Showing posts with label hard work. Show all posts

The Legacy of Rick Paloma

...or Tatang for the PAL Family

By Apolinario Villalobos

To say goodbye to a beloved

Is hard enough, how much more

If that beloved has impressed

In our heart everything

That he can impart

Just so, in this world, we can later

Be at our best

As we do our part.

He tried his best right from the start

Earning his keeps by honest toil

Firm determination and bold foresight

To be where he would be someday

And he did not fail

As all of us can now say.

He will always be a part of our memory –

An inspiration that shall guide us

For what he has left for us to keep

Is a legacy that shall guide us along

While we tread the road towards our destiny.

Let us thank him, this man Ric or Ricky to some

But Tatang to most of us who have known him

As a big brother and a doting father;

He whom we see as the perfectionist

He who wants nothing but the best

Making us realize later

That what he really wanted was for us to learn

Though the hard way,

… and that, friends, is his legacy.

Benjamin Surbano: “Aguador” o Taga-Igib sa Gulang na 61 Taon

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Isang Linggo, mula Baseco (Tondo) ay naglakad uli ako papuntang Sta. Cruz. Binaybay ko ang kahabaan ng C.M. Recto Ave. at tulad ng nakaugalian ko, bago makarating ng Avenida ay kumanan na ako sa F. Torres upang magkape sa paborito kong kapihan sa isang bangketa. Noon ko natiyempuhan si Benjamin (Ben) Surbano na nagbababa ng konti-container na tubig para sa may-ari ng kapihan. Puting-puti na ang buhok ni Ben at inakala kong nasa gulang na siya na 70-pataas, lalo pa at ang kanyang mukha ay marami na ring gatla (wrinkles). Tinulungan ko siya sa ikalawang container dahil muntik na siyang matumba at nang makabawi ng lakas ay hinayaan ko nang ibaba niya ang ikatlo. Sa bawa’t container ay kumikita siya ng sampung piso para sa paghakot. At, nang araw na yon dahil Linggo ay iilan lang ang nagpaigib.

Buong linggo ang pag-igib ni Ben ng tubig para sa mga kostumer niya. Pagdating ng hapon ng Linggo ay umuuwi silang mag-asawa sa Baseco (Tondo). May tatlo silang anak na ang mga gulang ay mula 19 hanggang 12 taon, lahat ay nag-aaral, at nagdidiskarte na rin para kumita. Ang asawa naman ni Ben na si Mariel ay nagpa-parking ng mga sasakyan sa isang maikling bahagi ng Soler St., kanto ng F. Torres, na katapat ng mga tindahan ng mga pandekorasyon at pambahay na ilaw. Sa umaga ay nililinis ni Mariel ang bahaging yon ng kalye upang ipakita ang kanyang pagmamalasakit sa mga may puwesto. Kung walang nagpapa-park ng sasakyan ay nagtitiyagang magbenta si Mariel ng ilang pirasong gadgets tulad ng maliliit na ilaw na nabibili niya sa mga puwesto na rin pero may discount upang mapatungan pa niya ng tutubuin.

Ang isang bahagi ng sidewalk na pababang hagdan ng isang puwesto ay nagsisilbing tulugan ng mag-asawa sa gabi. Karton ang sinasahig nila sa semento at wala silang kulambo kundi iisang kumot.

Mayroong “sidecar” (maliit na traysikad) ang mag-asawa subalit ito ay ninakaw, apat na araw nang nakaraan. Nagising na lang daw sila na wala na ang “sidecar”. Ito sana ang dapat na ginagamit ni Ben sa pag-igib ng tubig upang hindi siya nahihirapan. Subalit dahil ninakaw, nagtitiyaga na lang siya sa hinihiram na kariton. Masuwerte kung hindi ginagamit ng may-ari ang kariton, dahil kung magkaganoon, ay hihintayin pa ni Ben na mabakante ito bago niya magamit at hindi niya alam kung anong oras sa buong maghapon kaya hindi tuloy siya nakakapag-igib ng maramihan. Nagulat ako nang sabihin ni Mariel na apat na beses na daw silang ninakawan ng “sidecar”, kaya ang mangyayari ay pag-iipunan na naman daw nila ng kung ilang taon bago makabili uli ng bago o second hand man lang.

Taga-Boac, Marinduque si Ben at 12 taong gulang pa lang daw siya nang makarating sa Maynila dahil sa kahirapan ng buhay sa probinsiya. Tulad ng iba pang galing sa probinsiya na nakipagsapalaran sa Maynila, nakitira din muna siya sa mga kamag-anak at dumiskarte upang kumita. Ang Baseco ay malapit sa Divisoria at basta pairalin lang ang tiyaga at kasipagan ay hindi magugutom ang isang tao, at ito ang nangyari kay Ben hanggang sa magka-pamilya. Upang maiba naman ang diskarte ay sinubukan nilang makipagsapalaran sa Sta. Cruz, kaya nauwi sa pagpa-parking ng sasakyan si Mariel at pag-iigib ng tubig si Ben. Tulad ni Ben, maliit lang din ang kinikita ni Mariel dahil umaasa lang siya sa kusang iaabot ng mga nagpapa-park, mula lima hanggang sampung piso, at pinakamalaki na ang dalawampung piso.

Sa kabila ng kahirapang pinagdadaanan ng mag-asawa upang kumita sa malinis na paraan ay hindi sila nakikitaan ng pagkabagot. Tulad ng ibang naging kaibigan ko na nasa parehong kalagayan, pinapahiwatig nila na ang mabuhay at magkaroon ng mga anak ay maituturing nang malaking utang na loob sa Maykapal na dapat ipagpasalamat.

Michael Villaflor, Jr.: Profile of Diligence and Humility

…another “unsung hero” of Philippine Airlines

By Apolinario Villalobos

When Michael Villaflor, Jr, or “Mike” to his friends and family was looking for a job after graduating from Mapua Institute of Technology with a Management Engineering course, the country was in its economic and political healing stage after Ferdinand Marcos was successfully ousted by the “People Power” which saw the installation of Corazon Aquino into presidency.  It was during this uneasy period when Mike initially tried his luck for a job in San Miguel Corporation. Unfortunately, the company was giving priority to applicants who graduated from the University of the Philippines and Ateneo. He went through similar discouraging experience when he applied at Philippine Airlines which was giving priority for applicants from the two aforementioned universities, as well as, the De La Salle University.

His persistence, however, in following up his application with PAL paid up when he was finally given the chance to undergo an interview and a series of written exams which he passed with flying colors. For assignment, when he visited the Office of the Metro Manila Sales in March 1986, headed by Milagros Limgenco, without much ado, he was sent to the Escolta Ticket Office to immediately render duty as Information Clerk. Due to his remarkable good performance, in less than a year, he was promoted as Cash Custodian, then, as Domestic Ticket Representative in the same ticketing office. In 1988, he was further promoted as Integrated Ticket Representative, a job which required him to compute international fares, as well. Unfortunately, on that same year, the Escolta Ticket Office was closed which caused his transfer to the Makati (Greenbelt) Ticket Office.  A little later of that same year he was transferred to the Taft Ticket Office, located on the ground floor of the Philippine Women’s University.

In early 1989, he retraced his steps to the Metro Manila Sales Area, but this time, with a new appointment as Sr. Market Planning Analyst under Marcial Zamora. His fast journey along the path of his corporate career brought him the following year, to the position of Staff Assistant for Luzon Sales Area which was merged with Metro Manila Sales by the VP-Sales and Services, Avelino Zapanta. This time, he worked under Teresita Al Luna.

While the career of Mike was gaining momentum, the general economic situation of the country was at its crucial that resulted to a slow down. Meanwhile, the management of the airline changed hands from Eduardo Cojuangco to Lucio Tan. In addition to the airline’s struggle to keep afloat, there were also problems that had to be dealt with – those of  PALEA (Philippine Airlines Employees Association) and the ALPAP (pilots’ and flight attendants’ association), which finally resulted to the temporary closure of the company in 1998. During the time, Mike was under Danny Lim who was at the helm of the Metro Manila and Luzon Sales.

When Philippine Airlines resumed its operations, Mike was transferred to its “flagship” office located at S & L building along Roxas Boulevard as Staff Manager in place of Atty. Cris Pascual, to work under Enrique Javier, the Country Manager for Philippines and Guam. Later, all PAL offices at S & L building were transferred to the airline’s Learning Center along Padre Faura, where he worked under different Country Managers such as Marilla Revilla, Genaro Velasques, and Dina May Flores.  When the San Miguel Corporation took over the company, it installed Salvador Britanico, Jr., as the Country Manager, and it was during this time that finally, Mike got his biggest break when he was appointed as Area Sales Manager for Luzon and Metro Manila.

When the Lucio Tan Group of Companies took over PAL from San Miguel Corporation in September 2014, Mike retained his job to work under his current boss, Harry Inoferio, who is virtually on a “home coming” stint, for he had spent a good number of years with PAL until he resigned to work with other airlines. Mike is doubling his effort, especially, at this critical moment of the airline industry under the shadow of the “open air policy” which is characterized by the cutthroat competition posed by locally- based airlines, as well as, foreign carriers that offer attractive fares. Despite the challenge, according to him, PAL is unfazed because its on-time departure reliability aside from its overall excellent service, have always been traditional trademarks that keep it flying with pride. Many passengers, especially the finicky, learn the lesson that a low fare can never replace an excellent service which is equated with comfort all the way of the flight, especially, long haul ones, hence, they go back to PAL after a “sad experience”.

In the office, Mike is ably supported by his equally diligent secretary, Melle San Jose Artillaga, who like him is equally meticulous in carrying out her job. And, at home, he is supported by his wife, Madeline and children, Mara Louise, Michael III, and Louise who understand his coming home late due to meetings. With all the challenges that he enjoys and the compassion of people around him that lightens his burden, he considers himself lucky and successful, yet feels at the same time, that he could still do more for the company.

To date, with a contented smile, he looks back to the day he was given a great opportunity by PAL which put him on the best career path, more than reason enough for him to continue doing his best. He also considers the short administration of the San Miguel Corporation as a good karma because it was during such time, while working with Salvador “Bud” Britanico, that he became a full-fledged manager.

But, most especially, for what he is now, Mike thanks his parents, Remy and Michael Sr. They molded him into a humble person who can work with utmost diligence and patience under pressure. Admirably, both parents who were supervisors of PAL then, did not try to use their influence when he was applying for a job in the company, as they wanted him to prove his worth on his own. Michael Sr. was a Ticket Office Supervisor (later on, a Manager), while Remy was a Desk Supervisor (later on, a Manager) of the Reservations Department.

Isang Kending Hinati, at iba pang Kuwento

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Malaking bagay ang pag-uusap kung minsan ng magkakaibigan upang sumariwa ng mga nakaraan. Nangyari ito nang magkita kami nina Del Merano, mag-asawang Mona at Reuben Pecson na isinama ang tinuturing kong “miracle baby” nila noon, at ngayon ay binata na, si JR. Ibinuntis ni Mona si JR nang panahong mayroon siyang malaking cyst sa sinapupunan, subalit sa awa ng Diyos, nakaraos siya sa pagbuo nito hanggang maipanganak bilang isang malusog na sanggol. Ngayon si JR ay isa nang piloto. Pananalig sa Diyos ang naging kasangkapan ni Mona sa pagkakaroon ng isang matagumpay na ngayong anak na Piloto.

Sa mga kuwentuhan namin, lumabas ang pinakatago-tago sigurong kuwento ni Del tungkol sa kending hinahati pa niya upang magkasya sa maghapon niyang pagsi-sales call noong kami ay nagtatrabaho pa sa Philippine Airlines (PAL). Isa si Del sa mga pinagkakatiwalaang Account Officers ng PAL. At, dahil sa kanyang pagka-single mom, tipid na tipid ang ganyang gastos. Nagulat daw ang kasama naming kasabay niya sa pag-sales call nang ilabas niya ang kalahati ng isang kendi at isinubo bilang miryenda. Ang natirang kalahati ay kanyang itinabi para sa hapon naman.

Ikinuwento rin niya na sa pagpipilit na makapasok sa PAL ay halos nanikluhod sa nagbibigay ng typing test na bigyan siya ng ilang pagkakataon na umabot sa pang-apat hanggang abutin niya ang standard na bilis sa pagmamanikilya. Mangiyak –ngiyak siya nang makalusot sa test. Ang unang trabaho niya ay sa Accounting Office subalit napansin siya ng namumuno ng Internationals Sales Department na si Manny Relova, kaya on the spot ay sinabihan siyang mag-report sa opisina nito upang mag-issue ng mga tiket na pang-international. Dumaan siya sa masusing pag-aaral ng iba’t ibang pamasahe sa eroplano, kasama na ang sa iba pang airlines. Dahil sa kagalingan niya, mabilis ang kanyang promotion hanggang sa ma-assign sa iba’t ibang international station bilang District Sales Manager.

Naalala ko noon ang kuwento niya nang ma-assign sa San Franciso (USA). Ang tinirhan niya ay walang kagamit-gamit kaya sa sahig siya natutulog nang kung ilang araw. Kahit bago sa America ay malakas ang loob sa paglibot kaya sandali lang ay dumami na ang kanyang kontak at mga kaibigan na nakatulong ng malaki sa kanya bilang District Sales Manager.

Nag-resign siya nang bilhin ng San Miguel ang PAL, subalit nang bilhin uli ito ni Lucio Tan ay inimbita siyang bumalik na malugod naman niyang tinanggap dahil iba daw na challenge ang nararamdaman niya bilang kawani ng nasabing airline. Iniwan niya ang isang managerial job at ang malaking suweldo mula dito. Bumalik siya sa kumpanyang nagbigay sa kanya ng magandang pagkakataon upang mabago ang kanyang buhay, lalo pa at siya ay single mom. Ipinakita ni Del na ang pagtanaw ng utang na loob ay nakakagaan ng damdamin. Ngayon si Del ay District Sales Manager na uli ng San Franciso (USA).

Rowena Soliano: Hardworking Single Mom

From the Far Sarangani Province

By Apolinario Villalobos

Regular visitors of Isetan Mall along Recto refer to Rowena Soliano as the “girl in black”, although friends call her “Weng”. She hails from Sarangani Province in southern Mindanao. She’s got an exotic face and always chick in her tight-fitting black outfit, that make her stand out in a crowd of shoppers in the mall while delivering ordered snacks to patronizing employees. She also loves to braid her hair in various ways every day that adds to her being a stunning looker. She has been working with a coffee shop located on the fourth floor of the mall where the videoke area is located.

In 2013, she fell in love with a persistent suitor whom she thought was serious in his intention. Unfortunately, their relationship got sour and realizing that something was seriously wrong with their relationship, she broke up with him despite her being pregnant during the time. She went on with her job at the mall, but went home when she was about to deliver her baby. After a year in Sarangani, she went back to Manila and implored her employer to take her back. She left her baby girl, now almost two years old in the care of her mother, to whom she regularly sends money.

Her job at the coffee shop starts at 10AM when the mall opens until its closure at 9PM. She seldom finds time to sit down, as just when she arrives at their stall after a delivery, another set or more of ordered snacks are waiting to be delivered again.  Despite her hectic schedule, her smile never leaves her face. The only break she gets is when she had to take a late lunch – standing. Another short respite is for a stolen moment for light and late dinner, still taken standing.

She is fortunate to have found a kind employer, a reason enough for her to love her job. It was her first job when she arrived in Manila from Sarangani Province. When I had a lengthy talk with her, I told her about the international resort that Manny Pacquiao is putting up in Sarangani. She told me that she was also told about it by her mother. However, she has apprehensions if she could be given the chance to land a job in such big resort due to her insufficient educational attainment. She told me that she barely finished her high school. She is also aware that there are plenty of four-year course graduates in their province and in the field of tourism, yet.

Weng is the opitome of the struggling youth from the province who try their luck in the bustling city of Manila, some of whom are unfortunate to have ended as prostitutes that ply their trade along Avenida. Some became exotic dancers in discreet beerhouses in Recto, Caloocan, and Cubao. Like their elder contemporaries who brought with them their families and ended living on sidewalks while surviving on recyclable junks collected from garbage dumps, the youth from the provinces of Mindanao are left with no choice but take the risk of uncertainties in Manila, rather than be recruited by the New People’s Army (NPA) and Abu Sayyaf.

Sarangani, the province of Weng,  is already infiltrated with NPA and drug dealers. The tentacles of Abu Sayyaf which is notoriously known for its kidnap-for-ransom activities have also been wriggling around the area for a long time, too. Worst, job opportunities in Sarangani is like the proverbial needle in a haystack. These are available at General Santos City, the nearest urban area, but for hopefuls like Weng, no opportunity is left, considering the thousands of graduates from several colleges and universities around the southern Mindanao area every year.

How can we then blame provincials like Weng for coming to Manila and add up to the already teeming population of the city? Yet, those who have not experienced distressing life in the province just cannot restrain themselves from uttering hurting invectives.   And, practically adding salt to the wound, are the incessant and oft-repeated arrogant declarations of the president about jobs and progress that the country and the Filipinos are enjoying!...and, under his administration, yet!...but the big question is, where are they?

Ang Malaking Puso ni Baby Eugenio

…may karinderya sa Fort Santiago (Intramuros)

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Sa unang tingin, aakalaing suplada si Baby dahil tisayin ang mukha at halos hindi ngumingiti, subalit kapag nakausap na ay saka pa lang makikita ang tunay niyang pagkatao – malumanay magsalita at hindi man ngumingiti ng todo ay madadama sa kanyang pananalita ang kababaan ng loob.

Nang umagang napasyal ako sa Fort Santiago, napadaan muna ako sa kanyang karinderya sa gate ng parking lot at habang nagkakape ako ay biglang napunta ang usapan namin tungkol sa buhay, lalo na ang kanyang mga karanasan sa pagpalipat-lipat ng puwesto. Ayon sa kanya, dati ay isa siyang typical na sidewalk vendor dahil nagtitinda siya sa mga maluluwag na puwesto tulad ng nasa likod ng Immigration Bureau, Ancar Building, gilid ng Jollibee at UPL Building, hanggang sa natiyempuhan niya ang puwesto sa gate ng parking lot ng Fort Santiago. Nalula ako nang sabihin niyang 46,000 pesos ang upa niya sa isang buwan sa puwesto. Upang makahabol sa bayarin, maliban sa pagluluto ng mga ulam, tsitserya, kape, soft drinks, at biscuit, ay pinangasiwaan na rin niya ang pag-asikaso sa parking lot.

Habang tinutulungan siya ng hipag niyang si Bing sa pagluluto at pagsisilbi sa mga customer, tumutulong naman si Arbi na anak ni Bing sa pag-asikaso sa parking lot. Pero kapag kasagsagan na ng pagsilbi ng pagkain at iba pang mga gawain sa karinderya ay saka naglalabasan ang iba pang umaalalay kay Baby.

Mabuti na lang at medyo nakuha ko ang kalooban at tiwala ni Baby kaya maluwag siyang nagkuwento tungkol sa buhay niya. Ang asawa na dati ay nagtatrabaho sa National Treasury, ngayon ay nagpapahinga na lang sa bahay dahil humina ang katawan at nagpapa-dialysis isang beses isang linggo. Sa kabuuhan, dalawampu’t apat ang nasa kalinga ni Baby – mga tinutulungan niya at bilang ganti ay tumutulong din sa kanya. Anim dati ang anak niya, subalit namatay ang panganay na kambal, kaya ang natira ay apat.

Labing-siyam na taong gulang si Baby ng mag-asawa. Tubong Masantol, Pampanga, siya ay nakipagsapalaran sa Maynila hanggang sa magkaroon ng pamilya. Ang nakakabilib ay ang ibinahagi niya sa aking kuwento tungkol sa mga taga-ibang probinsiyang nakipagsapalaran sa Maynila na ang iba ay mga seafarer na umistambay habang naghihintay ng tawag mula sa inaaplayang manning agency para sumakay sa barko, at kanyang kinalinga. Sa Intramuros ay marami ang ganitong mga nakikipagsapalaran sa Maynila dahil hindi kalayuan sa Fort Santiago ay ang opisina ng union nila. Marami ring mga manning agencies ng seafarers sa loob ng Intramuros. Upang makalibre sa tirahan at pagkain ay tumutulong-tulong sila sa karinderya, hanggang sa sila ay makasakay ng barko. Ang ibang seafarers na galing sa probinsiya ay napansin kong umiistambay naman sa Luneta o di kaya ay sa isang lugar na itinalaga sa kanila, sa labas ng National Library of the Philippines.

Ano pa nga ba at ang karinderya ni Baby ay mistulang “halfway home” o “bahay-kalinga” ng mga probinsiyanong seafarers. Hindi na maalala ni Baby kung ilan na ang kanyang natulungan na ang ibang nakakaalala sa kanyang kabutihan ay bumabalik upang magpasalamat, subalit ang iba naman ay tuluyang nakalimot sa minsan ay tinirhan nilang karinderya sa Fort Santiago. Nangyari ang ganitong pagkakawanggawa sa loob ng limang taon hanggang ngayon, sapul nang siya ay mapapuwesto sa bukana ng Fort Santiago.

Para kay Baby, na ngayon ay 58 taong gulang, pangkaraniwan na sa kanya ang pag-alalay sa kapwa o maging maluwag sa kanilang pangangailangan. Napatunayan ko ito nang biglang may lumapit sa kanya upang magtanong kung pwede silang kumain sa karinderya subalit hindi bibili ng pagkain dahil may baon sila. Walang patumpik-tumpik na pumayag si Baby, kahit pa sinabi ng nagpaalam na dalawampu sila. Ibig sabihin ay gagamitin nila lahat ng mesa at silya, kaya walang magagamit ang mga kostumer. Pero bale-wala kay Baby ang lahat…okey pa rin sa kanya. Mabuti na lang at napansin ng hipag niya na ang porma ng grupo ay parang sasali sa programa para kay Jose Rizal dahil nang araw na yon, December 30, ay paggunita ng kanyang kamatayan, kaya iminungkahi niya sa lider ng grupo na upang hindi sila mahirapan ay sa piknikan, sa loob na mismo ng Fort Santiago sila kumain dahil mas presko at marami ring mesa at upuan, at ang lalong mahalaga ay ilang hakbang na lang sila sa lugar na pagdadausan ng programa kung saan sila ay kasali.

Ibinahagi ni Baby na hindi man siya mayaman sa pera, ay mayaman naman siya sa pakisama. Natutuwa na siya sa sitwasyon niyang ganoon. Mahalaga sa kanya ang pagtulong sa kapwa bilang pasasalamat sa Diyos dahil sa ibinigay sa kanyang mga biyaya. Nakapagpundar na silang mag-asawa ng isang bahay na katamtaman lang ang laki sa Molino, Bacoor City (Cavite). 

Bonifacio E. Valdez: an image of hard-earned success

By Apolinario Villalobos

Friends call him “Boni”, lanky and tall, though, with a sure gait when he walks. He was the Corp Commandeer of the PMT in high school, aside from being an orator, debater, athlete, and as expected, valedictorian in their high school batch of 1972. Born to a farming couple, he and his siblings were disciplined in the ways of Ilocano – thrifty and hardworking.

Life after graduating from high school was not as rosy as he expected, especially, because he had to deal with culture shock when he left Tacurong which was a typical third-class municipality at the time, to live in Manila, where he took BS General which he finished in 1976. It prepared him for a medical course which he finished in the Lyceum Northwestern University of Dagupan in 1980.

He went back to Manila in 1981 for an internship at Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center and later transferred to another hospital in Teresa, Rizal, then moved on to the Medical Center- Manila. During those years, he sold drugs on the side, the earnings from which augmented his meager allowance as an intern. Finally, he was taken in, as a company physician by the First Holdings Company, his first full-time job.

To enhance his calling, he took up Anesthesiology as a Fellow at the University of the Philippines Anesthesiologist Center for Western Pacific. His endeavor pushed him further when he got employed at the Ministry of Health, in the Sultanate of Oman where he honed his medical profession from 1987 to 1991. Another opportunity knocked at his door, this time, a better job in the United States, but he opted to go home to Tacurong where he had been dreaming to build a school.

To better prepare himself as an educator in the field of medicine, he took time to refine his skill in anesthesiology in the different hospitals of Tacurong, neighboring towns, as well as, the Davao Medical Center, now, the Southern Philippines Medical Center, a high-tech medical facility in Davao City. During his stint at the aforementioned medical center in Davao City, he sacrificed going home Tacurong on weekends to be with his family.

His struggle paid off when he finally established his school, the VMMC in 2002, with a system derived from what is currently prevailing in the United States. Initially, the VMMC trained caregivers for Canada where he had established tie-ups with healthcare agencies. The long-ranged planning of Dr. Valdez, earned for VMMC a reputation as the first institution in the province of Sultan Kudarat to offer an immediate employment abroad after several months of training. Today, the VMMC also offers basic education and TESDA courses, aside from functioning as a hospital.

In recognition for his achievements, he is currently involved in the different undertakings that pertain to education, health care, and medicine. He is the Vice-President of the Higher Education Institutions in Region 12; Chairman of the Red Cross - Sultan Kudarat Chapter; Board Member of the Mindanao Technical, Vocational and Educational Training; President of the Sultan Kudarat Association of Private and Technical Institutions; and Board Member of the Regional Technical Skills Development Council for Region 12.

Over a simple lunch in  an Adriatico mall, Malate, Manila, we relished the happy days in the campus of the Notre Dame of Tacurong College during its struggling days. He also shared with a hearty laugh, his experience in Manila, especially, during the twilight days of the Marcos-imposed Martial Law. He was seriously engrossed in his political activities that his name got included in the “hot list” of student activists. To save his neck, he bid his comrades goodbye and went home.

The indefatigable Dr. Valdez confided that he has other plans for his beloved birthplace. It is not surprising for a guy whose dreams and struggle brought him far despite his family’s financial handicap. Being used to a simple life, he added that he is contented with his frugal lifestyle and foremost in his mind today, is on how he could share the blessings that he earned by dint of hard work. From being a farmer’s son once, he is now an educator, resource person on community leadership and holistic health, and a medical practitioner, though, with a bigger dream….and of course, with his fellow Tacurongnons still in mind.