The dossier of Admin. Linda Baldoz is a mile long and one wonders if she is for real. An excellent scholar from elementary to graduate school, she pursued law as a profession and served as a career executive officer in the Department of Labor and Employment for three decades. No stranger to running with horses, she was the first Filipino and first woman in Asia to head the highly prestigious Committee on the Application of Standards of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva in June 1999. Notwithstanding her relative inexperience in the Committee, her outstanding leadership proved the skeptics wrong. Owing to her “high degree of personal dedication” and “capacity to learn and adopt,” she earned international respect and recognition. This tough lady believes, “Our real bosses are our clients. And the degree of satisfaction by which we serve their needs is the same degree of satisfaction by which…performance…will be measured.” She may be tough on the outside, but Linda Baldoz is at present, “The Weeping Administrator” of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Her heart has been torn over and over by the plight of our fellow Filipinos who leave the country at the expense of their families, their dignity, their own future, in search for better-paying jobs. At a time when the phrase “public servant” has lost its meaning in our country, Linda Baldoz keeps to her post, not merely to do a job, but to serve. The countless Filipinos who leave every day to work abroad are not just statistics to her but she actually knows their “stories.” Linda Baldoz exemplifies the essence of what a public servant should be. | His career in the film industry began in the early 80s. After joining an acting workshop, he started doing modest roles. During this time, he was working towards an engineering degree while honing his craft. Buboy savored his training in theater during his early days and was able to join U.P. Playwrights and Dulaang U.P. Learning – not so much a big name or a big role was of prime importance to him as an actor, writer, and director. The grit paid off. The film Jose Rizal in 1998 was a turning point. It showed his mettle as an artist. As a director, producer and writer – he made a mark with Panaghoy sa Suba which won him accolades in the country. Pushing on to new heights, he auditioned for The Great Raid. The experience of being part of this Miramax production gave him so much more than merely “going Hollywood.” It proved that one can push the envelope further if one is willing to put legs to the dream. He dreams of making films that are globally competitive and that will teach Filipinos to love their country. Bearing fruit for his vision, he won the Best Director Award for Panaghoy sa Suba which also won as Best Picture in the Brussels Film Festival. Miramax is not the finish line for this home grown Sta. Ana kid. The contribution of the Filipino in world cinema is the finish line. Talents are a dime a dozen. In fact, Cesar feels there are others far better than him as an actor. But Cesar's strength lies not in his performance but in his purpose. He asserts, “maybe what we think is the best is not the best at all. We can still do a lot." It is difficult to satisfy a man who lives for a cause; and for Cesar, the best is yet to come. You see, his gift stretches according to his mission. Here's a nation-builder who happens to be an actor. Go to page: 1 | 2 | top ^ |
