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| Maria Remedios "Baby" Bueno-Coady |
By Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon
Before she became one of the country's
top fashion designers, feisty yet light-hearted Maria Remedios
Bueno-Coady, or Baby to her friends and relatives, was once a country
girl who sold fish in the market, was a balot (duck's embryo) vendor
and took laundry jobs to be able to realize her dreams.
Baby is known in her circle of friends
as a seasoned fashion designer, a successful entrepreneur, an
environment advocate and an arts and culture patron. But before she
earned this reputation, Baby had to go through rocky roads that made
her independent and strong-willed.
It started with a dream
Baby has come a long way from her
humble beginnings in her hometown Zambales. Second to the eldest
among 12 siblings (seven girls and five boys), Baby was born and
raised by her parents Panfilo Bueno and Esperanza Bueno in Santa
Cruz, Zambales.
At the age of 12, Baby showed her
penchant for hard work and enthusiasm in business by selling fish
caught by the men employed by the Bueno family's fishing business.
"When I was young, I was able to
sell fish since my father was a fisherman. I carried the container of
fish with my head and sold it to my neighbors or in the market. I
also did labada (laundry) and sold balut with my aunt. And take note,
it was always sold out," she recalled.
By the age of 15, Baby left for Manila
to model, as well as to prepare for her college education at the
University of the East, where she became a scholar.
To be a model was Baby's most fervent
dream.
"Since I was a little girl, I
wished to be a model. I liked posing and walking like a real model.
Kahit naglalaba ako noon, pose ako dito, pose ako dun with my hands
on my waist, and then my mother told me, 'Baby, itigil mo yan!
Mangulot ka na lang,'" Baby quipped.
But being determined to reach her
dreams, she studied style and fashion and was luckily able to work
with then-rookies in Filipino fashion design Pitoy Moreno and Inno
Sotto, and through this she was given a chance to make her dreams to
come true.
Her career began as a mannequin,
working for well-known Filipino designers in Manila such as Aureo
Alonzo, Ben Ferrales and Dante Ramirez. Later on, she appeared as a
signature model in the "Bagong Anyo" and "Kalipayan"
presentations organized by former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte
Rep. Imelda Marcos.
Through this opportunity, many projects
came Baby's way. She had a chance to work in Sampaguita Pictures, and
she even had stints playing the role of a model in former President
Erap Estrada's films Dragnet and Zoom, Zoom, Superman.
"During that time, dun ko nakilala
si Charo Santos (ABS-CBN president and Maalaala Mo Kaya host), when a
friend approached me and asked if puwede bang maipasok 'yung bagong
model na si Charo, together with her sister Millette (Edgar "Bobot"
Mortiz's wife) and I said, 'Yes.' Pinasok ko na sila," revealed
Baby.
After making a name as ramp model in
the local scene, Baby strove to make a name for herself in the
international stage. This was why when Italian designer Ken Scott
invited her to join his entourage for shows in Paris and Hong Kong,
she took the opportunity and gained her first international exposure.
She was able to model for such haute couture names as Balestra and
Fabiani of Italy, Lanvin, Christian Dior and Nina Ricci.
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| Baby with Aga Mulach and Pagudpod Mayor Maja Sales |
Eventually, Baby shifted from being
ramp model to full-time fashion designer as she got an interest in
designing her own clothes. "Why pay a fashion impresario or
producer a handsome sum when I can do it myself?" she reasoned.
Baby began traveling to promote her
designs by staging shows in such places as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur,
Jakarta, Singapore, Taipei, Kota Kinabalu and Manila. Baby did not
only promote her own line, but also those of Versace, Dior, Ricci and
Balenciaga in her successful fashion shows here and abroad.
One of the many accolades for her
designs is her selection as designer for the wardrobe of Miss
Philippines for the pageant held in London. She also designed for
actresses and royal families. Through this, she got a chance to
associate with the rich and famous, from presidents and prime
ministers to other well-known personalities and VIPs all over the
world.
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| Baby with Lenie Robredo |
She was based in Singapore for almost
27 years and in Hong Kong for eight years. She also resided in Macau
for a long time with her architect-designer husband, with whom she
was blessed with a child.
Just like most stories of triumph and
struggles, Baby faced one of the most difficult parts of her life
when she was diagnosed with brain tumor while staying in Switzerland.
But, for Baby, it was not the end of the road as she never gave up,
saying prayer was her best medicine.
"I never lost hope... so wala
akong ginawa kundi magdasal. (I also started) taking also Chinese
herbal medicine and to be a vegetarian. Later on, a miracle happened.
Parang kinain daw ng utak ko 'yung tumor o 'yung na-cover 'yung tumor
ng utak ko para 'di na siya lumaki o mag-expand, then luckily nawala
'yung cancer ko. Even the doctors hardly believe the miracle,"
explained Baby.
With her second life, Baby vowed to be
more productive and offered her second chance in servicing her
countrymen in the best possible way she can.
Promoting arts and culture to the world
Since 2006, Baby has been promoting art
and artists from the Philippines, proposing cultural and economic
exchanges throughout the world.
While in Macau, Baby has been
supporting and promoting the Filipino arts and culture there and
those from other Southeast Asian countries. She did events
promotions, art exhibits and fashion shows through her Baby Bueno
Promotions that showcased the rich Filipino artistry and heritage.
"I have been promoting talents and
their works for so many years. I helped our Filipino artists like
Rafael Pacheco in their art presentations in Asian countries like
Brunei. This is my own way in contributing to promote our own
crafts," she said.
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| Baby with CHR Commissioner Etta Rosales |
Now, Baby is promoting tourism in her
hometown in Zambales as she collaborates with local government
officials and non-government organizations in launching the Mango
Festival to be held in January next year.
"Ang Mango Festival ng Zambales ay
ginaganap na siya noon pa pero hindi ganun kakilala. But next year,
we plan to make it a bigger and grander festival to promote the
tourism and products of Zambales. It is also combined with
agro-industrial fare, which will boost the handicraft and livelihood
of the people," Baby stated.
According to her, Zambales is known for
its big and sweet mangoes. That is why it is just fitting to
celebrate the Mango Festival there and to crown Zambales as "the
mango capital of the country."
"It's more fun in Zambales,
because it's like heaven. So many beaches, resorts and other tourist
spots you will find in Zambales. White sand ang mga beach namin doon
parang sa Boracay. Celebrating Mango Festival can be a big help in
promoting the tourism of Zambales," she added.
Public service like no other
Through the years, Baby never got tired
writing letters soliciting help from government officials. From the
President and Cabinet secretaries to local government officials and
executives of private companies, she never hesitated to ask for
support for her advocacy and programs.
This year, she is campaigning for the
immediate implementation of Republic Act 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act
of 2007 for rabies-free communities so that locals and tourists alike
can safely enjoy their stay in the country.
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| Baby at a Baguio dumpsite |
"This law is needed to control the
spread of rabies. Tulad niyan, we will celebrate the Mango Festival,
maraming stray dogs na pakalat-kalat baka makagat pa 'yung ating mga
turista. So we make sure the safety of our tourists while enjoying
their stay in the country," expressed Baby.
Apart from this, Baby is also an
eco-warrior as she advocates caring for and protecting our Mother
Earth. She works hand-in-hand with various groups and LGUs in raising
important issues such as proper segregation of solid waste materials
and stressing the implementation of Republic Act 8749 or Philippine
Clean Air Act of 1999.
Also active in helping the poor and the
needy, Baby has conducted medical and dental missions for years among
indigenous peoples in the country's fur-flung communities such as the
Aetas in Botolan and the Dumagat in Nueva Ecija.
Baby is also a certified graft-buster
as she works closely with the Office of the President, Commission on
Audit, Bureau of Internal Revenue and other government agencies to
observe on graft and corruption practices among officials and
employees.
For being always in public service,
Baby was enticed to enter the world of politics. According to her,
joining politics was not in her vocabulary as she has always been
helping the poor in uplifting their lives and supporting government's
programs but expecting nothing in return.
"I don't want to impress anybody,
and I think I have no reasons to do such para may mapatunayan pa to
myself. Tumutulong na ako noon pa and that is my attitude. But
joining politics will give me a chance para mas mapalaki at mas
mapabuti pa ang maibibigay kong serbisyo to my constituents in
Zambales," she averred.
Baby is running for a board member
position in the province of Zambales in the 2013 mid-year elections
under the banner of Liberal Party. Her platforms are collectively
known as the the 3Ps, which stands for "Pangkalusugan,
Pangkabuhayan, Pangkalikasan."
If ever given a chance to serve as a
public official, she will use this opportunity to continue what she
has started.
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| Baby with President Noynoy Aquino |
Even if she doesn't engage in politics,
Baby is a fulfilled woman. Her dreams have been fulfilled. She has
traveled to many places. Now, she is reaping the fruits of her
success as she currently serves as president and chief executive
officer of her own company, the Baby Bueno Coady International
Trading Co.
Asked about the difference between her
past and her present life, she answered: "It's still the same!
Nothing changed. Kung ano ako noon, ganun pa rin ngayon."
Baby has proven to the world that she
is a woman of substance with a strong character and a passion for
life. Now that she is treading a new path, she will prove another
thing to herself and to her critics. -- Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon
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