MikeLigalig.com

Written By Loy M. Palapos

Nominated for the Presidential Awards for Outstanding Filipino Overseas in 2006, he was an accomplished Boholano backed by a distinctive professional career and years of community service.  His passion for human resource development is equaled by his concern for organizational management, a skill he nurtured in the Philippines and mastered in the Middle East.  Dioscoro Orias Ayag, Jr. is Bohol’s contribution to an ever-increasing management pool of experts in the international corporate world.

Jun to his clan and friends, he was born in Mabini, Bohol on December 20, 1959.  His father, Dioscoro Uy Ayag Sr. was a well-respected Barangay Captain.  His mother, Vicentita Gerodias Orias Ayag is now based in California. Jun has two younger sisters.  Daisy A. Agunod finished Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Accounting at Divine Word College.  Maria Divina A. Felicitas finished Bachelor of Arts major in Economics and Bachelor of Science in Nursing also at Divine Word College ( Holy Name University), and is now based in Union City, California.

He graduated First Honorable Mention at the Mabini Central Elementary School in 1972, and Valedictorian at the Holy Infant Academy in Anda in 1976.  At 45  years of age, Jun indeed came a long way from his modest beginnings in Mabini and where he learned that a scholarly performance definitely ensure a sure path to academic fulfillment. From the secondary to the collegiate level, he was a consistent honor student and finished his studies solely supported by a string of government scholarships including the prestigious Cocofed Scholarship grant.  At the University of San Carlos, Cebu City where he took his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management Accounting, while at the same time with the Sacred Heart Formation House, a preparatory center for priesthood, he earned the nomination for the university’s outstanding graduates.

After rendering service as a Peer Counselor with the University’s Guidance and Counseling Center and at the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Scholarships, Jun’s first foray into the professional business world was with the Cebu-based Norkis Group of Companies where he was assigned as a Research Analyst in the advertising department.

Fresh from college and having undergone short significant on-the-job training with Norkis-Yamaha, Jun moved to the bigger city, Manila, for greener pasture that landed him to avail the Ministry of Human Settlements National Scholarship for Shelter Systems Management and Development Course, a non-thesis masteral course at the University of Life, in cooperation with the Development Academy of the Philippines.

A year later, Jun was hired as a Junior Management and Development Officer at the Human Settlements Development Corporation’s Project Development and Evaluation Group which paved him a bigger role as Assistant Department Manager for Project Planning  and Impact Assessment under the Human Settlement’s Office of the Assistant Minister for Special Projects and Services in 1983.  Within the same year, Jun’s managerial ability was further harnessed when he was taken as a Manager, Management Staff and as Senior Executive Assistant to the Secretary General of the Philippine Human Resources Development Center (PHRDC).  During his employment with the Ministry, Jun’s editing and writing abilities also proved valuable in several inaugural speeches and reports by ministry officials including the top echelon.

The allure of foreign scholarships under Japan’s JICA Technical Cooperation package first beckoned to Jun in 1985 when he was short listed for the year’s batch of business scholars to be sent to Tokyo, Japan.  But fortunes have it that Jun joined his compatriots in the exodus to the Middle East during the mid-1980s.

From 1986 to 1990, Jun provided a vital supportive role as Executive Secretary to the Office of the Vice President, Marketing ( Plastics Sales), at the Riyadh-based Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), one of the key government petrochemical institutions in Saudi Arabia’s quest for a mature export-oriented economy.  SABIC’s high profile proved to be of advantage to Jun since it provided him the training of handling multi-national transactions.

Better opportunity prompted Jun to join the reputable Saudi American Bank (SAMBA â€" formerly of Citibank / Citigroup ) as a Customer Service Assistant in 1991 to a Senior Product and Services Representative.  It was his desire to shift its gear back in banking inclinations that induced him to take the post at the bank.  Upon entry, the bank had introduced its remittance facility (the Speedcash) where the Filipino expatriates were its launching recipients; and as a pioneering staff, he was able to render services to hundreds of thousands of OFWs and expatriates in the 3 regions ( Central, Western and Eastern ) of Saudi Arabia.   With patience, hardwork and dedication towards his job, Jun was accorded with the Service Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement in the bank’s (SAMBA) Annual Awards (1992) for deserving employees.

With the bank’s advocacy on Saudi’s Nationalization Program, Jun ended his stint in 2002, which opted him to move to Astra Polymers Compounding Company Limited, a manufacturing firm on color additives, as Head of the Human Resources Department for almost 2 years.  During the course of his employment, he introduced quality initiatives on organizational development, corporate image building, strategic corporate planning and training that made marks among the company’s employees.

Jun’s continuing quest for making a difference in the life of an individual and organization has presently prompted him to take a post at JAL International, a contracting / consulting firm, management solution provider that supplies technical manpower to two of the world’s oil and petrochemical giants, Saudi Aramco and SABIC.  Being the Executive  Assistant to the General Manager / CEO and Management Representative have given him the opportunity to reach the employees and officers alike with his touch of quality, an embodiment of an ISO Quality Coordinator where he also holds.

His working years in Saudi Arabia has brought him to seventeen ( 17 ) countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia through personal travels and business trips.  These opportunities have helped Jun mold his understanding on the plight of OFWs and the Filipino identity as a whole in the league of nations.  Through his professionalism, he has represented the Filipino’s competence and service excellence to his counterparts in the global market which without doubt has indirectly promoted goodwill  to the Republic.

Among the early clinchers of Jun was his election as a Kabataang Barangay (KB) Federated President and inclusion in the Sangguniang Bayan thus instrumental in honing his leadership abilities.  Armed with talents and networks / contacts in the community, he paved the organization of community-based associations like Bisayang Igsoon Sa Saudi Arabya (BISAYA), a civic oriented Bisayan speaking group of overseas workers, the BOWACCC, Boholano Overseas Workers And Community Credit Cooperative, including the participation in various organizations like Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Congress, and the Cebuano Integrated Society and Tribal Allies (CISTA).

Jun also took an active role in assisting various organizations either as a member, an adviser, or as avid supporter, like the Filipino All Sports Promotions (FASPROM) in Riyadh, and the United Filipino Basketball Federation (UFBF) in the Eastern Province.  In arts and culture, he helps spearhead the Entablado Filipino, a theater group that showcases Filipino talents and promotes Filipino literary works.  Despite his hectic schedule, he still finds time as an Adviser to the Association of Filipino Fashion Designers in AlKhobar.

With his exemplary talents and professionalism, Dioscoro O. Ayag, Jr. has gained the respect among his peers, superiors, employers and co-workers which ultimately built his distinction as an epitome of a Filipino deserving praise and adulation, and whose achievements are examples to be replicated.  Still at the prime of his life, this multi-talented Boholano has long proven that success waits for anybody who labors hard to make his dreams come true.

--published in all Bohol newspapers.

My praise, salute, and loyal support goes to Mr. Jun Ayag. A man of character, a man of excellence.

I look up to you Jun as a model and an idol worthy of praise.

Another pride from TB community.

Hats off to Sir Jun!

Quote from: Ginger on October 24, 2007, 05:04:15 PM
Another pride from TB community.

Hats off to Sir Jun!

I want to see him as the next President of the Philippines!!

Cheers!

Nothing else I can say except "Congratulations". I am proud that you are my friend and mentor. You unselfishly shared your knowledge and encourage others to develop thier potentials.

Marcos Raymund, Johde and Kids

Wow! what a intellectual history.  Mr. Junayag, I envy your professional achievement. CONGRATULATIONS! More Power!

jun, my warmest felicitations!

Congratulations Jun.

More power...

To all my TB bros & sis,

thanks for your warm compliments.. same here, i feel elated having known all of you..... wonderful people. all I could say, am much grateful to HIM for giving me the opportunities that inspite for being less priveleged, we're able to have our dreams come true.

I am the living manifestation of God's blessings... hope my story will inspire others.  "Poverty is not a hindrance to success".

Sir Junayag is a role model.
Let's all be like him.
Let's start wearing eyeglasses for a start   
Then buckle down for the hard work to excel just like him.

to asianfairy,
mora man ko nakuyawan sa imo wish....am just praying that there will always be a leader who has similar visions... ( wa tay sapi para sa election.. hehehehe ).

to macky,
because you are a nice person, you deserved to have those past blessings and the ones coming your way, I was only an instrument then.... we must learn from others...

to gec,
everybody has the potentials... it is a matter of putting FOCUS... (bisan og walay antipara, hehehe) it must be hardwork, dedication coupled with prayers...

to bran lorenz,
i've seen myself in you... you are one in the making....

I am so amazed reading this piece and so proud that I belong to TB where Jun Ayag belongs too!  My sincerest congratulations to you, Jun, and your family!  May your life story serve as an inspiration to many that nothing is impossible with perseverance, hardwork and most of all, God's help!  Keep it up!  You also made me a proud Bol-anon! 

thanks grazie, we must always remember, that the future is not something we travel to, we have to build it....

That's right, Jun!  I will speak on behalf of my sisters, in our own little ways, we built our future in the midst of storm.  It may not be as big as the others but we could have been worst if we did not persevere and if we just gave up when it was easier to.  God is good!

You are an inspiration!  Thank you! 

Quote from: junayag on October 25, 2007, 12:23:21 AM
to asianfairy,
mora man ko nakuyawan sa imo wish....am just praying that there will always be a leader who has similar visions... ( wa tay sapi para sa election.. hehehehe ).

quote]

Sir Jun,

Motampo unya ko...he..he.. Bitaw, we must educate our people that we all must stop this monkey business of vote buying!

A person should be elected to govern the whole nation not because he or she has the money but because he or she deserves it.

I agree with you, Asianfairy!

thanks to all those who have trust in me that I could make a difference...

My idol Kuya Jun

Quote from: junayag on October 25, 2007, 07:35:58 PM

thanks to all those who have trust in me that I could make a difference...

Jun you are very welcome...

happy,
thanks for believing in my advocacies as reflected in my threads... i admire too in your positive outlook.

the best thing is i've met him in person... kadtong uban, wala pa...sayang! hehehe

Building my future today is one of the many lessons I've learned from Jun.

hi leo ( el mundo ),
me too, i feel priveleged to have met you in person... (though you might be petite for others you stood tall to me),  I admired your writings... I have that special impression on people who know how to express their thoughts, i've seen some of that burning drive in you to excel... you're such a nice person too as what reflected in my observations on how the others dealt with you during that short encounter in ICM, Prawn Farm.

you're still in bohol? how's the business trip?

hopefully next year, i can meet sir jun!

To Macky,
I am so touched with your statement...am glad of the transformation of the Macky I've known 14 years ago.  thought that my being strict, straightforward and direct were the only traits people have seen...am sure it has challenged you to see the other side of life's perspectives.... hope God will give more that what you need... you got beautiful soul and wonderful parents.

hi leo,
I returned to Saudi last 17th October ( few days after we've met ). I got some previews about you prior our meeting through your articles in some of the Bohol's dailies ( even said to myself, one day I could be your subject ).. hehehe.

mao ba? i thought you will be staying in bohol for a month to accomplish your project. because thinking that you might stay longer and busy with your business trip, i decided not to meet you again...and i can ask you rnumber from sigbin and delaguna.

tapuwan na jud ko magsulat karun sir sa even sa akong column. i got no laptop and computer karun. i'm using my phone to connect the net. i'm always out of town for the website on bohol.

it would be an honor to write you in my column soon... i will email you my questions when i'm ready for the questions...

leo,
you mean you didn't get my business card during our EB? we can reach through here anyway. will definitely contact you for some time to discuss mutually rewarding business relationship....

i have your business card and i kept it safely.... sosyal baya to sir imong calling card. sorry diay adto nga wala koy nakahatag nga business card in return kay wala ko magdala hehehe

its fine with me, makahinumdum man ko kon mopauli pohon, so managad gyod ko nimo...just keep me posted ... and hope could figure out how could I be of help to you someday....

El Mundo ( Leo ),  Am still waiting for your contact number aside from the email add.  Thank you for counting me among your subjects...

wow,congrats jun

http://www.mikeygatal.com/connect/index.php?topic=1288.0

congrats pud Mr. jun

Jun Congratulations once again.

Vits, Mikey and Ms Da Binsi, thanks for the compliments...may my life's journey would bring inspiration for others...

In life... it is not a matter of destiny... it is a matter of choice.  And success will be the destiny for those who choose to succeed....

Mikey,

Feel elated and grateful for posting same thread in your forum...

Thank you.

I salute you Mr. Jun Ayag for all your achievements in life and I agree w/ Bambi.

Quote from: lindy on April 08, 2008, 12:29:50 AM
I salute you Mr. Jun Ayag for all your achievements in life and I agree w/ Bambi.

I second the motion!  Good job, Jun!

Mr. Jun Ayag,

Once again, congratulations, sir.

You have my deep respect. Continue to be an idol for us Pinoy students.

Quote from: junayag on April 08, 2008, 12:08:39 AM


Mikey,

Feel elated and grateful for posting same thread in your forum...

Thank you.

no problem mate:

http://www.mikeygatal.com/connect/index.php?topic=15.0

Bran,

You are one in the making.... keep that good / positive values...

Lindy,  thanks for the warm recognition.. when a man has gone through with adversities... he will strive to survive and excel as not to experience more pain...this is my life story...

Grazie and all,

Recognizing positive values and embedding them in ourselves and in our dispositions with others would certainly bring changes in our surroundings...hoping we could bring this change in our very own communities...

Bran Lorenzo,

What a compliment for being " an idol for Pinoy students ".  But it is real that "poverty is not a hindrance to success"... never thought that there is a bright life after the death of my father at a very tender age...'but with the scholarship programs, I was able to obtain a degree..." so for you students who are priveleged, the more you should be motivated to attain peaks... heights...and must treasure and make the best of the blessings...

Mr. Ayag,

Thank you so much, sir, for your humbling, and inspirational advice, sir.
I truly am honored to meet you here, sir. Modesty aside, truly and I mean this, you are an example to us what a man can become when he commits everything to his profession. Your name precedes you, Mr. Ayag.

Bran,

We must not forget where we came from... our roots.  One will value more of its success when it is achieved in a hard way...

You are right, Mr. Ayag.

Mr. Ayag, I cannot help but smile when I read your posts. The tone of your post utters semblance to that of my father's, lol.

Amen, sir.

Bran, looking forward to meet your father pohon sa EB.  Do you have any changes (i.e. addition ) to the number of who will participate in the tour and our evening socials... I've taken down notes of your submitted list...

I will send you a PM if any changes occur, Mr. Ayag.
Warm Regards,
BL

Bran,
Feel free to convey special requirements for your guests during your vacation in Bohol and elsewhere...I am more than willing to assist you.

Hello Lindy,

Kumusta? Were you able to meet Mr. Ralph Baladjay and family recently... please extend my warm regards and would appreciate if you could pass on their contact address... thanks.

Congrats Sir Jun! sorry, karon pa ni nako nabasahi.

Maau pa unta nga magbaha ang susama nimo ug kinaiya... hats off to you Sir!

Thank you Swakee... and thank you for believing on my advocacies as manifested in your warm impression and wishes... may the life story enjoin and touch others ...and make a difference...