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Yesterday was a sad day for me and this newly hired personnel of ours. This fellow had been working in our sister company for the past three months and was assigned under me only this month of May for further training.

As I had said before, I had trained a lot of Store Supervisor and sales personnel and many of them are now handling their own Branches. I can tell instantly by casually talking to my personnel what characters they have. Perhaps, my long exposure of dealing with different kind of people made me acquire and learn those skills.

My initial analysis during our get-to-know-you conversation is that he got character. He seems to know everything and looks boastful at times. True enough this observation showed up.

He is a married man of four years and has a three year old child.

That morning I already prepared some manuals for his next phase of training and casually asked one question regarding our code of conduct. His reply made me fall of my chair. He told me something I would never allow in my almost 20 years of training personnel. Our conversation turned to worse when he insisted that maybe I made a mistake in telling him. I know when I commit a mistake and I acknowledge it but I also know when I start a fight, I would never back out.

This fellow had an attitude of not admitting mistake. He also has the tendency to create his own company policy. I was told of one incident by our regular staff how he was taught how to check stocks for transfer to other branch. Despite telling him the SOP (standard operating procedure), he still insisted in doing his own way.

Going back to the story, despite reminding him of what I told him word for word, he still insisted that I made a mistake in telling him and not the other way around — that he made a mistake in understanding my statement. This made me flare up in anger for he just made me a liar.

So, to cut the story short, I prepared a written report for both of us to sign of what transpired during our conversation. I gave him time to read it and understand it. After a couple of minutes, he returned to me and told me he will just resign and would not sign the report.

This is a perfect example of too much pride and not owning a mistake.

So I just nod my head and told him “Good luck”.

“Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.”

But wait before I forget:

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Minsan, may mag-asawang bumili sa tindahan.

Sa pagmamadali nilang lumabas, naiwan ng babae ang kanyang pitaka (1st) sa loob ng tindahan. Sa aktong pupulutin ng saleslady ang pitaka upang ibigay sa counter para sa kung sinong magclaim, bigla itong dinampot ng isang babae at isinilid sa kanyang suot. Bigla itong umalis ng tindahan kung kaya’t pinahabol namin sa security guard. Sa mga oras na ito, patawid pabalik ng tindahan ang mag-asawang nakaiwan ng pitaka nang bigla itong nabangga ng isang sasakyan(2nd).

Dito nagulo ang isipan ng asawang lalaki dahil nalaman niyang may ibang dumampot ng pitaka, at ang pagkakabangga sa kanyang asawa. Bilang tulong, dinala namin sa prisinto ang babaeng dumampot sa pitaka at para madala na rin sa ospital ng nakabangga sa babae kasama ng kanyang butihing asawa. Sa prisinto nagkaharap sila ng kumuha ng pitaka.

At sa ospital, ng kanyang balikan ang kanyang mahal na asawa, nalaman nitong dapat putulin ang kanyang paa(3rd). At nang malaman ito ng asawang nabangga, siya’y inatake sa puso at kanyang ikinamatay(4th) ng araw ding iyon.

Taytay Branch is supposed to be the training ground of future manager. Prior to my assignment here, in a span of five years that it was opened, 7 ABM (Assistant Branch Manager) have already handled this branch store. Upon their promotion to Branch Manager they would be given bigger branches to handle.

Our branch is located along busy street of Rizal Avenue. The so called “Little Venice”, If the rain continuously fall without letup for 30 minutes, chances are that the black, murky, smelly water coming from the adjacent Market would come out and run, rise in volume faster than a speeding train. Your only consolation is when the downpour of rainwater would be coming in from Antipolo area (Antipolo is on higher Ground). The brownish /reddish (color of Antipolo soil) color of water would merge and combine to the blackish water right in your very eye. The scene created is like putting coffee cream on your coffee. Fantastic isn’t it. A half-hour more of continuous rain would raise the water to waistline area (if your height is 5’4”). Just Imagine if you are standing at 4” feet, you could have drowned. The only vehicle that could pass is bus like “G-Liner”. The next day, console yourself if the vinyl tiles of your floor are still there and you only need adhesives to put it back.

Handling a branch for the first time had given me a lot of challenges, experiences and vast knowledge and tested my decision-making skill. Here I was asked a lot questions, alibi and excuses that when I listed them I was able to create a “Book Of Alibi”. So the next time that they would absent themselves, they will tell me the code number of their reason (Example No. 1 Reason-Due to L.B.M).”Sir, I can’t report for work due to No. 1 reason”. Funny and cute isn’t it? But there’s many variation (like in Playing Chess) when it comes to being late. They would blame all other people except themselves.

Firing personnel due to different reason for me is the hardest part of my job. We are talking here not only the concern person but also the family that will be affected. I have to do it especially after the peak day of December where we have to reduce our manpower by almost 30 %. We increase our number of personnel by that much also during peak month.

We have to take into consideration the performance of each personnel that we have to retain. Getting feedback from our staff, I would analyze and make decision.

My first December came and I have to tell Nena (Not he real Name) that her performance is okay but we have to reduce our personnel. She cried and told me that she is willing and would do anything just to have work because she badly needed the job. After finally convincing her that the decision had been made and was given the assurance that we would call if her services were needed. She signs the necessary paper and bade goodbye.

January of third week (Year 1990) when an “owner” type jeep arrives and parked in front of our store. It was a sunny mid afternoon. Nena emerge from the jeep with her father. Smiling, showing her white almost perfect-bite denture, she warmly extend her hand to mine. We shook hand and she happily told me her story.

Without a job and nothing to do, she decided to go to their province in “Quezon”(Southern Part Of Luzon). An Ant of her sold her the one ticket that would entitle the winner one “passenger Jeepney”as jackpot prize. The price of one raffle ticket is P100. Her Aunt bought two but decided to sell one to her because she needed the money. Draw date was December 31,1989.

She bought the ticket just to help her Aunt but lady luck smiled on her and she won the Fist Prize. She sold the “passenger jeepney”, bought an owner type jeep then the rest of the money she used to buy a lot used as coconut plantation.

She came over to thank me. If not for me, she would remain to be a saleslady.
God really works in many mysterious ways. In awe, I almost give-in to her request to extend her contract a few more months. But I firmly stand by my decision. Her love for her family had her traveling and finding job somewhere else only to know that her fortune lies in her province.

I stayed here from March 1,1989 up to July 31,1993. Remembering other stories to be told would take some time.

This Branch had given me “Best Branch” and “Best Manager”(Year 1989,1991) two times. And was only transferred to other branch when it was gutted down by fire due to carelessness of grocery store neighbor.