Teamwork makes the dream work

One of the highlights of the e-Service Learning for me was being able to know my groupmates very well. We were already friends from our previous classes, but I came to know them on a deeper level because of our project with COSCA. My group and I never experience any sort of conflicts because we listen and respect each other’s opinions and suggestions. I remember when our e-Service Learning started, we couldn’t decide on what project will become valuable to the community of SAMLOK so we weighted the pros and cons of each member’s suggestion. I feel very fortunate to have been able to be a part of an amazing team. I don’t think I can clearly and comfortably communicate and share my ideas if I am with a different team. What I like most about our team is that if someone is not able to fulfill his responsibility for some reason, someone volunteers right away to accomplish the task that is why our team is able to function effectively. If someone is not available, everyone is willing to adjust until we set an agreed time for our virtual meeting. I am especially grateful for my teammates as they understand how heavy the workload I have and how conflict my schedule is. I am taking four subjects this term while working a full-time job so whenever I tell them I am unable to attend our Zoom meeting or I can’t accomplish a certain task such as to check the prices of our “May Ipon Ako” kit, they helped me accomplish the task instead. In return of the favor, I helped with other tasks such as finishing our Case Study early to ensure that I have equal participation with the group. There are times that we encounter stressful situations especially when requirements from other subjects have the same deadline with our assignments and journal entries in our Business Ethics subject, but we make sure to cheer each other up and help as much as we can. This made us become even closer friends.

The e-Service Learning made me realized that teamwork is different with groupwork. The latter is about working towards one goal that is accomplished individually while the former is also about working towards a common goal but involves coordination and commitment with each other. I can say that we our able make a teamwork which what made our project successful. Indeed, teamwork makes the dream work!

The Maimpok na SAMLOK project is a great learning experience for me as I have been able to collaborate and work with a team of hardworking students. I would have enjoyed this a little more and we could’ve bonded more if my group was able to go together to the SAMLOK community in Lian, Batangas. Nonetheless, I can say that this group project felt rewarding because albeit we were not able to interact with the people of SAMLOK, we are at least able to make a difference by promoting awareness on saving money.

Maimpok na SAMLOK

Samahan ng Mandaragat sa Sulok Fisherfolks Association or SAMLOK is an organization of fishermen in Lian, Batangas. Their primary source of income are pet fishes or ornamental fishes that can be kept in aquariums. Since they are in a remote area, their income resources are very limited. For this reason, our group decided to promote financial literacy awareness to the community of SAMLOK through the “May Ipon Ako” project. The project intends to educate SAMLOK community of the importance of budgeting and saving money, so they have a source of fund in case untoward events happen. Since the COVID-19 pandemic restrict us from visiting them, a “Maimpok na Samlok” video was provided to reach them out and as our way to encourage them to save money. The video is very detailed that it also includes different stages of a person’s life (single, married, and retired) which aims to tell them that no matter how old they are, they can still save for their future. The short video also discussed different government programs and institutions accessible to them. Different programs such as P3, Magna Carta law, and SHFC (Social Housing Financial Corporation) can help them if they wish to start a business or if they dream of having their own home. The group believes that poverty is not a hindrance and it doesn’t mean that they can never be successful, rather it is a challenge to them. We want to influence them, change their mindset to a positive one, and let them know that they can still prepare for their future even though they have limited resources. In addition to the video, we gave them mini booklet to record the money they are able to save and to check if they are reaching their goals. We also gave them pouches where they can put the money they saved. This project with SAMLOK does not only aim to raise awareness on financial literacy but also help decrease their stress and anxiety on where to find funds in case of calamities or emergencies.

Our project with the community of SAMLOK did not only teach them the importance of saving money but also taught me to value money. Oftentimes, we tend to live beyond our means and compromise our savings to cover for overspending. As for me, I tend to spend on little things, thinking that it won’t make a big difference. In reality, if these little things add up, it could cost more. I realize that there are many underprivilege people, and I am fortunate enough to have different sources of funds when I need it so I should not take this for granted.

We don’t have a control over what can happen to us. Even the richest man can still go broke or bankrupt if he is not able to manage his money properly, so it is very important to save money no matter how big or small it is so we can prepare for the future.

It’s too bad though that we were not able know the community and interact with each one of them. We could’ve have understood their situation better and learn more from them. I hope that after the pandemic I will be given an opportunity to visit them even if I am done with my Business Ethics class.

The Doll Test

(On International Declaration of Human Rights)

In the 1940s, to research the psychological impact of segregation on African-American children, psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark conducted a series of experiments call “The Doll Test”. The doctors used fours identical dolls with its color being the only difference to test children’s racial perceptions. Children ages three to seven were asked which doll is beautiful and which do they think has a good trait. Surprisingly, the African-American children prefer the white doll and associated brown-skinned dolls with the words ugly and bad.

According to the doctors, this experiment shows that racism creates a feeling of inferiority. It can affect the hearts and minds of a person and damage self-esteem.

Almost 10 decades after the experiment was done, the world is still full of prejudice. There is so much prejudice that oftentimes it influences our judgement. We start to think that black is bad, and if someone is black, then he/she is bad. If someone is white, then he/she is a superior human being created by God. This is why there are innumerable instances wherein black people were killed in the United States hence the Black Lives Matter movement. But let’s not go very far. In a case of a Filipino, if we hear someone speaking in a Bisaya diction, we often think that these people are uneducated, ignorant and only went to Manila to become a helper/nanny or security guard. But what about Miriam Defensor Santiago who was very smart, courageous and fought against the corruption in the Philippines?

Additionally, if we see Muslims, we often associate them with terrorism. We are even terrified to travel to Mindanao when the fact is only some parts of Mindanao have a conflict with the government and most part of the island is beautiful, much like Boracay and Palawan. Siargao and Davao, for instance.

In the workplace, stereotyping is also common as graduates of four big schools are given higher compensation than those from other schools albeit both have the same experience and qualifications.

In the province, it is also common that most women are deprived of education because they are expected to take care of the children and her family instead of working and providing for the family.

Also, I still encounter times where LGBTQ are being discriminated and people telling them they are “Salot sa Lipunan” or burden of the society when most have become an inspiration and made an impact to the society.

The Article 2 on United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights made me realize that we are all equal and we cannot make people of a race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status/background feel inferior.

Black people don’t have to die for us to start a Black Lives Matter movement. Gays and lesbians don’t have to experience pervasive discrimination to start Pride Parade. But I guess this is what we need to start valuing diversity and inclusion. Though I do hope that people will not only raise awareness on racial and gender discrimination but also on religion because Muslims are always being viewed as terrorists. In movies, we see them as the villain or those who kill. I just hope no bad situation will happen for people to start realizing this.

I hope that people will be more open-minded and will stop discriminating as this can affect a person’s physical, spiritual, and psychological well-being. I hope when The Doll Test is conducted again, children will be able to answer that white doll and black doll are both beautiful.

Planet B

(on Sustainable Development Goals)

How long do we have to wait until we realize that there is no Planet B and the Earth is the only place we can live in? How many disasters do we need to encounter until we realize that our Mother Earth needs saving?

Last Sep 21, 2020, the Climate Clock that counts down the time remaining for people to act on global warming was installed in Manhattan’s Union Square. It shows us that we only have 7 years, 101 days, 17 hours, 29 minutes, and 22 seconds until the irreversible climate emergency changes human existence. If we don’t act now, the world will continue to experience extreme heat waves, a much severe flooding, crazy wildfires, droughts, and famine, among other disasters. On the other hand, the Climate Clock’s second figure shows a sliver of hope on what is labeled “lifeline” which is the amount of energy supplied from renewable sources.

According to artists Golan and Boyd, who made the symbolic timepiece possible, the Climate Clock sends us a message that the planet has a deadline, but we can turn it into a lifeline; that we still have time but we cannot waste it. We need to understand that we have to act swiftly because if we continue to be ignorant and destroy our planet, mother nature will get back to us and we are the ones who will definitely suffer.

The Climate Clock made me reflect on my own environmental footprint and how little time I have left to help create change. When I was a kid, I used to count the days until the month of April and May, because then I knew it will be summer and we can go to beaches to have fun under the heat. When summer ends and classes start in June, I also get excited to play outside, under the pouring rain with my playmates, because it’s rainy season. Nowadays, you can no longer know when the summer season will end. We experience summer as early as February until August and we have extreme floods in the middle of summer season. Conversely, we experience heatwaves in the rainy season. You can’t even predict the mood of the weather in a day. There will be nice sunny morning and heavy rainfall in the afternoon.

The Climate Clock made me realize that although the Philippines, along with other countries, have a different time zone from New York, we all have the same timeline. We need to come together to create change. But before our global unity, the change should come within us first. Oftentimes, we blame climate change for the disasters we experience. If you think of it though, our planet should be the one to blame us for interfering with nature because there is a huge impact on every small action we make. Flash floods start from not disposing a small piece of candy wrapper properly or using non-disposable food containers/utensils. Air pollution starts from the frequent use of hairspray/aerosols or just being too lazy to walk a short distance and driving a car instead. Wildfires start from throwing a cigarette butt in a bush or barbecuing with friends in a campfire site. These simple acts may seem harmless to us but altogether it can be a matter of life and death.

The pandemic may have killed thousands of people, but it has helped slowly heal our mother nature. After the global health crisis, I know for sure that we will go back to our old lifestyle, riding the airplanes which produce greenhouse gases, going to beaches and throwing trashes in the ocean, as well as going to campfires and leaving our cigarette butts behind. We have to stop doing these and start changing now. Even the small act of using sustainable products can make a huge difference. After all, there is no planet B and the Earth is the only place we can live in.

Personal Finance

 

There is a difference between rich and wealthy people. Rich people splurge their money on branded products while wealthy people invest their money on real estates and stock market. Most people live a luxurious life and fail to achieve financial freedom. While most of us, including rich people, buy in an impulse, wealthy people stick to their buying list. Most people also pay interest charges whereas wealthy people pay their credit card balance in full to avoid penalties. In addition, most people love to gamble. Some of us are addicted to winning the lottery that if you can only sum up the money invested to gambling and lottery, you could have already bought a house. Wealthy people, meanwhile, put their money to guaranteed rewards such as stock markets, mutual funds, and real estates. Likewise, wealthy people invest their time and money wisely by reading books, listening to podcasts and attending webinars or seminars while most of us spend time and money on Netflix subscriptions.

It may be difficult to achieve financial freedom especially for some of us who are the bread winner of the family or if we are already used to a certain lifestyle, but with these simple do’s and don’ts I listed down, we can start to reach our financial goals:

1. Don’t buy what you don’t need.

I admit, this is the hardest rule I had to make. I tend to get excited everytime I see a red big sign that says SALE. But you know what I started doing? I try to avoid malls and online shopping app unless it’s needed so that I won’t have the impulse to buy discounted items. If I can’t really avoid them, I pause and ask myself multiple times if I need it or if it’s just a short-term retail therapy.

2. Don’t spend so much money on eating and going out.

I know this one is tough too because eating and going out are social activities that are fun to do with friends. Plus, it helps build personal and professional relationship. However, it is important to set a monthly budget and stick to it. You just need to be creative and find alternative ways to enjoy other’s company such as visiting the museums or attending free events.

3. Do forgo convenience.

This is what I always ask myself, and you should too: Do I really need to pay for cable when I don’t really watch TV? Do I really need to buy a new fancy smart phone? Do I really need to buy Starbucks coffee when I can drink 3-in-1 coffee? Do I need to order delivery when I can prepare for my own home-cooked meals? Do I need to take a Grab when I can use public transportation? We just need to fight the initial impulse to spend and live below our means.

4. Do list your priorities.

I am guilty of this. I know I want my own house, but I tend to buy stuff I don’t need, and I tend to book a ticket thinking that traveling is a reward to all my hard work. Since the pandemic started, I was forced to save money because I can’t travel outside the country. Little did I know that this pandemic would become an advantage to me because in just a few months, I was able to save money and paid for a condominium down payment. This made me realize that even the small changes in our lifestyle can make a big difference.

This recent achievement I had felt extremely liberating. Finally, I was able to take control of my personal finances. For some of us, it might take time and patience, but once you change your mindset and start to change your lifestyle, it will provide you more options for financial security.

Career and Life Plan

"A goal without a plan is just a wish.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery

On my previous blog entries, I’ve talked about how I identified my purpose and how I wrote my personal mission statement and goals. However, listing down my goals is nothing if I will not out it into action.

Every start of the year, I list down the things I want to achieve for the year, and make sure to plan for it. I call it my Bucketlist. Some of the lists include painting and paragliding. What I did was to simply look for merchant that offers these activities and set up a date to when I will do it. I thought that developing long-term objectives and setting a timeline for it would be as easy as this, but I was wrong. Nevertheless, I wrote down my life’s plan, starting my vision and mission statement to motivate me towards my goals.

VISION STATEMENT

I envision myself as a well-rounded and empowered woman who has made a significant impact on the lives of people while reflecting God’s character.

MISSION STATEMENT

       My mission is to live a life full of compassion for humanity and an unceasing passion for knowledge. I aim to soar as high as possible without leaving my feet on the ground and aligning everything I do with God’s mission.

 

Before I proceed with my life plan, I’d like to share some quotes I live by:

On my Personal growth: “I CAN AND I WILL”

This quote gives me confidence to do whatever I aim in life. It reminds me that I am capable of doing even the impossible things if my heart desires it.

On Finances: “SAVE NOT SPEND”

This quote reminds me that I should think of how to save money instead of how to spend money. Even if I receive bonuses, I should think of how I can double or triple my extra money by investing it.

On my Career: “MAKE PASSION YOUR PAYCHECK”

Most people hate their career and they are only doing their job for the money. With this quote, I am reminded to pursue my passion as a career, so I won’t feel exhausted from working.

On my Relationship with family and friends: “DON’T BURN BRIDGES”

Although the world is big, it is surprising how we come across the same bridge twice. I realize that we must keep a healthy relationship with other people as we may encounter them again. I know it’s quite contradicting to my previous blog entry where I said to cut connections with toxic people. However, it is possible to cut ties without having to burn bridges. We can stay away from toxic people without hurting or ruining our relationship with them.

On Spirituality: “EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON”

I used to blame God for not giving me the things I prayed for, but I realized that if God did not give us what we want, it is because He has a bigger and better plan for us. When we start to accept what’s not meant to be, that is when we will receive blessings and what is meant to be.

On Health and Fitness: “SKINNY GIRLS ONLY LOOKED GOOD OUTSIDE; FIT GIRLS LOOKED GOOD INSIDE”

This quote reminds me that my goal is not to become skinny but to become fit and healthy. I should maintain a sound body and mind in order to achieve my goals in life.

 

So, what is my plan?

My career plan is to avail of the student exchange program offered by DLSU and study in Europe for two weeks as well as to improve my communication skills by the time I completed my degree as this is essential in leading and managing people. A great leader must become a great communicator first. Once I become an effective communicator, it will improve my professional relationship and will lead to more opportunities. In the years to come, I hope to find a mentor that shares the same values as I have and will help me towards achieving my goals. I also see myself applying for a scholarship to study European languages and culture overseas once I finish graduate school and taking an opportunity to work overseas and allowing myself to be exposed in a diverse culture. It has always been a part of my bucket list to experience an international academic environment and intercultural activities. Hopefully by the time I am at my fifties, I am already a well-rounded professional holding an executive position and one who has obtained a relevant experience and expertise in my chosen field, mentoring novices.

 

While I aim to soar high, I hope to remain grounded and continue being God’s instrument to those people in need. The career plan I mapped out, along with my values is what will help catapult my success.

Personal Mission Statement

 

What is a mission statement? Why do organization have it and why is it important?

Those are my questions before I was introduced to the Business Ethics course. Whenever I was asked of what my mission in life is, I simply tell people that I want to build a life I don’t need a vacation from. I have come to realize that personal mission statement should be better than that.

Mission statement should define who you are, what matters most to you, and how you intend to live your life. Some people confuse it with goals. While goals are specific and time-particular, a mission statement is what should lead you to achieving your goals. It wraps up all your values, your purpose and your intentions which creates a motivation that will help you feel more satisfied with life.

How do I craft my mission statement?

Writing a personal mission statement for me is the most challenging part of creating a life plan. I made sure to put the most time and effort into it because this is my basis of how I can improve myself personally and professionally. I know I must align my every value to my goals through my mission statement.

I realized that creating a mission statement is a set-by-step process so I listed down three things I should take into consideration before writing my personal mission statement:

1. What do I value the most?

In writing a mission statement, I started by considering who I am and who I want to be. These are the questions I asked myself:

What am I most passionate about?

·    What do I care most about?

·    What problems of the world do I want to address?

·    What work do I want to do each day?

·    What way do I want to live?

·    What do I want my relationships to be like?

·    What do I want my bank account to look like?

·    Where do I want to spend my days?

 

2. What are my biggest goals?

The next step is to write down my goals. Be it small or big, it doesn’t matter, as long as it aligns with my values in life.

 

3. What legacy do I want to leave?

Due to unfortunate events related to the pandemic, I have come to realize that it is imperative to consider the mark we leave the world. I realized that each individual influences every single person they meet in one way or another.

It made me ask myself how I want to significantly impact others and how I want to be remembered. This is because when two of my relatives passed away recently, one who lived a selfish and narcissistic life did not have any friends to empathize with them during her wake and burial but the other person who helped many people, including our family, had a wake filled with friends and family crying non-stop because of her sudden death. Even though the government imposed an Enhanced Community Quarantine, her friends and relatives found ways to attend her wake and burial. She lived her life helping others even though she doesn’t have enough for herself. She thinks about other people before herself and lived a selfless life. This is also how I want to be remembered. A person who lived a meaningful and selfless life.

With these three things in mind, I came up with my personal mission statement:

 

My mission is to live a life full of compassion for humanity and an unceasing passion for knowledge. I aim to soar as high as possible without leaving my feet on the ground and aligning everything I do with God’s mission.

 

My mission statement of aiming success may be far from where I am at right now or even seem to be unrealistic for now, but I know it will guide me to my path. As my life unfolds, it will gradually turn into reality.

Work-Life Harmony

Working a full-time job and taking a full course load in the graduate school leaves me no time for myself. People always wonder how I’m able to juggle it all and not lose my marbles. The truth is, I do get burnout and lose my mind sometimes. I tend to break down and lose my temper from lack of sleep due to the pressure and overwhelming workload I have.

Most people work hard as I do to pursue their goals in life as they thought that it is a guaranteed source of happiness. While I admit that I am one of them, I also admit that reaching our goals may take a toll not just on our physical and mental health but also on our personal relationships. If our health is compromised or our relationship is ruined, the things we insanely worked hard for will just go to waste in the end. That is why it is best to allot time to what makes us feel invigorated so that we don’t lose ourselves in our journey to reaching our dreams.

I believe that the concept of Work-Life Harmony is what will help us achieve our goal and live to our full potential. This is about integrating work to our life and making it a fun activity instead of dividing our time and separating work from personal life which is what the definition of Work-Life Balance is. In writing this journal, I came up with 5 reminders to myself to maintain a pleasant, harmonious arrangement of work and life.

1.       Make health the top priority.

Health goals is connected to career goals. I should keep in mind that the only way to achieve my goals is to have a sound body and mind.

2.       Manage time effectively.

I should organize and break my tasks into categories to avoid getting worn out: a. Urgent and Important; b. Important but not Urgent; c. Urgent but not Important; d. Neither Urgent nor Important and let others help to achieve the tasks.

3.       Don’t try to become a Jack of All Trades and let go of the things that can’t be controlled.

I should concentrate on what I am good at and don’t beat myself up for my weaknesses. Sometimes I tend to stress myself out about things I cannot control or change. I tend to waste time mastering something I know I can’t learn easily. I should allow myself to fail and ask for assistance if needed or if things go out of hand.

4.       Stay away from people who drain your energy. 

                In my life, there are some toxic and narcissistic people whom I am afraid to cut my connections with because I value the time we’ve known each other. However, spending time with them gives me a certain negative energy. When I started to spend time with my classmates in graduate school, I became as broadminded as them. I agree with the saying that you are who your friends are. If you spend time with the smartest people, you will become one of them. If you spend time with bunch of idiots, you will eventually become like them. I should keep in mind to choose my company wisely and avoid spending time with people who drags me down. I should bolster my support system and maintain boundaries with those who don’t have the same ideals with me.

5.       Me-time.

Sometimes, I tend to feel guilty for procrastinating, but I should keep in mind that lying on the couch watching Netflix the whole day doesn’t hurt especially if I know I’ve worked hard the previous day. This is the time I should also start doing the things I love or checking simple things in my bucketlist such as painting or pottery-making. A time I should allot to relax and catch up with my family and good friends. A time I should take a break and travel. This will not only make me feel rejuvenated but also motivated.

 

It can be a challenge to integrate work from our lives but shifting our mindset to Work-Life Harmony instead of Work-Life Balance will not only improve our productivity and creativity but also give a significant impact to our long-term success and well-being.