By Cynthia De Castro
AUGUST 24, 2007
Asianjournal.com
First Filipina Inducted to ‘07 Asian Hall of Fame
IT WAS David versus Goliath — a young advocacy group for FilAms. She frequently
Filipina lawyer suing the US Citizenship and appears in charity and fund-raising events,
Immigrations Services for discrimination. A making financial donations and moral
valedictorian in high school, cum laude in support to poverty alleviation projects
college, among the top 10% in the University in the Philippines. She is also a renowned
of the Philippines College of Law, and the motivational speaker and lecturer on
first Asian to pass the New York State board wealth generation, entrepreneurship,
without having studied law in the United career planning, and immigration laws.
States, Loida Nicolas Lewis convinced the Lewis has a lot to say on racial
court that she was more than qualified to discrimination. “Race will always be a factor
be hired at INS. Eventually, she got the job in America. But it’s up to us, people of color,
with 3 years back pay, 3 months vacation whether to allow it to be a factor in our
pay and 3 months sick leave. actions, in our decisions. Once we allow
“Panalong-panalo! (It was definitely a people to dictate to us, to tell us we can’t
win!),” Lewis described the suit in a later do this or that, we’ll never succeed.”
interview. Her case seemed to change the Of all her accomplishments, Lewis
agency’s hiring policies. “I sort of broke the considers giving birth to two daughters
glass barrier in INS. Now, you will see many
concern for people, Loida Nicolas Lewis
most fulfilling. Both are cum laude
Asians working in INS,” Lewis said.
took over the company and proved that
graduates of Harvard University. Leslie is
That was in 1978, the first of many battles
she had not just her husband’s talent, but a
an actress while Christina is a Wall Street
that Lewis fought and won for the past 29
management style all her own. She turned
Journal Staff writer.
years. Making a habit of defying the odds,
the company around by cutting costs and
Ever mindful of opportunities to better
she went on from 10 years in the INS to
selling non-performing assets. In 1996 the
the life of Filipino Americans, Lewis is
heading a billion dollar empire. Her dynamic
TLC Beatrice International Holdings Inc.
presently actively campaigning for Hillary
business success and accomplishments
passed the $2 billion sales mark.
Clinton as president. She explained to
earned for Lewis the honor an induction to
Fluent in Spanish, French and English,
Asian Journal why she thinks Clinton is the
the 2007 Asian Hall of Fame in Washington.
Lewis openly communicated with the
better candidate. “Yes, I am campaigning
She is the first Filipino and the first woman
people who generated the numbers in the
for Hillary, a better candidate due to her
to do so.
office and plant sites all the way down to
extensive and intensive experience in all
Considered today as the wealthiest and
the janitors.
major issues/aspects of the US and even
most successful Filipina business executive
“People make the business,” she says.
outside the US; her being — especially
in the world, Lewis is CEO and Chair of TLC
“The moment a company loses touch with
— a woman; and her being pro-Filipino
Beatrice International Holdings, Inc, a two-
employees and customers, that company
for causes such as Filipino Vets since the
billion-dollar corporation of 64 companies
suffers.”
beginning of the National Federation of
based in 31 countries. TLC is a marketer of
Less than seven years after she took over
Filipino-American Associations.”
ice cream in Spain and the Canary Islands,
TLC, Lewis has fulfilled her late husband’s
On Monday, August 20, Lewis is holding
the leading manufacturer of potato chips in
vision — to create wealth. “I could not fail,”
a merienda cena at her home along Fifth
Ireland, and a prime distributor of beverage
she says. “My beloved Reggie used his brain
Avenue in New York with Hillary Clinton
in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and
to achieve his goals. He reached the top
sharing her political views and agenda.
Thailand.
with TLC Beatrice, but it also claimed his
Influential leaders in New York society,
Lewis assumed leadership in 1994 when
life. He died of brain cancer. He gave it all
especially Filipino American young
her African-American billionaire husband,
he had, and so did I. So how could it fail?
professionals, are expected to attend the
Reginald Lewis, suddenly passed away. His
Failure was never an option.”
invitation-only affair.
death and a recession in Europe, where
Lewis is also an author of the book How
Proud to be Filipino, Lewis has repeatedly
almost all of TLC’s businesses were based,
to Get a Green Card which is already on its
said, “ I may be an American but my heart is
left the company floundering. After
10th edition. Her late husband’s biography,
still very much in the Philippines. You can
mourning, Loida Lewis knew she had
entitled Why Should White Guys Have All
get me out of the country, but you can’t get
to complete the work her husband left
the Fun? How Reginald F. Lewis Created
the country out of me.”
behind. Knowing his goals, she could not
a Billion Dollar Business Empire. has sold
Lewis maintains homes in New York and
take the risk of letting anyone else run the
several hundred thousand copies.
the Philippines. Asked if she plans to spend
company.
Lewis is an active member of the Filipino
more time living in the Philippines, Lewis
With entrepreneurial skills and talent she
American community in the US. She is the
muses. “When I retire,” she finally admits.
learned from her father and late husband
former Chair of the National Federation of
“Sorsogon. That’s where I’m from. I’ll always
and matched with legal acumen and sincere
Filipino American Associations, the largest
be a Sorsogano.” (AJ)
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