DONATO “BONDYING” VILLASOR JARABELO….sorbetero na nakapagpatapos ng limang anak sa kolehiyo

DONATO “BONDYING” VILLASOR JARABELO….sorbetero na nakapagpatapos ng limang anak sa kolehiyo

ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Naging curious ako sa nasabing sorbetero noong isang taon pa nang ituro siya sa akin ng pamangkin ko at nagsabing nakapagpatapos siya ng limang anak sa kolehiyo mula sa kinita sa pagtinda ng ice cream. Kung bibilangin ang tagal ng pagtinda niya ay aabot sa 40 taon. Ang sorbetero ay si “Bondying” pero ang tawag sa kanya ng mga taga-Quirino Central School na suki niya ay “Boss” o di kaya ay “Bossing”.

 

Nakalimutan ko na sana si Bondying kung hindi ako nakabili ng ice cream sandwich sa kanyang pamangkin na naglalako na rin sa Quirino. Mabuti na lang at nagtanong ako sa kanya kung kilala niya ang isa pang nagtinda rin ng ice cream na maraming suki sa Quirino. Laking tuwa ko nang sabihin niyang, “tiyo ko siya” at dagdag pa niya ay sa Purok Liwayway ng San Pablo, Tacurong ito nakatira. Dagdag pa niya, nagsimula sa de-padyak na “topdown” ang kanyang tiyuhin pero nang magkaroon ng motorcycle ay binenta na lang ito sa isang naglalako ng gulay. Naalala kong may na-blog ako noong maliit na babaeng naglalako pa rin kahit padilim na taga-Purok Liwayway. Nang i-describe ko ang babae, sinabi ng kausap ko na siya nga ang nakabili ng de-padyak na “topdown”!

 

Kanina naman bago magtanghali ay may sinakyan akong tricycle at nagpahatid sa bahay ng isang kaibigan subalit wala ito….pinadiretso ko ang driver sa isa pang kaibigan subalit wala rin ito. Dahil ayaw kong masayang ang oras ay sinabi ko sa driver na ihatid na lang ako sa Purok Liwayway dahil gusto kong makausap yong taga-roon na gumagawa ng ice cream.  Sinabi kong malapit sa eskwelahan ang bahay, ayon sa pagkasabi sa akin ng pamangkin….at ang sabi ko sa driver ay hahanapin na lang naming siya.  Hindi kumibo ang driver subalit, hindi tumagal ay nagsabi ito ng, “halos wala na siyang ngipin”. Ang tinutukoy pala niya ay si Bondying na pakay ko sa Purok Liwayway. Inisip ko na lang na baka nakabili na ang driver ng ice cream sa hinahanap ko. Subalit nang narating na namin ang Purok Liwayway ay tuloy-tuloy lang kami at pagkaraan ng dalawang liko ay itinuro niya ang isang lalaki na tila may dinudurog sa container ng ice cream….yelo pala na pinapaligid niya sa bagong gawang ice cream, at ang lalaki ay mismong si Bondying na!

 

Nang magpakilala ako at nagsabi kung ano ang pakay ko kaya nakuha ko ang tiwala niya ay nagkuwento na siya. Hindi siya nakatapos ng elementary dahil pasaway daw siya…istambay…..bugoy. At dahil ayaw mag-aral ay hinayaan na lang ng mga magulang. Nang tumuntong siya sa gulang na 20 taon ay nakapag-asawa siya at noon siya natutong magtrabaho. Naging empleyado siya ng Presto Ice Cream sa General Santos na noon ay tinatawag na “Dadiangas”. Panakaw niyang pinag-aralan ang paggawa ng ice cream at nang makaipon ay nagpundar siya upang makagawa ng sarili niyang “home-made ice cream”. De-padyak ang una niyang ginamit na “topdown” sa paglako at nakakarating siya sa President Quirino na ang pangalan  noon ay “Sambolawan”. Halos sampung kilometro ang nilalakbay niya mula sa Tacurong hanggang sa Quirino kung saan ay nagkaroon siya ng mga suking mga mag-aaral ng President Quirino Central School.

 

Ang nakakatuwa ay nang malaman ko mula sa mga dating mga pupils ng President Quirino Central School na ang tawag nila sa kanya ay “Boss” at kung wala daw silang pera ay niyog ang pinampapalit nila sa ice cream. Nang banggitin ko ito kay Bondying ay sinabi niya na yong iba daw ay gulay ang binibigay sa kanya kapalit ng ice cream. Sa sinabi niya ay naalala ko ang pinsan kong doktor na si Leo na ganoon din ang ugali….sa kabaitan ay hindi nagtuturing ng presyo sa mga pasyente at binibigyan din ng gulay kapalit ng kanyang panggagamot.

 

Mag-uusap pa sana kami ng matagal ni Bondying subalit naalala ko ang binanggit niya na ang kagagawa lang iyang “halal” ice cream ay idi-deliver niya agad sa kaibigang Muslim….at, pagkatapos ay dadalo siya sa isang reunion. Masama ang panahon kaya ayaw kong maabala pa siyang masyado kahit halata kong enjoy siya sa pag-uusap naming. Nagpasalamat ako sa kanya dahil kahit may mga kompromiso pala ay nagpaunlak siya ng halos isang oras na pag-uusap. Nangako akong babalikan ko siya.

 

Lima ang anak ni Bondying….ang panganay ay Assistant Principal, may dalawa pang teacher, isang nagtapos ng Information Technology, at isang nagtapos ng Crimonology. SOBRANG NAKAKABILIB ANG KUWENTO NG BUHAY NI BONDYING…. ISANG TAONG NAGING ISTAMBAY SUBALIT NAGSIKAP AT IGINAPANG ANG KAPAKANAN NG MGA ANAK KAYA NAGAWANG MAPAGTAPOS SILANG LAHAT SA KOLEHIYO.

 

Ang araw na ito ay isa na namang patunay na tila may gumagabay sa mga gusto kong gawin dahil sa nagtagpi-tagping pangyayari mula sa pagbili ko ng ice cream sandwich sa pamangkin ni Bondying na nagbigay sa akin ng address niya, sa nai-blog kong babaeng nagtitinda ng gulay na ang “topdown” o de-padyak na sasakyan ay unang pundar ni Bondying upang magamit sa pagtinda ng ice cream hanggang sa tricycle driver na taga-Purok Liwayway at  isa pala niyang kaibigan!

ARCHIE P. LACSON…BEYOND SUCCESS

ARCHIE P. LACSON…beyond success
by Apolinario Villalobos

Archie Lacson gave me my final break in Philippine Airlines when he made me the Administrative Manager for Philippines and Guam Region of Marketing and Sales to work in tandem with him as his assistant. He was then, the region’s VP. Despite his affluence, he is close to ordinary folks to the point of being altruistic. A dancer and a golfer by heart, he is also health conscious that makes him fit until today and which is what he needs as a newly elected Kagawad of Barangay Ayala-Alabang.

He is the kind of a guy who finds it difficult to say, “no”, that made him prone to abuse and which I have observed during our time in Philippine Airlines. Another skill that I admire in him is his ability to hold the attention of the audience, every time he hosts a show. He was a co-host of the famous “Penthouse 7”, a tv show that featured classic dances such as cha-cha, tango, etc.

What I cannot forget were our lunches of monggo soup and other veggie Bisayan dishes in the tourist district of Malate. One time, while we were on our way to Makati for a meeting, he suddenly stopped. I thought there was a problem with his car. It was only later that I realized….he stopped to buy “dirty ice cream” from the vendor that he beckoned to approach us. He confided that he loves “dirty ice cream”.

He guided me around Hongkong when he brought me there during his temporary administration of Southeast Asia region. It was my first time in Hongkong and he sacrificed his time just so, I could have a glimpse of the Harbor at nighttime. Being his “assistant”, I did all my best…but what he failed to let me do was have my passport stamped with a US visa!

Mga Batang May Pangarap…tulad ko rin noon

Mga Batang May Pangarap

…tulad ko rin noon

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Isang tanghaling katatapos ko lang kumain sa pastilan ni Luz, ay biglang may nagdatingang mga grupo ng kabataan….mga pupils ng Tacurong Pilot Elementary School. Ang pastilan ay malapit lang sa eskwelahan at sa labas ng plaza. Noon ko lang napansing alas dose na pala ng tanghali. Sabi ni Luz, sa kanya kumakain ang mga bata kapag “bitin” ang pera nila kaya nagkakasya na lamang sa isang balot na pastil na halagang Php10 at yong okey lang sa kaning tutong, ito ay libre na, pati ang sabaw. Kaya pala kung minsan ay wala akong naaabutang tutong. Akala ko ay inuubos ni Luz na mahilig din sa tutong. Ang ilan sa mga bata ay nakita ko na sa palengke na nagtatrabaho bilang tagatapon ng basura ng mga tinder at “errand boys”. Umamin ang karamihan sa mga batang wala silang pambili ng pastil at sumama lang sa mga kaibigan nila upang mamasyal sa plaza kaya ginawan na lang ng paraan upang lahat sila ay makakain ng pastil.

 

Maliban sa dalawa na Grade 5 pa lang, ang iba ay Grade 6 na kaya tinanong ko sila kung gusto pa rin nilang mag-aral sa Tacurong…sa National High School. Tatlo ang nagsabing sa Griῆo National High School, sa barangay Griῆo para hindi na daw gagastos sa pamasahe….taga-roon kasi sila.  Nang tanungin ko kung gaano kalayo ang bahay nila mula sa school, binanggit nila ang estimated distance mula sa kinalalagyan namin hanggang sa isang maliit na mall…na ang tantiya ko ay isang kilometro ang layo! Ganoon kalayo ang lalakarin nila mula sa bahay nila hanggang sa eskwela sa umaga at pauwi sa tanghali para mananghalian at babalik para sa klase sa hapon, at pauwi na pagkatapos ng klase….total na lalakarin sa isang araw ay 4 na kilometro!

 

Yong isa ay kukunin ng tatay na nasa Cebu…hindi na ako nagtanong kung bakit nandoon ang tatay at baka may makabagbag-damdaming madiskubre lang ako tungkol sa pagkatao niya. Yong iba ay sa Tacurong National High School na lang daw dahil may mga “suki” sila sa palengkeng “pinagtatrabahuhan”…pagtatapon ng basura at bilang “errand boys” kaya maski papaano ay may kikitain sila.

 

Lahat sila ay may mga pangarap na “maging” pagdating ng panahon. Apat ang nagsabing gustong maging pulis, dalawa ang gustong maging “army”,  ang iba ay gustong maging titser at ang isa ay gustong maging engineer.  Ang isang nahiyang kumain ay binigyan ko na lang ng pera para may pambili siya ng kanit banana cue kapag nagutom dahil may mga nagtitinda naman sa labas ng gate ng school nila. Pero binulungan niya ako ng, “babaunin ko ito bukas, uncle…”.

 

Bilib ako sa kanila dahil lahat sila ay malinis ang pinagkainan…wala ni isang mumo (wasted rice) na naiwan sa dahon ng saging na pinagbalutan ng pastil at pinggan.  Wala ring natirang sabaw sa mangkok. Ang mga pinakita nila ay palatandaan na karapat-dapat silang tulungan.

 

Nakita ko sa mga batang nakausap ko ang buhay ko noong nasa elementary ako na nag-aaral din sa “Pilot” na ang dating pangalan ay “Tacurong Elementary School”. Hindi kalayuan sa kinaroroonan naming carinderia ni Luz ay ang bakery na pag-aari ng mga Garcia at sa tambakan nila ay namumulot ako ng mga pakikinabangan pa, lalo na mga malalaking plastic na supot na ginagamit kong “bag” para sa mga gamit ko sa eskwela at ang mga mas malalaki pa ay pinagtatagpi-tagpi ko upang maging rain coat. Ilang dipa lang din mula sa carinderia ay ang kapitbahay naming may puno ng sampalok na ang mga lagas o mga nahulog na hinog ay pinupulot ko upang ibenta sa eskwela para may pambili ako ng papel man lang. Meron din silang puno ng balimbing na ang mga manibalang na bunga ay hinihingi ko para ibenta sa palengke pati ang mga hinog na bunga ng kaimito (star apple) namin, tuwing Sabado at Linggo. Nagtinda din ako noon ng pandesal sa madaling araw.

 

Tulad ng mga bata ay nangarap din ako noon…libre lang naman kasi!

 

 

The Power of Self-Encouragement

The Power of Self- Encouragement

By Apolinario  Villalobos

 

 

To be inspired by what we accomplish through our own effort should not be misconstrued as being narcissistic.  Making us realize that we can do some things without being dependent on others should give us more impetus to strive mores. However, we should always remember  not to be buoyed by arrogance.  To develop the trait of self-encouragement  in us is not easy. If we are used to the hovering of our parents since childhood, our personality becomes soft, so that along the way of our life, even a simple impediment makes us falter.

Earning accomplishments in life through self-encouragement is like saving coins in a piggy bank. The increasing weight of the piggy bank due to the accumulated coins encourages us to drop more through the slot. Squandering some saved coins, is like putting to use some of what we have accomplished into useless endeavor. This can be avoided if we will be always reminded by an old adage, that  we cannot turn back the hands of time, and as I may add, so do mistakes committed that cannot be undone. Care is then very necessary to prevent this.

Meanwhile, successful people driven by self-encouragement can tremendously inspire others, especially, today which is smarting from the frustrating steady rise of unemployment. A  person suffers from disappointment if he fails to land a job after his first attempt, and in this situation, it is important that the person should convince himself that he is facing one of the realities of life – cutthroat competition in applying for a job, for which persistence can help. He must realize the need to do counter moves or strategies to be competitive.

To make self-encouragement work, some people switch to other fields of endeavor, some of which are a far cry from the course that are stated in their diplomas. There was a time in the past when the most in demand job was for nurses to fill up vacancies in European hospitals and healthcare institutions. There was a mass switching of course from medicine to nursing, and even those with license in medicine, went back to school to desperately take a course in nursing.  This effort somehow helped, even at the expense of pride – imagine a doctor, willing to work as nurse or a caregiver. As the ultimate goal is financial gain, those who attained it, thought that they did just the right thing.

Self-encouragement is a necessary element for survival.  The will to have a useful life after retirement or after having been partially incapacitated by an accident, needs even a bit of self-encouragement. In this instance, the government does its part by offering programs for senior citizens and persons with disability (PWD’s). In this situation, self-encouragement as a force is more crucial than those coming from other people. The strength to move on should first come from within a person. External strength becomes useful to further prop him up steadily.

 

Francis Lama Torres…blazing his way to the top

FRANCIS LAMA TORRES…blazing his way to the top

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Here’s the story of a country boy, born of a big family at the foot of the Dagoma mountain range and raised by struggling parents who depended on the earnings of their father as a photographer. He is practically blazing his way to the top without let up.

 

I had my first glimpse of Francis Lama Torres, the guy whom many Notre Dameans and Tacurongnons have been mentioning as an excellent event host. That was during the first institutional reunion of the Notre Dame of Tacurong College several years ago, during which I was the “voice” of the college alumni, Carlo Romero for the high school, and City Mayor Lina Montilla, for the elementary. I was very much impressed by his fluency in English and local version of Hiligaynon.

 

Several months ago, during the birthday party of a cousin, Hazel, her close friend, Bing told me that she found somebody whom she found to be an excellent host. The guy whom I mentioned earlier and the one whom Bing mentioned were, I found out, to be the same.

 

The next time our paths crossed was when I visited a restaurant known for its indigenous dishes, the FUDZ RESTO, along the highway fronting the Notre Dame of Tacurong College. He was manning the cashier’s drawer. I learned from Cathy, the supervisor of the food outlet that Francis and her son Daryll are business partners and the resto is their first venture. I learned later still, from Cathy that some of their offerings are cooked at home by Francis, himself, early in the morning and which he brings to the restaurants on his way to his nearby office, the Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SUKELCO). And, most admirable is his lending a hand at the FUDZ Resto during his lunch break!

 

Francis currently holds the position of Manager of Area 2 Services Department, but previously, was the entity’s Administrative Services Manager. Still, previous to those jobs, he also taught at the NDTC for 4 years. As an Area 2 Manager of SUKELCO, Francis covers Bagumbayan, Isulan, Esperanza, as well as, Lambayong and its 4 barangays, Matiompong, Katitisan, Kapingkong, and Tambak.

 

 

He shared that he is from the beautiful barangay of Masiag, Babumbayan, having been born there in September 18, 1978. He finished his elementary  at the Masiag Central School and high school at the Notre Dame of Masiag, but finished his college at the Notre Dame of Tacurong College.  His father, Francisco E. Torres, Sr., is a photographer who started his craft as a teen-ager while his mother, Candelaria Dapitan Lama, is a typical housewife and a doting mother to him and his 8 siblings. He is next to the eldest, a priest  assigned in Thailand,  while their youngest is taking up Social Work at the Notre Dame of Tacurong College. Francis and his brothers fittingly accorded their parents with a special gift by jointly hosting their Ruby wedding anniversary.

 

While in high school, he has developed his skill in public speaking and when he studied at the Notre Dame of Tacurong College, it was further honed by Felizardo Lazado, one of the faculties who used to administer the school museum and a writer in his own right who continues to express himself through blogs in the internet today. From then on, he has been tapped to host events and his popularity as such spread even after his graduation. While with the SUKELCO, he kept on hosting various events, both of local and national level.

 

Our short conversation revealed his long-ranged vision for Tacurong, his adopted home. He shared his bright ideas on how the tourism industry of the city could be further developed by utilizing what are already on hand, hence, all doable. His vision goes beyond his course, Bachelor of Science in Commerce (Banking and Finance) enhanced by his Masters in Business Administration, as clearly, his mind is also set on community development, as well.

 

I could surmise that the guy could go further, having proved that one need not graduate from a big university to be an achiever, especially, because he loves challenges, as he admitted that he prefers field work to that of an office-confined one.

 

What Achievements Can Do

What Achievements Can Do

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

I have been blogging about achievers and their success, and I would like to add that such feat could generate the following:

• Admiration from peers and strangers who have positive personalities, they who always see the positive side of things.
• Satisfaction from people who are part of the achiever’s life, they who also sacrificed such as family members, relatives and some friends and even strangers who, in one way or another are instrumental for the achievement.
• Envy from anybody, as evil is part of life.

 

There is no problem with the positive effects of achievements such as admiration and satisfaction. The problem is with envy, as it may result to:

• Bashing in facebook and other blog sites even by friends supposedly using fictitious identity.
• Jokes from envious friends such as anonymous and threatening messages sent through the cellphone and chat facility of the facebook.
• Development of ill feeling towards the achiever.

 

Bashing and harmful jokes are the negative “gains” from the high technology that rules life today. Simply said, anybody can create hundreds of identity in the internet and use them for malicious intent, and SIM cards can be bought from sidewalk peddlers for as low as Php15, already with free text and calls to be used in sending anonymous messages or making calls to poor victims. On the other hand, the development of ill feeling towards the achiever occurs among selfish people who want everything in life at all cost. Their ego made them feel that only they are capable of succeeding in life.

 

Many successful lives have been ruined by the egoistic and selfish people who cannot stand the achievement of others…that is one of the reasons why the world is beset with disharmony. Man has no choice but to live with that reality. Meanwhile, what the achievers can do is thank the Lord for their success and restrain themselves from wishing bad karma for their detractors for it may just happen as dictated by the “Golden Rule”.

Enrick Samonte: The Copying Machine Technician who Became a Regular PAL Employee

ENRICK SAMONTE: THE COPYING MACHINE TECHNICIAN

WHO BECAME A REGULAR PAL EMPLOYEE

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

During the early part of 1990, to ease the burden of copying for the Standards and Coordination Division (SCD) of Marketing and Sales-Philippines (MSP) of Philippine Airlines, an agency was contracted for the provision of one heavy-duty copying unit with a technician. Everybody then, on the 5^th floor of Vernida building, not only the division for which the machine was intended, was happy. What made them glad more was the amiable technician who was assigned by the agency, Enrick Samonte. A gregarious guy, he at once befriended almost everybody for being accommodating. He would be late sometimes for lunch for giving in to many requests for which he would just smile and scratch his head.

 

He must have been astounded with the voluminous requirements most of the time that at times forced him to extend his duty beyond 5PM. I would recall the times that he also stayed overnight with the staff if there were urgent copying to do. All of them were taken in stride by Enrick. He was also proud of his job and diligent, as we would find him at his post way ahead of the PAL employees in the morning. He was also very neat in his outfit and sometimes wore blazer to match the color of his sport shirt.

 

When our group was absorbed by another division at S&L Building, I lost contact with Enrick. I thought he was pulled out by his agency and transferred somewhere else. I was glad to learn, however, that he was taken in as a regular employee. When I left the company, I learned further that he joined the staff of Mr. Dave Lim, the SVP for Sales. Lately, I was surprised to find him to have been assigned to the Office of Metro Manila and Luzon Sales, a division of the Philippine Region.

 

For Enrick, his journey within Philippine Airlines has been challenging as he had to deal with people of various characters, but he successfully melded with them. He is liaising for the division with which he is now connected and very much happy about it because he is back to where he started as a copying machine technician. Just like any other regular PAL employee, he is enjoying free tickets, benefit that he shares with his family….all because of his patience, diligence and amiability.

 

The “Drive” of a Person Spells His Success

THE “DRIVE” OF A PERSON

SPELLS HIS SUCCESS

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

 

There are people I know who graduated as summa cum laude or magna cum laude or have taken up post studies for Masters and Doctorate, yet, they failed to succeed vis-à-vis with what they have gone through coupled with money spent, without mentioning the time. On the other hand, many average graduates who finished ordinary courses from far-flung colleges have immensely achieved success. Of course, being at the right place at the right time can help, but the most essential factor here, is the “drive” within a person. In this view, the school and books could be necessary but not guarantees for a bright future if those who benefited from them lack the enthusiasm and energy to crash through the hurdles that block their way towards success.

 

This is the real situation in finding an ordinary job by fair means and working one’s way up in the corporate ladder: Graduates, regardless of their course and where they graduated, undergo a series of interview and examination, so it doesn’t matter if one is a graduate of a provincial college or a high-end university in a city, as what matters, is he passes the tests. From the lowest rung of the echelon, he works his way up based on his performance and other on-the-job criteria, and not on how he fared when he graduated as such record is already in his 201 file. The current basis is his performance, diligence, relationship with colleagues and bosses, and punctuality. If the guy is one who does not complain every time added work is given to him, he gets a plus, and also when he shows a congenial teamwork capability and respect for time.

 

The problem with many new-hires today, especially, the snooty graduates of high-end universities, is they complain every time they are given added tasks. They view such tasks with disdain for being not part of their job description, instead of considering them as opportunities for advancement. As a result, because of their high regard to their high-end alma mater, they always expect to find another job if they resign after a short span of stint in the job. On the other hand, graduates of the unassuming colleges have more reasons to work hard and grateful for being hired and recognized for their willingness to learn more by doing added tasks with gusto, which in effect prepares them for better opportunities as they strive for the next rung of their career.

 

Meanwhile, many graduates are so conscious about the “management” attached in their course. It does not spell any difference at all in the face of highly competitive job-hunting today. One typical example is when we had an on-the-job trainee who was taking a two-year secretarial course. She was admirably punctual and even made attempts at editing our drafted memos which we sincerely appreciated, because we were not always sure if what we scribbled to be typed by her were grammatically correct all the time. She put the topsy-turvy office file in order and did not mind rendering overtime if necessary despite her being just an OJT.  After completing the required time, she left and somewhat affected us. When we were in need of a secretary, we put our Human Resources office to task by demanding that we want our former OJT or nobody at all. It took them some time before locating her and finally giving her the job. Today, she is an Executive Secretary…liked by all her colleagues in the office including her boss.

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?

 

 

Joery Falloria: Surviving Typhoon Yolanda and Life’s Excruciating Challenges (…unsung hero of Philippine Airlines)

Joery Falloria: Surviving Typhoon Yolanda

And Life’s Excruciating Challenges

(…unsung hero of Philippine Airlines)

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Just like most of Philippine Airline marketing and airport personnel, Joery started his career at the lowest rung of the airline’s corporate ladder which is his case was as a porter. Although, the trainings involved courses on cargo handling, passenger check in, basic domestic ticketing, and customer handling, the employee of “long ago” cannot say no, if he was assigned at the airport to haul carry checked-in baggage and cargoes on tow carts from the terminal to the aircraft. This was what Joery experienced when he joined the airline.

 

The kind of exposure that an employee gets has been actually designed to toughen and prepare him for more responsibilities ahead as he advances in his career. It makes the employee some kind of a well-rounded guy – an airline man who can later handle responsibilities as manager. Joery has marshaled incoming aircrafts to guide them to their slot in the tarmac, computed weights to be loaded for safe flight,  which included those of cargoes, checked-in and carry-on baggage, as well as passengers that also include the crew and paying ones.

 

Along the way, he was also trained to handle PAL customers, be they walk-ins who would like to make inquiries or purchase tickets. To cap this particular training, he was also fed with knowledge on values and attitudes to maintain the high quality of service standards that his person should exude. It was a long journey for Joery from the airport ramp as loader to his present managerial position as Head of the Tacloban Station. It was a journey beset with financial difficulty and emotional pressure. But he made it….on August 15, 2015, he was designated as Officer-In-Charge of Tacloban Station, a managerial position.

 

It was while navigating his challenging career path that he met Pomela Corni Tan who eventually became his wife, and who gave him two offspring, Anthony who is now a registered Nurse working with the Davao Doctors’ Hospital, and Mary Rose, on her second year of Veterinary Medicine course at the VISCA in Baybay City.

 

The typhoon Yolanda devastated Tacloban to the maximum, and recovery was even more challenging, as Joery and his local PAL team, worked hard to rise from such disheartening situation. To make PAL operational again, he had to coordinate with concerned government agencies and the head office in Manila for replacement of lost equipment and office supplies, as well as, reconstruct destroyed records. The story of recovery that was woven around the effort of the PAL Team, with Joery at the helm, was just one of the many that inspired many people around the world.

 

With Tacloban City propped back to normalcy, Joery resumes his overall administration of the whole Tacloban station that includes routine calls on travel agents, issuance of tickets and airport operation. His free time is spent on spiritual-related activities of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, being a Lay Minister. He is also an active officer of their homeowners’ association.

 

Over a simple lunch at the canteen of SSS near the PAL Administrative Offices in PNB building, he confided that he feels blessed for working with the airline. And, as the company is in its recovery stage, he has committed himself to do his best as part of the team. In a way, Joery has survived the various changes at the top management of the airline…just like the survival that he experienced when typhoon Yolanda devastated their city.