Making His Mark

The title that defines his success is the one that acknowledges him as "Regional Managing Director of the Year," for his Outstanding Leadership Qualities and Exemplary Performance the Jollibee Way for the year 2005 Visayas and Mindanao category. With that, Jonkie has come full-circle, creating a name and a niche of his own. It is an award he could proudly claim as the culmination of his efforts. It was he who sweated it out, thinking big so as to get to where he is now. Jonkie has finally arrived.

Even bigwigs from the famous Jollibee chain of stores admitted its no mean feat to capture such a prestigious award. In fact, there are franchise outlets that have been existing for 10 years yet the award remains elusive to them. But Jonkie proved his worth in just a short span of time since the outlets he is managing are relatively young - Jollibee Bogo (five years) and Jollibee Carcar (two years). But under his supervision, Bogo and Carcar branches won the Silver and Bronze Star Awards, respectively. With that, his brother-in-law, Nixon "Jojo" Dizon, bagged the Star Franchisee Award, too. Jonkie's award was based on the quality of service the outlets accorded to its clientele, the cleanliness of the establishment and the management's wholehearted support to its staff by sending them to various seminars and trainings for their own career advancement.

Yet during his thanksgiving blowout at Yo Latino last Wednesday night (April 26), a humble Jonkie wholeheartedly gave members of his management team their own moment to shine. " This (award) does not belong to me. This belongs to my management team. I'm just there to motivate them," he declared with all sincerity that was naturally met with applause and cheers.

"Maybe the advantage is that when I was in the US, I was a working student. So I know how it is to be an employee, naka-experience ko nga singkahan ta, kasab-an sa atong employer," he explained.

Cornered by the Freeman Lifestyle later on, Jonkie revealed that apart from firmness in making decisions, his management style is simple: "maintain an open communication line with my staff. I talk to them and listen to them."

A good leader, dynamic motivator and successful manager, Jonkie now wears all these under his sleeves. There is pressure to duplicate if not surpass what he has achieved but having gained the mark of a winner, he certainly would not surrender to gracefully safeguard his legacy.