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THE WAY WE ARE….. “Building strong and committed WARRIORS of LIGHT….”
THE WAY WE ARE….. “Building strong and committed WARRIORS of LIGHT….”  
 A warrior in full battle gear…. That is how we, LEYECO II employees, stand in a seemingly endless sea of challenges that the present Energy scenario brings. As we rewind the year that was, we cannot help but bring out our best smiles because we believe that while we ventured into unknown places, we have captured service with our hearts worn on our sleeves. A familiar adage in the world of corporate business would mean more financial profits, more return of investments. In our own Credo, we have reaped more chains of commitment in terms of service and more return of human resource investments. A warrior in full battle gear…. That is how we, LEYECO II employees, stand in a seemingly endless sea of challenges that the present Energy scenario brings. As we rewind the year that was, we cannot help but bring out our best smiles because we believe that while we ventured into unknown places, we have captured service with our hearts worn on our sleeves. A familiar adage in the world of corporate business would mean more financial profits, more return of investments. In our own Credo, we have reaped more chains of commitment in terms of service and more return of human resource investments. OUR SMILES…… 
“…And the world seemed brighter with a smile….” 2009 was a year of smiles for us. We cannot shake this warm feeling of fulfillment whenever we see our member-consumers smile. It makes us feel how worthy we are to serve them and how valuable they are to us. When we first implemented the P5,000.00 Mortuary Assistance Benefit last January, 2009, for the beneficiaries of our departed member-consumers, we were met with smiles. This first incentive is like a single step to our continuous journey in making our members feel loved hence loving the electric cooperative in return. When we implemented the P30,000.00 jackpot prize of the Quarterly Papremyo Raffle Draw for our prompt payors, we were again met with smiles and hopes. Smiles because our electric coop understood their needs and hopes of winning the much coveted cash prize. We had our very first draw last March 29, 2009 which was held during the 28th Annual General Membership Meeting in Babatngon, Leyte. In all, LEYECO II handed a total of P120,000.00 cash prizes to four (4) lucky prompt payors. Congratulations to our jackpot winners! 
Speaking of our Annual General Membership Meeting last March 29, 2009 at the San Vicente Ferrer Academy Social Hall, Babatngon, Leyte, we had a blast since it was participated by a huge turnout as compared to the previous AGMAs before. A total of more than 1,400 attendees came even if the venue was quite far. Freebies for early registrants such as keychains courtesy of the Management and tumblers/mugs from the LEYECO II Employees Union (LEU-ALU) were given. A spectacular array of raffle prizes was a sight to behold plus additional prizes were sent by no less than Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho “Icot” L. Petilla who graced the activity as the guest speaker. Presidential Assistant for Eastern Visayas Cynthia Nierras also spared a few minutes of her time to share her thoughts about LEYECO II. Looking back at this very significant activity, we cannot help but smile. 
The LEYECO II employees and newly elected District I BOD Gregorio Dolina last May 10, 2009 BOD election. In photo is also DECOM Chairman Fiscal Danilo Yee. Meanwhile, the anticipating smiles of the contenders for the Board of Director election for District I (Palo) was what greeted us last May, 2009. However, it was a red day for newly-elected Director Gregorio C. Dolina on May 10, 2009 when majority of the voting member-consumers in Palo smiled back at him. When we returned to our Brigada Eskwela last June 10, 2009 with boxes full of complete school supplies to 320 first graders in eight (8) selected schools throughout the area coverage, we were met with shouts of joy and winning smiles from the teachers, parents and of course, the children themselves. We were humbled at how little things can mean a lot to them especially those in far-flung barrios. We saw how children walk to school in barefoot just to learn the basics in education. We had the day on the road traveling from Brgy. San Agustin Elementary School to Candahug Elementary School in Palo, Leyte, took a banca ride to Biasong Elementary School and back to the boondocks in Villa Magsaysay Elementary school in Babatngon, Leyte and finally finished off in the outskirts of Tacloban City to schools such as Bulante Elementary School (Brgy. 105 San Isidro, Tacloban), Sto. Niño Elementary School (Brgy. 106 Sto. Niño, Tacloban), Brgy. 110 Utap Elementary School and Brgy. 87 Manlurip San Jose Elementary School, Tacloban. Yes, it was tiring to be twirling all over the place but our weary faces were immediately replaced by bright smiles when eager little eyes and perky faces would greet us. The innocence and plight of the barefoot children in barrios touched our hearts so we said to ourselves, we shall return to ease, in our own small way, their condition. The Coop’s Brigada Eskwela did not stop there. When a classroom at Kapangi-an Central School of Tacloban requested for electric fans for their classroom, your electric coop said YES at once. This also holds true with the requests of some elementary schools for free installation of wirings and free electric meter connections. 
Despite the nitty-gritty work, LEYECO II gave time to change themselves into green revolutionaries as they commemorated the 40th year of the Rural Electrification Program starting with the inter-coop sports activity last June 12, 2009 which also hosted the 1st Region VIII EC Chorale Competition at the DPWH Convention Hall, Palo, Leyte. Your electric cooperative’s chorale landed on the second highest spot in the awarding of prizes but what was most significant was our recognition as a performing group and a corporate icon based on the numerous invitations from other agencies both regionwide and nationwide. So, smile! Tree-planting became the next adventure of the LEYECO II Greenies as they partnered with the Local Government Unit of Palo, the Department of Environment & Natural Resources. Done in Brgy. San Agustin, Palo, Leyte, the Green lights of the electric cooperative planted all the 150 Mahogany seedlings with their spades and tools on that bright and sunny June 17 morning. Now talking about the environment and how we care for it…. Aside from catering to the environment, we also had our own School Information Drive when we visited Pagsulhugon National High School in Brgy. Pagsulhugon, Babatngon, Leyte and Sagkahan National High School at Sagkahan, Tacloban City last July 17, 2009 and conducted a STORY-TELLING activity with the first year high school students as our audience. It was a fun-filled activity students eagerly listened to the wondrous story of electrification. The month of July also was a month of reaching out to our other information dissemination partners such as the Barangay Chairmen of Babatngon, Leyte who were gathered by District V (Babatngon) Director Feliciano Elizon, Jr. for better understanding of the power bill. Present in the said gathering was LEYECO II GM Conde and Babatngon Area Manager Justino Labagala, Jr. 
NRECA officials treated to a warm reception by the LEYECO II Family. Hello Philippines and Hello America! Last August 5, 2009, visitors from the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association of America led by its Senior Adviser Paul Clark visited our electric cooperative. Together with him were NRECA Vice-President Martin Lowery, Southern Louisiana Electric Coop General Manager Michael Guidry and Washington DC Electric Cooperative General Manager Charles Dowsey. They were with the other NRECA staffers who were there to conduct a study on the electric cooperative’s systems loss and distribution system. Now this visit was a mixture of smiles and tears. Smiles from both the visitors and the LEYECO II family members but also tears from the NRECA visiting group because according to GM Dowsey, this is the very first time, they have experienced genuine and sincere expressions of appreciation and welcome from employees of an electric cooperative. 
Here are some employees of the Coop overwhelming the NRECA visitors not only of the special WELCOMES but also in photo ops. As NEA celebrated its 40th founding anniversary in the month of August, 2009, LEYECO II as well as other electric cooperatives participated in its annual convergence at the SM Mall of Asia SMX Convention Hall last August 3, 2009. The August 8, 2009 date was a day to be remembered when the members of the LEYECO II EMPLOYEES UNION (LEU-ALU) generously gave out slippers to first graders in the area of Palanog, Tacloban City. These LEU Kapamilyas and Kapusos contribute monthly out of their own earnings to extend community service to deprived members of society. Now, here is an organization with a big smile on its heart. Give with a smile and you’ll surely shine! THE BER TO REMEMBER MONTHS …… The smiles continue until the BER months as the Electric Cooperative ventured more into its corporate social responsibilities starting with its Medical-Dental Mission in Brgy. Salvacion, Palo, Leyte last September 4, 2009. Of course, the Coop could not have done it without the assistance of the Department of Health Regional Office No. 8, The Palo Rural Health Unit and Philippine Dental Association – Leyte Chapter through its President Marilee Tutaan and some private doctors. A total of 100 individuals either member-consumers or sponsored by member-consumers availed of the said activity. As an additional treat, children were offered free “arroz caldo” who did not mind queuing. Director Gregorio Dolina of District I (Palo) attended the bustle of activities. 
The Brgy. Officials of Brgy. 62B with LEYECO II District II Director Alan Surpia (in white t-shirt) and GM Jerry Gwen Conde. Also in photo is ISD Manager Macel Avestruz. Meanwhile the LEYECO II Family also participated in the Association of Brgy. Chairmen (ABC) of Palo’s meeting last September 14, 2009 in continuance with the information drive at the Palo ABC Hall. The group was warmly welcomed by the ABC officers as well. To further strengthen another information arm of the EC, the Multi-Sectoral Advisory Council (MSEAC) of District I (Palo) had their orientation at the LEYECO II Board Conference Room last September 19, 2009 in the morning and later the afternoon of the same date, the Coop had another HARAMPANG (Pulong-pulong) and Medical-Dental Mission event at Brgy. 12 GE Palanog. Aside from the harampang and medical-dental mission, the feeding program continued with the issuance of LEYECO II Membership Identification Cards and treatment of Change of KWHR Meter registrants in the said barangay. Of course, District II (Areas 1 and 2 ) Director Alan Surpia with the LEYECO II Team and the City Health Office of Tacloban visited Sagkahan District and gave attention to the medical and dental needs of Brgys. 62, 62-A, 62-B and 63 on that eventful day of October 9, 2009 with the feeding program. A lot of smiles were generated in the activity. A mere SALAMAT from the member-consumers is so uplifting for the spirit that despite the humid temperature and other factors, we forgot the meaning of the word STRESS afterwards. As for our other partner, the Brgy. Electricians, well, we did not forget about them. In fact we had a once every two (2) months meeting which was implemented last August, October and December, 2009. The Medical and Dental Missions were continued by the EC to Siren District (November 7, 2009) and Quarry District (November 21, 2009) which are part of District III area (Tacloban areas 3 and 4). Present during the activities were District III Director Roland Hidalgo, District III MSEAC members, the ISD Team and the Tacloban City Health Officials. Finally with a bang we had a blast during the month of Merry December when we first started with a Harampang with Brgy. 103 Palanog, Tacloban where toddlers up to their parents were given arroz caldo in which the Knights of Columbus St. Peter Eymard Council #14151 – our consistent partner assisted for District IV (Areas 5 and 6 of Tacloban). It was in that barangay when our hearts were touched once again seeing an enormous number of children. Hence after our District III Board of Director election at Kapangian Central School wherein incumbent Board Roland Hidalgo was again proclaimed as Director last December 13, 2009, the Brgy. Power Associations (BAPA) of the area coverage were welcomed to their 1st BAPA Convention wherein baskets of groceries and prizes such as cellphones were handed out on December 17, 2009. This was followed by the Christmas Party of the Brgy. Electricians, with the attendance of the representatives from the Tacloban City Engineers’ Office and Bureau of Fire Proctection. They were also recipients of the grocery goodies the Coop prepared. The spirit of Christmas never stops to fill the air as the LEYECO II Family, again from their own pockets, returned to the area of Brgy. 103 Palanog on December 18, 2009 to distribute toys, clothes and food to the children there. 
District III Director Roland Hidalgo (in red) with DECOM District III Chairman Atty. Emmanuel Tabao and members. Taken during the District III Board of Director election last December 13, 2009 at Kapangian Central School, Tacloban City.  
(Left photo) Here’s LEU President Efren Gabriola in the LEYECO II Family’s Christmas Gift-giving at Brgy. 103 Palanog, Tacloban last December 18, 2009. Notice the children in line carrying small bags of rice and fried chicken. They line-up for another treat of goodies- clothes, slippers and toys. (Right photo) The LEYECO II ladies with the Brgy 103 ladies packing up the food for distribution. To say that we are currently serving 54,641 house connections with 54,605 members as of December, 2009, we are full of hopes and smiles as we continuously strive to be of best service. Our other information drive methods such as radio programs every first Saturday of the month via DYVL, our monthly POWER SHOTS news leaflets, our press releases via tri-media stations, press conferences, inter-linkage with Local Government units and Non-Government Organizations, Consumer Surveys to our Big Loads and so on and so forth, are side by side implemented with these new projects that we spearhead. On the other hand, our 24-hour service never ends with our Consumers’ Welfare Desk Staff answering your phone calls with smiles on their voices and our stand by Emergency Crews are always ready to say “May we be of service to you?” each time a worried consumer would call. Furthermore, we have consistently reinvented our new connection process by implementing ways and means to bring a faster meter installation system to our applicants while our adherence to the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers is a code to us. Such was a year that began with a smile and ended with a smile. According to Mahatma Gandhi, “The best way to find oneself is to lose oneself in the service of other.” What better way can we transform lives and enhance power than to carry on with our service with smiles….. We are, after all, warriors that create, transform and enhance SERVICE …. And our measure would be YOUR SMILES……. This is your electric cooperative, LEYECO II and we say, THANK YOU FOR SMILING WITH US...... |
