"There are certain things that you'll never lose, no matter what your citizenship. I've maintained a lot of values that I grew up with and those will never go away." (Photo by MICHAEL VARCAS)

MANILA, Philippines —  While a number of Filipino women have been breaking ground internationally in the entertainment arena, there is one admirable woman who has managed to prove her worth and caliber in no less than the United States government.

Without a doubt, Gloria Diño-Steele, mission director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the Philippines, is someone this country can certainly be proud of.

At the height of her career, backed up by a string of accomplishments and an impressive portfolio of a global experience in public service, the Gloria Steele we met is a warm, simple, and down-to-earth woman. Except for her American accent, this remarkable Filipina-American is still very much a local who values family ties and her country of birth. One noticeable trait is her humility, which has kept her grounded despite her rise to the top.

Before she left the country to get married in the United States and pursue a high-profile career, Gloria worked as management consultant to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. A graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Maryknoll (now Miriam) College, she also holds a master of Science degree in Agriculture Economics from the Kansas State University.

It was in the US though where this agriculture economist further fueled her passion for the field through a prolific career in the USAID bureaus in Africa, Europe, and Eurasia. Gloria was in charge of overseeing applied research on key rural developmentissues in the Bureau for Science and Technology; and led the development of the food security policy in the Bureau for Policy and Program Coordination. Prior to her deployment in the Philippines, Gloria also served as senior deputy assistant administrator for the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia, and more recently, as head of the Bureau for Global Health at the USAID Headquarters in Washington, DC.

When the opportunity to work in the Philippines came however, Gloria eagerly applied for the position, hoping to fulfill that long-held dream to serve her own country and to give back.

“It’s like a dream. I’ve always wanted to be able to come back here one day to give back, to be able to do what I’ve been doing elsewhere in the world. When I was growing up, my mom always talked about the Constitution that the Americans gave us, the democracy. It would be really nice to build upon that legacy that my mother always talked about,” reveals the 57-year-old executive.

It does not come as a surprise that Gloria has big plans and high hopes for the country of her birth. Through USAID, she vows to give assistance to where it is needed most, especially in areas of education, health, agriculture, and economy.

“In education for instance, we are working with the Department of Education and at the community level in order to improve access to education. We’re training teachers to be better teachers, involving parents in the issues of the community and the school. We’ve been outfitting schools with computers so they get a connection to the world and give students a better perspective. Those who are already out of school, we are giving them skills training so they can find a job here,” she shares.

In this 60 Minutes conversation, Gloria Diño-Steele reveals more of her goals for the Philippines, her passion for public service,  her diverse experiences and learnings she gained through all these years; and her pride for being, always and forever, a Filipino. (Rachel C. Barawid)

STUDENTS AND CAMPUSES BULLETIN (SCB): How does it feel to be back in the country after 30 years of being away?
GLORIA DIÑO STEELE (GDS): It’s like a dream. I’ve always wanted to be able to come back here one day to give back, to be able to do what I’ve been doing elsewhere in the world. I worked for about seven years on Africa issues, and then nine years on issues on the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, and on global issues, putting all these together and looking at how I might be able to apply my work here in my own country. When I was growing up, my mom always talked about the Constitution that the Americans gave us, the democracy. It would be really nice to build upon that legacy that my mother always talked about.

SCB: Before being given this position, did you ever plan of coming back?
GDS: I’ve always thought that this would be a nice place to retire to someday. But the kids live in the US, and so there is the dilemma of where one stays when part of the family is on one continent and another part is on another continent. I’m still thinking about what I would do in the future when I’m not working anymore. But in the meantime I’m here.

SCB: Why did you leave the country?
GDS: I got married to an American whom I met when I was working for the Department of Agriculture and he was working on a project funded by USAID.

SCB: Was it difficult starting all over again in another country?
GDS: It was easy and difficult at the same time. It was easy because I grew up speaking English, seeing American movies, reading American books, reading American magazines, and I went to school in the US for my master’s degree in Agricultural Economics. But then it was also difficult because I had to leave behind my parents, my siblings and friends. Everything was different, friendships were different. Starting over in a career, that was the difficult part about it.

SCB: What was it like when you first stepped on Philippine soil again? Did you cry? (laughs)
GDS: I can’t describe how happy I was. It is euphoric, that’s the only word I can think of coming back here. It is very exciting.

SCB: Was there something you miss that you couldn’t get in the US and that you are indulging right now?
GDS: It’s actually the company of family and friends that I’m indulging in right now. I just couldn’t buy those in the States (laughs).

SCB: Did you have to ask your husband and kids’ permission about this job?
GDS: I did ask my children’s permission. My kids grew up aware of issues, aware of what’s happening in the world, and so when I said that it was time for me to go back to the Philippines to do my work there, they said, “Yeah, do that” and they were actually very encouraging.

SCB: They’ve never been here?
GDS: My son escorted me back here, my daughter couldn’t come but she’s been here on her own. The last time my son was here was when he was just two years old. He is trying very hard to learn the language and both of them will be coming.

Dreaming big
SCB: Have there been significant changes that you noticed about the country since you left?
GDS: There have been many positive changes, the growth of the civil society. When I left, the Church was probably the only non-governmental organization. Now we have a whole range of NGOs. That’s healthy for any economy, any society, to have a private sector and a non-governmental sector making sure that there’s a balance.

We’ve seen growth in economy. Not big enough to accomplish what needs to be accomplished, but there has been growth, enough to withstand the global recession. That’s very impressive. But just like I said, one of the saddest things is the fact that so many people have had to leave in search of employment. When I left 30 years ago, very few people left the country. People preferred to stay here.

SCB: Are you the first Filipino-American to head the country office of the USAID?
GDS: Yes. This was part of my big dream to be able to come back here. I love working in development and I really wanted to be able to do it here.

I think one of the messages that we need to give everyone is that if you have a dream and you pursue it, you might actually get it (laughs)! Just keep going at it. You really have to dream. You have to have a goal. Sometimes, accidents happen and you get what you did not expect to get, a windfall. That’s rare. If you don’t aspire for something, the chances that it will fall into your lap are very slim.

SCB: Was being in government service something that you have always wanted to pursue? Was that your career plan?
GDS: It actually came as an accident. When I was in college studying Business Management, one of my professors was working for the Department of Agriculture, which is close to where Maryknoll is. He was teaching Finance and he asked me if I would be interested in being an intern at the DA. Working there was when I realized this was what I want to do, to make a difference in the country in this way. A large proportion of the population is engaged in agriculture and it still is an agriculture-based economy. I thought that this was where I could make a difference. We were working a lot with farmers and I associated myself with that, the aspect of just getting people out of poverty and trying to help them find a better life for themselves.

SCB: It made a lot of impact on you?
GDS: Yes, that’s when I decided that I didn’t want to work in a bank.

SCB: How would you compare working with the Philippine government before and now with the United States government in terms of how the system works?
GDS: I think the difference is the emphasis on transparency and on integrity. The rules and regulations are clear, and the enforcement is consistent and predictable.

Buckling down to work
SCB: What are USAID’s specific goals for the country?
GDS: We are following the lead of President Aquino. He has very big, ambitious goals for the Philippines. He wants to fight poverty, accelerate economic growth in the country and create jobs. He wants to achieve transparency and fight corruption, which has been a major impediment. We’re reviewing our programs here to make sure that what we’re doing is going in the same direction.

I’ve been meeting with department secretaries and asking them – here is what President Aquino wants to do, what are you doing to accomplish them, how can we help you accomplish them, what can we do to further align our programs so that we can support you and President Aquino achieve his development agenda. Basically it is job creation, achieving economic growth, promoting good access to health and education, promoting transparency in democratic institutions in the Philippines.

SCB: How much is the budget for the country?
GDS: It varies from year to year, but on average it’s about 90 to 100 million dollars.

SCB: How do you allocate this?
GDS: Approximately half goes to education and health. The rest go to achieving economic growth, supporting the environment and energy sectors, and promoting governance and democratic institutions.

SCB: You have your hands full! Is this a difficult job?
GDS: It’s a difficult job. But it is something that is very inspiring, to be able to work with the country to achieve the goals that the country has set for itself. There are no easy answers. That’s what makes it difficult.

SCB: While talking with these NGOs and government departments, was there a particular problem that’s shaping up to be the main focus of the agency’s efforts? Was there something that really stood out that needed a solution?
GDS: We’re still looking for the most effective ways because there are so many alternatives. What is the most effective way to create jobs? You can work in the agriculture sector, you can do it through the education sector. There is more than one solution on how to get there. It’s a matter of finding out what is the most effective approach because we don’t have unlimited resources. We want to make sure that the resources are placed where we can make the biggest difference. You can do a little here and a little there, and maybe one of them can result into something big, maybe not. It’s looking for just the right combination of approaches that will get us there.

I think the issue of job creation is a very important one. So many Filipinos have left the country in search for a dream job.

What’s sad about that is that for many of them, the dream has been elusive. Human trafficking has become an issue, labor exploitation. It’s really sad that people have had to leave their families behind in search of something they do not find, and some have been exploited and trafficked.

SCB: What specific programs do you have that address jobs and combat human trafficking?
GDS: We’re starting with the educational system, working with the Department of Education and working at the community level in order to improve access to quality education. We’re training teachers to be better teachers, involving parents in the issues of the community and the school. We’ve been outfitting schools with computers so they get a connection to the world and give students a better perspective. Those who are already out of school, we are giving them skills training so they can find a job here.

In terms of health, we are looking at the nutrition of kids, at malnourished and underdeveloped kids. It makes it more difficult for them to be active and be participants in anything. Starting with babies and children, we’re trying to address issues of access to health.

We also have direct involvement in economic growth activities. We are helping stimulate the availability of micro-enterprise loans. Those who only have their own skills as their own investment are able to access capital. We are also helping to stimulate the growth of businesses so that they will be able to hire more people. We’re looking at policy impediments to helping these businesses grow. We’re trying to broker partnerships between the Philippine government, the US government, and the private sector so that together we can create jobs.

In Mindanao, we have worked with farmers to be involved in higher value crops so that they can earn money. We have helped tuna fishermen be able to handle their catch so that they can get better prices and run better businesses. We are always geared towards helping the individual be able to participate as active members of society. We’re working at the policy level to encourage the growth of the private sector.

SCB: Do you have a tenure?
GDS: I have four years to get it done.

SCB: Most of USAID’s projects are concentrated in Mindanao, is it going to be the same for you?
GDS: You know, Mindanao has the poorest provinces in the Philippines. We naturally gravitate to where the problems are greatest. And part of the review of our current strategy is to look at Mindanao. It is rich in natural resources, but what else we need to do in many provinces in that region have not grown as rapidly as provinces in other parts of the country..

SCB: Have you gone to Mindanao yet?
GDS: I’ve been to Cagayan de Oro, General Santos City and Zamboanga.

SCB: What were your findings?
GDS: I was pleasantly surprised at how much the community has come together to work with the local government, the private sector, and us. We have seen communities do self-help projects that have been very successful. Like I saw tuna fishermen who in the past would drag their fish on the sand and get almost nothing for their catch but are now are exporting to the U.S., Japan and making a lot more money while at the same time not exploiting the resources. That is one of the things we are working on, helping fishermen get higher value for their catch without having to catch more because we also need to protect our marine resources. One of the most attractive things in the Philippines is the diversity of its natural resources, especially the marine resources. So, we’re trying to win it all, we’re trying to get it all, to conserve the resources and at the same time, help the fisherman.

SCB: In education, you were saying that you’re also into revising the curriculum?
GDS: Working with the schools and taking a look at their curriculum to make sure that it is relevant and facilitates better education for the kids. The curriculum needs to be relevant to job and economic opportunities. So that’s we’re doing. We’re also providing textbooks, computers, we’re refurbishing the classrooms and of course, parents’ involvement.

SCB: Are you also giving scholarships?
GDS: What we’re doing is providing in-country training. We do have non-degree scholarships in particular areas in Asia or in the US but our preference is to train them in countries in order to develop the institutions in the country.

SCB: What are the learnings you’ve had from your past experiences in other countries that you’re now applying here?
GDS: I learned that one can achieve the greatest and longest lasting impact if you bring along the people who are involved in whatever it is you’re working on. One gets tempted to do things for others. But you know whatever that is does not get sustained. They have to own this, they have to be committed to this for it to be sustained. So I think that’s one of the biggest, most important things I have learned. If you really want to be helpful, you’ve got to involve and generate the commitment of the  people you’re helping.

The second important lesson I’ve learned is just because something’s different doesn’t mean it’s bad. There’s usually always a reason why something is the way it is. And before you make any changes, you’ve got to understand the culture of the people you’re working with. When you go to Africa, Eastern Europe or different parts of the world, you can’t just assume that they think the way you do because a lot of this is culture-based. And for you to make a difference, you’ve got to understand where they’re coming, what you think is the right way to do things.

The third most important learning that I gained through the years is the importance of prioritizing. There’s only so much you can do and that you can’t change the whole world. You’ve got to prioritize where you put your time and energy and emotions.

You can’t spread all your resources and your time everywhere because most of the time you don’t accomplish very much. But if you focus on something and put your time and resources on a few things, you tend to accomplish more.

Mom and Boss
SCB: How do you unwind? What do you do to relax?
GDS: I like baking. I try to use my hands rather than my mind as a way of relaxing. So baking is what my hands can do the best. I’ve been trying to learn how to be a good gardener but I’m not very successful at that.

I’m also spending time with my family and friends because my time here with them will end in four years. But I keep telling myself not to think of the end and to focus on enjoying the present. So I spend the weekends as much as I can with my mom and with my siblings and friends.

SCB: What was the last movie that you enjoyed?
GDS: I have not watched movies in a long time.

SCB: Gone with the Wind?
GDS: No! Not that far back (laughs).

SCB: Eventually it’s gonna be in 3D.
GDS: (Laughs) It’s a frustration of my daughter because she wants to do our bonding through movies and I don’t really like movies very much. We cook together though and that’s how I bond with her.

SCB: What’s the last thing you baked?
GDS: It was a peach pie.

SCB: Are you a strict boss and a disciplinarian at home?
GDS: No. I have very few rules with my kids. We talk a lot. I don’t resort to punitive actions. I don’t hit them. I don’t deprive them of things they like. I just talk to them and I explain why things are. You know they do it anyway and they realize that it doesn’t work. Even when they were kids, I spent a lot of time explaining. I’d say you know this is the way it is. If you do this, this is what’s gonna happen. Then they do it and see it’s what happens. Most of the time, they don’t do it again (Laughs).

SCB: How about in USAID?
GDS: When I first came here, I set out what values are important to me. Basically I want to see myself more as a facilitator of getting things done, looking ahead and thinking about strategies. The U.S. government has set the rules, and there are checks and balances. If you don’t follow them, you get in trouble anyway so there’s no need for me to be strict. I’m not a disciplinarian but people know when I’m not happy about something. I make it clear what it is that is not making me happy.

SCB: You’ve been away for many years. You’re already an American citizen. So how much of a Filipino are you still?
GDS: How much of a Filipino am I? I’ve been away from the country longer than I have lived here. There are certain things that you’ll never, no matter what your citizenship is, ever lose. And I’ve maintained a lot of values that I grew up with and those will never go away. And then I have adopted values in the U.S. too, and that part of me is American. So I’m both, I am truly a Fil-Am!