Emil Antonio, my teacher and Professor of Economics at the University of Asia and Pacific; Ms. Emily Abreraof the Living Asia Channel and Mr. Tony Melotoof the GawadKalingafame. These folks do not just walk the line but they walk tall while walking the line.

As I mentioned, the only reason such false beliefs thrive against the Filipino, is because of the few who feed off the results like vultures feed off the dead. The true Filipino rages and roars inside against this monstrosity of falsehood. He can and will very soon rise and slash off this evil dragon’s head.

I need not tell you what to do, because millions of you/us are already doing what needs to be done and the good news is that our efforts are going to spread like wildfire…the Filipino does and will continue to walk the line!