Embracing change and uncovering opportunities

As one of the casualties of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, JR Agbayani had to shift gears, finding himself working in a non-governmental organization (NGO) after years in the academe. He is, however, thankful to have found his way into the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) and discovered his strengths in the process.

JR, currently ZFF’s Management Information Systems Manager, is in charge of the Foundation’s digitization efforts. He landed his current role after his previous employer had to streamline most of the administrative staff as a result of the lockdowns caused by the pandemic. He spent 11 years working in academic institutions.

The native of Isabela admitted to still finding his footing while navigating the systems of working in a foundation. “While I have already familiarized myself with how the system operates in an NGO, I’m still trying to understand and remember acronyms and terminologies,” JR said. “It’s a good thing that many of the employees, especially the Human Resources (HR) unit, are helping me, always willing to entertain my queries.”

JR is the eldest in the brood of four and the only son. While JR’s father is a graduate of civil engineering, he pursued farming and tilled their land in Isabela. JR grew up with his grandparents—who also supported most of his education—and it meant his formative years were spent without his parents and family. He lived in San Guillermo while his parents tended their land in Cauayan. It wasn’t always a happy childhood for JR as he had to endure the challenges of living apart from his family. It also didn’t afford him the chance to make memories with them.

“To be honest, I’m not really interested in farming,” JR remarked. “I didn’t really see myself as a farmer, not because I am not proud of it but also because my father wanted me to just focus on going to college.”

Initially, JR wanted to be a soldier, inspired by his maternal uncle. It was not just about being a soldier that attracted him to dreaming of becoming one in the future but also because he saw that his uncle was also allowed to teach. His parents didn’t approve of him becoming a soldier. JR was heartbroken.

He took the next best thing: teaching. So, he took up Information Technology (IT) in college at the University of Perpetual Help, obtained a Master’s Degree in IT from Isabela University, and a Doctoral Degree in IT at AMA University.

Before joining ZFF, JR was the Dean at Interface Computer College, where he ran several academic programs for the whole college. He went college-hopping, teaching at the University of Perpetual Help College right after graduation, University of Santo Tomas-Angelicum in Quezon City, and ABE International Business College (a branch of AMA University). However, at his first job, he also doubled as systems maintenance staff at the IT Department.

JR is glad he is able to practice his IT skills working at ZFF, even if he had to make total adjustments. From speaking and teaching hundreds of students, JR now spends most of his time alone with his computer, working on programming and other IT needs of ZFF. “I am now realizing how digitization can help an institution in this digital era, especially during the pandemic when we are heavily reliant on technologies,” JR said.

JR didn’t fail to notice how ZFF values its staff not only in terms of employee benefits but also in terms of health and mental welfare. “It was my first time receiving a health kit.”

However, it is the continuous learning, through a series of trainings that ZFF provides to staff, that JR finds really valuable. He shared, “Here, I truly feel that we are looked after and that our professional development is also important to the institution.” In return, JR is determined to help ZFF achieve its digitization goals.

“If there is one thing I really want to do right now, it is to make this digital transformation a reality for ZFF,” JR said. “That is the only thing I could hope to do in return for the kind treatment I receive from the Foundation. It is the least I could do after they took me in when I found myself among the many jobless Filipinos amid the pandemic.”