I FIND myself for the past couple of months now and since the month of May, frequenting the market, almost every day. I would walk there too. For I happen to work there.
From my walks, I would meet friends and folk along the way. Different routes I would take on certain days. The further the better. Every time Juan will ask where I am headed to, the market I say. A wonder in their eyes, I say that I work there. No Juan believes me.
Time was before the earthquake of 1990, I did my OJT in a bank. BPI atop Session Road. There I licked stamps and placed them in an envelope for some Juan. I wouldn't know if that made me want to start a career in Banking.
Time too was when dad started one in Tuding, in Itogon some 40 years ago. The Rural Bank of Itogon. Today my Sis Tin Tin takes charge of it and made it what it is today. Just recently they involved themselves in serving the community in this trying time from a landslide in the area.
Another one not far from the Itogon bank in years but far in distance is the Rural Bank of Sagada. Dad, too, started it. Today, my Bro JB chairs it, he has for some time now. A reason for me and my daughters to every year head there for some rest and recreation and small town interaction, immersion and respite away from the city.
I, too, was part in making realization, the only accredited, international ATM in Sagada which we partnered with the Department of Tourism, Development Bank of the Philippines and Rural Bank of Sagada to service foreigners and tourists alike. The Chairman of DBP is my godfather in my wedding, former Philippine senator, foreign secretary and executive secretary, Alberto Romulo.
Mom at some time did help out too with running the bank. Plan for her was to have established with a friend Liza, a bank in Boracay. Plan was for me to take part in it. In fact I already conceptualized it to have been called, Banco Panay. I even had a tag line for it, “Panay ang Banco natin dito”, or some Ilonggo version close to it.
I recently got the opportunity to move ahead with another before it. A friend of mine wanted to focus more on his own industry which is in construction, but was sidetracked with a small bank that he had. Because of the busyness of what he does he would soon ask me to take over. It would be something of a win-win for the both of us. I start anew and he let go to concentrate on what he does best. One of his projects is the Holiday Inn in Baguio.
I soon found myself being busy soon after. I would require myself to be attending various seminars, conferences, meetings and briefings once more. Something I'm kinda used to anyway. What goes around comes around. I'm licking it all up. Liking it I mean.
For a whole week, I will spend it in the confines of a classroom. A teacher as strict and lessons I'm lost in. Back to school again. Being absent won't make you make it. Not a day missed. Classmates with my bank staff, all equal. Like in college, the first few days apprehensive about who is in the same class. I am. Mom was mine.
In Manila, at one time I was classmates with Dad and Mom, for Corporate Governance, a certificate valued and needed. At one time it was with JB too. We all go to class together everyday. Never late, happy for recess. A blowout for graduation every time.
My work in the Jaime Ongpin Foundation has led me to do a lot of help in rural communities. Rural development is something I would like to bank on. Because of this, from empowerment and micro-financing, I have learned to find ways to give back to the communities. Something I want to bank on.
Today, I encourage communities to bank on their own rural banks, it is the most logical way. I just spent a day with bigwigs of the Rural Banking world in a game of golf here in Baguio. The 1st Banko Sentral Governors Cup. Yes like any other bank we are looked after and taken cared for by the BSP. Difficult at times, almost every time. But still I'm not fazed at all since I used to be with government and regulations are just fine with me.
Today I bank on one like any Juan. There is nothing like entrusting what Juan has on it. A big brother that can help is what it is. Juan can lean on one, I will guarantee. Gone are the days when one bank goes astray.
Today, a small bank is like any other big bank. Although I will guarantee for better personal services and negotiable rates for Juan for one, on one. Juan can surely bank on it.