A driver’s uplifting tale of overcoming poverty
Three decades ago, in the quiet town of San Carlos, Negros Occidental, a young grade 5 student named Dixon Alfabete, affectionately known as Dodong, faced a challenging reality. Hailing from an impoverished family, Dodong, the youngest of three siblings, had to halt his education and take on various odd jobs to contribute to the family’s meager income.
In the midst of financial struggles, Dodong could not envision a bright and stable future. However, fate took a transformative turn when he crossed paths with Anthony “Ka Tunying” Taberna, the president and CEO of Taberna Group of Companies (TGC), a renowned broadcast journalist. Ka Tunying offered Dodong a job as a salon assistant and occasional family driver, providing a glimmer of hope.
As life progressed, Dodong’s journey took a complete turnaround. When the parlor closed, he became a baker at Ka Tunying’s restaurant, marking a significant step towards a more prosperous life.
“Mula noon tuluy tuloy na ang pagganda ng buhay ko. Salamat kina Mr. at Mrs. T sa mga oportunidad. Hindi ko inakalang mula sa pagiging magsasaka at tricycle driver sa probinsya ay magkakaroon ako ng tsansang umunlad (From then on my life has changed for the better. I am grateful to Mr. and Mrs. T for the opportunities. I never thought that from being a farmer and a tricycle driver, I could rise from poverty one day),” Dodong expressed gratefully.
Dodong’s success story is just one of many within the TGC family, all of whom celebrated with grand production numbers during the company’s annual employee appreciation party, fittingly named “Ikaw ang Regalo Ko,” held last Thursday (Jan. 4).
Generously hosted by Ka Tunying and his better half, TGC’s vice president and chief operating officer, Rossel Taberna, or Mrs. T, the annual recognition is a highly anticipated event for employees. It provides them with the opportunity to dress up, showcase their achievements, and express their gratitude for the company’s support.
This year’s five-hour celebration was filled with delightful segments, fabulous raffle prizes, and giveaways, ranging from appliances to gift certificates, cash, and bags of frozen goods. The benevolence of Mr. and Mrs. T reflects their deep appreciation for the dedicated employees who played a pivotal role in the company’s remarkable growth.
“We have come a long way from our simple community bakeshop in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija. Currently, we have more platforms for our restaurant Ka Tunying’s, more offerings from our 18-year-old events arm Outbox Media (OBM), and a loyal fan base for our trending digital program Tune In Kay Tunying and documentary Kuha All,” Mrs. T said in her speech.
Ka Tunying has diversified into toll manufacturing and distribution, while OBM has ventured into multimedia production and digital content creation, both local and international.
“These breakthroughs would not have been possible if not for our employees’ hard work, dedication, commitment, and genuine care for our company,” she added.
Ka Tunying for his part, underscored that TGC employees are part of the aspirations for the company.
“We do not just dream for ourselves, we dream for the whole team. You are the reason why we pursued our businesses even at a time when we faced multiple, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. We cannot and will never turn our backs on you,” he said.
“In TGC, we are not just a company. We have evolved into a communi-T,” he added, a statement echoed by Taberna scions Zoey and Helga who indicated their excitement to lead TGC in the future.
Judging from Dodong’s success story, as well as that of a homeless fellow initially hired as a dishwasher but has become a chef, it was apparent that TGC employees take center stage in the company’s narrative.
And as TGC moves forward – with its very own five-story building underway that will house all TGC brands under one roof – their team members can rest assured of a sustainable and lasting transformation journey.