Saturday, August 7, 2010
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
On a hot summer day, a girl and her father were walking along the beach. They noticed a figure in the distance. As they got closer, they realized that the figure was that of a boy picking something up and gently throwing it up into the ocean. Approaching the boy, they asked: “What are you doing?” He replied “Throwing the starfish into the ocean. Soon, the sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” “Son,” the man said. “Don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t possibly make a difference!” After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish and throws it into the sea. Then, smiling at the man, he said: “It makes a difference to that one.”
This short story challenges me every day. It makes me consider that every little thing that I do not only touches mine but also other people’s lives and may make a big difference. In some circumstances, instead of asking myself “What if I fail? What if it would have a bad effect? What if others may not like what I do? What if I am wrong?”, I should always put into consideration this optimistic idea: “I know that what I’m thinking right now is the right thing, and that it would do well unto others and also for myself, and that everyone would be contented with the outcome.”
Making a big difference can start from simple things. A simple greeting every day from you can already touch someone else’s life. Listening to other people’s perspectives and giving sound advices could be of great help to them. Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of being compassionate: all of which have the potential to turn a life around. That’s why right now, in everything that I do, I would just put in mind, to act as if what I do makes a difference…it definitely does!
Anna Marie Mamba (YMA 4 – Generation 3)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Distorted Views
I was browsing through my old blog articles in my Friendster account and happen to encounter this one, written on 7th of April 2007. Let me share to you what this article says:
Distorted Views
Before I’d write something, let me share this story I read from Paulo Coelho’s book "Like the Flowing River" entitled ‘These are my friends’. Here goes…
“The reason the king is so powerful is because he’s made a pact with the Devil,” a very devout woman in the street told the boy, and he was intrigued.
Some time later, when he was travelling to another town, the boy heard a man beside him remark: ‘All this land belongs to the same man. I’d say the Devil had a hand in that.’
Late one summer afternoon, a beautiful woman walked past the boy. ‘That woman is in the service of Satan!’ cried a preacher angrily.
From then on, the boy decided to seek the Devil out and when he found him, he said: ‘They say you can make people powerful, rich and beautiful.’
‘Not really,’ replied the Devil. ‘You’ve just been listening to the views of those who are trying to promote me.’
Well, come to think of it, God and only God has the power to make things all beautiful, to make our lives better and in turn have the power to affect other things. It’s just that people have been harboring these distorted views (misconceptions) on beauty, power and wealth. Come on people, who doesn’t want to be more beautiful or handsome or more powerful or richer??? (I do too!) But it’s in the way of how people think about these things. Everything boils down into balance and our contentment.
I mean, have you ever noticed someone (even actors) keep on having facials, using different expensive skin products to the point of overdoing it? They are not contented with what they have or have achieved. There are also doctors’ advice of once-a-month (or twice) on facials or other physical enhancements. And plastic surgeries? If your only problem was your nose and you have it fixed, then why undergo another plastic surgery? Be contented with what you have. If your problem areas are fixed…then please STOP and don’t make yourself look like a carbon copy of somebody else’s body parts.
Money is the root of all evil. I know I’ve heard that phrase a thousand times before and that is what’s keeping some people from being debt-free because they have this notion that if they have more money they would turn into a selfish materialistic monster! Duh!!! It’s the individual who chose to go that path, not money itself. Think of contentment and balance. If you have the money…congratulations! And be contented with what you have. Stick to your needs and NOT your desires. If you want something…weigh the options. You know you could do a lot of things with having money, not just for you or your family but for other people as well. Have you ever noticed why millionaires and billionaires share their blessings…put up foundations and etc…? They are using money to help other people because they have enough for themselves. You see, they could do more because they don’t have to worry about providing for their own families and so they have the extra money to help out other.. Now, isn’t being loaded a good thing?
With great power comes great responsibility. True. And believe it or not, we always have the power. We are just too damn scared to use it, or be burdened with the responsibility that comes with it, or just too ignorant to use it. How many of us have been dreaming about being somebody powerful to do this and that or be in politics or be like a king and rule? (I know I have) And what about those people in power? How did they get into such positions? Hhmm…They knew how to use their power. From the moment they realized they have power, they used it to its full potential but sadly, some used it to manipulate others (bad but let’s stick to the good side of things). We always have the power to think, to communicate with others, to choose, to vote someone who will represent us, to say ‘No’, and so much more. Let us not be afraid to use what we have.
Lastly, how I wish to be more beautiful to advertise positive ideas, have more money to publish works or make movies to communicate peace and be more powerful to influence more people to do the right and just thing. As of now, I could use my youth and energy to advertise positive ideas to my students, my savings to buy books, watch a movie (which is not pirated) that communicates peace and all the other good ideals and the power of the internet/technology to spread the ideals and positive views. Somehow, the possibilities are endless.
Sheila Milan
YMA 4 – Generation I
Better Future!
By: Anna Marie Mamba(YMA 4 – Generation 3)
Benchmarking is the practice of establishing goals and targets for process performance levels and identifying required improvement areas based on the published or known performance of direct competitors or a relevant industry. For example, in taking piano lessons, you aim to play a piece just like your teacher. When you know someone who can play a song by just listening, who could play anything and who could read notes right away, you aspire to be like that person in the future. That is benchmarking. Have you ever tried doing that?
I first heard this word in the Young Minds Academy. I am happy to know that some of the cities here in the Philippines are doing this and are doing something to achieve it. Having learned this, I would also like to have a goal to achieve.
After five years I would like to be just like Brian Crain. An excellent pianist who could play and compose songs on anything he can think of such as A Walk in the Forest which upon listening to it, you could really imagine yourself walking alone in a wonderful place, filled with different kinds of trees, flowers, smelling the fresh forest breeze cooling your body, passing through a river, hearing birds singing and seeing animals living peacefully. By achieving this goal, I need to work on my fingering skills, on having a perfect pitch, and most of all, to continue practicing to improve my skills!
Benchmarking is truly fun. How nice it would be to see an improvement on yourself! As time goes by, you can witness that you are slowly achieving your goal. It is very nice to experience that feeling of happiness, contentment and the feeling of accomplishment that you have managed to be what you wanted to be.
Benchmarking is the practice of establishing goals and targets for process performance levels and identifying required improvement areas based on the published or known performance of direct competitors or a relevant industry. For example, in taking piano lessons, you aim to play a piece just like your teacher. When you know someone who can play a song by just listening, who could play anything and who could read notes right away, you aspire to be like that person in the future. That is benchmarking. Have you ever tried doing that?
After five years I would like to be just like Brian Crain. An excellent pianist who could play and compose songs on anything he can think of such as A Walk in the Forest which upon listening to it, you could really imagine yourself walking alone in a wonderful place, filled with different kinds of trees, flowers, smelling the fresh forest breeze cooling your body, passing through a river, hearing birds singing and seeing animals living peacefully. By achieving this goal, I need to work on my fingering skills, on having a perfect pitch, and most of all, to continue practicing to improve my skills!
Benchmarking is truly fun. How nice it would be to see an improvement on yourself! As time goes by, you can witness that you are slowly achieving your goal. It is very nice to experience that feeling of happiness, contentment and the feeling of accomplishment that you have managed to be what you wanted to be.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
WRITING IS MY BEST MEDICINE
Writing is the best way of expressing one's feelings and emotions. We often write to say what's on our mind. Almost everyone knows how to write but not everyone knows how to write effectively, something that could change another’s perspectives.
Writing is my passion. It is one source of my happiness. I write what I feel and put it in my diary. It has been a part of my life. Through my little diary, I can look back on the things that made me feel sad and those that made me feel better. When I have problems, I never tell my mother. I will only tell my friend, the diary. Whenever our teacher or even my classmates asks me to write, I'd always smile and do as they say. To me, writing continuously is an opportunity for me to improve my skills in thinking and how I put words into sentences. But never did I write something that could persuade another individual. I only write for my own.
However recently, I've discovered that I can write effectively. I can influence and persuade others even it's only a point a view. I considered this as one of my greatest success. Maybe, I'm just somebody whose happiness is so low. But I am the happiest person in the world whenever I see my write-ups have changed another individual. It is also an honor for someone like me to volunteer to the organization, Young Minds Academy, that molded me into a better individual. It helped me not only through leadership skills but also through writing skills.
Being a part of the correspondents team is an honor. However, there is also responsibility. So, it is a challenge for me to keep my mind intact for a greater responsibility.
I will always bear in mind that writing is an art. An art that needs to be preserved and loved. Writing is also a form of leadership because it influences others, in one way or the other.
Christine Teopiz (YMA 4 – Generation 3)
Sunday, August 1, 2010
MY MOALBOAL IMMERSION
By: Lynette Anne G. Ambo ( YMA 4 – Generation 3)
For three days we had our most awaited immersion. Everyone was so excited to go to their assigned places. My group, together with Ate Xenia’s team, were assigned in Moalboal with Sir Alfred as our adult leader. We took a three-hour bus ride from Cebu City to the Municipality of Moalboal. Upon arriving, we went directly to the municipal hall to talk to the mayor. We were welcomed by someone, but unfortunately, she said that the mayor was not around. Disappointed, we went instead to our host family and we are paired with the other team. I was paired with Ate Jesleigh. When we talked with our host families, we were surprised because instead of living with the host family, they offered us a separate house. We tried to convince them to let us live with them but they said that it is ok. We had no choice but to accept it.
In the afternoon, we went to the barangay hall to meet the barangay captain but he wasn’t around. Instead, we had a talk with the barangay secretary. We interviewed the him about his views of the barangay and barangay officials. Afterwards we divided ourselves into two groups to conduct our transect walk. My groupmates were Fran-Fran, Paul, Ate Malou, and Kuya Cres. Along the walk, we were fascinated by the rest houses owned by foreigners as well as a pond. We had fun going back to the barangay hall because Kuya Cres was so funny. After meeting again as a group, we went home to our host families.
The next day, we conducted our survey, each pair interviewing the local residents of the place. My partner and I headed to an area near the beach. It was so hot, walking under the sun. We interviewed the municipal secretary and he was so approachable. After a couple of hours, we headed back home to have our lunch.
In the afternoon activity, we had our Focused Group Discussion (FGD). Many participants attended and joined. The local residents told us so many things about the barangay. We heard their concerns, needs, and problems. Afterwards, we said our thanks to the participants for sharing to us their opinions and views. We went home directly after gathering our data.
As the next day was our last day, we stayed in our host house to verify our data. After we finished, some of my groupmates went to their host families to have their lunch and bade their farewells and thanks to their host families. After which went off to ride a bus going back to Cebu City, arriving at EADSC later on.
It was an oh-so-terrific and extremely fun adventure being there, having my immersion in Moalboal. What I’ve learned most was being with people and staying with them even though we’ve only known them for a short span of time. I also realized that it’s not hard to deal with people as long as you know how to interact with them.
 |
| photo courtesy of moalboal.gov.ph |
In the afternoon, we went to the barangay hall to meet the barangay captain but he wasn’t around. Instead, we had a talk with the barangay secretary. We interviewed the him about his views of the barangay and barangay officials. Afterwards we divided ourselves into two groups to conduct our transect walk. My groupmates were Fran-Fran, Paul, Ate Malou, and Kuya Cres. Along the walk, we were fascinated by the rest houses owned by foreigners as well as a pond. We had fun going back to the barangay hall because Kuya Cres was so funny. After meeting again as a group, we went home to our host families.
The next day, we conducted our survey, each pair interviewing the local residents of the place. My partner and I headed to an area near the beach. It was so hot, walking under the sun. We interviewed the municipal secretary and he was so approachable. After a couple of hours, we headed back home to have our lunch.
In the afternoon activity, we had our Focused Group Discussion (FGD). Many participants attended and joined. The local residents told us so many things about the barangay. We heard their concerns, needs, and problems. Afterwards, we said our thanks to the participants for sharing to us their opinions and views. We went home directly after gathering our data.
As the next day was our last day, we stayed in our host house to verify our data. After we finished, some of my groupmates went to their host families to have their lunch and bade their farewells and thanks to their host families. After which went off to ride a bus going back to Cebu City, arriving at EADSC later on.
It was an oh-so-terrific and extremely fun adventure being there, having my immersion in Moalboal. What I’ve learned most was being with people and staying with them even though we’ve only known them for a short span of time. I also realized that it’s not hard to deal with people as long as you know how to interact with them.