CAP: A moment to shine on a rainy day

by Marilyn “Lynne” O.Tutor

My first Summa award as sales representative for CAP Pension during Pasyalan 1999. Taken here with Area manager Cristeta Salvador.

In everything that I do, I first try to seek the word of God. My favorite memory verse is: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thine ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5~6)

Last year has been an extremely difficult year for any kind of economic activity— let alone sales. The global economic recession has cast a pall on the every consumer’s mind, weighing heavily on his or her decisions for future spending. At the same time, we were overwhelmed with negative publicities about the pre-need industry in general.

My receiving the top sales award for CAP Education for 2002 was a surprise ending that I could only attribute to the divine guiding hand. As I stood to receive this award among 1,025 Pasyalan Bayan (CAP’s annual recognition bash) qualifiers in Baguio City, I could only thank Him for such blessings. This was my second Summa Award during my five-year stint with CAP. My first taste of glory was when I first joined CAP as a sales representative in 1999 in which my half-year sales production catapulted me to the top sales rank.

I received my second Summa award as branch manager for CAP Education on February 18 in Baguio City. (Left to right) Taken here with Area Manager Francis Stephen Moran 7th Magna Area Category, Sen. Juan Flavier, myself, and PR Marilyn Iida.

There is a saying that you can’t put a good man down. In the same way, no one can really put a good product down. However great a salesperson may be—and I count myself one of those with great confidence in my salesmanship—in the end, the product will still sell itself. We can only say so much about the product—good or bad. But what determines the market value of a product is its intrinsic value.

What is the intrinsic value of CAP products?

CAP products, whether pension or education, stand for all that is certain in these uncertain times, for all that is reassuring in these times of doubt. The key element of marketability of CAP products is that they deliver what they promise.

As a manager and a saleswoman, I try not to look at the clouds but at the proverbial silver lining, not the obstacles but the challenges. For example, in these times of global recession, everyone is very anxious about the future.

Our normal response to this situation is that, “I can’t make a sale because everyone’s holding on to his last centavo.” But a winner’s response is that, “Everyone now realizes how important it is to save for the rainy days. I can now close in on those still questioning the wisdom of preparing for the future.” Believe me, the best time to sell umbrellas is on a rainy day.

As Branch manager, I received my Second Magna Award in Manila in Pasyalan 2000. (Left to right) Taken here with Vice President Domingo Salvador, myself, my husband Benny Tutor, CAP President Atty. Enrique A. Sobrepena, Jr., Area Manager Cristeta Salvador, a friend, and First Executive VP Jose S. Montoya II.

Negative publicities? Nobody ever gets to the top without drawing admiration, and equally, detraction. Times of negative publicities challenge us to show our very best. In my personal life, the darker the picture people paint of me, the greater my drive to shine. No person or product can ever shine through its dark surroundings unless it has an intrinsically radiant value. CAP has shown now, and will show again, that its value is greater than silver or gold. The job of looking after one’s future, as CAP promises and delivers, is certainly of supreme importance.

Back to top