Angela Bongat

Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Angela Bongat, Associate General Counsel, North America, was born in Naga City, Philippines. When she was 2 years old, her parents decided to leave their well-established roots and immigrate to the United States. Now, Angela considers herself a lifelong Houstonian and, when she is not providing legal guidance to Quanex business leaders across North America, she enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and beloved fur babies; and enjoys singing for the Houston Symphony Chorus.

Q: What are some of your favorite traditions?

AB: The Filipino culture is grounded in recognition and respect for older relatives. For example, Filipinos typically use the word “tita” to address their aunts or their parents’ friends. They also use the term “ate” to address older sisters and female cousins, and “kuya” to address older brothers and male cousins. To this day, my brother only calls me Ate, and younger friends also use that term as their signal to me that they view me as their older sister. It’s a sign of love and respect, and it extends my circle of people beyond my family tree.

Q: What is your favorite part of your heritage?

AB: We are the Asian melting pot! Filipino culture is influenced by our Spanish and United States colonization and its geographic location. That is evident through our food, native language, and religious beliefs.

Q: Tell us about your role here at Quanex. What would you say is your favorite part of it?

AB: As Associate General Counsel, I am fortunate to work with all areas of our business—from Human Resources, to EHS, to the sales team. My favorite part of our business, and the most important piece in my view, is our people. As different as we are from one another, we all believe in our CREED (Do the Right Thing), and each of us weaves a culture that defines Quanex.

Q: What has your experience been like working at Quanex?

AB: Amazing. I have a varied practice that keeps me on my toes, I engage with the business team to find solutions and growth opportunities, and I am part of an organization that truly wants to do the right thing for its employees and customers. With the recent Tyman acquisition, we have welcomed new colleagues, and we are entering different markets. It’s an exciting time for Quanex and its people.