On October 20, 2021, the Filipino Communities Council of Australia (FILCCA), the national peak body of Filipino-Australians, conducted the online 2021 National Awards Ceremony. With the input and assistance by its affiliates and despite the challenges posed by the pandemic the FILCCA undertook the rigorous process of obtaining nominations from member peak organisations and recognising their contributions and achievements with the corresponding awards.
One of the awardees was Atty Marissa Dionson-Bala who was given the Leadership Award for NSW, alongside the posthumous award for the late Lina Cabaero.
*What does winning the State Leadership Award 2021 award mean to you?
Grateful to PCC NSW and FILCCA for the nomination and recognition. The recognition brings me more dedication to my community works which I share to Banag-Banag. Since 2004, I served seven presidentsbefore I became the president in 2015, 2016 and 2019. I am equally grateful to Banag-Banagfor their trust and confidence in me to lead the association. It was always a collaborative work. Together we achieve better.
*What other awards or achievements do you hold fondly in your heart?
Foremost, An Open Letter to Posterity, Celebrating Visayan Culture and Heritage, from the Banag-Banag Officers and Members dated 7thSeptember 2019 and if I may quote:
“Be it known that our President Marissa Dionson-Bala has brought honour and prestige to Banag-Banag through her vision, action and brand of soft motivation that allowed officers and members to grow and give their best. She is a person of integrity whose deeds match her words, and unquestioned commitment spanning years that steered Banag-Banag into a respected association. We are grateful to have worked with her, and have learned from someone who we can rightfully call a true leader.”
Secondly, the Inspiring Woman 2020 for International Women’s Day “Each for Equal” by Adhika Inc.
Thirdly, Cheers Award from Sales of Dell Australia for being “the protector of the business and worked tirelessly in the background to support the business and win stories.”
*On the flip side, what challenges or difficulties did you face and overcome?
It is difficult to navigate the different views and personalities of the officers and members. So, the communication line was open with a heart with more understanding.
Also, financial resources were then low so sourcing them came from one’s own pocket.
*If you can change something you did or experience in the past, what would they be?
In the past there were glitches but best to look at the totally that came out good. I would like to borrow the Contemplative Monk’s statement “we become free from the past the moment we are no longer holding on to the feeling that it should have been different.”
*Please share what you did in Japan; what were the good things having been there; how different is the Filipino community there compared to Sydney.
As a Japanese Government (Monbusho) Scholar, I took my Research Studies and Master of Laws in Wasesda and Sapporo Universities, respectively. Then Komatsu Koma Nishikawa and Maruhito Kondo law Offices hired me Foreign Legal Advisor.
Most Filipino workers in Japan are neither residents nor Japanese citizens unlike here in Australia. So, the Philippine Assistance Group would raise funds for the Filipino Community in collaboration with the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo for financial and medical assistance, repatriation, and other needs of our fellow Filipinos.
I realised that I was then practicing outsourcing. Outsourcing which means to “obtain (goods or a service) by contract from an outside supplier.” Every time I commuted by train and subway from the Komaba International Student House to Waseda University, I requested the Japanese sitting next to me to assist with my assignments in Japanese. To my surprise, they warmheartedly assisted me. So, my assignments to a little extent were then outsourced.
* Please tell us about one of the organisations you have championed for years - Banag-Banag.
Banag-Banag is a Bisayan-Speaking Association in NSW conceived in 1994. Banag-Banag means “dawn” or “sunrise.” It aims to provide assistance and contact points of new arrival migrants in whatever manner possible; present a unified voice among the Bisaya-speaking community to the Australian community; and preserve and enrich the cultural heritage and identity of the Bisaya-speaking group.
Banag-Banag took pride in reinvigorating and strengthening the Parramatta City Council and Cebu City – Sister City Relationship formed on 4 June 1996. Banag-Banag in collaboration with Parramatta City Council invited Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama and his Delegates who attended the 111th Anniversary of the Declaration Philippine Independence - Philippine Flag Raising Ceremony event held at Parramatta Town Hall on 20thJune 2015.
To date, the current officers and Board members mostly composed of the second generation Filipino-Australians are being mentored who are now leading Banag-Banag and the future.
* We are to have local government elections in early December, with the deadline of candidacy set in November. Would you consider running for a position? and why?
My cup is full, and politics is not my cup of tea.
*What advice would you give especially our women and our young ones who may be daunted in undertaking studies and pursuing positions such as yours?
Traditionally, the legal profession is preserved for men. However, the culture is changing. With hard work and determination one can hurdle any obstacle. Also, one must embrace change and love what you do.
Happy to tell that my employer Dell Technologies plan to significantly change the diversity of its 157,000 employees over the next decade by women account for 50% of its global workforce for 2030, up 30% today.
* What is your definition of success?
Success for me is that you have made a significance in the lives of other people and have a beautiful soul.
ABOUT MARISSA DIONSON-BALA
Marissa attributes her success to have had a loving family which laid emphasis on education. Her father, Ben, was the Supply Officer while her mother, Remy, was the Supervisor for Social Science with PhD in Education at the Department of Education, Division Officein Ozamis City. Both her younger sister, Maribel and younger brother, Benny, graduated with Bachelor of Laws.
Marissa who was happy to advised she turned a 'golden girl' in July, graduated Cum Laude in Mass Communication at St Theresa's College and Bachelor of Laws at Siliman University.
Marissa and husband Jade Bala hail from Ozamis City. They attended the same school at Immaculate Conception College, with Jade being two years ahead of her. Marissa's mother was Jade's teacher in Grade Five at Central Elementary School. Marissa migrated to Australia in 2001 with Jade migrating earlier in the late 1980's. Jade was a scholar graduate from Philippine Merchant Marines Academy (PMMA) and an active member of PMMAAAI Oceania Chapter Sydney. He is an Aerospace worker at Boeing Aerospace then to Quickstep Aerospace Composite for over 25 years. She and Jade got married on 27 October 2001 at Liverpool Catholic Church in south western suburb of Sydney.
She quotes Condoleezza Rice who once said that “there's no greater challenge and there is no greater honor than to be in public service.” Along that saying, she is proud that her first job was at the Probation and Parole Administration of the Department of Justise as Junior Executive Assistant. After passing the Bar exam, she then progressed to the Philippine Supreme Court as Court Attorney and finally at the Office of Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno.
She then became a Research Fellow at the Centre for International Legal Studies in Salzburg, Austria (1992-1993) and Japanese Government Scholar (Monbusho) in Tokyo, Japan (1995 – 2001).
She is proud to work as Legal Counsel at Dell Australia which is a proponent of diversity and inclusion programs and as a member of the Pro Bono Centre of NSW Law Society