ABOUT THE AUTHOR: his F.O.R. M.

ERNIE DELFIN

F = Family Background:

I was born in an agricultural village in Northern Luzon, 4 hours north of Manila, Philippines, of hardworking parents who never knew the word, leisure, as their lives revolved around work and raising us their children to have a better life than they found it. Bless their souls as they were successful! All my siblings : 3 sisters and 2 brothers and I became professionals, including a sister who is a Dominican nun who has been assigned in many parts of the world the last 28 years.

I came to America in the mid 70s in my early twenties, after passing the CPA exams and working in a big CPA-auditing firm, as a young single man. Like some of you, I have always been free spirited and always lived life to the fullest. I got married in Los Angeles 3 decades ago to another Filipina CPA, now an interior designer as her second degree and career. We live in the same house in Fountain Valley the last 31 years.

We have two wonderful grown up children: Donna Karen, an M.S.I.S graduate from CalState Fullerton (now a web programmer at Disney Corporation)and E.J. graduating with English major (now working as assistant teacher at his alma mater, Fountain Valley H.S.) Neither my son nor my daughter wants to become a businessman, a thought that sometimes baffles me why, although I am also very happy that they are enjoying their own career paths. Twenty years from now, they might want to be their own boss too. I really don’t worry about it. Only time will tell.

I can’t believe where years have gone, as I now have spent more than half of my earthly life in America! Life has been good, although getting older and wiser, I feel as young as most of you right now! I feel I still can match the energy level of some of you in this forum!... So much with this section.

O = Occupation, profession, business:

Double major in Accounting and Economics from Colegio de San Juan de Letran (now a university) one of the elite universities in the Philippines, oldest college in the Philippine, founded is 1611, run by the Dominicans, then exclusively for boys till 25 years ago), I sat for the CPA exams right after college and pass it in one sitting and was hired by one of the CPA auditing firms and my years of travelling starting as I was seldom in the city. I also took graduate courses in CalStateUniversity – Los Angeles.
I continued to work in accounting-auditing during my first years in California including a 2 year employment as an auditor in the County of Los Angeles (a job that left a bitter taste in my mouth having witnessed how work in the government stifles creativity and productivity!) I left very good employment to become my own boss. I took several licenses in real estate, insurance, securities plus some graduate courses in business and entrepreneurship. I have been successful in writing my own good paychecks since l985… I have been fortunate that through entrepreneurship and owning my own businesses, I never had anyone to tell me what to do every day (except my wife who does not want me to “retire” yet!)

R = Recreation, hobbies, interests:

I love creating, writing, and reading, and working with people who are energetic, enthusiastic and intelligent. I cannot stand mediocrity, that’s why I fired all my employers. LOL. I love playing chess and poker, if I have the opportunity. (that should be a prerequisite for any one going into business to teach them taking calculated risks that always go with winning) and also a hobby of watching, observing people, why they behave the way they do. I am as passionate partner of our JustFaith (Social Justice) ministry of our parish as I am a passionate leader of our Rotary District in Orange County.

M = Motivation, Message or Philosophy why I do what I do:

My passions at this stage of my life are in the areas of YOUTH services, Social Justice and Entrepreneurship. I believe that empowering other people to reach their full potential, lending a hand to those who are struggling, and inspiring them to never give up is the best work of life.

My heroes, both dead and living, are not necessary the richest (but it does help to be wealthy like Bill Gates who gave $355 Million to Rotary Foundation, using his wealth to better the world that he shares with all mankind!) include people like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Mandela, JFKennedy, Churchill, Warren Buffett and the many people (often unsung heroes) who join the Peace Corps who leave the comforts of their own families and birthplaces to be with people in other lands assisting them, educating them, inspiring them to have a better life.

My Rotary involvement, including the chartering your Rotaract Club, has given me experiences that are priceless and makes my life worth living for. With Rotary and Church volunteer work, I believe I have reasonably balanced my life in the four important quadrants of a successful life: PHYSICAL (TO LIVE), SOCIAL (TO LOVE), MENTAL (TO LEARN) AND SPIRITUAL (TO LEAVE A LEGACY). I believe that service to humanity is the best work of life and to see the fruition of your work is quite fulfilling that money can never buy.

And yes, working with this group of young people who also believe in “SERVICE ABOVE SELF” is helping me fulfill my life’s purpose to “leave a legacy” to make this world a better place than I found it ---- like my own parents did in their brief sojourn on earth, that is now contained in that little hyphen that separates the year of their birth and the year of their death on their tombstone. That has always been very sobering thought for me; it is a reality that our lives are so short and that it could end any time. It motivates daily to do my best to help make a difference in this world. As a Christian, I also believe that my life is God’s gift to me and what I do with my life is my gift to God.

Let me end this personal sharing with Socrates’ admonition: “AN UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING FOR!” to summarize my message and life’s philosophy.