Suzette Peachie Bayonito, The Filipino Times 2017 Architect of the Year, believes in “creating your own superwoman version of yourself.”
“Superwoman” may yet be an understatement considering the projects she has been involved in and which have helped define Dubai as a must-see global city. Respected in the industry as a part of – and the only Filipina senior architect at – the elite National Engineering Bureau (NEB), described as the 57th best architectural firm in the world, it’s for compatriots like Bayonito that makes you proud to be a Filipino, indeed!
‘Do what you love in order to love what you do. When you’re happy doing things you find a great sense of fulfillment.
So how does she make it work?
“I always go to work with organized thoughts on how to fulfill the tasks at hand,” said Bayonito.
“I give more than what it is required. I find my value as an architect not only by my achievements but on my purpose as well. I realized how important it is to do what you love in order to love what you do. When you’re happy doing things, you find a great sense of fulfilment even when things don’t go the way you wanted it to be. I know I still have a long way to go to become great especially in this field where innovation moves fast but I’m willing to take this path wherever it may lead me,” she said.
But success, always as elusive as luck, did not come on a silver platter.
“I failed the first time I took the licensure examination for architects,” shared Bayonito. “It was really a devastating experience. But instead of being crippled by the thought of failing again, I decided to have the courage to believe in myself and took another licensure examination. I didn’t linger in pain or in disappointment but rather put more action to it. I burned the midnight oil doing my review,” Bayonito said.
Bayonito said life taught her great lessons that molded her as a person and taught her to embrace failures in life and set them instead as guiding principles to keep going for her goals. “As Henry Ford would say, ‘Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.’ Failure will come whether you believe you deserve it or not. But as long as you don’t stop trying, you will achieve success,” she said.
Bayonito is also into photography and shares her passion by giving free workshop for new photographers. She is also an active member, international associate and officer of Events Organizing Committee of the American Institute of Architects – Middle East, a group that give free lectures and seminars to architects.
Bayonito is currently in her 9th year at NEB. Her great sense of responsibility has earned her the respect and value of the company’s CEO.
The Filipino Times Awards 2018 will be held on 7 September in JW Marriott Marquis Dubai in association with du as the platinum sponsor. The TFT Awards, which is now on its 4th edition, is proud to have RAKBANK as the gold sponsor and Al Tayer Motors-Ford as the car partner. Category sponsors of The Filipino Times Awards are Nikon, Pancake House International and Bawiq, while the support sponsors are NMC Mabuhay Clinic, Hot Palayok Restaurant & Grill, CMG Cargo, MPQ Tourism and Dofreeze-Eurocake.
