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.