SHE is the first woman Senate President in the history of the Marianas, a former CNMI Secretary of Labor and former Secretary of the Workforce Investment Agency.
But there is more to Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero’s life than the political spotlight.
A single mother who raised 3 children, Deleon Guerrero was also a banker and an entrepreneur before she was known to be a servant in the government.
“Many women carry multiple hats. That’s the beauty of being a woman. We are not saying that men cannot do it but we women have been playing different roles in life since we can remember,” she said.
Deleon Guerrero said she was raised by a strong woman, particularly her grandmother who she said influenced the woman she has become today.
“She is a strong woman who instilled discipline in me,” she said.
Deleon Guerrero said there are many women out there who own businesses and are making it to the top 500 fortune companies while at the same time managing their personal lives.
“It is a matter of knowing what you want to be in life and working hard to pursue your goals,” she said.
She said women are capable to maintain life and work balance.
She recalled how she manages her own business while at the same time serving in a government position while raising children.
“I used to call myself a taxi driver she said. I must work but at the same time I have to manage my time well because I need to drop my kids to school, pick them up, buy lunch for them. I have to drop my kids here and there and made sure I am not late at work or even in picking them up,” she said.
For Deleon Guerrero, multitasking is a skill that every woman should acquire and time management is a discipline that a woman should learn if she wants to succeed on something.
“It’s like exercise, we can say we do not have time for exercise. But if we want to be fit and healthy, we need to have time to exercise,” she said.
She highlighted the importance of prioritizing the things that matter and giving time to it.
“Every person is different but how do you manage yourself as a woman?” she said.
Self-Love
As a public servant, Deleon Guerrero has been preoccupied with finding solutions to economic problems and serving the community.
She said government service is giving oneself to the community but it also requires self-love.
“We must love our self and take care of ourselves in order for us to give more love and care to those around us,” she said.
She recalls how she spends time to take care of herself by running 7miles every after work when she was still not a Senator.
She said she runs 7 everyday because it is her way to take care of herself.
Sometimes, she brings her kids with her while she runs.
“I have to spend time with them and that is my way of spending time with them. They can bike while I run with them,” she said.
She said she have to juggle her time with her kids and at the same time spend time with herself.
“Find time for yourself and do what you love to do. Take care of your sanity!” she joked.
Aside from taking care of oneself, it is equally important to be hard on oneself as well.
“Sometimes we must discipline ourselves and tell ourselves “Hey! I am not going to do this anymore,” she said.
Financial Literacy and financial freedom
Deleon Guerrero said women should realize the power of financial freedom.
She said financial freedom allows women to purchase
But she said earning your own money requires passion, hard work, and dedication.
She recalled how she started her own cosmetic and perfume business Sensuous Scents and Oils.
“I went to a high school reunion in California, and I just had this desire to start a business so after the reunion, I locked myself in my hotel room and just conceptualize my business idea,” she said.
According to her, it is in her hotel room where she named her business and it is after the reunion when she went to the malls to shop for the products that she love as a woman which soon became her products.
After the conceptualizing and shopping, she said she was patient in putting up a tent every Thursday at the Thursday market in Garapan.
“I go to the night market, put up my tent and carry the boxes myself,” she said.
She said her hard work and dedication paid off as her investment multiplied and turned to savings.
Aside from the cosmetic and perfume business, she also started various small businesses such as a carnival for parties and even t-shirt printing.
“Just invest in anything that will multiply your resources,” she said.
According to her a lot of women manages the finances at home because they are good financial managers.
She reminds women to always make right decisions.
“Know the difference between a want and need. Before you even purchase something, ask yourself, are you financially stable?” she said.
She gave warning to being indebted because of spending beyond one’s means or buying things that are not necessary in life.
“Before you buy something, ask yourself if you really need it or if you really can afford it,” she said.
She added that if women can be responsible in managing their finances and be wise in investing it to multiple resources, they would not need to depend on anyone and they can purchase the things they want for themselves and their family.
“If you are a woman and you have your own money and you are financially secured, you have the ability to dictate your life as a woman,” she said.
She shared how she can purchase a car with her own money.
“I have purchased my own vehicle with my own money, and I didn’t need bank financing. It is cash,” she said.
She said she was able to do it because of managing her finances with utmost discipline, hard work, and prioritizing saving.
“Some people live in their needs and they have savings and some people live in their wants and they end up in debt. If you cannot afford it do not jeopardize your financial status now and your family’s need,” she said.
Deleon Guerrero hopes that this International Women’s Day, the women will take a stand in their life by making right decisions for themselves in all aspects of their life.
“I want to empower women. I’m sure that all of us have a dream. Ask yourself, ‘What is it that you can do today to make your life better?’ Be strong and do not let anybody else tell you otherwise. Do not allow anybody to tell you that you are a failure. Love yourself and remember that you are beautiful,” she said.
She is encouraging women to believe in themselves and look for resources to better their lives.
“Look for resources to improve your life and do what you have to do to make you the successful woman you want to become,” she said.
She is also reminding already successful women to empower each other.
“Build each other up,” she said.
Edith Deleon Guerrero
Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero confers with Sen. Frank Q. Cruz during Senate emergency session on Monday.