AN ENCOUNTER WITH A FAMILIAR FACE

AEC members inspecting Hanjin Condotel in Subic 

On November 22, 2019, at about 2:00 pm, I went to Landbank Subic to make a deposit. 

As I was filling out a deposit slip, a lady, probably in her late 40s, came in and greeted me with a smile as though we had frequently met before.

 

Her face looked familiar but I could not remember her name.

 

As I sat on a chair at the waiting area, I tried to reach back hoping to remember her name.

 

Could she be Gina Agustin, then the Chief of Staff of a former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and whom I approached for help in my desire to be reassigned to another SBMA department?

 

Since the lady sat in front of me at the waiting area, I politely asked her if she was Ma’am Gina.

 

She turned her face to me then replied, “Ako si Karen. Si Gina, nasa McDo.” (“I am Karen. Gina is at McDo.”)

I weighed things. Did I offend her? Was she insulted by my question? Was I wrong? Was the lady a total stranger to me?

 

But why did she greet me with a smile?

 

After some ten or fifteen minutes, the male bank teller called, “Miss Karen…” The lady stood up then went to the male bank teller who called.

 

So, she must really be Miss Karen as she had told me. As her transaction was over, she headed for the door, looked back and smiled at me again.

 

After the lady exited the door, the middle aged man sitting beside me smilingly looked at me then commented, “Parang McDo a!” (Looks like McDo, huh!”) referring to an old McDonald’s commercial.

 

After I had exited the bank I was still thinking who that lady could be and where I had interaction with her. Until I accidentally came across Ying, a former co-employee.

I narrated to Ying my story and asked her where I could have met Karen and she replied, “Could she be Karen Magno of the Business Center? She’s now Officer in Charge of the Manufacturing Group.”

 

“Oh, yes! She’s Karen Magno!” I exclaimed.

I knew Karen. She was then Account Officer and we often met at the Account Evaluation Committee (AEC) meeting when I was our Office’s representative to the AEC. But that was more than five years ago.

 

And my mind was back to peace. 

MAY SAYAD

(NOTE:  The following did not actually happen. Joke only.)

Sa Main Gate ng dating U.S. Facility sa Subic, na ngayo’y SBMA, as the day’s grind begins, maraming tao ang sumasagsag sa pagpasok sa trabaho. Sa bungad ng Main Gate bridge, naglipana ang mga tindera ng samut-samot na merchandise na lalo pang nagpapasikip sa pedestrian traffic. 

Si Sassy ay isa sa mga employees ng SBMA na every working day ay sumasagsag sa pagpasok sa trabaho. Minsan, dahil sa pagmamadali niya, nalimutan niyang bitbitin ang baon niyang pagkain for lunch. So, napilitan siyang huminto upang mamili ng pang-lunch niya. 

Ibubuka pa lamang ni Sassy ang bibig niya upang sabihin kung ano’ng bibilhin niya nang biglang iniabot ng isang lalaki ang paper bill niya at bumili ng sigarilyo. Una itong napagbilhan ng tindera na ikinagalit ni Sassy. 

Nanggagalaiti sa galit na sinigawan ni Sassy ang tindera ng ganito: “Bakit siya ang inuna mo e, nauna ako sa kanya?!!" 

Nagitla ang medyo-intimidated na tindera na sumagot ng ganito, “E… e, kasi po iniabot na niya sa akin ang pera niya e…” 

“Bakit, siya lang ba ang may pera? May pera rin ako, a! Mas malaki pa nga ang pera ko kaysa sa kanya!” 

“Hindi po… e, kasi po…” Nag-isip ng maidadahilan ang tindera hanggang nakaisip ito ng, “E kasi po, nagmamadali siya. Late na kasi siya e.” 

“At bakit, siya lang ba ang nagmamadali? Siya lang ba ang male-late? Mas malaki na nga ang late ko kaysa sa kanya a!” 

Mabilis na umisip ng strategy ang tindera para matapos na ang diskusyon. At nagliwanag ang mukha niya sa naisip niya. 

“Ay naku, huwag n’yo hong papansinin ang mamang iyon. Kasi ho, may sayad iyon e!” 

“At bakit?! Siya lang ba ang may sayad?!! Mas malaki pa nga ang sayad ko kaysa sa kanya 'no!”

THE CHINESE FAN AND THE LOTTO

The Chinese Fan 

I began experiencing strange things after graduating from college. That was in the late 90s, just before the approach of the new millennium. 

I was on board a Victory Liner bus bound for Manila. I was seated all alone at the back. A male passenger who was seated three empty seats away and in front of me lifted a tabloid as he read it. The banner headline on the tabloid’s back page read, “ABOT KAMAY ANG GINTO” (gold is within a hand’s reach). 

I seemed to be under a spell. I felt as though I was hypnotized. I was following what the banner headline suggested. 

I looked around and tried to find out whatever it was that was within the reach of my hand. I found a Chinese fan on a vacant seat some five feet away from where I was seated. I picked the fan up and tried to spread its blades wide open. There on one of its inner blades were written five (5) numbers like 17, 24, etc. (I could not remember the three other numbers). And the last character was a symbol—that symbol of infinity that we learned in our Modern Mathematics subject in my freshman year in the high school. 

After reading what was written on that Chinese fan’s inner blade, I lifted my head, looked around, and as the bus reached the junction area in San Fernando, Pampanga, it made a stop right in front of a lotto outlet where a signboard in bold letters read: PLAY LOTTO HERE. 

As I was very nervous then, I threw the Chinese fan outside of the Victory Liner bus’ window. 

A few years had passed after that incident and, one afternoon, as I exited the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s Main Gate, I went to the lotto outlet just after the Main Gate Pedestrian Lane. As I approached the betting window to make my bet, I found on the window pane a Chinese fan similar to the one I mentioned above. And I remember that incident. I smiled as I picked up that Chinese fan that was probably inadvertently left by a female bettor. That Chinese fan is still in my possession up to this date. 

No, I did not win in that draw. 

LEONY DE LA LLANA SHINES AT THE SUBIC QUALITY FORUM

Ms. Leony C. de la Llana, Senior Vice President and Head, Customer Retail Services of the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), was invited by the Total Quality Management (TQM) Office of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to be the Resource Speaker at the Subic Quality Forum held at the Board Room of Building 229 (SBMA’s Administration building) last June 11, 2010. 

The Forum was attended by SBMA’s high ranking officials that included Atty. Joy Alvarado, Senior Deputy Administrator and Head, Regulatory Group; Atty. Robert S. Martinez, Deputy Administrator (DA) for Administration; Ms. Knette Fernando, DA for Corporate Communications; Mr. Joel Ea, Manager, Internal Audit Service Department; Ms. Paulita Yee, Manager, Treasury Department; Ms. Amy Canonizado, Manager, Accounting Department; Ms. Amethya de la Llana-Koval, Department Manager, Ecology Center; Ms. Marietta Fe Dumlao, Officer in Charge, Transportation and Communications Department; Mr. Joey Lacanlale, Officer in Charge, Management Information System (MIS) Office; and other SBMA and locators’ officials or their representatives. 

Ms. De la Llana’s presentation was titled “The Theory and Practice of TQM” and cited MERALCO’s experience relevant to the topics she discussed. 

In her very lively discussion, Ms. De la Llana cited her experiences when she was TQM head of MERALCO, and strongly stressed the importance of the head of the organization to believe in the concept of Total Quality Management pointing out that, without it, nothing will happen. She added that, “even if you give me the best TQM expert… the best TQM consultant, if the leader is not a TQM champion and not ready to do it with me, no deal!” 

Ms. De la Llana also reminded her audience that TQM is a way of life directed towards the satisfaction of the internal and external customers of the organization. She emphasized that “it is not something I will do because the boss is here… it is a way of life that we should embrace,” and that “it is applicable both to your personal life as well as your official life.” She likened 5S of TQM to the way “how you organize your life... your kitchen... your cabinet...” 

According to Ms. De la Llana, another process essential to TQM is "transformation". She pointed out that “we cannot go into TQM unless we go into restructuring process; not unless we reinvent the way we do things; not unless we reengineer some of our processes and empower our people”. She quickly added, however, that “we can only empower people if they have the skills and competence”. 

Ms. Leonisa Cuayo-de la Llana has a Master’s degree in Economics from the Utah State University, U.S.A. and earned her BS degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. She was a College Scholar at the U.P. School of Economics and recipient of the Dean’s Medal for Excellence. 

In her 28 years of service in MERALCO, the country’s leading power distribution company, Ms. Leony de la Llana has held top positions and became the first woman ever in that company to get to the position of Vice President. 

Ms. Leony de la Llana has had various speaking engagements in the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, and in the Philippines and has delivered various papers on many subjects and topics which included Human Resource Management Update, Harnessing Executive Talent & Potentials, HR and Corporate Planning, Leadership and Organization Transformation, Business Excellence and ISO Certification, and Women in the Workplace, among others. 

A high level speaker, Ms. De la Llana did her thing with passion and articulateness fascinating what seemed like a “star-struck” audience very much like how an amazing performance in a television talent search wowed both the judges and the audience.

Below are photographs of the just-concluded Subic Quality Forum.

Ms. Leony de la Llana, Quality Speaker, arrived earlier than the scheduled time

Mr. Buds Fernando and Atty. Joy Alvarado chat with the Resource Speaker

Sir Buds Fernando introducing the Resource Speaker

Beauty-and-brain Leonisa Cuayo-de la Llana, the Resource Speaker

Ms. Leony de la Llana starts her presentation

Participants easily got fascinated by the very bright and articulate Speaker

Leony de la Llana reads the outline of her topic

Senior Deputy Administrator, Deputy Administrators, & Department Managers among the participants

OIC of Ecology Center; Senior Deputy Administrator Alvarado; OIC of Transcom Dept., DM of Accounting Dept., DM of Treasury Dept. in attendance

The Resource Speaker cites the MERALCO experience

"We in MERALCO, when we say 7:30 am, it has to be 7:30 am..."

The Question and Answer portion of the Forum

Ms. Leony de la Llana intelligently answers questions

"Total Quality Management" class picture

Tin-Tin Geronimo, Media Relations Office; SDA Joy Alvarado, Regulatory Group; Ms. Leony Cuayo-de la Llana; & Amethya de la Llana-Koval, OIC, Ecology Center

Goddy Ramirez and other SBMA TQM Office staff

The talk continues even at lunch time

Mr. Bubong Antonio, Ms. Leony de la Llana, Mr. Buds Fernando, & Mr. Noli Manuel

Ms. Leony Cuayo-de la Llana, Senior Vice President, MERALCO

Quality people at a quality restaurant with quality foods

Ms. Leony de la Llana attentively listens to Mr. Bubong Antonio

TQM heads, private and otherwise

Leony, Goddy, & Buds

Goddy approaches Leony for a souvenir photo

One shot

One more

And another one

Two old friends and former classmates meet again

Classmates no more but still friends

Thank you, Ms. Leony Cuayo-de la Llana for your invaluable contribution to the Subic Quality Club and SBMA!

MY COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT GROUP

I joined Couples for Christ (CFC), a Catholic organization intended for the renewal and strengthening of Christian family life and which highlights fellowship among its members. My membership in the said organization was made possible when I learned about the holding of its Christian Life Program (CLP) Seminar from our former Administrative Officer, Nida Arganoza, who encouraged and invited me to join the said seminar.

I’d like to think that that was a pleasant coincidence since I was really looking for a religious group where I could meet my need to belong. I’ve been all alone for so long in Olongapo and that was a pretty boring situation. Besides, solitary living has made me vulnerable to stress as well as depression. There was just no one to turn to during trying times.

Anyway, I attended CLP and finished the seminar last May 2009. That officially made me a member of the CFC – Servants of the Lord (SOLD) ministry.

In the SOLD ministry, we hold our household meeting every Thursday under the able leadership of our very pleasant Team Leader, Ronald Rondez, of the SBMA Labor Department.

Although our household meeting isn’t carried out regularly at present, every SOLD member looks forward to holding said meeting regularly in the coming Thursdays or any day of every week it will be scheduled.

The CFC, being a Catholic organization has, somehow, helped put my Christian values in place. I have found new friends and acquaintances who made me feel wanted… who made me feel I belong. I honestly believe and feel that my membership in the CFC is instrumental in my mapping out of plans and personal programs for improvement for 2010. The CFC has become a godly and lively community for me. It is my support group.

Some of the activities at the CFC that made me socially active were the CLP Seminar held at the San Roque Parish Church (Subic Chapel) and which wound up on December 3, 2009; the CFC-Zambales 20^th Anniversary celebration held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) on December 5, 2009; and the CFC Family Day held at the covered court just opposite the Lyceum of Subic on December 12, 2009. I am uploading some pictures I personally took during said events.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE PROGRAM (CLP)

The Subic Chapel (San Roque Church)

The Christian Life Program (CLP) class

The CLP graduates

CFC-ZAMBALES 20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

CFC-Zambales 20th Anniversary banner

Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center - the venue

A joyful anniversary celebration

Anniversary Raffle Prizes

Attentive Audience

Bro. Ronald Rondez, SOLD Team Leader

Happy until end of program

Mark Cruz, Youth for Christ Leader

YFC Leader Mark Cruz

COUPLES FOR CHRIST FAMILY DAY

Family Day breaktime

Covered court opposite Lyceum of Subic

CFC Family Day

THIS IS OLONGAPO CITY TODAY

Olongapo, the lone city in Zambales, is a highly urbanized city. Having stayed in this locality longer than I have stayed in my hometown, I consider the place my second home.

Olongapo was dubbed “sin city” in the past especially during the time of the giant U.S. Naval Base. It has a nightlife even until now although not as active as when the U.S. Facility was here and when Magsaysay Drive and portions of Gordon and Rizal Avenues could be observed teeming with U.S. service members on liberty.

Many Olongapo residents, natives and transients alike, have left the City especially after the Mount Pinatubo eruption and the American Bases' pullout. Many of them, I believe, would like to see images of the City again. This blog post is for them.

The Victory Liner Terminal near the Ulo ng Apo Rotunda

The Ulo ng Apo Rotunda

The Rizal Triangle Multi-Purpose Center

The Olongapo City Public Market in East Bajac-Bajac

The Olongapo City Hall

The Olongapo City Convention Center


The Olongapo Citi Mall at dusk


The Olongapo Citi Mall


The compound where I reside

Tapinac Oval - a place for joggers and sports events

Tapinac Oval

St. Columban Parish Church

Rizal Ave. viewed from the 4th floor of Crystal Lanes Bldg.

Rizal Ave. fronting Olongapo City Public Market

Prime Theater on Rizal Avenue

Rizal Ave. fronting Rizal Triangle

Gordon Ave. fronting Olongapo Citi Mall

Pag-asa Public Market aka J. L. Gordon Memorial Mall

Magsaysay Drive

Magsaysay Drive leading to SBMA main gate

Magsaysay Drive fronting Olongapo Citi Mall

Magsaysay Drive at night

Magsaysay Drive

Intersection of Gordon Ave. and Magsaysay Drive

Houses on a hillside

Gordon Avenue

Gordon Avenue at dusk

E.T. Tower at the Ulo ng Apo Rotunda

Downtown Olongapo (Rizal Avenue)

Concrete benches at Marikit Park

Burgos St. - the street where I live

An unfinished building on 10th corner Kessing Streets

A portion of Magsaysay Drive at night

A dance group rehearsing on stage at Marikit Park

I look forward to adding more pictures of Olongapo City on this blog post at a later date. I believe pictures of a beach, the grotto in Mabayuan, a waterfall in Gordon Heights, a school campus, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) viewed from an elevated place would make this blog entry a lot more interesting. So, until then.