Certified master coach

Sign of the times 1: A Poro Point-based call center is hiring 10,000 people (not all at the same time, of course) who are articulate in American English.

Based on industry data, only one out of every 100 applicants make the grade.

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Sign of the times 2: Manila’s free college – the one located at the former head office of Philippine National Bank in Escolta – has had 50,000 applications this coming school year for 2,000 available slots.

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Sign of the times 3: The person who has been using 922-4041145 (a Sun Cellular number) to send unsigned and intriguing text messages about the PLDT Group chaired by Manuel Pangilinan has, uh, gotten rid of that pre-paid number since last week.

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Coachcom.Inc. president Vincent Reyes – who is better known as the coach of the pro-basketball team of Coca-Cola – is working to become the country’s first certified master coach or CMC.

Before he can get that certification from the Washington DC-based International Alliance of Coaching, Chot Reyes will have to earn 100 hours of class work (done online) and 100 hours of actual coaching hours.

Coachcom is the company Mr. Reyes put up two years ago when he realized that coaching, not basketball, is his passion. And it doesn’t hurt that the fees he charges – between P3,000 and P4,000 per person for a two-day seminar on personal motivation and team-building – will come in handy once he retires from basketball.

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Here are excerpts of an interesting letter dated May 30, which Philippine Stock Exchange directors Vivian Yuchengco, Ismael Cruz and Francisco Villaroman sent to PNOC Development & Management Corp. chairman Thelmo Cunanan (copies furnished to Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, Energy Secretary Vicente Perez Jr., and PSE president Cayetano Paderanga).

"…Recently, it was brought to our attention that Dr. Paderanga is also the president of PDMC. When queried directly, Dr. Paderanga indicated that he had resigned from PDMC last year. And when asked if he was receiving compensation from PDMC, he told the PSE board that he does not remember.

"…Because the Exchange is one of the most important financial institutions in the country, with the responsibility and mandate to operate an open market for financial instruments, to protect the interests of its public companies listed for trading, and all market participants, its chief executive officer is required to concentrate all his resources on the Exchange.

"…In the interest of good governance in the Exchange and in the light of possible ramifications under the law, specifically PD 2029 and RA 6713, we would appreciate your advice if Dr. Paderanga continues to be president of PDMC and, if affirmative, if he draws compensation or other emoluments by reason of such position."