I-WITNESS: ‘SA MGA KAMAY NG ORAS’

DOKUMENTARYO NI HOWIE SEVERINO

A Reaction Paper
Presented to the Faculty of College of Business,
Accountancy and Computer Studies
University of Negros Occidental - Recoletos

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Course

SUSTRA730: Sustainability and Strategic Audit
leading to the Degree
Bachelor of Science in Management Accounting

Kristel Jen E. Rosales

April 4, 2022
I. Summary of the Documentary

If there is something we can never bring back once it's gone, it is, without doubt,
time. After going through a Pandemic, we have learned that time is something more
precious than anything we have in possession right now. Once time passes by, all we can
do is say, "I'll do better next time." Time itself comes with a price to pay, and it could be
in the form of money, efforts, experience, and regrets.

In the business world, time is an essential factor that determines the progress and
growth of the business. Having punctual workers makes the job and the business flow
much more gratifying and efficient. It is always a process in conducting a business
venture. Thus, time dictates how well we perform under pressure and how well we
manage our duties and responsibilities to meet deadlines, goals, and companies'
objectives.

We need to adopt the idea of arriving on time, planning things ahead of time, and
meeting deadlines. Pandemic made the world fall into a pause. We were presented with a
new normal that we ought to embrace. However, we should adapt to the changes around
us and become more flexible because time continues rolling even with what is happening
around us.

II. Statement of the Problem

The shortage in the number of clock repairers makes watchmaking less accessible
and competitive. Resources such as watch parts are not readily made available. On the
Sustainability side, the lack of readily-made resources prolongs the repair time. Digital
clocks are classified as disposable and less efficient, which significantly contributes to
environmental concerns.

III. Collaborating Viewpoints

“The Business of Keeping Timepieces Working”
 Clocks, wristwatches, and even sundials are timepieces that do more than tell the
time. They hold sentimental memories, which raise the piece's worth over time. The more
a timepiece "lives," the more pleasure it will provide to its owners, as well as to those
who have made it their profession to learn how clockmakers from hundreds of years ago
created clocks that are still ticking today.

Honorato Bello, Bello's father, founded the firm in 1954 and left behind a
reputation for quality craftsmanship when he died in 2016 at the age of 90. Bello's 26-
year-old son, Heber, is carrying on his father's legacy.

Bello, 60, a qualified civil engineer with a degree from Far Eastern University,
has worked with clocks for over 30 years. In 1994, he took over his father's company and
began restoring antique clocks. Bello claims they only deal with five to ten people every
week since the process is so careful.

It's rather simple to get a watch or digital clock repaired these days. You may take
them to a watch store, where a guy in a glass-lined booth in the back will open the watch,
inspect it, and advise you on what needs to be done or replaced (likely the battery).

IV. Contradicting Viewpoints

“Mechanical Clocks Prove The Importance Of Technology For Economic Growth”

Towns did not predict any of the advantages clocks would offer in the long run or
what may be considered ex post as an economically efficient application since building a
clock was motivated by status rather than economic necessities. As a result, economic
utilization has been a gradual process of acceptance. While the use of clocks for
coordinating activities such as market hours or administrative town meetings can be
traced back to the 14th and 15th centuries, the use of clocks to monitor and organize
labor processes progressed more slowly, especially during the 16th century.
 Finally, from the middle of the 16th century, a cultural acceptance expressed in
everyday cultural and philosophical thought may be witnessed, for example, with the
Protestant movement, particularly with John Calvin's spread of the notion of "scarce
time." Furthermore, scientists and philosophers like Robert Boyle and Thomas Hobbes
utilized the clock as a metaphor for the operation of the universe and to describe how
institutions like the state should work in the 17th century.

Given the delayed nature of the process, it's not unexpected that the
complimentary organizational, procedural, and cultural behavioral advances required
some time to translate into economic growth rates. Based on empirical growth
regressions, we demonstrate that during the period 1500-1700, earlier adopters (those that
adopted the clock before 1450) had substantial growth disparities in the range of 30
percentage points when compared to other cities. These findings suggest that using public
clocks as a GPT has localized spillover effects on a variety of economic and economy-
supporting activities, resulting in greater city growth rates.

V. Local Application

Here in Bacolod City, watchmaking is on the verge of becoming a dying industry.

First, we can see everywhere that there are plenty of selections if one like to purchase a
watch. Also, these available watches are within the buying capacity of customers,
meaning they can scrap old watches and opt-in to buying new ones without getting them
repaired.

Now watches are considered to be disposable possessions. Thus, it is hard for the
watchmaking/repair industry to prosper and flourish. We can also see that those who
perform in this industry are old ones which means that it is rather hard to continue this
kind of trade or industry in the times to come.

VI. Personal Insights and Learnings

 From the very beginning, I am not in favor of the so-called "Filipino time."
Hearing this connotes a negative impression for us Filipinos. I believe it is now time for
us to change this kind of impression because Filipinos are one of the most hardworking
people.

I agree with what has been mentioned in the documentary that it is time for us to
dissolve that kind of trait because we are not under any foreign colonizers anymore. Back
then, we have done such behaviors to show our non-conformance. Now that we are free,
we should embrace the real "Filipino-time" which is arriving ahead or on time.

VII. Conclusion and Recommendation

To address the Strategic Management problem, watchmaking industry must be

given enough attention. First, watchmaking industry needs to be promoted and given
enough consideration. Make it more accessible for young guns to learn and expose
themselves in the process of building and repairing watches. Also, they should start
producing or recreating those hard to source or find watch parts.

On the other hand, Sustainability can be addressed through thorough product

inspection and ensure that efficient and quality products are produced. Watchmaking
industry can also integrate bio-degradable materials or resources in the process of making
clocks and watches. Lastly, to push through with the multiple production of watch parts
to save time and use resources more efficiently.

VIII. References

Argosino, F. (2021, November 19). The business of keeping timepieces working.

Manila Bulletin. Retrieved April 3, 2022, from https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/19/the-
business-of-keeping-timepieces-working/

About the author Helena Vieira Posted In: LSE Authors, Vieira, H., Posted In: LSE
Authors, & *, N. (2016, September 26). Mechanical clocks prove the importance of
technology for economic growth. LSE Business Review. Retrieved April 3, 2022,
from https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2016/09/27/mechanical-clocks-prove-
the-importance-of-technology-for-economic-growth/