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IAMRAFI: Man of Few Words
The Story of Raffy Baladjay & His Journey to REEA 2017
By Marco Paulo Trajano Deligero | June 19, 2018
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This is the story of Raffy Baladjay and his journey in RAFI-Microfinance where he rose up the ranks — from a Buffer Trust Staff to Regional Manager to becoming one of RAFI’s Exemplary Employee Awardee (REEA) in 2017.
Turning Failure Into Success
Raffy Baladjay’s journey was never easy. He did not pass his CPA Board Exams, and failed those people who were expecting too much of him, especially his parents. After the exams, Raffy went on a special trip away from home to ‘slow down’ and ‘find meaning.’
“I don’t consider it as running away from home, it was just my way of temporarily avoiding those people who were expecting too much from me.” Baladjay said.
That One Phone Call That Changed His Life
After spending a month on vacation with friends, Raffy said that his parents called him asking what he planned to do with his life. He even remembers his mother crying on the phone.
“That question really made me realize something, so I decided to come back home and told my mother that I will be somebody in the future.” Raffy said.
In the beginning, Raffy felt that his failure at the board exam was his first major failure in life, and he realized that God had a different purpose for his life saying, “that failure strengthened my resolve in serving others,”
On Getting Back Up
After his month-long soul-searching, he decided to take on a new journey in life, and started applying in different companies.
“I think I sent 10 applications and decided to work with the first company that will hire me, no matter what kind of job it would be. That first company was RAFI, and the rest is history,” Baladjay said.
Raffy started working with RAFI Microfinance in June 28, 2010 as a Buffer Trust Staff for the Ormoc, Leyte branch. He was promoted to Trust Staff, and eventually became Assistant Branch Manager after six months for the Cebu City branch.
Raffy and His Career Growth in RAFI Microfinance (RMF)
Raffy’s blessings continued. He was promoted to Branch Officer-in-Charge on October 2011, and to a fully-fledged Branch Manager for the Argao Branch on January 2012, respectively before being transferred to the Minglanilla Branch.
After that, Raffy became part of the Renoir Consulting BUGSAI project as Taskforce Coordinator from January of 2014 to March of 2015, where he spearheaded a procurement project with the RAFI Finance and Admin unit for four months.
“After my own project together with my former boss, we set up the RMF Expansion Unit, then eventually became the Set up Manager for a year, and then was promoted to Unit Head for 10 months.”
And fast forward to 2018, Raffy is now the Regional Manager for Bohol and Negros Regions, and then eventually led to his winning the coveted RAFI Exemplary Employee Award (REEA) in 2017.
On Winning the REEA 2017
Raffy said that being with RMF made him a better person, and made him understand his real purpose in life.
“I’ve been with RMF for more than seven (7) years now and what made me stay this long is the desire to contribute more and make more impact to this organization.”
For Raffy, winning the REEA is a “blessing and a testament of my passion, hard work and commitment, and especially with the kind of support given to me by my peers and superiors,” he added.
His Contribution to the BUGSAI Project
Being of service to the organization and helping people through sharing his expertise makes his career more meaningful.
“Being a part of the BUGSAI Project as Taskforce member was one of my meaningful contributions to this organization.”
“In line with the project, I was able to contribute my experiences and expertise in operations and I was able to understand the whole process of doing things and identify opportunities for improving and streamlining various processes.”
During those times, Baladjay was also able to build tools and suggest improvements which helped the processes of RAFI-Microfinance today.
‘A Leader by Example’
For Raffy the most effective way a leader can influence others is to ‘lead by example.’
He also said that his goal was to really contribute something to the organization and the REEA was, in a way, a validation of the impact that he has made in the organization.
“Hopefully, what I’ve done and achieved from being a rank and file employee all the way to where I am now will motivate others and will make them realize that this organization really values our contribution and passion for work,” Raffy said.
On His Biggest Career and Life Motivation
Raffy learned to value the importance of service, passion and commitment: three values that he believes are considered the ‘true mark of a RAFInian.’
More than anything else, to leave a mark and make an impact with RAFI and RMF have always been his biggest motivation.
“Second would be my family, especially my wife and daughter, I work hard to give them, perhaps not the best, but at least a comfortable life.”
Above all else, to God. “I always pray to God that He would continually guide me in everything I do, enlighten me in making the right decisions.”
Biggest Career Challenge
Challenges are opportunities in disguise, Baladjay believes.
“I think challenges are given, especially if you have a goal. But I always treat challenges as opportunities; opportunity to learn new things, opportunity to test your maturity and your decision making skills.”
He also said that in order to overcome challenges, you have to analyze the problem first then plan if it can be resolved, then eventually, ask your superiors, or your mentors, if needed.
“At the end of the day, these things are normal, what’s important is that you face it, document what you’ve learned so that if you are confronted with the same challenges again, it will be much easier,” Raffy added.
On Leaving a Mark, Influencing the New Generation
“I really want to influence new employees to develop a passion for work for this is one of the keys for their growth,”
Raffy also added that one of the reasons why he works and strives hard to be successful is because he knows that being on top could help influence people on much larger scale.
“I want to be remembered through my passion for work, commitment and achievements; and hopefully be a motivation for others,” Raffy said.
On His Greatest Lesson
Passion and humility are everything for Baladjay.
“You need to put your heart, passion and commitment in everything that you do.”
“Value your contribution rather that what you receive from this organization. You also need to value humility for this will make you continuously learn, improve and develop yourself.”
Thanking People That Matters
Raffy said that he would not be here if not for the people that he has worked with before and now.
“I would like to thank my mentors from my Buffer Trust Staff days: Ronnie Garcia, my former Branch Managers, Sir Edward Butal, and Sir Nenito Gonzales; my Area Manager Ma’am Naomi Navacilla, my friends, Dominic, Val, Ma’am Nenen and Ma’am Hya. Our leaders, Ma’am Ailyne, Sir Jonar, and Ma’am Tess who really played a big role in what I have achieved so far.”
“All of them are the reason why I’m here. In one way or another, I’ve learned a lot because of their generosity in sharing their expertise and ideas.”
Raffy added that if there’s a one-liner quote that best describe his journey in RMF, it would be this: “my value as an employee is measured by the contributions I made rather than what I have achieved.” #IAMRAFI
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