Les Hommes d' Affaires Series 1 - Marvey Zablan

Chapter 3

"I WILL announce your appointment as the new president and CEO at the company's anniversary celebration next week."

"That soon?" medyo dismayadong sabi ni Marvey sa ipinahayag ng kanyang ama. Kararating lang niya mula sa isang linggong business conference sa Belgium. He was expecting he could at least rest for a while. Pero kung ganoong plano na nitong ianunsiyo sa lahat ang pagreretiro nito, wala na siyang bakasyong puwedeng asahan. He would need to take over his position.

Kumunot ang noo nito. "Ano pa ba ang hihintayin natin, hijo? You've already trained under my direct supervision. And you have attended the most prestigious business conference in the whole world. Sigurado akong marami kang natutuhan doon na puwede mong gamitin sa pagma-manage mo ng kompanya. You're ready to assume my position, I suppose."

Totoo ang sinabi nito. Marami siyang natutuhan sa dinaluhan niyang business conference. They had none other than Bill Gates as their guest speaker. Marami itong ibinahaging tips kung paano nito pinamamahalaan ang multibillion-dollar business nito. Bukod doon ay nagkaroon pa siya ng mga kaibigang Pilipino na kasabay niyang dumalo rin doon bukod kay JP. He was even surprised that most of them came from the same age bracket.

"Marvey..."

Muli siyang napatingin sa ama. His face looked older now. O sa tingin lamang niya iyon dahil alam niyang namomroblema ito sa pag-aalinlangan na ipinapakita niya.

"Kailan mo ba ako balak palitan, Marvey?" diretsang tanong nito sa kanya.

"Can I ask you a question, 'Pa?"

"Sure."

Ilang sandali siyang nag-alangan. But the question had been nagging him for quite some time now, he thought it was time to do something about it. "Bakit gusto mo nang magretiro, 'Pa? I mean, the company is doing very well under your supervision. You are at your prime." Tiningnan niya ito nang mataman. 

"Huwag ninyong sabihin na napapagod na kayo sa pamamahala sa kompanyang alam kong mahal na mahal ninyo? Walang maniniwala sa inyo dahil nakikita ng lahat na nag-e-enjoy pa kayo sa mga ginagawa n'yo. Why would you want to give up this all this soon?" 

Bumuntong-hininga ito bago sinagot ang tanong niya. "I strongly object to what you said that I want to give this all up this soon. I've been managing the company for... what?" Sandaling tila nagkuwenta ito sa isip. 

"For more than thirty years of my life. Day in, day out, I'm always on the go. All for the good of the company. And I'm telling you now, it's not that easy. There were lots of perks because of the success. Fat money in the bank, cars, prime properties and the likes. But there are also a lot of sacrifices. Ang pinaka- matinding sakripisyo ay ang kakaunting oras na naibigay ko sa mama mo sa mga nakalipas na taon. Although she's more than willing to take the backseat, dahil alam niya kung gaano kahalaga sa akin ang kompanya."

"Pero ngayon na alam kong handa ka nang ipagpatuloy ang sinimulan ko, sa palagay ko ay panahon na para bumawi ako sa pagtitiis ng mama mo. Take her to the ballroom without thinking of the workload waiting at my office the next day, prepare her some breakfast in bed which she truly deserves and devote to her all of my time for the next few years of my life." Tiningnan siya nito. "Don't you think your mother deserves all those?"

Napahiya siya sa kanyang sarili sa mga narinig. All the while he was taking his time to avoid the responsibility, his father was thinking about making it up with his mother. Habang tinatakasan niya ang pagpalit sa posisyon nito ay hindi na pala nito mahintay na makasama ang kanyang ina. Noon niya lubos na naunawaan ang pagmamadali nitong palitan niya ito sa posisyon nito.

"I know I am being a helpless romantic," mayamaya ay natatawang sabi nito. "But what can I do? Kailan ko pa ipapakita sa mama mo ang pagmamahal ko? Kapag pareho na naming hindi kayang sayawin ang paborito naming cha-cha?"