Home: Northbrook, IL. Birthplace: Cebu City, Philippines. Profession: Wealth advisor. Organization: M-G Financial, Inc. Significant other: Eduardo Mar, spouse. Alma mater: University of British Columbia. Languages spoken: English, Chinese and Filipino.
Current project: Supporting Children’s Relief International through its Compassion Christmas catalogue. Latest contribution to others: Heading my church’s largest community outreach event, Project Share. What’s been your big (or biggest) leap? Acquiring a retiring financial advisor’s practice. Recent travel or adventure: Reykjavik, Iceland; Tanzania; and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Recently viewed and recommended: Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant (2023). Recent unique acquisition: A hand-embroidered silk art piece that glows under UV light.
Personality profile: Genuine, loyal and fun-loving. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Generous. Moral compass: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. How do you define a perfect friendship? Honest, open and willing to go to extreme lengths to protect one another. What is your greatest joy? My children. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Special needs teachers and care workers. What is at the top of your bucket list? Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
What was your first paying job? Working at Baskin-Robbins. What was your favorite college course? Math. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? A sequence of photographs from my trip to Africa. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Doing the right thing the right way will always be the right decision in the end, even if there are setbacks from not taking shortcuts.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field?
Implementing a succession plan and hiring a junior advisor.
What change would you like to see in the world? A world filled with more kindness and selflessness. What message do you want to send out into the world? We are all sinners in need of a Savior. Jesus is the only way to salvation and heaven.
As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A banker. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? My scrapbooks. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With my family and writing letters they could read in the future. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? Flying back to the Philippines to spend my father’s final days with him.
Personal motto: Always be true to yourself. Favorite quote: "And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).
