SA NEW ZEALAND

While in his early twenties as a civil engineering graduate of Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila, Lito Banal started off as a private building contractor, creating a flourishing home-based business.
Were it not for the political instability (Marcos out and Cory Aquino in numerous coup d’etat attempts, etc.), and he, having to dealiwith both the ruling party and the opposition, Lito heeded to his mother’s prompting to leave his native Floridablanca, Pampanga and join his sister in New Zealand.
Determined to succeed and still single in 1988, it was not easy for Lito during the first two years in a new country.
But he braced himself for whatever opportunities to make more money than what he earned back home.” I was a cleaner, labourer in a winery, 277 supermarket man. I delivered TVs from a TV Rental company, and on week-ends would sell TVs at the flea market, getting more money than my boss!” he remembers.
Year 1990 must be Lito’s turning point in life. By coincidence, the guy he delivered a TV to, turned out to be owner of Davy Doors, who offered him a job. “After six months I rose to become estimator and, general manager of Roofmakers, also in South Auckland.
He again harks back to “hard work, self-confidence, determination, and dedication to your chosen field as the keypoints to professional success.
From 2002 when he became director/partner of Kiwi Roofing, his real business break was realized. As commercial roofing contractors, both partners expanded through successful negotiations and acquisitions of major commercial and industrial contracts despite the competitive construction industry. Production–wise in its specialized field, the business prides itself as one of the biggest in the country today.
His advice to new migrants? “There is always a church or an organisation you can contact and from there, move on.
“Up to you to make life easy. Life is about choices, not circumstances. If you have not discovered yet, create your own niche of opportunities! Step forward and help if you can. The intangible rewards of friendship and sharing are boundless.