Pasaporte ni Ama at Ina

Photo Credit to Rappler.Com

Habang pinapanood ko yung movie na "ANAK" sobra ang tumulong luha sa akin. Siguro dahil hindi ko maintindihan yung mga anak na ganun ang turing sa mga magulang nila. Karamihan siguro sa inyong mga nakakabasa ay alam na ang istorya ng ANAK, ang kuwento ay tungkol sa isang ina na naiwan sa isang sitwasyong kinailangang piliin ang pangingibang-bansa upang mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang kanyang mga anak. Subalit sa kabila ng lahat ng ito ay nawala sa tamang landas ang panganay niyang anak at naranasan niya ang lahat ng uri ng pambabastos mula rito. Sa nasabing pelikula ay naipakita ang dalawang papel na napakahirap gampanan, ang maging isang OFW at ang maging isang Ina. Walang magulang, walang ina ang nanaising makita ang kanyang mga anak na halos mamatay na sa gutom at lumaki sa kamangmangan dahil sa kahirapan. Ang pinakamahirap na desisyon ay yung pag-alis sa piling ng mga mahal sa buhay upang maiwasan ang lubhang paghihirap. Ito lang eh.. ito lang ang kailangang isipin ng mga anak para ituwid nila ang landas na tatahakin nila. Hindi pinupulot ang pera na ipinapadala ng mga magulang para lamang sa pagbuo ng isang magandang hinaharap. Kung may trabaho lamang sana dito sa Pilipinas na magbibigay ng disenteng pagkukuhanan ng kabuhayan ay hindi na kailangan pang mangibang bansa ng karamihan sa ating mga magulang. Wala ng ganitong totoong drama ng buhay na sumisira sa ilang tahanan dito sa ating sariling lupa. Hindi ito kasalanan ng ating mga magulang, bagkus ay itinulak lamang sila ng sitwasyon para lumayas at yakapin ang buhay na malayo sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay.

Ako ay masasabing biktima din ng ganitong pangyayari. Ang aking ama ay seaman na namatay  sa dagat nung ako ay mag-aapat na taong gulang pa lamang. Wala akong muwang, dumating sa puntong sinabi ko sa aking ina na bibili na lamang kami ng bagong tatay dahil nasa kabaong na ang aking ama na sinsaabi nila noong patay na. Hindi ko siya kilala sapagkat sa loob ng 3 taon na ako ay nabuhay sa mundo ay palagi siyang nandun sa barko at mga 2 o 3 beses lang ata niya ako nakarga sa kanyang mga bisig. Sa isang iglap ay nawala ang lahat ng kanilang mga pangarap ng aking ina. Naiwan si mama na kinakaharap ang kalbaryo kung saan kukuha ng pangtutustos sa aming pang araw-araw na pangangailangan. Dumating sa puntong walang-wala na, lubog sa baha ang bakuran, sampung piso na lamang ang laman ng bulsa niya at gabi-gabi ay narirniig ko ang kanyang paghikbi dahil sa sobrang hirap na nararanasan namin. Literal na kulang na lang ay mamalimos  na kami ng tulong para makaraos sa pinagdadaanan namin.Hindi ko alam ang patutunguhan noon pero hindi kami pumayag na maging ganoon na lamang ang buhay kaya lumaban kami. Sa tulong ng mga taong nagmamahal sa amin, kahit papano ay natulungan kami. Sila ang nagbigay ng instrumento para maisagawa namin ang nasa plano naming pagsusumikap at pag-aaral ng mabuti.para makatapos.

Ano ang pinupunto ko sa aking nabanggit sa taas? ito ay ang pagkundena ko sa pagiging siraulo ng mga taong may mga magulang na handang magsakripisyo para sa ikauunlad nila pero isinasantabi yun at sinasayang dahil lamang sa hindi katanggap tanggap na sumbat na "nasaan ka nung kailangan kita?". Nagsasakripisyo nga di ba??? para lang sa inyo. Para hindi na kailangang mamalimos, magdildil ng asin at para sa kinabukasan na rin. Walang magulang ang makukuntentong makita ang mga anak nila na naghihirap at kumakalam ang sikmura sa gutom. Sana magsilbing inspirasyon ang lahat ng aking nabanggit sa mga taong hanggang ngayon ay sarado pa rin ang utak sa paghihirap ng kanilang mga magulang, mapa OFW man o namamasukan dito sa ating bansa na kumikita lamang ng kakarampot sa araw-araw.

Hindi ako naniniwala sa palasak na katwirang: "lumaki akong pasaway dahil wala ka! wala akong gabay".. mas dapat tayong maniwala sa "Lumaki akong maayos dahil wala ka! natuto akong lumaban at magpakabuti para balang - araw ay makakabalik ka na at hindi na kailangang mag abroad pa"

Open Communication, A Key to a Team's Success

Photo Courtesy of Google Image

I love to watch war movies, stories about soldiers and how one platoon can work as one. Movies and series like Band of Brothers, Enemy at the Gates and Stalingrad are some of those that I really love.

As I was watching those movies, I realized one main component of a victorious fight and it is efficient and effective line of communication. No plan will be executed accordingly if the individuals in the unit are working based only on their own perspective. 

Applying it into workplace, there's this term called Open Communication. It is the condition where an employee is free to provide his insights without any fear of retaliation, bad impression or judgment from the management or his colleagues.

As you can see, one team will be able to deliver accurately if the members are talking to each other on the concerns that really matters. The need to talk about an issue right away, be it criticism of an error or acknowldedgment of a glitch is a must in order to rectify it urgently as well.

To tell you honestly, I am really a fan of open communication as I strongly believe that it is what a team needed in order to have a harmonious relationship with each other. The least that i want myself to be in is a situation wherein I have no idea that my actions are already causing a damage to the team's performance. At such, that's where a team mate supposedly would interfere...not to criticize but to correct what is wrong.

In all the teams that I have been with all throughout my career, i have always promoted this mindset. I am not really a fan of backstabbing, as I believe that being open in a respectful way will benefit the whole of the team and eventually the company. Unfortunately, I have also realized that this mindset is not intended for all people. 

There are instances that suggestions will be interpreted as arguments and your perception will be translated to a personal attack. It is inevitable as every meeting or communication is accompanied not only by what you are saying but also with how you have said it. Is it sarcastic? Does it seem that you would want to imply something? You see... There are so many factors to consider.

While it is right to lay down your side on every situation, be sensitive as well. Here are some tips to a more harmonious relationship in line with open communication:

1. After a heated meeting, talk to that someone that you think you have offended and just settle things right as soon as possible.

2. Always try to pinpoint the error respectfully in front of the concerned person. NOT to your other colleagues. Not just because it is unethical but also in order for the concerned party to rectify the error right away. This will free the team from unnecessary problem in the future.

3. Never judge your colleague based on your impression without asking him first. There may be some things that you have not considered in your assessment.

4. Stick to the issue. Don't ever interrupt your colleague or insert other topic that will create an impression of fault finding.

5. Open communication comes with an open mind. Don't assume that the argument is already personal unless the tone is quite obviously disrespectful already. If that happened, resist professionally.

5. Last but not the least is RESPECT and TRUST. Without this, any relationship will somehow collapse even if it has started in good fate.

I hope this helps you understand some points. I, myself is also having some difficulties in applying the things that I have mentioned above but I am trying my very best. Always remember, a team will not be a team if the members are divided and full of hidden comments. A war will not be won if the soldier's tactics and actions are not aligned to their captain or their unit.

Conflict: Paano Makakaiwas?

Photo Courtesy of Google Image

Karamihan ng conflict sa isang pag-uusap ay dahil sa mayroon ng perspective ang mga taong nag-uusap. Natatabunan nito ang totoong essence ng usapan dahil una pa lang ay may dating ng hindi maganda. Maaari sana siyang maiwasan kahit na mahirap kung lahat tayo ay matututong makinig at ianalisa ang mensahe at hindi ang kung sino ang nagsasalita.

Ibabahagi ko lamang ang kuwento ko noong boss ko ay isang Dutch National. Maangas ang unang impression ko sa kanya dahil pag dating sa meeting talagang kikwestyunin ka at minsan ay may sarcasm pa. Pero ni minsan ay hindi ko naramdamang galit siya dahil sa way ng pag deliver niya. Noong nagkaroon na kami ng pagkakataong makapag-usap ng one to one, lalo ko siyang naintindihan. Hinikayat niya akong magsalita kung ano ang nasa isip ko dahil ang lahat ng ideya gaano man daw kalaki o kaliit ay ideya pa rin.

Pag dating sa meeting, sabihin mo lahat in a professional way dahil iyon ang pagkakataon na magkaroon ng talakayan na ikagaganda dapat ng isang organisasyong kinabibilangan mo. Isa sa hindi magandang practice ang pananahimik sa loob ng silid pero ang dami mo palang gustong sabihin na ang epekto ay imbes na maibahagi mo sa lahat ay sa mangilang-ngilang tao mo na lang tuloy naibabahagi. Isang sitwasyon na maaring magbunga pa ng hindi pagkakaintindihan at ang epekto? Magkakaroon ng misconception sa kung ano ang issue, kung ano ang napag-usapan at kung ano ang totoong sinabi. 

Malungkot mang aminin ang sinabi ng boss ko pero totoo...karamihan daw sa ating mga Pilipino ay ganoon. Bigla ko tuloy naisip..kaya siguro hindi kami uminlad-unlad dahil totoong karamihan sa atin ay ganito. Hindi sa senado, sa mga matataas na opisyal ngunit mas lalo na sa mga maliliit na organisasyon.

Imbes na mag-usap ng tinitingnan ay ang konteksto ng sinasabi para maayos ang isang bagay or mag meet half way kumbaga? Walang natatapos dahil may kanya kanyang pananaw at walang gustong magpatalo.

Pero ano nga ba ang dapat na gawin para maging produktibo ang isang pag-uusap at hindi maging negatibo? Basahin ang ilang tips na ito na halaw sa isang artikulong naisulat sa wikang Ingles.

1. Avoid unnecessary details.

Don’t sidetrack. For example, if the time something happened isn’t important, don’t waste time getting it right.

2. Don’t ask another question before the first one has been answered.

If you ask how someone’s children are, don’t jump in with your family health before she has answered.

3. Do not interrupt another while he is speaking.

Also, try to make your story short, giving the other person a chance to speak and not interrupt.

4. Do not contradict, especially if it’s not important.

You are inserting unnecessary details into the person’s story. “The person who contradicts, frequently restates the matter in another way.”

5. Do not do all the talking.

Ask questions to find out what you both have in common.

6. Don’t always be the hero of your story, however, the story should have a hero.

Build up others as well as yourself.

7. Choose a subject of mutual interest.

Draw the person’s interests out and don’t “hinge the conversation on politics when it should be on potatoes or on poetry.”

8. Be a good listener.

You will naturally become one if you follow the above rules.

9. The conversation should be in harmony with the surroundings.

Do not “talk about cheese when the moon would be a more fitting topic.” Also, don’t discount the appropriateness of silence.

10. Do not exaggerate.

Not everything is “the best,” “the worst,” or “the funniest.”

11. Do not misquote.

“Use the quotation for the occasion; do not make an occasion for the quotation.”

12. Cultivate tact.

Do not be untruthful, but also don’t feel the need to be hurtful. Do not say someone looks unwell, sick, or tired. This will do nothing to further conversation and only make the person uncomfortable. Don’t hint at it either by asking if she had a long night. Remember silence is an option. “Say the right thing, or say nothing.” (Source:The Art of Conversation)

Mahirap man pero ang pakikipag-usap ay ang dahilan bakit umiikof ang mundo natin. May makakausap tayong hindi kanais-nais at meron din namang maayos. Lagi lang tandaan na tingnan ang mensahe at i-assess ang mga pangyayari. Makabubuti din na linawin natin ang punto ng taong kausap natin para maiwasan ang tagpo na lalo pang magpapagulo imbes na magbubuo. Isipin lagi na walang nagmamagaling at ang gusto lang ay ilabas ang mga mahusay at paraang ikagagaling ng sitwasyon at higit sa lahat ay panatilihin ang respeto.

Pero kung ang mga bagay na ito ay naisagawa na pero ganun pa rin? Kailangan ng huwag lumaban sa usapang walang patutunguhan...magpakumbaba at tumigil na (isang bagay na maski ang inyong lingkod ay nahihirapan haha dahil ayaw ko ngang nabubully..pero I am trying to practice it naman.. Haha)

Ciao! ;)

Sinong Nagsabing Walang Plano ang LP?

Yung eksenang nung Mayor eh hindi inihabla tapos nung Presidente eh hindi natakot na lumabas? Tapos sasabihing natatakot daw para sa kaligtasan? Parang may mali.

Yung eksenang bonggang pambubully ni Trillanes kay Cayetano na may matching pag try na patayin pa ang mic? Kabastusan to the highest level. Alam kong maingay si Cayetano at nakakabwisit talaga, pero may bearing ang mga tanong niya at kinukuha ni Trillanes ang atensyon.

Yung eksenang chairwoman si De Lima pero parang abugado nung witness.

Yung eksenang paiba-iba ang statements tapos sinasalag nila De Lima kapag naiipin na?


Well, desperate move is still a move.

Then media will sensationalize it and then there goes Joseph Goebbel's quote, "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."

Hintayin natin ang next move ng LP, ICC will pick it up just like what Sass said. Just like what has been done to Kenyatta of Kenya. Habang nasa trial si Duterte, Leni will take over. Ano ba? Bulag pa rin ang marami na kalakaran to ng Amerika at ang katulong nila asa Pilipinas ay ang LP noon pa. Bakit? It's all about national interest mga te. Kahit na nuknukan ng bait ng mga ibang bansa, may agenda yan sa atin mapa China man o America. Now, Duterte is trying to change the game by being neutral with China dahil subok na ang America sa kaso ni Marcos. I am not saying that Marcos is best or good, what I am saying is hindi pumapanig si Duterte sa mga Amerikano dahil subok na ang reputasyon nila sa Iraq, Libya, Syria, at sa iba pang mga bansang pinatalsik ang mga lider.

Ang tanong ngayon...kung sa panahon ni Marcos nagtagumpay sila, paano lalabanan ng mga tao ang kalokohang iyan ngayong lahat ng impormasyon at propaganda ay natatabla na. Self-destruct na ang LP dahil lahat ng skeleton in the closet ay lumalabas na.

Kung naniniwala ka pa rin na matino ang LP? Ewan ko na lang. Either anak mayaman ka, elitista or wala ka lang talagang pakialam sa logic. Eto na lang eh, 30 years namuno sila bakit 3rd world country pa rin tayo? Bakit ngayon ni hindi sila manahimik at makipagtulungan sa mga proyekto ng Gobyerno at talagang hinahanapan ng butas ang pangulo?

Bakit ipinagpilitang manalo si Leni Robredo kahit harap-harapan ng nakikita ang pandaraya? Tugma lahat iyan. Iyan ang dahilan bakit ako bwisit na bwisit noong nanalo si Leni dahil una hindi siya ang nanalo, pangalawa checkmate si Duterte. Just wait and see...their plan is coming. Sabi ko sana mali ako, pero pag nangyari iyon...gusto kong sabihin sa mga taong pilit pinagtatanggol ang LP at si Robredo.."Congrats! Ano nga ulit yung sinabi mo dati? Na walang ganung plano?"

Ipagdadasal ko na mali ako....huwag kayong magrereklamo kapag hindi pa rin umayos ang bansa natin kung si Leni ang naiupo at balik hayahay ang mga kampon ng LP. Well di pala magrereklamo kasi karamihan naman sa supporters nila ay mga di alam ang totoong konsepto ng hirap.

Ano nga ba ang Ugnayang Panglabas?

Photo Courtesy of Google Images

Mariin ang di pag sang-ayon ng ibang mga tao sa mga binibitawang salita ni Pangulong Duterte. Iba-iba ang opinyon sapagkat diumano ay nasasaktan ang ugnayan nating panglabas lalo na sa Estados Unidos.

Pero, ano nga ba ang Ugnayang Panglabas na nagiging isyu na ngayon? Isang bagay na hindi binibigyan ng masyadong atensyon, dati sapagkat wala naman tayong problema dahil wika nga ng ating Pangulo ay sunod-sunuran lamang tayo noon.

Ngunit, iba na ang panahon ngayon. Kasabay ng pagpili ng ating pangulo sa daang "independent" or "less dependent"  ay ang dapat na pag-alam natin sa kung ano ba talaga ang International Relations at Diplomacy?

Halika at panoorin natin ang pagpapaliwanag sa mga bagay na dapat nating malaman sa paksang nabanggit.

Link to 10 Things you need to know on International Relations and Diplomacy:

International Relations and Diplomacy

Petition to Support Duterte's War on Drugs (Please Sign)

Amidst all the criticisms and misinformation that are being thrown into the Duterte Administration, there is still no doubt that the majority of the people are backing up this fight. Why does the President always bringing the issue up on all his speeches? Perhaps like a broken record already. 

It's a preventative measure that will cease our nation in becoming a Narco Country. Drug addicts rights now are only in an estimate of 3.7 million Filipinos, will we wait until it reach twice, thrice or higher than its current state? 

Let us not let these drug lords and Protectors be our Mayor, Governor or even President in the long run. Let's not get to that point when it is already late and we are already in the core of the problem.

In line with this, show your support by signing in this petition. Let us all make a change and have our voices be heard. We should do this not only for ourselves but more importantly for our dear children who will be vulnerable in the future. Step up! Raise your fists for them.

Link to the Petition:

We Support President Duterte's Fight on Illegal Drugs

The Rise of Alternative Intellectuals (Thinking Pinoy & Sass Rogando Sasot)

Photo Grabbed and Courtesy
Of Thinking Pinoy and Sass Rogando Sasot

Mainstream media has been in the hot seat these past few months. Reporters and writers from big media institutions are now subject of questions regarding impartiality and being biased. As I have mentioned in my previous facebook posts, I have noticed the difference on how news and commentaries are being written or presented today compared on how it was during the previous administrations.

Fortunately, Filipinos nowadays are no longer blinded with the truth that the so called usual "intellectuals" are offering. People noticed that indeed there's something wrong with how the information is being relayed to us. It is safe to say that some of us have been enlightened already. With the collapse of mainstream media's credibility is the rise of some bloggers. You may say that they are just mere bloggers who lack the credentials of being a real journalist, but not in some blogger's case.

There's Mocha Uson, Even Demata, Get Real Philippines and many others who somehow rose up due to the popularity of the Presidentiables and Vice Presidentiables that they have supported. As you can see, people have longed to hear positive news about their preferred candidates which mainstream media has failed to provide. At such, they searched for new and unorthodox writers, opinions and ideas...thus supporting bloggers instead. I am not saying that their posts are accurate but it gave an ease to readers who are sick and tired on sensationalism and negative comments about their candidates.

In my case, there were two bloggers that really caught my attention and I confess that I am one of their avid readers and now listener. They are Thinking Pinoy who chose to be anonymous and Sass Rogando Sasot, someone who is very good in International Relations because it's her field of Studies in The Netherlands.

Why did I got hook with them? It all started when they tackled the issue about South China Sea (by the way it's Not West Philippines Sea as that one is not internationally accepted). They pinpointed the root cause of that conflict which unknowingly originated from the Philippines and the conflict of interest of then DFA Sec. Albert Del Rosario. 

See Link

http://www.thinkingpinoy.net/2016/07/ph-china-on-west-philippine-sea-issue.html?m=1

That really caught my attention and came as a surpise, well I didn't know that, I just said to myself.."oooooohhh..really?". Ever since, I observed and read all of Thinking Pinoy's articles and I really learned a lot from it. Of course, being a previous writer myself, it's always a must for me to validate first if the information is true and it turned out that yes! Indeed it is true.

Upon reading TP's posts, I also bumped into one account whose write-ups are also informative. It was from a Transpinay based in The Netherlands, Sass Rogando Sasot. She gave me the same impression just like with TP but this time she is not in incognito mode. She lay bare her true personality and she is imparting her knowledge in International Relations through her facebook page. 

However, due to her attack in the the real issues, her facebook page has been blocked, first for days only and now for 30 days prompting her to create a facebook page. This is because of the "yellow minded" people who can't accept the fact that their arguments are being slayed by one person who is so good in rebuttal. All of her statements will make you think and the people who oppose her arguments are not liking that. But TP and Sass can never be silenced hence they also created a podcast to further explain everything with their voices.

It is indeed the rise of the alternative intellectuals. A field that has long been monopolized by people like Winnie Monsod, Randy David and Yellow Political. Analysts. It is about time to check on the other perspective and exercise the true meaning of Freedom of Expression..which should be coming from different angles of an issue or even a party.

Though more inclined with President Duterte's side, I strongly suggest all of you to read their posts and listen to their podcasts even if your perspective is not in the same page. They are offering their knowledge in one unusual package...witty, happy, in layman's term and as if you are in a comedy bar. 

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/politicalsass/

Podcasts:

https://www.facebook.com/KanTalk/