Flashback to 2004. I am a big fan of the show “The Apprentice” from
the time it first aired in 2004. I watched the first season while I was living
in Beijing as a student. I had an old television set (read: no remote control)
in my dorm room with only two all-English channels--- Star World and CNN (which
was most of the time blocked by the Chinese censors).
Ironically, I was hooked watching
this US reality TV show in China. I had to leave my Chinese class early to go
back to my room and catch the episodes. There was neither Youtube nor Torrent
back then where I can watch and download replays of the episode. And so the
show became my “Western indulgence.”
Fast forward to 2013. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the world’s
“toughest job interview” was airing in the region. “Well finally! “ I thought,
after almost a decade of the show’s existence. I think that it is high time that
Asians showcase their entrepreneurial spirit and management skills.
Watching the first “Apprentice
Asia,” I could not avoid comparing it with the US version. The most important
difference I have observed is how Asians are generally less brutal and less standoffish
compared to their American counterparts, especially during their
fight-for-their-lives “boardroom scenes.” There is of course that confrontational drama in
the Asian version (with some contenders quitting early on in the show) but it’s
more tamed and subdued (perhaps reflective of the tactful and polite demeanor
of most people in the region). Nonetheless, both shows displayed cut- throat
competition and glaring rivalry (even hostility) among the contestants.
The “Apprentice Asia” named a
Filipino as the overall winner. Jonathan Yabut bested other contenders from
Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, and Singapore. Even before the program
ended, I knew that he would emerge as the winner because (objectively speaking)
he has the work attitude, business skills, dynamic personality, and competitive
spirit.
Halfway through 2014 I was very much interested to meet Jonathan
Yabut after watching him win in my favorite reality show. He was gracious
enough to suspend all his suspicions and agreed to personally meet with me (a
stranger who sent him an unexpected email). Fortunately, I got a chance to share
a meal with him in Kuala Lumpur.
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| The Apprentice and the Fan: Dinner in Kuala Lumpur |
My conversation with Jonathan basically
reinforced what I observed and admired about him on TV. It helps too that I met
him a year after the show’s airing, which made me fondly recall the reasons
behind his deserving triumph. There were so many reasons why he won and I could
surmise that his success point to the “Filipino” in him.
Based on Jonathan’s winning performance in the show, what does it
reveal about Filipinos?
Interpersonal Skills: If there is one thing that Filipinos have an upper
hand over their Asian counterparts, it is our “pakikisama” (or the spirit of
camaraderie).
Jonathan displayed this as he pointed
out and commended each of his teammates with their strengths and skills. In his
last task, he motivated them by expressing his gratitude for their
contributions even before they started the task. For Jonathan, It was not only
about winning the competition, but also about uniting the team to achieve that
win.
This people-centered orientation
generally reflects good interpersonal skills among Filipinos when doing tasks
in groups. In our professional culture, we are less mechanical (in the stricter
sense of the word) and more personal (in a more considerate manner).
Essentially, we value accomplishments not only because we have completed the
process to achieve them, but also because we shared the ups and downs of that
process with people.
Passionate spirit: Another important characteristic that Filipinos
possess is our passion for the things we value in life. Whether it is achieving
success or promoting an advocacy, Filipinos give their “all” no matter what.
Jonathan proved this when he had
to raise funds for AirAsia Foundation in his final challenge. His goal is not
just to win the competition but also to help out his chosen charity, which
energized him all the more to give his best in the auction. His zeal and
enthusiasm were evident as he successfully engaged and inspired people to contribute
more.
This passionate spirit among
Filipinos is what makes us walk that extra mile and stand out in whatever we
do. This is evident in how we share our talent for singing with “feelings”, how
we help others with compassion, and how we manifest our faith in God with so
much fervor and devotion. Applying this kind of passion in various professional
endeavors, Filipinos can no doubt succeed if we couple it with drive, hard work
and determination.
The Filipino Dream (and reality): It may be the typical
rags-to-riches story that Filipinos can relate to (think Manny Pacquiao, Nora
Aunor, and Henry Sy). But this inspiring variation of the “Filipino dream” highlights
a different twist, which a lot of young people can easily relate to.
Jonathan shared his humble
beginnings and struggles in life during his battery of interviews in the run-up
to the finale. The executives were truly impressed with his accomplishments,
not only because he has achieved them at a young age, but because he has
succeeded IN SPITE of so many difficulties. This is perhaps what made him stand
out among his other competitors.
Yet his narrative appeals to a
wider audience not only among the poor and deprived who literally have nothing,
but also to the young people who are privileged to have a supportive home and
good education. Despite his circumstances, Jonathan went to school through
scholarships, participated actively in his university’s debating team, and excelled
in business and marketing. His story is both a laudable victory against
hardships and a continued endeavor to resist complacency. It is not only about
prevailing over poverty but also overcoming the usual roadblocks to success. Essentially,
his success is a good reminder to constantly take risks, strive harder, learn
more, and pursue excellence to achieve success--- no matter what your status in
life.
This is the Filipino dream
everyone only hopes for, yet Jonathan has eventually made it a reality for
himself. It is the dream that we all share and can relate to--- not only
because we want to overcome our inherent poverty but also because we know that,
if we put our hearts and minds to succeed, we can beat the odds and make our
dreams a reality.
Of course, this is not to say
that only Filipinos have the monopoly of these traits. I believe that other
nations have some semblance of these characteristics. But Jonathan’s
performance and success in the show elucidates what most Filipinos can easily relate
to. And I believe that if we maximize these strengths, we can similarly achieve
what Jonathan has accomplished in our own professional endeavors.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
A year after the “Apprentice Asia,”
I thought it was timely to catch up with this Filipino pride. After his win,
Jonathan did not just busied himself working for Tony Fernandez in AirAsia, but
he also pursued writing a book about his Apprentice journey and speaking to
young people in various events---continuously inspiring to dream big and making
positive change not only in the Philippines but to other countries in the
region.
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| Featured in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, 14 August 2014 |
I consider myself privileged to
have a personal conversation with Jonathan. I was actually impressed and
inspired by his wit and grit that I wrote about my time with him in an article for the Inquirer,
purposely to share all the insights I gained from him to the public. I think
that success and excellence should not be a one-time event (like winning in a
competition), but these should be constantly imbibed and reinforced among us.
Jonathan Yabut, like other successful Filipinos, paved the way for us to
believe in ourselves--- that we can accomplish something great. It is now up to
us to sustain such positive motivation through hard work that will ultimately enable
us to realize our goals.
What sustained my interest in watching
this “toughest job interview” is that it keeps me on my toes to face head on
the various tasks and people I meet in life. Looking back, I learned a lot from
watching the show and meeting the “Apprentice.” Looking forward, I hope to be
continuously inspired.
