Beyond balance sheets: Kristine’s path to purpose

Kristine Damaso belongs to the roster of the hardworking finance team.

She has always been a city girl. Kristine grew up in Parañaque along with her three siblings. Her father worked as a maintenance staff in a subdivision and her mother worked as a retailer of various products, but their salary was just enough for their basic needs. She quit college and started working so she can help her parents. Soon enough, Kristine and her parents witnessed the fruits of their labor when Kristine’s two siblings both graduated from Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Seeing her siblings’ diploma reignited Kristine’s desire to graduate. So, even when she was already working, Kristine decided to go back to college and continue studying computer science.

Ups and downs

In 2016, the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) engaged Kristine as an outsourced clerk for the Finance Unit. It was a huge shift for Kristine. Pressure and backlogs caught up with her, but a lot of helping hands made it bearable for Kristine.

Her former manager, Lerma Tan, served as her mentor. Lerma could be stern, Kristine admitted, but she also taught her many lessons. “Kapag may nakita siyang mali, tatawagin niya ako. Tatanungin niya para saan ba itong document na ‘to? Ie-explain niya further at ipapaintindi niya bakit ba ‘to naka-attach sa payment.” It is just one of the many things Kristine learned from her. She developed a sense of keenness and gained appreciation for every document that comes to her desk.

Kristine slowly witnessed her efforts paying off. They had a smooth audit process because of the finance team’s meticulous efforts. However, Kristine proved that everything comes with a price. She shared, “Naiisip ko na noon bumitaw kasi ganito na lang ba talaga? Uuwi ka sa gabi, tutulog, liligo, tapos papasok. Pumasok na walang araw, umuwi na wala nang araw.”

Kristine recalled rendering overtime even during the holiday season. She would usually go home at 11p.m. What broke her heart the most was the fact that she had to spend more time in the office than with her own child. “May time na nilagnat ang anak ko sa bahay. Umiiyak siya, hinahanap niya ako. Umuwi ako at kinuha ko ang anak ko. Bumalik ako sa office. Habang natutulog siya, nagtatrabaho ako. Naisip ko, worth it pa ba? Kaya ko pa ba? Hindi ko mabigay yung oras na kailangan ng anak ko,” Kristine recalled. It burned her out and this incident led to Kristine’s attempt to resign in 2017, but a journey to the community changed her mind.

Meaningful trip

That same year, Kristine got the chance to visit the community that later led her to gain a new perspective on her work. She said, “Dahil doon sa field work na ‘yon, nakita ko saan nga ba napupunta ‘yong nakikita namin sa papers ng ZFF.”

In Zambales, Kristine got to see firsthand the maternal clinic that was put up in partnership with ZFF. She attended the Buntis Congress and met some of the mothers who directly benefited from the Foundation’s programs. It was a geographically isolated and disadvantaged area, and that led Kristine to appreciate the staff’s commitment even more. She witnessed the underprivileged community members thanking them for their efforts. Some of them do not have the capacity to go to the hospital, and the clinic they have put up meant a lot to them. She also found out that the conditions in the community often require the staff to do close monitoring and conduct house-to-house surveys to know the pregnant population and to determine their needs. “Talk about commitment,” said Kristine.

“Nakakatuwang makita in the flesh ang ginagawa ng Foundation. Nandoon lang kami to observe pero maraming realizations,” Kristine shared. This short trip to Zambales, Kristine said, was instrumental in her decision to stay in the organization. Kristine went home feeling renewed and excited more than ever. The trip was physically exhausting, but it was emotionally rewarding.

Carrying all the learnings she gained from her Zambales trip, Kristine revisited her personal approach on doing things. She dedicated her energy to implement changes in the team so they can be more efficient. By the end of 2017, Kristine saw huge improvements. She rendered less overtime hours and had more time for her baby.

Since then, Kristine never had the thought of leaving ZFF again. In 2023, Kristine joined ZFF as a Finance Assistant. Now, more than ever, Kristine appreciates the work ZFF does for the community. But what impresses her more is the organization’s desire to help the staff be the best versions of themselves. “Dahil sa ZFF, marami akong nasubukan na hindi ko pa nagawa dati. Isa na nga ‘yong trip na yon. Nakaka-refresh. Hindi sila madamot sa staff. They allow us to grow,” Kristine ended.