THE open outburst of the ongoing internal squabbles among Yanson siblings and their matriarch Olivia Yanson over ownership of the transport empire popularly known as Ceres is sending a distress signal to both public commuters and the transport industry.
I don’t have firsthand information about the deeper reasons of their split, although I heard so much conflicting stories. I just hope it’s not about greed, expediency, loss of family hood and loss of filial love to their mother who caused all or most of their present fortunes.
This is not the first time I heard of story like this. In fact, I come across now and then of stories of families, rich and poor, breaking up, demonizing and even killing each other, due to squabble over land, property, and businesses.
I don’t know if this is pure human frailty, or a combination of factors, including cultural one. I stress though that most of these grand squabbles occur among rich families, which leads me to a belief that maybe the bigger the wealth in question the fiercer the squabble is.
Or maybe Briton historian Lord Acton was after all right in saying that a person’s sense of morality and uprightness tend to lessen as his or her power increases, and which led him to conclude that power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Well, I hope the Yansons infighting is all about misunderstanding over certain managerial and relational practices, than a culture of greed corrupting one or more.
My only worry is what if the Roy’s faction dig deeper their trenches and fight toe to toe the Leo Rey-Ginette and their mother?
Would the seizure of the Ceres empire by the group of Roy Yanson, Ricardo Yanson, Celina Yanson and Emily Yanson from the leadership of Leo Rey Yanson and Ginette Yanson-Dumangcas lead to better business management and better and safer service to the public commuters? Or is it a prelude to the demise of the Ceres empire?
What if other interest groups pork in and side with the underdogs? What if even the President himself who used to stay in the Yanson’s place in Talisay everytime he comes to Negros takes side?
What if even by the intercession of the President, the parties in conflict would not give in? And what if the President who is reported to be close to the Ceres empire matriarch would side with them and fight the Roy’s group?
Would it lead to the decapitation of the entire Ceres empire, and open the area to new players, at least in Negros, Visayas and Mindanao?
Still, like other Negrosanons who have been part of the “Ceres culture”, of being proud as the home of the Ceres, and often in amazement over riding the Ceres buses with convenience, efficiency and fun, -- it is our ardent desire that may their squabble be resolved quickly, internally and peaceably.
And let everyone take heed of Governor Bong Lacson’s advice for the parties in squabble to resolve it peaceably, and meantime never allow the Ceres buses disrupt their operations as indeed Negrenses are quite dependent on Ceres for travel and transport of their goods.
God bless everyone!