“Challenges
make life interesting, overcoming them makes life meaningful.” This is what my Papang always
tell me which I came to realize that will guide me through my personal life and
my life at work.
I do not easily give up or backed down on my life
challenges, I usually find solutions as I know that if there is a problem there
is always a solution somewhere.
My
name is Hazel Honrada Valera, I was born on November 1 and to me this is a very
lucky day because……. it’s always a holiday!
During
my school days, I’m very active with my extra-curricular activities. Aside from being consistently elected as the
class president from Elementary to High School, I’m actively involved in most school activities.
My
parental life started out early for me.
I was married at the age of 17, I was then a freshman student in
college. .
It was a struggle for both myself and for my husband because against all odds,
we have to prove to ourselves and most especially to our parents that we can
make our marriage work. For me it is
not easy to balance my studies with being a wife and being a mother but like
what I believe that overcoming challenges is more meaningful, that push me to
thrive under those circumstances.
We
were blessed with three children. The
eldest is Mon Ami, she graduated Cum Laude at New Era University in 2008. She got married at the age of 25 and now a
loving mother to Mikaila Iyana, my granddaughter. My second daughter Mon Cherie graduated in
the same school in 2012, who took up Legal Management. She worked at BPI Makati for a year and
decided to pursue her Law Degree and now on her second year. The youngest and only boy is Jean Ray, now
taking up IT at Columban College. He is
so fond of music which he got from his father who is also a musician. He plans to cultivate his music passion in
the future.
I
was hired as a Purchasing and Logistics Manager at GrainProPhils., Inc in
2007. GrainPro is a unique company with
a unique culture and the best team that made my career life interesting. Working for 7 years as a Purchasing &
Logistics Manager taught me a lot. I was exposed to dealing with multinational
suppliers and same time I was managing the logistical demands of our global
sales team. The company seeing my valuable contribution promoted me to Senior
Manager for Supply Chain
Management. Now as the Supply Chain
Head, I have more direct reports and manages 5 critical and important
departments that will ensure the right inventory that matches our global
customer requirements.
One
of my challenges in life is that I was not able to finish college but through
the kind hearted nature of my boss and mentor, he convinced and encouraged me
to go back to college. I enrolled in a Distance Learning Program at New Era
Open University and I am two more semesters away from getting my college
diploma.
It was my Papang's frustration that I was not able to finish college and it saddens me everytime I remember him, I know I have failed him somehow. But the hard work and perseverance I have as a tool in my success comes from my father. He worked as a maintenance Supervisor at Public Works Department of the US Naval Base and having been awarded numerous times, I wish that he is still with us and witness my achievements in life. I am sure he is one proud father.
Looking
back, life was never easy on me but I could proudly say that through all these
challenges, I rose above all of these and I have surpassed all the hardships
with the help of our Lord God. He has
been so good to me as He gave me all my
heart desires.. The value I have
inculcated to my family is the same value we learn from our church. Believing in God and entrusting Him all our
troubles in life, is the key to a successful life.
Now,
at this stage in my life, I only want simple things. I wanted to be an inspiration to my family,
to my colleagues and friends. I want to
share what lessons in my life has taught me, either good or bad it doesn't matter but, the most important
thing is ... we learn that “Challenges make life interesting, overcoming them
makes life meaningful.”
