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Vol. 5. No.3 August 2005
JAKA Celebrates its 31st Founding Anniversary
by GBDeBustos
In simple ceremonies, JAKA Investments Corporation observed its 31st founding
anniversary last August 8, 2005.
The day started with the celebration of the Holy Mass by Rev. Fr. Antero
Sarmiento, who traditionally celebrates first Friday Mass with the employees
at the JAKA Center. This was followed by a boisterous awarding ceremony
for the recently-concluded JAKA Sportsfest, and then by a celebratory
lunch for all JAKA associates. The company’s principal, Senator
Juan Ponce Enrile, took time out from his hectic schedule in Senate and
broke bread with the senior officers of the company.
Notwithstanding the relative simplicity of the affair, the anniversary
evoked poignant memories for the old-timers in the company. Pioneer employee
and Vice President “Tita Offie” Galura of the Office of the
Chairman recalled the early years of the company and said, “I am
thankful to our principals who have given all of us the opportunity to
join the company and to provide for our families. I am also thankful to
the Almighty for all the blessings that He has bestowed on us and to JAKA.”
In wishing a happy 31st anniversary to the principals and to all JAKA
associates, Tita Offie offered these words of wisdom: “Let us put
all our acts together so that JAKA will weather the on-going economic
crisis. With all the hard working, competent and committed officers and
employees that we have, I sincerely believe that the company can achieve
its set targets. May God bless our principals, our company and every one
of us.”
The Business Unit Head for the Property and Security Group, Mr. Persiverando
M. Lukban, had these words to say: “It has been a demanding experience
working in JAKA. Knowing that the company has endured the challenges of
business for the past 31 years will give us the confidence to confront
the new challenges of the next 31 years,” said SVP Percy Lukban.
“Hopefully, everybody will all be around to celebrate by then.”
It may have been a relatively simple affair, but one that nonetheless
commemorated an important milestone in the company’s history. Happy
31st, everyone!
SOFTWHITE COTTON 2005's Most Outstanding Cotton
Brand
by ELBasilio
Softwhite Cotton, the proprietary cotton brand of JAKA Distribution, Incorporated
was awarded by the Parangal sa Pamilyang Pilipino & Organization for
Peace and Progressive Oriented Incorporated as the Most Outstanding Cotton
Brand for the year 2005. This accolade is given more significance by the
fact that Softwhite Cotton has been in been in the market in just a little
more than five years.
Softwhite Cotton is made from high grade cotton fibers. No wonder the
product is far more absorbent and gentler than its competitors in the
market to date. Its superior white color indicates the high quality of
raw materials used in its production. Available packaging includes the
15g, 50g and 100g packs for cotton rolls, and the 50, 150, 300 piece cotton
balls. The product’s new packaging, which sports a distinctive blue
color assures instantaneous consumer recognition as it contrasts sharply
with its plain white counterparts.
Softwhite Cotton is distributed nationwide on principal groceries and
supermarkets, by JAKA Distribution, Incorporated.
Magandang Umaga JAKA ! An off - the - cuff
state of the Business Report by SEVP Tony Lim
by MMMarin
It has been quite some time since the staff of Infocus was able to corner
our elusive – others may say reclusive - Senior Executive Vice President,
Mr. Antonio J. Lim and have him share his thoughts on the company with
the rest of JAKA associates. Determined to do something to correct the
situation, we took his secretary Tess Ruiz into our confidence and made
an accomplice out of her. In less time than it takes to say “Open,
Sesame!” an appointment was logged and an interview set.
Known with simple affection in the company as “AJL” or “Tony”,
this seasoned veteran of 26 years in the JAKA Group of Companies literally
rose from the ranks. He started out as a Junior Auditor in Royal Match,
Incorporated, rising to the position he holds today after successful stints
holding key positions in different JAKA affiliates. And nope, he is not
a recluse. He keeps an open door policy so that anybody who needs to discuss
business with him may feel free to do so anytime of the day – that
is if he is not embroiled in outside meetings with business partners or
giving a personal on-the-spot reports to the company’s principals.
For this 31st anniversary issue, the staff of Infocus asked Boss Tony
a question that was foremost in the minds of most JAKA associates: “Boss,
how goes the business?”.
“Good, good,” said Tony, flashing his trademark grin. “The
company is doing a lot better now than it did the last few years. We may
not have reached our pre-1997 crisis levels, but it seems like we have
finally arrested our seven-year downward trend last year and we expect
to experience a bit of a growth this year.” Lest everyone start
celebrating prematurely, AJL cautioned that things will not be as simple
as it would seem. “If we continue with our fiscal discipline and
continue to identify and exploit the opportunities available in the market,
then can reasonably hope to replicate our initial successes during the
first semester of this year through the end of the year.”
“Unfortunately, there are certain forces beyond our control that
again threatens to derail our plans. Foremost among these would be the
looming oil crisis that exerts inflationary pressures not only in the
local consumer market, but also in the global markets. Second is the impending
implementation of the expanded value added tax in the country. Third is
the increasing political instability of the country. All these would tend
to negatively affect consumer confidence and reduce consumer spending.
If that happens, then business revenues would again decrease and it will
again be a matter of survival of the fittest.”
So how does the company intend to address this situation, asked Infocus.
“By our continued and strict adherence to fiscal discipline,”
replied AJL. “Regardless of whether the business and economic climate
in the country improves or deteriorates, we have to strictly abide by
the fiscal measures we have implemented several years ago. Only by keeping
costs down and continuously improving our efficiencies can we hope to
survive in this highly unpredictable economy.”
“When the company realized that the economy was headed for a recession
during the closing years of the 1990s, our principals gave very explicit
instructions: reduce our group-wide loan exposure, exploit our inherent
strengths and to cut our losses where we are weakest. That strategy allowed
JAKA to survive better than most other companies in the country. From
a little over Php 2.6 billion, the aggregate loan exposure of the company
was reduced to a little less than Php 500.0 million. The difficult decision
of divesting the company of affiliates that does not contribute to group-wide
profitability was made and implemented, while the company’s core
businesses took a more assertive stance in the local market.”
“We are lucky that our principals were very supportive of the company
even during the worst of the crisis period. They could have easily divested
themselves of the certain companies and placed their money in the bank
where it would earn them interest with little or no apprehensions at all,”
Tony reflected. “But no – they were concerned about the wellbeing
of the employees whom they considered as part of their family and sacrificed
whatever additional income they could have earned in the effort to keep
the companies as intact as possible.”
AJL likewise gave credit to the company’s senior management in
keeping the JAKA group viable as a going concern. “The Management
Committee, with KPE at the helm as President and CEO were instrumental
in rationalizing the operations of the different affiliate companies.
There were times when the merits of an action plan were passionately argued
during business reviews, but once the decision has been made, everybody
resolutely implements the decision. It was teamwork all the way.”
“Under the leadership of our President and Chief Executive Officer,
Ms. Katrina Ponce Enrile, crisis management measures were implemented,”
said Tony. “But these were undertaken without stifling the possibility
of growth in certain niche markets. This process of identifying and selecting
pockets of opportunities allowed the company to generate the needed revenues
to replace those that were lost from our traditional markets. As such,
the company was able to effectively evolve and address the challenge of
adverse economy.”
So, what is new with JAKA, we asked. Boss Tony obliged us by giving a
run-down on a per company basis.
From a company whose mandate was to merely supply the match wood requirements
of its affiliates, Casilayan Softwood Development Corporation recently
acquired a wood processing license and has evolved into a fully-integrated
wood processing company. It currently manages three industrial forest
plantations and not only continues to provide the match wood requirements
of JAKA Equities Corporation, but it also manufactures for sale to third
party clients processed wood products such as veneer, core board and hardwood
lumber. The company plans to further expand its operations by next year
if not earlier.
JAKA Equities Corporation on the other hand, further strengthened its
dominant hold on the local safety match market. With the successful launch
of the Fuego water-proof safety match and improved quality of EMI and
Guitar match brands, it would seem that the company will continue to be
one of the bigger contributors to group-wide profitability. The company
is likewise looking into plans to manufacture its own proprietary consumer
product lines aside from safety matches.
We all know about Tropical Secrets virgin coconut oil, the new product
being manufactured by Pacific Royal Basic Foods, Incorporated. The company
will soon introduce its pandan-infused virgin coconut oil and is currently
studying the feasibility of manufacturing other coconut-based personal
care products. The company to look out for however, is JAKA Food Processing
Corporation. The company intends to integrate its business closer to the
consumer by opening its own food stalls and food carts offering meals
and snacks using processed meat manufactured by JFPC. These food service
outlets – which are intended for franchise offer - will be unveiled
by the company within the next few months, and AJL would not like to pre-empt
the by giving additional details at this point in time and letting the
cat out of the bag.
Notwithstanding the slump in the property market, the Property Group
made good its promise to complete the Splendido Taal golf course. The
ground-breaking ceremony and cornerstone laying for the permanent golf
clubhouse was undertaken in late 2003, and construction itself is in full
swing. The Soto Grande residential development project was sold out less
than a year after it was launched, and the property group is currently
studying other development projects that it can enter into. Even the Security
Group has started to flex its muscles with the opening of its security
training academy – the Sigma Institute for Security and Protection
Training, Incorporated – with its outdoor training facility located
at Splendido Taal.
JAKA Distribution has concentrated its distribution to match, paper,
cotton, coil and vco products and was able to further improve its cost
efficiencies. The company played a key role in the continued domination
of the company’s safety match lines in the local market, and it
aiming to replicate its success with the virgin coconut oil line. JDI
is likewise expanding its logistics services and is expected to sign up
some prestigious consumer name-brands within the year. And of course,
JAKA Securities Incorporated continues to provide financial advisory and
stock brokerage services.
“The past few years have been difficult for everyone,” said
Tony. “This is particularly true not only for the principals and
management, but more so for the rank-and-file employees. I am grateful
that despite the sacrifices they had to endure during the crisis period,
our employees understood the need to make do with less and remained committed
to achieving the company’s goals and objectives. It is this “malasakit”
exhibited by each and everyone in their own little ways that helped ensure
the survival of the company. I am sure that our principals are very well
aware of this and that such concern and self-sacrifice will not remain
unrewarded for long.
What about the future? The question brought another patented smile from
Tony. “The future JAKA will be a lot different from the JAKA today,”
he said. “Since the onset of the 1997 financial crisis, our principals
have always advocated a paradigm shift in the company’s operations,
from the traditional brick-and-mortar manufacturing concerns to something
that is pioneering and non-traditional. Now that we have consolidated
the company’s resources and strengthened our core competencies,
we are now afforded the luxury of looking at the farther horizons. Among
others, our President and CEO has given the Management Committee instructions
to look into a varied field of non-traditional businesses such as utilities,
tourism and information technology.”
“But that is still in the intermediate future. What I would like
to do now is to count our blessings and appreciate the fact that we are
now seeing the dawn of new beginnings for the company,” said Tony
in conclusion.
Well, things are really starting to look up for the company. To paraphrase
the popular Javellana novel “Hindi na malayo ang umaga, JAKA!”
Sigma Training Institute initiates Second
VIP Security Training Course
by ELBasilio
Praetorian Guards. In the realm of legend and ancient history, these hand-picked
and specially trained warriors in the art of close-quarter combat were
tasked with the personal safety and security of Roman emperors. In their
modern day incarnation of close-in protection officers, these personal
security officers represent the best of the very best security guardsmen
available in the security industry today.
The prevailing peace and order situation in the country today coupled
with the continuing threats of crimes against persons - from petty hold-ups
to kidnappings for ransom – is a major cause of concern not only
those for the security conscious, but also for ordinary law-abiding citizens.
It is no surprise therefore that demand for the services of protection
officers by the high net worth individuals and public figures are on the
rise. Cognizant of this fact, the Sigma Institute for Security and Protection
Training, Incorporated – otherwise known as the Sigma Training Institute
initiated last August 1, 2005 its second VIP Security Training Course
at Sigma’s training facility in Splendido Taal, Batangas.
“Rigorous training is a key component in Sigma’s VIP Security
Program,” said Capt. Gregor Mendel A. Panelo – Chief Security
Officer of the JAKA Group of Companies and Training Director of the Sigma
Training Institute. “Each applicant underwent a battery of physical,
psychological and intelligence quotient examinations in order determine
their qualifications even before they can undergo the training course.
Those that qualified had to survive ‘Hell Week’ – literally
a 7-day period of hard labor and exercise in extremely difficult living
conditions. This allowed the applicants to bring themselves physically
back to form, shedding excess weight and building up their strength and
stamina. Only the survivors of hell week were allowed to push through
with the training program and be considered as actual ‘trainees’”.
As expounded by Capt. Panelo, Sigma’s VIP training program is built
on three foundations: tactical training which includes physical conditioning,
firearms proficiency, and close-quarter combat; threat recognition which
includes reconnaissance and counter-surveillance as well as proper security
decorum. The training program will ran through most of the month of August,
with the graduates of the VIP security course slated to be fielded for
close-in duty both for the company's principals as well as third party
clients.
White Team Dominates 2005 Sportsfest !
by GBDeBustos
The White Team’s strong showing in the volleyball and table tennis
events earned them bragging rights this year as the team was crowned overall
champion for the recently-concluded 2005 JAKA Sportsfest.
Four color teams – Red, White, Blue and Green – vied for
this year’s competition which ran for the period May 18 to July
19, 2005. Team members were selected based on a player draft, which allowed
teams to be formed as a composite from the different JAKA units. The event
provided the participants to showcase their athletic prowess by competing
in the volleyball, darts, table tennis and bowling events.
The JAKA Sportsfest is an annual tradition among JAKA employees that
seeks to promote the spirit of camaraderie and teamwork among and between
competitors. The success of the endeavor in attaining its objective became
apparent during the awarding ceremony when team members raucously cheered
their respective team captains as they received their corresponding cash
rewards on stage, i.e., Julio Sibal of the Property Group for the White
Team, Erna Bolos of MIS for the Blue Team, Carol Agero of Legal for the
Green Team and Jose Berdos of DCN Marketing for the Red Team.
For the record, the Blue Team smashed all opposition as it took top honors
in the bowling event, while the Green Team took the bull’s eye in
darts. The Red Team may have been the low man on the totem pole this year,
but it did not prevent them from cheering the loudest during the awarding
ceremony. I am sure that the subsequent victory parties will be the highlights
of this year’s sportsfest.
This year’s sportsfest revealed that the winnability of each team
is dependent in lesser degree to the individual skills and abilities of
each team member, and more on the team’s solidarity and commitment.
The Human Resources Department, which spearheads this annual event, is
confident that the espirit d’ corps inculcated among sportsfest
participants will manifest itself in the conduct of official business
among JAKA employees and helping build a stronger and more cohesive organization.
It was a tasked well done for JAKA’s Human Resources Department,
and they – much as all the participants in the different sporting
events held during this year’s sportsfest – deserve our heartfelt
congratulations. Kudos!
The Hunted Baguio Tour
by ELBasilio
Led by its new set of officers, the JAKA Adventure Club recently held
a general membership meeting last September 6, 2005, to welcome its new
members and laid out its plans for the fourth quarter of 2005. Newly appointed
as adventure club president was Louie Angostora of MIS, with Belen Fabicon
of the Property Group retained as treasurer. Gem de Bustos of Strat Cell
was appointed as secretary of the adventure club.
The recent membership drive undertaken by the adventure club resulted
in the enrollment not only of new employees, but also some of the older
ones. This came as a bit of a surprise for the newly-appointed president,
who explained. “The JAKA Adventure Club is open to any and all interested
JAKA associates anytime they want to join.” The activities of the
adventure club are relatively straightforward: To conduct fund-raising
activities that would generate funds to help alleviate the expenses to
be incurred while going on adventure trips. “Our objective is not
to go on out-of-town trips per se, but rather to promote camaraderie and
team spirit among JAKA employees. The out-of-town trips are merely the
venues where these activities are being conducted. What we want to inculcate
to the minds of our members is that there is more to working in JAKA than
just work alone – working in JAKA can also be fun and adventurous.
“To serve as a de facto ‘initiation rite’ to its new
members, the JAKA Adventure Club is planning to go on a ghost-hunting
expedition to Baguio this coming Halloween,” said Louie. Called
‘The Haunted Baguio Tour’, the proposed trip is scheduled
for October 29 to November 1, 2005, with spectral hunting activities that
includes among others a four-day, three-night stay in one of the oldest
hotel in Baguio City that could very well serve as the venue for Amityville
Horror, a visit to what may be the inspiration to Stephen King’s
Pet Sematary and a hike through the woods ‘ala Blair Witch Project
to visit the site of the old Hyatt Terraces Baguio. “The highlight
of the trip would be Halloween night at Spirits,” said Louie. Spirits
is a disco that is built in one of the old haunted mansions in Baguio
City.
Those interested to join the JAKA Adventure Club may call Louie Angostora
at local 228.
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