It was a busy 4th of July in Cargohaus many years ago. Apart from that, it was quite humid that one wanted to dash back to the air conditioned office. As I entered, I saw a number of people inside the Accounting Department's office. There were 2-3 1/2 gallons of ice cream and a box or two of ice cream cones on one table. One lady was inviting people to have a bite. Asked what was the occasion, she said "It's Cargohaus Friendship Day!" (4th of July has been known in the Philippines as Philippine American Friendship Day since the time of President Diosdado Macapagal). That lady was Ms. Lucita Lina, one of our company consultants.
Ms. Lina, a.k.a. Tita Luz, worked as a Chemist at the Bureau of Soils until her retirement in the late 90s. When she retired, her nephew Alberto Lina (Chairman of the Lina Group of Companies) was looking for a chemist who will take charge of the proper storage and disposal of chemicals and other similar materials (classified as 'dangerous goods' or DG) stored in Cargaohaus, a custom-bonded warehouse he owns. Tita Luz didn't look far - she called me (We both lived in Barangay 170 - she in Fidel Street, me in T. Earnshaw Street). Having just graduated from college, the prospect of a job was a blessing I have been praying for. I expressed interest in her proposal. In a few weeks, I was called for an interview and test. Later on, I got the job and started to hit the ground running.
I worked with Tita Luz and together we made reports and recommendations to the management on how we could improve our service to clients. We also coordinated with the Operations Team on the proper handling of cargoes - the company was receiving complaints and claims from some disgruntled customers that time - and the Bureau of Customs on the disposal of cargoes particularly those that have already expired.
Having been familiar with words such as density, volume, molarity, etc. we both got used to terms such as Airway Bill and Master Number - two important references used to identify cargoes.
Although, she is related to the company's owner, she remained friendly, kwela, and down-to-earth (work colleagues as well as those in the Bureau of Customs whose office are in the same building as ours would attest to these) and even forbade those who call her 'Tita' (including her relatives) not to greet her with a kiss when they see her in the office.
One time, while sat in the office, a colleague approached her and asked if she was a customer. With a smile on her face, she said "I'm Luz Lina, Cargohaus Consultant." That colleague was embarrassed and apologized. Later on, she and Tita Luz got along well.
Tita Luz used to drive a red Toyota Corolla (a 70s or 80s model? My brother Gio used to tell me how durable this model was. Indeed, it was a good car!) and when she goes to and from the office (located near the NAIA in Paranaque), she would offer me or other people a lift. One evening, I suggested that she drives through Pier and then to Capulong Street (Velasquez, Tondo) as it was much easier then to use that route going home. After her experience there, she told me that she preferred to drive through Ongpin (Binondo) instead. It was only during my latest visit home that I realized how horrible it is to drive through Pier from the airport. Apart from poorly-lit roads, the trucks and jeepneys overlord each other to the point of using the lanes from the opposite side of the road! It took us hours before reaching Gagalangin!
I enjoyed working in that company - meeting a lot of people, being involved with what we called as the "Operations Team" which meet every Tuesday morning over breakfast, communicating with a wide range of people. I must say that the skills, knowledge, andexperience I gained there were transferrable in my other jobs.
When I left Cargohaus, I felt ashamed and sorry for Tita Luz. For her part, she understood my reasons and we continued to get in touch through our rosary devotion in the barangay. She is currently the President of the Queen of Families Rosary Group in our village, a post she has held since 2003. In my last 2 visits home, she hosted a party for me and my family.
A year or so before I migrated to the UK we had a rosary recitation in one home. Part of our devotion was the reading of the Gospel for that Sunday and a sharing of reflection from devotees. The Beatitudes was the Gospel that was read that evening and the topic for reflection was "How fulfilled are you?". As a number of devotees were parents, they shared how blessed they were to have children who are now professionals, etc. When it was Tita Luz's turn to have the floor, she said that even if she didn't marry and have kids, she sees herself as someone fulfilled because of the people she cared for as though they were her own children. True, people in the barangay especially those affiliated with the rosary group, regard her as a spiritual mother, an effective leader, a friend. She is the Village Auntie!
I am blessed to be one of her spiritual kids.
Thank you, Tita Luz for your friendship and support, for your wisdom and love, for your motherly care and service to the community. May the good Lord, the Great Chemist, bless you more and more!
Belated happy 83rd birthday! We love you!
Ms. Lina, a.k.a. Tita Luz, worked as a Chemist at the Bureau of Soils until her retirement in the late 90s. When she retired, her nephew Alberto Lina (Chairman of the Lina Group of Companies) was looking for a chemist who will take charge of the proper storage and disposal of chemicals and other similar materials (classified as 'dangerous goods' or DG) stored in Cargaohaus, a custom-bonded warehouse he owns. Tita Luz didn't look far - she called me (We both lived in Barangay 170 - she in Fidel Street, me in T. Earnshaw Street). Having just graduated from college, the prospect of a job was a blessing I have been praying for. I expressed interest in her proposal. In a few weeks, I was called for an interview and test. Later on, I got the job and started to hit the ground running.
I worked with Tita Luz and together we made reports and recommendations to the management on how we could improve our service to clients. We also coordinated with the Operations Team on the proper handling of cargoes - the company was receiving complaints and claims from some disgruntled customers that time - and the Bureau of Customs on the disposal of cargoes particularly those that have already expired.
Having been familiar with words such as density, volume, molarity, etc. we both got used to terms such as Airway Bill and Master Number - two important references used to identify cargoes.
Although, she is related to the company's owner, she remained friendly, kwela, and down-to-earth (work colleagues as well as those in the Bureau of Customs whose office are in the same building as ours would attest to these) and even forbade those who call her 'Tita' (including her relatives) not to greet her with a kiss when they see her in the office.
One time, while sat in the office, a colleague approached her and asked if she was a customer. With a smile on her face, she said "I'm Luz Lina, Cargohaus Consultant." That colleague was embarrassed and apologized. Later on, she and Tita Luz got along well.
Tita Luz used to drive a red Toyota Corolla (a 70s or 80s model? My brother Gio used to tell me how durable this model was. Indeed, it was a good car!) and when she goes to and from the office (located near the NAIA in Paranaque), she would offer me or other people a lift. One evening, I suggested that she drives through Pier and then to Capulong Street (Velasquez, Tondo) as it was much easier then to use that route going home. After her experience there, she told me that she preferred to drive through Ongpin (Binondo) instead. It was only during my latest visit home that I realized how horrible it is to drive through Pier from the airport. Apart from poorly-lit roads, the trucks and jeepneys overlord each other to the point of using the lanes from the opposite side of the road! It took us hours before reaching Gagalangin!
I enjoyed working in that company - meeting a lot of people, being involved with what we called as the "Operations Team" which meet every Tuesday morning over breakfast, communicating with a wide range of people. I must say that the skills, knowledge, andexperience I gained there were transferrable in my other jobs.
When I left Cargohaus, I felt ashamed and sorry for Tita Luz. For her part, she understood my reasons and we continued to get in touch through our rosary devotion in the barangay. She is currently the President of the Queen of Families Rosary Group in our village, a post she has held since 2003. In my last 2 visits home, she hosted a party for me and my family.
A year or so before I migrated to the UK we had a rosary recitation in one home. Part of our devotion was the reading of the Gospel for that Sunday and a sharing of reflection from devotees. The Beatitudes was the Gospel that was read that evening and the topic for reflection was "How fulfilled are you?". As a number of devotees were parents, they shared how blessed they were to have children who are now professionals, etc. When it was Tita Luz's turn to have the floor, she said that even if she didn't marry and have kids, she sees herself as someone fulfilled because of the people she cared for as though they were her own children. True, people in the barangay especially those affiliated with the rosary group, regard her as a spiritual mother, an effective leader, a friend. She is the Village Auntie!
I am blessed to be one of her spiritual kids.
Thank you, Tita Luz for your friendship and support, for your wisdom and love, for your motherly care and service to the community. May the good Lord, the Great Chemist, bless you more and more!
Belated happy 83rd birthday! We love you!
