Inquirer.Net Blog: Being Filipino
IT is said that one could find a Filipino in almost every corner of the world. And in a charming little corner in southwest Brittany, France called Quimper, a provincial lass from Mauban, Quezon sparkles.
Quimper pronounced “kem-pair” is a quaint, medieval town with cobbled streets, low flat bridges that cross the river that glides along the impressive Saint-Corentin cathedral.
Half-timbered buildings are festooned with geraniums and chrysanthemums this time of the year. Within this ancient city, the oldest cities in Brittany actually, are ultramodern buildings that blend tunefully with the city’s old world charm. Quimper is a storybook land from the medieval quarter. And this is where Margo Calderero-Palud’s story unfolds.
Down the boulevard of cafés and creperies, and among pottery shops and other tourist attractions is a much loved jewelry store, owned by a humble yet feisty Filipina. In fact, Margo Calderero-Palud heads and runs not just one but three well-known shops in this fabled city, in southwest Breton — Bisoux, which sells high end, fine jewelry pieces, Kisso Kisso, which specializes in the more fun and funky trinkets and charms, and Pilgrim, a jewelry, fashion accessories and fashion store.
Margo’s fairy-tale like story began in 1992, when she married Intercontinental Manila’s celebrated French Executive Chef Michel Palud. After 4 years, the couple flew to France to start their own restaurant, Le Spices. Margo, a University of Santo Tomas Fine Arts graduate and stranger to a foreign land, was determined to support her husband no matter what. And as a dutiful wife and partner, she summoned every fiber in her body to help make their restaurant a success.
Expectedly, Michel was lord of the kitchen, while Margo worked on the concept, interior, packaging, marketing and entertaining. See? She was into multi-tasking even before the word became every career woman’s mantra! So it wasn’t a surprise that in 12 years, Le Spices became a one of the town’s more adored spots. But just when Margo thought that her life would continue its storybook sequence, a chapter suddenly ended! Her husband Michel decided to sell the restaurant and move on to bigger ventures abroad. It was probably the artist in her kicking in, for this time, Margo decided to stay in France instead of joining him. She wanted to etch a name for herself and made a name, she did.
Guided by instinct and thrilled to venture on her own, Margo saw the light when she came across a jewelry store that was for sale. She knocked on their doors but instead of buying it lock, stock, and barrel, she asked the owner if she could work there for a few months to check its profitability. Here’s a great tip from Margo: “When buying a business, don’t take the owner’s word for it. Experience it firsthand, then give your price.”
In three months, the sales of that store doubled! The secret? Surely, it was Margo’s innate charm and her attention to clients’ needs. One can probably add the Filipino’s inherent hospitality into the mix. She explains further, “In the resto, I did my best to know my diners by heart. I knew how they liked their meals cooked, or what time they would come in for their café.” Margo adds, “this attention, I used in the jewelry store, so sales flourished. And because it did, the owner decided not to sell!”
Downcast, she thought of moving back to the Philippines. But she remembered her commitment to succeed in foreign shores. Talk about faith and Fate! Soon after, another jewelry store was up for sale. Margo snapped up the chance. Without missing a beat, she flew home to Mauban, Quezon, sold her property and this time, bought the business lock, stock, and barrel. There was no turning back for this feisty self-proclaimed probinsyana.
Bisoux was born and a new chapter in her exciting life had begun.
The store was a labor of love. Margo painted the walls, assembled the furniture and fixtures herself. She asked suppliers to place their merchandising in her store. The result was a quaint shop where shoppers would walk in, chitchat with this warm Filipina, and walk out with their fine purchases.
Initially, she was into selling certain pieces she got in Manila’s Greenhills tiangge (mini stalls).
Today, she purchases her wares from South Africa, Columbia and Italy. She also attends shows in Hong Kong, Paris and Italy to keep updated with the trends. However, her thrust now is to promote and sell the Philippines’ Pride — golden south sea pearls and indigenous Filipino jewelry to Europe through her stores. Not forgetting her roots and wanting to give back, Margo also initiated a livelihood program for her townsfolk in Mauban.
Tapping on Filipino ingenuity, she created a cottage industry of jewelry pouches from old Barong Tagalogs, and made jewelry hangers from the local woodcraft. And that wasn’t enough. Margo also established the Ninong and Ninang Foundation, to help provide education to Mauban’s children. The mandate is simple: French sponsors adopt a child for a year and provide for his or her education and educational needs. Imagine. She started with 5 kids, now her foundation has sent 32 kids to school this year. Margo knows education is important in shaping children’s young minds. She has two wonderful kids herself, Natalie who is 16 and Christof, aged 20.
So what can be gleaned from Margo’s heartwarming story? That every Filipina who has talent, a strong belief in one’s self, and the determination to make it no matter how big or small the odds, can become successful anywhere in the world. And like Margo Calderero-Palud, sparkle and shine.
But wait! Margo’s love affair with jewelry and the ancient beauty of France isn’t over yet. The next interesting chapter is still being written. And she hopes you won’t miss it.
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