THE recent floods in mostly Luzon reminded us once more about insurance policies. Why because many vehicles, both old and new, fell victim to the massive inundations caused by typhoons Quinta and Rolly Ulysses, whose combined wrath and fury came in senseless succession, as in three thugs ganging up on a hapless chap, mauling him into submission while he was heading home from work late at night. What a rage—useless, utterly destructive.
Now comes the poor vehicle-owner asking help from his insurer.
Will he receive aid, financial mostly?
Or will he get the usual reply?
“Sorry, but we can’t help you,” the insurer might probably say?
“Your vehicle getting submerged in floods was the result of a typhoon. An act of God.”
Really? Is God that cruel as to inflict harm on its flock wholesale?
He uses typhoon to punish us, to send the faithful falling on their knees, in the process begging relief from their insurers?
Of all the nation’s insurance companies, I think it is only Standard that does not invoke the “Act of God” line in treating its customers? Here’s a glass to that.
About time the government agency tasked to oversee insurance policies took a decisive stand on this issue.
Our country being the Earth’s favorite typhoon path—we have an average 20 typhoons a year—it’s but right and logical that that “Act of God” policy be stricken off permanently.
God will only be too happy to be freed from the blame game.
Socco speech
HERE’S another speech I adore, coming no less from Vince S. Socco, Toyota’s legendary executive without almost an equal. It was delivered during the first “physical event” occasioned by the lunch hosted by Chairman Alfred Ty of Toyota Motor Philippines. Here:
“Good afternoon, everyone. I did not want to be the guy standing between you and your lunch but I drew the short straw today. Please allow me a few minutes to share some brief remarks with you.
“The pandemic has not disappeared. It’s still with us and is as dangerous as ever. That is the sad truth. What is different now, though, is that after eight months—TO THE DAY—of living with the virus, we have begun to understand how to reduce the spread of infections.
“With this growing understanding and continued compliance with health protocols, the number of new infections has gone down significantly. We pray it stays there. And although we must continue to keep our guard up, we are now better armed to co-exist with the virus and carefully, step-by-step, join the move to rebuild lives and livelihood, to restart business and the economy.
“When enhanced community quarantine was announced on March 16, everyone was caught unprepared. But it was immediately apparent to us that we needed to stand with our team members and associates in that most difficult of times. We decided that we would not lay-off any of our employees and that we would sustain their pay even with the suspension of work. We continued to do so even as the two-week ECQ rolled into months. Not many companies could do this but we were deeply committed to the welfare and well-being of our members.
“Today, as business starts to recover, we are happy that our team members stand with us again, as they always have. Last May our factory in Santa Rosa restarted operations on one-shift. Last September, we resumed two-shift operations.
“The resumption of full operations in Santa Rosa is very significant for us. It not only means that Toyota has reopened its doors but that it is—together with the rest of the automotive industry—lending its support to the revival of the Philippine economy.
“This is the story we would like to talk with you about over lunch today. The need to support economic recovery and the role that the automotive industry plays, particularly. Thank you.
“Our operations in Santa Rosa—as with Mitsubishi—have a multiplier effect on the economy and that is why it is a very vital part of the restart of the manufacturing industry. Our entire supply chain of 55,000 Filipinos—factory workers, local suppliers, logistics providers, dealers and business partners—are all depending on the increase in local production and overall sales.
“We believe this is an important story to tell in our partnership with the Philippine government towards rebuilding our nation. While we continue to import vehicles to meet the growing and diverse mobility needs of the country, we have no doubt that producing vehicles locally is an even more essential part of the economic recovery efforts of the government.
“So, while we have prepared a hopefully wonderful lunch for everyone, I hope that our conversation about the primacy of local production will also be as meaty and as juicy. We are ready to share our story.
“Let us enjoy our lunch.”
PEE STOP Happy birthday to Admiral Louie Fernandez, the best chief of staff that the Armed Forces of the Philippines never had. Not known to many, the retired Philippine Navy chief is a be-medaled wine expert whose appetite for everything good in life is second to none. May you have many more birthdays, Pareng Admiral, so that your friends that are legions may constantly and sweetly share with you a life of lasting joy. Cheers!