Ryan Natividad: 14 years old Pa Lang, Factory Worker Na, Ngayon ay may Sariling Negosyo

Ryan Natividad: 14 years old Pa Lang,

Factory Worker Na, Ngayon ay may sariling Negosyo

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Noon pa man ay interesado na akong magsulat tungkol sa mga naglalako ng mga gamit na naglilibot saan mang lugar dahil nagustuhan ko ang kanilang pagtitiyaga na magandang halimbawa sa iba na ang gusto ay kumita agad ng milyon-milyon sa negosyo.

 

Nang makita ko ang isang grupo na kumakain noon sa karinderya malapit sa amin, nagulat ako nang tawagin ng isa sa kanila na “boss” ang kasama nila na sa tingin ko ay parang college student lang. Nakita ko rin ang mga nilalako nilang power tools tulad ng barena. Sa kahihintay ko ng tamang panahon upang makausap ng masinsinan ang tinawag na “boss” ay saka naman sila umalis sa dating tinitirhan. Mabuti na lang at makalipas ang ilang buwan ay natiyempuhan ko ang taong gusto kong kausapin sa isang karinderya na nadaanan ko.

 

Siya si Ryan Natividad, 26 taong gulang at may isang anak na 8 taong gulang, kasal kay Sienna Javier, at sila ay taga-Bulacan. Sa katitinda ng mga power tolls ay napadako ang grupo niya sa Cavite.

 

Galing siya sa isang broken family dahil grade six pa lang daw siya ay naghiwalay na ang kanyang mga magulang at siya ay napapunta sa kalinga ng kanyang nanay. Dahil sa kahirapan ng buhay, 14 taong gulang pa lang daw siya ay napasabak na siya ng trabaho sa iba’t ibang pagawaan o factory. Hindi rin siya nakatapos ng high school, kaya nang nagkaroon ng pagkakataon kalaunan ay pinasukan na rin niya ang negosyong kalye o ambulant vending sa gulang na 19 taon. Noon niya natutunan ang pagbenta ng mga power tools at kahit papaano ay nakakapag-ipon pa siya.

 

Sa gulang na 23 taon, naisipan niyang mamuhunan upang lumaki ang kayang kita kaya humiram siya ng 30 libong piso sa kanyang nanay upang maipandagdag sa naipon na niya. Nang lumago ng kaunti ang kanyang negosyo ay kumuha na siya ng ilang tauhan. Sa loob ng tatlong taon ay nadagdagan pa ang kanyang mga kalakal kaya ngayon, ay may apat na siyang tauhan. Nakatira sila sa isang studio type na apartment sa Bacoor City at sinusuyod nila ang mga kalapit na lunsod at bayan sa paglako ng power tools.

 

Sa gulang na 26 taon, nakakabilib si Ryan dahil may sarili na siyang negosyo na nagsimula sa mahigit lang sa halagang 30 libong piso. Paano na lang kaya kung ang puhunan niya ay mahigit 100 libong piso na sa tingin ng ibag tao ay “barya lang”? Sa uri ng kanyang pagsisikap, baka hindi lang apat na tao ang kanyang natulungan!

 

May mga seafarers at OFWs na tuwing magbabakasyon ay hindi bumababa sa 50 libong piso ang cash na nahahawakan at yong iba pa nga ay mahigit 100 libong piso. Subalit sa ilang araw pa lang nilang pagbabakasyon ay ubos na dahil sa walang pakundangang paggastos. At, kung wala nang madukot ay ang mga ipinundar na gamit naman ang binibenta, hanggang bandang huli ay uutang na. Madalas pa itong nagreresulta sa away-asawa lalo pa kung maluho ang misis. Karamihan sa mga ito ay hindi nakakaisip na mumuhunan sa isang negosyo upang maaasahan kung sakaling may mangyaring hindi maganda tulad ng pagkatanggal sa trabaho, o di kaya ay upang may “mapaglibangan” man lang para sa karagdagang kita ng mister, ang misis na naiiwan sa Pilipinas.

 

Kaylan kaya mag-uugaling Ryan ang mga uri ng taong nabanggit ko?

 

 

Ang Mga Laglagan sa Pilipinas

Ang Mga Laglagan sa Pilipinas

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ilang buwan pa lang ang nakararaan, laglag-bala ang mainit na isyu. Ang mahigpit na pag-kontrol sa mga airport upang maiwasan ang pagpuslit ng mga deadly ammunition ay okey na sana subalit nasilipan ng butas ng ilang tiwali sa airport dahil sa paniniwala ng mga Pilipino sa bala bilang agimat. Dahil sa katiwalian na iyan, maraming tanga at may matigas na ulong Pilipino ang nawalan ng trabaho sa ibang bansa dahil napigilan sa pagsakay sa eroplano dahil lamang sa iisang balang nakita sa kanilang bagahe. Maraming tangang Pilipino ang umaming nagdadala talaga ng bala sa abroad upang pananggalang daw nila laban sa pag-aabuso ng employer. May mga natanggal na ring mga inspector ng bagahe dahil kahit obvious na talagang walang laman ang bala dahil ang tinuturing na agimat lang talaga ay ang tansong basyo, pinagpipilitan pa rin na “deadly ammunition” daw ito. Bakit nga naman nila palalampasin ang pagkakataon ganoong, ang “pakiusapan” ay may presyong mula 2 thousand hanggang 8 thousand pesos???!!!

 

Sa pinakapangit na airport pa rin sa buong mundo, ayon sa survey – ang Manila International Airport Terminal 3, laglag-kisame naman ang isyu. May nasugatan, banyagang turista pa, mabuti na lang at hindi nasaktan ang kanyang asawang Pilipina at anak. Nag-apologize ang manager ng airport subalit hindi pa rin ito sapat. Bago nangyari ang paglaglag ng kisame sa coffee shop, ay nagkaroon na rin ng laglagan bago pa man binuksan para sa operasyon ang Terminal 3, at nang nag-ooperate na, nagkalaglagan pa rin ng dalawang beses. Ibig sabihin, ang diperensiya ay ang mahinang “original” na kisame o suporta nito, kaya siguradong ang bagong kisameng ikakabit ay madadamay. “It’s more fun in the Philippines” pa rin kaya ang sasabihin ng pinakahuling nasaktan na turista?

 

Nilaglag ni Aquino si Purisima kung kaylan sobra na ang alingasaw ng amoy ng “teamwork” nila. Nilaglag din ng administrasyon si Vitangcol ang sinasabing palpak at nangurakot sa mga deals at management ng MRT, pero under investigation, as usual, at pinagduduhan pa . Latest kay Vitangcol: humihingi ng tulong sa PAO para bigyan ng libreng abogado! Ang kakapalan nga naman ng mukha kung umiral! Yan ang problema sa mga tauhan ni Pnoy, ginagawang tanga ang mga Pilipino….gusto ba namang magkaroon ng abogadong ang nagpapasuweldo ay taong bayan na sinasabing niloko niya! Walang delikadesa!

 

May mga laglagan na rin sa pulitika bago sumapit ang election 2016. Nilaglag ni Pnoy Aquino si Mar Roxas nang i-veto niya ang batas para sa dagdag na 2 libo sa pension ng mg SSS retirees. Sa mga hindi nakakahalata, binago ni Roxas ang kanyang political ad dahil sinimplehan lang, walang music background, at ang dialogue tungkol sa tuwid na daan ay dinugtungan niya ng “pupunuan ko kung may kakulangan, iwawasto ang mali, at hindi ako nagnakaw….”. Malinaw na patutsada kay Pnoy na mula’t sapul ay walang bilib sa kanya. Nilaglag din daw ni Escudero si Grace Poe subalit deny to death naman siya sa isang interview…pero truthful ba siya?

The Indefatigable Esperanza (Inday) Hilado …friend, sister, mother, secretary, Sales Executive

The Indefatigable Esperanza (Inday) Hilado

…friend, sister, mother, secretary, Sales Executive

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

For most people who know her, she was “Inday”, although, her other nickname was “Pancing”. She was a centenarian, having reached the age of 100 years last July 22, 2015, for which she was honored with a certificate given by the Quezon City government.  She died peacefully just when 2015 was bidding 2016 goodbye, particularly on January 14, at exactly, 11:15 AM. The tragic information that I received came from Gel Lagman and Mona Caburian-Pecson, former colleagues in Philippine Airlines.

 

Inday came from the well-to-do clans of Fontanilla and Hilado of Negros Occidental in the Visayas region of the Philippines. Her parents were Paz Fontanillla and Ignacio Hilado, and she came third in a brood of seven, such as, Clarita, Florita, Hermenia, Gloria, Enrique and Godofredo. Inday chose to stay single her whole life.

 

According to Tessie, Inday’s niece, who at 74, looks more like a little more than 50, she immediately came home when informed about the demise of her aunt, as she knew that with her were only her trusted caretakers, Rudy Lopez and his wife,  Muding (Modesta). Rudy was her loyal driver since 1975, and got married in 1992 to Muding who in no time treated the former like her own mother. Since the first day of her arrival, Tessie practically did everything with the help of her assistants that she brought from America, as well as, Rudy and Muding.

 

My fondest memory of Inday was our working together as part of the International Sales-Philippines (ISP) Team of Philippine Airlines (PAL) based at the S&L Building along Roxas Boulevard, in Ermita, Manila. We were under Rene Ocampo and later, Archie Lacson, as the Regional Vice-President of the Philippines and Guam Region. However, due to our well-defined function as members of the Sales Team, we were directly under Dave Lim, Assistant Vice-President of the ISP. Inday was handling the special account of manning agencies for seafarers and despite her age, being the most senior in the team, she proved to be just very effective. She reported to the office before eight in the morning, prepared her itinerary for the day and persistently made follow ups on previously requested bookings for her clients. I also used to help her with her weekly and monthly sales reports by typing them for her. She even stayed late when there were social functions to fete our clients, particularly, the travel agents and manning agencies.

 

The job of Inday was very critical as PAL fares were comparably higher than those offered by the other airlines for the seafaring segment of the airline industry. But motherly insistence and affectionate cajoling of travel agents worked almost all the time. To show her gratitude to her clients, during Christmas she would give them her own personally-purchased gifts, aside from the standard “give-away” items from our office that included calendars. Being in-charge of the Region’s administration, I would give her extra calendars and “give-away” items.

 

We were close to each other, such that we sat side by side during most of our Monday Sales Meeting. It was this literal closeness that gave her the opportunity to offer me her share of snacks served during the meeting. She was also very conscious about her health, as she ate only small portions of food during mealtime at the canteen. One time, however, during a party, I admonished her for eating plenty of “lechon” (roasted pig).

 

A terpsichorean in her own right, she would sashay with graceful cha-cha and tango moves around the dance floor during our parties. She admitted to me though, that she was really fond of ballroom dancing, and even confided the information about the pre-war public dances that she attended at Luneta (Rizal Park) every December, when she was young. Her love for life could have given her the vigor that kept her going even at an age beyond seventy which was the last time I saw her when I left Philippine Airlines.

 

Inday may no longer be around, but she left a legacy founded on love, as well as, diligence and dedication to job. She was unquestionably unselfish and indefatigable in many ways. She also proved that goodwill indeed works, as her staying “single” did not deprive her of families because of her altruistic ways. She had her colleagues in PAL, and who gave her love in return for her motherly and sisterly affection….they, who have become her family until she left the company. Rudy Kong whom she served with utmost loyalty as secretary in PAL, took her in as part of his own company when she finally left the airline. She also had Rudy Lopez, her loyal driver, and his wife, Muding, who stood by her side till she drew her last breathe. She loved them all, and they all loved her… and, just as what the popular adage says… love begets love.

 

 

Nakakasama ang Pagpuri sa Taong Madaling Lomobo o Lumaki ang Ulo

Nakakasama ang Pagpuri sa Taong

Madaling Lomobo o Lumaki ang Ulo

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Mahalagang tantiyahin ang isang tao bago siya purihin dahil maaaring makakasama pa sa kanya kung may ugali siyang mayabang kaya madaling lomobo o lumaki ang ulo – isang palatandaan ng mahinang pagkatao.  Ito yong taong may itinatagong pangarap na makilala sa ano mang paraan at nag-aabang ng pagkakataon. Sa isang papuri lang, ay para na siyang lobo na biglang lulutang sa hangin, at ang kinikimkim na kayabangan ay biglang umaalagwa. Madalas mangyari ito sa mga taong  may pangarap na pumasok sa larangan ng pulitika, pero sa simula ay pakiyeme pa, kaya hihingi daw muna ng gabay mula sa Diyos.

 

Hindi madaling maging pinuno, lalo na kapag pulitika ang papasukan dahil marami ang masasakripisyo tulad ng katahimikan at kapakanan ng pamilya. Marami ring katangiang hinahanap sa isang pinuno, tulad ng kakayahan niyang makinig at sumunod sa mga payo, pagiging mapagpakumbaba kaya hindi dapat naaapektuhan ng mga papuri, may mahabang pasensiya, handang gumastos mula sa sariling bulsa nang walang kapalit, malawak ang pang-unawa sa mga pagkakaiba ng iba’t ibang uri ng tao, at may takot sa Diyos kaya hindi sinungaling dahil alam niyang mapaniwala man niya ang kanyang kapwa, ang Diyos na nakakakita ng lahat at sa lahat ng pagkakataon, ay hindi.

 

Hindi nangangahulugang ang isang tao na maraming kaibigan at palabati ay magiging epektibo nang lider. Hindi dapat na siya ay payuhang pwede nang maging Barangay Chairman o Mayor, halimbawa.  Paano kung marami nga siyang kaibigan ay maigsi naman pala ang pisi ng kanyang pasensiya? Hindi dapat sabihing pwede na siya sa mga  inihalimbawang puwesto sa pulitika kung siya ay matulungin. Paano kung ekstrang pera lang naman ang pinamamahagi niya kaya hindi niya ito pwedeng gawin palagi? Kapag naging Mayor o Barangay Chairman siya, hindi siya tatantanan ng mga nasasakupan para sa kanilang mga pangangailangan mula sa pagtayo bilang ninong o ninang sa binyag at kasal, hanggang sa paburol ng patay! At, halimbawang hindi naman siya mayaman, saan siya kukuha ng perang magagamit kung ang sweldo niya ay kulang pa sa kanyang pamilya?…eh, di sa pangungurakot!

 

May taong nagiging lider dahil sa “aksidente” o sitwasyong wala na talagang maitutulak na iba. Siya ay itinutulak ng mga gustong gumamit sa kanya, kesyo siya ay may “lahi” naman daw ng “magagaling” na pulitiko, kaya naniwala naman. Dahil napilitan lang at halimbawang binigyan naman ng pagkakataon kaya ibinoto, kapag nakaupo na sa puwesto, maaaring mapadalas ang kanyang “pagdapa” habang “naglakad kahit sa kalsadang wala namang lubak”. Ito ay dahil sa likas na kawalan ng tiwala sa sarili at kaalaman sa pinasok niyang larangan, na nagpipilit kumawala mula sa kanyang pagkatao. Upang mawala ang nerbiyos ay maaari niyang  palipasin ang pressure sa ibang gawain tulad ng paglaro ng games sa kaniyang gadget at panonood ng mga DVD kasama ang pamangkin o mga pinsan, normal man o “special”.

 

Dahil napasubo na, magiging bantad na rin ang ugali at pagkatao niya kaya mawawalan na rin siya ng takot sa Diyos. Dahil dito, kung magbitaw  siya ng mga kasinungalingan ay aakalaing parang nakikipag-usap lang sa mga bata. Dahil sa panunulsol at pang-uuto sa kanya ng mga taong nakapaligid at gumagamit sa kanya, matututo rin siyang maniwala sa mga hinabi o tinahi-tahing papuri na siya ay magaling!.

 

Maaaring  magpatung-patong ang mga kapalpakan niya, kaya aasahan din ang pagsampa ng patung-patong na mga kaso laban sa kanya kapag bumaba na siya sa puwesto. Dahil dito ay matatakot siya sa mga multong siya mismo ang gumawa. Gagawa siya ng paraan upang hindi mahatak  nitong mga multo tungo sa loob ng kulungan. Gagawa siya ng paraan upang mailagay sa puwesto ang akala niya ay makakapagligtas sa kanya….isang hero at savior niya na pipilitin rin niyang tumahak sa kalsadang walang lubak at hindi liku-liko…kuno!

 

Kaya bilang leksiyon, huwag purihin ang hindi karapat-dapat at baka maging presidente lang ang isang taong utu-uto na ay may malambot pang pagkatao! Maaring may bansa o mga bansang nasadlak na sa dusa dahil sa ganitong klaseng tao….maaaring mag-check sa internet! Pwede sigurong gamitin ang mga tag na “no balls”, “no backbone”, “no pakialam”, “pakialam ko sa inyo”, “to hell with you”, o “damn you”.

Ang Hamunan nina Roxas at Duterte ay Pagpapakita ng Maruming Pulitika sa Pilipinas

Ang Hamunan nina Roxas at Duterte

ay Pagpapakita ng Maruming Pulitika sa Pilipinas

ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Ang namumukod-tanging katangian ng pulitika sa Pilipinas ay pagiging marumi nito. Ang mga kandidato ay nagbabatuhan ng mga putik. Kaya may kasabihan sa Pilipinas na kung ayaw mong mabisto ang katauhan mo ay huwag kang pumasok sa pulitika. Ang dahilan noong-noon pa ng mga pulitiko, na “pagtulong sa kapwa” ang dahilan ng pagpasok nila sa pulitika ay pinagtatawanan na ngayon. Sinasabi pa ng iba na ang pulitika ay isa sa mga larangan kung saan ay yayaman ang isang tao – na unfair naman sa mga talagang walang intensiyong mangurakot….ng malaki. Tanggap naman ang 10% na komisyon na ang tawag noon pa man ay “for the boys”, na ayaw pa ngang tanggapin ng iba dahil nakakahiya sa sinumpaan nilang tungkulin. Ang masama lang kasi sa ibang nanalo at nakaupo na sa puwesto, hindi lang 70% ang gustong kurakutin, kundi 100% dahil ang project ay hanggang papel lang!

 

Hindi sana umabot sa hamunan ang dalawang kandidato sa pagka-pangulo ng bansa kung hindi sana pinakialaman ni Roxas ang nananahimik na Davao City. Alam naman niyang alagang-alaga ito ni Duterte pati na ng mga Davaweἧo, pati ng mga taong nakatira sa mga bayang nakapaligid dito. Kung papansinin, nagpakumbaba pa nga si Duterte nang punahin ang pagmumura niya at tinanggap pa ang “lecture” ng Obispo sa Davao City. Ito ay pakita lang na okey sa kanyang punahin ang mga personal niyang pagkakamali sa mata ng mga moralista, pero ang kantihin ang inaalagaan niyang katahimikan sa Davao na kung ilang taon din niyang nilinis at pinatahimik ay maituturing na “below the belt”.

 

Nang gantihan naman ni Duterte si Roxas tungkol sa nakakadudang pag-graduate niya sa hindi naman gaanong kilalang eskwelahan sa Amerika, pumalag din siya. Ngayon ay nagsisisi siya dahil pati ang kredibilidad niya sa larangan ng edukasyon na isa sa mga pinagmamalaki niya ay nalagay sa balag ng alanganin. Dahil sa panggagalaiti niya, marami tuloy ay nagsasabing baka nga totoong hanggang kodakan lang ang pag-graduate niya  sa Amerika.

 

Ang daming maaaring ipaliwanag ni Roxas sa mga tao upang magkaroon ng linaw ang mga isyu na may kinalaman din sa sinasandalan niyang presidente ng Pilipinas…bakit hindi na lang niya dito ituon ang kanyang effort sa pangangampanya? Bakit kailangang siraan pa niya si Duterte na nananahimik na nga? Mag-concentrate na lang sana siya sa “tuwid na daan” na pinangako niyang ipagpapatuloy, para marami pang mahatak kung sakali. Huwag na niyang pakialaman si Duterte na ang kapalaran ay nasa kamay ng COMELEC. Sa ginagawa niya, halatang ninenerbiyos siya dahil malakas ang hatak pareho ni Duterte at Poe. Mukhang pumalpak na naman ang campaign machinery na tumutulak kay Roxas.

 

Sa interbyu kay Duterte sa isang radio station sa Manila tungkol sa kanyang pagkandidato, nakiusap siya sa mga sumusuporta sa kanya na maging mahinahon at itigil na ang pagbabanta ng “rebolusyon” kung siya ay ma-disqualify. Bukambibig niya ang pagtanggap ng disqualification  kung ito ang desisyon ng COMELEC, kaya sinabi pa niya na kung maaari ay ituon din ng mga sumusuporta sa kanya ang atensiyon nila sa ibang mga kandidato, upang makapili sila ng karapat-dapat kung sakali ngang siya ay ma-disqualify. Pinapakita ni Duterte na hindi siya sakim, dahil ang gusto lamang niya ay maging realistic ang mga supporter niya batay sa mga umiiral na sitwasyon. Sa isang banda, malinaw pa rin ang pahayag niya na hindi siya umuurong sa pagtakbo bilang presidente ng Pilipinas.

 

It is High Time for the President of the Philippines to be Assisted by Career Service Officers (CSOs)

It is High Time for the President of the Philippines

To be Assisted by Career Service Officers (CSOs)

By Apolinario Villalobos

The Career Service Officers (CSOs), in doing their duties and responsibilities, are bound to the Civil Service guidelines. Their failure could mean suspension, dismissal or imprisonment – after due process. Their positions are supposed to be sanitized, hence, non-political. There is no reason therefore, why they cannot cooperate with any sitting President as it is their duty to do so, for as long as they are within bounds of the guidelines, otherwise, they can be meted appropriate penalties. Compare this with erring politically-appointed agency Heads who just shrug their shoulders with indifference, because they are friends of the President, hence, untouchable and excused from prosecution!

The Career Service Officers are considered “managers” with ample trainings and knowledge on how to run agencies. They also rise from the ranks making them well-versed on all aspects of operations. The government is assured of the best performance possible, because they have their career path to take care of. Any mistake could mean their being sidetracked or worse, removed from the path. In other words, they have reasons to work as best as they can, if they want to grow professionally, thereby, forced to earn their keeps honestly and earnestly.

On the other hand, political appointees, have only their loyalty to the sitting President as credential. It is true that some may have earned their diplomas and certificates of masters and doctorates from reputable colleges and universities here and abroad, but these are just papers for show, to gain favorable impression. They are degree holders but with stagnant knowledge due to lack of practice in actuality, because their involvement is in politics which for them is a more “rewarding” career. There may be some, however, who before their appointment, may be holding “similar job” or with “similar function” in private companies. But the environment in a government agency is very much different from that of a private company, making the “similarities” not a guarantee of acceptable or exemplary performance.

What the nation needs are “honest-to-goodness” workers with accumulated experience and exposure in agency operation. For instance, the Department of Social Welfare needs Social Workers who have been working with it, thereby, exposed to the real situations for a number of years making them fully understand the sentiments and the needs of the socially-deprived people, and not just somebody who became close to the President after several toasts in social gatherings, or somebody who claps the loudest in the middle of his speech.

In some cases, the political appointees, aside from being co-terminus with the appointing President, may also be nurturing an ambition to run for an elective position. When campaign period for election sets in or if the President is approaching the end of his term, they leave their agencies in a quandary due to unclear directions for the continuity of projects, and which is worse, if another political appointee takes over. How about “official turnover” as some sympathizers of the government would ask?….to them I say, “tell that to the marines!”. The government is so dysfunctional that it seems, agencies do not even know what “coordination” means!  It is different if the Agency Head is permanent, as project implementation will not change direction, while Presidents come and go. These permanent Career Service Officers are protected by their eligibility, so that no political ignoramus can ever budge them from their position, not even the President…that is, if the Civil Service guidelines shall be followed to the letter.

Lately, very clear circumstances point to the necessity of professionalizing the administration of the Republican government, in order to remove the taint of politics in its administration. Since the Commonwealth period, the administrative system of the Philippines has been founded on traditional “utang na loob” or gratitude and sympathy. The worried American Governor Generals saw and felt this, making them apprehensive and conclude that the Filipinos were not ripe for self-rule yet, at the time. The perpetuated tradition became a habit, and now Filipinos suffer from the result.

As a practice, Presidents chose people who contributed much for their election, to saucy positions in his administration as an “assurance for smooth operation” and continued support. Presidents chose people whom they can trust with cooperation for quick release of funds. Presidents chose pea-brained people to head agencies that are directly involved with the voting base of the population, especially, the poverty-stricken who are always ready to bite dangled morsels of insignificant relief. The practice has nurtured the growth of a deeply-rooted corrupt system that eventually ruined the Filipino culture. What we see today is a country that needs a drastic change to turn it around, for the better.

Personally, as a last resort, I maintain a change in the system from the centralized to federal….

A Sweet Smile Spells a Difference in the Conduct of Business Transaction…Philippine Airlines employees still do it

A Sweet Smile Spells a Difference
In the Conduct of Business Transaction
…Philippine Airlines employees still do it
By Apolinario Villalobos

An adage says that one needs only to flex a few muscles to form a smile, unlike a frown that requires almost a thousand. Additionally, while the smile gives radiance to the face, a frown only casts a forlorn aura. And for any business, while a smile, especially, one that is sweet serves as a magnet that attracts good luck and customers, a frown drives them away.

It is a fact that some people are not in the habit of smiling, as if ill- feeling is their shadow. But this can be developed even just for the sake of business transaction. Employers spend big sum to “develop” the habit of smiling for their staff as part of their training in Values, Attitude, and Personality development.

But some people are lucky to be born with the smile habit. These are the people who others say are with the “smiling voice”, too. I have encountered these smiley gals when I visited PAL Head Office at the PNB Building. The first was Galilee “Gal” Gavino, an International Ticketing Representative who at the time was attending to a couple’s travel requirements. I got engrossed on how she graciously went through the transaction, complete with a sweet smile, emphasized by her dimples. I was practically entertained by the way she handled her customers. There was no hurry in the way she explained everything that went with the tickets being transacted, from restrictions to their limitations.

After a considerable time spent at the ticket office for my own requirement, I went back to the Benefits Office for another transaction for which I had to go to the Cashier’s Section for certain payments that had to be made. On the way, I received a call through my cellphone about a not- so-encouraging news which affected my mood. When I entered the Cashier’s Section I was greeted with a very warmly said, “good morning, sir”…”may I help you?”. It came from a lady who was all smiles. She practically vanished my anxieties! Her PAL ID says she was Geraldine Anavie Domingo. Her supervisor, Ms. Evangeline Cueto was likewise smiling, as she stood behind the cashiers, ready to offer help in case of any problem. In less than five minutes, our transaction was concluded!

Experiencing the sweet smile of the two ladies, Ms. Gavino and Ms. Domingo, made me recall the smile campaign many years back, of Philippine Airlines along with its Total Passenger Care Program. They really boosted the sales campaign of the country’s flag carrier. The airline had no domestic competitor due to the “one airline” policy at the time and the Philippine skies was so protected by the government, yet, Philippine Airlines felt the need to steadily improve its image. Such energetic attitude put the Philippine Airlines on the top echelon of the airline industry during those years….to which the pioneer employees always look back every time they reminisce how they spent some of the best years of their life.