Unlike most successful entrepreneurs I know who seem to have a mind-your-own-business aura, Jomag is always ready to share information about his businesses and he always encourages me to be an entrepreneur myself. He would often text and ask me if I wanted a franchise, and he would always offer it at discounted rates. The last time we met, he talked about his latest "baby" – the Philippine Business Fair, an annual convention that his other company, Image Plus Solutions, organizes.
It’s basically a one-stop shop, three-day convention/affair that gives people the opportunity to: 1) present and offer their business to the general public; 2) find out how to start a business; 3) network and tie up with potential partners, suppliers and clients; and 4) get information on franchising, licensing, distribution, and government requirements, processes and procedures in setting up a business. Last year, he organized it for the first time at the World Trade Center and it became the home of 108 companies and the meeting place of more than 12,000 would-be entrepreneurs. Without waiting for a full year to pass, he is again organizing one, this time at the SM Megatrade Hall on Feb. 27 to 29. Amazing.
I asked Jomag, "Don’t you get flustered with so many things on your plate?" He answered, "Actually, this Philippine Business Fair is more like a vocation. I have been blessed in business. I’d like to give back to society and give other people the chance to enjoy the benefits of having their own business. I think it’s only fair because God has given me a lot." Wow, what a guy.
As I drove back home that night, I was reflecting on what he said. As usual, my ever-curious mind started whirling again in the midst of Metro Manila traffic, and I started reflecting on the word "fair." I was just curious that Jomag used the word "fair" twice – first, when he said "Philippine Business Fair" and second, when he said, "it’s only fair that I give back to society." He used the word in two different ways.
Of course, there’s nothing really special about that. A lot of words have different meanings. Like the word "bear" for example – it could refer to an animal or it could mean "to accept, to tolerate, or to put up with." Or, it could also refer to an alcoholic drink too – you know, like San Miguel Bear. Well, at least that’s how some waiters pronounce it whenever I order a bottle. Anyway, the point is, it’s not unusual that a word would have different meanings.
But what strikes me about the word "fair" is that its meaning could both be negative and positive at the same time. It could mean "a lack of something" and it could also refer to something that is "full of everything." At the same time, it could also refer to something that is in the "middle," neither here nor there.
For example, "fair" is the word that describes the skin tone of a white person. Question: "What’s your complexion?" Answer: "Fair." So in this sense, "fair" refers to the lack or absence of color. If you check the definition of "fair" in the dictionary, you will see the words "pale, light, blonde."
Yet, while "fair" can refer to anything that "lacks" something, it could also mean something that is "so-so," "middle of the road," or "just right." When I was in grade school, our grades were not numbers but comments, like "outstanding" or "very good" and "fair." To get a grade of "fair" was not failing, but it doesn’t put you among the Einsteins either. It was a grade that put you in the middle of the pack. Also, "fair" refers to something that is "just" and "reasonable" – like a fair judgment, for example. A fair judgment means you are not taking sides but giving whatever is due to everyone. A "fair treatment" of people means you treat everyone the same way without playing favorites. And it is doing what is only right. Like what Jomag is doing. Since he has been given much, it’s only "fair" that he gives back and shares his blessings.
On the other hand, "fair" can also refer to something really positive. Like how it is used in My Fair Lady. Certainly, the word there does not mean "pale" or "so-so." It’s a compliment to the lady. In the olden days, you would often hear complimentary lines from men like, "Oh my fair maiden." And then, of course, "fair" refers to a "festival" or a "celebration." Like school fairs. Or the Philippine Business Fair. When we use it in this context, fair is something really positive – not pale, and not "so-so."
I guess the reason why the meaning of the word "fair" can range from low to medium to high is because "fair" is such a vague word. Oftentimes, it is subjective. Whenever I have to judge a situation or somebody, and I am told, "Please be fair in judging," I get bothered. Why? Because what would be a fair judgment to me may not be a fair judgment to others. I have been tasked to judge so many things – from beauty contests to music awards. And at all those times, I am told to "judge fairly." But almost always, the person I pick doesn’t end up the winner. Why? Because other people had their own opinion as to who deserved to win. As far as they were concerned, they judged fairly.
Oftentimes, our perception of what is fair is not always the one that eventually happens. In our mind a lot of "unfair" things are happening. Like when we’re on the road, we sometimes feel, "it’s unfair that that person is begging for coins while that other person is driving a nice car worth P5 million." But if you ask the person in the car, he might say, "Hey, I got this car out of my own sweat. I worked hard for this. Isn’t it fair that I reward myself for all my hard work?" He has a point, too.
A lot of opposition people are saying that it is unfair that FPJ’s citizenship is being questioned. A popular TV host even said, "It’s unfair to FPJ. It’s not his fault he is illegitimate. Why don’t we just give him a chance?" But if we do that – if we don’t question his citizenship and scrutinize it, what happens to our Constitution? It becomes a meaningless document. If we make FPJ an exception to the natural born citizen requirement, does that mean we make an exception to people who don’t meet the age requirement by a couple of days – simply because they will be qualified in a few months? And how about the can-read-and-write qualification? If a person can write the word "dog," and read it, too (but that’s all he can write), does he pass the can-read-and-write qualification? If we don’t question FPJ’s citizenship, we might as well not question any one else – and consider everyone qualified. Of course, that’s just my opinion. But I’d like to think that my opinion is merely tying to be fair to everyone. If qualification is an issue, by all means we should question it, even if it involved Da King. It is only fair, right? But you will see that we all have different views on fairness.
I don’t have an answer to the age-old question of "What is fair?" All of us have different interpretations. But to me, what matters is our perception of what is fair, and what we do about it. If you think firing people without due process is unfair – and yet, you do it, then you are unfair. On the other hand, if you have been blessed in business, and you think giving others business opportunities is fair — and you do it – then you are being fair.
In the end, you just have to do your fair share.