Have you noticed from time to time there is somebody named “Gladys” who will leave a comment on this blog? Well, most of you probably don’t know who she is, even if you saw her comments. Just today, Gladys left two comments here. I always enjoy hearing from Gladys. Why? Gladys has a personal connection with Feyma and I.
I first met Gladys in 2001. I believe it was in March, if I am not mistaken. At the time, we were living in General Santos City, and we had an Internet Cafe there. Just across the street from our Internet Cafe, and a block up was a college, Holy Trinity College. Come March, it was almost time for School to be out for the Summer, which meant that a lot of Computer Science Students from Holy Trinity were coming to my Internet Cafe looking for Summer Employment, or for OJT (On the Job Training). Students here are required to get a certain number of hours of OJT before they can graduate. Gladys was one of the applicants for OJT. Although Gladys was quite shy and reserved, I decided to hire her. Although I didn’t really know anything about her, as I recall I hired the first two OJT seekers who showed up. I didn’t need any more than that. So, over the next couple of months, I took notice of Gladys and how she was very conscientious about her work. I liked her. She even started talking a little bit (but, only a little bit) around the shop.
When the time that the OJT was finished, I let one of the trainees go, but I asked Gladys if she could stay on with a regular job, working after school. She still had one more year of school to complete and get her degree. She agreed. Over that next year, I got to know Gladys better, and the better I knew her, the more I liked her. In addition to being conscientious, she also was learning a lot, and taking on responsibility.
Come May of 2002, Feyma and I decided to move to Davao City. Although we had intended to leave our Internet Cafe opened in General Santos, we wanted Gladys to come to Davao with us and work in our business here in Davao. So, we asked her if she would be interested. She told us that she would like to come to Davao, but her parents would not allow it. Gladys was always very close to her parents, and would follow what they said, no doubt.
After we moved to Davao and had been here for less than 2 months or so, Gladys contacted us and asked if she could come up and visit us for the weekend. Of course, we were happy to have her, so she came. During the visit, Gladys told me that she had found a new job with a printing company. She said that she liked her job, but I could tell by her voice that she was not completely satisfied with her work. I asked her if she would like to have a job with us in Davao. She told me that she would think about it, but it didn’t take long before she agreed.
After coming to Davao, and asserting a little freedom from her parents (she was already an adult after all), Gladys really made big strides in becoming even more hard working, independent, and responsible. Our relationship grew with Gladys, and she was actually much more than an employee to us. She was more like family. Over the years of working for us in Davao, Gladys eventually became our Business Manager, and was in charge of all of our various businesses. She did a great job too! She grew not only professionally, but personally too! She became very “take charge” in both her professional and personal life. By working with us for so long, Gladys learned a lot of American ways and she also adapted them into her life. It really made me proud to see the growth that Gladys had made. When I first met her, she was a girl. Now, though, she is a woman, and a savvy and sophisticated woman at that!
Gladys left our employment about 6 months ago now. The reason she left? Well, she migrated to the USA and got married there. I am proud that she learned a lot of things from Feyma and I that are helpful to her with her life in the States. She had a big advantage over most Filipinos going overseas in that she got to be part of the life of a couple from abroad and learn a lot about what to expect in her new life, before even going.
I am proud of Gladys. I really love Gladys, and I miss her too. Luckily, I get to follow her life a little bit through her blog, though, and it helps me feel like I am still in contact with her.
Good luck to you, Gladys!
Nice story, Bob. A lot of lessons in there too … take intelligent chances, be patient and wait for people to blossom before you expect too much, etc.
I think that;s one of the places I see a lot of foreigners 'fall down" here … and I certainly include myself in the "bruised knees" department. W e expect or Filipino workers to be "just like us" right off the bat and when they aren't, we sometimes get very impatient. When we take alittle more time and give a little more of ourselves we often get our investment back, in spades. Best of luck to Gladys and good luck on finding a replacement.
Hi Bob- Its always nice to know that the people you help in life turn out to be good at what they do. Its even better when you are appreciated for your efforts.Being proud is a great feel good factor. Now you have to start all over again with the next generation, thats called succession management.
I knew Gladys for one week now, in the first day that I communicated with her online, I can tell that she has a good(the best) heart. I salute her for being such a good person,inside and out. I thank her also for pasting this site to her blog today.This would be a good site to read for my hubby to-be who will be living here in the Philippines very soon!
Hi Dave Starr – Yes, I think you are correct, too many foreigners have the attitude that "I want my employees to be just like me from the start" and it doesn't work that way! It takes patience, teaching, a willingness to let people make mistakes and learn from them, etc. I have not always been a perfect example of the right way to do it, that's for certain, but with Gladys I guess that whatever I did turned out right, because she is a winner!
Hi Jim – You are right that being proud is a "feel good: thing. There is nothing better than being proud of somebody, especially somebody that you had a hand in teaching and "pushing along" over the years.
Hi Twerllyn – I'm glad that Gladys has been helpful to you! And, I hope that your fiance stops by and finds something valuable here!
😳 I'm speechless. I don't know how to begin my intro.. 🙂
But anyway,yYou have always been my mentor and a family. Thanks for the trust boss and for letting me spread my wings. I can't be who I am now if not for you and Mom Feym, I always owe this to you.
You bet you can see traces of Bob and Feyma in my ways of life. Thanks and I love you and the family.
Carlo says hi by the way.
Hi Gladys – I hope you know that you will always have a place in my heart! You are welcome here anytime! You always have a job here anytime you want! 😆
A very nice story Bob, it seems you have a very big heart, and if this were Christmas time, I would say “There really is a Santa Claus”, and he lives in the Philippines, and to you Gladys good luck here in the states 😀
Take care now,
Danny 😉
Hi Danny – Thanks for letting me know that you enjoyed that!