Proud in the Philippines: Ishee del Rosario

Ishee del Rosario (She/They)

Human Resources Analyst

I still remember when my former colleague told me to check out the job opportunities available in his new company.

It was a transition phase for me. I was finally breaking out from being the kid who just got out of college and taking on more responsibilities in both my professional and personal life. I felt that I needed change and I was ready for something bigger — that was when I said yes to the opportunity here at General Motors.

I was hired as a Junior Analyst in People Services back in June 2018. My first line of business was with the then Talent Services comprised of the on/off-boarding and CAP teams. We were then transferred to the Benefits, CISA, Disability, and Letters (BCDL) team in October 2019.

I’m happy that with my current role, I get to interact with other GM employees from around the world. Since one of our department’s main tasks is to issue business letters for business trips, we get to know more about the initiatives of GM in achieving the all-electric goal by 2035. Our team is willing and happy to be able to contribute to the realization and fulfillment of this goal.

From the get-go, my supervisor told me that she wanted to tap my potential when it comes to hosting and organizing events. Back in my previous company, I was not active in organizations and events simply because I was not interested. So, you can just imagine my hesitation when she told me I was going to host the People Services BPD event just a few days after my hire date.

Looking back, I am happy I said yes to that hosting gig because it led me to bigger opportunities, such as hosting the quarterly Townhall and our year-end party for the entire GM Philippines. Participating in these events and meeting new colleagues within GM led me to discover GM PLUS.

I have always been cautious in joining organizations related to the LGBTQ+ community because I have decided to keep this part of me from my family. I was raised by a religious and conservative Filipino family, and I already knew early on I had to keep this part of me from them. I was cautious to only let a few close friends know about my true self and, for a while, I thought I was okay with it — until I felt that it was time for me to take charge of my life.

I knew that the only way for me to do that is to become true to myself and the people around me. That was when I had the courage to join my first ever pride march — and GM PLUS. Since then, it has never been the same. There was this renewed sense of confidence and feeling that I could take on anything, especially in terms of my career.

GM PLUS was the big boost I needed, aside from the support I received from my family and friends. Through this organization, I met people I now consider as my mentors and people I look up to. Their growth within the company continues to inspire me because this just shows that acceptance and inclusivity are a part of GM’s core values.

The knowledge alone that I will be supported by my company in achieving my career goals is such an understated blessing because I know not all professionals have the same experience — particularly in the Philippines. My hope is that through the continuous growth of GM Philippines along with GM PLUS, we will be able to make this type of workplace and space more accessible and available to more professionals.