GROWING up, my late mother would always tag me along whenever she visited Cebu City for either work or personal reasons. And whenever we did, we always stayed in the house of Nang Naty Gonzaga. Nang Naty, in my kid’s eyes, was an expert city driver. She would drive us around Cebu City.
As a kid whose parents were friends with the Gonzaga couple, I got to know them more personally growing up. I remember feeling fearful around Nong Boy because he seldom spoke. He just looked at you and nodded. And that’s about it.
Nang Naty is of course the epitome of engaging conversation and friendly accommodation and what a beauty she was and still is! I remember my mother called her “Jeanne Young” of the popular “Spin-A-Win” TV program.
These short visits continued until I was in college, and they had transferred to a posh village which also amazed me since Cebu at that time to me, was like the most modern city in Central Visayas.
One time in one of our frequent visits, Nong Boy asked me what course I took and where I went to school and that was about it.
Then I graduated college without fanfare because I didn’t get to be an honor student, haha, but this isn’t my story, so never mind that.
Amidst my rebellion post-college, one day, my parents sat me down and said, “Send an application letter to National Power Corporation (NPC) in Cebu City.” I said I want to work in Manila. You know how we island girls want to work in the big cities; it didn’t exclude me. My mother said, “We will allow you to leave Bohol but only if you work in Cebu. That’s our compromise.” I naturally took it.
After I mailed my application, I received a letter a week thereafter detailing the requirements to work for the power company. I was elated! Freedom!
I was young and naïve when I went to the office to submit my papers. My parents told me to pay a courtesy call on the Vice President, Asisclo T. Gonzaga. So, I did. I was self-debating whether to call him, “Nong Boy” or “Sir” because he was a top executive and I was an applicant, no longer the lanky kid who used to visit their home.
In the end, “Nong Boy” prevailed. I remember Carmela Ramos (Castillo) who served as his secretary kindly seated me and asked me to wait awhile.
Then, I was allowed entry into his huge office, and I greeted him. It was a crisp conversation, but it was longer than all the other previous conversations I had with him! I began working on June 16, 1988, I was 22 years old.
I couldn’t remember when “Nong Boy” changed to “Sir ATG”. Was it three months after? Because you see, one workday, as I was walking along the corridor from the other side, Vice President Gonzaga was also walking towards his office. There was no way that our paths wouldn’t cross. I thought of retreating, but it was too late, so I braced myself, and when our paths finally crossed, I uttered my pleasantries. I thought no conversation would follow that, but he stopped and said, “Cumusta naman ka Bett?” “Okay lang imong work?” Asa mang ka puyo?” I was startled, haha, I didn’t expect it! I responded and I thought that was the end of it. But apparently, it wasn’t the end of it because when I was about to proceed to my workstation, everyone in the Engineering Department was looking strangely at me and followed me with the “look” until I sat.
Then someone bravely asked, “Ig-unsa diay mo ni ATG, Bett”? Again, I was astonished by the question. I explained briefly and he said, “No wonder. We couldn’t believe that the vice president would stop and chat with you because he hardly speaks to anyone!” And so, the legend began, the legend being that Sir ATG was my Ninong. He was not but it’s too tiresome to explain to everyone, so I let them be.
Funny thing, the legend followed me until Mindanao because after Visayas, he also became the Vice President of NPC-Mindanao.
Sir ATG was a man of few words, but I was awed by his brilliance – he was a board topnotcher in electrical engineering in his era; his calm – when our building was shaken by a strong earthquake and all second-floor personnel were running towards the exit, with his typical right elbow leaning on the door frame simply said, “Nganong nanagan mana sila. Let’s just stay put. Moundang ra na.” I was scared to my wits because we were at the second floor but his reassuring words held my feet; his vision – he organized the NPC-VRC Executives Toastmasters Club which honed my public speaking skills for two solid years even if I was not a member because I was asked to speak during meetings and more so because all the magnificent speakers of Cebu were guests during our weekly meetings and I was privileged to hear their superb speeches; his capacity to execute the plans of the NPC presidents he served for the Visayas Region – the Visayas interconnection projects, up to Mindanao – the operation of Agus 1 Hydroelectric Plant under his stewardship as vice president [For a brief background: Construction of the plant started on February 01, 1979 but dates of commercial operation for Unit I – June 23, 1992 and Unit II – March 30, 1994 happened on his watch]; his resilience in the face of personal adversity which he shared during one speech he gave before he was transferred to Mindanao; his quiet support which I had received while serving NPC-Visayas and NPC-Mindanao; and his dedication to his craft no matter the slew of criticisms. Mind you, the criticisms were harsh.
Having worked in the power industry at a young age taught me professionalism, sharpened my love for public service, honed my public speaking skills, and maximized my writing talent.
All these wouldn’t have happened had Sir ATG not believed in me.
Farewell, Nong Boy. Thank you for the gift of the power industry.
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Note: Engr. Asisclo T. Gonzaga served the power industry as Vice President of National Power Corporation-Visayas and National Power Corporation-Mindanao, Chief Executive Officer and President of National Transmission Corporation, Chief Operations Officer of National Power Corporation, and President of Sta. Clara Power Corporation. He served the power industry for more than 40 years.
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The writer hosts Woman Talk with Belinda Sales at 91.1 Balita FM Tagbilaran City every Saturday, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. She can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie/PN
