Dear Enron: An Open Letter 14 Years In The Making

Dear Enron,

It was October of 2001 when your scandal was revealed. I was in my sixth grade then. I remembered Papa watching you on our television set. Hello! Mind you, I didn’t take you up seriously then.

2006, I encountered you again.  Yes, on the pages of one of my accounting books. You were actually a star. I gave you more attention now than then. You were part of my exam after all.

Years passed and overtime I learned how to manage hearing your name without reciting the issues that led to your demise. But with a sudden twist of fate, here we are again. How are you? How are they? 

Your story is a page turner. Big shot energy firm with high market value per share plummeting down the drain, executives living lavish lifestyle then held captive for corruption, greed, fraudulent transactions, window dressing, obsession with money, conflict of interest, poor governance, depreciating sense of corporate culture, manipulation of accounting records and books, and insider trading. Bam! It all boiled down to loyal employees losing their jobs, investments, and retirement benefits. It has all the elements to win a Nobel. 

Looking at you after 14 years while I am in graduate school proves that you are the best example of an ethics lesson. Thanks to your story, I was able to learn that:

People are people. We are made of different beliefs, goals, and interests. Most of the time, we have conflicting views and in business these conflicting views can be detrimental not only on the company but for each of its employees. We do not serve only ourselves but others as well.

Corporate culture starts from up then goes down. Upper management has the responsibilities and obligations to establish a culture that is based on good ethics and governance.  What it sets as an example will cascade down to its employees. We don’t want blind people navigating our spaceship towards a meteorite. Be good, be always good!

Profits are just mere figures. People are the real value. I know that I cannot compete with traditional idea that business is for profit. However, I don’t want to be boxed inside its four corners without having to say my piece. There is no need for convincing. I do not need to convince you, my dear, that what you have done for profit with your people at stake was wrong. No. There is no need. Because you are completely wrong from the very beginning. 

Businesses and business persons nowadays do not need to wait 14 years to hear and learn from your story. Everything is just a matter of mindset and ethical behaviour. But the sad part is not everyone are like that. I know, somewhere out there, there are firms that are like you. And so, I am knocking on each door for them to hear me. 

Above all, everyone can be a change agent for the good.

Regards, 

Anne

Service Learning Day 2: An Early Christmas Treat

Since December was near and the holiday season was getting closer, our group’s second Service Learning activity dwelt on this idea as we gave the 51 children of Barangay Oranbo an early Christmas treat.

The activity includes: Stop Dance, Newspaper Dance, and Kalamansi Relay

There was also performances from the talented kids of Oranbo

And lots of gift giving.

At the end of the day, I felt delighted. It really is a great feeling when you give and share your blessings to others. It was complete happiness when I saw the children enjoying the party and appreciating every bit of it. My heart also felt an instant joy when we were asked by the Pastor to continue with our CSR activities and even invited us to do it again on their community. Our efforts for making them happy succeeded.

For A Better World

Let’s open our eyes to a better a world - a place of safety, harmony, and unity.

Let’s learn how to appreciate life and give back.

Small, minute, material.

Let’s change for the better.

Let’s change for ourselves and others.

Let us be the spark, let us be the light. 

Service Learning Day 1: A "Profitable" Experience

       Coming from a banking institution and with business as a background, I found our first day of Service Learning (SL) a recap of what I used to impart to other students when I was in college and a continuation of our institution’s advocacy for financial education.

Our group’s first SL activity is entitled “Tara, Ipon Na’t Kumita Tayo”. 

It was divided into two segments with the Ipon Session as the first part, discussed and presented by me, KR, and Dianne. We were chosen for this part because we are all from the banking sector. The second part catered to the Kumita segment and was presented by Emy, Snow, Candy, and Lizette. Jan, Nikki, and Xiel were the overall in charge/supervisors of the event.

IPON Part - discussion about why we need to save, basic know-how on how to save, and    where to save. 

   There was also an activity on financial planning where mothers of Barangay Oranbo made a monthly income and expense sheet that could help in saving.

KUMITA PART - discussion about what we can do with our savings and business opportunities. The participants were taught how to plant tomato seeds, and make pizza rolls and graham balls. 

In conclusion, I was able to see money and banking in a different light. Most of the participants do not have enough money to consider as savings and some have negative net worth or deficit that they do not know when and how to start saving. It was also an opportunity for me, as someone who has the skills in banking, to share my knowledge and impart some tips that could help the participants on their quest for financial freedom. I hope that I was able to open their minds on the idea that saving for the future is important as breathing and that time is of the essence when we talk about money and investments. Above all, the activity is a learning experience for me and my teammates because it made us see that using our talents and background, we were able to improve something that we thought we cannot be improve - that is the money mindset of many.