I.

FACTS OF THE CASE

 Barrio Bantog was one of the nine barrios in Hacienda Luisita, which was operated by Jose

Cojuangco & Sons as part of their integrated sugar central, Central Azucarera de Tarlac

(CAT).

 Four hundred thirty-five inhabitants lived a life in Barrio Bantog with few luxuries and

simple entertainments.

 There had always been considerable gambling in the barrio, but late in 1962, CAT

management had actively discouraged the operations of all forms of gambling.

 Jose Zaldo was the overseer of Barrio Bantog that time. He was the link between the

management and the field laborers. Some of his responsibilities are to assign work to the

laborers, decide upon work rotations, and to determine overtime assignments.

 Luis Calero was the barrio captain. He had been elected as such in January, 1963 and served

as the official link of the barrio to the municipal government. He was also the labor union

director and acted as the link between the management and labor in the barrio. Some of his

duties are to maintain peace and order in the barrio, make sure that public places are kept

clean, and to supervise the spending of tax monies in the barrio.

 In May, 1964, the overseer was faced with a big problem. The workers in Barrio Bantog has

declined in their work efficiency due to their recent preoccupation with gambling. It was

also found out that gambling was ruining their morale, and sapping their strength and their

money and it posed a constant threat to field discipline. Also, workers in Barrio Bantog had

increased their salary advances, and as gambling debts mounted, many of the workers would

owe their entire year’s pay even before they have received it.
  The detrimental effects of prevalent gambling alarmed the overseer, Jose Zaldo. Later, he

found out that the one operating the gambling activities in the barrio was the barrio captain

himself, Luis Calero.

 Other barrios in the hacienda were already taking positive steps to formally outlaw gambling

and several of them already passed laws forbiddding gambling.

 The overseer was certain that things would not improve as long as gambling in the barrio is

existing.

II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

 What measures should be undertaken to stop the gambling and its obvious detrimental

effects on worker’s efficiency, their morale, and unwise financial spending?

III. POINT OF VIEW

 As a laborer who works in a canefield, I should always be mindful that the job is

seasonal which entails that the salary or wages are not stable and are not regularly

given monthly on a fixed amount. Laborers should be wise enough to manage their

resources to make sure that their every need could be supported when the time is due.

Laborers should think of ways to properly manage their finances to hold it stable

especially during slack season in the canefield. They should stop risking their income

into something with no assurance of return on the money they have worked hard for.
IV. OBJECTIVES

 To solve the problem on laborers’ negative attitudes as a result of engaging in

gambling and to restore their efficient performance in their work.

 To minimize the occurrence of cash advances made by the laborers and to regain their

economic stability and to help improve their standard of living by properly managing

their finances.

V. AREAS OF CONSIDERATION

 The authority, role, duties and responsbilities vested upon the barrio overseer, Jose

Zaldo and barrio captain, Luis Calero.

 Negative effects of gambling, namely: increased salary loans and salary advances

made by the workers; ruining laborer’s morale; sapping down the strength of the

laborers.

 Gambling being operated by the barrio captain.

 Top management of Hda. Luisita strongly discourages any form of gambling.

 The overseer’s reputable contribution and efforts to reduce the incidence of

gambling.
VI. ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION

Alternative 1: Barrio captain should be forced to stop operating the gambling

establishments by passing a law prohibiting all forms of gambling

within the entire barrio paired with serious implementation of such law.

Advantages:

 No more gambling in the barrio;

 Laborers could focus more on their work;

 Wages won’t be expended on gambling. Hence, salary advances could be

minimized;

 Peace and order could be further promoted; and

 Conflict of interest would be eliminated concerning the barrio captain.

Disadvantages:

 No other source of income (possible winnings) to the laborer’s especially

during slack time on the canefield.

 A possible dispute could arise between the overseer and the captain.
 Alternative 2: Discourage the barrio people to avoid engaging in gambling by pointing

out the negative effects of it to their overall living. When convinced,

gambling would gradually stop due to lack of gamblers.

Advantages:

 Decision will be from the people themselves, they have freedom to

choose;

 Possible dispute will be avoided; and

 Barrio overseer won't be regarded as an antagonist in the case.

Disadvantages

 Huge possibility of continuance of gambling and the negative effects it

brings;

 There will be lack of discipline; and

 Barrio people might abuse there freedom of choice.

VII. CONCLUSION

Therefore, I conclude that the best alternative to choose is Alternative No. 1. The best

way to stop a problem from continuing and spreading is to cut the source of such problem. By

stopping the gambling operations, laborers can’t gamble anymore even how much they wanted to

gamble, since there are no place or establishment to cater them. Also, making cash advances or

salary loans will be oftentimes unnecessary because they won’t be needing additional money

anymore just to sustain their gambling expenses. And by the absence of gambling in the barrio

which they see as something they could generate extra income from, laborers will be eventually
 forced to find new ways to grow their money in a more decent and acceptable way. Just by mere

discouraging them to engage in gambling without stopping the gambling operations will never be

a successful option for this case. Laborers will still go back to gambling, if given freewill,

especially by considering the fact that one can just earn easy money on a short span of time,

when luck is in his favor. He can earn money without even having to work hard for it. And as

stated in the case, little thought was given to the consequences of gambling, which simply means

that people in the barrio only focuses on the winnings they could possibly hit or miss, they don’t

put so much importance on it’s long term effect which involved overspending their family’s

budget, ruining their morale and even sapping their strength. So it is best to cut down the root of

all of it first, then positive projected outcomes can be expected to just occur effortlessly.

VIII. RECOMMENDATION:

By cutting the main root of the problem makes the situation stable, but it would be better

if the top management could find possible ways to improve the standard of living of the laborers

and their families. I strongly recommend to the top management to consider it as their

responsibility not only to provide jobs to the laborers but also to make sure that their inhabitants'

way of life will be sustainable especially during slack season.

But whatever course of action the management will opt to practice, it is also a great

responsibility to the laborers to cooperate positively to the management's arrangements for their

own benefit, and in that way, they will be motivated to work for the benefit of the top

management when they feel that their superiors care for their welfare and does not only regard

them as mere workers on the field.