When I was growing up, life in the Soriano household was typical Filipino. I came to the United States when I was nine years old. My parents both worked to make sure all of the financial needs of the household were met. My mother worked during the day and my father worked at night. Each of them were very caring parents and hard working individuals. They were responsible and did their very best in trying to raise us into what they would consider good kids. Now looking back as a father of two boys…..I mean young men, I now realize what my parents went thru back in those days were not an easy undertaking. They worked truly hard. It looked like they hardly had time for themselves or for each other. Sometimes just sometimes, it felt like they barely had time for us. I am not faulting them for that situation. It’s just how it was. There were only so much time in the day and that was the best they can do at the time.

There were a lot of fond memories of my youth but there were also numerous challenging times. As a pre-teen, teenager and college student, I encountered situations that I could not figure out on my own.I would stumble in trying to solve the problems and could not figure out how to properly resolve it. I understand that that is what life is all about.It’s full of ups and downs. I think the trick is to have a life where your ups and downs are not so high and not so low. It should be a life where you accept the inevitable challenges knowing that bad things come to pass and that the good things needs to be savored and appreciated. Acknowledge both because one cannot exist without the other.Back then the issues of the day were varied. They ranged from having a girlfriend, part time jobs, financing school, going out with friends, staying on top of your studies and staying connected with family. Thru the years I have gathered wisdom that I want to share with the youth of PBUSA. I don’t want to lecture but I do want to share. I want to share financial knowledge that would deal with their finances. I want to share information on careers and jobs.  I want to share information that could help them be their very own cheerleader when life can be a challenge.

 Sometimes we all grow up and not take the time to really understand how to live. I myself am a work in progress. You never really stop learning about life and how to prepare, handle, and maintain a sense of well being. After a couple of years of being associated with PBUSA, I can see where I can possibly be of help. I think that every youth needs to have a supplement of or venue to get good information in addition to the family and the church. A source where they can learn practical information about daily  existence and have the knowledge in how to think and handle problems clearly. A place where information about preparation, service and love are talked about in a very casual and friendly environment.  

 I have always appreciated and related to the famous phrase “it takes a village to raise a child”. I want to contribute to the empowering, supporting and developing the youth of Pangasinan descent. There are many organizations in existence that can do the things that I have mentioned. The one major difference is that it’s about personal development and learning the culture/traditions simultaneously and relating daily life from the perspective of a Filipino-American of Pangasinan descent.

 —

Ferdinand B. Soriano

If you’ve ever received an email from our past president Dan Nino, you will notice that below his e-mail signature line there is a quote from a famous author and well known self development expert named Napoleon Hill. He is the author of the popular and often read book “Think And Grow Rich”. The quote is “whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve”. I firmly believe in this. All you have to do to confirm this is to go thru world history and think of all the successful people in various endeavours and walks of life. Whether they were conscious of that quote they all shared that same mindset. You can even apply this to yourself. Think of the last successful thing that you did. I am not just talking about business or making money. It can be anything you passionately believe in. I obviously dont want to leave out the fact that with GOD’s blessing, all is possible.

 Why do I mention this? Its because this is the time to really ponder where PBUSA is headed.I wanted to use this phrase because our current president, Eddie Ferrer, truly took this phrase and made it his own. Just by casually observing his activities, he is in no doubt an individual who posses a vision for PBUSA. He believes in the vision, acted on it and has had great results.  We all have been exposed to his vision and goals. Because of his vision and his belief, he has achieved great results in such endeavours as the scholarship initiative for the Pangasinan college students, community charity events in Los Angeles, humanitarian aids and helping Pangasinan manufacturers market their products in the United States for the purpose of creating livelihood for the people of Pangasinan. Each activity elevated PBUSA as an organization who has a mission and truly wanting to make a difference. Congratulations on all of your achievement, President Eddie Ferrer.

The time is coming to elect new leaders for PBUSA. We need individuals who will have a vision,believe in it and truly strive for its achievement. Great achievements have been made and we need to continue to build on that. Whomever the next leaders are, their vision has to try and incorporate what has been built. They have to move forward with the mindset that creating activities that will benefit not only its members but to truly make a difference in the local community as well as with the people of the Pangasinan province.

Where do you want PBUSA to go? Let’s all be together in finding that out. We all need to have the same vision. It may not be 100 percent uniformed but striving for that is better than starting out divided. We all lose with that latter vision. Understand what PBUSA can mean for everyone. Human minds are a powerful thing and an amazing gift. A blessing from our almighty God. Let me end this by quoting again, Napoleon Hill. Be fully aware that “whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve”.

 From your PBUSA Youth & Hospitality officer

 Ferdinand “Bong” Soriano