Showing posts with label job. Show all posts

Standardizing the Wage Shall Discourage

The Influx of Job Seekers in Urban Areas

By Apolinario Villalobos

Obviously, the regional wage boards are not doing their job as they have no realistic data on the real situation in the provinces, such as prices of prime commodities that are the same as with Manila’s, also those of education, rental, and many others. The wage issue has been the most neglected since the First Republic. Until today, the labor sector’s cries are not heeded, to give it a serious consideration. As these inutile regional wage boards are useless, they should be removed from the government system, as the people behind them just add to the expenses of the government spending.

The primary reason why job seekers flock to Manila and other urban areas, is the lure of the high wage. A regular employee for instance in the province, earns 6thousand pesos a month, compared to the more than 10thousand pesos of those Manila, and there is still the opportunity of side jobs to augment the take home pay.  The cost of education in Manila is no different from the one in the province, and the student can still work as a service crew in a fast food chain to earn additional allowance. With those situations, the resourceful provinciano can definitely live in Manila with comfort.

The local governments can do their share in enticing investors by offering attractive investment packages. Between Manila and the laid back atmosphere of the provinces, for sure, investors shall choose the latter due to the absence of traffic and clean air. There is no longer a problem with the transportation being an important aspect for commerce, as practically, major provinces, and all cities have airports and those in the coastal areas have safe ports served by Ro-Ro’s and major shipping lines. One can practically leave Manila on a bus and reach Davao or Cagayan de Oro, still on the same bus. Thanks to the intricate transport system which got launched during the incumbency of Gloria Arroyo.

Manila is practically breaking at the seams, giving the national government a headache on how to eliminate depressed areas where many city employees live. The problem with the government is that, it will embark only on projects that are “beneficial” to the corrupt officials. They always think of infrastructures that are heavy with “built-in” commissions. The fact is that, infrastructures are not always the solution to labor and poverty problems. The issue is the WAGE, for which is needed a truthful and serious study….unfortunately, this effort does not promise a fat commission.

Si Eden…Matatag na Ina

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Iba’t ibang pagkakataon ang sumusubok sa katatagan ng isang ina. Nandiyan ang mamatayan ng asawa kaya naiwang mag-isang nagtaguyod sa mga anak;  mabubugbog ng istambay na ay adik pang asawa subali’t hindi niya maiwan dahil ayaw niyang mawalan ng ama ang kanyang mga anak; mamasukan sa beer house bilang entertainer upang mabuhay ang mga anak sa pagkakasala…marami pang iba.

Iba at pambihira ang nangyari kay Eden, wala pang apatnapung taong gulang na ina. Maganda ang samahan nila ng kanyang asawang nagta-traysikel hanggang ito’y maputulan ng isang paa dahil sa sakit na diabetes. Dinoble ni Eden ang pagkayod sa pamamagitan ng paglalabada at pagpapataya ng “ending”, isang sugal na paborito ng mahihirap dahil sa laki ng panalo kahit maliit ang taya, pati pagtinda ng banana-cue ay ginawa na rin niya. Sa kabila ng lahat, talagang kinakapos pa rin sila dahil lima ang kanilang anak, na ang mga gulang ay mula tatlo hanggang labing-anim na taon. Tuwing  mag-usap kami ng asawa ni Eden noong buhay pa ito,  pabiro itong nagsasabi na hindi lang kaliwa’t kanan ang mga utang nila, kundi harap at likod pa. Ang nagpatindi ng pangangailangan nila sa pera ay ang regular check- up at mahal niyang mga gamot .

Bilang huling hirit sa kapalaran nila, nagdesisyon si Eden na magtrabaho sa ibang bansa, at pinalad namang makapasok bilang katulong sa Saudi. Naiwan sa kalinga ng asawang pilay ang mga bata. Maganda  ang mga plano na ibinahagi sa akin ng asawa niya dahil uunahin daw muna nilang bayaran ang mga utang, at saka na sila mag-iipon ng pangpuhunan sa negosyo. Inaasahan niyang may maiipon sila dahil dalawang taong kontrata ang nakuha ni Eden. Ang masakit nga lang ay inatake siya hanggang matuluyan dahil hindi nakainom ng gamot ng kung ilang araw. Nangyari ang trahedya, tatatlong buwan pa lamang na nakaalis si Eden.

Nagpakatatag ang mga bata na inalalayan ng ilang kamag-anak, lalo na ng mga kapitbahay na siyang nag-asikaso sa pinaglamayang asawa habang hinihintay ang desisyon ng amo ni Eden kung papayagan siyang umuwi. Masuwerte siya at napayagan naman, ibinili pa ng tiket sa eroplano at pinagbakasyon ng isang buwan upang maasikaso ang pagpalibing sa kanyang asawa. Dahil sa kabaitan ng amo, hindi maaaring hindi siya bumalik sa Saudi, lalo na at nakatali pa siya sa kontrata na maaari niyang ikakulong kung kanyang susuwayin.

May isang kamag-anak ang kanyang asawa na nagbigay ng matitirhan nilang mag-iina. Sa tabi nito nakatira ang bayaw ni Eden na nagpalakas ng kanyang loob. Magpapadala naman siya ng pera sa isa pang kamag-anak para sa mga pangangailangan ng mga bata lalo na ng mga nag-aaral.

Nang mag-usap kami ni Eden, nakita ko ang pangamba sa kanyang mukha na hindi naikubli ng maya’t mayang pagpatak ng luha na pinapahid niya agad upang hindi makita ng mga bata. Kailangang magpakita siya ng katatagan upang hindi panghinaan ng loob ang kanyang mga anak. Kinausap na rin daw niya ang mga ito at nagpasalamat siya dahil kahit sa mura nilang isip, naintindihan nila ang lahat kaya magtutulungan na lang daw sila at handa silang magtiis.

Iniwan ni Eden ang kanyang mga anak bago pumutok ang araw upang makaiwas sa trapik sa pagpunta niya sa airport. Nangyari ang inasahan niyang iyakan nilang mag-ina bago siya makalabas ng bahay, at dahil tulog pa ang bunso, siguradong mahihirapan ang mga kapatid sa pagpatigil ng kanyang pag-iyak paggising nito. Nang huli kaming mag-usap nina Eden at mga anak niyang tin-edyer, nag-isip na kami ng maraming dahilan na sasabihin sa bunso kung hahanapin siya nito.

Nakakalungkot isipin na ang ibang ina sa panahon ngayon ay walang kasiyahan sa kabila ng kasaganaan sa buhay. Ang iba, dahil halos hindi na alam ang gagawin sa paggastos ng labis na kita ng asawa ay inii-spoil ang mga anak sa pagbigay ng kanilang mga luho, bukod pa dito ang mga pansarili nilang kapritso kaya kung anu-anong retoke ang pinapaggagawa sa katawan.

Ang iba naman ay hindi natutong pagkasyahin ang kita ng asawa sa mga pangangailangan kahit sapat naman sana kung hindi lang dahil sa kanilang bisyo tulad ng pagsusugal at paglalabas-labas kasama ang mga kumare. Ang iba ay nagsa-sideline o kumakabit sa mga may pera upang matustusan ang kanilang luho na hindi kayang suportahan ng kita ng asawa, kaya napapabayaan pa ang mga anak.

Maraming biyuda tulad ni Eden sa mundo. Subali’t iilan lang siguro silang may matatag na kalooban. Ang iba ay nagpapakamatay dahil hindi nila kayang balikatin ang napakabigat na responsibilidad sa kanilang balikat. Ang iba ay nawawalan ng katinuan sa pag-iisip kaya bumagsak sa ospital ng may kapansanan sa pag-iisip at ang mga anak ay napapunta sa bahay-ampunan.

Palagay ko ay malalampasan ni Eden at mga anak niya ang mga pagsubok dahil hindi naman ito ibibigay ng Diyos kung hindi nila makakaya.  Sa mga makakabasa, dasal para sa mag-iina ang hinihiling ko.

Giving Life A Twist

To Forget Depression

By Apolinario Villalobos

Depression resulting from monotony in life can kill, literally. It can also result from misfortune brought about by loss of loved one, job, finances. We sometimes come across items in tabloids and broadsheets about people who commit suicide because of depression. Highly developed countries consider it as a disease. Well-earning professions have sprouted because of it. For third-world countries, however, it is merely equated to sadness, a feeling which is hoped to pass in time.

In the Philippines, few people go to Psychiatrists or Psychologists, who as doctors of the mind, are conceived to treat only the lunatics, this is aside from the hefty amount involved for every minute of consultation, much more for actual treatment. Those, however, who understand the real situation and can afford the sky-high fee of these professionals, never hesitate to run to them at just even a slight detection of signs of the mental illness.

For the ordinary Filipino, on the other hand, to check the downtrend of emotion is a simple rest, a new environment, or a new activity – something that will divert the focus of the mind from a misfortune. It is like adding a new condiment or spice to a dish to give it a twist, making it more palatable.

I have a friend who I met after two decades of interlude, and found him to have doubled in size. When I asked why, he simply told me that his family has had two deaths in a row in a year. I did not understand what he meant, until he told me that rather than wallow in sorrow, he diverted his attention to food. That’s my first lesson in how to fight depression. I thought, it’s better than drowning his sorrow over bottles of beer.

Another friend who was receiving six digits compensation as Finance Consultant has been vocal about his restlessness. He seemed not happy despite the big pay. Twelve years after, we met in a mall and found his already youngish face to have looked younger, and he was vibrant, no longer sporting a sullen look. He treated me to mugs of coffee and over them, he told me about his job – manager of a small dive “resort” in a far province. So, that is the reason for his glowing and healthy tan skin, as well as, slim athletic physique. As close friends, I did not hesitate to ask if he’s happy with the pay, to which he smilingly replied with a smile and an honest confession of a figure less than thirty thousand pesos, though with free accommodation and food for him and his family,  which is a far cry from his former more than two hundred thousand pesos per month take home pay as Consultant in a well-known consultancy firm in Ayala.

Still another friend who used to work as a Vice-President of an Advertising firm now maintains a small vegetable stall somewhere in Pasay City, but he is happy waking up at three in the morning for a trip to Divisoria with his son to buy vegetables in bulk, and to be retailed in his stall at Pasay at seven, after which they would enjoy their simple breakfast ordered at a nearby carinderia.

I have other friends who have changed their direction in life before reaching retirement age or even beyond. Some even say that they took a risk, with the rest admitting that they did it deliberately. The common result however, is the contentment and happiness that they are now enjoying.

In my case, when I left the airline to which I owe so much gratitude, after twenty years, friends asked why. I told them that I wanted to try another field, that of writing which has been my passion ever since. Perhaps, that reason, they may understand, but there is one important passion that I could not share with them at first, as they will surely not understand…my reaching out to others who are less fortunate. This advocacy knows no time or day, so I will not be able to do it if I have a full time job. For the latter, I invested my sincerity as I know with all honesty that I am wanting, too – inadequate in finances like them. So, what extras I have, I share with them.

Resigning from my job for which some friends envied me, is a big twist that I gave my life.  But since I was feeling the onset of depression which I knew would eventually affect my job, I had to do it. It did me good, as I was able to do many things afterward despite the meagerness of what was left after the government ate up a big chunk from my separation pay.

I made use of what I learned from my twenty years of stint with the airline, where I was able to hone my writing and office administration. Immediately, I got consultancy jobs at my own time, designing operating manuals for companies and organizations. I was also, able to finish my first book and be with my friends at depressed areas for as long as I wanted – listening to their happy and sad stories, eating with them. I also learned to blog and share what I feel and think through the hi-tech and  intricate social network.

At the end, I am happy. And, that is what I am trying to say now. The twist I gave my life made me realize that I have many God-given gifts in me that I must share with others. I must not fail Him in what He gave me as His investment so that I will become worthy of his noble intention when He gave me life. Simply said, it is my way of paying Him back, but through my fellow creatures.

Getting Ahead of Time

By Apolinario Villalobos

People who are always late in reporting to work or for their appointments, make me wonder. When I still had a regular job,  it has puzzled me a lot of time why I could make it to my job site on time despite my living a good fourteen kilometers from it and others who live nearby could not. Just like the management of other offices, ours also got worried because of rampant tardiness among employees.

Our management, to remedy the situation, has asked all department heads to advance their wall clocks by ten minutes, except for the bundy clock (used for timecards) which must be on time always. The instruction was filtered down the line and as expected, caused quite a stir among the employees.

Although, I was surprised by the request of the management, I was even more surprised by the unpleasant remarks heard from the ranks. What these complaining colleagues did not understand was the objective of the whole exercise. In the first place, the bundy clocks still ticked the standard time so the work schedules were not affected. What was affected was the ATTITUDE towards time.

It is not necessary for one to finish post-graduate studies to understand the adage that we cannot move back the hands of time. Time wasted is really time wasted in any language.

People run after time catching rides to their offices and other destinations. In Manila, everybody blames the traffic for not getting to work on time. What is funny is that we refuse to recognize the solution, which is just waking up early and taking the ride ahead of time.

In the offices, comfort rooms are crammed with employees at exactly one o’clock to wash up. Very few ever think of washing up several minutes before, so that they can begin working before, or at least exactly by one o’clock.

At the airport, passengers clog check-in areas when it is almost closing time. This causes long queue and sometimes, lost flight for some due to the on-time closure of check-in counters. The same scenario can be seen in piers and bus terminals.

My suggestions are:

-during workdays, there should be limitation in the time spent for socializing after office hours so that employees can have enough time for their travel home and catch up with enough sleep;

-in the morning, one should try to be at his/her desk minutes before the official start of office to review the previous day’s accomplishments and pending matters, aside from  other things to do before doing those that come for the day;

-have a grand time in doing weekend bonding activities with friends or families  on a Friday night or whole day of Saturday, so that Sunday can be spent for rest;

-to beat the pestering traffic jam, be on the road at least two hours before appointment time, never mind spending time a in coffee shop near the meeting place, if you arrived earlier than expected.

Most people tend to oversleep on their days off on the pretext that they need to rest. I tried this, but it just gave me a headache! My suggestion on weekends is for one to wake up while the sun is still peeping from the horizon, have a cup of coffee and contemplate on things to be done for the day, then, take a brisk walk or jog. The midday, can be spent for a nap.

What is sad, is that we only feel the ill effects of our bad attitude towards time when we become a victim, such as missing our flight, opportunity for a bus or taxi ride, resulting to lost revenue or job opportunities.  If we will not change, we will never be able to educate our children, too, and they will surely carry this habit with them when they will have their own family. There is a need to break the vicious cycle.

In looking for jobs, the hiring companies are looking for those who respect time. There is a story about an average college graduate who bet his co-graduate but a summa cum laude (they both came from the same school), to a much coveted job. On the appointed day, the interviewer of the hiring company who had the habit of going to the office early found the average graduate waiting outside the yet closed door of the office as early at 7 AM! The interviewer was impressed and lost no time in interviewing the “early bird”. After the interview, the applicant was told to report to work the following day. The average graduate applicant learned later that his summa cum laude co-graduate arrived for the interview, at past nine.

Finally, being on time is alright, but getting ahead of time is much better. Using the principle of space, I could say that more time gives us the opportunity to do more things. The best thing to do then is, get ahead of time... as lost ticks of its hands cannot be recovered. We must exert our best effort to “earn” time that can be used for other better things to do.

Again, lost time cannot be recovered, but we can “earn” time by getting ahead of it.