During the Arroyo administration, I used to write against the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for its sins of commission and omission against its members and pensioners. There was even a time when my tirades, directed at the GSIS management at that time, were enumerated in “High Blood” on the Opinion page.
One of the complaints I frequently wrote about was the erstwhile indifference of the GSIS officials and employees to the plight of the people—public school teachers and government workers in various departments, bureaus and agencies—who made possible the continued existence of this institution.
In fact, there were times then when GSIS members and retirees were likened to a “basketball” being passed from “player” (read: table) to player, thus spending long hours, even days, following up their concerns in this agency known for its many perks for officials and employees.
But now, there has been a big change for the better as far as service to members and pensioners is concerned. One commendable instance I can cite happened in the very late afternoon of Dec. 22, 2014, a Monday. Even though it was already around 4:45 p.m., the employees manning the GSIS Pensioners Lounge did not show any sign of impatience or indifference. There were four of them but they saw to it that the remaining GSIS retirees, several of them, would not go home with unfinished business.
The following employees—Joy Pangilinan (the leader of the group), Fe Ramos, Bernadette Reyes and Mary Ann Ponce—extended their service past their official time in a determined effort to help the old retirees, one of whom came from as far as Bulacan.
I should know these details. Before my wife and I left that office, I observed how they served their clients. So, I felt I would be committing a sin of omission if I failed to publicly commend the group of Joy Pangilinan. May your tribe increase. The sooner, the better.
—EUSEBIO S. SAN DIEGO,
founder, Kaguro and fomer president, Quezon City Public School Teachers Association, eusebio_sandiego@yahoo.com