Onalisa's Fate

Chapter XXII

NANDITO kami sa isang eleganteng corporate presentation hall sa loob ng Gwen's Fashion Headquarters. May malaking LED screen sa harapan, kung saan makikita ang title ng presentation.

Ngayong araw na ito ay gaganapin ang Business Vision Presentation at Panel Interview ng mga nominees. By next week naman, gaganapin ang botohan.

Sa totoo lang, kinakabahan ako kasi wala pa rin si Maximo. Nauna naman siyang umalis sa akin, pero bakit ako ang naunang nakarating? Kapag hindi siya nakapag-present ngayon, ay disqualified na siya!

Yung kaba sa puso ko, grabe. Parang between life and death na ito, ah. Kapag hindi naging CEO si Maximo at hindi ko na-claim 'yung mana, ano na lang mangyayari sa life namin? Ackk! Mamamatay talaga kami nito!

Naunang mag-present si Doctor Danielo. Tumayo siya nang may kumpiyansa, tahimik pero may presensiyang kayang punuin ang buong conference hall. Kasunod niya ang assistant na naka-all black—taga-click ng PowerPoint slides, all set and ready.

"Good day to everyone," panimula niya, matatag ang boses. "I am Dr. Danielo Gwen—the eldest son of Chairman Alfonso Gwen, and brother of the late CEO, Christopher Gwen. If there's anyone in this room who truly loves this company, I can say without hesitation... it's me. I was there when it was just a dream. I saw how it was built brick by brick, how it survived crisis after crisis, and how my brother poured his soul into it. And now—it's my turn."

Woah. Confident.

Lumitaw sa LED screen ang title ng presentation niya:
Gwen's Fashion: The Future of Luxury and Innovation

"Gwen's Fashion is not just a brand. It's a legacy. A symbol. But the question is—how do we protect and evolve this legacy in a changing world? The answer: sustainable, ethical, and purpose-driven fashion."

Tahimik akong nagdasal habang nakapikit at naka-pray sign. Sana mapiyok siya. Sana ma-wrong grammar. Sana ma-stuck yung slides. Lord, sorry po. Pero konti lang, please.

Unfortunately, mukhang walang answered prayer. Ang linis ng flow. Sa first slide pa lang, puro graphs at visuals na parang galing sa marketing agency sa Milan. Grabe. Ang ganda ng graphics. 

"Based on a global study updated just yesterday," patuloy niya, "80% of Millennials and Gen Z prefer sustainable brands. Meanwhile, 60% of consumers are willing to pay extra for ethical fashion. That's not just a trend—it's the future knocking."

Grabe, updated talaga. May pa-"just yesterday" pa siya. May research queen pala tong si Doc

Next slide ulit. This time may animation pa.

"Today, fashion is one of the largest contributors to global waste and pollution. So the question becomes—will we be part of the problem, or part of the solution?"

May pause. May impact. Parang TED Talk.

"This is how I envision Gwen's Fashion moving forward:
Eco-Friendly Materials — organic fibers, cruelty-free leather, recycled fabrics.
Ethical Production — fair wages, safe working conditions, sustainable factories.
Transparency and Trust — open books, honest branding, integrity at the core."

Sunod niyang slide, may timeline na parang strategy map ng isang Fortune 500 company.

"Year 1: Shift 30% of raw materials to sustainable sources. Launch our first 'Green Collection.'
Year 2: Partner with ethical manufacturers. Cut carbon emissions by 25%.
Year 3: Position Gwen's Fashion as a global leader in sustainable luxury."

Nagpalakpakan ang ilang board members. Ako, tahimik lang. Pero bakit parang... impressive nga siya?

"Under the right leadership," huling linya niya, habang tumingin diretso sa camera, "Gwen's Fashion won't just survive—it will lead. We won't just make profits—we'll make history."