Maria Elena "Marilen or Elenita" Friedlander-Galang
Email: MFGalang@comcast.net
Address: 10345 Meridian Ave. N, #1002, Seattle, Washington 98133
Home Phone: Home: (206) 527-6175 Cell Phone: (206) 919-2369
Date of Birth: June 22
Maria Elena "Marilen or Elenita" Friedlander-Galang
Email: MFGalang@comcast.net
Address: 10345 Meridian Ave. N, #1002, Seattle, Washington 98133
Home Phone: Home: (206) 527-6175 Cell Phone: (206) 919-2369
Date of Birth: June 22
I am the fifth of eight siblings. I come between Bobby and Marivic. Like most of my family members, I am a product of Catholic schools. My primary grades were spent in St. Paul College in Quezon City and elementary, high school and college schooling at St. Theresa's College in San Marcelino, Manila. Immediately after graduation from college (BSBA), I worked for a number of years as an Executive Secretary with the Yuchengco Group of Companies (i.e., House of Investments, Industrial Finance Corp., Industrial Distributors, Malayan Insurance Co., Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., to name a few).
I first left the Philippines in the late 1960s for a year's stay in Vancouver, Canada. Upon my return, I worked and helped set up the Continental Illinois National Bank & Trust Company of Chicago, Philippine Rep. Office, from its beginnings in a tiny room at the Manila Hotel until its permanent location in the Ramon Magsaysay Center at Roxas Boulevard. I worked here until 1976, when I left the Philippines for good. I lived and worked in Sydney, Australia from 1976 to 1987 and then after getting married there in 1987, I left for the the U.S.A. to join other family members. I proceeded to Miami where my husband and I lived and worked for 3 years. While in Miami, my husband worked as a computer systems analyst for the corporate office of Norwegian Cruise Lines and hence, we enjoyed the perk of going on week-long or weekender cruises, mainly to Caribbean countries, Mexico and Puerto Rico, for free (except for port dues).
In order to pursue career opportunities in both New York and New Jersey, my husband and I decided to leave Florida and move to New Jersey in 1990. While living in New Jersey, I landed a job with Price Waterhouse LLP, in New York City (before its merger with Coopers and Lybrand), which lasted until January 1998. Then I worked for Security Capital Group (a real estate investment and management firm) until July 2003, when GE Capital bought us out.
Shortly after, I was hired by the Rockefeller University where I served an an Executive Assistant to the Chief Investments Officer. As the commute to and from Manhattan was slowly but surely stressing me out (two bus rides and two subway rides), I resigned from this position after exactly one year. This was followed by contractual assignments, mainly with Goldman Sachs, an investment banking firm in Wall Street, until I relocated to Seattle, Washington in July 2005. While in Seattle, I continued doing contractual work and my latest assignment was with the Washington Mutual Bank corporate office in downtown Seattle, which I held until I resigned in June 2006.
I have not been too blessed in the marriage front, as my 19-year marriage recently ended in divorce, and, although I have no children of my own, I have lots of nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, who I simply adore. All in all, I've had a good life and a good career and, although it's easier said than done, I mustn't go through life regretting the wrong choices I've made, but instead choose to dwell on my blessings - having a loving and supportive family close by, as well as a close circle of friends and former classmates, based in the east and west coast of the U.S.A. In any case, I am trying to make a new life for myself here in the beautiful emerald city of Seattle, where both of my siblings, Marivic and Bobby, and their respective families reside.
For the first time, I was able to attend the latest reunion of the McBrats held in Las Vegas in August 2006. It was great meeting up again (for the first time since leaving the Fort) with the Albas, the Bulfas, the Fernandezes (GodRos),and Arthur & Sam Mendoza. God willing, I hope to be able to attend future reunions, either in Manila or in Hawaii and, thus, reconnect and/or make new acquaintances with fellow McBrats.
NOTE: You might also want to read Marilen's email about her recent Trip to the Philippines and also view some photographs which were taken during that trip.
