‘Baby I’m dancing in the dark, with you between my arms…

You’ve heard it…

                You look perfect tonight.’

It was Monday, 19^th day of the month of love-February. I was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. When I entered the gym, I felt nervous, fear ate me, I was anxious thinking about the speech I’ll be talking about later that night.

As the program started, I’ve seized the moment, the very moment that I’ll be going to walk with the red carpet. I’ve feel every second walking up to the stage with my partner-which is my classmate, I’ve made it like a practice, looking at the big crowd which I’ll be looking on when I’ll be going to talk.

Program goes on and one of my classmate told me that I’ll be sitting at the front table since all students which are part of the program will be going to sit there. We’re took our dinner, and enjoy it.

After a while, it’s my turn to shine, I’ve stuttered yet for me it was a success seeing my fellow students, the teachers, especially the guests smiled and cheered with my speech.

After a blink, it’s social dance time. I’ve only dance one and it’s lovely.

Masquerades’ on, faces on flick, fabulous suits and dresses, it’s a gorgeous night.

10/10

Excitement, joy, sadness, mixed together in one. I never thought that it’ll be that fast for 10 days. I never thought I’d meet new friends at my work place. I never thought that goodbye will be that hard.

 It was Monday, and like the usual Monday, before working, there’s a flag raising ceremony. Since it was Monday, I’ve been expecting the office to be crowded like we’ve experienced before, I was right but it’s not that crowded like before. I’ve entered the office and started to roam around and observe.

          An employee from the Procurement Unit called us to help them in their office because they’re very busy. I and Eman went to their office and help them in tabbing the papers for the contract, our last day was so stressful yet it’s still fun doing it with your classmates.

          Our 10 days have passed very fast; we went back to the Planning department, said thank you and bid our goodbyes. Our 10 days have been really fun and we’ve learned a lot.

It’s been very warm in a room with 7 aircons all turned on because of the people in there. Thanks to everyone!

18 Things I’ve Learned in 80 hours

There are a lot of things that I’ve learned during our immersion, but let me give you my 18 reflections of the things I’ve learned:

1.     First things first, I’ve learned that patience is a great need at work. Patience is indeed a virtue, either you’re an applicant or an employee, you have to have enough patience for you to be hired or not to be fired.

2.    You have to accept wholeheartedly the task assigned to you.

3.    Love the things you are doing. Love it for it to be light and easy.

4.    Don’t assume that you’re a hero and can do anything, speak out your limits.

5.    Accept corrections and opinions.

6.    Never be discouraged on a negative comment, hence, use it as your motivation.

7.    Never be afraid to ask even a simple question.

8.    Don’t use your brain alone especially at work, learn to love even the hardest task you have.

9.    Don’t be too serious, socialize with your colleagues.

10.  It’s never a crime to have a rest.

11.  It’s always lighter when you have at least a partner.

12.  Focus but be vigilant on your surroundings.

13.  Treat your work as a game yet a serious game.

14.  Never answer your boss or anybody else in a disrespectful manner.

15.  Share your knowledge especially when someone ask you about something you know that they don’t.

16.  Time is gold. Don’t waste it on unnecessary things.

17.  Breathe. Eat. Relax. Sometimes, your work place can be your place of leisure or your home also.

18.  Be honest. It’s everything.

First day; What Will It Going To Be?

I, together with my colleagues went to the Department of Public Work and Highways-Compostela Valley Office of the District Engineer by 7:30 in the morning with a smile on our faces and a pounding heart. I was excited yet nervous at the same time. I was excited because I know that I can gain a lot of learning for 80 hours.

            First stop, human Resource Office for the orientation and deployment, but before anything else, “Bay, picture-ri sa ko.”

            We’ve waited at the office of the Human Resource (HR) for us to be deployed in the different sections. The HR Admin oriented us that we will be assigned on the different technical sections, 2 of us will be at the Quality Assurance Section, another 2 will be on the Construction Section, 2 for the Maintenance Section, and 2 for the Planning and Design Section. I am assigned at the Planning and Design Section together with Emanuel Caracho.

            The Chief of the Planning and Design Section was confused when we were introduced to him since there was no vacant seat and space for us, yet he told us to just do what we can do and what we’re supposed to do which was to observe. He didn’t let us do some clerical works since he believed that we will be engineers soon and that’s not the work of an engineer.

            It was nerve-wracking seeing everybody facing their computers, and for a beginner, I wished I’ll be there, on a very nice cubicle, with 2 monitors in front of me 8 years from now.

            That was my first day immersion story.

Let us be Immersed!

Verbatim:

Ako:          Ma naa daw mi sent off ceremony ugma, dapat daw naay kauban nga parent para sa candle lighting. Ala una sa hapon daw ma.

Mama:     Unya unsaon mana? Kabalo naman ka nga pag Biyernes busy kaayo labi na ug mahapon. Ingna imong papa.

Ako:       Pa kuyogi ko ugma pa bi, way mu-attend sa ako.

Papa:     Thanksgiving party baya namo ugma, di nako mabiyaan ang mga bata.

I got disappointed, it’s my first time to have such kind of event in my life but no one will attend, they’re both busy. I can’t skip the time as much as they can’t let their schedule slip.

January 5 came, in the morning we’ve got a pre-orientation for our immersion, I listened to the lectures but really felt weary thinking that I’ll be alone in the afternoon. After the pre-orientation, we had a final practice and run-through for the afternoon event, I got very sad to the extent that I don’t want to attend later that day.

About 1 in the afternoon, my mom called saying they’re at the gym, she and my father. I can’t content my happiness, I can’t show smile enough.The program started, it felt so intimate and I felt so honored. I and my father lighted my orange-ribbon candle together. Everything was so smooth. I’m so happy that I almost drop a tear. It was such a wonderful day. I felt so blessed.

And at the end of the day?  Well, I’m so excited to be immersed. Let us be Immersed!

23rd Simballay Festival

Taga asa ka Dai?

Well for a beginner, what to write? Then, I wondered, what is Simballay by the way? Simballay is a mansaka word that means togetherness, sharing and thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.

Simballay festival is a celebration of the year's abundance and also a celebration of all the blessings God had showered.

This year is the 23^rd year of celebrating such festivity, and I can say, even in daylight, it was awesome! Awesome in the sense that people of Nabunturan created such amazing stalls or 'bahay kubo' with just the resources available in town. The festival also caught the crowd’s attention with the hundreds of umbrellas above.

I haven't had gone to such festivity even once, but as I pass by before going home, I can dearly appreciate its beauty and and I can feel its fun.

The festival was celebrated for a week,hence, the memories of it is for a  lifetime.

'Taga asa ka Dai?' Dili man ko taga Nabunturan, pero maka ingon ko nga proud kaayo ko ani nga lugar.

Parents’ Day-ly

Parents’ Day-ly

December 1, 2017, Nabunturan National Comprehensive High School conducted a program to celebrate and to give tribute to the parents. The event? It’s ... heart-melting.

I arrived at the school by 9 o’clock in the morning, I was overwhelmed by the crowd. I was just outside of the gate but I can see a lot of people sitting at the benches of the pathway. Then I realized, there’ll be a program, and it’s parents day today. Not that I forgot to tell my mom and dad but it’s just that, they’re very much busy at work since it’s Friday.

I enter the school and I’ve felt the warmth of the air, it’s like hugging me. Love is in the air really. I envy my schoolmates who have their parents beside them.

But however, it’s not just that day to celebrate parents day, it could be every day. I didn’t finish the program and hurried home by lunch though I know that my mom and dad aren’t home that time. I just thought that I can have a tribute to them by cleaning our house and doing all the chores.

Indeed, it is parents day daily because last Saturday and Sunday, I, together with my parents and siblings had a great bond at the mall and at the beach after.

We don’t need to have a planned program to give tributes to our parents, sometimes, our love is enough to make them feel that it is their day everyday.

Inakala; Freeing People from Human Trafficking

Forced? Blackmailed? Abused? That’s Human Trafficking.

Human trafficking is very rampant nowadays. It often happen to minors and to women. Now, what is human trafficking? If I were to define, human trafficking is hurting a person by means of physical, mental, and even emotional contact.

How can we help the victims of human trafficking? We can always help even by just sitting. Since we belong to the 21^st century, we can in a click. We can call or text the agencies or institutions who handles human trafficking, we can posts reports or video through social media if we can capture any means of violence.

As for the campaign of the Interagency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) of Davao Region, they conducted a contest of composing a song and making a music video out of it which has a theme that discusses about human trafficking. Our school, NNCHS, has an entry of such contest. It was titled ‘Inakala’. Inakala defines human trafficking itself, it contains all information you are asking about human trafficking. Inakala is such a wonderful music video, it touches the heart and the soul. It’s encouraging. It’s awesome.

Let’s stand for the right of everybody. Stop human trafficking. We can, so we should.

Click photo to see the Inakala video. Thank you.