Walking a mile with Raymund John Lopez

I don't dig into the outside surface of his personality but I dig deeper into the gravity of his character. Some maybe are cynical in their judgment which is the cause of distorted image of one’s self. In all human aspect, we need to understand that each one of us have flaws. We are not born perfect in this world. That whatever differences we have, we should learn to align ourselves in the streamline of relationships and human understanding......

He is not a movie handsome guy typically. I would rather say he is simply gorgeous in his own way. Saying gorgeous means to me having magnificent character that I need to dig deeper. I know I would appall the readers or rather would strongly disagree with me. I am not digging into the surface of his physical appearance. Outer appearance is ephemeral in nature. We all grow old. As we grow old, our physical appearance and attributions alter too. I am digging into the deeper intensity of his character which sometimes it is indescribable beyond words. As what Thomas Merton said, adjectives are useless and just a superficial language. You have to know the person by heart.

I met him way back 2009 when I was an agent at the Number Portability Department. He was one of the QAA assigned in Number Portability. Gee, we were not that closed before. I was a taciturn. I often overheard him spoke English. I was nosebleed. I often see him from time to time in Operations. We just meet and greet. Again, we were not that closed. How did we get close? I remembered I wanted to borrow a love story book from him. From that time on, our friendship sparks but not really that intense just like today. Maybe somewhere along the evolution of friendship, a magnetic energy pulled us together. That is what I call gravity. The rest is history.

Time sometimes is like a bandit. Look at him now. He has gone that far. He now leads the Cebu Initiatives. However his designation as Operations Project Team Leader of Cebu Initiatives for sure has raised some eyebrows of some staffs in the Operations and maybe ire of controversies. Designation is not an easy task. It means an extra burden of loads of tasks he needs to carry on every day. In an organization such us ours, it is normal having an environment of pulling-down syndrome. Or in other words, crab mentalities are just lurking around the corner ready to usurp a person in position. It’s like politics. Lots of hullabaloos. Lots of bravado. You don't know your ally. You don't know your enemy. 

I believe that in growing complex competition of survival, it is part of the norm. This type of arguments have become fanfaronade rhetoric but dangerous at times when arguments deal more on emotions. When arguments are of emotional sensitivity, it is harder to have calm and rational analysis of the particular issue. This is the most challenge I observed in Operations. Even I sometimes I am carried with emotions. Belonging in the rank and file, we are benefit seekers. We want to acquire what is good and avoid the bad. When emotions sets-in, we start to throw snarl words and hitting a person below the belt. In simple terms, character assassination.

As I see him walk the floor of Operations, it reminds me of Clyde Wynant, a character in the movie “The Thin Man.” Although thin physically, he is equipped with unequaled quality that resulted to his designation as a Team Leader of Cebu Initiatives. I say he is “the anointed one.” He is my protagonist in this article. When you go to theatrical drama and musical play, audience set their eyes on the main character and the same with him. When he was designated as Team Leader of Cebu Initiatives, multitudes fixed their eyes on him because foremost, he plays the crucial role in decision making under the auspices of the SOM. His twin is nemesis. With the birth of Cebu Initiatives, controversies also arise maybe because the functions were not properly disseminated. In the long run that would be explained. 

Definitely, the guy that I am talking here is no less than Raymund John Lopez. I had a chance to work with Raymund and some other staffs of Cebu Initiatives for a week. I was status quo for almost two weeks. My team was dissolved with the 50-50 distribution of agents. I felt that I was lil lost in the center of the jungle of tall trees. When Raymund approached me if I want to join Cebu Initiatives, I accepted the offer without qualms but with a bludgeoning feeling that I may swam in a puddle of intrigues. Kinda showbiz sometimes in Operations. But that’s the way it is. It gives more spices and you better lick it.

According to Raymund, Cebu Initiatives deals more on mini-administrative supports. If asked if this overlaps or redundancy of such other functions. He said that it never overlaps ER or redundancy of such other functions. It helps lessen the bulk of administrative paper works. It is the backbone of operations. It is composed of workforce of staff given each a specific task to perform to the best of their ability. It cannot be denied that we become envious of the staff assigned there, but one thing, simple mistake will cost a lifetime of incompetence in discharging a given task. That’s a critical part of it. The pressure is laid more on them. The staff there should be more meticulous in decision making that may result to some technicalities in legal matter aspects. The challenge can pump their bums to a maximum level especially when scrutiny are being thrown at them. With my one week stay, it is fun there. They are kinda adopting one concept of Fish! Philosophy – play. And there is nothing to be envious about as long as you are doing the right thing. Poor Raymund, he is bombarded with intrigues right here and then. Yet, I admire him. He is such a cool headed guy dealing with criticisms, dealing with his team and the only lacking maybe is a love life

I often told Raymund, “Hey Raymund, I want to feature you in my personal blog.” It has always been like this. All was just an impasse. It never happened at all. Maybe Raymund think that I am Baloobus (Uggh!) or having loose cranium in my head. The planets revolve around the sun day and night, and so our world revolves around our task. No matter how I’d like to interview Raymund, it ended up stupor. As far as I can remember, I’ve been telling Raymund about this since last year. Goodness, it is difficult indeed to interview a star because of his hectic schedule until finally, I get hold of him.Before the interview, I sent some questionnaires through FB for him to ponder. I was sure the questions pushed his adrenalin. Most were free-willing discussions or whatever curiosity that came out from my mind. Notwithstanding, I need to penetrate into his force field.

THE INTERVIEW PORTION:

What is your magnum opus? Magnum opus simply means great work" or “achievement” of a specific person.

I can say that one of my greatest achievements was being Class President in school. I had never expected that my classmates laid down their trust and confidence in me for casting their votes on me as Class President. I have to do to the best of my capacity to live-up to their expectations as a leader. A leader is there to inspire. 

Secondly, I was elected Chairman of the Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council). SK was the youth programs and projects implementation arm of the government. I had the chance to attend Leadership Training in UP Diliman, Quezon City. This training in some way prepared me to assume a greater responsibility in the future.

Thirdly, I was appointed as Public Information Officer which molded me to establish rapport and camaraderie with people from all walks of life. Meaning to say, I developed a sense of social-interpersonal & intra-personal relationship with others. I am not intelligent but I am wise. I can say I am not book smarts but when I go into a room, I can feel people’s emotions. 

Are you happy about being an Operations Project Team Leader in a very controversial department called Cebu Initiatives? I know the tasks that you have raised eyebrows of so many staff in Qualfon.

Under the blue moon, under the roof of the building and amid the scourging eyes that blew almost my head off, I am definitely happy with Cebu Initiatives. It is a measurement of flexibility and at the same time, measurement of vulnerability in an assigned task. I am happy because I am not handling anymore agents but working with my peers and co-staff. One thing with this new task, I keep my feet firm on the ground and remain friendly the way they have known me before. Position is not something that I need to have my head grow big. As far as practicable, I maintain my humble beginning.

With your appointment as Operations Project Team Leader, how do you deal with intrigues and criticisms? You know you cannot please everybody.

Sensitivity to intrigues is almost the waterloo of everyone. Not all of us can take negativity impact of intrigues and mudslinging in the workplace. Sometimes, it is suicidal to keep on absorbing the negative impact. In my case, I stayed calm. Head over heels! Yet there are times that I need to vent this out to my voracious talker close friends who would wangle out to defend me. At least they are my consolation. I also need allies who can better understand  me and my job. The best thing, I walk straight and remain civil to those who are stabbing me at the back. 

How to do you feel being appointed as Operations Project Team Leader?

Cebu Initiatives existed with my appointment as Project Team Leader. At first, I was scared to hell what will be my role. Who will I work with? How would I deal with people in this department? I had a scatteredbrain. It was challenge indeed when I am given greater responsibility. Everything is blurry. I was thinking if I can do the right thing. But as times goes on, we have directions.

Prior to creation of Cebu Initiatives, I applied as Project Implementation Specialist. I regret I did not make it due to lack of training required by position. This triggers me to accept the challenge in as Team Leader of Cebu Initiatives. 


You are the alter ego of the SOM, how is it working with him? 

I think I am middle of the road situation here. Explicitly speaking SOM Alfie Torres is indefatigable kind of person. He is too bombarded with lots of concerns that he needs to address in a timely manner to achieve smooth sailing flow in the operations. He cannot go against the winds but he has to sail his ship against the strong winds. In other words, he has to follow what is mandated for him to the best of his ability tantamount to reaching equilibrium in operations. Personally, he is has a good heart.

I know that each one of us are looking for a better horizon, do you have plans to leave the portals of Qualfon?

As of now, I am not thinking of leaving Qualfon like finding greener pasture in a foreign land or other companies. I am contented right now. I am happy working hand-in-hand with my colleagues and my co-staffs. I am the kind of person that I can easily adjust to the situations. In short, I am flexible.

What is your philosophy in life?

I don’t think I have a philosophy in life err maybe patience is a virtue.

Describe yourself in 5 words.

I am friendly, funny, religious, versatile and gay.

If you have the power to change something, what do you want to change and why?

I guess I am just contented of what I accrue by now.

What do you like most of your profession?

I deal with different kind of people. Dealing with people with different genre is like a test of time and test of many. Relationships always matters wherever I go.