Why Mila asked me to drop by Old Manila

On the day I wrote about the black armbands worn by the waiters and personnel of Old Manila, Manila Pen's premier restaurant, an early morning telephone call came from Mila Magsaysay-Valenzuela, the hotel's public relations manager for the past 24 years. She asked if I could drop by Manila Pen for lunch. The agreed place was, of course, Old Manila.

At high noon, Mila and Manila Pen's labor relations manager Martin P. Samson were there at Old Manila, to tell me the efforts of Manila Pen to settle the brewing controversy with the hotel's labor union, and to explain why Manila Pen has found it terribly difficult to give in to the workers' demands. The harsh economic times, Mila said, are the main reason why Manila Pen could not give more than the P100 per month across-the-board increase offered to the rank-and-file workers.

As recounted by lawyer Samson, there was an original amount of P800 a month that was supposed to be given to every Manila Pen regular employee. This was before the NCR Regional Wage Board came out with its mandated wage hike of P25 a day. When the wage board order was issued, the management of Manila Pen decided that the promised P800 a month per employee would henceforth be used to comply with the mandated wage hike, plus an additional amount of P100.

"No, no, no," said the Manila Pen employees. "The mandated wage hike came from Erap, not Manila Pen. The original agreed amount of P800 is different from what Erap gave," they stressed. In other words, the P800 should be in addition to the more than P700 amount given by Erap through the wage board. This means a cash disbursement of almost P1,600 per employee per month.

This is now the principal issue that the Department of Labor has been trying to mediate for the past several weeks. As of last Friday afternoon, no agreement has been reached between Manila Pen's management and the labor union. Another meeting has been scheduled on March 10. If nothing happens after that date, there might not only be black armbands but also red-lettered streamers carried by the griping workers.

Mila Magsaysay-Valenzuela, who considers herself as the "mother" of everyone in the hotel (she was there from Day 1 of Manila Pen's operations), told me that the hotel's present offer is just a temporary measure, while Manila Pen tries to recover from the shock of the economic crisis. "Probably by next year, more could be offered to the labor union," she said. At this time, there is simply no money to pass around to the 900 workers, Mila added.

When Mila called me up last Monday to ask me to tell the world why Manila Pen is going through labor pains, I immediately agreed. Not only because Mila is such a likeable and excellent public relations practitioner but also because, I understand, the black armbands story has caused some corporate clients to reconsider bringing their guests or holding their functions at the plush Manila Pen. And I am also worried that, if the across-the-board pay hike is not resolved soon, I might find myself unable to savor the delicious and excellent food served at Old Manila by friendly, courteous and high-calibre food attendants who can be dubbed as the pride of Manila Pen.

The Senate committee chaired by Senator Robert Barbers has decided to recommend the confirmation of Alfredo "Fred" Lim as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government. The speed with which the Barbers committee handled the public hearings on Fred's nomination as DILG head proves that there was really no substantive protest lodged against a man whose entire lifetime has been devoted to the service of our country.

Fred Lim had competent and sincere aides to help him carry the day at the Senate's Commission on Appointments. One of them is my good friend Jesus "Jess" Ingeniero who has served at the DILG for the past 45 years, and who has worked for 19 DILG department secretaries. During his entire career at DILG, Ingeniero has never been involved in any scandal, and he has seen to it that his name will never be tarnished. "My integrity is my material wealth," Jess told me in one of the many public occasions when I had the chance to be with him. Ingeniero, who is now a consultant to Fred Lim, can be a big asset in Fred's effort to implement his many plans for the DILG.

Let me acknowledge the donation of P500 to the Good Samaritan Foundation by Dr. Felipe G. De Belen, a retired physician at age 85. Dr. Belen was a classmate of Dr. Manuel Chua Chiaco Sr., who is also a retired physician who is now deeply involved in socially-oriented activities. According to Dr. Chua Chiaco, who personally delivered the donation to my office, Dr. de Belen was inspired by my book, Walking Through the Pathways of Life.

Let me thank, too, Lucille Blake of Florida, USA, who sent US$200 through the House of David. And God bless former Quezon City Vice Mayor Charito Planas, the president of the Quezon City Parks Development Foundation, who sent P2,000; the Board of Directors of the Philippine Water Works Association, an umbrella organization of the country's water supply industry, which sent P20,000, an amount that was originally intended for a Christmas Party but was instead donated to the Good Samaritan Foundation; "Peñafrancia," P5,000 for Lolita Baraquel; and an unnamed donor from Bacolod City, who sent P2,000 through the Far East Bank. Thanks a million!

Here are excerpts from letters I received during the past several days:

PEARL CUNANAN BENGZON, President, Goodwill Industries of the Philippines: "Your presence as the Goodwill's guest and inducting officer was the highlight of our day. The Board was delighted with your pep talk and offers of assistance in areas where you have great clout and influence. I am sure that with your help, we shall attain our goals faster, with clearer vision and greater dedication."

LORETTA C. MORALES P.O. Box 252,2600 Baguio City: "Please help me find out if the Elmer Nocheseda who wrote about the 'Old House of Pateros' in the travel/tourism section edited by Antonio Pano is the same person who stayed in our house way back in the 1980s, when he was yet a student. If he is the one, we would be pleased to see him again."

Art A. Borjal's e-mail address: <[email protected]>