Ver Pena's Eulogy
April 22, 2021
by Ramon Jocson
Ramon took over as GM of IBM Philippines when I retired in 1994. His appointment was almost a given because he was the Director of Operations in the five years I served as GM. In all of these years, I don’t recall it ever being a typical boss/ subordinate relationship. It was more like working together on the same team. And we made a good team mainly because our styles were completely opposite and complementary. I was the slow and deliberate type and Mon was the fast and furious. As they say, I was the “teka-teka” leader and he was the “sugod lang ng sugod” type.
Even in sartorial style we were different. I would settle for M & S and even Greenhills outfits, but for Mon, it had to be a Lacoste or a Louie Vuitton. I remember kidding him about a photo he posted on facebook - it was his picture sitting on a chair with legs crossed making sure we will not miss seeing his brand new pair of Ferragamo loafers.
Anyway, we worked out well as a team, Ramon made sure we made our quota and I made sure the corporate auditors stayed away.
Beyond IBM, we both pursued second and even third careers. The IBM experience served us well
As a customer of Federal Phoenix, I was accorded the vaunted excellent customer service. I got involved in a minor traffic accident and all it took was a call to Ramon and the claim was quickly settled. Through his facebook posts , I can see how much his employees loved him. That’s the respect for the individual culture of IBM at work again. He celebrated his 70th year milestone with a grand party tendered for him by his employees, complete with dancing girls and costumes.
When I was asked to look for a replacement in my job as CICT Chairman, I spoke to Mon and told him: Mon, ‘palit naman tayo ng trabaho. Its your time to serve your country. Ako naman ang mag annual junket with your agents in all parts of the world. He just smiled at me and said “ano ako – naloloko?“ ; besides, I cannot afford it yet. It was obvious that he was enjoying his job. His style of empowering his people allowed him to take leadership roles becoming President of PIRA – the major association of non-life companies. He also served as President of the very prestigious Management Association of the Philippines.
Bob Romulo, Dimacs, Monjocs and I had frequent lunches in the Zuellig Building. It was either to welcome a visiting ex IBMer or just exchanging current events and gossips in the business community. Bob would always tap the two Ramons to be resource speakers in the seminars he organized. As Monjocs said it, the three of us never stopped being AAs to triple R even after all these years.
Mon also had a spiritual side. I was surprised to see him as a Lector on Sunday masses in Rockwell. It was a side of Mon that was not very evident to me before.
Just three weeks ago, I texted you to ask about an insurance issue. Instead of just replying to my text, you went out of your way to call me and gave me a tutorial on board member liability insurance. Little did I realize that was the last time I will hear your voice. I guess it was your way of bidding goodbye.
Ramon, we will miss your energy, your gregariousness, your love for the good things in life, but never forgetting to serve God and your fellow men.
Farewell, my friend. We will all miss you. Rest in peace.
Ver Pena
Even in sartorial style we were different. I would settle for M & S and even Greenhills outfits, but for Mon, it had to be a Lacoste or a Louie Vuitton. I remember kidding him about a photo he posted on facebook - it was his picture sitting on a chair with legs crossed making sure we will not miss seeing his brand new pair of Ferragamo loafers.
Anyway, we worked out well as a team, Ramon made sure we made our quota and I made sure the corporate auditors stayed away.
Beyond IBM, we both pursued second and even third careers. The IBM experience served us well
As a customer of Federal Phoenix, I was accorded the vaunted excellent customer service. I got involved in a minor traffic accident and all it took was a call to Ramon and the claim was quickly settled. Through his facebook posts , I can see how much his employees loved him. That’s the respect for the individual culture of IBM at work again. He celebrated his 70th year milestone with a grand party tendered for him by his employees, complete with dancing girls and costumes.
When I was asked to look for a replacement in my job as CICT Chairman, I spoke to Mon and told him: Mon, ‘palit naman tayo ng trabaho. Its your time to serve your country. Ako naman ang mag annual junket with your agents in all parts of the world. He just smiled at me and said “ano ako – naloloko?“ ; besides, I cannot afford it yet. It was obvious that he was enjoying his job. His style of empowering his people allowed him to take leadership roles becoming President of PIRA – the major association of non-life companies. He also served as President of the very prestigious Management Association of the Philippines.
Bob Romulo, Dimacs, Monjocs and I had frequent lunches in the Zuellig Building. It was either to welcome a visiting ex IBMer or just exchanging current events and gossips in the business community. Bob would always tap the two Ramons to be resource speakers in the seminars he organized. As Monjocs said it, the three of us never stopped being AAs to triple R even after all these years.
Mon also had a spiritual side. I was surprised to see him as a Lector on Sunday masses in Rockwell. It was a side of Mon that was not very evident to me before.
Just three weeks ago, I texted you to ask about an insurance issue. Instead of just replying to my text, you went out of your way to call me and gave me a tutorial on board member liability insurance. Little did I realize that was the last time I will hear your voice. I guess it was your way of bidding goodbye.
Ramon, we will miss your energy, your gregariousness, your love for the good things in life, but never forgetting to serve God and your fellow men.
Farewell, my friend. We will all miss you. Rest in peace.
Ver Pena