Cebu’s hope

While making the coffee shop rounds last week, we learned that another Quisumbing is making waves in Cebu province’s sixth district and looms as that quarter’s youngest congressman ever.

Talk of the town is Gabriel Luis Quisumbing or "Luigi", all of 27 years old and already emerging as the next political luminary of the province. And when men his age are still hanging out at late-night gigs, Luigi is already dreaming big for Cebu’s industrial hub.

Luigi Quisumbing is no newcomer to politics. He won a seat in his district’s provincial board at the age of 24, garnering the highest number of votes for that post in the 2004 elections.

Our coffee shop friends familiar with Cebu politics say this sixth district David is giving the traditional political Goliaths a big scare. Our Cebu kibitzer-friends say the big guns have started firing negative propaganda on Luigi, a sure sign that he has not only won voters’ attention but has won their hearts as well.

While his nemeses are trying to paint the young Quisumbing as an upstart, Cebu ’s sixth district apparently knows better. Luigi, we were told, was no fence-sitter during his provincial board stint. He was fiery and feisty, even colliding head-on with the provincial governor over the issue of a province-funded white elephant project. Luigi wanted the huge money spent instead on barangay-based computer learning centers, school-buildings and a specialized hospital for children.

His nemeses have also been advised to consider the fact that Luigi Quisumbing at 27 is the chair of the 6th District Cebu Province Lakas-CMD. His stature is also not just provincial but national. He is the deputy national secretary general of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines, and of National Movement of Young Legislators.

Young Luigi’s political acumen, observers say, was genetically determined. This rising political star’s lineage says it all: his two grandfathers are important pillars in the country’s industrial and diplomatic circles.

Luigi is the grandson of Norberto Quisumbing Jr., one of the country’s greatest entrepreneurial minds. The Quisumbing patriarch placed Norkis on the map and single-handedly created a business that would not only be a leader in its niche, but also a major jobs generator for Cebu and the rest of the country.

He is also the great-grandson of Ambassador Eduardo Romualdez, an acknowledged authority on RP-US relations and one of the best envoys to Washington the country ever had.

Political observers say that the Quisumbing genes are responsible for Luigi’s macro-economic insights, leadership and business acumen. The Romualdez blood, on the other hand, defined his gift for human relations, compassion for the poor and his political savvy. The mixture of both molded the young Quisumbing’s heart for public service.

The direct influence on this emerging luminary, however, are parents Luis Bartolome Quisumbing and Betsy Tiuseco Romualdez. Luigi’s father now runs most of the family business. Observers point out that father Luis is the young politician’s role model as far as dealing with the common people are concerned. The low-key Luis, who once studied at a Redemptorist seminary, is the inspiration to his son’s political aspirations and the persistent advocate for personal excellence on Luigi’s part.

Mother Betsy, on the other hand, is an important influence to Luigi as far as social involvement and outreach work are concerned. The mother, we were told, is a tireless campaigner and is Luigi’s teacher in the art of transforming passion into action.

Unlike most other children of privileged families, Cebu political observers say Luigi Quisumbing is not one to take life easy. He actually worked in the family business and at one time served in the staff of a senator. He could have lived and studied in the United States but has opted instead to make Cebu his permanent home. Not only that. He actually influenced other friends to make Cebu their home, as well.

Luigi’s Quisumbing bloodline, observers add, must have been the driving force behind his vision for the transformation of the entire island of Mactan into a Freeport zone – one which could one day rival Hongkong and Singapore . The Romualdez bloodline, on the other hand, is the influence behind his passion for the construction of the hospital for poor children in Cebu ’s sixth district.

Luigi, we were told, was like a fish thrown into the water when he plunged into politics. He is a natural with people. Already, he is the major attraction in campaign sorties in his district. At 27, he appears to be an expert in the art of winning people over to his person and cause.

While he appears determined and driven, Cebu ’s political observers are quick to point out that Luigi Quisumbing is no nerd who has foregone his youth. He simply knows how to use his youthful energies, they point out. To balance his involvement with people, he listens to soft music, and at 27 interestingly enjoys Frank Sinatra songs.

The love for music does not come as a surprise. His grandfather Norberto Quisumbing Jr.’s middle name is Buencamino. And in the Philippines, that family name means only one thing – excellent patriotic music.

That is Luigi Quisumbing’s tune. And Cebu ’s sixth district appears set to dance to it.

Not so hidden agenda

Just as call centers nationwide are experiencing faster employee turnover due to resignations or staff piracy, PLDT Work at Home (WAHO) promises to rewrite the industry landscape.

Its name is self-explanatory, as is its value and promise. If an existing call center can successfully operate with a force of agents who work straight from their homes, then an entirely new sector of this precious labor pool has been realized. This includes housewives, retirees, and even the handicapped.

PLDT WAHO can make it all happen through an ingenious set-up using tried and tested technology. Individual agents are connected to the robust PLDT Network with its built-in redundancies. The PLDT Network is then linked to the call center’s own existing infrastructure to serve end-users and customers.

Aside from clear and stable voice quality, there are the added savings on rent, utilities, and office supplies incurred in housing additional agents onsite. But there are deeper benefits with PLDT WAHO as well. Other than tapping a larger more diverse labor force, they can also recruit cheaper hires from the provinces. Infovision, a market research company, estimates a 20% reduction in casual absenteeism from home agents (let’s call them telecommuters) who take less sick leave or vacation time.

WAHO holds potential gains in real productivity. Major companies such as American Expess & IBM have reported that their contact center telecommuters process substantially more calls and close more business than their in-office counterparts.

Of course substantial savings also go to employees. For agents, transportation, meals, clothing and work-related entertainment will be past concerns. They can easily take off the professional hat anytime they want to attend to family matters. WAHO brings benefits to both sides of the organization: employees are happy and productive while the company sees more profits.

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