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At the end of this interview when I asked Loida what kept her going through all of the difficult times she responded, “I think it’s the understanding of the concept I read a long time ago…What the mind can conceive and believe the mind can achieve. There’s no limit to what we can do, it’s just a matter of wanting to do it.” She has an incredible and inspirational story to tell us all.
When Loida was a child of eight or nine in the Philippines she sold cobs of corn on the street. Her mother taught her how to buy the corn, boil it, and then sell it to make a 25% profit.
Always the seller in the family, she realized early that if they wanted to eat, they needed to earn the money to buy the food. She credits her parents for her happy, positive outlook and for her ability to always see the bright side of life.
As she walked through the streets with her parents, Loida's father was very outgoing and had a hello and a wave for everyone. In 1987 she came to Canada to join her husband who was Filipino, and began work as a chambermaid at the Convention Inn, though as she says, it was nothing like the Jennifer Lopez movie role.
She always worked at three or four jobs to support her children but never complained as it was a better life than she had in the Philippines. While with her husband they were constantly being evicted and within six months of arriving she was on her own with three of her four children.
It would be four long years before she would see one of her boys, who was five when she left the Philippines. There were many times when she was afraid she would not see him again but finally her immigration was approved. She found people in Canada to be very generous and kind-hearted and once on her own she and her three children were able to stay with a friend. They suggested that she go to WIN House (Women in Need) for help, and a new phase of her life began.
It was a very difficult decision to make and Loida recalls sitting in the front seat of the taxi trying very hard not to cry as she wanted to be brave for her children sitting behind her. In the end it was the best move that she could have made.
It was a very supportive environment in a clean house, where they did chores and received assistance from social workers. With help in finding an apartment, they stayed at WIN House for one month, and in six months she was able to support herself and her children.
Life was wonderful; they had their own apartment and her children were happy and winning awards at school, while Loida was working two jobs and budgeting every penny she made. She credits her excellent goal-setting and budgeting skills from being poor – she knew exactly how many hours she needed to work in order to buy food and pay her bills.
She began working at the IGA, and eventually moved up from cashier to Customer Service Manager at a new store, where she was involved with hiring and training. She took evening marketing courses at NAIT and by now her youngest was in Grade 7 and the oldest in first year at university.
One of her customers told her that he was selling new homes in the area – Loida thought that sounded like something interesting to do, so on her days off from IGA, she worked in his office to learn all that she could about new construction. When a sales position opened up she left IGA and began a new career.
With her youngest now in Grade 12, she did that for seven months before she ran into another former IGA customer. He suggested that she try working for Re/Max as he found them to be very supportive –and profitable. She made the move and now enjoys being her own boss, meeting new friends and working with families. She appreciates her clients and once a year rents a movie theatre for a Client Appreciation Night.
Her number one philosophy is that life has to have a goal and purpose. For Loida, she had to feed her children so she needed to find the means to do so. When she sees anyone who is sad, she believes that you have your whole mind, body and soul, so do something about it – you can do what you want with your life.
If your mind is clouded it is blocking everything else; it is a waste of precious time to be sad or complaining. Has she been able to pass her goal-setting philosophy on to her children? Maricris graduated the University of Alberta in Industrial Design; Albert has a degree in Genetic Science and is now studying Chemical Engineering; Sherry, with a BA in Psychology works in Human Resources for the Federal Government, and Allen, the son from whom she was separated for such a long time, is a Computer Engineer and works for Microsoft in Seattle.
An inspiration and help to others? It would certainly seem so. At a talk that she gave a few years ago for realtors in her office, she told them to stop complaining about how tough life is here “because from where I’ve been I think this is heaven.” She enjoys motivating people and sharing new ideas and the award that means the most to her is the Spirit of Re/Max River City Award.
As she says, “Money can be earned everyday but I value most the respect from others.”
And don’t forget, Loida is never too busy for your referrals!
Written by: Glenda Van Koot
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