BENEL LAGUA
Rewarding to the Psyche
from the book: Beyond Brushtrokes (1995)
by:Maria Victoria Rufino

Finding a place in the sun is everyone's goal. A rewarding career in the
private sector is every young graduate's dream. But for an idealistic young
person with a mission in life, taking up a post in government presents a
double opportunity-to meet a challenge in an extremely difficult environment
and be recognized as a unique success despite the odds.

Benel Lagua, managing.director of the Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium
Enterprises (GFSME), is one such idealist. As head of the subsidiary of
Livelihood Corp. (Livecor), Benel has found a meaningful way to earn a
living while helping others.

"There is a social value in working for the government. It is not purely for
profit." He explains that there is a perceived stigma, a negative
governmental image problem that obstructs progressive work.

Once upon a time, Filipino professionals took pride in being civil servants
but this pride has been eroded over the past two decades. "However," Benel
points out, "It is the reverse in other countries." He admits that "there
are trade-offs in   Government. While earning your keep, you are doing a
good turn for .your countrymen, that is, if you are serious about your job.

Benel speaks about the vision and mechanics of the GFSME program which was
started in 1984 as "a progressive setup for an active private sector and
government partnership in credit   supplementation." GFSME is a strong
supporter of the livelihood industry by providing guarantee for the small
and medium agro-industrial sector, cooperative and non-government
organizations (NGOs).

Discussing the hazards of working for government, Benel candidly points out
that one of the strong points of GFSME is its pay scale which is comparable
to that of the private sector. The competent staff earns well, and stay with
the organization.

Benel describes himself as a "flexible manager with a contingency approach
to handling work situations." He believes  in karma. "I try to make each day
meaningful... I believe in everything I do today is an investment that
produces corresponding results."

A simple, unassuming achiever, Benel has been highly commended by his board
of directors as being "a very good managing director." A BS Management
Engineering Degree (Dean's List) graduate from Ateneo de Manila University,
Benel joined the Office of the President in 1977. He recalled that the move
was purely by accident. My professor Dr. Mari-jo Ruiz suggested to our group
to try working in Malacanang. I accepted the chalenge because as a young man
out of college, I didn't know any better! I joined out of curiosity, but I
have stayed out of a discovery that one can make a difference in the
government service."

Benel became a government scholar for his MBM at Asian Institute of
Management, graduating in 1980. He is a candidate for Doctor in Business
Administration at the University the Philippines. He also is an instructor-
lecturer at Ateneo's Management Engineering department.

"I have been blessed in the sense that I have been to the best schools-
Ateneo, AIM, UP. A good education leads one to situations that convert
themselves into opportunities," Benel exclaims.

It is noteworthy to mention that Benel was topnotcher in the first
nationwide Management Aptitude Test Battery given to directors and
undersecretaries as an effort to professionalize the career service.

The turning point of his life came when, as a civil servant who had been in
various government positions such as KKK-Processing Center Authority
department manager, and Livecor senior director, he was appointed by Livecor
as deputy managing director  at GFSME in 1991 and later as managing director
in 1992.

When Benel took over GFSME in 1992, they were besieged with problems-'new
competition, pirating of personnel, restrictions in the bureaucracy,
misinformation. Many were skeptical about our future. Still, the past two
years turned out to be the best in GFSME's history in basic operating
parameters. This has not been a singular achievement· My staff has been very
professional And we are fortunate to have a supportive management board led
by chairman Bobby de Ocampo and vice-chairman Joey Rufino."

The main motivation of my career is the work content itself and the
privilege that has been given me to steer GFSME. Of course one needs
inspiration, and my wife Mafe has always been by my side.

"I have very simple dreams. I'd like to make a concrete contribution to the
betterment of other people's lives. I am glad that my line of work affords
me this satisfaction. There are many things I still have to achieve in life,
but most are really out of a sense of making life more meaningful rather
than aiming to get to the top for its own sake."

"In all sincerity, I'd like to venture into new challenges. I consider
myself a professional manager first and foremost. I just happen to find my
niche presently at the GFSME."

Benet has his heart in the right place. His eyes are focused on a better
business climate for the backbone of the economy-the small and medium
entrepreneurs. With more people armed with professional competence,
determination, and a sense of duty to the country, the image of the
government worker can only be enhanced and restored to its former
prestigious stature.

"Government work can be very rewarding to the psyche. It is a privilege not
everyone can have." Benet Lagua concludes as he sets off for another task
with pride.