Sa Age mo Ngayon, How much do you still trust our media?

What about the different Filipino news we have? Do you think that they are worth trusting? hmmmmm.......Given the fact that our local news channels and newspapers are our windows to the "outside" world....are they really being honest in sharing the truth to the viewers?

*sigh*

Sorry ha, haha, I had no one to talk to so I just posted this thoughts here sa blog. I have my own opinion about this matter.. but I'll keep it to myeslf nalang... haha. =)

Practicing my Comm Skills : Feeling ko graduate na ako haha

NOTE : DO NOT FORGET TO REWARD THYSELF
This is my celebratory Mrs. Fields Cookie Cup.

Wait, what about the candle? Borrow please? Anyone? ;-)

I never thought that practicing Comm and OrgCom would be so exciting. Haha! sounding like a geek na ba? haha. Oh well, happy blessing to me!

It's all about the concept that you are communicating to the people, and making that concept understandable in a second is really hard...yet Fun!!! It's a good thing that I was able to enroll in FOTSHOP, WEBGIFS, TRAINER, and ISSUMAN (electives offered to Organizational Communication peeps). The moment I started with my first ever super-this-is-it project, I was able to apply Fotshop. Fotshop is an elective that will teach you how to use Adobe Photoshop. With the help of Sir Mike Juat, our teacher and our "Fru Fru" Icon Director, (he showed us his work in class and super galing ng production!) I was able to develop my Photoshop skills!

Yay! First project...Done! and on time! =) but this was not the best part haha. The best part that was worth celebrating was...dendenenen!!! 8 out of my 9 deisngs were approved!

I see this as a big big BIG achivement because the designs I made suited the concept, the idea, and the image of the company. Creating different designs within the context of the company image is part of being orgcom and comm, and I'm glad that I am able to formally practice my course successfully!

More projects to come! =)

Mrs. Fields Philippines Website

Just Being an OrgComm Freak ;-)

Discrimination in the Seminary

I was watching the television this evening and PROBE's topic was about the discrimination in Christian Seminaries. They say that Christian Seminaries are very discriminative because they only accept or welcome men who are "deserving" to be servants of God. If the man has the tendency to be a homosexual, then they wont accept him. However, the others say that they should be given a chance.

If God loves everyone, and does not choose from his children who is deserving of his love, then why should priests and seminaries choose? What right do they have? ---- Anonymous.

On one hand, It is clear that the Christian community of priests are just doing what is best so that people would not judge them and further destroy their reputation due to the past issues of homosexual priests. "We are just aiming to produce good priests" - interviewee. On the other hand, members of the Filipino community are criticizing the priest's actions and judgements. They are saying that the priests are being very ironic and are not following their own teachings --- "everyone is equal, everyone is loved by God".

I honestly think that everyone who would like to enter the seminary should be given a chance to change because seminaries also represent the Church, and in the church, everyone is welcome. However, for control purposes, if they see that the person is not COMMITTED to change for the better and if the person is not following the vow of obedience, then they should re-consider. It is good that PROBE was able to make a documentary about this issue because Filipinos nowadays think that the church and its teachings is less credible than before due to political involvements and other image destroying issues.

On Pinoy Gender Issues PART 3 : The Working Mom

Women's Double/Multiple Burden
A situation referring to the heavy workload of women and the many, overlapping tasks involved, which if computed in terms of hours would total more than 24 hours. This workload consists of unpaid reproductive work, paid productive work, community management, and all other work necessary for the survival of the family

Woman's traditional role, especially if she is a wife and mother, is to stay home, manage the household and take care of the family. However, because of economic realities, more and more women have joined the labor force. Yet, even as they spend essentially the same working hours as the men outside the home, housework and child care are still primarily women's concern. As a result, women carry a double burden in terms of longer hours and a wider scope of responsibility.

They are also expected to participate in sociocultural activities such as in church and civic organizations, and other community involvement. Women's work in the home, in the labor force and in the community is a multiple burden that is not experienced by men. (from : http://www.ncrfw.gov.ph/inside_pages/gender_mainstreaming/gender_101.html)

Have you ever experienced being friends with a working Mom?

Well...I have. Having the chance to work with someone who has more experience in life was a good opportunity for me to learn more about the different gender issues. Being a working mother is not a joke. I had a friend in highschool (not from my school), and she was a teacher. A teacher who was in her early 30's and has 3 children, and a stay home husband. Being a teacher is pretty hard since most teachers in highschools only get paid with a minimum to a little above minimum salary. Technically, she was the breadwinner. Imagine, she was working as a teacher, supporting three children, one in college, the other in higschool, and the youngest in pre-school.

I really felt bad for her because she experienced a lot of discriminations at work. People judged her as someone incapable of providing well for her family because there were times when she did not have enough time to spend with her kids. Since she was a family friend, my parents and I decided to help her family financially because we were so worried about her youngest child. I can still remember, she would always tell me that from the very beginning (first day of work) her co-teachers has been giving her the "kaya mo ba" look. They kept asking about her family and it made her feel so uncomfortable to work with them. Most of her co-teachers were young and single, or happily married.

Fast forward....

After a few years of having no contact, we just learned that the school where she was working decided to let her go, and their reason was that she was not performing well because she had too much responsibilities at home. No word from her since that. I felt so sad because I know that she's a very hardworking person.

I find it very unfair that organizations judge people immediately based on their family background and gender. In some cases, the men are the ones whose problems are same with my friend's but people do not judge them. If the husband was the only one providing for the family, and given the fact that he does not have enough time for his family, people would understand --- "kasi lalake eh, dapat talaga mag trabaho, kaya nga yung babae ang taga alaga ng mga anak". Generally, men are seen as more responsible and capable in terms of providing for the family. Sometimes, others get so amazed whenever they see a single mom and realize that she was the only one who raised her kids. ---"wow grabe tatag naman niyang babae na yan..parang hindi ko kaya yan..." All these gender issues are definitely here to stay, unless someone who can use his/her influence is courageous enough to change everything for the better and tolerate every ridicule and criticism.

That's why I always tell my friends who experience gender discrimination at work to ignore the bad things they hear. I tell them that if they pay attention to the discriminative comments they hear from their co-workers, they will not succeed, because success comes from inner strength and commitment. I also tell them to think about this statement -- "you exist, i exist, lets just co-exist. So lets just mind our own beezwax".

One of my favorite principles : Never let your gender dictate what you can and can't do.

On Pinoy Gender Issues PART 2 : A Student's Flowery Tale

Highschool Graduation 2004

The Ultimate Question

When i was still in my first year of college, I guess, the most intimidating question I have encountered from my classmates was, "pumupunta ka ba dati sa mga soiree?" Everytime someone asks me that question, I literally freeze. To be honest, I HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY SOIREE. Although I have been in one interaction with Don Bosco Makati Students when I was in Grade 6, and another when I was in my high school, still the exposure was not enough.

My Highschool Life
My highschool was a very strict school. It was ran by Agustinian Recollect sisters and my goodness, we were literally forbidden from going outside the campus unless it was dismissal time. Well, it has its security advantages but we were like prisoners in that school. All students saw themselves as future nuns. LOL. It is an exclusive school for girls and the practices inside the school are very typical. We were required to pray the rosary before and after every class, recess, and lunch break, we were required to have Monday worships on the auditorium, class worships on other weekdays, write reflections everyday, and a lot lot more. I honestly don't have much complaints about the practices because somehow we were trained to be very patient ladies.

What I wished was taught to Us
Since my high school is very strict, and the Nuns there see Men as "aliens" (Their eyes literally expand up to 2 inches wider in radius as if they have seen a human PEST in the campus), soirees, interactions, and guy visitors were not allowed. THESE WERE ALL FORBIDDEN, well during my time. Anyway, since "pahirapan bago kami maka-experience ng interaction with another exclusive school for boys", we lack the exposure on how to deal, interact, or socialize with the opposite sex, which became a total weakness and disadvantage for most of my batch mates. How we all wished that they gave the chance to be more exposed to socializing do's and dont's. These kind of things can help us be more prepared for college and so we won't end up being the quiet introvert in the block who's allergic to other kinds of humans and sexes.

My Art Legacy in highschool

They said we were Planted Roses
Ever since nursery, they have been reciting to us, over and over again, what the school philosophy is, what the goals were, what the mission and visions were, and what was to be seen as our sole symbols. They said, that we were like Planted Roses. I forgot the whole story. The only thing stuck in my mind is that we symbolized roses and every characteristic of it. For me, though this is part of our school culture and values, it still gave us no direction in life. It did not even give is a good standing of what we can be in the future, aside from being servants of God. In my opinion, anybody can be a servant of God, whether that person is a priest, a nun, or a simple civilian. I think that with the use of these philosophies, mission, visions, and other symbolic stories that were instilled in our minds, we were only brought up to be very feminine, and conservative ladies.

When I was in college, I have realized that knowing I was like a planted rose won't contribute to any part of my life as a teenager who will graduate soon and compete with other people of different sexes for a stable job. Being compared to a rose did not give me a strong foundation of what I can be as a woman, except for being tied to the ground -- being a humble person.

How I wish I can go back to my high school life and try to change everything. I wish I can share with the A.R. sisters all my suggestions in making the school a better educational institution which prepares its students to be very aggressive, goal driven, physically active, and not too idealistic in life, because life is very tough. By simply knowing that they are roses won't make them any stronger. It just makes them more naive about the cruelty of the real world. It also makes them more blind from the reality that 50% of the cruelty they will encounter has something to do with their sex and gender.

Its a wild wild jungle out here and this world is not a place for roses. Its a good thing my siblings and parents taught me how to deal with all the cruelty.

On Pinoy Gender Issues PART 1 : A Funny Paradox on Activists

"These are merely opinions about gender issues based on what was seen in the news, read from the newspaper, and heard from radio commentaries here in the Philippines."

On Female Activists
Usually, during rally demonstrations, whenever women protesters are asked what they are fighting for, they say that they merely expressing their freedom of speech, and that they are practicing their human rights as women. They use the idea that women also have the capability and courage to fight for what is right, as a justification for their means. However, when the chief of operations give the police rally control group a Go signal to use a water hose to "shoo" away the violent protesters, complaints start to pile up. Most of these complaints come from the women who were hit by the water hose. But this time, they will use the idea of the "woman's femininity, and weakness" as the ultimate reason for accusing policemen of violating women's human rights. This results for the women to become the victims in the end, from being the just, and free woman warrior in the beginning.

1. Question of Thought : They say that they wanted equality? If so, why do they complain?
2. Human Characteristic Focused : Physical Capabilities and the Right to Respect of women vs. Men's

On Male Activists
Same scenario for this one. Some would even perform the "kapit-bisig" while walking towards their destination. While the men are doing the "kapit-bisig" with their female co-protesters (i.e. wives, lovers, group mates, colleague, party-list co-member), they ignore the idea or fact that the women can also get hurt when things become very wild and violent. They also ignore that fact that the woman who can get hurt can be their loved ones, or close friends, They even encourage one another in pushing through with the "Sugod Mga Kapatid" mission. Then the protest becomes wild and violent. Some women are bleeding, some are injured, and some are even unconscious and are rushed to the hospital. Now here comes the "right-on-time" media. When the media asks the men what happened, they will simply say that there has been some police brutality. They were just practicing their freedom of expression and right to information. In addition, they would complain that the police has no respect and "awa" on the women because so many women got hurt. In this scenario, it is the men, who are using the idea of the "woman's femininity and weakness" as a justification and a reason to blame everything on the riot control policemen for everything that has been done to the women which are out of the blue, considered as "unacceptable", regardless of the truth about who started the violence.

1. Question of Thought : Why only care about the women once things have gone wrong?
2. Human Characteristic Focused : Physical Capabilities and the Right to Respect of women vs. Men's

(PHOTO FROM : Inquirer.net)

I am not sure whether this is a clear picture of the fact that majority of Filipinos still find themselves caught up in the confusion tunnel of gender sensitivity and equality. In some situations, people still tend to forget what they really believe in because the values they acquire from their organizations, are different from their own. My point is that no matter who we are and how we were brought up, organizations where we practice our talents, where we find our passion and ideals, and where we start achieving goals and get a feeling of satisfaction, create large impacts on what we believe in.

Why do you think most protesters say the same things over and over again when their rallies become wild jungle fights with riot policemen? The reason is not about how they practiced their lines in case they will be interviewed by the media. It is all about the shared values and beliefs about gender issues that they have in their organizations which they sometimes forget to question if those values can bring them any good.

Be Careful of Greenbelt 3 Cinema Restroom Maintenance Crew

What happened tonight made me realize that the Greenbelt 3 Administration office is not very keen when it comes to briefing and training their maintenance personnel about honesty and customer service.

Incident
Cellphone almost got stolen by Greenbelt 3 (Cinema) Restroom Maintenance Crew

I was at Greenbelt 3 with my boyfriend because we were supposed to meet with my mom to buy some things together. I told my mom that we will just wait for her at Timezone, GB3. While I was playing deal or no deal (which by the way is a very addicting game), my mom texted me that she was on her way up to Timezone. So i decided to go to the ladies room (upstairs) first before meeting her.

In the Restroom
Note : I was the only customer in the Ladies Room
After using the restroom, I fixed my things and went outside of the cubicle. I walked towards the mirror and faucet to fix myself. As soon as i got out of the cubicle, the Janitress went inside the cubicle which I used. It did not take very long before she finished cleaning that cubicle. She was inside the cubicle for about 10 seconds. She immediately returned her mop inside the cleaning materials cabinet and walked very fast towards the restroom door and went out. Her actions got my attention because all of a sudden she was in a hurry. I immediately checked my belongings and kaboom...my cellphone was missing. That cellphone was my boyfriend's valentines gift to me and he'd be very disappointed If I misplace it.

I ran towards the door of the restroom and my chaperon was there. I told her, "Elaine! sundan mo yung Janitress kung san pupunta, tignan mo kung ano mga hawak na gamit!" So Elaine ran and followed the janitress towards the employee's area beside the Mens Room. I ran back to the ladies room and search the cubicles one by one. My cellphone wasn't there. I was certain that I placed my phone on the wooden table above the toilet bowl, but it wasn't there. So I ran back to Elaine and asked where the janitress went. As soon as I saw the janitress,

I shouted, "Miss!, asan ang cellphone ko? Nilinis mo yung cubicle pagkatapos ko mag-cr. Ako lang ang tao sa cr kanina and sure akong naiwan ko sa ibabaw ng toilet bowl yung cellphone ko."

Janitress : Mam? wala po akong nakita

Me : sigurado ka? eh sinong nagligpit or kumuha, si casper???

Janitress : mam wala po talaga akong nakitang cellphone.

Boyfriend: runnning from store downstairs... ano yan? ano meron?

Me : eh eto ayaw umamin na kinuha ang cellphone ko eh. Uulitin ko ha. Pag ka pasok ko, may nililinis ka na cubicle diba.

Janitress : opo yata mam

Me : oh tapos, yung nilinis mo na cubicle ang ginamit ko. pagkatapos ko gamitin, nilinis mo ulit. anong masasabi mo dun ha? eh pagkatapos mo naman linisin yung cubicle na gagamitin ko dapat eh wala namang ibang cellphone dun.

Janitress : wala nga po. wala naman po talaga akong nakita na cellphone. Saka mam tatlo po kayo sa cr kanina.

Me : aaaauy..pinaglololoko mo na ako nyan eh

Elaine : ano ka?!? eh nakabantay ako sa pinto eh. kayong dalawa lang nasa loob!

Boyfriend: halika, dalhin na natin sa police toh, matigas ulo eh. ayaw umamin. (BLUFFING)

Me : oo nga eh. bago natin dalhin sa pulis, Elaine, paakyatin mo muna dito si Sgt. Reyes(Bluffing. There is no such person haha)

Janitress: ay sir, mam, wag naman po. check ko nalang po baka po naitago ko

Me : kunin mo

Janitress: mam naitago ko pa yata kasi di ko po sure kung kanino eh.. mam di ko po sure. check ko nalang po kasi hindi ko po maalala kung kanino po yun eh dalwa po kayo sa cr kanina

Me : basta kunin mo nalang. niloloko mo pako. kanina sabi mo tatlo kami ngayon naman dalawa nalang kami

Janitress: sir kasi po hindi lang naman po si mam ang tao kanina sa CR

Boyfriend: basta't kunin mo nalang

Me : sinungaling ka pa

As soon as we were inside the restroom (boyfriend was waiting outside the ladies room). She walked towards the cleaning materials cabinet, and TADAAA!! my phone was there...inside her make-up pouch.

Me :sinungaling ka talga. pasalamat ka hindi ako scandalosa. kung hindi kanina pa kita
pinahiya dito. magnanakaw ka.

Janitress : mam hindi naman po, gusto ko lang po muna itago para isubmit nalang sa office
mamaya.

Me : eh bakit kanina ayaw mo pa umamin na may cellphone?! and bakit hindi mo
manlang ako tinanong kung may nawawala akong cellphone habang pareho pa tayong nasa CR??? at sana manlang nag verify ka sakin and sana tinanong mo ako kung ano ichura ng cellphone ko para na verify mo kung akin un! and wag mo akong lokohin! ako lang ang tao sa CR kanina. tanungin mo pa tong si elaine, nakabantay sha sa CR na pinto kanina. Anong
pangalan mo?!

Janitress : Rose po

Me : tingin ng ID mo. irereport kita sa boss mo. (walk out)

take note guys, while we were walking towards the restroom with the janitress, sobrang relaxed pa ng lakad niya tapos ang galing pa niya tumingin sa mata ko while she was telling me nung una na there was no cellphone.


MY OPINION
Normally, employees (i.e. sales ladies in department stores, maintenance, etc.) are not allowed to bring at work any of their personal belongings except for their wallets and phones, given that these are recorded in the employee personal belongings declaration by the admin officer. Since things like these happen in restrooms, Greenbelt 3's administration officer should inform the people they hire that they are very KEEN and STRICT with honesty issues. Maybe, their policies and punishments are not very strict that is why maintenance employees are willing to take the risk and steal any personal items left by mall customers.

Aside from not being strict with dishonest employees, the admin office of GB3 does not train their employees very well when it comes to finding lost items. What should be the proper procedure? Should they verify with the customer first? Should they immediately call their boss and report a lost item? What is the proper way of approaching and talking to mall customers who claim to have lost their belongings? What should be done?

I will not let this pass.

I will write a formal letter of complaint about what happened and submit it to Greenbelt 3's administration officer. I will do this so that they will be more strict with their people in order to avoid such things from happening again.

Knowing more about my school. What does the color GREEN really mean?

I just woke up this morning asking myself the following questions : Why am I in La Salle? Does it have something to do with what I am? Or what kind environment I want to be in? or.. What I want to become? I cant really remember why I chose La Salle. As soon as I remember the real reason, I'll post it here.

As part of my mission in life which is to know more about the meanings of the things, symbols, and other "stuff" I see in school, here's a start :

The trademark color of my University, is GREEN. What does the color green mean anyway?

Green occupies more space in the spectrum visible to the human eye and is second only to blue as a favorite color. Green is the pervasive color in the natural world that is an ideal backdrop in interior design because we are so used to seeing it everywhere.

The natural greens, from forest to lime, are seen as tranquil and refreshing, with a natural balance of cool and warm (blue and yellow) undertones. Green is considered the color of peace and ecology. However, there is an "institutional" side to green, associated with illness or Government-issued that conjure up negative emotions as do the "slimy" or bilious greens.

How the color green effects us physically and mentally
* Soothing
* Relaxing mentally as well as physically
* Helps alleviate depression, nervousness and anxiety
* Offers a sense of renewal, self-control and harmony

Green is the color of nature, fertility, life. Grass green is the most restful color. Green symbolizes self-respect and well being. Green is the color of balance. It also means learning, growth and harmony. Green is a safe color, if you don't know what color to use anywhere use green.

Green is favored by well balanced people. Green symbolizes the master healer and the life force. It often symbolizes money. It was believed green was healing for the eyes. Egyptians wore green eyeliner. Green eyeshades are still used. You should eat raw green foods for good health. Friday is the day of green. Green jade is a sacred stone of Asia.

Green Energy

Green contains the powerful energies of nature, growth, desire to expand or increase. Balance and a sense of order are found in the color green. Change and transformation is necessary for growth, and so this ability to sustain changes is also a part of the energy of green.

Put some green in your life when you want:

• a new state of balance
• feel a need for change or growth
• freedom to pursue new ideas
• protection from fears and anxieties connected with the demands of others

results from :
from : http://www.squidoo.com/colorexpert

http://crystal-cure.com/green.html