Retirement: Good and Bad Stories

It could mean a lot. But the common notion is that when one retires from work, he/ she would just be simply be doing nothing after years of work. Probably just lounge around with feet raised up on a table while sipping coffee. That might just be true.

To some, it means venturing into a new endeavor. To some, just a change of career. To some, it would just be taking it easy (but would still be doing some light work).

When I “retired” from Clark Development Corporation (CDC), I was asked “what would you do next?” (as if I was giving them the impression that I would just be staring at a blank wall all day long) or was told “you are too young to retire.” Both of which are anchored on the pre-conceived idea that retirees simply do not work anymore.

In my case, I always quipped back “I did not retire, I simply left CDC for another work.” Yes, I am still working now – doing communications work, PR consultancy and the like. Albeit on a smaller scale.

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In the case of Dr. Irineo “Bong” Alvaro, Jr. who was given a retirement party, it was simply a re-tire or putting another tire onto his vehicle. This vehicle or work – illustrious, dedicated, incessant and untiring – has put off the old and is now ready for another

journey.

At a befitting program with close family, friends, partners and staff at the Midori Hotel last Monday, Koyang Bong (as I usually call him) is bidding goodbye to his commitments in the corporate world. Rather, he would now be focusing more on his philanthropic deeds and charitable works.

While heading and occupying many key and top positions in Clark (BBI, Midori, Aqua Planet, Eagle Sky) Koyang Bong also serves as the chairman of BBI Foundation and is also the Ambassador of Health (for Philippines and Asia) of the Michigan-based World Medical Relief Inc. While busy (and toxic) with all the hats he has been wearing prior to retirement, he always found the time to help build schools, head medical outreaches, and grant scholarship programs.

While the corporate world would miss him, he will now be embraced and welcomed even more in the sphere of charity and philanthropic work.

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Koyang Bong is one person who humbly started as a lowly base worker and still is ending his Clark business endeavors in all humility. He is the same Bong Alvaro who fought for fellow workers for equal and just pay from the Americans and is the same who also fought for survival of investors and employees.

He is responsible for creating