05/10/2023
Bestlink College President Dr. Maria M. Vicente Honored as Top Businesswoman in Hollywood
By: Sam Azurel
Dr. Maria M. Vicente is one of the most accomplished and esteemed individuals in the field of education, and her talents and contributions have recently been recognized on a global scale. As the President/Owner of Bestlink College of the Philippines, Dr. Vicente has tirelessly dedicated herself to the pursuit of excellence in education, and her hard work and commitment have resulted in her being honored with the prestigious title of Business Woman of the Year 2023.
Mary M. Vicente, said to be an epitome of guts and gumption, ranks among business bigwigs in the country today. In fact, her being the owner of Avon branch (Novaliches), concededly a measure of success enough is looked upon as minor if placed beside her aggregate entrepreneurial profile.
For a peek into her awesome assets and prodigious projects, one needs only to know what today is the fastest growing college in the country, which is the school she built and steered to a phenomenal 300,000-percent growth in population headcount - all this in a matter of just twenty-one years. This is the Bestlink College of the Philippines, presently with two campuses in Quezon City and one in Bulacan.
She has stakes or passive holdings in other areas of investments, including real estate, hotel operations, and construction supplies. What is surprising is that all of her businesses are safely solvent, as though impervious to dollar dips or peso downgrades. Many would wonder why, but Mary is not stingy with explanations: "I have no bank loans to worry about and there are no creditors bugging me on bad debts or on what they call amortization arrears."
Those who marvel at the way Mary's businesses zoomed to outsize proportion in so quick a time would ascribe miracles to the "phenomenon." Some would call it "Mary's Magic." Indeed, there are those who suspect superstition or clairvoyant clout as some kind of uncanny agent in her facile path to fortune. Or maybe she keeps a gnome in her home, others would fancy.
But those are crazy thoughts. Very religious yet a hard-nosed realist, Mary believes in the balance between faith and action, between prayer and performance. "When you feel you are called to a business endeavor that is mission-driven or service-motivated, respond to it with the conviction that God is putting you there for a purpose. Believe that you will succeed because He is with you in the undertaking. Pursue it with passion-act out your conviction," thus her advice goes
Born in war time, June 7, 1942, in Escalante, Negros Occidental, Mary has learned hard work at an early age, especially as she was only four when her mother died and her father remarrying later. The fourth in a brood of five, she was left to the care of her aunts until she finished high school. Already then, she found a liking for business having had the experience of peddling products the way a spruiker calls crowds to his wares or a seasoned salesman collects and maintains customers. At age 16, Mary already owned a grocery store, picking sales more than simply for the need to forfend hunger but to grow and move along with her gradual step to bigger dreams.
Mary finished a course in business management at Lyceum of the Philippines University, Manila, and for a time worked as an office secretary at the Department of Labor and Employment. With her boss a business-minded lawyer, she learned a lot about business law and management and acquired useful insights on how a company was ran profit- ably. But it was when she became part of Avon that she began to see bigger business options that in time would allow her to rake in laurels in the field of her choice.
"When I put up Bestlink, which started as just a computer training center, I had only seven students. Today we have about 40,000 and counting" Mary shares.
The former Miss Maria Mahilum was married to Telesforo Vicente (now deceased), an ophthalmologist, from Cagayan Valley, and their union produced three children-Jing, Edith, and Ariane.
Truly a big name now, Mary received recognition from Lyceum as one of its most outstanding alumnae and was conferred the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa by St. James the Elder Theological Seminary in Florida, U.S.A.
What's more, Mary has been conferred two other doctorates abroad - as Doctor Fellow of Royal Institute of Entrepreneurs (Singapore) and Doctor Fellow of Royal Institute of Educators (Singapore) and to top it all, she was conferred with a Papal Award in 2020.
"Without Avon as the starting point of my career journey, I couldn't imagine myself getting any close to this achievement level," Mary admits.
For its part, Bestlink is now also affiliated with global guilds of academic institutions, a testament to its instruction quality, service reputation, and curricular edge. Already, Mary is drawing up another plan for the expansion of the college to serve a massive influx of enrollees, which, year after year, has not shown indications of thinning. The need for more buildings, according to Mary, and possibly of another campus, either built around the existing ones or somewhere else in the metropolis, is particularly urgent as the school has also opened its Senior High School Program.
The recognition was bestowed upon Dr. Vicente at the 22nd Annual Gawad Amerika Awards Night, held on November 18, 2023, at 6PM in Hollywood, California, USA. This glamorous event brought together distinguished individuals from various industries, celebrating excellence and achievement. Dr. Vicente's remarkable accomplishments in the field of education made her a deserving recipient of this esteemed honor.
Under Dr. Vicente's visionary leadership, Bestlink College of the Philippines has flourished and established itself as one of the premier institutions in the country. With a strong focus on providing quality education and holistic development, Dr. Vicente has transformed Bestlink College into an institution that nurtures future leaders and professionals.
Dr. Vicente's dedication to educational excellence has been evident through her innovative approach to curriculum development and her commitment to preparing students for the challenges of the modern world. By incorporating cutting-edge teaching methods and industry-relevant programs, Dr. Vicente has ensured that Bestlink College graduates are well-equipped to excel in their chosen fields.
Beyond her contributions to education, Dr. Vicente has made significant strides in empowering women in business and leadership positions. As a successful businesswoman herself, she has shattered ceilings and serves as an inspiration to aspiring female entrepreneurs. Her achievements demonstrate that with determination, passion, and hard work, women can excel in traditionally male-dominated industries.
The recognition of Dr. Maria M. Vicente with the Business Woman of the Year 2023 award further solidifies her status as a trailblazer and role model. Her success serves as a testament to the power of education, leadership, and resilience. As she continues to make a profound impact in the field of education and beyond, it is evident that Dr. Vicente's contributions will leave a lasting legacy.
Dr. Maria M. Vicente's recognition at the Gawad Amerika Awards Night is a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence and her remarkable achievements in education and business. As a visionary leader, she continues to create a significant impact in the lives of individuals and the community as a whole. Her journey is an inspiration to all, and her recognition serves as a reminder that hard work, dedication, and passion can lead to great success. Congratulations to Dr. Maria M. Vicente on this well-deserved accolade!
