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ANGEL C. ARANDO
On Family and Values
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Born to the Philippines is 2009 TOFA (Twenty Outstanding
Filipinos Abroad ) awardee, Angel C. Arando.
“Well, for sure ‘Angels’ may not necessarily sport Wings and/or
Halos, but as the good book states – they do walk the earth
and sometimes when pressed, they can fly too” says ‘Angui’;
-- as friends/work-colleagues, who are more familiar with this
‘Pinoy-Tisoy prankster, warmly refer to him. Especially, when
this self-proclaimed descendant of Sir Francis Drake - “the
English pirate” - as Angui impishly underscores his recent
allegedly found-out Royally Knighted forbearer, through the
lineage of a once-upon-a-long-time English ‘whaler’, who found
himself stormed-lost and stranded in Guam; which like the
Philippines, was a one-time colony of ‘Madre Espana’ -- and
where too, is the land of the many descendants surnamed
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‘Calvos’ from the Iberian Peninsula, who
commonly shared the then ‘out of the place’
Spanish colony with the indigenous chamorros
over there.
Angui’s mother , Carmen -- a ‘Calvo y Siguienza,
from Guam, who when settling in Walled-City-
Intramuros, ‘Old Manila’; met and wedded Iloilo-
born – but Manila-raised, Master Mariner Captain
Vicente Barrenechea-Arando of Spanish-Basque
and Filipino extraction – or as is in this global day
and age of ‘political correctness’ and for
purposes of ‘identity-migrants’– they be today
‘stamped’ as ‘Euro-Asian’, whether they be
residents and/or citizens of the UK and European
continent .
During the Japanese Occupation, most of the
Walled city’s (Intramuros) inhabitants were
concentrated in the many number of churches
and the Letran College . The Arandos were
amongst the many who were concentrated at
San Agustin Church; during the American
attempt to liberate Intramuros. They became
orphaned-survivors in their early years. Angel
and his co-siblings ( Older brothers: Vicente,
Antonio and younger sister Corazon) with their
widowed mother, saw a most ravaged-
destroyed to the ground ‘City of Manila ’. Next
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Mr and Mrs Arando
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Mr and Mrs Arando with Philippine UK
Ambassador, Edgardo Espiritu, to the Court
of St. James and his wife Lydia
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Benedictine motto seems to cover and says it all with : Pax, Ora et Labora (Peace, Prayer and
Work ).
Moving On Globally to New Horizons
These led to another assignment covering the United Kingdom and the European continent as
to further meet the company’s challenges to the expanding competition in the maritime world
trade; where at his peak, Angel moved on. Conquering new horizons in the world maritime
industry; while still reaching out as an active leader to the Filipino Anglo Community in the UK .
Representing the Maritime Company of the Philippines and its CEO in charge of its European
operations, he played a pioneering role for the first Asean Shipping Line; Philippine-flag based
and registered member of the Far East Freight Conference which serviced the overall trade
between the European Continent and the Asean region to include the Philippines .
In passing during his now 39th year UK residency, Angel has been a recipient of a number of
recognitions from his homeland, to include his involvement in the international maritime trade
and industry, while also representing both the private and government sectors in various
Shipping and Transport conferences to include the Philippines’ role in the Council (Policy Making
Body)_of the International Maritime Organization; part of the United Nations.
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Mr Arando and family : wife Maria Victoria, Daughters Mariana, Carla,
Georgina and Grand-daughter, Sophia
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He also has been playing a significant role as a very much involved member of the Phil-Anglo
community on various settings and joining campaigns, to do away with ‘double-taxation’
and tediously making representations with his group nearly to every Filipino law-maker
reference the appeal for dual citizenship and immediately followed by gaining the right of
suffrage -- for registered migrant and Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to be able to
participate and vote on Philippine national elections when abroad. Arando then would like to
take this opportunity to thank especially Senator Edgardo Angara an the late Bedan Senator
Raul Roco for their kind support on this particular issue, so significant to a migrant people
residing and working abroad. True to commitment, Angel participated too as member of
NAMFREL team on the first Philippine Presidential and National elections held 2004 where in
the United Kingdom , Overseas Filipinos participated. He was involved from the organising
and planning stages to the actual voting and canvassing state and all the way through to
the evaluation and developing recommendations how overseas voting might be done better
for subsequent rounds. Arando’s counsel and involvement was always sought at different
points in the NAMFREL operations by officers and volunteers alike . As the 2010 Presidential
elections approach his counsel and involvement is again being sought.
He is been know to add support on another many occasions to specific Filipino-Anglo
community organizations ’community activities., as Director of the Philippine UK Foundation Inc.
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Arando has also provided invaluable support for
keeping the Filipino-Anglo community informed
about news about home and the different
concerns and issues relevant to their lives in
the UK . His unremunerated work as part of
the editorial board of The Filipino Observer
(TFO) – a publication that has been going for
the last 20 years – provides a fundamental
service to its readers. Covering the news of
the Filipino-Anglo community takes Mr. Arando
around the different community groups and
activities, thus learning more about the
individuals and groups that he comes into
contact with. Mr. Arando has become a
directory of Filipinos in the UK . Always been
ready to share any information he has, been
very quick about helping groups make
connections and linkages where previously
there weren't. Angel has never hesitated to do
this as part of his contributions to promoting
Filipino interests abroad; and for that matter
also closer to home -- as one of the founder-
members of the Asean UK Business Forum
(AUKBF) which is composed of chosen Asean
member representatives of the different related
Asean private sectors in Europe –which was
organized by former Philippine Ambassador to
the Court of St James, Cesar Bautista .
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‘’Free Man, Arando, to the City of
London’’,framed by the officiating
Deputy Chamberlain and ‘’Beagle’’
(Protector to the City’s ‘’Rules of
Conduct’’)
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Most notably though, Arando has made a number of significant contributions with his work in
the International Maritime Organization (IMO). A specialized agency of the United Nations
focused on raising maritime industry standards and those of our more than 250,000 Filipino
seafarers and improving safety of life at sea as well as reducing pollution, where he has
served as Philippine/Delegate adviser and Philippine Maritime representative since 1975 to
present. Thus playing an instrumental role in helping the Philippines become, and continue
to retain its position in the IMO Council -- the policy making body of the IMO. The Philippines
is an active member-participant of said Council and in the larger sense, is contributing to
country’s interests and involvement in the international maritime industry. He is quick to
point out the significant role of the Filipino Seafarer involved in the handling and operation of
nearly one fourth of overseas vessels plying international maritime routes. “We must
encourage our well qualified able-body- seamen to seek more senior officer positions. They
seem to be a contented lot -- not only for their own personal rewards and involved role in
the international maritime trade; but also for what would be their better money remittances
contributions to the Philippine treasury” always counsels Arando when meeting our
Philippine Maritime authorities; either in the Philippines and/or abroad.
Philippine Ambassador Bautista has said of Arando: “It will be very difficult for anyone
involved in the maritime sector -- even in the most marginal of ways – not to have heard of
the many contributions of Mr. Arando to the sector.” And points out that “(Angel) has been
instrumental too for nurturing and developing many business relationships between and
among Philippine maritime companies and their counterparts in the US and in Europe ”
In September 2007, Arando was given the due recognition of the “Freedom of the City of
London” making him the First Filipino to receive the title of ‘Freeman of the City of London’ -
by the Court of Common Council of the Chamberlain’s Office of the City of London in
recognition of his continuing service and efforts to promote the maritime industry and its
related Filipino interests; in addition to the work with the Filipino-Anglo community.
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The Guild of the Freemen of the City of London is a more
than a hundred year old organization with a rich history and
colorful tradition that dates back to early medieval times
when ‘citizens’ would be organized into trade guilds and
later – liveries, and were granted rights to trade and other
privileges by Royal Charter . The privileged traditional
membership is bestowed upon esteemed citizens for
honorable service to the community and shared by such
notables names -- the likes Sir Winston Churchill. President
Franklin Roosevelt, President Nelson Mandela, Queen
Elizabeth II, Cardinal Hume OSB and the list -- as the many
years gone by, is no doubt lengthy. Not necessarily in
names but in deeds -- to also include others. As it is also
others in different ‘walks of life’ ranging from, say: tailors,
basketweavers, chambermaids -- and you name them…. But
all recognized for their genuine cause and purpose in life
with well founded ideals and accepted principles.
And Counting…..
Like many of our country men, Angel too has now been
working more years abroad than in the Philippines . Nearly
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Mr. Arando' s sister Cora Arando
Frattalli with her Grand children Ian
and Isabelle, and Grand daughter
Sophia.
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forty five years to be exact, and to this day continues doing so, with a ‘hands on’ balancing
act between several world-wide trading and maritime sectors on an active several
Consultancy Bases. Always considering and hoping that next time- ‘abroad’ - would mean
the Philippines .
But as he looks back on his life abroad he reminisces: “I was lucky. Indeed I have great
admiration for those who have climbed higher mountains still to prepare themselves to further
‘make it’ abroad, and who knows receive their due recognition like that of a TOFA Awardee.
For which I thank and am beholden to the organizers of same. If anything, though, my
shared advice would be: Never to forget where one comes from, and how in the world did we
ever get where we are now?
I never have – regardless, ‘At the end of the day’ and– there is no place like home, where,
after all – whatever we are and be - we all come from a particular ‘home and are going
home, where the Philippines is !”
And Angel adds to quote from his early lessons at home and at San Beda –
“ It is at the end of these journeys in our lives, that we will not be judged by how many
diplomas and/or awards we have received, or how much money we have made or still how
many great things we have done --
We will be judged by --
“I was hungry and you gave me to eat. – I was naked and you clothed me – I was homeless
and you took me in’
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only, to the most destroyed-bombed-out City in the Second World War, - Warsaw , Poland.
Antonio and younger sister Corazon) with their widowed mother, saw a most ravaged-
destroyed to the ground ‘City of Manila ’. Next only, to the most destroyed-bombed-out City in
the Second World War, - Warsaw , Poland .
Later throughout their growing years, in the nearby district of Quiapo, where their widowed
mother struggled to make both ends meet, so to speak. The Arando children shared their
mother’s lead -- on work, ambition and passion to meet life’s prevailing challenges, head on.
Seeking for the best of Christian values and education -- from what means could be afforded
then -- from a country so devastated, -- once the ‘Pearl of the Orient Seas’; -- picking itself up,
to rebuild/regain its past glories.
At first crack, and at the then ‘sprouting opportune-economic times’ existing in a by-now second-
time-around ‘Independent’ Philippines; with the country recovering during its post war years;
Angel, like the rest of his brood, started working early in life, -- just right after High School
graduation (HS’55) while still pursuing a chosen profession and career. Continuing their studies
at night, and when able.—from San Beda through elementary, High School and College (BSC-
Management and Finance) GAS’60), unto his MBA studies at the University of the Philippines at
Herran. “Would you believe it “ recalls an unabashed Angui ,of his mother pushing them on --
“we were still in High School at San Beda and we were already taking night and week-end basic
vocational business classes – and stenography and typing, too; at the University of East (UE)”
On Leaving ‘La Patria Adorada’
On his first assignment abroad, in his mid twenties, and still working his way up the ladder,( so
to speak); to the Overseas Owner’s Representative’s position, abroad, of the Philippine Flag
registered Owned and Operated - Compania Maritima (Maritime Co. of the Philippines -- New
York-based); there too was the need to polish up on the said ‘foreign-touch’ and rounding up
on that ‘ trade and transport expertise’ to be applied. There too were night classes at New York
University and at the ‘College of Ocean Shipping and World Trade’ in New York .
Meantime, it came to pass that in early
adulthood this-trying- to- be a ‘veritable’ Angel
-- ‘fell’ -- as most Angels ,we know, often do --
met, courted and married *( in 1966) Maria
Victoria Ortigas. An Assumption High College
graduate, since her elementary years -- daughter
to well known Businessman and Captain of
Industry-Real Estate Developer, Francisco
Ortigas Jr. from Porac, Pampanga; and Remedios
Miranda of Manila, also with a mixed Filipino-
Spanish ancestry. Today’s by now all grown-up
children , of Marivicki and Angel, namely: Jose
Antonio, Georgina, Carla and Mariana, have
followed their parents, as they all moved from
one overseas post to another, on Angel’s
several maritime assignments; became a target
for this ‘Angel from Quiapo’ and his ever-
supporting ‘Cherubs’ in tow; to be ‘inspired’
further, to even higher levels for dedicated
achievements and for love of family and country.
He often credits his tenacity to work, discipline
and ethic, to his Philippine upbringing, coupled
by his education in San Beda College which he
attributes prepared him to meet the challenges
one faces in life; and immediately adds:
“particularly when working and living abroad in
foreign environments. The adherence to the
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