A Remarkable Guy, named Ed Guatelara
Posted on Sunday, 12 October 2014
A
Remarkable Guy,
named
Ed Guatelara
by Apolinario Villalobos
Almost everybody who worked with Philippine
Airlines until the mid-90’s knew Ed Guatelara. Aside from being the Manager of
the Standards and Coordination Division (SCD) of the Marketing and Sales-Philippines
Department (MSP), he was also the Director of the PAL Employees and Savings
Association, Inc. (PESALA) for several years. Just like the rest of PAL executives
who were well-rounded, he also held the position of Manager – Manila Domestic
Airport Operation, and during the time of his retirement, as Consultant for the
operation of PAL flights at the Subic International Airport. Most called him “Guate”,
but the younger beneficiaries of his benevolence, called him “Manong Ed”. He
was a big brother, literally, at 6’ flat height, which earned him a slot in the
first basketball team of the airline, and later in lawn tennis.
His remarkability goes beyond his jobs in
Philippine Airlines. PAL employees assigned in provincial stations do not tire
of sharing how they were accommodated in his sparsely furnished apartment,
during their sojourn in Manila to attend recurrent trainings and meetings.
Simple meals were shared with them – whatever were on hand. Some of those who
were unfortunate to be short of cash, were blessed with whatever amount he
could afford, without any desire from him of being paid back.
Employees who were in dire need of cash,
but were no longer qualified to renew PESALA
loans were given guarantee by Ed Guatelara. Some would recall how they were
able to get substantial loan, with his guarantee, from the cooperative, and
which they used as down payment for their housing loan. His Volkswagen
(Beetle), became ambulance for colleagues who were brought to the hospital in
so short notice.
But he was not free from financial problem,
too, just like the rest who depended on the 15th and 30th
days wage for subsistence. Others just did not know about it, because he knew
how to camouflage his worries with his sunshiny smile, typical of a Negrense. He
hailed from Villadolid, Negros Occidental. During his youth, he was a dead
ringer of Jun Aristorenas, with his thick, but constantly trimmed moustache, as
shown by early photos. He was the guy who did not have the heart to say “no” to
any request, official or personal, for as long as they are within his capacity.
Alibi is not part of his language.
As Supervisor, and later, Manager of the
SCD, he spearheaded the team that practically, laid down the foundation for a
systematic operation of Philippine Airlines. Policies based on actual operational
situations in Manila and provincial stations were discussed and refined by his
team with appropriate support from the Cargo Division, Market Planning
Division, Area Offices and outlying stations from where, select personnel were
plucked to contribute bright ideas to the operations “Bible” of PAL (a separate
blog will be devoted to these unsung brains of PAL).
Out of the collated ideas, two manuals were
made – Station Operations Manual and Marketing and Sales Operations Manual. These
manuals later on, became the prototype of smaller airlines in coming with their
own, and joined the industry, in augmenting PAL’s effort to accommodate the overwhelming surge of tourists from
abroad, as well as, the local travelers who began to appreciate the advantage
and comfort of air travel, thanks to the flag carrier’s unceasing campaign to drum up air travel since
its operation after the WWII.
Guate, just like the rest of the members of
the PAL family, now sits back and happily reminisce the happy days he spent in
PAL.
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