Putahe Ni Jo Ann (SSPG)

FAMILY MATTERS

CHAPTER 6

MR. U’s POV

Maaga pa lang ay nasa opisina na ako. I was sipping my black coffee habang chine-check ang mga requirements ng mga bagong applicants. Kailangan ko na talagang magdagdag ng tauhan pero hindi puwede basta-basta. High standards ako pagdating sa hiring.

Pagdating ni Alvin, diretso na siyang pumasok sa office.

“Good morning, Sir Urziel,” bati niya habang may hawak na laptop.

“Morning, Alvin. I hope you already posted our hiring ads online?” tanong ko, habang nakatingin pa rin sa mga papel.

“Yes, Sir. I posted on Social Media, JobStreet, even sa isang classified ads website. Ang daming nag-inquire, Sir. We already have a full schedule for interviews today.”

“Good. Let’s make sure we pick only the best. You know I can’t stand mediocre work.”

Ngumiti si Alvin. “Of course, Sir. Alam ko na mataas ang standards mo.”

10:00 AM First Applicant

Pumasok ang isang babae, naka-formal attire pero halatang kinakabahan.

“Good morning, Sir,” bati niya.

“Sit down,” sabi ko, tinapunan lang siya ng tingin. “Tell me about yourself.”

“Well, I’m”

I cut her off. “What’s your experience in this line of work?”

“Wala pa po akong experience pero willing po akong matuto”

I raised an eyebrow. “We don’t have time for training. Next.”

Natigilan siya pero tumayo na lang at tahimik na lumabas.

Second Applicant

This time, isang lalaki na mukhang confident.

“I’ve worked as a cashier for two years,” sabi niya.

“Do you have experience in multitasking? Handling customers and paperwork at the same time?” tanong ko.

“Medyo po”

“Medyo? That’s not good enough. We need someone who can handle pressure perfectly. Next.”

Alvin leaned over at bumulong, “Sir, baka wala tayong matanggap kung ganyan ka ka-strict.”

I smirked. “That’s the point. I’d rather have no one than hire the wrong person.”

Third Applicant

A young man, mukhang college fresh grad.

“Can you work long hours without complaining?” tanong ko agad.

“Sir, I need weekends off kasi”

“Next.” Hindi ko na pinatapos.

At tumuloy pa ang mga interviews.

May isa na magaling magsalita pero kulang sa skills.

May isa na may skills pero walang attitude.

May isa na confident pero walang alam sa basic tasks.

Pagdating ng tanghali, nag-coffee break kami ni Alvin.

“Sir, we’ve already seen twelve applicants and none of them passed your standards,” sabi ni Alvin, habang nagbubukas ng biscuits.

“That’s because none of them are qualified. You know me, Alvin. I won’t compromise quality.”

“Pero Sir, what if next week pa tayo makahanap ng right person? Wala tayong extra manpower ngayon.”

“I’ll manage. I’d rather be short-staffed than be surrounded by incompetence.”

Isang babae na may impressive resume ang pumasok.

“I worked at a high-end café for three years,” sabi niya.

I leaned forward. “Okay, that’s promising. Do you know how to handle inventory, balance daily sales, and deal with irate customers all at once?”

“Well, I”

“If it’s not a yes, then it’s a no. Next.”

Alvin sighed habang sinusunod ang utos ko.

“Sir, last three applicants na lang po.”

Last Applicants

Una: Magaling magsalita pero late dumating.

Ikalawa: May experience pero ayaw ng overtime.

Ikatlo: Willing sa lahat pero walang alam.

Pagtapos ng huling interview, tumayo si Alvin at hinilot ang sentido.

“Sir, wala talagang pumasa.”

I leaned back in my chair, unbothered. “Then we hire no one. Post again tomorrow. This time, emphasize only highly qualified applicants should apply.”

“Yes, Sir…”

I looked at my watch and smirked. “Quality over quantity, Alvin. Always.”

Pagbukas ng pinto ng private dining room sa office, nakita ko agad sina Mommy at Daddy. Magkatabi silang nakaupo sa mahaba at mamahaling table na parang galing pa sa Europe. Sa kanan nila, nakangiti nang sobra si Diday ang seventeen-year-old kong kapatid na parang walang ka-proble-problema sa mundo.

Kasama rin nila si Uncle Alvin at si Tita Maricel, pati dalawang pinsan ko na madalas kasama ni Diday sa mall. Ang ingay ng tawanan nila bago ako pumasok, pero nung ako na ang dumating, biglang nag-shift ang atmosphere. Parang lumamig ang hangin.

"Urziel, you’re late," malamig na bungad ni Daddy habang tinitingnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Walang kahit anong emosyon sa boses niya.

I took a deep breath. "It’s only five minutes, Dad. Traffic sa EDSA"

"No excuses," sabat niya agad. "In business, five minutes can cost you millions."

Tumikhim si Mommy, halatang ayaw ng tension. "Sit down, anak. We have a lot to discuss."

Umupo ako sa bakanteng upuan sa tapat nila. "So… this is about the company?"

"Obviously," sagot ni Daddy na parang hindi na kailangan ipaliwanag. "Our business is sinking, Urziel. Sales are down by thirty-five percent. Do you have any idea what that means?"

Tumingin ako sa kanya nang diretso. "It means we need to adapt. Change the strategy. Maybe try a different market"

"Stop," putol ni Daddy ulit. "Your problem, Urziel, is you think you’re always right without actually proving anything. You talk about change but where’s the execution?"

Nagsalita si Uncle Alvin, medyo nakataas ang kilay. "Your dad is right, hijo. In business, talk is cheap. Action is expensive."

Sumingit si Diday habang kumakain ng fries. "Kuya, maybe you should listen more. Hindi lahat ng ideas mo maganda, alam mo yun? Like yung last project mo"

"Diday," singit ni Mommy, pero nakangiti pa rin siya. "Let your kuya speak."

I rolled my eyes. "Look, I know the last project didn’t go as planned, but that’s part of the process. Failure teaches you more than success."

"Hindi sa lahat ng oras," malamig ulit na sagot ni Daddy. "We don’t have the luxury to fail. This is not a school project, Urziel. This is the company your grandfather built with his bare hands."

"Exactly!" sagot ko. "And if Lolo were still here, he’d probably want us to innovate instead of sticking to outdated methods."

"Watch your tone," banta ni Daddy. "You’re talking about the man who taught me everything I know about business."

Napatingin sa akin si Mommy, pilit na ngumiti para ma-neutralize ang tension. "Anak, we understand you want to do things your way, but we need results now. Not next year, not in five years."

"Results come with risk, Mom. If we keep doing the same thing, we’ll get the same outcome."

Tumawa nang mahina si Uncle Alvin. "Sounds like a TED Talk, pero wala akong nakikitang numbers to back it up."

Sinandal ko ang likod ko sa upuan. "You want numbers? Fine. If you give me full control for the next six months, I can increase our revenue by twenty percent."

Nagtaas ng kilay si Daddy. "And if you fail?"

I stared right back. "Then I’ll step down from the board."

Tahimik ang lahat sandali. Kahit si Diday natigilan sa pagkain niya.

"Bold claim," sabi ni Tita Maricel. "Pero your dad has a point. High risk yan."

"Sometimes you need to gamble," sagot ko.

"Hindi kami casino, Urziel," malamig ulit na boses ni Daddy. "We don’t gamble with this company."

Nag-lean siya forward, tingin niya matalim. "You grew up comfortable, son. You never had to fight for every peso. That’s why I don’t think you understand the gravity of this situation."

"That’s unfair," sagot ko. "Just because I didn’t start from scratch doesn’t mean I can’t handle the business."

"Then prove it," biglang sabi ni Mommy, mas matapang ang tono kaysa kanina. "But not with your words prove it with results."

Umiling si Daddy. "You’re not ready. I’ll handle this myself. You can stay as figurehead until you’ve earned the right."

Nanlamig ako sa narinig ko. "So you’re basically saying I’m useless?"

"Hindi ko sinabi yun," pero halata sa mata niya na yun ang ibig niyang sabihin. "I’m saying you haven’t shown me enough."

Diday, na halatang enjoy sa drama, sumingit ulit. "Kuya, maybe start small. Like handle one branch muna. Baka doon ka mag-improve."

"Stop treating me like a trainee," bulyaw ko.

"Then stop acting like one," balik ni Daddy na parang dagger ang bawat salita.

Natahimik ulit ang table. Ramdam ko yung bigat ng expectation nila yung standard na hindi ko pa naaabot kahit anong gawin ko. Kahit si Mommy, na usually kumakampi sa akin, mukhang nagdadalawang-isip.

Finally, nagsalita si Daddy, mababa at malamig ang boses. "You want to be treated like a leader? Earn it. Until then, you follow my lead. No arguments."

Napahinga ako nang malalim. "Fine. But don’t blame me when sticking to your ways sinks the whole ship."

Tumayo ako at kinuha ang coat ko. Hindi ko na hinintay ang dessert o ang awkward na small talk. As I walked out of the room, ramdam ko pa rin ang malamig na tingin ni Daddy sa likod ko.