Message to Fil-Am graduates in America

By Ernie D. Delfin

ORANGE COUNTY, California -- To be happy and fulfilled is everyone's dream. Not all of us will get to fulfill that dream in our lifetime but each one of us has a shot at making it come true. Like building a castle, getting there starts with a solid foundation.

In this season of graduation here in the United States, we are focusing on the challenges facing the young American-Filipino, you who will continue your education in the University of Life. You must religiously fill the four quadrants of your life: first, the physical quadrant, in order for you to live, work be healthy, be able to earn and also to save and invest wisely for your economic well being because financial independence is one of the greatest achievements and experiences a person can attain. Second, your social quadrant, which is society and family and the people that you love. Third, your mental quadrant; you must keep on learning throughout your lifetime in order to grow. Fourth, your spiritual quadrant, that silent but very powerful voice inside all of us that must also be taken care of every day.

The desire to balance our lives in this modern society is the biggest challenge that motivates all of us, that makes your parents do their best to leave a lasting legacy to you, your children and your children's children.

Perhaps your present job, whether part-time or full time, is far from the ideal job from the ideal job you have been dreaming of. That is okay, that is normal. So I also challenge the new graduates, especially those coming from the business school or anybody who loves to make money, to consider getting into entrepreneurship where many ordinary people are doing extraordinary accomplishments in creating wealth, employment, and revenues for Uncle Sam as well as greater opportunities for others. Orange County is one of the leaders in the entire country in entrepreneurial endeavors, especially in the fields of computers, health care and venture capital. Orange County is the headquarters of companies like Broadcom, Kingston, Baxter, DiTech, Carl's Jr, Connexant and Disneyland.

At my Premier Financial Group, we have a motto, which applies to you as well: Education plus entrepreneurship equals economic empowerment.

In their bestselling book Millionaires Next Door, Professors Stanley and Danko confirmed the fact that those who were born outside the UnitedStates, meaningthe first-degree immigrants, whether the TNTs (the tago ng tago), the CIAs (the California illegal aliens) or the NPAs (the no permanent address people) have 16 times more chances to become a millionaire than those natural-born Americans, based on their 25-year study of millionaires in America. About 36 percent of all millionaires in this country own their businesses. A sequel to their first book just came out a few months ago. Entitled The Millionaires' Mind, I urge you to read these two books and other books like The Richest Man of Babylon by Clayson, Even Eagles Need a Push by McKnally, E-Myth by Michael Gerber to learn the entrepreneurial spirit of people like Bill Gates, Sam Walton, Ray Krock, the founder of McDonald's, and many giants in the business world in America today. This will give you eagle-like insight on what happens in the real world of business. Who knows, it might even inspire you and help you accelerate the process in achieving your dreams faster especially.

The Filipino American community is faced with lots of challenges, especially in the socio-economic and socio-political arenas. Almost two months ago, I met a dozen of the graduating class of 2000 about the planned P-Grad ceremonies. Then, you did not even have a venue to hold this P-Grad party! The red tape and the university system was working against you. One proven and effective way to circumvent it is to have some political clout. But in this day and age, economic power that can be magnified by personal involvement and sacrifice almost always precedes political clout or political power. For instance, in this city of Fullerton and the adjoining cities like Brea, Whittier and Cerritos, your incumbent US Congressman is Ed Royce, who two years ago won very handily over a CPA friend of mine, a Filipina American named Asuncion Rimando Groom of Cerritos, not because she is less qualified, less talented or less educated but because Ed Royce has almost 50 times more money than Cecy Groom. That also happened to many aspiring Filipino American political candidates like Atty. Gloria Ochoa who was annihilated by multi-millionaire Mike Huffington in Santa Barbara about eight years ago. At least in the City of Carson, we have Pete Fajardo, the first Filipino American mayor, a former social worker of the County of Los Angeles where I used to work as an auditor. And in the City of Milpitas near San Jose, another Filipino American by the name of Henry Manayan is also the city mayor. In Maryland, David Valderrama, a Filipino lawyer is the first Filipino-American to be elected as a state delegate to a State Assembly.

And in Hawaii, Ben Cayetano, a lawyer-son of Ilocano immigrants, a second-generation Filipino-American, is the very first Filipino American governor in the entire United States.

In the future, anyone of you, young graduates of year 2000, can also be elected as mayor, congressmanor senator or even the president of the United States. Dreams are still free; you might as well dream big! Start believing that the road to success is always under construction.

The lesson here my friends, is political power. But never forget that political power comes easier with economic power. That is the grim reality that is often not included in your college textbooks.

Although our present day struggles can never be compared to the sad experiences of Carlos Bulosan about 50 years ago, they are still difficult challenges which your generation often takes for granted. (I am just hoping you have also read his autobiographical classic book, America is in the Heart, because he who refuses to learn about his roots will have a hard time going to his own destination.

In conclusion, let me say to you: Predict your future by creating it yourselves! Do not be too casual with it lest you become a casualty in real life! Never allow yourself to ever become the victim of change, or to become a dinosaur of your time! Rather, become the architects and consequently the beneficiaries of change that is happening right now in our society! With hard and honest work fueled by lofty dreams and ambition to become the person you want to become, coupled with your unflinching faith and daily prayers to our Lord, you will all become successful in your chosen field!

The writer recently spoke at the first P-Grad commencement party in Fullerton . You can contact him at [email protected], or through his website, www.progressivetimes. com.