by Roger Pe
Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 27, 2015 issue
His Madrid customers whom he first talked on the phone would think he was a typical Spanish businessman. On meeting face to face, they would be surprised to see a Filipino-looking guy speaking with a real Madrileno accent. His flair was unmistakeably Madrileno de Madriz with a “z”.
Francisco Reyes is a Filipino professional with 25 years of experience in finance, ICT (Information and Communication Technology), retail, consumer electronics and communications acquired from working in Madrid and the Netherlands.
His business perspective is global, his portfolio, like any expat you would see in European Economic Community circles. Though he grew up mostly in Spain, he never lost his Filipino work ethics: Patient, determined and hardworking.
Throughout his career, Reyes has always given his best to deliver what is expected, supported company strategies and led his team members to excel, not only in their jobs, but also in bringing some meaning to their lives.
When telecoms and the Internet were taking shape in year 2000, Reyes and his Spanish wife Teresa (they have three children, two boys and a girl), packed their bags and decided to leave Madrid’s corporate banking scene, their bread and butter for ten years.
Francisco travelled around several continents while in the Dutch capital, doing business and managing teams in different locations and time zones, in the process acquiring multi-lingual skills and knowing diverse cultural backgrounds.
His expert knowledge in complete supply chain management led him to launch his own company, focusing on providing business services to European startups interested to expand their growth in Southeast Asia, and vice versa.
“We provide business solutions to global companies, specializing in operations and supply chain,” Reyes says.
“My main role is to lead the complete “go-to-market strategy” of the company and to ensure that all the right products are delivered at the right place at the right time.”
East meets west, west meets east
A little background on how he landed in Europe.
While attending a grade school class in Lourdes School, Quezon City, Reyes found himself flying to an unknown place the next day. Little did he know, Spain would become his adopted country the moment he touched soil.
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| Francisco (second from right) with Spanish wife Teresa (left) daughter Sofia and sons Gabriel and Sergio. |
In Madrid, his life would begin to change. Here was a young boy transported to a new school (International Montessori), with new friends, language, weather, everything.
Reyes learned the Spanish language easily and merged into the Spanish system naturally. From elementary to high school to university, the transition went smoothly.
“We were a typical immigrant family, my parents were working hard, giving their best smiles, and providing all their support for the kids to cope with being a minority in a country that was not ours,” he recalls.
He describes his mother as a visionary and adventurous who had to leave him, his father and three sisters when she was petitioned by their grandmother to the U.S. as immigrant in the late 60s.
As a journalist in America, her mother travelled extensively to Europe, arriving in Madrid in 1972, a period of the last years of Franco’s dictatorial government.
When she returned to the Philippines, martial law was also unfolding in the country. Having experienced the same in Madrid from an outgoing dictator, her mother took him to Madrid together with her younger sister.
Career in Madrid
Though Reyes worked early on, it was not requested of him to provide some economical support at home. It just dawned on him that he wanted to contribute something to the family by being independent.
He worked in houses, bars and restaurants cleaning windows, sold spring rolls (“Lumpia”), engaged in some small business selling t-shirts, went door-to-door delivering parcels and did secretarial jobs. From all these, he learned the value of hard-earned money by working hard.
His first official job was for an independent news agency back in 1984. Passionate about filmmaking, he, too, tried his hand on video editing, became a cameraman and post-production editor. He learned from scratch and at the same time completed mass communication in school. He attended Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona.
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| With daughter Sofia |
“My current job in Amsterdam offers me a lot of flexibility and the company I am providing my services at the moment is fiftythree.com, which developed the iPad pencil app and the stylus Pencil, an awesome multi-awarded product,” he proudly says.
Presently, he is doing significant progress in forming his own company, which he plans to launch at the start of year 2016. Having done market research, networking and talked to potential clients, he is very enthusiastic of his new endevour.
Proud being a Filipino
Reyes thinks Filipinos can excel anywhere else in the world because of their nature. “Filipinos develop quite uniquely by taking the best of the cultures they are exposed to,” he says.
He makes it a point to remind himself that regardless of one’s origin, culture or position in life, one must not lose his real self. “When you’re being yourself and doing no harm to others, people give you respect,” he says.
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| After 10 years in corporate banking, the Reyeses moved to Amsterdam |
“The moment I am faced with walls that block my path, I am quick in rethinking my contingency plans and taking the next most appropriate steps. Using common sense and instincts has helped me break the walls. Always leave your door open, you’ll never know,” he says.
A positive person, he always sees the bright side of things. He describes himself as a dreamer and achiever. The family man in Reyes enjoys the company of friends and loves to cook for them.
He loves sports and prides finishing a full marathon in Amsterdam last October. When weather permits, he enjoys a simple motorbike ride. His motto in life: “Keep the engine running, hitting the highway, born to be alive. I can go slower, I can go faster, but I never quit”
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| With friends in Madrid |
Reyes says, Filipinos can become world citizens by being productive.
“When Filipinos started migrating to the US and many parts of the world, many of those who remained in the Philippines stayed idle knowing that they would be fully supported by their families overseas. I think, everyone has an obligation to contribute to his family and help provide a better future for the generations to come,” he says.
He thinks most Filipinos have the ultimate goal of going back home when they have earned enough. “In general, I believe Filipinos have strong survival instincts,” he adds.
What would make Filipinos become successful abroad? His advice: “Be proud of who you are. Do not forget your heritage. Never forget where you started, where you are now, and where you dream of being in the future.”
Is he ready to go back to the Philippines? I think the opportunities back home are appealing and challenging. “I want to contribute by sharing my knowledge and experience with our fellowman. I am pretty sure I can influence some Filipinos to step out and start new journeys.
