IT still rings loudly in my memory—“Cory, you should have been born a boy!” Yes, that was my father’s special admonishment-cum-wish for me at age 13. Today, his words are as clear to me as the day he made the pronouncement.
In the early 1960s it was taboo to defy parental authority, much less even question it. But by virtue of being the firstborn daughter, I might have been given special discretion. The mind-set at that time labeled boys as rightfully argumentative and girls respectfully submissive. And so, the day I told my father that I wanted to drop out of college and get a job; he didn’t stop me.
The terms of the condition were simple, if I was hired on my first job interview, then he would allow me to quit school. And if I failed to get a job, it would mean back to school for me. We shook hands on it. And that was the start of my first deal.
Challenging times
Maybe all along I was out to prove to dad that I could never fail. He had, after all, challenged me. But looking back at my early 20s, I was in search of who I wanted to be in the real world. And the only way I could get the right answer or, to at least see a semblance of it, was to confront two realities:
- I was constantly in a state of challenging myself.
- I was a woman in a hurry.
Therefore, by adopting this frame of mind, there was nothing I couldn’t do. While I had no dreams of becoming an Einstein, I looked into myself to find the genius within. Where did my strengths lie? And do I work on my weaknesses?
People business and more
Acknowledging both my openness and willingness to work with people, I knew in my heart of hearts that this is where I belonged—not in some desk job in a solitary corner of an office, but out there—mingling and interacting with the world. The first job I landed was a public relations (PR) assistant for an advertising agency called PAC—Philippine Advertising Counselors. Six months into the job and I wanted to do more. All told, I switched jobs and hopped from one company to the next a total of five times in the span of five years—PAC, Hyatt, Bancom, 3M Phils, Hyatt. The nature and scope of work were diverse from advertising, hotel PR, sales and marketing, investment management, human relations/training and development. Finally I put out my roots at the Hyatt Regency Manila where I rose from sales executive to regional—PR for the Philippines (at that time there were three Hyatt Hotels—Manila, Baguio and Puerto Princesa).
Not enough
But where once compensation was a major motivating factor, in the end, you stay longest at the job you enjoy doing most. I learned early on that if you’re not happy doing whatever it is you are doing—then it’s not the right job for you. A sense of fearlessness takes over when you come to the realization that there is no job satisfaction—because you master the courage to quit and move on.
Limitless
One can never be limitless—especially when it comes to the physical. Nine years working in a high-pressured hotel job demands that you are not only available 24/7 to the customer and management. It is expected that you keep strong and healthy in order to excel in your work. In the hotel and tourism business there is no such thing as a nine to five kind of mentality. You are always ready on call—most especially in communications and PR. This keeps your mind and senses aware at all times. Thus after 6 p.m. there was the entertainment of VIP hotel clientele, as well as media. This inspired the beginnings of my wellness journey which eventually turned into a life advocacy.
Translation: by 10 p.m., just when the disco hours began, in the glory days of Hyatt’s circuit, I mastered the art of holding a wine glass without sipping all night, as well as doing a French leave at the appropriate time. Therefore, with perfect timing, one can achieve limitless. It was just a matter of setting priorities.
Hello world!
Opening one’s doors in order to expand an awareness of life and the role of people responsible for self-transformation is only possible if you adopt an open-heart and open-mind policy. And this comes only with experience. In between my corporate duties, I was offered a co-hosting stint of a civic-service segment in Oh No. It’s Johnny. Soon after, I anchored my own lifestyle show Citilife on ABS-CBN. From then on, my role in media took center stage.
While filming for my TV show in Laguna, I was kidnapped by a criminal syndicate.
This earned for me the distinction of being the first TV personality to be ever be kidnapped—and who survived to tell her tale. Immediately I was adopted by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption as their vice president and with it I expanded my personal advocacies to help victims of crime. What I am saying? That one’s place in the world is influenced and molded by personal fate—and how one decides to do with it.
Life can offer you detours and each time you find yourself at the cross roads, a weighing of options take place. I was at this point when the Miss World Organization offered me to own and manage the Miss World Philippines licensee, having had no experience handling pageants, I hesitated to accept it until I was informed that they believed I was the “best woman for the job.” Buoyed by their belief in me I agree for only one year. Intrigued and inspired by our victory in London in 2011, with Gwendolyn Ruais, first runner-up, my growing fascination to go for the elusive Miss World crown drove me to try again until in 2013, that historic win catapulted the Philippines into the elite circle of Miss World crown holders—thanks to Megan Young.
Balancing act
Looking back, it has been a colorful career journey for me though checkered with disappointments, disillusion and a near-tragic kidnapping. But one moves on and carries on. You take with you for the rest of your adventures and misadventures. One thing is certain—mistakes made along the way only serve to make you wiser. And wisend by the world I have become.
There is no summing up one’s experiences into a grand total—only a balancing act with all that you are in every aspect of who you are. Today I make time for my tri-media obligations TV, radio and print, personal and national advocacies in the promotion of wellness, book writing, anticrime crusading, civic duties through Rotary international District 3830, and the President Elpidio Quirino Foundation. One might asked if my love life suffered on the road to success. Sadly, yes. the Cory of yesterday tried her best to focus equally to her career and family.
Using one’s life
Beyond a career, there is finding one’s place in the sun—the one that answers the question “Why am I here?” And if you haven’t found the answer yet you have to continue challenging yourself to go beyond your self-imposed boundaries. In truth, there are no boundaries if you intend to use your life in the discovery of the ultimate challenge—to become the best version of who you can become.
1 comment
Pres. Duterte is a true leader, a man of action, and mean what he says. And delivers spectacular results. Let us hope he will be true for a full 6 years. For the Philippines to have just and honorable peace and progress and be respected.