BORONGAN CITY-Aiming to reach students in need in the province of Eastern Samar, ‘Isang Propesyonal Isang Pamilya Program’ came to life.
With the hope of widening the scope and to provide a bigger number of students in need of scholarship, the Waray-Waray Golfers Club, Inc. spearheaded by Pres. Noel Rapadas took the initiative of hosting a fundraising golf cup and was duly supported by Gov. Ben P. Evardone, which happened on October 20, 2023 at the North Course of Valley Golf and Country Club, Antipolo Rizal.
The activity was joined by 114 players nationwide and is supported by numerous sponsors that share the aim of uplifting and opening a brighter future for Estehanons.
The Isang Pamilya Isang Propesyonal Program provides a monthly allowance of P3,000 to the 539 scholars for 2023.
IPIP is an initiative program of Gov. Evardone, focusing on alleviating the poorest of the poor of Eastern Samar thru making education accessible to the people.
Last August 23, 2022, during the on-site launch of the IPIP led by Gov. Evardone, he emphasized how his life was changed with the help of education.
He shared how their family of 10, used to be a “para-utang” (debtor) at the sari-sari stores in their neighborhood, because of the hard light of life. After a while, they were not welcomed to utang anymore, for the reason that they could not pay their debts anymore.
The oldest sibling of 8 then was able to graduate and became a teacher, which paved her way to help the family.
The sari-sari store owners opened their windows once again to the family, knowing that a professional teacher, will be able to provide a regular income to the family.
With this story, Gov. Evardone took inspiration of helping the students in need to finish their studies and be able to help their own families.
The first year of IPIP had 413 student scholars were recipients of the said program that produced the first 31 graduates. (PR)
TACLOBAN CITY-Two children died in Pagsanghan town in Samar province on Sunday (Oct.15) after eating ‘tahong’ or green mussels.
However, the rural health unit (RHU) said that while they are not ruling out that the deaths of the nine-year-old girl and her six-year-old brother could be due to red tide toxin, they are not confirming it yet.
Roxanne Ganancias, RHU staff, said that they are still waiting for the results of the diagnosis of the other family members of the victims, all residents of Barangay Canlapwas, who also ate tahong.
“While we are not ruling out the possibility that the deaths of the siblings could be due to red tide toxin, we classify it as a suspected red tide case as we are still waiting for the result of the diagnosis of the other members of the family,” she said in a phone interview.
Ganancias declined to identify the victims except by giving their ages.
According to her, the family, consisting of seven individuals, ate tahong during their lunch on that day.
The RHU staff said that based on their investigation, the mother of the victims bought the tahong from a vendor and put them in an open area exposed to sunlight before her 12-year-old daughter cooked them for their lunch.
But at around 2 pm, the nine-year-old girl experienced vomiting, facial numbness, abdominal cramps, and body aches.
She was brought to the RHU at 4:15 pm but died at 4:20 pm, Ganancias said.
Her six-year-old brother, at around 4 pm, also experienced similar symptoms and was brought to a nearby district hospital in Gandara town, also in Samar, where he died.
The rest of the family, consisting of a 70-year grandmother of the victims and their parents, both 30, and their other siblings, 12, and four years old, were brought to the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) in Tacloban City.
Ganancias said that considering of the incident Mayor Sed Hendrix Tan appealed to his people to refrain from eating green mussels or if they could not avoid, make sure that the mussels are thoroughly clean and well-cook.
Early this month, the regional office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has announced of red tide bloom in the waters of Irong-Irong Bay and in the coastal waters of Calbayog City, all in Samar province, and Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
The upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and barangay elections in the Philippines have spurred a flurry of campaign activities among the candidates. Intending to secure their votes, these candidates are actively engaging with the electorate through various means. The intelligence and comprehension displayed by these candidates in their campaigns reflect the intricacies of local governance and the needs of their constituents.
The SK and barangay candidates demonstrate their intelligence by being well-informed about the issues affecting their communities. They have conducted thorough research on the concerns and aspirations of the residents, allowing them to present informed solutions and promises during their campaign speeches. Their comprehensive knowledge of local governance, policies, and projects showcases their extensive understanding of the intricacies involved in improving the barangays and the lives of the youth.
Some candidates’ campaign strategies are now utilizing various channels, including social media, flyers, and face-to-face interactions, to disseminate their messages to a wider audience. The candidates are adeptly presenting their platforms, accomplishments, and capabilities to the electorate, ensuring that their campaign efforts align with the needs and desires of their potential constituents. Their nuanced approach showcases their ability to comprehend their target audience’s diverse interests and concerns, ultimately allowing them to tailor their campaign strategies accordingly.
By displaying a comprehensive understanding of the issues faced by their communities and employing effective communication strategies, these candidates are positioning themselves as competent leaders who are dedicated to improving the lives of their constituents. Their campaigns serve as evidence of their understanding of the intricacies involved in the SK and barangay elections, hopefully affirming their intellectual capabilities and qualifications for public office.
In today’s competitive job market, individuals often find themselves disillusioned by the limited impact that senior high school, college education, and work experience have on their job hunt. Despite their perceived value, these traditional credentials have seemingly lost their significance in determining candidates’ employability in the Philippines. Let’s try to shed light on the ever-evolving landscape of the job market and what else is required to succeed.
Contrary to popular belief, senior high school alone cannot guarantee a successful career path. While this stage of education provides a fundamental base, it often lacks the specialized training required by today’s industries. Employers now prioritize candidates who possess more specialized skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and interpersonal communication, which are not typically emphasized during senior high. Consequently, relying solely on a high school degree renders the job search futile.
Although college remains a stepping stone for many toward career success, the conventional perception that a degree alone guarantees prosperous employment stands outdated. As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, employers now prioritize candidates who possess practical knowledge and applicable skills in their chosen field. Simply earning a degree is no longer enough. Rather, it is essential for students to actively engage in internships, research projects, and extracurricular activities that equip them with real-world experiences and sought-after skills.
Work experience was once considered a crucial factor in securing desirable employment. However, in today’s rapidly In an evolving job market, relying solely on work experience can be limiting. Technological advancements and shifting industry demands have rendered traditional job experiences less valuable. Employers now seek candidates who can adapt to change, embrace innovation, and demonstrate a willingness to learn and upskill. Thus, solely relying on past experience fails to adequately demonstrate potential for growth and development.
In the pursuit of career success, the cultivation of soft skills has significantly gained importance. Additionally, employers now prioritize individuals who possess strong communication, teamwork, adaptability, and leadership skills. Unfortunately, these skills are seldom emphasized in traditional educational settings, undermining their development among graduates. Consequently, those solely relying on hard skills acquired through senior high and college education may struggle to secure employment in an increasingly competitive job market.
The futility of an exclusive reliance on senior high, college education, and work experience highlights the vital importance of continuous learning and adaptability. To remain competitive and enhance employability, individuals must embrace lifelong learning, seeking out additional certifications, specialized courses, or vocational training. By continuously growing their skills and actively adapting to market demands, job seekers can distinguish themselves from their peers and stand out to potential employers.
But these, too, are becoming futile in the face of another reality characterizing job placements, particularly among government agencies in the country. Senior high and college degrees, experience, and even special skills and abilities are nothing because those who get accepted are only those with backers and padrinos, recommended by powerful and influential people who merit the respect of the appointing authorities. A candidate can be a board topnotcher, but he/she is no match against the manager’s nephew, the secretary’s cousin, or the director’s child, etc. In some agencies, such a candidate is no match against the applicant who paid a hundred thousand to the appointing authorities.
The changing dynamics of the job market have rendered senior high, college education, work experience, and special skills inadequate measures of employability. To enhance their chances of securing desirable employment, applicants must secure recommendations from big politicians and high-ranking officials. They must be related to the appointing authorities. And sometimes when required, they must pay huge amounts to the appointing officials to get a job. That’s the reality of job placements in our beloved country, hence the exodus of well-qualified applicants to other countries even if it is against their will to go overseas.
THIS definitely is not a matter of having a dark or gloomy outlook in life. On the contrary, this is what would make us truly realistic, able to have a wholistic picture of our life and knowing what life’s true character and purpose are.
We are reminded of this truth of our Christian faith in that gospel episode where Christ told his disciples to be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open the door immediately when he comes and knocks. (cfr. Lk 12,35-38)
“Should he (the master) come in the second or third watch and find them (the servants) prepared in this way, blessed are those servants,” Christ told his disciples.
That gospel episode somehow tells us that our life here on earth is not our definitive life. Our definitive life is an eternal one due to our spiritual nature that is poised for a supernatural life, or a life with God forever since we are his image and likeness, meant to share in his life and nature.
Our life here on earth is just a test to see if what God wants us to be is also what we ourselves would want to be. It’s a test to see if we want to be with God or simply to be by ourselves. God gave us a clear commandment about what we ought to do in this life.
In fact, the first mandate God gave man through our first parents was to “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it.” (Gen 1,28) In other words, everything that we do here in this life is supposed to be done in obedience to this original divine mandate. There is nothing in our life that ought to be considered as outside this duty to follow this mandate.
And so, we just have to be always vigilant and prepared to meet God when he finally calls us in our death. There will be judgment to see if we have followed his will all throughout our life.
Death is a crucial point in our life, because our spiritual condition at that moment would determine our eternal destiny. And so, it would be most advisable that we overcome whatever fear or awkwardness we may have with respect to having an abiding consideration of the possibility of death at any moment of our life.
As said earlier, it is not to have a dark or gloomy outlook in life. Rather, that abiding consideration of death would truly help us not to lose focus on what is truly essential and necessary in life. We know that we have that notorious tendency to get entangled with the non-essentials in life.
Thus, the daily practice of examination of conscience at the end of the day is most advisable since it gives us the time to check whether we are still on the right path or not. This practice means that our spiritual and moral life is in a state of constant struggle, in a continuing warfare, since we meet the forces of good and evil in every step of our daily affairs.
The situations and predicaments can be big or small, extraordinary or common, but we always find ourselves in situations of making choices and decisions. We have to continually deal with our weaknesses and temptations, not to mention sins, on the one hand, and the need to reach our proper and ultimate end, God, on the other.
CLEMELLE L. MONTALLANA,DM, CESE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR III
CLEMELLE L. MONTALLANA,DM, CESE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR III
Sometimes, they have to be validated abroad. Indeed, no prophet is revered in one’s homeland.
The Filipino people are known for their resilience, hard work, and creativity. They have overcome many challenges and hardships in their history, and have always strived to achieve their dreams and aspirations. Whether in the fields of science, arts, sports, business, or public service, Filipinos have made remarkable contributions and achievements that have inspired and benefited many people around the world.
One example of a Filipino who has made history is May Parsons, a Filipino-British nurse who administered the world’s first Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shot to a 90-year-old woman in the UK[^1^][1]. Parsons has been working as a nurse for 24 years and is one of the thousands of Filipinos who serve in the UK’s National Health Service. She said that she was proud to be able to contribute to the positive step toward stopping the pandemic and to represent the Filipinos in the global fight against COVID-19[^2^][2].
Another example of a Filipino who has achieved success is Vico Sotto, the young mayor of Pasig City who has been lauded for his effective and innovative responses to the COVID-19 crisis. Sotto deployed disinfection drones, mobile markets, bike lanes, and free shuttle services to help his constituents cope with the lockdowns and prevent the spread of the virus[^3^][3]. He also supported the government employees in Pasig by providing them with hazard pay, laptops, and internet allowances[^4^][4]. Sotto has been recognized as one of the world’s outstanding leaders by various international organizations and publications.
A third example of a Filipino who has created success is Tony Tan Caktiong, the founder and chairman of Jollibee, the largest fast-food chain in the Philippines and one of the fastest-growing in the world. Tan Caktiong started his business with a small ice cream parlor in 1975 and later expanded it into a hamburger joint that catered to the Filipino taste. Today, Jollibee has over 1,400 stores in 35 countries and employs more than 100,000 people. Tan Caktiong has also been involved in various social and philanthropic initiatives that aim to improve the lives of Filipinos, especially the youth and the poor.
These are just some of the many examples of Filipinos who have made good and created success around the world. They have shown that with determination, passion, and innovation, Filipinos can overcome any obstacle and achieve any goal. They have also shown that Filipinos are not only successful in their own fields, but also generous and compassionate in sharing their talents and resources with others. They have truly embodied the spirit of bayanihan, or communal unity and cooperation, that is at the heart of Filipino culture.
We just have to be in the lookout for exemplary Pinoy , they are all over the world.
