I watched the Ryder Cup over the weekend and from the Day 1 performance of the USA team I had a feeling it was going to go the way of the Europeans. They just looked too stiff and tense while their European counterparts were all smiles...pumped up and enjoying themselves. Of course, it helped a lot that they were on home ground,but so were the Americans last time around,and yet they lost!
So in spite of all the talent in the USA side (Tiger Woods #1, Phil Mickelson #2, Jim Furyk#3) they couldn't muster enough points to win back the trophy that has been in Europe's hands for the last three outings. This, too,in spite of the preparations Tom Lehman did to make sure he had a "team."
From my standpoint,what Team USA lacked was passion! They didn't seem to want to win! They seemed to be just going through the motions and were not putting up enough good golf to really give the Europeans a real challenge.
Maybe if there were just enough money at stake in winning the cup...then maybe the Americans might have been motivated enough! Ha!
Anyway, that's golf for you.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Sunday, September 17, 2006
THE VIEW FROM MY WINDOW:AN INDESCRIBABLE LOSS
Once again,I looked out my window this Monday morning and observed parents as they brought their sons to the entrance gate of Lourdes School. I noticed a familiar pattern of behavior...more like a ritual...,and one which I performed every morning when I used to bring my own two sons to the same school.
After bringing the kid to the gate,there would be this last words of advice (or admonition),then a kiss and finally, a lingering look, as the parent watched his or her son disappear into the crowd of boys. Only then would the parent move on.
It's that lingering look that caught my attention this morning. Why did we parents instinctively do this? We knew our kids were safe, after all we personally accompanied them to the gate. And yet after we let them go,we just would stand there and watch.Perhaps we also knew instinctively that our kids would glance back and check us out and give us a last goodbye wave.
Or maybe it was because for a brief moment,we would be amazed at how our kids had grown!
Whatever the reason for lingering, I'm sure when each of us parents looked at our sons we were looking at them with love.
And that's why I guess, not being able to ever see them alive would be the worst feeling any parent would have to bear in his or her lifetime.
One of my former classmates from Grade school is going through this right now. He lost his son and to make matters worse,he wasn't able to be around for his funeral.
The indescribable feeling of loss was best pictured by another former classmate, Sonny Hernandez, when he pointed out that we had terms for a husband who loses his wife (widower),or for a wife whose husband dies (widow.) A kid who loses his parents is called an orphan.
But a parent who loses a child...there are no words to describe this...just a s no words will probably be able to describe the loss.
After bringing the kid to the gate,there would be this last words of advice (or admonition),then a kiss and finally, a lingering look, as the parent watched his or her son disappear into the crowd of boys. Only then would the parent move on.
It's that lingering look that caught my attention this morning. Why did we parents instinctively do this? We knew our kids were safe, after all we personally accompanied them to the gate. And yet after we let them go,we just would stand there and watch.Perhaps we also knew instinctively that our kids would glance back and check us out and give us a last goodbye wave.
Or maybe it was because for a brief moment,we would be amazed at how our kids had grown!
Whatever the reason for lingering, I'm sure when each of us parents looked at our sons we were looking at them with love.
And that's why I guess, not being able to ever see them alive would be the worst feeling any parent would have to bear in his or her lifetime.
One of my former classmates from Grade school is going through this right now. He lost his son and to make matters worse,he wasn't able to be around for his funeral.
The indescribable feeling of loss was best pictured by another former classmate, Sonny Hernandez, when he pointed out that we had terms for a husband who loses his wife (widower),or for a wife whose husband dies (widow.) A kid who loses his parents is called an orphan.
But a parent who loses a child...there are no words to describe this...just a s no words will probably be able to describe the loss.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Sunday, September 03, 2006
The View from my Window: Father and Son
This morning as I watched the students of Lourdes school being accompanied by their parents to the gate, I noticed this dad and his kid in particular because from the way dad behaved you could tell his kid was special!
For one, he was lugging the kid's trolley bag even though I thought the boy was big enough to do it on his own. While they were walking towards the gate he was talking to him as if going through a checklist of things. I could just see it now:"Oh, do you have your handkerchief?Your assignment was it done na?"...and so on.
When they finally reached the gate,doting dad didn't just kiss son goodbye and saw him off. He bent down,cupped his son's face, said some words before kissing him. Then...and this is what got me...he lingered for a while making sure his son was safely in. Then as if this was not enough he went behind the sign on the gate and spent some seconds playing peek-a-boo with his son before waving goodbye.
He hurried back and luckily he did, because some traffic aides on patrol were looking his car over because he seemed to be blocking traffic. After some explanation he was let off.
It was a great sight because it's something I did when TJ and James were still small(although not as mushy as doting dad). I kind of miss this but am also thankful that I also gave my own sons some memorable mornings by going through these rituals.
For one, he was lugging the kid's trolley bag even though I thought the boy was big enough to do it on his own. While they were walking towards the gate he was talking to him as if going through a checklist of things. I could just see it now:"Oh, do you have your handkerchief?Your assignment was it done na?"...and so on.
When they finally reached the gate,doting dad didn't just kiss son goodbye and saw him off. He bent down,cupped his son's face, said some words before kissing him. Then...and this is what got me...he lingered for a while making sure his son was safely in. Then as if this was not enough he went behind the sign on the gate and spent some seconds playing peek-a-boo with his son before waving goodbye.
He hurried back and luckily he did, because some traffic aides on patrol were looking his car over because he seemed to be blocking traffic. After some explanation he was let off.
It was a great sight because it's something I did when TJ and James were still small(although not as mushy as doting dad). I kind of miss this but am also thankful that I also gave my own sons some memorable mornings by going through these rituals.
The SWAN and a NatGeo special on Wolves
TJ and I watched a portion of the SWAN finals last Saturday. We were really amazed at what cosmetic surgery can do to transform these once Ugly Ducklings to jaw dropping bombshells! What I noticed though was that those with really good features to start with really looked good after their treatments and with very little alterations too.
It was also sad to note that those who were blessed with good looks to begin with didn't really take good care of themselves...especially their self-esteem...hence their deterioration into Ugly Ducklings.
I also managed to catch a feature by NatGeo on wolves. One interesting scene showed a pack of wolves that had trapped a male elk. The narrator said that strangely enough if elk didn't run their chances of surviving increased and I could see why. Although the wolves had their prey cornered they couldn't get near it because one swipe of the antlers could kill or maim them. If the elk had run it would just get tired and make easy pickings for the wolves.
Another scene showed some elk actually prancing confidently even if the wolves were near. It was sort of a risky bluff to the wolves,showing them that they could outrun them if they dared chase them. Unfortunately for one, the wolves called the bluff and dragged her down.
Wolves and bears,it turns out, are mortal enemies too. There was a scene were a mother bear and her cub were surrounded by a pack. The wolves kept a safe distance because the bear could easily break their backs with its claws. However,mama bear couldn't distance itself too far from its cub so it just fended off the wolves until they realized they were going nowhere and gave up.
It was also sad to note that those who were blessed with good looks to begin with didn't really take good care of themselves...especially their self-esteem...hence their deterioration into Ugly Ducklings.
I also managed to catch a feature by NatGeo on wolves. One interesting scene showed a pack of wolves that had trapped a male elk. The narrator said that strangely enough if elk didn't run their chances of surviving increased and I could see why. Although the wolves had their prey cornered they couldn't get near it because one swipe of the antlers could kill or maim them. If the elk had run it would just get tired and make easy pickings for the wolves.
Another scene showed some elk actually prancing confidently even if the wolves were near. It was sort of a risky bluff to the wolves,showing them that they could outrun them if they dared chase them. Unfortunately for one, the wolves called the bluff and dragged her down.
Wolves and bears,it turns out, are mortal enemies too. There was a scene were a mother bear and her cub were surrounded by a pack. The wolves kept a safe distance because the bear could easily break their backs with its claws. However,mama bear couldn't distance itself too far from its cub so it just fended off the wolves until they realized they were going nowhere and gave up.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
LIVING WITH ONE'S LIMITATIONS
I just got my lab test results. The 2-D Echo and Holter Monitor results validate that there is something definitely wrong with my heart. I have atrial fibrillation according to the Holter monitor findings and the echocardiogram said I have ventricular hypertrophy. I had to look these up in the internet to understand what was going on inside my body.
In a nutshell,my heart is beating irregularly and the danger with this,at least in my case, is that some blood may not be pumped out of the atrium. This blood may coagulate and form clots which if dislodged may be transported to the brain and cause what is known as an embolic stroke. One treatment for this is to give medication (warfarin aka Coumadin) that will help thin the blood so that clotting does not form.
Now as to why I had this condition in the first place I don't really know. I have engaged in regular exercise, I have controlled my intake of "bad-for-the-heart" food and I can say I am not under any form of stress, and yet this happened.
So I guess this is one of life's surprises for me!
In a nutshell,my heart is beating irregularly and the danger with this,at least in my case, is that some blood may not be pumped out of the atrium. This blood may coagulate and form clots which if dislodged may be transported to the brain and cause what is known as an embolic stroke. One treatment for this is to give medication (warfarin aka Coumadin) that will help thin the blood so that clotting does not form.
Now as to why I had this condition in the first place I don't really know. I have engaged in regular exercise, I have controlled my intake of "bad-for-the-heart" food and I can say I am not under any form of stress, and yet this happened.
So I guess this is one of life's surprises for me!
It's just another one of those events that makes me realize my limitations and maybe challenges me to still live fully in spite of these.After all, I did not wish for this.
One positive thing has already come out of this...I got to review my basic anatomy and are more familiar with terms related to the heart's functions! I sort of understand what I'm up against...and as the GI Joe slogan goes..."Knowing is half the battle!"
I also know for sure that the Good Lord wants me to slow down and enjoy life! Thanks to my seminary training I realize I've been programmed to rush through life so as not to waste time.
Maybe this is the Lord's way of giving me a much needed break!
One positive thing has already come out of this...I got to review my basic anatomy and are more familiar with terms related to the heart's functions! I sort of understand what I'm up against...and as the GI Joe slogan goes..."Knowing is half the battle!"
I also know for sure that the Good Lord wants me to slow down and enjoy life! Thanks to my seminary training I realize I've been programmed to rush through life so as not to waste time.
Maybe this is the Lord's way of giving me a much needed break!
Monday, August 28, 2006
ON MENTAL TOUGHNESS AND ON SLOWING DOWN
I watched Tiger Woods win the WGC Invitational yesterday. He almost gave it away when he couldn't keep his lead in regulation play. But during the playoff with Stewart Cink,who battled him hole for hole,he showed why he was a champion. In the fourth playoff hole,he stuck his approach shot within 8 feet while Cink's went into the bunker. Given that opportunity Tiger sunk the birdie putt for the win. Cink had his chance in the previous hole but didn't capitalize on it...therein lay the difference. Both were under a lot of pressure but I guess Tiger handled it better...was mentally tougher than Stewart...that's why he came out on top...for the fourth straight time!
Now that I have this nagging problem of an irregular heartbeat I realized once again that perhaps the Good Lord wants me to slow down some more.Maybe enjoy life a little bit more in the process. After all, I did my best in trying to stay healthy & yet my genetics seems to have acted up in the process.
This is just another obstacle I have to work around.
Now that I have this nagging problem of an irregular heartbeat I realized once again that perhaps the Good Lord wants me to slow down some more.Maybe enjoy life a little bit more in the process. After all, I did my best in trying to stay healthy & yet my genetics seems to have acted up in the process.
This is just another obstacle I have to work around.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
THE GRASS IS GREENER IN OUR BACKYARD
These past two weeks,I had the chance to visit two of the Philippines'famous resorts:Dos Palmas and Pearl Farm.
We went to Dos Palmas when it was raining so we didn't get to see many of its attractions like the schools of fishes and colorful corral reefs that one would normally see if the water is clear. We had a delicious lunch at the Isla Puting Buhangin, about 15 minutes by ferry boat from Dos Palmas and in spite of the rain we still marvelled at the beauty of the place.
We had better luck when we went to Pearl Farm. The weather was perfect so that when we docked at the wharf you could see fish swimming in the clear waters along the shore. We visited the island of the Floreindo's and checked out the villas which were being rented out to tourists. If I had the money and the time to waste this would be an idyllic place to do it. It was so peaceful..and restful.
No wonder many foreign tourists who have heard about these places...and do have the money,come over to our country!
It is unfortunate that many who live in our country can't even afford to see such sights which are right in our own backyard!
We went to Dos Palmas when it was raining so we didn't get to see many of its attractions like the schools of fishes and colorful corral reefs that one would normally see if the water is clear. We had a delicious lunch at the Isla Puting Buhangin, about 15 minutes by ferry boat from Dos Palmas and in spite of the rain we still marvelled at the beauty of the place.
We had better luck when we went to Pearl Farm. The weather was perfect so that when we docked at the wharf you could see fish swimming in the clear waters along the shore. We visited the island of the Floreindo's and checked out the villas which were being rented out to tourists. If I had the money and the time to waste this would be an idyllic place to do it. It was so peaceful..and restful.
No wonder many foreign tourists who have heard about these places...and do have the money,come over to our country!
It is unfortunate that many who live in our country can't even afford to see such sights which are right in our own backyard!
Monday, August 21, 2006
Sunday, August 06, 2006
REFLECTIONS ON TWO TV FEATURES
This weekend I watched two documentaries on TV which got me thinking about the oddities of life,but more specially how one's beliefs affects the way one behaves.
The first,which was shown on Discovery channel's "On the Run," was about an international scam artist and the second,which was on National Geographic, was about Mennonite's search for their "perfect world."
The first feature reenacted the hunt for a Chinese guy from Malaysia named Mr. Wee,who managed to swindle people of over $4 M and ended up getting free after serving short terms in prison. His modus operandi was to sweet talk people into investing their money on businesses which he promised would give them profitable returns.
The segment I caught showed him putting up a magazine in Netherlands called Publique. He convinced most of his employees except a certain Ellen, to put in money in the venture. Then he spent their money on his personal pursuits until the business folded up. It was this Ellen who helped put him in jail eventually.
What was interesting to note was that Mr. Wee was a confirmed psychopath and yet he was able to convince intelligent people into giving him their money! I couldn't help but recall Rose Balajay and her Multitel scam operation which robbed many people (including my sister & law and my wife) of their life's savings! The lure of easy money does blind people and makes them believe what they want to believe.
The piece on the Mennonites was also on how one's beliefs influences one's actions.
It showed families and individuals belonging to three different colonies of Mennonites; two in Mexico and one in Bolivia. One colony in Mexico which was called El Capulin was a "progressive" one which allowed its members to use electricity and rubber tires on its tractors. With electricity the community could produce more products (e.g. milk and cheese) and enjoy amenities like TV, which in most Mennonite circles is forbidden.
I was puzzled at first about the issue on rubber tired tractors until it was explained by one of the men interviewed. He explained that having rubber tires on tractors would allow their boys to "steal" away to town and drink beer. Having only metal wheels would discourage them.
The other two colonies were less progressive but the Mennonites there preferred that kind of life even though they wished they had more money so they didn't live poorly! As the feature progressed I understood that the perfect world they were after was one in which they could practice their religion and basically live in peace, away from the trappings and temptations of civilization.
These people who shunned the more progressive colony of El Capulin to live in the more desolate colonies did so because they believed this was the correct way of living their faith!
The first,which was shown on Discovery channel's "On the Run," was about an international scam artist and the second,which was on National Geographic, was about Mennonite's search for their "perfect world."
The first feature reenacted the hunt for a Chinese guy from Malaysia named Mr. Wee,who managed to swindle people of over $4 M and ended up getting free after serving short terms in prison. His modus operandi was to sweet talk people into investing their money on businesses which he promised would give them profitable returns.
The segment I caught showed him putting up a magazine in Netherlands called Publique. He convinced most of his employees except a certain Ellen, to put in money in the venture. Then he spent their money on his personal pursuits until the business folded up. It was this Ellen who helped put him in jail eventually.
What was interesting to note was that Mr. Wee was a confirmed psychopath and yet he was able to convince intelligent people into giving him their money! I couldn't help but recall Rose Balajay and her Multitel scam operation which robbed many people (including my sister & law and my wife) of their life's savings! The lure of easy money does blind people and makes them believe what they want to believe.
The piece on the Mennonites was also on how one's beliefs influences one's actions.
It showed families and individuals belonging to three different colonies of Mennonites; two in Mexico and one in Bolivia. One colony in Mexico which was called El Capulin was a "progressive" one which allowed its members to use electricity and rubber tires on its tractors. With electricity the community could produce more products (e.g. milk and cheese) and enjoy amenities like TV, which in most Mennonite circles is forbidden.
I was puzzled at first about the issue on rubber tired tractors until it was explained by one of the men interviewed. He explained that having rubber tires on tractors would allow their boys to "steal" away to town and drink beer. Having only metal wheels would discourage them.
The other two colonies were less progressive but the Mennonites there preferred that kind of life even though they wished they had more money so they didn't live poorly! As the feature progressed I understood that the perfect world they were after was one in which they could practice their religion and basically live in peace, away from the trappings and temptations of civilization.
These people who shunned the more progressive colony of El Capulin to live in the more desolate colonies did so because they believed this was the correct way of living their faith!
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
ON DEATH AND DYING
It's been two weeks since I started having heart palpitations and because of its effects on me sometimes I can't help but think about death and dying.
Though the palpitations are less pronounced,thanks to the medication I've been taking,I feel some difficulty breathing properly since my heartbeats are irregular. When I do something that requires some effort like walking upstairs or taking a walk to Shangrila I can't do it as quickly as I used to because I feel some heaviness on my chest and some weariness.
I tried doing a light work out the other day and though I could easily lift 30 pound weights prudence dictated that I just stick with very light weights. I didn't even sweat...soit didn't count as a work out!
It's a bother really.
So am I just waiting for the big attack? I try not to think of it because I know I've still a lot of things I want to do. And when I think of my wife and kids and how my passing away will affect them...I get the motivation to keep on living.
Perhaps what God wants me to do right now is just slow down and enjoy life as much as I can.
Though the palpitations are less pronounced,thanks to the medication I've been taking,I feel some difficulty breathing properly since my heartbeats are irregular. When I do something that requires some effort like walking upstairs or taking a walk to Shangrila I can't do it as quickly as I used to because I feel some heaviness on my chest and some weariness.
I tried doing a light work out the other day and though I could easily lift 30 pound weights prudence dictated that I just stick with very light weights. I didn't even sweat...soit didn't count as a work out!
It's a bother really.
So am I just waiting for the big attack? I try not to think of it because I know I've still a lot of things I want to do. And when I think of my wife and kids and how my passing away will affect them...I get the motivation to keep on living.
Perhaps what God wants me to do right now is just slow down and enjoy life as much as I can.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
CALLING ON HEAVEN FOR HELP DURING A TIME OF CRISIS
It came so suddenly I was caught off guard!
I was having dessert after a heavy buffet lunch last Wednesday when I started having palpitations. It was not the first time I had such an episode but this was different because the palpitations were quite strong and went on for a prolonged period of time that I was starting to feel some pain on mychest from the pounding.
I was in a seminar at the time so I had to excuse myself and be driven by Jaja to the Medical City ER for a check up. The resident on duty detected the abnormal heartbeat and saw that my BP had risen to 150/100 but the ECG they did on me showed things were normal! They gave me some meds and I took the rest of the day off.
I was able to attend the whole session Thursday and even went to the gym afterwards.However, come Friday morning I was feeling the arrythmia again so I decided to take the day off. I thought that resting would revive me and rid me of the pain but I was wrong. It seemed to have gotten worse such that in desperation I cried for help from someone whom I had forgotten for a very long,long time...Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
Her picture was just beside our bed and at the height of an attack I asked for a miracle...that she take the malady away.
I didn't get relief at once but as I have experienced time and again,my prayers seemed to have been answered in a different way. For one, I had some restful naps where in I felt some relief. Then yesterday, Sunday, my sister arrived from Cebu and through her connections I got a different medicine which seemed to have worked better than the one prescribed to me before.
I was having dessert after a heavy buffet lunch last Wednesday when I started having palpitations. It was not the first time I had such an episode but this was different because the palpitations were quite strong and went on for a prolonged period of time that I was starting to feel some pain on mychest from the pounding.
I was in a seminar at the time so I had to excuse myself and be driven by Jaja to the Medical City ER for a check up. The resident on duty detected the abnormal heartbeat and saw that my BP had risen to 150/100 but the ECG they did on me showed things were normal! They gave me some meds and I took the rest of the day off.
I was able to attend the whole session Thursday and even went to the gym afterwards.However, come Friday morning I was feeling the arrythmia again so I decided to take the day off. I thought that resting would revive me and rid me of the pain but I was wrong. It seemed to have gotten worse such that in desperation I cried for help from someone whom I had forgotten for a very long,long time...Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
Her picture was just beside our bed and at the height of an attack I asked for a miracle...that she take the malady away.
I didn't get relief at once but as I have experienced time and again,my prayers seemed to have been answered in a different way. For one, I had some restful naps where in I felt some relief. Then yesterday, Sunday, my sister arrived from Cebu and through her connections I got a different medicine which seemed to have worked better than the one prescribed to me before.
Friday, July 14, 2006
A LESSON ON CREATIVITY FROM A MOVIE: SOMETHING THAT CAME FROM GOD
I happened to catch a movie showing on TV this afternoon entitled: "Something that Came from God" about Dr. Alfred Blalock and his African American assistant,Dr. Vivien Thomas. Both were involved in the historic cardiac operation that led to the saving of many so-called "blue babies." These infants had congenital heart abnormalities which made their heart pump more un-oxygenated blood into their system thus causing them to turn blue.
In their effort to find a solution to the blue baby syndrome they of course went through a lot of basic analyzing of how the problem came about. But what was "creative" was that they tried creating the problem by experimenting on normal dogs, so that if they knew how the problem came about ,they could undo it.
They had failures in their experimentation but that led them to the correct way of doing things and even serendipitous solutions.
The inspiring angle of the movie was that Dr. Viv Thomas was a carpenter who had dreams of becoming a doctor. He never had formal education on medicine, but learned on the job. He died in 1985, accorded an honorary doctor's rank by the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
In their effort to find a solution to the blue baby syndrome they of course went through a lot of basic analyzing of how the problem came about. But what was "creative" was that they tried creating the problem by experimenting on normal dogs, so that if they knew how the problem came about ,they could undo it.
They had failures in their experimentation but that led them to the correct way of doing things and even serendipitous solutions.
The inspiring angle of the movie was that Dr. Viv Thomas was a carpenter who had dreams of becoming a doctor. He never had formal education on medicine, but learned on the job. He died in 1985, accorded an honorary doctor's rank by the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Friday, July 07, 2006
INSIDE THE BEEHIVE: MY JOLLY YEARS AT JOLLIBEE #1
Out of the blue,I just decided I'd write about my years at Jollibee while I can still recall them:-)
When I'm asked about what I did for Jollibee as it's Training Manager,(a post I held for over 11 years) my ready answer is:
"When I joined Jollibee in 1985 it had only 20 stores.When I left in August,1999 it had grown to 348 stores! So whether good or bad,I may have had something to do with the 320 stores that opened!"
I wouldn't have stayed that long if I didn't love the company.Fact is, I never really left because today,I still do work for the JFC group as a Training Consultant for one of it's brands,Chowking.
So what was it like inside the beehive? Maybe I ought to go back to 1985 when I joined Jollibee.
THE PRELUDE:OPPORTUNITY AT A TIME OF CRISIS
I was still working as a Training Specialist at Foodmine Inc.,the local franchise of KFC, when the opportunity to work at Jollibee presented itself.This opportunity though came in the form of a crisis that was facing the organization.
KFC under the Quesada's had just gone through a wildcat strike and so things were not good inside that organization. Morale of store managers was so bad that there was a mass exodus of managers starting late '84 (just after the strike) up to the 2nd quarter of 1985. The company President Efren Quesada,or EQ as we called him,was coddling the labor union so they wouldn't threaten to strike again. In doing so however,he alienated himself from the Store Managers who had sided with him all throughout the almost month-long strike.
Many of these managers left and looked for work at Jollibee,which was then starting to move up the ranks of the fastfood chains.
If I recall correctly,Leonie Antonio,Connie Mendoza and Jimmy Ramos were among the first ex-KFC's who were hired by Jollibee for it's expansion plans. The blow to KFC came when sometime in March of 1985 Jimmy Enriquez,who was then a KFC Area Manager,Raffy Selga (Training Store Manager),Meann San Juan(Store Manager and Jimmy's girlfriend) and a newly-hired Management trainee named Livia Pinggoy,all went to Jollibee. Their jumping ship gave a signal to everyone else at KFC then that things were going bad.
To stave off any further resignations, EQ and his VP for HR and Administration,Atty. de Leon, HR Manager Conrad Donato and Operations Manager Raffy Vallejo started having one-on-one sessions with the Store managers left pleading with them not to resign and promising them a better future at KFC.
Meanwhile, I had to contend with the problem these resignations were causing.
My boss then and former classmate, Joseph Hernandez,also resigned his post leaving me as the OIC of the training department. Since there were now vacancies for Store managers in about eight of the 12 KFC stores we had to fill up these posts immediately.
As a stopgap solution,some of the senior managers who had stayed behind had to manage two stores at a time. We at the Training department came up with a two week crash course for management trainees so that after that time we could field them immediately at any KFC store that needed a manager.
What made matters worse for us was that Raffy Selga,who was then our Training store manager,was part of the diaspora so we needed to have someone who could train these new recruits on actual store operations.Fortunately for me,there was one relatively new manager, Ma. Lourdes "Iyoh" Sordan, and Raffy's assistant manager at KFC Tomas Morato, who agreed to take on the role.
Sometime in February of 1985,I made a decision to start looking for a better option than KFC. I was just about a year and a half into my marriage and my wife,Jaja, was pregnant with our first child. I definitely couldn't afford not to have a job.
Jollibee was an option and since I was hearing good things about the company from the likes of Leonie and Connie who were already there I decided to send in my application. As luck would have it,the person in charge of recruitment, Susan Rosales (now de Guzman),was a friend of my sister in law. When she learned I was with Training,she informed me that Jollibee had plans of putting up a Hamburger University soon and had in fact hired a former professor,Dr. Butch dela Cruz, from the University of Maryland to spearhead the project.
I became more optimistic about my chances of joining Jollibee when I was interviewed by Ms. Fe Labayen,the HR Manager, who told me that my credentials looked good and that she would recommend me for a post in the HR Institute,as they called it.
Back at KFC,things were coming to a head. Many more managers were resigning so that EQ told his Vice Presidents that they were to do duty at the stores in order to keep operations going. I didn't like to work in our stores then since the employees were no longer in good terms with management specially after the strike. I told myself that if I was to be forced to work in the stores, I would leave and take my chances with Jollibee even as a management tainee.
My friends who were already at Jollibee (like Meann San Juan and Connie Mendoza)would call me time and again saying that I was needed there because their Operaions Manual needed revising and that they could use a guy like me in Training over there.
June of 1985, my wait was finally over when Jollibee called me up for a final interview with Dr. Ambrosio "Butch" dela Cruz,whom I think I impressed enough to give me the OK. WhenI finally passed my physical examination and submitted all my requirements, I was home free. The only thing left was to hand in my resignation.
Atty. de Leon tried to dissuade me from leaving,revealing to me that KFC had plans for expansion but which were just put on hold temporarily because of the current problems besetting the company. EQ didn't try to persuade me to stay but at one point sort of tried to make me feel guilty. Why was it that I was leaving when he needed my help most. He did wish me good luck though when he knew I was gettiing a better offer and couldn't match what Jollibee was going to give.
I said my tearful goodbyes to my colleagues and best friends in the Training department,Au Acosta and Chie Narvas. It was a sad parting but they understood it was for the better.
As a fitting and somewhat hilarious ending to my KFC stint I cooked KFC chicken.
It was a Saturday morning, and I had just come from my 1st day orientation at the Jollibee headquarters in Culmat building. On my way home I decided to pass by KFC Morato to say goodbye to Iyoh,who was on duty at that time. Coincidentally, one of her cooks hadn't reported for work yet and her chief cook needed to go on lunch break. She asked if I could take charge of cooking chicken for the lunch period until her cook finished his break.
I agreed to do this and I'm happy I did because it was a good way to end a chapter in my life.
When I'm asked about what I did for Jollibee as it's Training Manager,(a post I held for over 11 years) my ready answer is:
"When I joined Jollibee in 1985 it had only 20 stores.When I left in August,1999 it had grown to 348 stores! So whether good or bad,I may have had something to do with the 320 stores that opened!"
I wouldn't have stayed that long if I didn't love the company.Fact is, I never really left because today,I still do work for the JFC group as a Training Consultant for one of it's brands,Chowking.
So what was it like inside the beehive? Maybe I ought to go back to 1985 when I joined Jollibee.
THE PRELUDE:OPPORTUNITY AT A TIME OF CRISIS
I was still working as a Training Specialist at Foodmine Inc.,the local franchise of KFC, when the opportunity to work at Jollibee presented itself.This opportunity though came in the form of a crisis that was facing the organization.
KFC under the Quesada's had just gone through a wildcat strike and so things were not good inside that organization. Morale of store managers was so bad that there was a mass exodus of managers starting late '84 (just after the strike) up to the 2nd quarter of 1985. The company President Efren Quesada,or EQ as we called him,was coddling the labor union so they wouldn't threaten to strike again. In doing so however,he alienated himself from the Store Managers who had sided with him all throughout the almost month-long strike.
Many of these managers left and looked for work at Jollibee,which was then starting to move up the ranks of the fastfood chains.
If I recall correctly,Leonie Antonio,Connie Mendoza and Jimmy Ramos were among the first ex-KFC's who were hired by Jollibee for it's expansion plans. The blow to KFC came when sometime in March of 1985 Jimmy Enriquez,who was then a KFC Area Manager,Raffy Selga (Training Store Manager),Meann San Juan(Store Manager and Jimmy's girlfriend) and a newly-hired Management trainee named Livia Pinggoy,all went to Jollibee. Their jumping ship gave a signal to everyone else at KFC then that things were going bad.
To stave off any further resignations, EQ and his VP for HR and Administration,Atty. de Leon, HR Manager Conrad Donato and Operations Manager Raffy Vallejo started having one-on-one sessions with the Store managers left pleading with them not to resign and promising them a better future at KFC.
Meanwhile, I had to contend with the problem these resignations were causing.
My boss then and former classmate, Joseph Hernandez,also resigned his post leaving me as the OIC of the training department. Since there were now vacancies for Store managers in about eight of the 12 KFC stores we had to fill up these posts immediately.
As a stopgap solution,some of the senior managers who had stayed behind had to manage two stores at a time. We at the Training department came up with a two week crash course for management trainees so that after that time we could field them immediately at any KFC store that needed a manager.
What made matters worse for us was that Raffy Selga,who was then our Training store manager,was part of the diaspora so we needed to have someone who could train these new recruits on actual store operations.Fortunately for me,there was one relatively new manager, Ma. Lourdes "Iyoh" Sordan, and Raffy's assistant manager at KFC Tomas Morato, who agreed to take on the role.
Sometime in February of 1985,I made a decision to start looking for a better option than KFC. I was just about a year and a half into my marriage and my wife,Jaja, was pregnant with our first child. I definitely couldn't afford not to have a job.
Jollibee was an option and since I was hearing good things about the company from the likes of Leonie and Connie who were already there I decided to send in my application. As luck would have it,the person in charge of recruitment, Susan Rosales (now de Guzman),was a friend of my sister in law. When she learned I was with Training,she informed me that Jollibee had plans of putting up a Hamburger University soon and had in fact hired a former professor,Dr. Butch dela Cruz, from the University of Maryland to spearhead the project.
I became more optimistic about my chances of joining Jollibee when I was interviewed by Ms. Fe Labayen,the HR Manager, who told me that my credentials looked good and that she would recommend me for a post in the HR Institute,as they called it.
Back at KFC,things were coming to a head. Many more managers were resigning so that EQ told his Vice Presidents that they were to do duty at the stores in order to keep operations going. I didn't like to work in our stores then since the employees were no longer in good terms with management specially after the strike. I told myself that if I was to be forced to work in the stores, I would leave and take my chances with Jollibee even as a management tainee.
My friends who were already at Jollibee (like Meann San Juan and Connie Mendoza)would call me time and again saying that I was needed there because their Operaions Manual needed revising and that they could use a guy like me in Training over there.
June of 1985, my wait was finally over when Jollibee called me up for a final interview with Dr. Ambrosio "Butch" dela Cruz,whom I think I impressed enough to give me the OK. WhenI finally passed my physical examination and submitted all my requirements, I was home free. The only thing left was to hand in my resignation.
Atty. de Leon tried to dissuade me from leaving,revealing to me that KFC had plans for expansion but which were just put on hold temporarily because of the current problems besetting the company. EQ didn't try to persuade me to stay but at one point sort of tried to make me feel guilty. Why was it that I was leaving when he needed my help most. He did wish me good luck though when he knew I was gettiing a better offer and couldn't match what Jollibee was going to give.
I said my tearful goodbyes to my colleagues and best friends in the Training department,Au Acosta and Chie Narvas. It was a sad parting but they understood it was for the better.
As a fitting and somewhat hilarious ending to my KFC stint I cooked KFC chicken.
It was a Saturday morning, and I had just come from my 1st day orientation at the Jollibee headquarters in Culmat building. On my way home I decided to pass by KFC Morato to say goodbye to Iyoh,who was on duty at that time. Coincidentally, one of her cooks hadn't reported for work yet and her chief cook needed to go on lunch break. She asked if I could take charge of cooking chicken for the lunch period until her cook finished his break.
I agreed to do this and I'm happy I did because it was a good way to end a chapter in my life.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
THE INTERESTING PHENOMENON OF EVOLUTION
I caught a snippet of a National Geographic feature on how a type of ants called the Pelagius evolved into a slave capturing kind. Since their mandibles are built for killing they are useless when it comes to taking care of themselves so what these warrior ants do is pillage and capture another type of ants called the Formica. The latter class have cutter type mandibles used for foraging food and which are useless for battle. When the slave Formica ants grow old and die, the Pelagius go out and hunt for Formica ant nests. They ruthlessly attack helpless Formica ants and carry off the eggs. When these eggs grow in the Pelagius nests these become future generations of slaves!
Very interesting!
Very interesting!
Friday, June 23, 2006
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Monday, June 19, 2006
LESSONS FROM JAMES' APPENDICITIS
My second son James Benedict had a case of acute appendicitis last Friday so he had to have an appendectomy that same day.
It was completely unexpected. He was fine Thursday evening when he went to bed. Twelve midnight he started having stomach pains which he tried to bear until 1 AM when he couldn't take it anymore. When TJ,my eldest son, woke us up and told us about James' predicament,he was breaking out in cold sweat so I rushed him to the nearest hospital.
There were "lessons" I learned over the weekend when I had to deal with James undergoing his appendectomy and recovering from the operation.
1. It pays to trust your instinct and to be decisive: Although James wasn't feverish I knew there was something terribly wrong with him already because he was breaking out into cold sweat. I made a decision immediately to rush him to the nearest hospital where at least he was given temporary relief via antibiotics.
2. It helps to have contingencies ready: When the doctor in the emergency room diagnosed James as possibly having appendicitis I had to check on the cost of the operation in case they needed to do the procedure. The estimate given to me was 50K which would include both the hospital and doctors fees. Although I knew it would be a drain on my finances it helped that I knew I had money to cover the expenses. If I hadn't saved money I would be in a terrible bind.
3. Call for help---if you have other options use them: I texted my eldest sister, a doctor,informing her of the emergency. Since it was 3 AM,I didn't expect she would answer back at once. When she finally called me back in the morning she suggested I call one of her classmates who had done the procedure on her son, Johann last year. I'm glad that option was open to me because her friend didn't charge any professional fees which saved me a considerable amount of money.
4. Prayers definitely help and so does assurance from friends: I sent a text message to one of my former classmates about James' condition. I found out later on that he had emailed members of my egroup about it because I started getting text messages saying that they were praying for James and telling me things would be just fine. One message came all the way from Canada! The fact that James recovered quickly from the operation must have been the power of prayer at work.
5. Good things can come out of unfortunate incidents ---It all depends on your perspective or outlook: In all appearances the whole thing looked like one big hassle and one which any parent would not want to experience. Funny though,I didn't feel abit stressed by the situation. For one,I had a whole weekend of bonding with my son. It made me feel like a real father again! I was amazed at James' attitude towards the whole thing. He even seemed excited about going under the knife! He wanted to see how his appendix looked like and wanted to get the specimen after the operation (unfortunately they didn't give it to him.) We watched several shows on TV (like Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 and the World cup match between England and Trinidad-Tobago) and we enjoyed it. When his barkada and cousins visited him he was grinning from ear to ear and loving the attention.
It was completely unexpected. He was fine Thursday evening when he went to bed. Twelve midnight he started having stomach pains which he tried to bear until 1 AM when he couldn't take it anymore. When TJ,my eldest son, woke us up and told us about James' predicament,he was breaking out in cold sweat so I rushed him to the nearest hospital.
There were "lessons" I learned over the weekend when I had to deal with James undergoing his appendectomy and recovering from the operation.
1. It pays to trust your instinct and to be decisive: Although James wasn't feverish I knew there was something terribly wrong with him already because he was breaking out into cold sweat. I made a decision immediately to rush him to the nearest hospital where at least he was given temporary relief via antibiotics.
2. It helps to have contingencies ready: When the doctor in the emergency room diagnosed James as possibly having appendicitis I had to check on the cost of the operation in case they needed to do the procedure. The estimate given to me was 50K which would include both the hospital and doctors fees. Although I knew it would be a drain on my finances it helped that I knew I had money to cover the expenses. If I hadn't saved money I would be in a terrible bind.
3. Call for help---if you have other options use them: I texted my eldest sister, a doctor,informing her of the emergency. Since it was 3 AM,I didn't expect she would answer back at once. When she finally called me back in the morning she suggested I call one of her classmates who had done the procedure on her son, Johann last year. I'm glad that option was open to me because her friend didn't charge any professional fees which saved me a considerable amount of money.
4. Prayers definitely help and so does assurance from friends: I sent a text message to one of my former classmates about James' condition. I found out later on that he had emailed members of my egroup about it because I started getting text messages saying that they were praying for James and telling me things would be just fine. One message came all the way from Canada! The fact that James recovered quickly from the operation must have been the power of prayer at work.
5. Good things can come out of unfortunate incidents ---It all depends on your perspective or outlook: In all appearances the whole thing looked like one big hassle and one which any parent would not want to experience. Funny though,I didn't feel abit stressed by the situation. For one,I had a whole weekend of bonding with my son. It made me feel like a real father again! I was amazed at James' attitude towards the whole thing. He even seemed excited about going under the knife! He wanted to see how his appendix looked like and wanted to get the specimen after the operation (unfortunately they didn't give it to him.) We watched several shows on TV (like Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 and the World cup match between England and Trinidad-Tobago) and we enjoyed it. When his barkada and cousins visited him he was grinning from ear to ear and loving the attention.
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