Passion and perseverance: Mizel Baconawa’s story of growth at ZFF

“I am ‘laking Bicolana’,” Mizel Baconawa narrates, “the youngest of five siblings.” Life took a tough turn when her father passed away when she was just 13, leaving her mom, a housewife, to manage everything.

As the years went on, Mizel quickly learned how to be independent. College was not easy, but she pushed through with the help of a scholarship from being part of the school’s majorettes and dance troupe, and with support from her sister. After graduating, her main focus was finding a job to help her family, especially her mother.

Her first job took her to a fast-food restaurant in Quezon City, but the homesickness was too much, so she returned to Bicol. Soon after, she found out she was pregnant. Everything changed. She moved to Manila and started working in a pharmacy while pregnant to still be able to send money home. She continues, “After my pregnancy, we had our own botika (pharmacy) with the help of my partner’s sister. I took in my mother and one of my brothers.”

Years later, a chance encounter with the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) led her to apply for a job. At first, she didn’t know much about the foundation, but she was eager to join because of her background in medicine. 

She started as an encoder but quickly learned and grew, eventually taking on roles that involved working with staff and different local government units (LGUs). For Mizel, what stood out was the welcoming and equal atmosphere at ZFF, where everyone, despite their busy schedules, always found time to talk, laugh, and support one another.

Commitment, growth, and a love for the job

Mizel’s work ethic is inspiring. She recalls times when, even while out shopping or traveling, she would still be coordinating work tasks and making sure things got done. She became known as someone who was always available to help—whether it was coordinating with vendors or handling urgent requests. “I’m the one who doesn’t know how to say no when it comes to work,” she says.

One of the proudest moments in her career was passing the NC III Bookkeeping Certification, thanks to the support and mentoring she received at ZFF. It was a challenging journey, especially moving from admin to finance roles, but she pushed herself to learn new skills.

Looking back, Mizel is grateful for the opportunities and growth ZFF has given her. She is proud to have contributed to a foundation that helps improve healthcare in underprivileged communities. Even though her role is mostly in the office, she feels connected to the bigger mission—knowing that the work she does supports the staff who are out in the field making a difference.

Mizel’s philosophy is simple: “When you love your job and you are happy at work, you can do anything. No excuses, no exemptions.” Her commitment to her work and family drives her forward, and she is determined to keep growing and helping others in the years to come.