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.
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.
