True Measures of Success

 

Pidro’s contribution to the economy can be measured not only in terms of its advocacy for nationalism.  In addition to employment generation, it has its share in the socio-civic programs of the country. It has supported The Street Children Foundation of Cebu, Danny being a Cebuano and a close friend of the Osmeñas, and the Pidro Scholarships Fund which gave financially incapable but gifted students the opportunity to study in exclusive schools.

 

The success of Pidro can also be expressed in terms of employees satisfaction. According to Ms. Judy E. Futol, working with Pidro has made a lot of difference in her life.  Out of her weekly income of P800- P1,000, she was able to defray the medical expenses of her sick mother and the education of her three siblings. She had her share in furnishing her home with a color television set, a component sound system, and a refrigerator. She greatly values the benefits provided to them by Pidro, which included insurance with the Social Security System, PAG-IBIG and Philhealth benefits. Her enthusiasm to report for work is attributed to the harmonious relationship between management and employees. In fact, she could not recall any sad experience since she started working in the company in 1993. With such a working environment, Judy plans to stick to Pidro as long as it exists.

 

Another worker, Merlyn Obsequio, shares the same sentiments. She is inspired to work because the employees are not deprived of the benefits due them, despite the unfavorable business situation. From her weekly income of P1,000-P1,400, she had her maternal house improved and acquired home appliances. Together with her husband who is an electrician, she helps build the future of their only child.

 

William Lopez was formerly connected with nongovernmental organizations before his working stint with Pidro. He was a former personal staff member of Danny in his imaging job until he joined the company in 1998. A BS Physics graduate, he heads the inventory department. The smooth relationship among the staff members makes him at home with the company. It is one place where he can talk freely and be himself while retaining respect for each other. Basically a jolly person, he appreciates the absence of too structured relationships where actions are de numero. For him, Pidro is more than a job. He stands by his belief that once you are an employee of Pidro, you will forever be a part of the family. You cannot help but  “babalik-balikan mo sya!”

 

True enough, this happened to Edwin Dugaduga who, five months after leaving Pidro, opted to return. Danny got his services in the maintenance department when he was working as a laborer during the construction of the Pidro building in 1998. Two years after, he was transferred to the dyeing section where he is still assigned today. Last year, he availed himself of the company’s retrenchment program where he got P30,000, corresponding to his years of service. Out of this amount, he acquired a small piece of land in Zamboanga and put up a small sari-sari store for his wife. Barely five months after being idle, he decided to leave his family and try to gain reemployment with Pidro. “Sir Raffy gave me another opportunity,” he confided.

 

As he reminisced his days as a construction worker, he could not forget the scorching heat of the sun and the heavy materials he used to carry. The labor did not compensate for the below-minimum wage salary. Should anything happen to him, his family would get nothing in the absence of employee benefits. In Pidro, job is far better and more convenient. The smooth relationship among fellow workers and respect he gets from management fill up the loneliness felt by someone who is away from his loved ones.  From his monthly income of P5,000, he sends P2,000 to his wife and two-year-old child and saves the rest. He visits them twice a year. With Pidro giving him another chance to earn a living, Edwin is very vocal in saying, “I owe Pidro so much and that work is more enjoyable the second time around.”

 

Pidro is Danny Javier, a man who will forever be known as a person with a heart for the unempowered.  No other name will register in a Filipino’s mind when you talk of quality nationalistic t-shirts except Pidro shirts, a must in every returning Balikbayan baggage.