MY LIFE’S JOURNEY AT PNB

by: Norberto G. Betita

The story of my life was like an empty vessel engulfed in overflowing adversity. Poverty and destitution was an incomprehensible plight that I am used to swim. The 9th of the thirteen children in the family of a carpenter father and fish vendor/dressmaker mother, I am bereft of school gears as to be ready for the intellectual battle. In high school, notebooks were not affordable, I attended no proms not even my graduation. I went to college with rubber slippers and a lone blue jean to wear daily. I resigned my fate of earning a degree when my rubber slipper broke while joining the throng of students. I married at an early age. As my first child was born I came to realize I needed to go back to college. I studied while working as security guard in a government controlled corporation at night. I graduated with a degree in Banking and Finance and earned two civil service eligibilities. I was assured of a permanent and secured position, but before this could have been implemented a gruelling test of my integrity was placed before the hallowed table of moral agency. I was made to sign a reimbursement voucher which I am certain the expenses were not utilized for official government purposes. I vehemently declined and my stand for honesty eventually cost me my job and caused sufferings to my family.

My life’s journey at the Philippine National Bank (PNB) was accidental and kind of providential. I am walking home with wilted shoulders after having one of the longest---more than 30 minutes--- employment interview I ever had with Allied Bank recruitment officers. The bank was to open a new branch in Surigao City and all that they wanted to know was whether I have a businessman sponsor to obscure and defend my age disqualification---I was 29 years old then and the required age was only up to 25.

As I passed by the main door of PNB with head bowed after the long interview, I was called by the security guard, my friend and schoolmate in college, Domingo Gordonas, informing me of a National PNB qualifying examination. I applied and was qualified to take the examination scheduled sometime in August of 1981. My excitement overflowed as Mr. Mario R. Hatague then Chief L & D and Mr. Eduardo Ajero, Inspector, came to our lowly rented house where we only occupy one room, and announced that I passed and they are to conduct an investigation in preparation for my employment. I was eventually employed by the Philippine National Bank (PNB) in August 16, 1982, Employee Number – 138932, after I wrote a letter to VP Celestino Atraje informing him that I was already on the verge of disqualification from age requirement of 30 years old. My PNB appointment was to me like a conceptual beautiful rainbow that forms after a distressing storm.

PNB then was known as the highest paying employer in the Philippines and my humble employment made me sure that all my family’s needs will be provided. Gone were the anxieties about not being able to provide for my children’s needs. Forgotten were the earlier ill effects of losing a job in stand for honesty and integrity. Deleted were the sad memories of my life’s early destitution as a child and youth. With my humble employment at PNB, my children wore no rubber slippers at school but affordable shoes. They have complete gears for their intellectual battles so medals and ribbons hang about their necks and uniforms. They were at their best in proms and graduations. Four of them have tasted of being schooled in the premiere university---The University of the Philippines, although two of them resigned for a very reasonable priority. Of the two that endured, the youngest graduated Cum Laude. All five graduated with college degrees. All of these attainments should not have been affordable and conceivable without my employment at PNB. 

Although an upsetting malady surfaced while I was still new at PNB, I battled with the challenge. I was diagnosed of an unknown disease, which my doctors pronounced as a perpetual buddy of my life. My psoriasis---a long-lasting autoimmune disease characterized by patches of abnormal skin---had since made me aloof considering the exposed skin patches which I thought might be misconstrued as being a communicable disease. I had a hard time explaining to my fellow employees and bank clients about it. Not only did it derail my social life, it also deprived me of better opportunities for career advancement. I was kind of frustrated, but never totally dispirited. With a goal demanded by the PNB management I set off for a graduate course and eventually earned a Master in Business Administration from St. Paul University-Surigao. I am ever grateful to VP Julian M. Martinez of Credit Department for placing his trust in me despite my physical afflictions, by whose recommendation I was appointed as Junior Assistant Manager (JAM) of the Butuan Credit Investigation & Appraisal Unit, a position I held for years as Officer-in-charge. After being appointed as JAM in January of 2008, I retired in December of the same year at age 56 having served more than 26 years with PNB. I will never forget VP Martinez for before my retirement, he advised me to write a book for no reason at all. While I was writing blogs of inspiration, I eventually thought of his challenge. Now that I have completed my first book, I am even more grateful for his advice and encouragement.

As I thought of the humble accomplishments which I attained, I beheld in clear glimpses that most if not all are shaped and chronicled in my life’s journey at PNB. No words can ever equate my expressions of gratitude to my friends at PNB who understood and sympathized with me in my long battle with afflictions. I cherished the memories I have at PNB as to have it written ever plainly in the tablet of the heart together with my deepest and heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities it had given me if only to evermore remain until my tomorrow no longer comes.

THE DUTERTE PRESIDENCY - A TIME FOR UNIFICATION AND CHANGE

by: Norberto Betita

The pages of our national history opens anew as an unlikely candidate for President of the Republic of the Philippines zoomed imperceptibly from his humble political career as Mayor, to become the next President beating the most likely, by an overwhelming margin. Not only was this historical event made exceptional and remarkable by the overpowering support of the people, but more because this is the first time in Philippine history that a Mindanaoan leader was elected into the highest office of the land.

As this historical dawn unfolds, we see a vibrant horizon in the highest overcast beckoning a marvelous light of hope for a progressive future.

The incoming President is not the kind of politician that is being defined as one who thinks of the next election, but a statesman who is concerned of the next generation not only for Mindanao but for the whole country and all the Filipino people. His statesmanship has been long tested when he bears his integrity with conscious dignity as he goes by the political mantle of power placed upon him. His attitude of service has been an exact opposite of those borne by many in leadership position. His character illuminates an attitude of service that is motivated ‘from inside-out’ apart from the worldly norm and general motivation of ‘from outside-in.’ He has proven his worth when he served as Mayor of Davao City for many years, which recognition of prominence has been long noted not only in the Philippines but in the world. With this new overwhelming mandate from the people he is now bound by a rock-hard commitment to prove his capability to turn our country around.

I found sense in most of his developmental programs for economic growth and progress, and his earnest concern for the deprived and the destitute amongst the Filipinos. His words maybe harsh and tough, but it is definite and unbending. Some of us may differ in our interpretation of his programs and hard-wearing statements, but he has explained best the paramount intentions of his governance. He knew that slackness and softness, which characterizes the end of the glory of Rome and Greece---once known to have magnificently prevailed in a barbaric world---, do not have a place in the present kind of our political amphitheater. We need an iron fist and a steel arm to defeat and drive the enemies of law and order.

Now is no time for more critics and skeptics, but for the greater number of motivators and encouragers. This is not a time of continued bickering and contention, but a time for unification and change.

During each shift of administration there always arises the big question of whether the remains of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos be given the honor to be buried in the “Libingan Ng Mga Bayani.” It is only in this dawn of our history that we hear, even during the heights of political campaign, an unswerving declaration that President Marcos should be buried, notwithstanding intense opposition and no matter the critics. The fact that President Duterte gained an overwhelming support of his presidential candidacy proved without question that the people wanted change. Perhaps they believe in unanimity that such a change can only be fully introduced and manifestly initiated by burying this haunting image of the past and leave its remains to the dust; give him the fair chance to stand before the judgment bar of God, then let the break of the dawning day majestically rise to drive the dark night shadows away. After all, during the last thirty years after the dictatorial regime, we seemed to have proven none of the allegations against the Marcoses in our courts of law and even in the hallowed halls of justice in the United States of America in its trial of the century against the Marcoses. We as a nation could not move on much faster and farther in our quest for economic growth and development while carrying this heavy baggage of the past. Therefore, we need to unload and bury the lingering ills and burdens of the drawn-out yesteryears and press forward in rhythmic cadence with a lighter cargo of lessons learned.

Now we are blessed of a President with malice to none, whether they be in favor or against his leadership ideals, except against the enemies of the law and state. He expects of his supporters and all the Filipinos to rally behind his government programs. He made it clear that his iron fisted type of governance is for a stronger force to implement the mandates of the law. It is not about power beyond the law, but a defining move for equality in life, justice and protection for all. He declared with emphasis in his inaugural speech a quote from an unknown author, “I have no friends to serve, I have no enemies to harm.”

His boycott of the press is not to limit our freedom of expression, but a call for a more responsible journalism. In our move forward to our destined glory as a developing nation we need truthful information and unbiased reporting; we need developmental journalism.

Killing the criminals and drug lords, and eliminating corruption in government had been his battle cry during the heights of his presidential campaign, which incited mounting opposition from human rights advocates, the Catholic Church, and other civil groups. But he moved not an inch of retraction, not even from the overriding threat of losing his bid for the presidency. His words, even after he won, remained firm and immovable.

The multi-billion peso giant of illegal drug trade, criminality and massive corruption in government is to him a Goliath to beat. And we are lucky that we now have a David who is determined to have this giant down, for our country and people to march forward in rhythmic cadence into the realms of economic prosperity and abundant life for the Filipino people.

As the morning breaks and new pages of our national history reels, let us give HIS EXECELLENCY, PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE the chance to sow the seeds of unification and change into the soil of our hearts and fertile fields of our land and assist him in the nurturing of our long deserted and battered economic landscape to make this country bloom and blossom like a rose. Let us help him feed the tiger cub that it may develop into a full-grown economic tiger.