By Cynthia De Castro
MARCH 21, 2008
Asianjournal.com
Empowered Pinoy
LOS ANGELES — As oil prices skyrocket,
people look at biodiesel as an alternative to
petroleum diesel. Among them is Filipino
American Baltazar Fedalizo, owner of Biodiesel
America Incorporated (BAI).
Three years ago, during a gasoline price hike,
when entrepreneur/ teacher /chef Baltazar
Fedalizo began to seriously look into biodiesel.
He realized he spent an average of over $500 a
day on fuel running two Subway restaurants
and an adult day care center.
The idea was inspired by Chef Jean Toume,
Fedalizo’s co-worker at Le Cordon Bleu,
California School of Culinary Arts.
“Biodiesel is used throughout France. I
wonder why America hasn’t been on to it,”
Toume said.
Fedalizo then contacted people in France
about biodiesel. Emails were exchanged and he
founded a new business venture — recycling
used cooking oil to diesel or simply, biodiesel
— Biodiesel America Incorporated. for a year and a half.’ He wouldn’t let me come — the boomer generation born in 1946. Once
BAI company now actively supplies many back. I had four years to think over there. I he completed his thesis, he began shopping
industries in the country with biodiesel. didn’t speak Tagalog at the time. My English for data around, selling it to venture capitalists,
Among his major customers are the Ports of was poor compared to theirs. They didn’t M.B.A. students at USC, and Molina Health
Los Angeles and Long Beach, a move that understand my American slang. I lived with my Care.
he hopes will make people realize that “over lola in the provinces, and it was just me and With the proceeds, he was able to invest in
a short period of time, biodiesel is not only the carabao and the chickens. People spoke to Infinite Solutions Adult Day Health Care Center
better for the community and their work me in Ilocano and I had no idea what they were in Long Beach, which he owns and operates
environment. Moreover, the fuel is consistently saying. So I just kept a diary,” Fedalizo said. with a partner. In 2004, with former classmate
less expensive and it betters the environment.” Fedalizo sent his father 1,200 pages of his Sean Gaultier, he acquired a Subway franchise
Fedalizo is a strong advocate of the repentance during his four years of exile in the in San Pedro, which then has the lowest net
environment. Many of the seniors in his Philippines. “You saw entries that were half a sales out of 500 stores in LA County. The year
healthcare center suffer from respiratory and page, that grew to a full page, then grew to four after, their branch acquuired a 146 percent
bronchiolitis. or five pages for one day,” he said. Eventually, increase in sales making placing it to the top.
A goal his father allowed him to return. Fedalizo also teaches business administration
“It doesn’t matter how I feel all that matters Upon his return, Fedalizo enrolled at at Pasadena City College, sharing his real-world
is the goal,” said Fedalizo of his motto. This Dominguez Hills. With his new commitment acumen with students. He also studied Culinary
winning attitude has brought him two Subway to completing his education, he set out to earn Arts and became a chef and teacher.
restaurants with one store setting a milestone his four-year degree in two years. Ironically, Fedalizo was recruited into the
for the highest net sales in the history of LA “I looked at it as a business, not an academic United States Navy Supply Core Officer Corps,
County. setting,” he says. “When students put it in that a program for able-bodied entrepreneurs
His Adult Day Health Care was recognized paradigm, it will maximize their dollar, and they and high-level executives under the age of
by California Association of Adult Day Services will value what they do in college. Schools are 40. Officer-candidates are chosen from those
(CAADS) as the center with the most efficient here to make money. So the faster I graduate who have demonstrated an ability to manage
operations for restoring the health, strength and maximize my tuition, the more I win.” and scale financial challenges while meeting
and soundness of over 300 senior members. Working 35 hours a week and taking 30 milestones in their own or a corporation’s
Beginnings units a semester, Fedalizo was able to expedite goals.
Fedalizo was born in Staten Island, New York. his degree in the abbreviated time planned, “I received a call, and they asked if I would
Wanting to follow his dad’s military career, he drawing attention from local press and be interested, they had seen my resume on
attended the United States Military Academy universities from across the country. Monster.com,” he says. “They were looking
at WestPoint, New York. He eventually dropped “Berkeley, Harvard, and Florida State said for business managers for their units, and
out and finished college at CSU Long Beach, they would fly me out there to share my that I would come in as a full lieutenant to
playing football, enjoying fraternity life, and experiences,” he says. “Each one of them said, help the supply corps, prevent cost overruns,
ending up on academic probation. ‘You’re missing the college experience.’ I said, manage supply chains, and to do it with a more
In 1986, Fedalizo was sent to the Philippines ‘I needed to get out of college. My job is not entrepreneurial spirit.
by his father to check on some of the family’s to stay there, that time for me is past already. I Fedelizo hopes to bring an entrepreneurial
property. Unfortunately, his father learned need to get out into the real world.’ spirit to the Navy akin to what he brought to
about his slacking in school and he was not Business shopping all endeavours. “I am a believer in doing more
given a return ticket. Fedalizo then earned his MBA at the with less,” he says. “I think I can bring a different
“My dad said, ‘I have your transcripts in front University of Redlands, did his thesis research kind of thinking to the table based on what I
of me, and you’ve been on academic probation on the spending habits of “junior seniors” have accomplished so far.” (AJ)
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