Luis A. Quibranza III

PAPER cannot contain and ink cannot explain the wonder that consumed me when I had the chance to meet the employees who’ve been with Sun.Star Cebu since the very start—1982.

“Call us the ‘Eight Wonders’ of Sun.Star,” one of them kids around while he looks into space and both his hands are up in mid-air as if he was imagining the layout already with the title in bold text fonts.

Despite their mature stature, they were all smiles during the interview and everyone exuded a youthful countenance that can inspire a weary writer.

For one, it is not easy to interview eight persons in a span of an hour or so. But I consider it a blessing to be able to converse and exchange a few thoughts with some of the pioneers of this company who have somehow felt at home—at work.

The maiden issue of Sun.Star was released on Nov. 25, 1982. And that very day was still fresh and vivid in the minds of Leonides Padin, Glicerio Lladas, Arthur Villarin, Severino Racoma, Carmelito Betinol, Candeleria de Real, Clemente Leyson and Rodrigo Saducas (he couldn’t make it at the appointed date for the photo op).

Leonides or Leoni was a binder during the company’s humble beginnings. She was also the one who kept count of issues given to the newsboys.

“We even sold papers by ourselves. That’s because we were still unknown then,” Leoni cheerfully recalls in Cebuano. Right now, Leoni enjoys her work at the Technical Art department.

The nostalgic Glicerio Lladas or Glie carried an excited tone all-throughout the interview. Glie back then was the layout artist and the head of paste-up stripping. If that latter terminology just mentioned fails to register in your vocabulary bank, that’s because it was a part of an obsolete process for producing newspapers in the past. In 1990, he became pre-press
supervisor. He became production supervisor in 1998 and until the present day.

Glie’s buddy at work Rodrigo “Bobby” Saducas was a machine operator. He’s now a purchaser at the Printers department.

He’s in charge of making sure materials and equipment are always available to ensure a speedy and quality production.

Groovy would be the word to describe bail collectors Arthur “Art” Villarin and Clemente “Titing” Leyson.

I was excited to interview Art and Titing since their officemates back at the Credit and Collection department warned me not to interview them at the same time.

They warned me, too: the result, if I failed to follow their suggestion, would be an interview similar to a comedy-filled talk of disastrous proportions.

I followed their advice because I did interview Art and Titing separately. Indeed, the comedy was still there, but it wasn’t disastrous. Their experiences in their years of work feels like it was plucked out of a script from a movie starring Filipino king of comedy, Dolphy.

These guys have been collecting bills since 1982. So if you’re short of cash, consider borrowing from these guys as your last option. You don’t want them to bug you ‘til kingdom come. They’re seasoned veterans (the double description is intended) by now.

Strong-willed Severino “Vern” Racoma drops by. “I know this guy,” I convince myself, as I’m sure I’ve seen his face before.
Then my memory returns to me: he’s the guy who usually takes a break by playing a furious game of chess with co-workers. Back in the old day, Vern was a typesetter. At present, he takes on the duties as a building admin assistant.

And while the sounds of a busy game of chess ensue, a very silent guy right behind them is comfortable in his office chair, encoding on his desk computer. The folks in the Art Department call Carmelito Betinol as “Sarge,” a playful take on the army designation “sergeant.”

For the record, he’s not a retired officer from the armed forces who decided to work in the media after retiring.

He actually used to be a security guard back in the old Mandaue Printers, the company that Sun.Star utilized for their printing of newspapers.

When Sarge heard of the new developments and direction the company was headed, he approached their production manager and applied to be a platemaker at the printers. He is now a technical assistant at the pre-press department.

“Candy!” someone shouted as I asked what Candeleria de Real’s nickname was.

Candeleria just laughed it off and proceeded at telling me that people have been calling her “Tia Delia” since Day One.
Tia Delia was a typesetter during the infancy stages of the company, and now she’s taking on the role of pre-press supervisor for the night shift.

“Ang among kinabuhi diri murag kwaknit (Our lives here are like that’s of a bat),” a laughing Glie remarks while recalling working during late nights.

Apparently when the company started in 1982, production for the paper would end as late as 5 a.m. This was basically due to the very long process the production of newspapers then required.

Glie explains: “Before, the production process was a very long.”

Then he reiterates in Cebuano: “It involved composing, proof-reading, paste-up, camera, stripping, plate-making and then the machine.”

So it is true. Long before the call center industry existed, some of these guys were already toiling incredibly for public service up to the early hours of dawn.

Changes

Of course, 26 years is too long a time for change to be absent. A growing company like Sun.Star has its own share of changes to keep up with the challenges of these modern times. In fact, one sign of growth—is change.

“There is a significant increase of volume and copies every day,” Art shares in Cebuano. “Karon daghan na kaayo empleyado, sa una mga 20 ra mi,” (There are a lot of employees now. Before, we were just around 20),” Titing adds.

Of course, most of the people involved hands-on in the production are unanimous in choice for the most obvious change in the company: the technology.

“Because of the changes in technology, work became easier and production now runs smoothly,” says Sarge.
“Dako kaayog changes!” Bobby at the printers exclaims.

Glie even adds that “they started out producing just 12 pages.”

“O, hi-tech lagi ta kay paspas, pero sweldo gaaginod (Yeah, we’re all hi-tech and fast, but the salary still drags),” Vern throws in a bit of sarcasm into the mix.

When you lived in the 80s, typewriters were the in-thing. Leoni was the master at using IBM typewriters.

Tia Delia, on the other hand, cites that she’s managed to cope with the demands of time as she learned to use softwares, like Corel draw, Photoshop and In-design to name a few, along the course of work.

Memories

Leoni and Tia Delia spent so long a time with the company that they were employed with Sun.Star when they were still single; then they got married; still employed when they had their first child; and are still working in the same establishment after they had their first grandchild.

Glie recalls the good times at the old Sun.Star building in Jones. Especially when the guys were assigned to work at a graveyard shift.

“Bisag katulgon pa mi, mo-report mi sa trabaho. Sa karaang office sa Jones, daghang kalingawan adtohan igkahuman trabaho,” Glie says.

Back in 1987, Bobby though had a frightening mishap that transpired during his duty. Back in the printers, he noticed dirt clinging near the rollers.

He decided to reach out to remove it when the machine accidentally sucked in his right hand.

There were two rollers: one was made of metal and the other of rubber. The rubber roller gave way and broke. And before the machine completely sucked in and injured Bobby’s hand, he was able to think quickly and kick the emergency stop button. He’s still proud and printing today.

Talking about mishaps, Vern explains one where he played a major role.

“One time after work, there was a guard who asked me a favor to move the company service vehicle, which was an L300. I accidentally bumped it against the gutter. Dako dako gyud ang damage (The damage was extensive)” Vern recalls in Cebuano.

I try hard not to laugh and ask him why it happened.

“Imbis brake, ang gasulinador akong natumban (Instead of the brakes, I stepped on the accelerator).”

Too late, I laughed. But there were more stories to be told.

The job of collectors requires them to go out on field and knock on a few doors. Similar to the army, the real action “happens out there.”

Art shares one instance he considers memorable.

“Gipapaabot ko sa maid sa customer sa silong. Gipalingkod ko, unya iyang gitawag iyang amo. Unya giduol kog iro nga dako kaayo. Pwerting luspara nako! (The maid of the customer asked me to wait downstairs. As she went ahead to call her boss, a big dog approached me. I turned really pale!).”

The story induces a boom of laughter from everyone in the room.

Titing went on with his usual duties. One day, he knocked on a door and realized that it was locked. So what he decided to do next was to give the next door nearby a budge to check if it was open.

Wrong move. There was a guy who had a heated “interaction” with someone behind that door. And when he saw Titing peek in, the gunman’s tension shifted as he pointed the gun at Titing.

Thank God, nobody fired or got fired. All was well that day.

Secrets

To be employed in a company for 26 years is no joke. What kept these people in the company from the start until present day?

Art claims that the “responsibility for providing for his family and sending his children to school keeps him grounded at work.”

A for Leoni, she’s already “happy with her work and with how the owners handle the company.” Vern cites “obedience to regulations and a no-hassle mindset” to be his secret.

Sarge, Glie and Bobby attribute “hard work and loyalty.” While Titing claims that having “close ties with the editor-in-chief and the owners” since day one keeps him focused.

“Among the three competing papers, I’m can say that this company is stable. That’s why I’m here,” Tia Delia answers in Cebuano.

Like an eagle’s eye watchful for its prey, rewards only await those who persevere. This doesn’t only go as truth in the aspect of work, but is also applicable to any other aspect of life. Faith and patience go hand in hand.

Through the crucible of time, these eight people have proven their character through the different seasons of life and were able to shine bright.

Congratulations to Sun.Star and to these pioneers on their 26th year with the company. Live! wishes you all the best.

For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here.

(November 24, 2008 issue)
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