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Friday, May 8, 2009
Randomness, a source of entertainment
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Thursday, April 16, 2009
Transformation
It simply amazes me on how comparatively rich our resources are. Aside from the library, we also have readily accessible academic online journals waiting 24/7. Did you know that foreign visitors are even surprised by the number of study areas in the University? Moreover, the school gives you online access wherever you are in campus or even at home. Multi-media materials are also available for audio-visual inclined students. There are different offices for health, career services, and physical facilities available for students’ use. The University does not have resources like those from Ivy League school. But relatively, our campus has more than adequate resources than other state universities in the country. I highly appreciate our library resources and accommodating people from the clinic.
I am amazed by the number of opportunities for growth through engaging oneself in extracurricular activities. Whatever your talent is, surely there is a place for you in the University. These are not just avenues to hone leadership skills, but also a chance to build your network of resources. More importantly, it is a place to develop skills that cannot be learned in classrooms alone. It is like a microcosm of the working environment in the professional level. You will learn how to deal with a non-performing colleague even when you have tests and projects due this week. You will also experience firsthand on how to work with a superior who has an opposite definition on what should be done. Let us not forget those who appear to have a very big vision but lacks commitment and integrity to work. Moreover, those who are very present in planning phase but always fail to show up on the activity day.
On the other hand, let us applaud co-workers and staff who have been a source of motivation especially when things are not going well according to plan. To those who share the burden of work even if outside their responsibility, thank you. For the initiative and committed staff who tirelessly help out in the execution of plans, you deserve medals of appreciation for making your officer’s life a bit easier to bear. For the executive members who have their eyes constantly on their vision and always work to achieve it, my greatest praises for you. There are a lot of times when thoughts of quitting pass through your minds, but you never did. I hope you will lead this country out of its current situation.
To my current and former fellows in The LaSallian namely Paulo Mutuc, Angela Velasco, Airi Beltran, Crezzeile Francisco, Anne Ng, Bien Tang, Michelle Reyes, Alejandro Almendras, Paul Garilao, Chessie Sta. Ana, Juric Cancio, Paul Matthew Jiao, and Abdul Onos; I could not have bared the bittersweet experience in the publication if you did not help me. Special mention to my fellows in the Council of Editors particularly Ivan Mendez, Toni Delmo, Eli Malicdem, and Stan Geronimo for sharing their wisdom and understanding the pains of being in the position. To our adviser, Sir Bombit Largoza, you have shaken our world and taken steps that helped us realize the process of understanding the word excellence. Miss Fritz De Vera, Ate Virge Pastor, and Miss Anne Valerio; you are the ones who truly needs the acknowledgement. Without your altruism to serve in the Student Publications Office, it will not exist.
Transformative learning has always been existing in the University even if it was not a formalized method of teaching. The core of its concept is for an individual to motivate and facilitate one’s own capacity to own a particular learning process. By doing this, you will be able to love learning per se because you have discovered how you learn best. You just have to allow and let yourself experience first the painful process. After that, learning will be more like a hobby rather than just being an academic requirement.
Education in De La Salle University is one of the best in the country. One of the contributing factors is the presence of some outstanding professors who passionately impart the process of learning. Another is the available resources which are readily accessible to those who need it. Moreover, there are a lot of co-curricular opportunities where one can hone leadership skills and professional attitude. Last is yourself. All factors are futile if one does not allow oneself to experience the Lasallian education.
Professors need to emphasize more on learning process rather than acquiring the knowledge itself. In my five years of stay, only a handful of professors were able to do that. I salute these educators for not giving into students’ whines, complains, and sweet talks. They are the ones who did not waste students’ time by talking about irrelevant experiences in their field and just assign reading materials. Rather, they have consistently discipline students to own the painful process of learning. Later we realize, we are spontaneously applying what we learn in the class to real life situations. We feel privileged to have been taught by them that whatever grade we receive, we know it’s worth it. To professors Angeli Diaz, Judy Freya Sibayan, Zenaida Manalo, Eligio Maghirang, Elsie Velasco, Ginny Santiago, Gerardo Largoza, and Laureen Velasco; a standing ovation for a job well done.
It simply amazes me on how comparatively rich our resources are. Aside from the library, we also have readily accessible academic online journals waiting 24/7. Did you know that foreign visitors are even surprised by the number of study areas in the University? Moreover, the school gives you online access wherever you are in campus or even at home. Multi-media materials are also available for audio-visual inclined students. There are different offices for health, career services, and physical facilities available for students’ use. The University does not have resources like those from Ivy League school. But relatively, our campus has more than adequate resources than other state universities in the country. I highly appreciate our library resources and accommodating people from the clinic.
I am amazed by the number of opportunities for growth through engaging oneself in extracurricular activities. Whatever your talent is, surely there is a place for you in the University. These are not just avenues to hone leadership skills, but also a chance to build your network of resources. More importantly, it is a place to develop skills that cannot be learned in classrooms alone. It is like a microcosm of the working environment in the professional level. You will learn how to deal with a non-performing colleague even when you have tests and projects due this week. You will also experience firsthand on how to work with a superior who has an opposite definition on what should be done. Let us not forget those who appear to have a very big vision but lacks commitment and integrity to work. Moreover, those who are very present in planning phase but always fail to show up on the activity day.
On the other hand, let us applaud co-workers and staff who have been a source of motivation especially when things are not going well according to plan. To those who share the burden of work even if outside their responsibility, thank you. For the initiative and committed staff who tirelessly help out in the execution of plans, you deserve medals of appreciation for making your officer’s life a bit easier to bear. For the executive members who have their eyes constantly on their vision and always work to achieve it, my greatest praises for you. There are a lot of times when thoughts of quitting pass through your minds, but you never did. I hope you will lead this country out of its current situation.
To my current and former fellows in The LaSallian namely Paulo Mutuc, Angela Velasco, Airi Beltran, Crezzeile Francisco, Anne Ng, Bien Tang, Michelle Reyes, Alejandro Almendras, Paul Garilao, Chessie Sta. Ana, Juric Cancio, Paul Matthew Jiao, and Abdul Onos; I could not have bared the bittersweet experience in the publication if you did not help me. Special mention to my fellows in the Council of Editors particularly Ivan Mendez, Toni Delmo, Eli Malicdem, and Stan Geronimo for sharing their wisdom and understanding the pains of being in the position. To our adviser, Sir Bombit Largoza, you have shaken our world and taken steps that helped us realize the process of understanding the word excellence. Miss Fritz De Vera, Ate Virge Pastor, and Miss Anne Valerio; you are the ones who truly needs the acknowledgement. Without your altruism to serve in the Student Publications Office, it will not exist.
Transformative learning has always been existing in the University even if it was not a formalized method of teaching. The core of its concept is for an individual to motivate and facilitate one’s own capacity to own a particular learning process. By doing this, you will be able to love learning per se because you have discovered how you learn best. You just have to allow and let yourself experience first the painful process. After that, learning will be more like a hobby rather than just being an academic requirement.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Lost momentum
Friday, February 13, 2009
25 random things about yours truly
Rules: Your choice. I just honestly want to answer this :D
1. I and my sisters listen to RX 93.1 every morning to Chico & Delamar.
2. I always forget things! I'm not sure if its my memory or i'm just doing too much. (My sister will definitely say it's my memory)
3. I've developed this immunity towards horror/suspense movies. I do get surprised during scare scenes but i can still glue my eyes on the screen. Can anyone suggest a definite scare-of-all-time movie?
4. When i was little (early elementary), i use to jump from our 2nd floor window and land on a hill of black sand. Haha! so fuuun!
5. I looove strawberries! My favorite fruit in the world. mmmmmm... strawberries and condensed milk! but they're too expensive to be eaten regularly T.T
6. I take care of the financial concerns here in our townhouse Manila. Most of the time, my money gets sacrificed if the house needs something. But i do ask sisters to share the burden if i don't have money anymore :D
7. Speaking of money, I always feel like being robbed when Auntie Edna always ask me for market money (since i give my allowance instead of witdrawing in the bank).
8. I've only fell in love (i think) once. :)) The others, i did considered but not really.
9. I think everyone knows this already... I LOOOOOOOOOVE MORNINGS!!!! i wake up usually 5:30-6:00am without any effort. haha.
10. If i'm not taking business & communication as my courses, i'd be choosing medicine.
11. All of my schools (except for Camiling Catholic School)i attended was walking distance. I never worry about commuting :D
12. I wish i had smaller feet T.T Can't usually get good ladies' shoes in ordinary stores. Largest size is almost always 9! darn...
13. I'm a frustrated dancer, singer, & athlete. dang! If i can train myself in all of those areas, I'd be super happy.
14. It has crossed my mind a lot times to consider running for a government position in Camiling, Tarlac so i can help our town. hmmm... Where to start?
15. I have never been confined in the hospital. weee!
16. I never planned to enter The LaSallian or any school paper. Bien Tang invited me and grabbed the opportunity. Never thought i'd go this far for the publication :D
17. Favorite food... SEAFOOD! I super love prawns and fishes!
18. I imagined more than once that i'm a great singer. lol. I dreamt that i'll be able to sing in front of millions who are in chaos then make them stop what they're doing, then they'd listen to me with smiling & serene faces. hoho
19. Believe or not, i used to be chubby when i was little :D i think metabolism kicked in when i was in elementary. It never stopped since.
20. I stopped cheating on my homeworks and exams 2nd year high school. Still clean :D
21. I was overdue when i was born. So basically, i looked like a long alien eggplant with stretched arms and legs. haha
22. I'm a gadget freak! I'd choose gadget window shopping over clothes shopping.
23. I love printing on scrap papers :D makes me feel good utilizing all white space in a sheet of paper. hehe
24. I'm damn frank especially when requested.
25. If confronted by ethical dilemmas, i would choose justice over mercy; truth over loyalty; long term over short term; and community over individual.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Not affected by financial crisis? Think again
We know the big picture. It is the worst global economic condition since the Great Depression in the late 1920s. Different financial institutions are going bankrupt. Big businesses around the world are closing down. More than half a million Americans from different levels of management lost their jobs last year. Thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers have been laid off already. In the biggest problem facing this generation, all of us should be aware and knowledgeable about the current events. Brushing off the topic off our shoulders is the last thing you should not do just because you cannot yet directly feel its impact.
If you are not alarmed or even disturbed yet on what is happening globally, you better be after I share these things.
A lot of people have already lost their mental-health because of stress brought by the financial crisis. A company handling mental-health referrals said their calls related to stress due to current financial issues have doubled. Another institution offering psychiatric services increased in admission four times last year. More than half of them were related to financial hardships and foreclosures. It seems like that psychiatric service industry is one of the few businesses enjoying growth during economic turmoil.
Another disturbing issue is the killings of financially disturbed and hopeless individuals. The Huffington Post published that the number of suicides increases by two percent during hard economic times—such as Wall Street stockbrokers suicides in 1929, 9/11 tragedy, and today’s financial meltdown. One current event is a high profile German billionaire, Germany’s fifth richest, committed suicide due to financial fears. He left his family a suicide note mentioning his distress and helplessness of inability to do anything to improve his financial condition. He is reported as at least the third comparable suicide in the last four months. Another is a money manager in California who decided to wipe out his wife, three kids, and mother-in-law in a murder-suicide after losing his lifelong savings and job, reported by TIME October last year.
If you think that the poorest members do not feel the crisis, think again. Scavengers' earnings have even dropped to half or more because the price of trash they collect had also drop. This is because there is low demand of recyclable materials caused by halt in business operations especially of manufacturers. In Japan, the number of homeless increased even more as businesses laid off contractual workers. To make things worse, the homeless in Japan is in danger of violence. One teenage boy killed one by setting him on fire. The boy told the police that the paupers do not contribute to society just like cats and dogs.
Students do not easily identify with the people mentioned above because the impact of the financial crisis is cushioned by financial dependency from parents. Since most students do not have a direct involvement to the generation of income, there is a tendency to not care about money unless there is financial training by parents.
Financial security from dependency added by lack of hunger for news adds more to the indifference of students towards the global slump. Ladies and gentlemen, the hard times are not going to be over soon regardless of social status. We better know what lies ahead of us when we graduate.
The biggest news that creates fear among students is the increasing unemployment
rate around the world even for those who are from top notch students. This all started August 2007 and is not going to improve in years. One should not stop reading and listening for news because it is where we will find opportunities for survival in the future. Let us not allow the financial crisis a sense of helplessness, but rather cultivate courage and optimism to push ourselves to make the best out of a bad situation. Knowing the incapability of our government to provide decent jobs for its people, who else can we depend on but ourselves?
One is to start spending wisely. Though saving is now becoming the buzz word among consumers, we should bear in mind that we shouldn't sacrifice welfare and health just to save money. If you research enough, you will get value for money and increase health with the right kind of lifestyle which is simple and healthy. Cut on the drinking and smoking already. It will even save you a few years for your future grandchildren.
Another is cultivating the spirit of entrepreneurship. Since job opportunities is one of the biggest fears of our soon to be graduates, be the boss of yourself then. Though luxury items have been the first products to be hit by consumers' cut in spending, some sectors in the food industry reported to have increased sales because people are now looking for more value for their money. Offer products that will provide value for money since consumers have turned to be budget conscious than ever. Actually, retailers remain to be optimistic since they have become more cautious and resilient due to Asian currency crisis last 1997.
Students may not have directly felt the effects of the global financial meltdown, yet. However, there is a big responsibility on us to be involved in the current course of events. The global slump is not going to go away soon. By the time we graduate, we should know what to expect and arm ourselves with necessary skills and knowledge on how to survive in this economic turmoil.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Congratulations Manny "Pac Man" Pacquiao
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Green Efforts in Vain: Why our university sectors need to sit down and talk about long term Environmental efforts
(My November column in The LaSallian)
Commendable efforts from different sectors in the University need to be recognized in initiating projects that pushes for an environment friendly school. These efforts seem to be sincere in achieving university-wide transformation so we can claim a green campus. However, this will only be in vain if sectors in the University fail to understand a system-wide approach to a development problem. It will still be fruitless if no higher policy-making body, such as administrators, will properly set a vision and initiate reforms that will drive and integrate efforts in the University to realize an environmentally sustainable institution. More importantly, walls separating students, faculty, and administration need to be taken down. This illusion of having conflicting missions can be proven wrong because the mission of one is the mission of all.
G. F. Abito, author of Environmental Education, Training and Research in the Philippines, says that initiatives to solve development problems have tendencies to attack in a “piece-meal, segmented fashion.” As he was referring to government agencies, he mentioned the problem also exist in private institutions such as universities. It is evident that there are fragmented efforts in the University but we have to know the difference between project success and systematic transformation.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
community whale "massacre" in Denmark
No harm. Investigating further, I found out that it is a tradition in those islands to gather food stock for the winter since Viking Age (800-900 AD). It is a community wide effort regulated by national legislation according to website giving a detailed account of the island's whaling practices. The community do not see it as a horrendous crime. They claim that the level of their consumption is at a sustainable level. Out of 800,000 pilot whales, they rarely take 2,000 every year. Nick Aslam, the BBC writer, stated "Had I, they asked pointedly, ever gone to an abattoir in my country and seen the industrial daily slaughter of thousands of farm animals?" The meat gathered is shared among members of the community without charge. Surplus are given to hospitals and old people's homes according to the article of BBC.
"Faroe islanders have been hunting for pilot whales for centuries, giving them valuable food stocks for the winter. But to animal rights activists, the kill is cruel and unnecessary." - BBC News
Office of Protected Resources (US government agency responsible for protecting marine mammals and endangered marine life), classifies pilot whales as "Low risk least concerned." Meaning they are not in danger of becoming extinct. The whale hunt is regulated by the Ministry of Fisheries of the Faroe Islands which is responsible for the administration and for coordinating Faroese participation in international scientific and conservation bodies.
Focus on more important things. For animal rights and environmentalists out there, I think better questions would be:
1. What are the pressing matters that need more attention? A group of people hunting on a sustainable level (which can be easily judged by their means) or companies with highly poisonous waste disposal system disrupting ecological harmony?
2. There are a lot of endangered species already. What are we doing to reduce the count?
3. Least corrupt country (Denmark) do regulate this kind of activities. Should our efforts focus more on the least credible and corrupt governments that deprive both human and environment life?
Judgement. I think what keeps us from understanding their practice is our characteristic of being judgemental. Yes, what they are doing seems to be barbaric. However, if we stop from knowing more about this tradition, then we also stop ourselves from learning about far more important issues that can save our environment.
In the Philippines, dogs are domesticated then beaten to death in sakos. Illegal logging in Isabela had been rampant during the political regime of the Dy's resulting to landslides. MWSI's irresponsible water project "enhancement" clogged drainages causing more floods. Squatter areas near bodies of water irresponsibly throw their trash and wastes there. Pollution level in Manila is at an alarming level. We have 50 "biologically dead" read article here rivers already.
See... a lot of work needs to be done. Before we judge them, I think it would be better to judge people in our country first.
Sources: BBC news, NOAA Fisheries, Whales and Whaling in the Faroe Islands, Truth or Fiction
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Women on top
GRACE PADACA . You know her? No? Here's a photo.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
"Change has come to America"
Credit to CNN.com http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/election.president/index.html
Obama inspires historic victory
(CNN) -- Barack Obama told supporters that "change has come to America," as he addressed the country for the first time as the president-elect.Sen. Barack Obama addresses a crowd of 125,000 people in Chicago, Illinois.
Police estimated that 125,000 people gathered in Grant Park to hear Obama claim victory.
Obama said he was looking forward to working with Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin "to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead."
McCain on Tuesday urged all Americans to join him in congratulating Sen. Barack Obama on his projected victory in the presidential election.
"I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face," McCain said before his supporters in Phoenix, Arizona.
"Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much, and tonight, I remain her servant," he said.
McCain called Obama to congratulate him, Obama's campaign said.
Obama thanked McCain for his graciousness and said he had waged a tough race.
President Bush also called Obama to congratulate him.
Bush told Obama he was about to begin one of the great journeys of his life, and invited him to visit the White House as soon as it could be arranged, according to White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
With his projected win, Obama will become the nation's 44th president and its first African-American leader.
Supporters in Chicago cheering, "Yes, we can" were met with cries of "Yes, we did."
More than 1,000 people gathered outside of the White House, chanting, "Obama, Obama!"
Obama's former rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton said in a statement that "we are celebrating an historic victory for the American people."
"This was a long and hard fought campaign but the result was well worth the wait. Together, under the leadership of President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and a Democratic Congress, we will chart a better course to build a new economy and rebuild our leadership in the world."
The Illinois senator is projected to pick up a big win in Virginia, a state that hasn't voted for a Democratic president since 1964.
Obama also is projected to beat McCain in Ohio, a battleground state that was considered a must-win for the Republican candidate.
Going into the election, national polls showed Obama with an 8-point lead.
Obama will be working with a heavily Democratic Congress. Democrats picked up Senate seats in New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina and Virginia, among others.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell held onto his seat in Kentucky.
CNN's Ed Henry said there were lots of long faces in the lobby of the McCain headquarters at the Arizona Biltmore hotel as McCain allies watched returns showing Senate Republicans losing their seats.
Voters expressed excitement and pride in their country after casting their ballots Tuesday in what has proved to be a historic election.
Poll workers reported high turnout across many parts of the country, and some voters waited hours to cast their ballots.
Reports of minor problems and delays in opening polls began surfacing early Tuesday, shortly after polls opened on the East Coast.
The presidential candidates both voted early in the day before heading out to the campaign trail one last time.
Tuesday also marked the end of the longest presidential campaign season in U.S. history -- 21 months.
As McCain and Obama emerged from their parties' conventions, the race was essentially a toss-up, with McCain campaigning on his experience and Obama on the promise of change. But the race was altered by the financial crisis that hit Wall Street in September.Monday, November 3, 2008
This made me do this ----->> O.o
I honestly think that branding a popcord as Poppycock would be a good marketing strategy. Come on! It gave me lot of misleading interpretations. Yeah, you know what I mean. Green as it may seem, I just can't stop thinking why on earth did the brand manager not thought of the different cultural connotation of such words. Sunday, November 2, 2008
Undas sa probinsya
Next, we visited Mom's clan in Calamba, Laguna. They do not fail to serve great food every time we visit there! We had steamed prawns, lengua, calderetang kambing, pork bbq, grilled pla-pla, ice cream, nilatek na iniruban (a kind of rice cake), and caramel flavored cake (it's kuya carlo's bday today!!!). My cousins, aunts, and Diana (my sister) even hit the notes on karaoke after lunch. Party then eh?! Haha.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Wanted: Organizational communication practitioners
Qualifications:
-
Basically knows how to communicate (yes, even the non-verbal)
Knows how to manage media (if you don’t know what decibel, aperture, pixels, and kernelling means; stop reading)
Knows how to craft THE message (hey, it’s an art after all)
Should have at least the bible of Marshall McLuhan or any other form of altar will do
Can create magic

If you indeed posses the enumerated qualifications, please do not hesitate to submit your application forms to any organization who are willing to embrace progress. I do believe that all institutions would need an orgcomm practitioner sooner or later because we’re living already living in the information age. We do not only need managers who will oversee operations, finance, human resource, and marketing but also information managers.
People fail to understand the impact and significance of messages running in and out of the organization. Depending on how it will be managed, messages can actually serve as builders or destroyers of an institution. An example is when DLSU was banned to play in UAAP Season 69. Dr. Quebenco was able to build on the event rather than letting it destroy the University. Now that's MAGIC!
A green drop in a bucket...
Carmela "Melai" Prado is my name; nice for you to drop by. I'm a print layout artist editor learning to be a grammar nazi due to demands of extra-curricular work, The LaSallian. I'm a proud probinsyana of Tarlac!





