by Benjie de Ubago
In a community full of uncertainties, one thing is for certain – the altruistic values of Mauricio de Vera.
Mauricio de Vera, fondly called ‘Chairman Mao’ or simply “ the Chairman” is one with irreproachable integrity. His generosity is unquestionable. He quietly plods along behind the scenes, minus the fuss ready to leap to service at a moment’s notice.
A graduate of Mining Engineering of Mapua Institute of Technology in the Philippines, he founded the Mapua Alumni Association in Australia to reconnect to the school and classmates, and also for the chance to give back to his alma mater. With Mapua Alumni, he’s been involved in their outreach projects providing for infrastructures like the suspension bridge in Rizal; and school facilities in Iligan, Compostella Valley and Leyte. Alumni activities were focused on raising funds for scholarships for gifted but impoverished students.
However, his good deeds and services have not been limited to his school. He served the wider Filipino community as a Director of the Philippine Community Council of NSW (PCC-NSW), the peak body of the Filipino community in New South Wales. He was involved in the Council’s various projects including the State visit of President Aquino to Australia in 2012. More importantly, he served as the Chairperson of PCC-NSW’s Philippine Australian Disaster Emergency Response (PADER). He is always quick to rise to the occasion and his response to disasters and catastrophes whether in the Philippines or here in Australia I s immediate. He rolls up his sleeves and has been front and centre for the fund raising projects for Australia’s Bushfires and Queensland floods; and the countless Philippine typhoons including: Ondoy, Sendong, Haiyan, Marikina and others.
Of utmost significance is Mao’s dedication to the Philippine Australian Medical Association’s (PAMA) Medical Missions to the Philippines. He has been consistently the driving force behind the annual medical missions. From north to the south, he and his Doctor wife have participated in 10 medical missions in remote areas in the Philippines. Likewise, he has supported Operation Restore Hope, an Australian based surgical charity for less fortunate children with birth defects and deformities in the Philippines.
Chairman Mao arrived in Australia in 1987 and worked with Corrective Services. He is a loving husband, devoted father of two, a grandfather of three, an admirable civic leader and a friend you can rely on. The Chairman with his impeccable values continues giving whilst moving silently in the shadows.
While there may be a lot of people who take on the title of the “The Chairman”, only Mauricio de Vera really lives up to the title.
