In 1962, a young couple started out with meager capital and limited business experience but with clear vision and a lot of entrepreneurial spirit.
Norberto B. Quisumbing Jr., and his wife Britta Bartolome-Quisumbing, clinched the Philippines’ exclusive manufacturing and distributorship of Yamaha motorcycles and nurtured the business to become one of the longest business partnerships Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., of Japan has around the world.
Starting out with a five-man team, the couple divided the work in the newly-organized Norkis Trading Co., Inc. in Cebu.
“I was in charge of operations and marketing while she handled finance,” recalls NQJr., as the founder is fondly called. They worked hard and kept faith in each other’s capabilities. “I could go home only once a month,” he recalls those early years when he had to travel allover the country personally organizingYamaha’s marketing network.
“I had no formal training in finance,” Britta admits. But her training as a classical pianist gave her a keen eye for details and a strong drive for perfection — traits that enabled her to adeptly play her complicated role of tightly monitoring the fledgling company’s financial performance and rearing her children.
Under Britta’s eagle eyes, the past years has always been profitable for Norkis. NQJr. has all the reasons to be proud. “Our business grew and we have made significant contributions in the economic development of the communities where we operate. We achieved all of these despite the economic downturns and without any special perks or accommodations from the government,” he says.
Today, Norkis is one of Cebu’s leading tax payers. For a good number of years, Norkis has been recognized by the Bureau of Customs as the top importer of the Port of Cebu, having paid duties and taxes amounting to P258 million in 2003 and P219 million in 2004. The Norkis Group’s value-added tax (VAT) payments amounted to P552 million in 2003 and P678 million in 2004. Norkis was given the “Top Achiever Award” by the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s Large Taxpayers Service-Cebu last February 2005.
There is no secret formula — it is pure and simple honest, hard work. “We delegate but never abdicate supervision,” he says.
Today, Norkis’ highly diversified operations have over 5,000 employees with aggreagate payroll, benefits and incentives of about P60 million a month. Another 5,000 derive their livelihood through its contractors and independent dealers, creating another income stream into the local economy of about P40 million a month.
The Cebu head office oversees the operation of several factories in Mandaue and Compostella. With a network of over 1,200 branches, dealers, and service centers nationwide, it boasts of a strong market presence in every province and city throughout the country. The hundreds of thousands of loyal Norkis customers are always assured they get the personalized attention they deserve and the adequate after-sales service they need.
The Norkis Group’s 34 companies are grouped into three: Norkis Holdings, Summa, and Eagle. The Norkis Group exports furniture and metal crates. It has agri-business ventures in Cebu, Bukidnon, Batangas and Masbate. Norkis is also involved in metal fabrication, engineering work, and real estate development. It launched the Golden Aire line of air conditioners and recently the Legacy First. It has produced and sold over a million units of Yamaha motorcycles, which continue to enjoy strong market demand.
An innovator in multi-purpose, affordable vehicles, the Norkis family shares the dream of every Filipino to have a vehicle of his own so he can be the master of his own time.
VISION: We fulfill the dream of every Filipino to be the master of his own time, by providing the convenience to own a vehicle and other quality products to enhance his mobility, freedom and comfort.
MISSION: Since 1962, we have been fulfilling this dream by providing the convenience to our valued customers to own Yamaha motorcycles, Multicabs, Legacy Firsts and other quality products that are built with enduring quality, fully supported by a nationwide network of sales, parts, service and installment financing through our Norkis branches and dealers.
We will continuously uphold the trust and confidence of millions of our customers through top quality service, and to do our part in nation-building, and in bolstering our economy by providing jobs to thousands, being responsible taxpayers, and sharing what we have with the community and those who are less fortunate.
DEPARTMENT/DIVISION ASSIGNMENT
IT-ISD Technical Support
I was assigned in the IT-ISD Technical Support Department under the supervision of Mr. Juanito Comighud and Mr. Randy Pepito.
The tasks I did during my training period,
1. Installing drivers and programs to computer
2. Testing CPUs
3. Troubleshooting
4. Connection to computers using UTP cables
5. Cleaning the CPU using blower and other cleaning materials
6. Using TeamViewer software to assist or fix the computer from other branches
7. Replacing computer parts and installing
8. Data Entry and Encoding
9. Messenger or deliver CPU units to other department
10. Packaging
11. Cabling or creating LAN cables
12. Assisting
13. Answer calls
These tasks were not daily but usually. I’ve learned a lot from them. But I couldn’t type everything here. I forgot to write many of the things on my logbook because I usually write them all on a weekend. But I assure you that I learned a lot. They even allowed us to enter and assist them at the Data Center.
The environment was fun. They are great people.
So I asked our Managing Head, Sir Johnny, if I could take a picture of all of them. So there you go. The Norkis IT-Technical Group with the OJT.
I am very thankful to these people for training me and accepting me for who I am. I had limitations but they understood and also shared their snacks. 😀
On the Job Training 