Huling aksyon ng BPCI sa kaso ni Maria Venus Raj, isang hamon at hindi pagbawi sa naunang desisyon ng dethronement

Ano sa tingin ninyo ang maaring maging kahihinatnan ng isyu patungkol sa posibleng pagrereinstate kay Maria Venus Raj bilang opisyal na delegato ng RP sa Miss Universe?Ako’y may halong pananaw ukol sa balitang ito ng basahin ni Ricky Lo ang opisyal na liham mula sa BPCI. Maaring ang ilan sa ating mga sumubaybay sa isyung ito ay naka-focus lamang sa puntong karapat dapat naman talaga si Bb. Raj at ang BPCI ang nagkamali sa kanilang naging naunang aksyon nang i-dethrone ang naturang beauty queen. Hindi maikakaila na marami ng sumawsaw sa petisyon, marami ng nagalit at kumwestiyon sa paraan ng pagpili ng BPCI sa mga kandidata sa una pa lamang at samu’t sari na ang pinukol, kesyo may isyu sa kulay, racism, pagiging hindi makatarungan, etc. Marami naring mga nakisakay sapagkat kung nasaan ang “masa”, naroon din sila, “taking advantage of the situation for their own motives but neither reaching a hand to help clear the situation.”Sa ganang akin, ang liham ay nagpapahiwatig ng hindi pagbawi sa kanilang naunang aksyon kundi ito’y isang “paghamon upang hukayin ang ugat”. Sapagkat, ang BPCI ay wala sa posisyon para ibigay ang linaw sa totoong estado ng nationalidad (citizenship) ni Ms. Raj. Kung kaya’t nais ko lamang pong ilahad sa diskusyon ang punto: Maaaring si Ms. Raj ay nasa kategorya ng Person of Indian Origin/Non-resident Indian (na maaring sa puntong ito’y hahalukayin din ang estado ng pagkamamayanan ng kanyang ama). Eh ano naman kung nabibilang siya rito? Ang nalalaman lang kasi natin ay Indian National ang kanyang ama ayon sa mga naging pahayag sa kanyang kampo. Subalit, kailangan kasing magkaroon ng “linaw” kung ano rin ang totoong estado ng pagkamamamayan ng kanyang ama upang maging malinaw kung ano nga ba ang magiging basehan ng mga kinaukulan sa kaso ni Ms. Raj. Maaaring sa imbestigasyon ay maungkat din ang estado kung papaano nakauwi ang kanyang ina noong mga nahuling panahon nasa Qatar ito. Lahat ng mga signipikong detalye rito ay lubhang napakahalaga sa imbestigasyon para ang mga kinaukulan ay mailahad ang “tamang legal na pahayag sa naturang isyu ng pagkamamayan ni Ms. Raj” at anu ano ang kanyang mga karapatan at pribilehiyong nakalahad ayon sa kanyang pagkamamayanan. Matatandaan natin na masalimuot ang sitwasyon ng mga batang ipinapanganak sa puntong maglalagay sa kanila sa pagiging “illegitimate”, at sa aking pananaw, napakasakit ang mga katotohanang ito (Ito ay realidad na nakaukol sa usaping batas). Kung matatandaan natin ang mga nabubuntis o nagkakaanak sa middle east na naipalabas sa balita o dokumentaryo, maiintindihan ninyo ang aking nais ipahayag.Ngunit, ang natitirang matibay na puntos kay Ms. Raj ay ang pagiging Pilipina ng kanyang ina (Subalit kung nakasal ang kanyang mga magulang ay maaring ito’y magdulot ng karagdagan pang aberya.). Samakatwid, maaring dito huhugutin ang lakas ng kanyang kaso lalung lalo na na si Ms. Raj ay lumaki at pinapatunayan ng marami ang kanyang paglaki sa Albay. Hindi kuwestyon ito. Subali’t maaring naging basehan ng kumplikasyon ng BPCI ang naunang parapo na aking binanggit kung kaya’t pinatitibay ang kanila noong naunang pahayag na, “misrepresentation” (base rin sa hindi magkakatugmang impormasyon sa birth records) na nagdulot sa desisyong dethronement. (Gusto kong linawin na ito’y sa aking analysis lamang at hindi ko inaari na ito ang opisyal na pahayag). Kung kaya’t nabanggit kong isa itong “hamon” sapagkat sa pamamagitan ng pagkuha ng pasaporte maaaring mabungkal ang mga isyung yaon at ang legal na pahayag mula sa mga autoridad ay ang siya lamang makakapag-alis ng ating mga pagdududa. Ang nakakabahala nga lamang, ay kung ang kalalabasan nito ay magpapalakas sa posisyon ng BPCI na tama ang kanilang naging naunang desisyon. At ang kanilang sulat, ay isa lamang mekanismo upang hamunin ang posisyon ni Ms. Raj sa kanyang hinaing. Mula sa nakikita ng marami, ang paglabas ng opisyal na pahayag ng BPCI ay pagpapakita na sila ang nagkamali. Pero kung susumain at iintindihin, ang sulat ay pagbibigay-daan sa direksyon kay Ms. Raj upang bungkalin ang mga katotohanan sa bahagi ng kanyang pagkatao. Hindi ito kwestyon kung siya ay karapat-dapat na delegado ng RP. At nawa, ang BPCI ay balasahin/baguhin ang kanilang mga pamantayan ng hindi nalalagay sa kahihiyan/alanganin ang ating mga dilag na ang nais lamang ay itayo ang karangalan ng ating bansa sa pamamagitan ng mga patimpalak ng kagandahan na sa huli’y buong bansa ang siyang makikinabang.

AS YET ANOTHER B’DAY PASSED BY

Thanks for the wonderful b’day wish (though you were late by a fortnight :D). It was a real nice song. Your voice is a treat to ears. I too, wish you well. Happenings and events of our life begin with birth and end with death but "Life" has a continuity which can't be broken down or divided into years or decades. We measure time and as we grow old, we look back from every year to see what all happened in our lives in the past. We even compare the passing year with the other years of our life and try to calculate how important the passing year was, how different it was... We arrange and put events according to our historical perspective. I don’t know if people take resolutions on their b’days but many people make resolutions for new year and at the end of each year, they boast of how much they succeeded in standing by their resolutions and cycle goes on. Ahhh!! How can people have such a systematic and planned life through resolutions, diaries and notebooks? How can they? For me, I can't...

When I feel alone and need support and mental power I read books ( Though I am a bibliomaniac but I think I haven’t read any book in my selection till its last page…..:D). Anyways. Once I came across a line in a Hindi book it was like this- HE WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHERE HE IS GOING, WILL GO THE FARTHEST. Interesting? Naah, how true? And I went thinking- Those who have set goals for themselves will reach till there only but those who have not and are just drifting with time and tide- as if fishing in infinity, nothingness- they will surely reach to a place which neither they had thought nor the world has ever thought. When we get immersed in nothingness and live along with infinite possibilities anything is possible for us. I say those who are running will never reach the place they want to. You can say I am crazy but believe me- "To be able to reach somewhere, you don't have to run or walk briskly or even stroll". Many people don't run to reach anywhere. They run to have the feel of being in the run and maybe, this also keeps them healthy.

As I said, "you don't need to run or walk continuously to reach somewhere"- More or less it is a mental state. Much before the starting of this neo-Liberal age of hustle-bustle and running amuck, like a headless chicken.

"A story was written in our Puranas (These are religious scriptures of Hindus, full of stories and anecdotes ). Once Lord Shiva and his wife, Parvati were sitting on mount Kailash (their abode). They called their sons Kartikeya (the elder of the two) and Ganesh. They asked them if they could go around Earth and come back. Whosoever comes first, will be blessed by them. Kartikeya was a young and energetic boy, peacock was his vehicle ( in Hindu mythology every important deity has been identified with a creature, latter being their vehicle...it has other practical meanings also.). On the other hand, Ganesh- though he was young, was short, stout and had a pot belly with mouse has his vehicle. Among Hindu's of north India, Ganesh is a very important god. He has a strange figure, skull and face of an elephant and has a trunk also...Amusing for you naaa…

Ganesh is the deity of knowledge, loves eating Laddu's- a especial kind of round shaped sweet. So for Ganesh to go round Earth was harder then Kartikeya. Kartikeya immediately set off for the journey. Ganesh was in a fix. He decided something else. He bowed in front of his parents and mount Kailash, offered prayers went round them and sat at his place eating Laddu's. His parents also didn't objected to this.

After sometime, Kartikeya returned with a winner's attitude, bowed in front of his parents and stood aside smiling because Ganesh was not even in the race. On seeing Kartikeya standing, Ganesh also came and stood there beside his brother with a proud face. Ganesh said that parents are bigger and important than any other thing in this entire universe, so going around them once means going around Earth 1000 times. Hence he is the winner. So, what you think or say, who is the winner?? You know about what Ganesh did, and yes Kartikeya did went around earth did put in all his effort and who knows that when his peacock might have puffed he would have ran on his foot. After so much labor and hard work, isn't he the winner? NO. The story say's that Lord Shiv and Parvati declared Ganesh as winner and blessed him.

One of my friend once remarked that Ganesh used the buttering tactics to flatter his parents so he was declared winner. The honest and laborious Kartikeya got nothing. So where parents don't treat their children equally but are biased towards one who flatterers... Can honesty, truth and labor be valued in such a society? What you say? One is free to draw his or her conclusions.

I said nothing to my friend. What could have I? I have been taught from childhood to use intelligence and knowledge. Ganesh is the god of intelligence and knowledge. He didn't waste time and energy in literally going around Earth. Instead he used his intelligence. Isn't it true that none is more important for us than our parents? So, intelligence is the biggest sword. Anyways one thing is clear from this story that it is merely a question of how you take something and give meaning to it. Reaching somewhere or achieving some big goal can't only be decided by objective standards of valuation. It is also decided by what you think about it. And your decisive power should be such that the whole world falls in line with you.

Don't think that I am ignoring the basic rules of this world or that I am escapist by nature. One should do whatever he feels is good for him or her but if you are not in the race, then you should not be jealous of anyone. If others' lives don't kindle in you the desire to live then you should not feel left out and then, why calculate gains and loses? People might have covered milestones and I am where I was- so be it. Well, to lag behind and get rotten is more psychological then physical. So it is up to you whether you feel happy with what you have or not. Those people who live by the values of and standards of others don't have their own values and standards. They are living their life at the mercy of this world. Can god, world or society ever help or do anything for anyone? No, I don't think so. We will always be what we want to be- will reach where we want to reach. None but we can decide this for ourselves.

It will be philosophical to say that don't run behind success but I take that chance because success is given by this world. So just try to be meaningful because we are meaningful or not can only be judged by us. No one can know you from outside whether you are what you wanted to be. Real pleasure of life is in being what you want to be and to live the way you want to live. They say not many people know what it means to be "to be" and those who know become too much practical. Some say it's a vicious circle. Thinking ourselves to be the centre of universe is the pastime of philosophers of individualism. What you say are we made by this world and its time?

Now they are saying that you will be whatever market wants you to be. From where does this market has got this god- like power? Till yesterday there was religion, there was state, there was Science, there was thought. Today there is "market" because those who have capital want market and those who have market they want to make it god because man easily surrenders before god. These supporters of market are themselves non-believers but they want to make market in the name of god. Capital is their real god and profits their salvation. In my country, there is an old saying that "Maya" i.e. wealth is deceptive. Market is the shine of this wealth. So if we know the real character of Maya then we will not be deceived and if we let ourselves to be deceived then it’s done knowingly. All is meant to say that no one can make us but only we can make ourselves. So why to be afraid of market? If I went past market and I am not its customer then why should I be afraid of it? It can't harm me. Majority of the people of my country are outside the reach of market about whom it says it can make their life. It will take decades for these people to become the part of market and I think by then, market would be a thing of past. As communism went past in many countries without touching the lives of majority of people, as socialism went past in my country.

Aaah!! what am I writing? You just wished me Happy B’day, I must stop my bla bla…. In a country where average age is 64 yrs I have almost completed half. In a way life has not yet started for me. So many stars to catch, so many skies to reach. Have to search for answers- WHO AM I and why I am here? And yes, have to meet ISHU with a beautiful Red Rose. So in a way passing of yet another b’day is just a matter like changing of calendar. Time is infinite. Life is continuous.

Thanks my friend. All the best!!!

Doctors Day India

Just want to share to you this email sent to me by a friend, Kushal Pratap Singh from India. (July 1, 2009).

_________

Buna friends! Here I go again. It's July 1 and Doctors Day India. Well in US and other western countries it's celebrated on March 30, the day when Dr. Crawford W. Long first used ether anaesthesia in surgery. We celebrate it on July 1, as a mark of respect for the great physician, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.

So it’s time for us to show appreciation and say thanks to the doctors who care for us (???).

Lets talk about Dr. George Tiller. He was from US. Dr. Tiller, who was one of very few doctors in US who publicly provided late term abortions to women, was dedicated and passionate about saving women’s lives. He was known for wearing a button that said “Trust Women.” So naturally he was on the hit list of CHRISTIAN TALIBAN’S and OSAMA’S. Death threats, harassment, vandalism, rabid picketers, baseless lawsuits were a part of Tiller’s daily life. In 1986 his clinic was bombed. In 1991, his clinic was under total siege by the anti-abortionists for 47 days in what they called the “Summer of Mercy.” In 1993, he was shot in both arms by Shelly Shannon who identified with the extreme Christian Fascist group called the Army of God. Dr. Tiller neva backed down. But on a fateful Sunday (May 31), this year, he was murdered by an anti-abortion assassin.

Now lets talk about a great Indian Doctor of our times, Dr. Binayak Sen. A pediatric doctor by profession — a gold medalist, from the prestigious Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore. A mesmeric character — intense, articulate, idealistic, a man of privilege who seeks nothing for himself, his two years of detention by the state of Chhattisgarh on shameful frivolous charges of sedition, criminal conspiracy, making war against the nation, and knowingly using the proceeds of terrorism (sic), is a scandal that should shame any civilized society. Binayak Sen has worked for more than 30 years with the tribal poor in Chhattisgarh, battling malnutrition, tuberculosis, and the lethal falciparum malaria strain rampant in the area. He ran his famous Tuesday clinic in the forests’ around Bagrumala and Sahelberia in district Dhamtari, peopled by Kamars and other tribals, the most neglected of the Indian human chain, destituted further by the Gangrail dam on the Mahanadi river. No schools. No drinking water. No electricity. No access to public health. And increasingly, no access to traditional forest resources.

In 2004, CMC honoured Binayak with its prestigious Paul Harrison Award. In a moving citation, it said, “Dr Binayak Sen has carried his dedication to truth and service to the very frontline of the battle. He has broken the mould, redefined the possible role of the doctor in a broken and unjust society, holding the cause much more precious than personal safety. CMC is proud to be associated with Binayak Sen.” I think that speaks volumes for the man. For more about him plzz Google his name.

And now lets return to our real world. My city, Bareilly, I think it has more Doctors than the vendors and grocers. You will find them at every nook and corner of the city. But these are incidents of Government hospitals. June 24. A small town Ramnagar. A woman gave birth to a child. But where? -At the gates of the hospital, under the burning sun. Why?- She was denied entry cuz the PHC (Primary Health Centre) was closed n its opening time was uncertain.

Next, June 26, women hospital, Bareilly. A pregnant lady was turned back by hospital staff with the advice that the baby is dead and she should go to a private hospital for operation. On her way to a private hospital she gave birth to TWINS. (Yeaaa alive twins, one on the cycle rickshaw itself and the other in the house of gentleman.) Inquiries have been ordered and hopefully they will go on and on and on. As always, "Poor People, Hungry People, Indian People". Anyways, "our wishes to Tiller’s and Sen’s and to those who really care for us..."

KP

For Pinoys or For Few?

5 Ways to Survive College

First of all, gusto ko lang mag-apologize kay Jenny for the late reply of her email. Gusto ko man sagutin lahat ng emails mula sa mga students ng Lorma Colleges, hindi ko naman kaya ang multitasking. Right now, I am bound to fly in Dhaka, Bangladesh to check on this University in which I intend to pursue a crash course in business.

The email question is, "How to survive College?". Since, Jenny (not her real name) mentioned that she is pursuing a BS Nursing. I was relieved that somehow I can relate
my experiences when I was still a student.

Nursing is not an easy course and it is in fact one of the expensive courses in the country today. Some may totally disagree but majority of the programs may even have the same financial quotations as if you're studying Medicine in a private institution. I would not mention any schools in that instance since this article is not about the cost of such course. Yet, I presume Jenny 's parents have really planned for her education since the choice was mutually decided by her and her parents. Meaning, as she wrote, "Umupo kaming tatlo ni mama at papa sa dining table para pag-usapan ang gastos after researching which College in La Union will be the best for me.". Since her Dad is an OFW, majority of the remittances ay napupunta sa kanyang College Education basically her mom sticked to the planned budget. That's pretty impressive because not all parents stick to any budgeting and Jenny stressed that it was effective since she would pay her tuition fee on required time.

The problem appeared when the dollar went down and worse, nagkaroon ng problem ang Dad niya sa work. So she continued her email on what are the possible/ available options that she could survive in College, should stopping for one semester a good option?

I took a deep breath and I went to visit Lorma's website to check on any good news because I was also moved by some news that most schools are also increasing the tuition fees due to the global economic crisis.

I am relieved that Lorma will not have a tuition fee increase and this is a good news for Jenny and the rest of the students. Or else, some would have transfer to another cheaper nursing schools in La Union and may have to undergo another form of adjustment/s.

Adjustments in taking the same course and with the environment may have different impacts to a College student. Kung tutuusin, kapag na-kick out ka, expected na may impact yan sa self esteem mo. Lalo kapag ang peers mo ay naroon, pursuing the course and you felt being left behind. On another point, if you are transfering because of financial problems, halos ganoon din ang impact sa isang student and certainly getting back on track is a crucial stage.

So to help Jenny ease her problems, dahil nga hindi pa siya decided if she will transfer or not; here are some of the survival tips.

1. Scholarships and discounts. Maraming hindi ito napapansin pero andaming scholarship option sa LC. Visit, lorma.edu.ph to know more about this or simply, visit Mrs. Melba C. Ano, Dean of Student Affairs to find out if you are qualified for any of the scholarships. If you are good with academics, meron ding discounts depending on your grades, meron ding discounts if you have relatives working in the company (Lorma schools, hospital), meron ding discounts if you have siblings (I'm not sure if this is still followed but ask the business office about it) at higit sa lahat, be an active member of an accredited school organization in Lorma because they have discounts sa tuition fees upon approval of the org's adviser and the College Director. Some of the most notable orgs are: the Lorma Highlights, SML, Lorma Dance Troupe...

2. Volunteer and be a working student.- There are postings for volunteers usually for some offices in the College. If maluwag naman ang schedule mo, you can make arrangements with it. Usually top sa list na nagpapa-volunteer/intern for a clerical work ang Library, Guidance Office, Registrar. Yet, kung gusto mo naman ng iba pa, I would suggest you to express your intention in writing sa Lorma Foundation, MIS or even in the hospital. This way, you can make arrangements for certain fees and you will be entitled for a work experience also while rendering volunteer work.

There are some establishments in San Fernando area that hires students like food chains, burger stands, and other services. I would suggest you to secure some necessary papers (NBI, barangay clearance and other stuff, it's also a good experience since you'll be doing the same processes after College and mahahasa pa ang interpersonal skills mo.). I also suggest to choose a work that is "decent" (hindi naman yung pang-club thing, siguro naman gets...) and something that you will learn for future application of your chosen field.

Is network marketing a good option?

I have mixed opinions to this because one of our professors in College was "makapal ang mukha" in introducing his networking business while we were having and after our class. It is unethical to do it in class because student-teacher may have to deal with conflicts of interests in the academic environment. It is not bad to be a network marketer. I am also engaged to this but you have to research first before joining and assess if you are capable with the terms of the networking system. Baka naman maabala ang schedule mo, you'll get exhausted and mabaon kapa sa utang. Keep your options open and be nice in declining if you wish not to when solicited by your professor.

3. Shared expenses.- I have been an advocate of this while in College. Gustong gusto ko ang group work kaya kung may projects sa mga subjects, Always suggest for group works. Yun nga lang may ups and downs din ito because you cannot expect everyone to really work on their assigned task dahil iba iba naman ang group dynamics. On the other hand, kung kelangan ng photo documentations, kelangan yung may mga kaklaseng may efficient na camera ang gamitin (good thing if everyone has a good camera phone), for paper works- siguro you have to do away from the Malls kasi mas mahal po ang school supplies nila doon (may mga mura option but same good quality along supermarkets), computer rentals is a no no (make a written request sa Internet room duly endorsed by your professor and Dean to make special arrangements kung hindi kayo makasingit), printing naman sa school is cheap but edit your work thoroughly before printing. If there are excesses in your supplies, assign a classmate to be the custodian (piliin naman yung nasa malapit ang boarding house) just in case kailangan niyo ulit gamitin ang pentel pens, bond papers for future projects.

If it's a big project like case studies, kelangan may listahan, keep all receipts para hindi akusahan na ibinulsa ang excess.

Another thing that can be shared in terms of expenses ay food, pamasahe (mostly sa DMMMSU area eh nakikita ko, naglalakad nalang ang students papuntang bayan, mainit but it's also an exercise.), boarding house (if there is a boarding house that has a lower rent but it has good amenities and safe, why not?). These are among the things I could say na puwedeng "shared". Ang problema lang minsan sa food ay kung mas matakaw ang isang contributor at nagdadala pa siya ng sabit like "syota" or barkada, sira ang budget so be specific to this when you decide with your peers.

4. Plan for the summer and semesters to come. -I had a good experience when I approached Prof. Pacita Apilado when she assessed my transcript of records. So, find a mentor to deal with your academic issues. If you feel like you want to take a subject in advanced, look for some of your classmates who wanted to "open" it, seek the advice or endorsement of the Dean for the Registrar to act on your problem. Do not leave pre-requisites and minor subjects behind. Lastly, when you're given a project, avoid cramming...

5. Sacrifices. - Of course, you are in College to Study and expected to finish the course with flying colors and with dignity. Kaya, huwag ng kupitan ang parents or tell lies about what you have to be needing na hindi naman. Wag na bumulakbol at magbisyo. I'm talking about some extra money to buy luxuries like clothing also (usually branded at mamahalin pa yung iba). I remember one classmate who is not ashamed that he "arbored" a uniform from a previous roommate because the latter is graduating. Some of my classmates also were good at "arboring" books, extra school supplies, notes from their roommates. I would not say you would do it na sobrang "OA" but there are some practicalities out there. Be assertive. If you can't buy brand new books, seek for used ones, if you can't buy fashionable clothing for now, work for it or find a better option at the "wagwagan". I tell you, there's nothing wrong about being "jologs" to that effect. Sir Ever even boasted he joined a fad and he was surprised to buy a designer pouch at wagwagan. Going back to books and manuals, you can advocate your classmates not to spend much on these if there is a viable reason. Be united, be a leader. My batch did not have a yearbook because majority of my section then were united and they fought for their rights at that time. Ikaw ba naman ang lapitan ng isang classmate saying, "Madi kam pay nakalako ti irik my friend. Tal-talaga." Anya ngay ti ubraem nu sika ti LEADER?

To end this 5-point Survival for College. (Which will be followed by more...) I hope Jenny would be enlightened and will have a good decision in staying and finishing her course in LC.

Career Activism: Good or Bad?

Certain testing methods are developed and readily available to determine if one can be diagnosed as a career activist. Career activism is often not encouraged in other work environments specifically for most corporate capitalists who would think that collective bargaining or sitting down with employers to meet at the midpoint is a waste of time and connotes big losses on investments. Most companies resort to outsourcing abroad because they are just too afraid to take the risk on the kind of employers that is taking the path to career activism. So, they innovate (if that is the correct way to say it) by exploring cheaper labor abroad while this may post risk or compromise their production. Fortunately, most of them succeeded because some countries have bankable manpower- as long as the company keep their books and adhere to their manuals strictly; the "lazy or less fortunate man becomes a modern product of corporate evolution". To determine if this is good or bad for the economy can be tested and analyzed through the current financial turmoil that is happening globally. There are plenty of determinants to a company's survival. Production for example cannot be increased when the demand is undetermined. Some CEO's would lament that "In the absence of wants, advertising should do the trick to convert it as need, so create it somewhere else."

Being a career activist has two significant effects in a basic feedback mechanism. One for the person involved and second, to the company in general.

So if one is a manager, he should know who the career activists among his subordinate are in order to drive along with a strategy to make a feasible work environment running and productive.

The picture of happiness

A career activist routinely asks himself if he is happy, involved or is learning in the organization. When he feels unhappy with work, he tries to do something about it. The solution may not come solely from him until it becomes contagious to his co-workers about the need to make changes in the work environment. People think of him as passionate and engaged in his work so co-workers might be convinced to consciously or subconsciously participate unto his proposition. On the other hand, if he can't push further and continues to be unhappy or not learning at work, he seeks out alternative opportunities from different sources.

Decision-making skills

Every work entails a lot of decision-making process. The quality of decision-making process is dependent on a series of different strategic solutions. For a career activist, he is aware of what sacrifice is and makes it basing from a thoughtful analysis of the pros and cons of such decision. However, a career activist knows how to apply standards and knows how to deal with performance appraisal

Self-awareness of skills, strengths and weaknesses

Since he is thoroughly aware of his skills, strengths and weaknesses; the career activist knows how to leverage his skills to get better assignments. He is defined by his skills not by job description so he works well on most contemporary management styles. His awareness of personal strengths allows himself to work effectively on environments adaptive to such skills. He is prepared to be seen as pushy if it's the last resort to get his work needs recognized. Whether he is a manager or a subordinate, a career activist must be a good communicator to achieve maximum potentials.

The learning direction

The career activist is not stagnant water. He has a directional career path and a time-plan. Some keeps records of what he has learned for the past six months and what he is about to learn in the near six months.

Attitude towards the monster (boss)

He may be treated as the monster's greatest villain but a career activist makes the organization dynamic because he works according to his interest. It is essential to take note of his skills before deciding if you'll need to give him the project or not. This type of person should let his dignity be compromised because he is fully aware with the standards, most specifically with professional standards; that means he can sacrifice by being prepared to lose clients, prepared to turn down lucrative assignments when it is personally painful. Yet, he is prepared to do work that he does not like if it increases a longer-term options.

Interaction beyond…

Since the business world moves along with etiquettes, a career activist usually takes note about meetings canceled thrice and is ready to deal with compromise especially when his personal commitments are held in conflict. However, he is not going to sacrifice for himself or make sacrifices that he can't justify. After all, he likes being stretched at work; he is hungry for life-work balance (so a company should have this protocol) and lastly, he has selected a network of mentors and friends who can provide him with professional and emotional support. So, if you are his manager, be in this circle so that you can easily be in-tuned with a career activist to outwit him to get on track with work, motivate him to achieve corporate goals.

Multitasking: Working beyond your Limits

The medical director of the popular TV series Grey's Anatomy encouraged the head resident to "learn to delegate" when the medical resident has done a lot of multitasking in the facility. The latter did the delegation apparently but ended up doing the job herself basically because she did not have a sense of trust with the other co-worker. The medical director continued, "Go home to your family or you'll end-up going home to no one…"

Some doctors in the field tend to overlap into their job description due to various reasons. Sometimes they felt that they could do it all most especially when their personality is a competitive one. The know-it- alls , do- it- alls principle does apply to many individuals who are confronted with many issues within work which is becoming unhealthy for them as they continue such multitasking in the organization. In some health facilities, under-staffing provokes employees to fill in the task of the absent person. In the long run, they would have to do their work while eating, abuse or push the methods of modern technology to its maximum; create conflicts with other co-workers (because of overlapping responsibilities) and putting their own health at risk. The same is through to other work environments- nurses in the health care facility, financial analysts, call center agents, etc. Almost all work environments today have multitaskers and their kind is greatly preferred and encouraged.

Today's knowledge-based economy, multitaskers are the most in-demand type of people. Yet, their value to the company can only be measured through organized processes. Multitaskers must learn the principle of "work-life balance" in order to achieve the so-called company objectives. Bosses love these people undeniably because it is the trend of today's modern lifestyle in the advent of modern technology. Just because there is technology, does not always have to push humans to adapt with technology. Isn't it that technology should be used to aide humans with their work and that humans must not be the ones fitting himself into existing technology? Ironically, humans are the ones adapting with the advent of modern living hence the word "upgrade" does not always apply with technology but to humans as well. He or she undergoes professional enhancement or worse, work outside of his or her qualifications thus re-creating a figure of him as the living robot of the century. The more he does multitasking, the more he compromises his quality of work because it is a fact that the human brain literally shuts down when it can't handle all the processes that it needs to act upon. John Arden, a psychologist and Dr. Glenn Wilson, commissioned by HP in 2005 have correlated findings regarding multitasking and memory. In their separate findings, Wilson showed that an average worker's functioning IQ drops to 10 points which may lead to sluggishness posting greater health risk in chronicity while Arden stated that "Multitasking decreases memory ability" which will allow a demonstration of "divided attention', another similar concept that will cause "shifting from one activity to another".

Reasons for Multitasking

1. Out of Desperation

Time is an element in which an individual has no control of. He cannot prolong time, stop it nor turn it back so that could do more tasks in an hour or a minute. The inclusion of "time management and planning or realistic schedules" is an efficient way to avoid "cramming". When a task is given ahead of deadlines, one should plan to finish it ahead of schedule to avoid going through desperation. One thing more, one should not accept additional assignments when a certain project has not yet materialized or it requires total attention. Prioritization is a keyword and "quality" should always come first when results are being talked about.

2. Impulsively

Most people are easily interrupted by ringing phones, text message alerts, fax machines while meeting or discussing a certain issue with a co-worker or a boss. An ability to control "technology" to answer the demands of a current problem requiring human interaction is a plus in order to put multitasking to a proper basket. Impulsively, interrupts communication and becomes a moving obstacle in gaining effective feedbacks from sender and receptor, vice-versa. When you have experienced stating, "Where were we?" after taking too much call, one is on a verge of multitasking impulsively.

3. Pride

David Mayer, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan stressed that "Many people delusionaly believe that they are good at this." He explains that the brain is only equipped to do heavy-duty multitasking. Although people are asked to do multiple things, they would need a superhuman ability which is only true when one performs two activities that require the use of the same part of the brain. So does it apply to one reading a financial report while making love to his spouse? This would be futile.

As the three experts suggests, multitasking could result to serious health risks. Further it affects one's level of concentration or focus. You can just imagine how many of these people who gets a car accident while answering their mobile phones. Scientifically speaking, stress hormones play an integral part in straining the human body. Drugs (like sleeping pills, vitamins and supplements) mistakenly taken to boost the body's defenses could result to even more serious problems like dependency and addiction. Occupational safety and Health researchers confirmed that with this biologic changes, it would contribute to headaches, sleep problems, stomach problems when in acute phase but for long term effects, could lead to heart diseases, depression and back pain to name a few.

Time magazine in an article about "Inflammatory responses" also affirms that chemicals produced in response to the body's stress leads to many debilitating diseases of the century like diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases.

Aside from this, multitasking is a significant factor to brain cell permanent damage which would latter make a person have difficulty doing one thing at a time.

Work-Life Balance Promise

Work-Life balance is concept that has been gaining buzz in most contemporary organizations. Little emphasis on work-life balance creates influence to employers' attitudes, behavior and values in the workplace. This concept could be an answer to addressing multitasking problems; wherein an employer or employee, who has not been able to balance these two core concept: work and life, tend to resort to multitasking. Balancing to avoid multitasking can be achieved by engaging in a formal work-life planning process in a structured disciplined manner. The measures could be allowing alternative working arrangements like flexi-time work arrangements. It is a promising solution which would decrease tension between superior and subordinates, creates more responsibility and empathy in the workplace.

The benefit of work-life balance is owed to policies developed that includes family or simply goes with the principle of family-friendly policies. This would result to a wide array of solutions from reducing employee absences, better staff retention, easier recruitment or filling of positions, improvements in morale, commitment and productivity of the employees.

As a conclusion, truly an answer to this multitasking problem is to stay organized and avoiding putting work on hold for tomorrow. Thus, tasks are done during the course of the day and decreases piling of work loads. When you are working on a project, control technology like ignoring your cell phone when it rings, your IM when it pings, and focus. Take a break: have a brief walk, take a nap, browse the net for fun in less than ten minutes, and sip tea to calm your nerves as the experts say. Focus on one task at a time. Don't be pressured and resist the urge to do multitasking.

Out-knowing the Monster?

He is the boss and you're the slave, so? Does that mean that the slave does not need a sense of liberation from the boss's invisible remote control? There are diverse types of leaders and managers in the world of WORK. Sometimes we stumble to the one that really heats our butts because we are not used to with the kind of needle that he or she is exposing us in our work environments. Yet, we cannot be silent or act like a buzzing bee when we failed to assert ourselves as co-workers. We want to make things work or else the company which is undeniably the source of our bread and butter; suffers because of our undirected egos. So before you resort to "resignation" (which I suggest to be a last option for your dilemma); you might want to read some thoughts which might help you realize that you can actually outwit that guy up there and who knows, you might grab his or her seat one day and experience a different kind of hell that you might want to re-create.

First of all, the monster is not a god and certainly he is like Goliath that has a weakness. He or she shouts, throws things, rewards the wrong person and annoys but you must have to look at a perspective that he or she is hiding a "secret closet", that once you unlock it, he or she is going to be your own proto-type asimo. So take note of your strengths and observe that without it, your boss is screwed. There's got to be that thing in you that he or she does not have. Use it when the right time comes. In short, know the things that the monster does not know. Have an extra ear and of course, always listen with your two ears and your eyes. If you have that sixth sense, then add that up!

Working with numbers and other data

The TV series Numbers for example suggests that problems in crimes can be statistically analyzed using collated data. Though it has a varying degree as to how efficient statistical analysis resolve even the toughest organized crimes like terrorism, it gives us an idea that when you are capable of analyzing these and your boss definitely depends on you on such information; this could translate to you being the asset of the organization. When you are able to translate figures to valuable information in resolving the toughest organizational problems, you can maximize your own potentialities.

In the field of medical science, laboratory analysis are derived from "numbers" which is a fact, an important tool in the treatment and management of diseases. Nurses and doctors depend on this information in making critical decisions in health care. If you are the nurse, when you know how to deal with numbers and data, you won't feel that you are a mechanical puppet when the doctors just happen to make his "orders"; actually you can make pertinent suggestions by which you believe, best for your patient. Gone are the days that a nurse is treated as that mechanical assistant who operates on "push-buttoned" responsibilities.

In the field of business however, when every data is equal to "money", when you are good at working with numbers and other data, you can help the company to minimize losses in the stock market. When your boss misses that single detail which you provided a door of opportunity may open for you…

Getting caught with your bluff

The boss is the boss. You are not yet. Remember that it is not wise to be overconfident about your value to the organization. Yet, you should always anticipate that he or she might ask for you to double check on something. On the other-hand, do not push that all answers provided by you and everything else is complete. When at the back of your mind, you missed something and you just had that flickered while having the presentation, do not get caught and have your confidence melt down. Admit it when it is too obvious. Say that, "I do not have the answer for the moment or the information at the moment", and then offer to find out. Yet when you do, do not make a promise; just do it. This works well for medical interns or personnel making a stiff monitoring. Do not make an alibi that there are so much things to do especially when you are dealing with lives. If you are keen with monitoring machines, then check immediately if there is stored information which you have missed. Most health managers want to see changes that make a patient recover, achieve his or her optimum level of functioning; that is why the health care provider is supposed to be the "generalist" in a certain situation.

The test-retest Method

The WORK world works with logic and from logic, we extract the thing known as common sense, so when you learned to anticipate the monster's questions, be ready to advance the questions that starts with the word, "why". In a presentation, you must be able to monologue for that question and answer portion. Visualize the results as you present the solutions to the problems. The basic principle is "cause and effect" but the "why" thing weights the solution that you are presenting. The keyword for this principle is, "Initiative". Before the monster manages to find out for him self, have the initiative to look further.

Your back-up support system

Einstein, one of the great thinkers of the century, said that never reveal your sources which is one best principle while you are still developing a strategic idea on your next career move. It is not wise to depend solely on your knowledge and skills; you must have a back-up of support systems in the field where you can extract ideas and where you can depend on when you are confronted by your waterloo. Admit it, you are not a superhuman. You can be a walking Almanac or a concise Encyclopedia but you are not a compendium of all knowledge so you must know who are in that "support gear" that you must be wearing. He may be another manager you met from a convention you had coffee with a couple of hours ago, a reliable expert, a corporate geek or an explorer. The point is you are clever enough to out know the monster so as to advance yourself in that organizational ladder. The idea is simple, when you have access to such information that the monster don't, you can synchronize with the boss's strategies easily, propose outstanding solutions, or innovate on existing standards. Whichever the step, you are building your value with your career and to the employer.

To GREEN now or?

How do we go Green when all we think is to get the latest in the market.?We want to throw or just take away some things that we believe we no longer need, the green revolution's calling is simply not our creed... it indeed easily said than done.

My mother has been very influential in the family when it comes to going green. She has been working in the Environment Bureau for almost thirty years and with her expertise, she has been consulted by many organizations, including our City government with regards to solid waste management. Within our city, each household is obliged to segregate garbage and yeah, we pay for garbage fee too. We have also our option by selling our own trash (the non-biodegradable ones like scrap metals, computer hardware, plastics to junk shops of our choice) or just segregate it and allow the city garbage collector to take it and from there, they manage your trash...

Solid waste is not just the visible garbage that we get rid from our households. It also includes the other establishments in a certain place. The municipal hall is an abiding model where it boasts its earning for the past years and it mobilized the funds in taking care some of the expenses of the city like medicines and other services. It was not a highly profitable one but yes an evidence that, "there is indeed money in the garbage".

The other proponents of going green could not even deny that to live with it, you have to spend money to really achieve that full potential but for ordinary people like me, change does not come with a snap of a finger. Money is not always available to change your lamp bulbs, your TV screens, some house finishings, your cleaning gadgets, your car, etc. It denotes time to really figure out and to make your decision. Most especially, when you are not living on your own. How could you advocate others in your household to change just because it is the calling? We simply need some right timing, right information and of course, the right "choices" in which we could make a "compromise."

We have to be honest to ourselves that there are some things that we could not just let go simply because the "cost" is not feasible. We can't let go of this refrigerator because there's no budget to get a new one nor let go of that non-environment friendly washing machine and detergent when the supposed to be friendly stuff is not yet commercially available.

Yet, still the best place to assess how "green" we can contribute to the environment is to start from our homes, we can determine "wastes" from all areas beginning from our own closets to our garage. According to a popular show, when you don't use your clothes for more than 6 months, then it is a candidate for either giving it to charity, for your garage sale or trash (trashing also follows the words: recycle, re-use, repair/recondition, re-sale, etc). So many solutions available and yet "the choice is in your hands. "

My parting words, when you decide to go and live green, are you ready to change your lifestyle by considering going back to the basics? Using stuff you haven't tried, spending in an environment-friendly technology? How about your government initiatives? The big corporations?

LORMA Polls Oct . 9, 2008

Sasagutin ko lang ang Lorma Polls nung October 9, 2008 for my own sanity...

On Intramurals 2008.

Pageant-oriented parin ang LC Intramurals. Sana dagdagan ang safety para sa cheerdance competition. Sana repasuhin na ng SML ang sports program ng College and make use of the full potentialities of professionals who know the ins and outs of sporting. Why not seek professional guidanc3e from Dr. Pedro Patacsil?

On milk scare.

Paso na ang topic na ito. While lipana ulit ang mga commercial ads ng gatas at mga produktong nasama sa listahan ng mga "alleged" na melamine sa ingredients ng mga ito, will it change the fact that more mothers are still neglecting the benefits of "breast feeding" for their children up to 2 years old. This is a challenge to student nurses, "are you good enough to be part of that breast-feeding campaign while pa-bungee bungee lang ang ilan sa mga community-health nursing activities?". No offense but if you're gonna upload youtube entries sana naman yung may kabuluhan to make a different impression of what community health nursing is all about. Is this the ill-effect of that gross transportation expenses in which the College has not yet addressed to date?

Course na i-offer ng lorma.

I don't think LC should open another course when it neglects the other departments to achieve their full potentials. I would suggest that LC should keep track of the nursing program (more hands-on and modalities) and hire more competent clinical instructors who are really dedicated to the profession (di basta yung nagsasabing "CI nalang ako...") Imagine the impact of how this less empowered individuals contagiously pass unto the student nurses. I don't think it's time for LC to open other courses. For what reason? Experimentation? Have they conducted feasibility studies on this? How about the rest of the paramedical courses? Puro nursing nalang ba? The IT and Ab department? I think it's about time to review on how to make the other courses progress. Neglect nalang ba ang pagbili ng gamit nila just because they have a low population on their enrolments? C'mon, where's the spirit?

ang pinakamagaling na instructor sa lorma

My best yet the worse is dead. Tama, yung English teacher namin dati na si Mrs. Rufina Depalco who was principal then of LCSSHS. Sana gawan siya ng pagkilala. The best instructors are the ones who left the school with a heavy heart simply because they hold unto their principles...

ano ang reklamo mo? hinaing o ano mang suhestiyon sa kahit anong bagay na may kinalaman sa lorma.

Marami. Yet, the crusade just goes on. Hindi kelangan hilain ang pangalan ng school because of these. Pero sana, mabuksan ang gate para sa mas mahusay na LC para sa estudyanteng nangangarap at lumalaban sa mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong pagbabago.

Titser Titser EDUKHA-lay!

Kelan ba nakialam ang mga guro sa school patungkol sa mga karapatan ng mga estudyante para ipaglaban ang pagbalasa sa mga panuntunan ng Kolehiyo? Mangilan ngilan ang pawang laway meron lamang sila in the guise of a so-called kunwaring pakikisimpatya. There you have it guys, they don't care whether you fail or not. They don't. Meron pasimpleng papikit nga maglagay ng grade sa di deserving pumasa eh. Next thing you know, they're out in the street eating fish balls together. Aaaw so sweet! Why would they care? There are just some people who want to keep their jobs in the long run. Mga hinayupak na deadma! Ayaw pagamit ang facility ng school kasi may SOP na dapat sundin. ERR, eh sasabak ng contest ang kahabag habag na estudyante, ni pamasahe hindi siya pinondohan ng kumag na edukador! Aminin man nila o hindi, ang employees association nila ay burak- it does not have any significance. Puro payaso ang mga lider lideran dun. Projects nila bulok! Kaya pati mga org ng students, sunod sa uso. Does it change employer-employee relations. Kupal! They just make sure the president is under their dictatorship para walang "rally", walang collective bargaining. So burak is that puppet organization to the extent that they can't even unite in solidarity to come up with "just compensations" sa mga naghihingalong guro. No wonder kung anu-ano nalang krimen ang nagagawa ng ilang guro from emotionally torturing their students, selling their MLM, suggesting a book to buy in exchange for commissions, halla from eload to va-jj nadamay na. Take it for example the faculty from the a department who teaches in all the rest of the college. Sa pamasahe nalang laking dusa na when if fact they should be entitled for a transportation allowance. Grabe taas na ng presyo ng gasolina at pitchi pitchi lamang ang mga rollback ng mga kumag na petroleum companies na yan pero heto si mam at sir, super tiyaga kahit namamaos ang boses para hindi lamang ma-late sa klase. Oo, suwail nga kasi may checker ano? May surveillance camera pa ang ilan. Those capitalists monsters! Heheh, buti sana kung per hour ang bayaran. Yung iba nga night differential nila "coke at lugaw" from a graveyard canteen. Eeew! Don't they be given a chance to cut that stress? Do you think they too should be entitled to be late for humanitarian reasons? (Shungak namang Igme to, pati pagiging late ng empleyado kinukunsinte. ) Di nga, kasi si mam may sakit sa puso eh di kayang akyatin ang ganung kataas na kuwarto gayong hindi naman puwedeng lipat ng ibang kuwarto ng basta basta kung wala namang iba pang rekititos sa admin. (Diyaskeng Igme, pati comfort ng mga titser inintinde eh may karapatan naman silang mag-terror at mambagsak ng estudyante, di ba? ) Oo nga no tukmol. Pano naman ang mga titser na talagang hina-harass ang mga estudyante para lang matsansingan nila? Oo nga, titser bang matatawag yun? Ano yun? Langaw pare! Isang maitim at malaki't mabahong bangaw! Wala akong homophobia pare, pero don't you think foul naman yung himas himasin ka while taking the academically challenging exams or you get to be called for a few minutes after dismissal for that indecent proposal. Impakto talaga pare! This is a nightmare pero pano nga ba iwasan ang ganoong may matinding pagnanasang Bangaw?
Maging mabuting estudyante. Mabuti in the sense na walang late, walang absent, pulido ang lahat ng requirement at mag-aral ng mabuti para walang black-hole para masabit sa tukso para makapasa lang later on. (Eh Igme pano kung too late na?") Eh di bagsak at kung bagsak ka, wag ka ng magpawis para hanapin yang Bangaw na yan. Ang bangaw, sensors lang meron yan, walang human brain. Bangaw nga eh! Repeat mo nalang at malas kung sa kanya ka na naman natapat. Olats kung hindi kapa matuto pre. (Igme, eh habulin talaga ako ng mga Charing, hindi ko rin alam eh.) Wag ka kasi masyadong mag-gym kasi patok ang macho p're, eh. Magpanggap ka kayang ka-pederasyon din? Yan kasi sabi ng friend ko na kasama sa circle, basta malaki kasi katawan p're... (Igme, ano pa tip?) Argh, antokers nako pre. Next time ulit!

Sex Addiction

I am surprised that this issue came to be a point of interest when David Duchovny (X-files' Fox Mulder) have undergone rehabilitation due to this condition. According to www.medicinenet.com,

"sexual addiction"- used to describe the behavior of a person who has an unusually intense sex drive or an obsession with sex. Sex and the thought of sex tend to dominate the sex addict's thinking, making it difficult to work or engage in healthy personal relationships.

Sex addicts engage in distorted thinking, rationalization and blaming others for problems. One defense mechanism is also denial. In most cases, the sex addict's treatment is dependent on his acceptance of admission of the problem which is mostly influenced by significant event—such as the loss of a job, the break-up of a marriage, an arrest, or health crisis—to force the addict to admit to his or her problem.

Behaviors associated with sexual addiction include:

• Compulsive masturbation (self-stimulation)
• Multiple affairs (extra-marital affairs)
• Multiple or anonymous sexual partners and/or one-night stands
• Consistent use of pornography
• Unsafe sex
• Phone or computer sex (cybersex)
• Prostitution or use of prostitutes
• Exhibitionism
• Obsessive dating through personal ads
• Voyeurism (watching others) and/or stalking
• Sexual harassment
• Molestation/rape

Generally, a person with a sex addiction gains little satisfaction from the sexual activity and forms no emotional bond with his or her sex partners. In addition, the problem of sex addiction often leads to feelings of guilt and shame. A sex addict also feels a lack of control over the behavior, despite negative consequences (financial, health, social, and emotional).

Treatment

The focus is on controlling the addictive behavior and helping the person develop a healthy sexuality. It includes education about:

- healthy sexuality
- individual counseling
- marital and/or family therapy.

Support groups and 12 step recovery programs for people with sexual addictions (like Sex Addicts Anonymous) also are available.

In some cases, medications used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder may be used to curb the compulsive nature of the sex addiction. These medications include Prozac and Anafranil.

Does the School Matters?

I visited my old old school's website and I'm surprised to find an ongoing argument via the LH message board. It has been there for a while, the argument was posted by an unknown person claiming to be a Luisian. It was a funny ass I guess but as he keeps on bugging the site for Lormanians to react (not even sure if they are from LC); it arouses claims on the superiority of two rival schools who are totally different in terms of the standard of Education that it provides its students. Popularity-wise, Lorma and SLC do share their own domains but to tackle on its "superiority" without making concrete points as to what areas are mere immature quarrels that is not even viable as a Debate proposition. The LH blog is not even the proper forum to post such pronouncements as it lacks that kind of feature. Why the absence of such forum? Is this part of the transition from a threat? I know jalm might react on this because way-back few months ago, he did a little contribution in coming up with an amateur discussion forum that lacked support from the LH staff. There was even fear as we chat, is that due to censorship issues? Personally, I admire people like jalm because he is a proof of a student who seeks answers to variable questions and issues concerning them. However, we could not be sure how long his determination could hold him up and others; or simply he is just a representative of so many youth who are bored by this existing Educational Systems in most schools in the country.

Going back to the question, "Does the School Matters?" I would have to qualify my answer with a "yes" because it is a learned social behavior that is relevant to most Asians - it is in Education that uplifts the individual to interact from one social agency to another. An individual begins interaction within the Family through his parents and the school is usually the second agency that he interacts with. Education plays a crucial part in "career path" and certain elements within the school are influential factors in a man's self-esteem and ability to survive in each niche. Remember, Obama attended Harvard and it is within Harvard that he has expound his political views crossing from a least passive role in Chicago to now, the ultimate path of his career as the new US president. I would say that the school matters because that agency should have a "simulation" of the actual world up there but I think most schools stagnate because instead of moving forward as society progresses from agriculture to industry, it makes a significant picture that indeed it has a difficulty in adopting to such vicious change. The late Gov. Justo O. Orros rationalized that the "Philippines is taking its time" when confronted with a question as to why Malaysia and other rice-producing country in Asia are far progressive well in fact they trained from the Philippines via IRRI? The politician had that rationalization which stuck into my head for years in one of the events in LC. I was struck by the response of laxity and I bet those who listened have their own opinion. (Why would LC have such laxity on choosing such speakers? What are their guidelines?) I am not against politicians speaking in schools but how good are these "figures" in motivating students? The school matters because the student is supposed to take his first liberal step outside of his own family circle. I would affirm Dr. Emilio Joven's little chat while we were assisting him in a minor operation commenting on "Why would student still be accompanied by their parents in the enrollment process? Aren't they old enough to make decisions?" He has a point there, was it because of a certain level of "mistrust" that the parents are so rigid in entrusting their money or was it the over-protectiveness or fear of most mothers that they felt the need to accompany their children all the time from filling up those enrollment forms, doing the talking for their children at the Dean's office or Registrar. There are many implications of such unnoticed harmful effects of over-protectiveness. On the other hand, a "student" begins to "cheat" based on outside variables. His vulnerability is a result of so many laxities, within the family itself and yes, the schools are not addressing such laxities because some are just too concerned about getting the cash and providing a sound-to-be-good service disguising as Best Quality to be sold. Like what Inday said in her earlier testimonials about that Champion detergent commercial, that you have to pay... School matters because the school is supposed to be the first battle ground to exercise your freedom. It is saddening to realize that most schools are "underachiever" of so many things, that they could not facilitate to preach what they revised in their new directions. No matter how authorities would "revise and put a tag on a commodity if the content is still the same, fortification will fail (just like what happened with FIT, it did not replace water to wash our vegetables and fruits.)". You want to know where your money goes? Don't look at the new buildings, not the facilities... look at the heart of the institution- the teachers. They are significant determinants of the power of quality Education. The question is, how long will the teachers remain "passive"? Are the students ready to learn?

How are you Classified in Class?

djoyce71: Some schools use homogeneous sectioning wherein they classify students according to average grades which means that all fast learners are together in one room and all the slow learners are together in another room. While some schools use the heterogeneous sectioning wherein they just distribute the students equally into sections where extremes meet. I have been to both ways when I was in high school and for me both have advantages and disadvantages.
manunulat: In homogeneous, lessons are taught fast paced because students are fast learners and competition is healthy. In the heterogeneous, lessons tend to go slow because others could not understand easily, and the fast learners suffer sometimes because they get bored. But in heterogeneous, fast learners are tasked to help their slow learner classmates. They serve as paratutors and their classmates like it because they could improve in that way.
If you are a parent, what sectioning would you like for the school of your child? If you are a student, what would you prefer?
I prefer that heterogenous sectioning for more personal controls since I am no fast learner nor a slow learner, it's just that teachers should have a flexible method other than the classical method of teaching because there is a thing which we call as right and left brain learner which is I think more vital than utilizing the term homogenous or heterogenous sectioning. From your homogenous section point of view, this is done not in favor of students but rather more in favor of the teacher because the teacher won't be too concerned of who is catching up with his style or not. Yet competition could be healthy also and tension is high if students are highly participative. There is a tendency of more debates also in the setting. While in that heterogenous, this may not be possible since the fast learner may have to slow down and be in congruent with the others who can't catch up. Advantage? Maybe for the latter but it can also be a detriment to the advancement of the first. Secondly, slow learners may not be slow as we think they are. Motivation comes in different sources, they could use the whole idea as an advantage for them to outwit the known fast learners. If I am a parent, I won't be too concerned on which section my child will be in to. I would be more concerned on the quality of teaching he receives and how he digest or process the lessons. Do they have a fair grading system and curriculum? I would love my kid to fail and succeed in class also; be on his own.

Do you thinks it's right to Change for the Other?

jhl930: i think that we have all heard some stories about people changing for the other and sometimes that is good in my opinion and then again sometimes its not that good honestly...i think that its good to change if you are doing something bad like maybe your a big drinker and you change for that person and your not such a drinker anymore or you are on drugs or something like that and you change for that person and you don't do drugs anymore, just stuff like that or maybe before you were the kind to have a few boyfriends/girlfriends at the same time(nto serious)and you just have the one now and you are happy...but then again there are bad ways that you can change...so what about all of you do you think its right to change for the other? thanks for taking the time to read my discussion and hopefully you will take part and answer...i hope that you all have a great day today!

manunulat: The questions that we should ask ourselves would be "Are we going to change for the better? And if so, are we ready to leave the old person we are?" CHANGE should not be treated as an enemy, it's a life force and it's inevitable. When we engage into a relationship, a change should always be welcomed as a force that could make both person grow and mature. When the examples that you have mentioned are stopped or measures have been done by the person who has that annoying behavior; the idea of determining whether he or she made that decision right is the quality of how that person made that decision. When a person decides to take action on that decision, there should be an affirmation that he or she is doing it for the better- the examples that you have cited is more beneficial to that person who has that unaccepted behavior when he or she realizes that the behavior needs to be changed. There should be a commitment to do the necessary ways to make his or her plans work and if the expected result does not manifest, a person should be ready to re-evaluate the kind of decision that had transpired. On the other hand, we cannot force others to make life changes according to our standards (it's confrontational when we nag or face our men, it won't work.). We can motivate others to Change using non-confrontational approaches because there are some people that really needs life-coaching. Yet, what's been embedded as Character is really difficult to address because a person may not be open-minded to consider the benefits of such decision. And if so, are we ready to live in with that kind of relationship and are we ready to accept that kind of person he or she is? If we respect individual differences, how long can we handle their behavior? We can not not communicate.

Like Father, Like Son; Like Mother, like Daughter?

I read that children emulate both good and bad health habits. Teens whose parents smoke will have a tendency to smoke while kids whose parents exercise will develop the habit of exercising as well. I have read and also mentioned in our RRL on our undergraduate thesis that parents are the models of their children.
In the Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, research result show that parents influence on teens follow gender lines, boys emulate their Dad and mothers emulated by daughters.
In the aspect of health routines/ habits, what do you think have you acquired/ learned from your parents?

Holy Spirit

HOLY SPIRIT, HOLY SPIRIT, THOU WHO MAKE SEE EVERYTHING AND SHOW ME THE WAY TO REACH MY IDEAL. THOU WHO GIVE THE DIVINE GIFT TO FORGIVE AND FORGET THE WRONG THAT IS DONE TO ME AND WHO ARE IN ALL INSTANCES OF MY LIFE WITH ME. I, IN THIS SHORT DIALOGUE, WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND CONFIRM ONCE MORE THAT I NEVER WANT TO BE SEPARATED FROM YOU NO MATTER HOW GREAT THE MATERIAL DESIRES MAYBE. I WANT TO BE WITH YOU AND MY LOVED ONES IN YOUR PERPETUAL GLORY. AMEN.

Pray for 3 consecutive days without stating one's wish after the 3rd day your wish will be granted. No matter how difficult it may be promise to publish this, as soon as your favor has been granted.