| Francisco "Frank" S. Abalos Glendale, Arizona Dynamic Community Leader and Businessman, Extraordinaire |
A rare breed and truly one of a kind. Mr. Hard Knocks coming
from very humble beginnings, a down to earth gentleman, easy
going, ambitious, enterprising and a gamut of wit and intelligent
Filipinistic-American brewed individual of all sorts. Loyal to his
heritage but Americanized military man, honed in the depths of
submarine life, the highest paid and best fed warrior of the U.S.
Armed Forces rank and pile. Having been selected as top twenty
outstanding Filipino-American of U.S. and Canada, it can not be
more deserving and uniquely a very qualified selectee. His
military career accented with an accelerated rose from the ranks
with accolades very seldom matched or attained by the ordinary.
His military career was brief and was disabled and retired
halfway to his 20 year retirement goals.
from very humble beginnings, a down to earth gentleman, easy
going, ambitious, enterprising and a gamut of wit and intelligent
Filipinistic-American brewed individual of all sorts. Loyal to his
heritage but Americanized military man, honed in the depths of
submarine life, the highest paid and best fed warrior of the U.S.
Armed Forces rank and pile. Having been selected as top twenty
outstanding Filipino-American of U.S. and Canada, it can not be
more deserving and uniquely a very qualified selectee. His
military career accented with an accelerated rose from the ranks
with accolades very seldom matched or attained by the ordinary.
His military career was brief and was disabled and retired
halfway to his 20 year retirement goals.
As a very young 17-year old man in the Philippines in 1946, Francisco Abalos would have been contented
when appointed disbursing officer of the Congress of the Philippines in charge of disbursing salaries and
allowances of congressional personnel - then and up to now, the powers-that-be of the country. Not satisfied
with this achievement, in 1950, four years after being the disbursing officer, he became the Private Secretary
to the Speaker of Congress, one of the most prestigious and powerful positions in the Philippines, next only to
the President. As such, Frank was tasked as a political correspondent and liaison officer of the Speaker of
the House.
To many, that would have been sufficient. Frank's exposure to the powerful, influential moneyed-people, and
to the makers of men and fortune of the time, would have guaranteed him a very comfortable and secure
future, just for the asking. However, at the ripe age of 27, Frank opted to seek a more challenging
adventure and see the world through the U.S. Navy.
"What! You got yourself recruited by the U.S. Navy in Cavite?" quizzed his friends who couldn't understand his
decision. But the U.S Navy it was! So Frank took the hazardous and trying boot camp of the U.S. Navy . He
started from scratch just like any young recruit, ignoring the fact that he was almost 30. Furthermore, Frank
did not just sign up, he volunteered to be in the U.S. Naval Submarine Service.
From 1957 to 1969, Frank climbed his way to the highest position of a non-commissioned naval officer. He
started as Budget Analyst and then became an accountant. He held the powerful and influential position of
Staff of Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific in San Diego, California. After almost 13 years in the service of
the U.S. Armed Forces, Frank retired as Chief of the U.S. Navy was a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War.
"Had Frank stayed in the Navy, he would have been the first Filipino Admiral in the U.S. Navy," remarked a
fellow Filipino submariner.
At a young age of 40, Frank was ready, willing and able to retire. With his U.S. Navy pension and some
annuities, he was financially a man of leisure tailor-made to take life easy.
However, Frank Abalos had other plans. In less than a year after his retirement in 1969, Frank
immediately launched into the business world. He took and passed with flying colors the State of California's
General Building Contractor License and the tough Real Estate Broker's License. Consequently, he became
the first Filipino ever to hold a Builder-Broker License in the State of California.
As the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 1970 of his Tropical Builders-Realty in San Diego, the company's
signboards were all over the place. Almost singlehandedly, Frank was building Filipino homes and offices
all over San Diego County . Frank was the first Filipino to be an Investment Counselor and Consultant.
"I remember when I first met Frank. We roomed together during our Cursillo weekend in San Diego 20
years ago in 1977," recalls FIL-AM IMAGE's publisher. "At that time, Frank was 'Mr. San Diego'. Big man in
town. Like him, we refused to surrender our gold Rolexes and hid them instead in our pockets. Frank
also hid a portable radio, so we were able to follow the World Series. We completed the Cursillo and made
our wives and families happy. Recalling our secret in the past during my recent brief visit to Phoenix
Frank and I agreed that the Cursillo touched us and paved the way for our complete surrender to the Will of
the Lord."
Frank's presence in San Diego made a big difference to the Filipino community in the region. He was always
available to assist them in their financial or any economic needs as well as provide leadership and advice to
the growing Filipino community in the region. Furthermore, Frank also established Mabuhay Construction
Company in nearby National City. Superior Cabinets, Inc.; Travel Affairs, a travel agency, and Philippine
Diversified Investments, Inc.
As his fortune poured in and made him a millionaire, Frank was generous to the mainstream community as
well as to the Filipino communities. He was a sponsor or benefactor of practically all social Filipino functions;
a " compadre" or a "ninong" as often as there were christenings or weddings. He was an adviser of
practically all organizations and was a friend and "godfather" to all.
When the real estate industry started experiencing a lull and everything that had to do with real estate was
in its downtrend, Frank took his toll just like a true and proven fighter. Nevertheless, instead of grieving
after losing millions of hard-earned dollars, Frank searched for greener pastures and never stopped
analyzing and prospecting. To borrow the well-used cliche, the rest is now history.
In 1990, Frank packed his belongings and headed for Arizona. "Arizona is the State that keeps on pressing
towards progress and developments, as if it never heard of the words inflation, economic down trend,
and all those negative descriptions of hard times," remarked Frank.
First he established Dynamic Realty, LLC, to develop and build houses and sell them exclusively. His choice
of location, mostly in the middle of developing or existing golf courses, was a big hit. Just like in San Diego,
Frank dipped into the "in" business of the region, an immediate income producing business, and
established Sunflower Healthcare Center, LLC. Both businesses are now flourishing. As usual, Frank does
not limit his visibility with the mainstream alone. He is also active with various Filipino organizations
such as the Phoenix Phil-Am Lions, the Filipino American Community of Phoenix, Arizona, the Samahan
Bayanihan of Arizona, and the Glendale Arizona Chamber of Commerce. #
when appointed disbursing officer of the Congress of the Philippines in charge of disbursing salaries and
allowances of congressional personnel - then and up to now, the powers-that-be of the country. Not satisfied
with this achievement, in 1950, four years after being the disbursing officer, he became the Private Secretary
to the Speaker of Congress, one of the most prestigious and powerful positions in the Philippines, next only to
the President. As such, Frank was tasked as a political correspondent and liaison officer of the Speaker of
the House.
To many, that would have been sufficient. Frank's exposure to the powerful, influential moneyed-people, and
to the makers of men and fortune of the time, would have guaranteed him a very comfortable and secure
future, just for the asking. However, at the ripe age of 27, Frank opted to seek a more challenging
adventure and see the world through the U.S. Navy.
"What! You got yourself recruited by the U.S. Navy in Cavite?" quizzed his friends who couldn't understand his
decision. But the U.S Navy it was! So Frank took the hazardous and trying boot camp of the U.S. Navy . He
started from scratch just like any young recruit, ignoring the fact that he was almost 30. Furthermore, Frank
did not just sign up, he volunteered to be in the U.S. Naval Submarine Service.
From 1957 to 1969, Frank climbed his way to the highest position of a non-commissioned naval officer. He
started as Budget Analyst and then became an accountant. He held the powerful and influential position of
Staff of Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific in San Diego, California. After almost 13 years in the service of
the U.S. Armed Forces, Frank retired as Chief of the U.S. Navy was a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War.
"Had Frank stayed in the Navy, he would have been the first Filipino Admiral in the U.S. Navy," remarked a
fellow Filipino submariner.
At a young age of 40, Frank was ready, willing and able to retire. With his U.S. Navy pension and some
annuities, he was financially a man of leisure tailor-made to take life easy.
However, Frank Abalos had other plans. In less than a year after his retirement in 1969, Frank
immediately launched into the business world. He took and passed with flying colors the State of California's
General Building Contractor License and the tough Real Estate Broker's License. Consequently, he became
the first Filipino ever to hold a Builder-Broker License in the State of California.
As the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 1970 of his Tropical Builders-Realty in San Diego, the company's
signboards were all over the place. Almost singlehandedly, Frank was building Filipino homes and offices
all over San Diego County . Frank was the first Filipino to be an Investment Counselor and Consultant.
"I remember when I first met Frank. We roomed together during our Cursillo weekend in San Diego 20
years ago in 1977," recalls FIL-AM IMAGE's publisher. "At that time, Frank was 'Mr. San Diego'. Big man in
town. Like him, we refused to surrender our gold Rolexes and hid them instead in our pockets. Frank
also hid a portable radio, so we were able to follow the World Series. We completed the Cursillo and made
our wives and families happy. Recalling our secret in the past during my recent brief visit to Phoenix
Frank and I agreed that the Cursillo touched us and paved the way for our complete surrender to the Will of
the Lord."
Frank's presence in San Diego made a big difference to the Filipino community in the region. He was always
available to assist them in their financial or any economic needs as well as provide leadership and advice to
the growing Filipino community in the region. Furthermore, Frank also established Mabuhay Construction
Company in nearby National City. Superior Cabinets, Inc.; Travel Affairs, a travel agency, and Philippine
Diversified Investments, Inc.
As his fortune poured in and made him a millionaire, Frank was generous to the mainstream community as
well as to the Filipino communities. He was a sponsor or benefactor of practically all social Filipino functions;
a " compadre" or a "ninong" as often as there were christenings or weddings. He was an adviser of
practically all organizations and was a friend and "godfather" to all.
When the real estate industry started experiencing a lull and everything that had to do with real estate was
in its downtrend, Frank took his toll just like a true and proven fighter. Nevertheless, instead of grieving
after losing millions of hard-earned dollars, Frank searched for greener pastures and never stopped
analyzing and prospecting. To borrow the well-used cliche, the rest is now history.
In 1990, Frank packed his belongings and headed for Arizona. "Arizona is the State that keeps on pressing
towards progress and developments, as if it never heard of the words inflation, economic down trend,
and all those negative descriptions of hard times," remarked Frank.
First he established Dynamic Realty, LLC, to develop and build houses and sell them exclusively. His choice
of location, mostly in the middle of developing or existing golf courses, was a big hit. Just like in San Diego,
Frank dipped into the "in" business of the region, an immediate income producing business, and
established Sunflower Healthcare Center, LLC. Both businesses are now flourishing. As usual, Frank does
not limit his visibility with the mainstream alone. He is also active with various Filipino organizations
such as the Phoenix Phil-Am Lions, the Filipino American Community of Phoenix, Arizona, the Samahan
Bayanihan of Arizona, and the Glendale Arizona Chamber of Commerce. #
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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