| Sony Robles-Florendo Baltimore, Maryland A New Dimension of Dynamic "CAN DO" Leadership |
When Sony Robles-Florendo came to the United States and
settled in Baltimore, Maryland, it never occurred to her that her
name could be a household word, not only in Maryland, but all
over the world. She was the underdog in a modern-time Goliath
versus David conflict. Sony was sued by the the giant
multi-national Japanese corporation, Sony of Japan, for
"trademark" infringement because she called one of her
restaurants,"Sony's Philippine-Asian Cuisine." In a sense, Sony
Florendo received lots of free advertising mileage when she
unsuccessfully tried to fight the law suit lodged against her. And
after almost three years of expensive court battle of defending the
use of her nickname by which she has been called for 51 years,
Sony Florendo had to agree into an outside compromise with
Sony Corporation of Japan to change the name of her restaurant
in 1991 in exchanged for the Japanese corporation to drop its
$2.9 million law suit against her. Thus, unlike David who toppled
Goliath, Sony was unable to do so, but was instead able to
advance her "CAN DO" leadership in to a new dimension.
Sony Florendo, however, is not known among Filipino Americans
in the country because of the publicity of her unsuccessful stand
against the giant Sony Corporation who poured in unlimited
settled in Baltimore, Maryland, it never occurred to her that her
name could be a household word, not only in Maryland, but all
over the world. She was the underdog in a modern-time Goliath
versus David conflict. Sony was sued by the the giant
multi-national Japanese corporation, Sony of Japan, for
"trademark" infringement because she called one of her
restaurants,"Sony's Philippine-Asian Cuisine." In a sense, Sony
Florendo received lots of free advertising mileage when she
unsuccessfully tried to fight the law suit lodged against her. And
after almost three years of expensive court battle of defending the
use of her nickname by which she has been called for 51 years,
Sony Florendo had to agree into an outside compromise with
Sony Corporation of Japan to change the name of her restaurant
in 1991 in exchanged for the Japanese corporation to drop its
$2.9 million law suit against her. Thus, unlike David who toppled
Goliath, Sony was unable to do so, but was instead able to
advance her "CAN DO" leadership in to a new dimension.
Sony Florendo, however, is not known among Filipino Americans
in the country because of the publicity of her unsuccessful stand
against the giant Sony Corporation who poured in unlimited
fortune to harass her. Sony Florendo is well-known among her countrymen both in the U. S. and in the
Philippines because of her active participation and leadership in civic and political affairs. She has been
visible among Filipino Americans long before her legal entanglement with the Japanese Goliath came into
being.
A graduate both in high school and in college from the University of the Philippines, known for its stringent
and high standard of education, Sony was handpicked by the late Rufino "Feny" Hechanova, one of
Philippines foremost image builders and PR experts, as a protegee. Feny, who was the main PR consultant
utilized by former Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal in his bid for presidency of the island,
personally instilled Sony the intricacies of public relations and image building. Although her degree from U.P.
College of Home Economics was Nutrition and Dietetics, Sony easily learned the tricks of the Public
Relations industry. Under Feny's personal tutelage, Sony developed a quick and creative approach in
organizing system and procedure in any given project.
Sony, however, did not entirely gave up her Home Economics academic training. While with Nation Ad, the
name of the PR firm, Sony zeroed-in in developing- from the packaging to the marketing aspects of food
products. Later, Sony taught at U.P. Home Economics Department.
Sony's organizational skills and image building education under the personal guidance of Feny Hechanova
came handy when Sony and her family migrated to Baltimore in 1968. She co-founded and served as the first
chairperson of the Foundation for Aid to the Philippines, an association based in Virginia, Maryland and
Washington, D. C.
Sony got involved either as an active member or officer of several civic and political activities as well as
becoming a successful business entrepreneur as owner of a group of restaurants. She belongs to the
Baltimore National Aquarium , Baltimore Theater Project, International Visitors Program of the City, the
Philippine American Foundation, and the Advisory Committee in Nutritional Projects for the City of Baltimore.
Sony is also active with several Filipino organizations, plus serving as Baltimore City commissioner with the
Community Relations Commission.
Born in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Sony is the daughter of the late Atty. Gregorio David Robles and the
former Nieves Joson-Tolentino, a former school teacher. Sony is married to Gerardo Arcega Florendo, Jr.,
also a University of the Philippines graduate with a degree of Engineering. Gerry is a co-owner of an
engineering consulting firm in Baltimore.
The Florendos own four successful restaurant operations - two fast food eateries in the Baltimore Inner
Harbour and in the Owing Mills Tower Center; a full service restaurant in downtown Baltimore; and, a catering
and banquet business. All of the Florendos four children are involved in their restaurant business.
The Florendos eldest son, Luis Gregorio is a Hotel and Restaurant Management graduate from Cornell
University and is an MBA student at Baltimore University. Luis serves as manager for the family's restaurants.
The other children are : Suzette , a business graduate from Loyola University and is married to Kevin
Stevens; Rene Gerardo, an engineering graduate from Virginia Polytechnique University; and, Maria Nieves
Cecilia, a Hotel and Restaurant Management graduate from Denver University. (NM)
Philippines because of her active participation and leadership in civic and political affairs. She has been
visible among Filipino Americans long before her legal entanglement with the Japanese Goliath came into
being.
A graduate both in high school and in college from the University of the Philippines, known for its stringent
and high standard of education, Sony was handpicked by the late Rufino "Feny" Hechanova, one of
Philippines foremost image builders and PR experts, as a protegee. Feny, who was the main PR consultant
utilized by former Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal in his bid for presidency of the island,
personally instilled Sony the intricacies of public relations and image building. Although her degree from U.P.
College of Home Economics was Nutrition and Dietetics, Sony easily learned the tricks of the Public
Relations industry. Under Feny's personal tutelage, Sony developed a quick and creative approach in
organizing system and procedure in any given project.
Sony, however, did not entirely gave up her Home Economics academic training. While with Nation Ad, the
name of the PR firm, Sony zeroed-in in developing- from the packaging to the marketing aspects of food
products. Later, Sony taught at U.P. Home Economics Department.
Sony's organizational skills and image building education under the personal guidance of Feny Hechanova
came handy when Sony and her family migrated to Baltimore in 1968. She co-founded and served as the first
chairperson of the Foundation for Aid to the Philippines, an association based in Virginia, Maryland and
Washington, D. C.
Sony got involved either as an active member or officer of several civic and political activities as well as
becoming a successful business entrepreneur as owner of a group of restaurants. She belongs to the
Baltimore National Aquarium , Baltimore Theater Project, International Visitors Program of the City, the
Philippine American Foundation, and the Advisory Committee in Nutritional Projects for the City of Baltimore.
Sony is also active with several Filipino organizations, plus serving as Baltimore City commissioner with the
Community Relations Commission.
Born in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Sony is the daughter of the late Atty. Gregorio David Robles and the
former Nieves Joson-Tolentino, a former school teacher. Sony is married to Gerardo Arcega Florendo, Jr.,
also a University of the Philippines graduate with a degree of Engineering. Gerry is a co-owner of an
engineering consulting firm in Baltimore.
The Florendos own four successful restaurant operations - two fast food eateries in the Baltimore Inner
Harbour and in the Owing Mills Tower Center; a full service restaurant in downtown Baltimore; and, a catering
and banquet business. All of the Florendos four children are involved in their restaurant business.
The Florendos eldest son, Luis Gregorio is a Hotel and Restaurant Management graduate from Cornell
University and is an MBA student at Baltimore University. Luis serves as manager for the family's restaurants.
The other children are : Suzette , a business graduate from Loyola University and is married to Kevin
Stevens; Rene Gerardo, an engineering graduate from Virginia Polytechnique University; and, Maria Nieves
Cecilia, a Hotel and Restaurant Management graduate from Denver University. (NM)
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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