Earlier this year, Apols Garmay of the Philippines was in Iowa City as a Fellow for the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program (YSEALI PFP). YSEALI PFP is a fully funded exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. YSEALI PFP provides emerging leaders from Southeast Asia the opportunity to spend five to six weeks in the United States, gaining professionally relevant fellowship experiences at non-profit, public, or private sector organizations.
While in Iowa City, Apols was hosted by Jon and Donna Buswell, and her placement company was Field to Family, a nonprofit organization that increases access to and education around healthy local food.
Apols is the founder of her own social enterprise called Hidden Manna Farms. Hidden Manna Farms helps rural farmers with training, giving them digital tools and new farming ideas to be more competitive in the market. It also helps connect farmers with bigger markets. Prior to the foundation of Hidden Manna Farms, farmers would have to go through a middleman to connect with bigger markets; with Apols’ help, they can make the connection themselves.
The idea for Hidden Manna Farms came to Apols while she was growing up in the Philippines—in the same area where Hidden Manna Farm operates today. She could see the constant circle of poverty for farmers and thought about what she could do to help alleviate it. Today, Apols is also active in security and poverty reduction, two developmental areas that the Philippines currently lacks in.
Apols applied to be a fellow for YSEALI PFP as a way to enhance her capabilities in leading an organization. Apols humorously said that, prior to being placed in Iowa City, “I did not know Iowa existed.” Upon arriving in the state, she was impressed with the vast acres of corn and soybeans crops. She was also extremely grateful to her host family and organization in exposing her to American culture, which she compared to Filipino culture.
In the Philippines, the workday is typically 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. with some overtime. Businesses are also stricter in hierarchy, with bosses deciding; it also is not possible approach a superior with an idea, as there are different levels of leadership that need to approve it first. While working at Field to Family, Apols noticed that employees are usually able to leave once their tasks are completed. Additionally, the boss would ask Apols about her ideas and recommendations to improve their business.
About American culture, Apols found that Americans are more direct than Filipinos usually are. Surprised by this cultural difference, it took Apols a few days before knowing how to respond. This direct communication is something Apols ended up bringing back to and implementing in the Philippines.
The most impactful memory Apols has from her time in Iowa City was talking with different people, including Amish farmers, the Hispanic community, and the Meskwaki people. These interactions with people both younger and older taught Apols about American culture and the history and people of Iowa.
Apols wanted to share her YSEALI PFP experience to encourage other people in her community to apply to the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program, where young professionals can develop their leadership and entrepreneurial skills. “I encourage them to join the program. It will help in their career, enhance their personal skills, and teach them organizational support in preparing for the future,” Apols said.
We are extremely grateful to Apols for sharing her story and encouraging others in her community to apply for YSEALI. We look forward to future programming and working with future fellows of YSEALI PFP.
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