Anna Bermudo: Kindness Behind a Pretty Face

Anna Bermudo: Kindness Behind A Pretty Face

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

When I took a respite at a Jollibee joint in Divisoria, particularly, corner of Sto. Cristo St., due to my heavy packs, I found out that I needed a separate bag for some items intended to be given to one of my friends in Baseco. It was then, that I noticed one of the crew who was cleaning tables. I told her my problem, without much ado, she left and when she came back, she had a paper bag which was just what I needed. Her prompt assistance impressed me, despite her doing something else during the time. She practically dropped everything and attended to me, although, customers were beginning to crowd the room.

My appreciation for such kind act, made me ask her permission if I can share it with friends. She shyly hesitated, but I had my chance to take her photo quickly, when she began to clean my table. She thought I was joking when I aimed my cellphone/camera for a quick shot. I found the photo to be hazy when I checked it at Baseco, so I came back to the burger joint. Luckily, I found her having a late breakfast in a sidewalk food stall near Jollibee. I practically begged her to allow me to take a clearer photo, explaining to her that what I am doing is for the benefit of others who might be inspired by people like her. Fortunately, she conceded and even cooperated by giving information about herself.

Although merely, a high school graduate, she courageously left her hometown in Zamboanga to seek a “greener pasture” in Manila several years ago. She had no chance of pursuing her studies, as she had been helping her family by sending whatever amount she could afford from her wage when she found a job. I could see that her right attitude has earned her a well-deserved job in the world-renown Filipino burger outfit which is also acknowledged for its fairness in dealing with employees.

 

Anna is pretty, an attribute that could land her a much better-paying job in cafes that could be double or triple compared to what she is earning in Jollibee. But I could surmise that despite temptations from friends, that always happen to pretty girls from the countryside, she opted to work in a family-oriented establishment. Her clean and smooth face is not covered even by a thin swipe of rouge, and she wears no jewelry, not even a single stainless ring. Her simplicity has accentuated her pretty face…. that veils an innate kindness.

 

 

 

 

Evelyn Borromeo: Buhay at Sigla ng mga Pagtitipon

Evelyn Borromeo: Buhay at Sigla ng mga Pagtitipon

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Belen ang palayaw niya at kilala siya sa subdivision nila dahil sa likas na ugaling matulungin. May marinig lang siyang kuwento tungkol sa isang taong hirap sa pag-submit ng mga papeles sa ano mang ahensiya ng gobyerno, siya na mismo ang nagkukusa ng kanyang tulong. Kung mayaman ang nagpapatulong, binibigyan siya ng pamasahe at pang-miryenda, pero kung kapos sa pera, tinatanggihan niya ang inaabot sa kanya. Nakakarating siya sa Quezon City, Cubao, Pasay, Maynila, Trece Martirez at humaharap din sa Mayor ng Bacoor City o kung sino pang opisyal ng lungsod kung kailangan. Kung hindi nga lang siya anemic ay baka regular din siyang nagdo-donate ng dugo sa mga nangangailangan.

 

Kahit babae siya, pinagkatiwala sa kanya ng Perpetual Village 5 Homeowners’ Association ang pag-asikaso sa basketball court at mga palaruang pambata sa magkabilang dulo nito. Officially, siya ang Administrator ng area na yon ng subdivision, kaya kapag may gagamit ng ilaw sa gabi sa paglaro ng basketball court, siya ang nilalapitan. Dahil saklaw din niya ang “cluster” na sumasakop sa tatlong kalyeng nakapalibot sa basketball court, kung may gulo, siya pa rin ang tinatawag. Matapang siya at walang pinangingilagan, palibhasa ay dating “batang Pasay”. Tawag ng iba sa kanya sa lugar nila ay “amasona”…subalit ibang pagka-amasona, dahil ang tapang niya ay ginagamit niya para sa kapakanan ng iba. Hindi siya ang tipong matapang na bara-bara ang dating.

 

Naging presidente din siya ng subdivision nila at noong kanyang kapanuhanan ay marami siyang nagawa upang mapaganda pa ang kanilang lugar. May mga nag-uudyok sa kanyang tumakbo sa Barangay, pero ang mga malalapit sa kanya ay nagpayo na huwag na dahil baka magkasakit lang siya lalo pa at inaasikaso din niya ang kanyang asawang si Nelson na nagpapagaling sa ‘stroke”. Sa totoo lang siguro, ayaw nilang mawala si Belen sa kanilang subdivision bilang Administrator ng basketball court at Cluster Leader.

 

Tuwing umaga, ang unang ginagawa niya ay i-check kung saan nagwo-walking upang mag-exercise ang kanyang asawa, na malimit ay sa basketball court lang naman. Pagkatapos ay bibili na siya ng pan de sal at sopas para sa mahal niyang asawa. Sinusubuan din niya ito, subalit hindi niya pinapakita sa iba (nahuli ko lang siya minsan), dahil hindi siya “showy” o pakitang-tao sa kanyang pagmamahal dito. Kahit nakakapagtiyaga siya sa mga simpleng ulam lalo na gulay, pino-problema pa rin niya ang uulamin ng mga kasama niya sa bahay kaya kung minsan ay napapahiwalay ang ulam niya mapagbigyan lang iba na ang gusto ay karne.

 

Maganda ang pagkahubog ng pagkatao ni Belen dahil ang mga magulang niya ay huwaran sa sipag at pagpapasensiya. Lumaki siya sa palengke ng Pasay (Libertad market) kaya batak ang katawan niya sa hirap. Noong nag-aaral pa siya, maaga siyang gumigising upang makatulong muna sa paglatag ng paninda nila bago siya papasok sa eskwela. Pagkagaling naman sa eskwela diretso uli siya sa puwesto nila upang tumulong sa pagtinda. Magaling sa diskarte at sales talk si Belen…madali siyang paniwalaan. Kung nagkataong nakatapos siya ng pag-aaral, malamang ay maski hanggang puwestong Vice-President sa isang kumpanya ay kaya niyang pangatawanan. Subalit dahil sa kakapusan ng pera, nauwi siya sa maagang pag-asawa…kaya parang naka-jackpot ang asawa niya sa kanya.

 

Buhay at sigla si Belen sa mga pagtitipon dahil kapag nahalata niyang medyo nagkakahiyaan sa pagsayaw ay pinapangunahan niya at may halo pang pa-kenkoy na sayaw upang makapagsimula lang ng kasiyahan. Hindi rin siya maramot dahil ang mga tanim niya sa bakuran ay libre para sa lahat na makagusto – may kalamansi, kung minsan ay talong at ampalayang ligaw. Magaling din siyang magluto ng mga kakanin lalo na ng maja blanca at piche-piche, kaya kung may okasyon sa lugar nila, sa kanya umoorder ng mga ganito.

 

Tatlo ang anak ni Belen. Ang panganay na babae ay nasa Gitnang Silangan kasama ang kanyang asawa at tatlong anak. Ang pangalawang lalaki naman ay nasa bahay lang at nangangasiwa ng home-based internet shopping, at ang bunso ay magtatapos na ilang taon na lang mula ngayon.

Wala nang hinihiling pa si Belen sa Diyos dahil ayon sa kanya, halos lahat ng pangangailangan niya ay ibinigay na sa kanya….at ayaw na rin niyang humiling pa para mabigyan naman daw ng pagkakataon ang iba.

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.

Sa Pagngiti…para kay Lorie Gonzaga-Cantimbuhan

Sa Pagngiti…

(para kay Lorie Gonzaga-Cantimbuhan)

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang mga mata ay bintana ng ating pagkatao

Ngiti naman ang nagpapahiwatig ng ating damdamin –

Kung bukal ba sa loob ang pakikipagharap sa ating kapwa

Dahil kung ganoon naman, ay mababakas sa ating mukha.

May mga ngiting matipid kung ipakita sa iba

Kaya halos ayaw ibukang mga labing tiim sa pagkalapat

Meron ding mga ngiting nagpapagaan ng loob sa kausap

Kaya, pagkapalagayang loob ay nangyayari sa isang iglap.

Sa mukha ni Lorie, na nababanaagan ng ganda

Ang matamis na ngiti’y naging bahagi na at nakaukit din

Nagpapahiwatig ng kanyang kaloobang ubod ng dalisay

Puhunan niya sa pagtahak sa landas ng magulong buhay.

Matamis na ngiti’y nagpapaaliwalas ng mukha

At pati na rin paligid ay naaambunan din nito ng liwanag

Ang patunay ay si Lorie, kahit unang beses lang na kausap

Nakakagaan ng loob, nakakapanatag, kung siya’y kaharap!