When Filipinos hear the name Lhuillier, the first thing that comes to their minds is the well-known pawnshop or I should say, one of the most popular and oldest pawnshops that had been helping us with our financial needs since the ‘30s. But for Filipinos living in Italy, Lhullier is more than just the name of the popular pawnshop; Lhuillier reminds them of a person who served them as an ambassador for more than a decade—years that went beyond the borders of politics, touching lives by building a good and healthy relationship with Filipinos overseas.
Graduating from his management course at the De La Salle University in 1968, Philippe Jones Lhuillier started as a businessman looking after the empire that his father, Henry Lhuillier had founded. Agencia Cebuana, the pawnshop that was soon to be the Cebuana Lhuillier in the late ‘80s, was passed on to his care.
Today, after decades of successful business, Cebuana has grown to over 1,400 branches nationwide. The preferred cash solutions provider of Filipinos was again passed on to Philippe’s sons, Jean Henri and Andre, when Philippe was appointed as Philippine Ambassador to Italy in 1999.
Reminiscing the past years, Ambassador Philippe Jones Lhuillier remembers that he takes pleasure in dealing with customers whom he believes must be treated like a family. “I myself was at the counter. I was the appraiser, and I enjoyed talking to them and helping them in the best way I could,” he says. His key objective was to give assistance. “I believe this is a way of helping people who will need money in a short period of time,” he added.
While he had been an entrepreneur for the longest time before he decided to join the government, he asserts that being in politics and being in business is not at all different, contrary to what others say. For him, dealing with Filipinos in Italy was just like dealing with customers in his pawnshop. “I love talking to people and sharing ideas with them,” he said.
In retrospect, it must be his love of country and the same burning passion to serve, help and be involved in people’s lives in a good way which made his memories of almost 11 years of service truly worthwhile. “The years went by so fast but I enjoyed every minute of it,” the former ambassador said with a smile as if remembering his childhood days.
Although more than a year had already passed since his term ended, he still keeps in his heart the memories of his experience at the embassy with the Filipinos.
“They would come to my room whenever they wished to see me following a first come, first served order,” he said. “But they didn’t come to see me just for problems. Some of them dropped by my office to talk about positive developments as well.” In fact, he didn’t even have security guards with him in his office. He said he believes that the Filipino people should be trusted all the time.
Another thing he remembered was going down to where the customers were at 2:45pm every day to help one Filipino a day. “When I go home, I would be proud to tell my wife what I’ve done. That was my goal every day.”
“I want them to feel happy every time they go to the embassy.”
It was his answer to my question about his greatest achievement as an ambassador that seemed to evoke his biggest smile. “My greatest achievement was loving them, caring for them and listening to them because I believe that these are the things they needed,” he said.
According to Philippe Lhuillier, he would have 25 to 40 visitors coming to his room every day. “I would listen to them, hold their hand, and even take pictures with them . . . their problems weren’t as big as we think.”
More than financial help, Ambassador Philippe Lhuillier observed that what our beloved and much missed Outstanding Filipinos Worldwide (OFW) need more is more training.
“If they will learn, they can have business over there [abroad] and after some period, they can continue doing the business here [Philippines].” He calls on TESDA to send teachers abroad because OFWs often leave immediately after training. “The best time to train them is while they are there,” he explains.
True enough, he himself is a living testimony to the importance of training. He considers his early years in service important as he represented the Philippines at FAO, IFAD, and WFP.
“I decided to be a student to the deputy general of FAO to learn really what FAO was all about. And at the same time, I was working with the embassy… I was there to learn,” he said.
As part of this advocacy, the embassy opened free computer classes, producing 3,000 graduates.
In December 2000, he founded the Philippe J. Lhuillier Foundation, Inc., a charitable organization as the CSR arm of his company. “The focus of our foundation is how to help give and return to people,” he said.
The Foundation now has 220 scholars, with 80 more expected this year for its 10th anniversary celebration.
LOVING HIS COUNTRY FROM AFAR
Although not pure Filipino—having a father from Paris and a mother from Cebu—he showed deep affection for both cultures.
“With the long time I stayed in Italy, I observed that Filipinos love their country so much… When they die, they want their bodies to be buried at home.”
He believes tourism and national love are key to progress. He pushed for a Philippine tourism CD to be distributed abroad but said he was “quite unsuccessful.”
His father’s words guide him still: “As long as you don’t lose the golden egg that I gave you, you will survive.” – by Jamie Marie Elona
Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop has been the leading pawnshop chain in the Philippines with over 1,500 branches… Currently managed by its President and CEO, Jean Henri Lhuillier.