 My name is Emmy Ortega Anderson, your host for Pinoy Power, Hawaii. We want to welcome you to another great empowering episode here on Think Tech, Hawaii. Today, in line with our mission to enrich, to enlighten, to educate, to entertain, and we hope to empower, we have with us one of the highest ranking of Filipino ancestry in the Army. And he had just been given a new position. Let's welcome our powerful, influential guest for today, Brigadier General Roy Makara Egg. Welcome to Pinoy Power Hawaii. Oh, thank you, Auntie Emmy. It's so awesome to meet someone of your caliber. You know, it's not an everyday occurrence for me to meet someone that is successful and have worked your way from the bottom up. So, tell us about Roy Makara Egg. Oh, geez, where do I begin? Which starts from the very beginning. Yeah, well, you know, I was born in the Philippines, came to Hawaii when I was 10 years old, grew up in Kalihi, went to all public school, you know, went to Kalihi Kai, Kalakaua, graduated from Farrington High School. Governors. Governors, yes, yeah, 1991, and you know, it all started there, I think in the Philippines and then growing up in Kalihi, and from there I joined the Hawaii Army National Guard. That was the stepping stone for your career. Let's backtrack this a little bit. Do you remember a little bit of your growing up in the Philippines? Because I remember a lot, you know, poverty and the struggles. Can you tell us just a little bit about your parents? Sure. So my mom was actually a teacher, a second grade teacher, I believe. So she was a teacher and you know, it's one of those things I think I picked up, you know, when I was young. Her being a teacher I think taught me how to, you know, be somebody who's always, you know, learning and the value of education. Right. So she was a teacher, my dad, you know, growing up had, you know, had odd jobs. Odd jobs. Yeah, and then when he... To support the family. Yes, absolutely. So we had, you know, a total of six kids, you know, I was the number five out of six. Wow. Yes, yeah, big family. So you were one of the youngest? One of the youngest, yeah. Okay. Number five out of six. Number five. Yeah. You know, poverty is always a part of the equation in our Filipino community. Sure. You know, before we realized, we come to Hawaii or America to realize the American dream. Right. Did you have to worry about where your next meal's going to come from, especially from a family of six? Yeah, you know, growing up I saw my, you know, parents, right? Work hard, you know, that worked ethic, I think. You know, my dad, when we came here, he, he worked for a construction company, and he was in construction. So, you know, every, every day, just whatever day I see him coming home, you know, tired, dusty, right? So it was, I think, early on in my life, I realized, you know, it's hard, you know, to, you know, put it into perspective, but, you know, looking at it and reflecting on it now, I think, you know, I contribute a lot of my successes, you know, in those early days, because one of the struggles, yeah, it, it somehow, I think, you know, not just me, but, you know, my, my siblings too, you know, it really forged our character in terms of just being resilient. Makes you stronger, doesn't it? Yeah, resiliency, so you built resiliency, you know, and that grit, right? You know, to just do what you need to do to get things done, yeah. To pull yourself off of the poverty, because you don't want to repeat that pattern. I mean, you see that, right? So it's a combination of, you know, a lot of things. My mom just being, you know, an advocate for education, her being a teacher, that's one, you know, always improve yourself, right? And then my dad just, he's a work ethic. I think really forge, you know, my character, which is perfectly in line with, you know, what I had to do so that I can be successful. What an awesome combination to have a mother who is a role model, a teacher, an educator, want to really instill values and also the foundation of a good home. Yes. And a father who never ceased to provide for a big family and continually serves as a great eternal figure. Yeah, I mean, you imagine, you know, six kids, right? You know, I have one daughter and, you know, I still can't believe how they did it. Uh-huh. Just providing for six kids. To provide, right? I think it's incredible. Awesome story. You know, I'm trying to relate to your story, too, because as a young kid, I came to Hawaii when I was nine and I went through the struggles of trying to blend in, trying to be long. Were you bullied? Um, no, not necessarily, no, not necessarily, yeah. Okay, probably because you had brothers and sisters as a protector. Yeah. And as a younger sibling. Yeah, I think, you know, just growing up, I think it was easy for me to make friends, like a lot of friends. Uh-huh. You were not intimidating. No, you know, I think it, you know, I kind of look at it now as, you know, people tell me I'm a people person, so I talk to people and make friends really quickly. So I think it, yeah, I had happy memories of just growing up. You probably get the Congeniality Award all the time, right? Yeah, all the time. Okay, wow, this is so awesome to have a conversation with you and I'm sure that your parents are very, very proud of your accomplishment and your achievements. Tell us about the other siblings. They follow the same, you know, success or planning the latter? So, you know, my two brothers actually joined the military too. One in the Air Force and one in the Army. They went to active duty before and then they actually, you know, came back home after their first term and went back to the University of Hawaii, got their education. So one is living in Maui. One is living in Aniohe and I got my sisters, you know, they're doing all well. That is so awesome. To come from a family of six and to see all the children doing so well. Your parents should get the Parents of the Year Award. Yeah, they're very proud. I think, you know, growing up, just growing up, you know, in Kalihi, I look back now, there's, you know, you probably look at, you know, some of the things that you could have easily stepped on the landmine rate, you know, just going through. But I think, you know, the family values, the foundational values that they set forth in terms of, you know, just making the right decisions as you're growing up. So, aside from a strong parental support from both mom and dad, who was the one that is most influential that you could, you know, call out? Oh, gosh, you know, the great leaders. It's, so, you know, I met amazing people along the way in my journey, in my career, my life, and, you know, I tell people I collect people, you know, I collect people, good people, good people, and I put this, you know, I put them in a place I call the golden sphere. So, this golden sphere is all the people that I collect, you know, the people that actually makes me a better person, right? So, along the way, you meet all kinds of people. Now, it's not a circle, you know, it's a sphere. I believe, you know, I can learn from anybody, you know, subordinates, peers, you know, superiors, or anybody that you meet, you know, along the way. So, I can't name, like, a single person. One specific person. Yeah, but I do, you know, in my golden sphere, right, you know, I collect, yes. And I take the good, I take the good, all the good from all these people to make me a better person. So, it's always, you know, positive. Yeah, it's always positive. That is so wonderful, because growing up, I also had this imaginary, I didn't call it a sphere, I call it a lot, a lot, a lot in Ilocano, a lot that they, something that a fisherman would use to collect all his catches for the day. And is it in the basket? And it has a cover. Right. And in the cover, there's an opening that you can put things in there. But they can't come out, right? Yeah, yeah, I've seen those, yeah. So, you can relate to that. Yes. And that's the way I've kind of treasured people that are influential in my life. Positive ones. Yes, positive ones. So, I can relate to your story, except yours is a little bit more classy. Yeah, the golden sphere, yeah. That is, that is so awesome. And, you know, I really salute people like you and a pedestal, because you could have been, you could have gone astray and chosen other path. But in your case, you managed to choose the straight and narrow path, which brought you to this very successful career. And we want to elaborate more about that on the second half of our show. But for now, let's focus on the training. Education and things along the way that you focus on that help you get to where you are today, like involvement or organizations or clubs. Tell us a little bit more about those. OK, one of the main reasons why I joined the military was because I wanted to get an education. And, you know, number five out of six kids. You know, I know mom and dad didn't have the money to support, right? So the military was a way for me to actually pay for college. And I'm proud to say that, you know, starting that journey, I sit here and actually, you know, and tell you, I can tell you that I have, you know, a associate's degree, one bachelor's degree, and I got two masters out of it. So it worked out for me. So I tell, you know, I tell my niece and nephews and young people, you know, graduating from high school, you know, if you don't know what you're going to do after high school, you know, military could be a way, you know. That was a ticket. Yeah, it was a ticket. I mean, if you look at it now, the the benefits that the military actually provide, I mean, it's incredible, I think, you know, you get paid. They, you know, they give you uniform to wear, they give you a place to live and they provide benefits so that you can actually get your, you know, education. Right. So in the lifetime training. Yes, yeah. And a lot of my niece and nephews are, you know, also joined the military. So I tell young people, if you don't know what, you know, what you're going to do, you know, join the military, it's a way where you figure things out, you know, because after high school, you know, you you graduate and you go, OK, what now? Right. A lot of people just don't know what to follow. But that that thinking, you know, that conversation with people or, you know, planning things out, that starts probably like two years out before you graduate. Right. I really couldn't stress the importance of education. But in your in your life, you got it. Yeah. You caught on. So the efforts, the constant reminder from your mama to tell you that, oh, it's important to the education. And I say, you know, we need to do this to be successful. Yeah, every day, it's not it's not just the degree, too. It's it's the continual learning throughout your life. And, you know, you continue to grow, you know, even even even even now, I, you know, I read books, I read a lot of books. And that's one of the things that my mom, I think, gave me as a gift, you know, reading. She passed that on as an educator. I love reading. I just love reading. I read a lot of books. I read a lot of things. Well, that gives you the edge, you know, because when you read, it's just like going through that adventure, but you don't have to be in the actual place, but you can read about it and experience it. Yeah, I mean, it's sharp sharpening your mind, you know, in terms of just, you know, critical thinking, because you're reading, you know, your mind is working. Mama, yeah. And additionally, you know, you read and, you know, you you find, you know, great words and, you know, it just expands your vocabulary, right? So that is, yeah. Did you find yourself writing these words down and then often referring to it? Yes. Yeah. I got a list of, you know, words. Yeah. That's like, oh, that's a, you know, good sounding word. I like it. Yeah. You got to learn it more. Yeah, I got to learn it more. So you had the flashcards. Yeah. Oh, me too. Yeah. There was a way that I could better sharpen my communication skills right to really know how to communicate effectively. Effectively. Yes. Yeah. Awesome. Yeah. We're going to continue our conversation with Brigadier General Roy Makara egg after these short messages. Thank you again for joining us here on Pinoy Power Hawaii. Aloha, I'm Jane Sawyer with the Small Business Administration and one of your hosts for Adventures in Small Business, a partnership with Think Tech and with the Hawaii Small Business Development Center, the Mink Center for Business and Leadership and the Veteran Business Outreach Center. All serving small businesses in Hawaii and telling you the story about their strategies, their ideas, their drive and the way they help Hawaii succeed and be a bright light in small business. You'll find it here every Thursday at Think Tech. Thanks for joining us and we hope to see you soon. Aloha, my name is Becky Samson and I'm the host of It's About Time on the Think Tech Hawaii, a digital nonprofit organization that's raising public awareness. Join us on Wednesday at 2 p.m. where we talk about real issues. Some of the topics will include entrepreneurship, health, life skills and growing your business. So once again, this is Becky Samson on It's About Time on Wednesday at 2 p.m. on Think Tech Hawaii. Mahalo. Welcome back to Pinoy Power Hawaii. My name is host Emmy Ortega Anderson. And today we're having a very powerful conversation with a very influential, deserving, hardworking, young leader who had just earned the new rank. Brigadier General Roy McCorreg. Welcome back to the second portion of our show. Thank you so much for telling us about your upbringing, the important aspects in your life that groomed you to be where you are, which prepared you for this rank. And this responsibility that you have as a Brigadier General. Now, when we speak of those terms, not too many people are familiar with the ranks because it's different in the army, the Navy and also the Air Force. Tell us just a little bit about the ranking and how you got there. Yes. Well, let me summarize it. Without writing it, just sharing. So actually, I joined as a private, the lowest ranking. So private, private E1 work myself out. I guess, you know, again, the reason why I wanted to join was because of the educational benefits. So I joined, I was enlisted for six years. I actually attained a rank of sergeant. So I was a sergeant at one point too. Oh, OK. I went to officer candidate school to get my commission as a second lieutenant and just work my way through that. And, you know, my goal was, you know, initially, my goal was to be a major. You know, I thought it was, you know, a great accomplishment if I attained major. A major. Yeah. So I got to a point where, you know, I got promoted. I got promoted to captain major. Wow. Yes. And it happened fast. It happened pretty quickly. Pretty quickly. Yeah. Because you're only 25, right? Yeah. 27. OK. But, yeah, along the way, I met, you know, I met all the gates at minimum time and grade. So, you know, I was very fortunate that I actually had the opportunities. Because when I was a lieutenant, I had the opportunity to actually go out to Washington, D.C. and start working with the National Guard Bureau there in a Pentagon. And so I, you know, I got my start after my initial, you know, service as I enlisted and as junior officer. I got an opportunity to work in Washington, D.C. And then from there, it just, you know, just opened a whole avenue, a whole adventure for you. Yeah, doors just kept opening. And, you know, I just kept, you know, kept at it. And but I never forgot the two things, you know, the foundational values. Again, the character, you know, that my parents had actually instilled in me. And also, you know, just the work ethic, you know. OK, I'm going to ask you, who sustains you in the most difficult time? When the parents are not around, the siblings are not around. Where do you derive that strength? Oh, this from my wife and my daughter. OK. You know, my wife, Benny, and my daughter, Chloe Ann. Yes, that's really important in a family life. But in terms of the spiritual, they have such a thing and ingrained belief. Yeah, I do. So I'm a Catholic. I do, you know, look to the Lord for guidance and, you know, I pray. OK. Yeah. I always have that connection spiritually. That's awesome. That the emancipation, the power of God, that influence that you. Well, thank you for sharing that. Let's get back to your wife. When did the marriage come in line with your career? Because some people can't do both, you know, they focus on their career, then they forget they get lopsided and forget about their marital life. Yeah, we got a pretty interesting story, too. So so my wife, Benny, she she's actually my high school sweetheart. Oh, so we've been together since high school. So, you know, we graduated same year in 1991 in high school. And yeah, so we stayed together through, you know, Honolulu Community College and University of Hawaii. And yeah, I, you know, we moved to Washington, D.C. in 1999. And her career actually took off through what does Benny do? She's she graduated accounting. And so she count the numbers for you. Yeah, she does. She's more of the numbers person. So was she influential of you meeting the gates or those requirements for you to achieve your rank? Yeah, I think I think, you know, we just, you know, it's a it's a great partnership. And it's, you know, you talk about, like, you know, finding your soulmate. Yeah, you founded in Benny. Well, yeah, we, you know, early on. Oh, we should write a book. Yeah, high school. So she she actually worked, you know, in Washington, D.C. She she worked through in the Pentagon. So she worked for OSDE, the Office of Secretary of Defense. So she did, you know, a lot of work there in the Pentagon. She was Roy, that's really, really important that this was saying that the family that stays together, prays together, plays together, will stay together forever. You believe in that concept? I do. Yeah, I really do. But that is so awesome that you able to share your success in line with your your wife and you have one daughter coming from family of six. You just have one daughter, one daughter. OK, when is the next one coming? Um, Inquiring minds want to know, yeah, why is your son, you know, in the Filipino family, right? Marami, I think we're done. Yeah. Oh, my God. You're going to deprive your daughter from having siblings? No, look at it the other way. You know, we're going to give give her all the love we can. That's what I like about you. Always a positive light, you know, instead of seeing things the glasses have empty, you present the half full idea. Yeah, she's great. You know, our daughter Chloe, she's she's a joy. And early on, we were so, you know, we were actually really focused, you know, on on our career. So, you know, we had her pretty late. So it was a decision time. And, you know, we're we're glad, you know, we're we're very blessed with one. We are blessed, truly blessed. Chloe, sweetie, you're you're so lucky. Wonderful parents. Now, what's in store for you with the remaining time that we have? What is it that you want to hear of Roy McCore egg just like Antonio Tagoba when they hear of that name? He's got his legacy in line. Yeah, funny, funny, you mentioned him. So he actually sent me an email. Oh, yeah. So I I I'm known him because he was in D.C. And, you know, we, you know, I ran into him a few, you know, few times as a junior officer and he congratulated me. So, you know, I truly appreciate that. So was he one of your role model as far as adding to your motivation? I actually looked up to him. He's he's from Lillihuah. Again, he was born in Philippines, right? So he was he was he was an inspiration. So judging from the stories that I have, I have another good, good friend, little brother, Edwin. Paru, yes, yes. Yes, yeah, I'm so proud. Man, I feel Pinoy pride all the way. Yeah. And I am just so proud that we have someone like you that will carry on the light and tradition of Pinoy pride, you know? So what is it that you can share to others that are aspiring to achieve a rank in the military? First, I, you know, Marami Salamat to everybody. You know, in the last couple of weeks, you know, it's been, you know, overwhelming and adventure. Yeah, you know, overwhelming, you know, all the support from the film community. I know a lot of people would, you know, are so proud. And, you know, I, you know, I go to places and, you know, places would just come up. It's like, hey, you're you're that, you know, Filipino-American general. And, you know, I just want to congratulate you. I'm I'm so proud. You know, I think I think, you know, I'm I'm moving to, you know, the later part of my career. And I want to actually, you know, start and I started doing it, you know, really trying to get back to the younger people, the next generation and sharing, you know, some of the, you know, some of the things I learned along the way to, you know, it somehow teach them the way, you know, and mentor, you know, the next generation so they can be successful. Right. And I know that your forum is education. Yes. That's one of the three ingredients to your success. Education is one of them. But I think I, you know, I actually break it down into three things. OK, tell us. So I'll tell people, I'll tell soldiers, I'll tell, you know, young officers, you know, three things that you can, you know, to be successful. OK, I'm listening. Yeah. First, you just got to be, you know, a good person. I think just be a good person, you know, in everything that you do. Yes. You know, just be a good person, you know, go out there and, you know, make the people around you better. Right. Just be a good person. Circle of influence. Yes. Right. Yeah. OK. And the second thing is, you know, you have to make sure with whatever you do in life, you know, do your best. Just do your best. Whatever you do, you know, if you're not going to put your, you know, best effort, don't even do it. Right. So in everything that you do, you do your best. And the last thing is take care of yourself. You know, you you got to take care of yourself, you know, me as a leader, you know, and leaders in general, you got to take care of themselves because if you can't take care of yourself, you know, educationally, financially, spiritually, you know, all those things. Right. How can how can you take care of, you know, other people? So those are the three things I tell people all the time. Wow. Well, Brigadier General and so to be general, general, three-star general. Thank you so much for your time and for sharing those three things that could make or break you. I appreciate the time that you have provided us for us to learn to empower others. And that is our main forum here. We call it Pinoy Pride, not right. It's a letter of pride and all that stuff. But just being proud of who you are doing your best and bringing out the best in everyone. You carry them along and take them along for the ride and not just leave them behind. Yes. Wow. Thank you. Thank you, General, for empowering us. Yeah. Thank you for this moment. Thank you, Ati Emi, for having me here. I truly appreciate it. We could talk forever. Yeah. Mabuhay. All right. Thank you so much for being with us today for another empowering show from Peter Power, Hawaii. I am your host, Emi Ortega Anderson, saying mahalo, mabuhay, maraming, salamat po.