Rebecca Bustamante is the perfect embodiment of a success story – she now owns a business, which she described as a “headhunter for multinational firms”, with her husband Richard Mills. But unknown to many, she had to go through hell and back to get to where she is now.
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency, Bustamante shared how her “nightmares” in the past led her to the successful life she is living right now.
Bustamante had a rough childhood. She revealed that she was sexually assaulted by her neighbor and her own father. Aside from that, she was also a victim of bullying at school.
She said in the said interview that she has moved on from her haunting past, and that she hopes that her story would inspire other who underwent the same dark path she had to go through.
“Others prefer to keep quiet. I want to inspire them. If they see my status now, then they could tell themselves they could also surpass that and move on with their lives,” Bustamante told PNA.
But her life struggles did not end there. After her mother died when she was just a teenager, she stepped up to become the provider of the family.
At the young age of 19 when everyone else her age was busy with school or other youthful things, she decided to fly to Singapore to work as a domestic helper and provide her family’s needs.
Bustamante also revealed that she was mistreated as a domestic helper, but being the 7th among 11 children, she had to endure the sufferings for the sake of her family.
She spent three and a half years in Singapore before moving to Canada to work there for another two years.
But in those years of working as an OFW, Bustamante brought along with her a vision to do something to make a change, make a difference.
“I told myself I shouldn’t be like this forever. I shouldn’t be dealing with poverty, hardships forever,” Bustamante said.
She said that in order to reach her vision, she took advantage of her days off and spare time to go to school, get part-time jobs, read lots of books, attend some trainings, and also study personality development.
After more than half a decade of working abroad, she returned to the Philippines with the vision.
But after many years of struggle, she was able to see the light at the end of her long, dark tunnel.
Aside from the business she operates with her husband, she now also the president of the Asia CEO Awards, a business awards that recognizes leaders in the country and across the Asian region.
She’s also the founder of the Chalre Associates, which focuses its Senior Manager Staffing services in emerging countries of the Asia Pacific.
The Asia CEO Awards was conceptualized by the couple to also recognize the struggles of CEOs (Chief Executive Officers).
“It’s for the people at the bottom to be inspired. I want them to realize that these CEOs were also at the bottom before, and have struggled to slowly climb the ladder,” she said.
Bustamante explained that having the Asia CEO awards will enable other employees to hear the bosses’ success stories. “I want the CEOs to serve as an example,” she added.
But even with all the success that she is enjoying right now, Bustamante remains to keep her feet at the ground.
“I don’t consider myself successful. I still feel the same,” emphasized Bustamante. “I’m not smart. I’m just normal. Wherever I am now, I have worked for this,” she said.
She said her experiences were the best teachers, and made her discover that she could fight battles.
“He (God) led me to do the right things. He led me to where I am now,” Bustamante said.
