Who Is This Guy ???
Philip Tubera wants you to know hes just a regular guy- - - only gentler...
When Fil-Am Naples celebrated the Asian Pacific Heritage Week in 2002, most members had never heard of Philip Tubera. He arrived here unheralded, but it wasnt long before he was turning heads in our association's events. At Instituto Assistenziale in Aversa last month, he coordinated the fundraiser for Italian abused children, collecting clothes, food and other necessities, successfully selling the idea to Fil-Am organization and eventually adopting the institution as our own charity org...that left the nuns who run this organization totally flummoxed. Prior to Tubera's arrival, they haven't had any individual or group take this challenge before, let alone own it... and needless to say, they were ecstatic. The 34 children (ages 5-16) had a whale of a time recently when they were shuttled to SS and had their Xmas Party at TGIF with our own kids and played games (supervised) in the park.
The first thing you should know is that his full name is Filipe Urcia Tubera. The eldest among 3 kids of Antonia and Urbano Tubera (deceased), he's been popularly called, "Ipe" or "Iping" by family and friends. When he went to the States and joined the Navy, they shortened it to just Philip. "I guess it was easier for the Americans, he said. And though he was born in Hawaii on January 27, 1970, Philip was thoroughly a Manila Boy, schooled in San Beda College from grade school to college, receiving a bachelor's degree in Commerce major in Management in 1992. And you should know, even though he went to one of the most exclusive prominent schools in the Philippines, he comes far from wealth, or a family-business background. He was intelligent, had enough smarts to sponsored by a private scholarship. His sole motivation was a bit of Benedictine influence, which explains his desire to help the needy. He grew up a half-mile from Manila, Sampalocs historic business district, where he practically saw the transformation of Filipinos and youth activism to keep up with the rapidly changing times then.
There is a saying, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care!" or something to that effect. Well, it's proven...Philip really cares, so we ought to know more about him. Did you know that aside from being active in the Student Council of San Beda (age 20), he was involved in numerous outreach programs, like orphanages, the juvenile delinquents, the homeless, Smoky Mountain people and the prisoners from MUNTINLUPA PENITENTIARY? When Mt Pinatubo erupted and wrought damages to the North, he led the school action group that distributed food and clothing to the victims. As a young kid, he served as altar boy from grade to high school. Wow! this guy should have been a priest, whadyathink?! During college days, he was politically savvy, rubbing elbows with Senators Raul Roco, Rene Saguisag and Speaker Ramon Mitra. It helped that these guys were full-blooded Bedans, he admits, hehehe! Talk about connection, this guy marched with the big guns in People Power 2 along EDSA, with among others Congressman Mike Defensor! Our own humble Philip, a political figure?! Once, he was featured in the local magazine called MANILA, and was interviewed in a local TV show, Buhay Pinoy...who would have thought that his classmate was Herbert Bautista, a popular acoustic folksy singer in the 90's? Herbert happens to be the idol, favorite singer of Ted Moneda, the WALA Band artist, for crying out loud! Philip has held a lot of managerial jobs, but none more satisfying than being with the Jollibee International Management Team. He said he had a blast! I didn't have to ask him questions, he was giving me the answers spontaneously! Part of the transcript below:
Q: WHO IS PHILIP TUBERA? DESCRIBE YOUR UPBRINGING...
PT: FROM THE TIME I WAS FIVE OR SIX, I NEVER HAD A SINGLE TOY. SO WHEN I TURNED 11, MY PARENTS ...(interrupted)
JAP: That's not what I meant, you're kidding right? Give us some insight to your, well, if it's not too personal.
PT: OKAY...I'M JUST A SIMPLE PERSON WITH SIMPLE NEEDS. MABABAW LANG NAMAN AKO. I LOVE GIVING SURPRISES. I'M VERY TRANSPARENT! WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET...IYON NA. I'M NOT PLASTIC. I'M VERY MALAMBING AND THOUGHTFUL, SINCE I DON'T HAVE THE RICHES, WHAT I CAN OFFER IS MY TRUE AND WHOLE-HEARTED FRIENDSHIP. I'M A PERSON WHO VALUE THINGS NO MATTER HOW SMALL THEY ARE, AND OF COURSE I VALUE MY FRIENDS SO MUCH BECAUSE THAT'S ALL I HAVE. SAKTAN MO NA AKO HUWAG LANG ANG MGA MAHAL KO SA BUHAY LIKE MY FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOVE ONES OR ELSE I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, WHAT EVER RANK OR POSITION YOU HOLD, I'M NOT AFRAID TO CONFRONT YOU, I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT CONSEQUENCES AS LONG AS I AM IN THE RIGHT!
Q: WELL, I GUESS THE PRIESTS FROM YESTERYEARS HAD A BIG INFLUENCE ON YOU. ANY PET PEEVES?
PT: YES, THEY DID. NEXT TO MY PARENTS, THE TEACHERS/PRIESTS IN COLLEGE WERE MY ROLE MODELS---SHAPED MY VIEWS IN LIFE. ONE THING I ABHOR ARE PEOPLE WHO TALK KAKA BEHIND MY BACK, IF YOU'RE MAD AT ME AND THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY ACTIONS OR WHATNOT, I'LL APPRECIATE IT, IF YOU TELL IT TO ME STRAIGHT. I DON'T USUALLY PUMAPATOL SA TSISMIS BUT KAPAG MEDYO HINDI NA MAGANDA HMMMMMMM PASENSYAHAN NA LANG TAYO. DON'T GET ME WRONG, I'M NOT A WAR FREAK, HEHEHE.... ACTUALLY I'M A VERY LOVING PERSON ASK AROUND.
Q: HAVE YOU EVER TOLD A LIE?
PT: WHAT IS THIS, A PSYCHO METRIC TESTING QUESTION OR SOMETHING? HAHAHAHAHAHA, I KNOW YOU VONN...HOW ABOUT IF I ASK YOU THIS,
"HAVE YOU EVER BEEN GIVEN TOO MUCH CHANGE FROM A STORE, EXCHANGE OR WHEREVER...AND KEPT IT?"
JAP: Let me answer your question with another question. Hehehehehe...Alright, you got me, I was hoping to slip a fast one, nothing gets by you easy huh? Well, you've had interviews before, and experience has taught you that Filipinos still get intrusive to a degree.
PT: I'M JUST A NORMAL HUMAN BEING, EVEN THE PRIESTS, PASTORS AND EVEN THE SAINTS ONCE IN THEIR LIVES NAGSINUNGALING DIN SILA , NOBODY IS PERFECT.
JAP: So, you kept the change, huh?
PT: NO, I WAS NOT RAISED THAT WAY. TALAGANG GUSTO MONG MAG-ALA PROFILER HA?
Q: OKAY, BACK TO Q&A... GIVE US YOUR IMPRESSION OF WHAT YOU SAW WHEN YOU FIRST GOT TO NAPLES?
PT: HONESTLY I WAS VERY EXCITED TO COME HERE. WHEN I GO TO PLACES I DON'T USUALLY LOOK AT THEM SUPERFICIALLY-- WHAT'S IN FRONT OF ME BUT RATHER WHAT IT CAN OFFER ME. I'VE BEEN TO PLACES WORSE THAN YOU CAN THINK OF KAYA ITS OK, ACTUALLY NATUTUWA AKO DAHIL PARANG MGA FILIPINO RIN SILA, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THEY SPEAK ITALIAN BUT YUNG CULTURE , FAMILY TIES HALOS PAREHO.
Q: DID IT COME AS A SURPRISE TO YOU?
PT: YES KASI GRABE ANG GAGANDA NG MGA CHICKS HEHEHE JOKE LANG, .... MEDYO AGGRESSIVE ANG DRIVERS DITO, MARUMI ANG MOST BATHROOMS, PARA LANG MANILA RIN.
Q: WHERE IS FIL-AM GOING? WHAT IS IT AS A PERSONA?
PT: YOU TELL ME HEHEHEHE. FIL-AM IS JUST LIKE A BUTTERFLY AT ITS FORMING STAGE (LARVAE?) OF DEVELOPMENT ... TRANSFORMS INTO A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY.. WHERE IT GOES FROM ONE FLOWER TO ANOTHER FOR CROSS POLLINATION. FIL-AM WILL PROGRESS GIVEN TIME AND ENERGY, AS LONG AS THE MEMBERSHIP CONTINUES SUPPORTING THE ORGANIZATION AND THE OFFICERS IN THE ATTAINMENT OF ITS GOALS. EVEN THOUGH WE TRY OUR BEST, MAY MGA TAO PARING HINDI NASISIYAHAN AND IT'S A HUGE CHALLENGE. ANG PAKIUSAP KO LANG IS--- LET US KNOW, HOW WE CAN IMPROVE, PLS BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT THE PROBLEM! HELP US TO DEVELOP INTO A GORGEOUS COLORFUL BUTTERFLY SO THAT, PAG NAPABILANG TAYO SA MGA COLLECTION NG BUTTERFLY, MAPAPASAMA TAYO SA MAGAGANDANG COLLECTION. CROSS-POLLINATION GOING ON STEADY RIGHT NOW-- WE'RE ABLE TO ESTABLISH A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH FIL-AM SIGONELLA, WITH OUR KABABAYANS FROM ROME AND POZZUOLI. NEXT, WE'RE ALREADY TALKING TO FLIPS IN SPAIN AND GERMANY, SO WATCH OUT!
Q: DO YOU THINK .... WITH THE NUMBER OF SOCIAL FUNCTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING LATELY, ARE THE OTHER FIL-AM MEMBERS SAYING "BOO" TO THE NOTION OF BEING KAMI-KAMI, KAYO -KAYO AGAIN?
PT: LET ME ANSWER YOU THIS WAY... IN A FAMILY EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENCES, BUT WE SHOULD KEEP IN MY MIND THAT WE'RE JUST ONE BIG FAMILY, THE FILIPINO FAMILY, NO MATTER WHAT DIALECT YOU SPEAK, DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE MESTIZA OR MULATO----ONCE A FILIPINO ALWAYS A FILIPINO. WE'RE TRYING TO QUASH THAT NOTION FROM THE GET-GO, AND WE'LL SUCCEED, NO DOUBT!
Q: YOU'RE 56, HOW DO YOU TAKE ALL OF YOUR EXPERIENCE AND IMPART ADVICE TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, KABATAANS THAT NEED TO UNDERSTAND OUR CULTURE?
PT: HAHAHAHAHA NO! AM NOT 56 , I'M ONLY 33. OH WELL, TRUST AND RESPECT YOUR PARENTS, THEY'VE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES. I HAVE NEVER LET MY PAST AFFECT ME BUT, I USE IT TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON. REMEMBER WHERE YOU CAME FROM. WALK TALL AND BE PROUD THAT YOU'RE A FILIPINO. AS WE ARE NOW AT THE COMPUTER AGE AND A LOT OF THINGS HAVE DRAMATICALLY CHANGED, ALWAYS REMEMBER TO GO BACK TO THE BASICS! APPRECIATE THOSE LITTLE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE, VALUE YOUR FAMILY. OUR CULTURE IS VERY RICH DON'T BE SHY TO FOLLOW THEM BECAUSE SA BAWAT UGAT NA NANANALANTAY AY ANG TUNAY NA PAGIGING PILIPINO.
Q: WHO AMONG THE RICH AND FAMOUS, LEADERS OF THE WORLD OR ANYBODY WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A CHAT WITH?
PT: IF MOTHER THERESA IS ALIVE SHE'S ONE. THE POPE... AND IF DON VITO CORLEONE FROM THE GODFATHER WAS REAL, I'LL HAVE A BLAST TALKING TO HIM.
Q: WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER AT FIL-AM?
PT: WHY NOT? I SAW THE SINCERITY OF APO, RAY, JIM, ALFRED (HINDI KO NA MA-ALAALA YUNG IBA) DURING THE SPORTS FEST I WAS MOVED BY THE CAMARADERIE AND TEAMWORK, AND WITH THEIR LINE UP OF OFFICERS THEN I FELT THEIR WILLINGNESS AND GOOD WILL, KAYA I GAVE IT A CHANCE. I'LL PROMOTE FIL-AM, AS MUCH AS YOU DID FOR THE PAST ADMINISTRATION OR EVEN MORE!
Q: WHAT DO YOU DO IN LEISURE TIME? WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO EAT?
PT: SOMETIMES I JUST STAY AT THE HOUSE WATCH VIDEOS, AND IF I HAVE A LONG WEEKEND, I GO ON A TOUR, DO SOME SHOPPING. I LOVE SPOILING MYSELF, I USUALLY TREAT MYSELF TO A MASSAGE THERAPY. ISCHIA SPA WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD, MAN YOU HAVE TO TRY IT! SAYANG, I MISSED DEEP SEA DIVING. FAVORITES TO EAT, HMMMMMMM ANY INIHAW (ISDA, BABOY, MANOK) WITH SINIGANG-ANY (HIPON, OR ULO NG TUNA) ON THE SIDE ANG MANGGA. AY NAKU PAG YAN AWAY ANG DATING GALIT MUNA TAYO HEHEHEHE.
Q: I'VE SEEN YOUR MOVES, LEADING SLIDE/CHA-CHA DANCE ON THE FLOOR, DID YOU HAVE TO LEARN FROM AN INSTRUCTOR?
PT: (LOL!)... I HAVE A PASSION FOR MODERN DANCE. NO, I JUST LEARN FROM WATCHING, BUT I'D LOVE TO LEARN FROM AN INSTRUCTOR. DYAKNOW ANYBODY IN SUPPORT SITE? [call corazon arrieta or grace clariza atbp...-jap]
Q: WHAT JOBS DON'T YOU LIKE TO DO?
PT: DON'T YOU KNOW, I'M THE GENTLEMAN'S GENTLEMAN... THERE'S NOTHING THAT I DON'T LIKE TO DO, I LOVE CHALLENGES, I LOVE LEARNING NEW THINGS.
Q: LAST YEAR, I THOUGHT YOU'RE SPREADING YOURSELF PRETTY THIN, DOING ALL THESE EXTRA COMMITMENTS FOR FIL-AM RECOGNITION PLUS YOUR MS JOB, SOCIAL LIFE ETC... ARE THERE A FEW PROJECTS THIS YEAR OR AREAS YOU'RE FOCUSING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
PT: ACTUALLY THE OFFICERS HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITIES INSTORE FOR US. JUST BE PATIENT GRASSHOPPER...
Q: CAN YOU THINK OF ANY SIGNIFICANT EVENTS WHILE GROWING UP THAT INFLUENCED YOUR COMPASSION TOWARDS ABUSED CHILDREN?
PT: ALL CHILDREN, WEALTHY, POOR, ABUSED OR OTHERWISE ARE A GIFT FROM GOD, THEY ARE THE FUTURE. I DIDN'T EXPERIENCE ANY ABUSE AS A CHILD OR HAVE WITNESSED ANY. SUFFICE TO SAY THAT MY INDOCTRINATION WITH THE BENEDICTINE PHILOSOPHY IS INTACT. I'D LOVE TO HAVE LOTSA CHILDREN WHEN I GET MARRIED SOMEDAY, 7 IS A GOOD NUMBER!
Q: WHAT IS THE DUMBEST THING YOU HAVE DONE IN YOUR LIFE SO FAR?
PT: FALLING IN LOVE... LET'S NOT GO THERE...
Q: ANY LAST WORDS?
PT: THANKS TO YOU FOR DOING THIS. I HOPE TO HAVE ERASED OUR KABABAYAN'S MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ME. TO KABATAAN: DON'T BASE YOUR BELIEFS ON ANY THING BUT WHAT YOU TRULY FEEL IN YOUR HEART. I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT WHEN PEOPLE REALLY REACH DOWN INSIDE THEMSELVES, THEY'LL SEE THAT "FORGIVENESS" IS THE NECESSARY KEY TO HEALTHY PEOPLE RELATIONSHIPS. IT'S THIS IDEA THAT GIVES ME HOPE IN HUMANITY.
From the moment I interviewed Philip Tubera, I knew why he wanted to be the PRO for Fil-Am Naples. He's got gazillion ideas brewing in his head about making Fil-Am Naples a force in the community. The most refreshing thing about Philip is his complete sincere desire to help in anyway he can. He'll even wash dishes or clean bathrooms in these orphanages, reform houses etc, Philip doesnt care. He walks the walk and talks the talk. Theres more, but suffice to say that Philip Tubera and adversity are not strangers---he knows about uphill battles, and how to win them. It must be what gives this man the special vibe everyone cant help but pick up on. Theres a complete lack of airs, and a humble yet unshakable grace. Impressive. INDEED! I think Philip is an extraordinary individual. I have tremendous respect for him. Its such a refreshing outlook. Hes very grateful to be with us here in Naples Fil-Am, and were very grateful to have him. Philip is still single, so ladies....call 1-800-PINOY-IDOL....just kidding!
