posted May 26, 2009

A Star We Can Hitch Our Wagon... too!

He was born on August 19, 1974 – a time of yore by Manuel L. Quezon and Bill Clinton. It is the moment in time when he was christened Glenford Esperanza Cardenas. He identifies San Esteban as his place, his home. He was raised in San Esteban with the guidance and support of the late Agrifino Baldonado Cardenas and Margarita Enrado Esperanza. Despite the fact that they are not his biological parents, they treated him as their own son - the youngest among four children (Warlito, staying in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, and the late Pacifico, a former US Military Personnel Officer and Milagros, presently working in Milan, Italy). He should be having another younger brother, Jayson, but was taken by Jayson’s biological parents.

His Tatang Agrifino aka “Ta Pinoy” was a former veteran during the World War II whereas his Nanang Margarita or “Lang Rita” is a plain housewife. Both of them had their own ways in raising their children. He said he was lucky because all the attention was given to him although he suffered different ways of disciplinary actions. He admits he wasn’t that good boy at that time.

Glenford was a naughty young boy exploring his young age. On material things, he envied what others have. He must have it, too. He enjoyed jumping over fences, joining friends in riverbanks (lapat and waig), beaches, mountain climbing, playing spider, playing kites, bamboo canon, “entra”, step no, bahay – bahayan, roleta, bending, chinese garter and jack stone. These things remind him most of San Esteban and he said “Wow! Those were the days!”

He must be home the moment the church rings. Otherwise, you will hear a big sound calling “BEN”. That would be Ta Pinoy. That is why he is famously known as Bentot. Ben also experienced to be hit with slippers, wooden and bamboo sticks, belt etc. A reason why he started to hate his parents. It took him years to overcome his disgust. He felt like he is all alone, never given the chance to decide on his own, slave and hated. But they were desirable. After his college graduation, he realized why they were so protective and strict to him.

On December 11, 1983, his Tatang passed away. He was in Grade 3 then. His Nanang was the only one who guided him throughout his teenage and adult years.

Glenford’s education is full of a roller coaster ride. He moved from one school to another especially during his high school years in which his Nanang was in the United States of America visiting her brother and family - the late Mr. Esteban Enrado Esperanza.

He had his Pre-School, Kindergarten and Grade 1 at San Esteban South Central School. He transferred to San Esteban North Central School and finished his elementary education there. At that time his Aunt Carmela Baldonado Cardenas was the Principal.

Ben took his first three years in high school at the former Ilocos Experimental Station and Pilot School of Cottage Industries (ISESPSCI) now known as Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC) in Santiago, Ilocos Sur. At that moment his Aunt Aida Baldonado Cardenas was the Municipal Mayor. He finished his secondary education at Ilocos Sur National High School in Vigan City.

After high school, he was given the chance to join the US Navy. He did not identify who enrolled him there. He refused. He said war and guns are not his game. Instead, he enrolled in St Paul College of Ilocos Sur, Vigan City. He took up Basic Computer Systems. He also finished Institutional Housekeeping – an Intro to Hotel and Restaurant Management. He graduated with flying colours and awarded as 3^rd Honors. He decided to complete his tertiary education with a Bachelors Degree in Tourism at the Ilocos Sur Community College, Vigan City.

Bentot’s career was not an overnight success. It was hard earned to where he is nowadays. After graduating in college, he took the chance of going to Manila and tried in different companies. It wasn’t easy to compete with big time university graduates but he did not give up.

He started working as Salesman (Electrolux), Merchandiser (SM Supermarket), Stockman (Rusty Lopez), Service Crew (Tropical Hut and Chowking) under a contractual basis. Opportunity came and he applied at the 5 Star Manila Galleria Suites (now Holiday Inn Manila Galleria) owned by famous business tycoon John Gokongwei who also owns Robinsons Galleria, Manila Midtown Hotel, Crown Plaza Hotel, Summit Mineral Water, Universal Robina, Robinsons Land and Cebu Pacific Airlines among others. He also owned the former Equitable – PCI bank now merged with Banco De Oro. It was a trial and error application. He did not take it seriously knowing that big companies are for big people. He was wrong when he was hired. He found out that there are still companies who give chances to “probinsyano” like him.

He worked as a Valet Runner in Manila Galleria Suites’ Laundry Department for four years. Finally, he had his wings to travel abroad and worked as a Valet Runner in a 5 star Hotel - Jebel Ali Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Here he was able to work with different nationalities, different culture, and different languages. With this, he was able to learn and speak Arabic, Hindi and German languages. Three years after, he was enthused to Sheraton Hotel in Doha, State of Qatar. He didn’t have the chance to enjoy his stay there due to Management turnover. He tried again his likelihood and was able to transfer to an American based Facilities Management Company (Red Sea Housing Services Co.) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he worked as a Telephone Operator. As days goes by, he was challenged and proved that he can do such job. He did not limit himself working by telephone only. They soon discovered his Supervisory skills and promoted Ben as Compound and Facilities Supervisor. From then, he was transferred to Eastern region of the Kingdom from Jeddah to Jubail then to Al Khobar and Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

In the year 2003, Glen decided to take a break. He went home and stayed in the Philippines for quite sometime. His impulse to work awakens him everytime not letting him be idle. He worked at Cooyeesan Hotel Plaza in Baguio City as Front Desk Supervisor. After completion of 6 months contractual period, he tried shifting from Hospitality Industry to Quick Service Restaurant genre. He was employed as Asst. Store Manager for Greenwich Pizza and proud to be part of the opening team of Vigan City Branch. He successfully gained the One Week Millionaire Store among all Greenwich branches throughout the Philippines with ADS (Average Daily Sales) of P150, 000 to P 210,000, surely a rewarding sales target in one day. Greenwich continues to dominate good sales record and with this he was promoted as Delivery and Bulk Order Manager having a high record of Number 3 Bulk Order Sales in the entire Philippines and Number 1 in Delivery Sales in Northern Luzon. The famous Pearl Coolers dominated its sales to as high as P5, 000 to P15, 000 per day which makes Vigan Branch Number 1 in Pearl Coolers Sales. After a few months again, he was given the chance to become the Manpower Manager. He was supposed to be assigned and part of the opening team of Candon City Branch but made a decision to be back abroad.

Glen accepted the offer of the National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates as Housekeeping Supervisor in the year 2005.It was indescribable for him to be assigned in a desert island of Al Dhabiya - the place where they produce oil. They cater to almost 15,000 staff and 1,200 Management with different nationality. Can you imagine how many rooms they have to handle? It was like a nightmare to him but he has to face the reality that it is his choice. He did not give up. He did not allow himself to be stuck in that island. Whenever there is a chance, notwithstanding he look for a better opportunity. Finally, an offer came to work again in Doha, State of Qatar as Cleaning Manager with National Projects General Services Company - another Facilities Management Company. Immediately, he signed the offer letter and flown to Doha.

His first 2 months in the National Projects General Services Company in Qatar was not that easy. He struggled a lot concerning salary. More to the point that from Cleaning Manager, he only held a Supervisory position. He even filed a case in the Philippine Consulate of Qatar which was immediately resolved in an amicable settlement. They did not give back the Cleaning Manager position instead they assigned him as Senior Project Supervisor and sealed the agreement that they will give the Cleaning Manager position provided that he will prove his capability. He had numerous projects all over Doha namely Ministry of Education – 80 Public Schools, The Dafna Towers, General Pension Authority, Qatar International Exhibition Center, Quipco Towers, Amusement Parks and Al Sadd Sports Stadium.

While working at Al Sadd Stadium, he did not know that his performance was monitored. This was one of the breakthroughs of his career when chosen by Qatar Olympic Committee and Clean event Australia as the Event Cleaning Manager for Al Sadd Sports Stadium (Phase 1 and Phase 2) for the 15^th Asian Games 2005, Doha, Qatar. The games were a huge success and immediately his company recognized and promoted him as Project Manager.

After 2 ½ years working with NPGS, he said it’s time to move again. The flow of his career was really ups and down. He went back to Dubai, United Arab Emirates and work in another Facilities Management Company (EPSCO). Due to unavailability of Employment Visa, he was repositioned to EMCOR Facilities Management as Soft Services Supervisor and was assigned to look over Mashreq Bank all over United Arab Emirates- a privilege to travel all the 7 Emirates (Abu Dhabi - Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujeirah - Khorffakan). Unfortunately, recession came this early 2009. Mashreq Bank was badly affected and decided to terminate their contract with EMCOR. In the end EMCOR also terminated their contract with Ben which means a welcome to the word “LAY OFF”. It was really the downturn of his career. He felt hopeless, thinking what will happen with all the financial problems. He does not want to go home in Philippines. GOD is really so good! He did not allow that lay off will just ruin everything. A job offer came out of 165 applications he sent. He said God gave him a new job, a better paying job and new step of his career as Soft Services Manager with IMDAAD L.L.C. (Dubai World Company) located at Jebel Ali Free Zone.

When Glenford was still working in Dubai, he married Marianita ‘May’ Yadao from Claveria, Cagayan on July 18, 1999. He met May thru the effort of the sister in law of his sister, Mila. Having a family was not really easy. Problem arises about finances, differences, etc. It is exhausting but praise God! The Love of God completely binds them together! The ultimate reason that whatever happens they are still together and as the Bible says in Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

After 4 years of marriage, they were blessed with a baby girl, Hadassah Nicole ‘Hani’ Yadao Cardenas. “Hadassah” is derived from the Bible in the book of Esther; it is the Hebrew name of Queen Esther, a Jewish Queen of the Persian Empire and became the husband of King Xerxes. Hani was born on July 20, 2003 in Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and was raised in the Philippines - both in San Esteban, Ilocos Sur and in Claveria, Cagayan along with her grandparents. May worked as a Midwife at King Fahd Military Medical Complex, Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She is at present in Hong Kong as a Caregiver.

Glen said these words to bring to a close:

Everything in this world is uncertain. We really never know what will happen to us in one day. We are enjoying everything that we have - materials, money, friends. But we never know that ONE DAY, in just a blink of an eye, everything is gone. All of them are gone. I can say the journey of my life is the most rewarding of all. I’ve been through a lot of things in this world - pains, hatred, anger, pride, success, love, happiness, friends, lovers and life full of excitement. On the contrary, none of these made my life complete. It is only GOD who made me the person that I am now. Everything that I have and had been, I owe them all to my LORD JESUS CHRIST. All glory, all honor and thanksgiving - only to my GOD.

And to all my TRUE and LOYAL friends and those who believed in me, thank you for everything. The unconditional love, the acceptance of who I am, the hands you had lent me, the shoulders to cry on. Regardless of what had happened, you are all there and remain as my friends. I cannot name all of you other than you know yourselves. We will always be friends for life. There is only one message I can share with all of you for the key to success: “Never neglect the people you met up there, for they are also the people you will meet down there”

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Here is an article that would inspire us especially our children as they enter the school year 2009-2010 this June 1. I was thinking to label this editorial as MY BFF to coincide with the showing of a movie by Sharon Cuneta and Ai-ai De Las Alas. However, Tayong Dalawa and Kambal Sa Uma are still on the run. These shows are just like us, Glen and I - childhood friends and more to a family. I can say, Kapamilya ko sya! Dahil hindi ko sya Kapuso!

In our day results the sincerity of a cynical sweet-tempered smile from all of us as we abide and behold mutually to a conclusion and the foundation. And while we must maintain on, we must also be appreciative to have been hallowed with someone who has ably guided us to where we are today. When there has been so much love and exhilaration for someone, it is not true to be averse and close such a wonderful chapter in our life. In support of moving forward is rarely accomplished without considerable grief and sadness. And while our regrets maybe intense, the clouds will clear and the sun will shine on us again. And in the warm bright light, we will find ourselves facing a splendid expectation. A future of exciting experiments and unquestionable opportunities. In which the horizon will stretch out before us in a heavenly glow of the first light of our tomorrow.

To my TG Friend Glen, accept this as a sign of gratitude and acknowledgment to all the things that we have been through and share continuously as we pledge for a friendship and love forever. May the Lord bless you and your love ones!

I’M PROUD TO BE A SAN ESTEBANIAN! EBAN NAK! EBAN TAYO! AGBIAG!

 
eAFTERTHOUGHT at arthzbarrey06@yahoo.com for your suggestions and comments.