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IAMRAFI: My Answered Prayer
The Story of Mileesa ‘Mel’ Ceniza Lumanog & Her Journey to Her First Decade with RAFI
By Marco Paulo Trajano Deligero | March 27, 2018
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Having a career which gives you fulfillment and purpose is a responsibility. That is what Mileesa or ‘Mel,’ has realized being with RAFI for a decade.
The best steps that we take must be of the best intentions. — That is Mel’s mantra.
On RAFI Being Her “Answered Prayer”
Mileesa Ceniza Lumanog, or ‘Mel’ as she is fondly called, joined RAFI on July 2007, as a Human Resources Generalist.
“I longed for a company that would allow me to grow personally and professionally as a Human Resources practitioner. I was in my mid-20s and was raring to learn and advance in my chosen field.”
“I felt that I needed [the] change, and I knew that if I stayed on and dared not venture to new and better opportunities outside of my former job, I would be missing a lot.”
“With RAFI, I could honestly say that it (being hired) was an answered prayer.” Mel said.
“I remember praying to God during those times; I just surrendered all my doubts and fears to God and surrendered to whatever His plans for me would be. And so, here I am, still kicking 10 years after.”
On Working with RAFI and on What Made Her Stay
Having a career which gives you fulfillment and purpose is a responsibility. That is what Mel has realized being with RAFI for a decade. She is now the Deputy Officer/Recruitment In-Charge for the RAFI Human Resources Development Team (HRD).
“Working with RAFI has allowed me to grow in more ways than I could have ever imagined; you realize that your job actually means more; it is not just a job that you are being paid to do.”
“I learned that I play a role and my work contributes to the organization’s mission and therefore I have a responsibility, a calling, to not just execute the job, but to do so with meaning and purpose.”
Mel also believes that RAFI has helped her to get out of her comfort zone.
“For me, the learning with RAFI has always been constant, which eventually helped me to leave my comfort zone. In RAFI, I learned to express my ideas, speak my mind, and to be trusted to do certain roles and responsibilities.”
Finding Meaning and Going the ‘Extra Mile’
Mel gladly shared some stories that have made her stay with RAFI exciting.
“Helping the organization recruit the right people for its different teams has never been easy. There was even a time when we were only two people in the HR team. It was tough, but I just continued doing my job.”
“To see people find their place here in RAFI, and thrive in the organization has always been my personal reward for this career. It fulfills my heart deeply to realize that we have multi- talented people here now, and the thought of how much we can do and achieve further [really] excites me.” Mel said.
“I also get to actively contribute to the Foundation’s work, which adds significant meaning to my day-to- day tasks.” She added.
“Going the extra mile, and being exposed and involved in the projects and programs like disaster relief and response are certainly on top of my list of answers to the “whys” of my continued existence in RAFI. This has been how I see myself contributing, and I hope that I will be blessed to do more.“
On Influencing Others and Career Impact
“I’m truly grateful for this chance to share my thoughts about celebrating 10 years with RAFI. Each RAFIAN has a story to tell, and it must become part of our mission to tell it, every chance we have.” Mel said.
“We have so much to learn and be inspired by the unique and worth-while experiences of our employees.”
“Being with RAFI for this long has never been easy, but I am grateful to be in a position where, year after year, I get to interact with all the service awardees.”
“That makes me feel proud and it validates my decision to stay and serve my purpose. Having channels such as these to connect – communicate, relate and understand the rich, colorful and all meaningful experiences — will hopefully give any RAFI employee a better chance to find and keep a sense of purpose with their job.”
“And in the words of Mr. Bobby, “Stay on course.”
“Full at heart, I am eager to run and leap forward in working towards #happyRAFI and designing that M.A.G.I.C.-al experience with the rest of the strong, compassionate, and competent women in the RAFI-HRD team.”
Mileesa and Her Biggest Career and Life Motivation
Mel said she draws inspiration from both influential and ordinary people, but in the last 10 years, people from RAFI have made a huge impact on her life.
“I have learned so much from those whom I have worked with — a co-worker, a leader, a big boss — and who have made an impact in my life and have helped me weather a lot of challenging times, both personally and professionally. For that, I am so grateful.”
“There are quite a number of people in RAFI whom I look up to, because in my experience, I have never known or witnessed people who have worked with so much passion and dedication. These people are the reason why RAFI is the kind of organization it is today.”
“As Mr. Bobby once said, ‘RAFInians are the modern-day Founders’.”
“There are employees, team leaders whom I have been blessed to have known and learned from all these years, those whom I barely encountered in the past but now are my great friends and mentors.”
“There are people in RAFI whom we may see as regular employees like us by day, but are “rock stars” by night, or in other aspects of their lives are as equally, if not, more accomplished.“
“There are employees who work silently [and are] in the background but are actually the lifeblood of a team.” Mel said.
“There are also those whom, despite positive and happy appearances, are going through so much in their lives, so I continue to learn and try not to be deceived by what I see on the surface.” Mel assured.
“My purpose grows more and more when I know that I have the chance to make a better version of myself by learning from the experiences, good or bad, that I have with fellow RAFInians.”
Her Greatest Career Accomplishment
“Being in the Human Resources career has never been easy. Perhaps there are no enough words or expressions to describe the complexity of the job.”
“But being able to help the organization find the right people and contributing to the success of our Human Resources programs and projects are what I consider my most valued accomplishment.”
“I’ve been here for quite a long time but I have no regrets making it through the years; I only have immense gratitude for being part of Human Resources’ successes in the last 10 years.”
Biggest Career Challenge
Mel said that she has failed many times and believes that each was a triumph at some point.
“It has also been quite a journey to find the right people for RAFI. I have failed many times; it has always been a source of frustration when I was unable to do as expected. There have been times when I felt alone and no one else could understand, and as a result, no one seemed to be of help.” Mel said.
“There have been times when I wished to do more, to accomplish more because I have been here for so long and I ought to have done much already. But as time passed, I have learned to overcome these challenges by showing up, going back to my “whys,” and reflecting about the people who are depending on me. That’s when I continue with my work, look for ways to improve, and find my way back to my mission as a RAFInian.”
On Being a RAFInian
“For me, being a RAFInian means answering the call to make a difference in this world, one that goes beyond personal and individual fulfillment. It is a multi-faceted, passionate, and purposeful way of life and living.”
On Leaving a Mark
“Given the opportunity, it is really being able to help new and existing employees find MAGIC — meaning, autonomy, growth, impact and connection. It is being able to help RAFI design that kind of employee experience that helps them discover, maintain, sustain, and grow their purpose in RAFI.”
Greatest Lesson
The best steps that we take must be of the best intentions. That is Mel’s mantra.
“I have relearned this from Mr. Jonar Dorado, our 2016 REEA awardee, in a recent conversation we had — that our work, the steps that we take, our efforts must always be with the utmost intention or purpose.”
“It is the only way we can achieve that genuine, holistic fulfillment that goes way beyond the material successes that RAFI brings us.”
People who Matter
Mel remembers a quote the late RAFI president Mr. Bobby Aboitiz said during the 50 th Founding Anniversary.
“I think Mr. Bobby saved that best part for all of us – to remind, encourage, and inspire us to believe in ourselves, in our dreams and “to make a difference in this world.” And that we have every opportunity and blessing to do this in RAFI today and the rest of our days.”
“Thank you for letting me share my story, it’s like I was processing my 10 years. Thank you very much. With all this, I am happy. #IAMRAFI.”
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“Helping the organization recruit the right people for its different teams has never been easy. There was even a time when we were only two people in the HR team. It was tough, but I just continued doing my job.”
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“Going the extra mile, and being exposed and involved in the projects and programs like disaster relief and response are certainly on top of my list of answers to the “whys” of my continued existence in RAFI. This has been how I see myself contributing, and I hope that I will be blessed to do more.“
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