Vee Cristobal: Building a Dream
California CPA magazine: October 2008
At 18, Vee Cristobal shared a dream with her mother. “One day, I want to build many libraries here, so children can walk to libraries in their own community,” she said. At the time, the closest library to Cristobal’s hometown in the Philippines was 90 minutes away. Today, she is seeing her dream become a reality.
The first of those libraries is being built on a piece of property she invested in while in her teens. It’s scheduled to open May 2, 2010.
California CPA had to learn more.
A land investment at 18 is a savvy move. What made that possible?
I started working at 16 in an international-shipping company in the Philippines as a secretary. I was a working student going to school at night. Every month, I saved at least 75 percent of my earnings and my boss encouraged me to invest in land. After two years working in the company, I was able to save the money for the down payment.
How did your initial investment morph into a realization of your dream?
I wrote down all of my goals, my plans and my dreams. My mother said, “Aim for higher goals and dream big—it’s free, no one can stop you.” Everything that I wrote down I accomplished. I wrote down I would build a library when I reached middle age and I’m working on it now.
What other things from your upbringing in the Philippines do you bring to your life in Los Angeles?
I remember my mother bringing children to our home every Christmas and sharing what we had with them—especially toys, clothes and food. I can still remember the faces of those children and how happy and contented they were after they were fed and received their gifts. I share that with my children. We also adopt a family during Christmas and my children are generous enough to share what they have.
Are there ways in which your profession has afforded you other opportunities to give back to society?
I have family, friends and clients who are very supportive of my work as a CPA, in my church and in community—and they lend support to one of my favorite hobbies: collecting books for children. Four of my clients have promised to support me with my dream of building libraries in the Philippines. Imagine that.
If you could recommend one book to a friend, what would it be?
“Good to Great” by Jim Collins. I read it at least three times. And I would recommend, if you have young children or grandchildren, there is no better gift you can give them than reading to them at night before they go to sleep. Reading is such a wonderful gift to give to a child.
How can people help you with your library project?
I will be forever grateful to anyone who could donate children books and dictionaries. I will continue shipping the books, distributing them to every public school in the Philippines and filling the library with great children’s books. My bigger dream is to provide the library with computers. I’m already planning to apply as a nonprofit for the library. It may take some time, but it will surely happen.
If you are interested in helping, contact me at vee@cristobalcpa.com or (310) 477-1066.
