Navigating challenges and change: Mel’s story with ZFF

Melanie Reyes, the youngest of three siblings, grew up in a family where both parents are government employees. Her arrival was unexpected, with a big age gap between her and her older siblings, eight and ten years. Originally, Mel’s family hoped she would become a doctor. She mentally conditioned herself to be a doctor or veterinarian. She got into a school specializing in medicine but was advised by her father to study in a school closer to their home. Ultimately, she chose Economics but later switched to Sociology when she found the Accounting subjects difficult. 

Career beginnings and turning points

Her first job was assisting with a big conference for then Ambassador Roberto R. Romulo, who would later become the founding chair of the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) in 2008. She handled speaker arrangements and conference giveaways, and her performance impressed the team, leading to a more permanent role. This experience taught her about managing events and dealing with people, which influenced her career path.

“I can pinpoint the exact moment when Triple R (referring to Romulo) became aware of my existence,” Mel recalls one morning she arrived early to work, and answered a call from Romulo. “I took down his instructions, and relayed the message to his Executive Assistant (EA) at that time. I later found out that he found my voice pleasant.” 

In 2001, in addition to Mel’s project officer duties, Mel was asked to assist Romulo’s EA. Whenever his EA was sick, Mel would fill in. Eventually, his EA had to go on medical leave and later migrated to Australia. Mel then stepped in as Romulo’s EA in 2006 and continued in that role until his death in 2022, serving him for 16 years.

Joining and growing with ZFF

The years 2021 and 2022 were particularly turbulent for Mel, marked by personal losses including the death of her brother in May 2021 and Romulo in January 2022, who had become a grandfather figure to her. In March 2022, Mel started working full-time at the ZFF head office. Later that year, in November, the Administration and Finance Director retired, and Mel was asked to handle the administrative function, ultimately assuming the role of Administration Manager.

Despite the workload and challenges, she chose to stay, drawn by the opportunity to work with a larger team and contribute to meaningful projects. “It can be overwhelming at times but I have learned so much from ZFF,” she says.

Mel’s work at ZFF has broadened her perspective on healthcare and community service. “Many organizations are focused on poverty, on education. Only a few are focusing on health. We’ve managed to carve a unique space for ourselves.”  Witnessing the stark contrast between public and private hospital conditions has been eye-opening, teaching her valuable lessons about tackling health inequities in underserved communities.  About ZFF’s push for systemic changes in health, Mel says,  “We are teaching them how to fish, not just giving them fish. Achieving meaningful change requires addressing various interconnected factors.”

Mel feels ZFF’s legacy will continue through the impact of its lessons imparted to communities. “Structures can fade and crumble, but the knowledge and skills we impart, I hope, will be deeply ingrained, practiced, shared, and passed on. These concepts extend beyond health and can be applied to all aspects of life.”