Transferred blogs! + Summer (Classes) Ender

Well I'm back in Blogspot. :)) I know, I am so fickle when it comes to blogs! Believe me when I say that I am much more fickle when it comes to clothes. Hah! But I do hope that I'm settled with this name for good. <3 Good & Golden, good and talented. I love the optimism it radiates! Hihi. Hopefully my optimism transcend into my grades, too. Hehe. My summer classes is about to come to a close and though the work is not yet even done, I'm quite happy with how it panned out.

For one, I just finished the requirements for my Development of Drama class. I don't know if I did so well in that class because frankly, I think it's been a hit-or-miss type of class for me... So I don't really know what to expect once they release the grades. I'm also almost done with my Nanoenterprise Management class. In this class, we partnered up with the Department of Social Welfare and Development. We were to evaluate and give recommendations with regard to the businesses of the some the beneficiaries of their Conditional Cash Transfer program. The family assigned to me owns two business: a fish vending business and a balut vending business. :) Hopefully they would be able to find my suggestions practical, feasible, and desirable! Aside from these two classes, I also took a Public Relations class. After this post, I'll be starting on one of our papers. I actually have three more requirements to pass for this class. I wrote a feature article on Vesti, for one, and all that one needs is a little more editing and it's good to go. I have to write a PR proposal for a company to adopt an Anti-Kotong (Anti-Bribery) campaign for motorists. The last paper I have to work one would be about a company/org I don't like. Then I'd have to give suggestions on what they could improve on, in terms of PR. I'm thinking of writing about the Government of Manila because I have this love-hate feeling about this place. But I think that writing about that would be really, really tricky because before working on its PR, it has to first and foremost fix the whole place... Now that it has a "new" leader who has had experience in running another LGU before, hopefully, we could see Manila soar into new heights... It's been into such a bad state of decay, what with all the controversies that happened for the past years. Well, I guess that's a topic for next time. Or for my paper, for that matter. :)

Even though I am swamped with college work for the next few days, I am not letting that stop me from doing extra-curricular activities. Yes, and as if I do not have so many work to do for myself already, I am also looking into joining Cat@lyst, a contest which asks for an ICT-based solution to a community problem. I am joining this contest with Bryan! :) We haven't settled on a final project yet. But we'll come up with something! :D Hopefully I can share it once we're done with the submission.

So yes, before I make a complete buffoon of myself by wasting my precious time, I'll head on to working on my stuuuufffssss to do now. :) Bye, and see you soon!

Conscious Consumer Tip #4: Repurpose Some of Your Clothes!

In one of my previous posts, I gave three simple ways on how to be a conscious consumer. I follow those guidelines a lot. For one, I do like Philippine brands which sells Filipino-made products. I'm NUTS about all things ethnic and indigenous. I often buy goods from bazaars which were obviously made here in the Philippines. Second, I go to thrift stores a lot. You'll never know what you'll find. Some pieces are DIVINE. As a girl who looooves fashion maybe way much more than the next girl, thrift stores are fashion heavens for frugal fashionistas like me. Third, I like eco-friendly products. I like the effort they put because I know making things eco-friendlier is harder now than it was before because of machines and stuff.

But now I think I want to add another point re: conscious consumerism. So now you've bought these articles of clothing. You've worn it, you've loved it. But the fashion world moves much faster than the actual world as what's in last month can now be "out".

Fret not because there is a solution for us style-minded people!

We have the option to make our clothing ourselves. And yes. It's not impossible.

I've been reading a lot of DIY blogs lately and can I just say... I'm so amazed at crafty people! They don't have to rely on buying from stores when they want a certain style of a dress! They can just make them on their own. They can even upcycle which makes their work all the more awesome and totally admirable! That's why when I got up this weekend, I decided it would be a DIY day for me. For today I made 2 DIY projects, and another is still a work in progress. I'm not posting the first one because it's way too small for me (as in, it could only fit Jovy, my lovely 4'11" househelper). But it's the second one which I am proud of to share with you guys:



It's a dress and could function as a skirt. It used to be this flared pair of jogging pants which my sweet but not-so-fashionable dad bought for me, thinking I would wear such a style in this day and age! But I didn't want the color and this piece itself to go to waste, especially since my favorite colors for clothes are very monochrome and pastel-ish these days. The third one I'm currently making is a backless top with pretty knots. The materials I'm using are all old shirts which makes everything so eco-chic! Hihi. I'll show it to you guys when I'm done. I also have a few other projects in mind and I can't wait to get the materials I need to execute them.

With that, I hope you guys can try rummaging through your closet and repurpose an old shirt or jean or something. Go crazy! Try making things yourself for once, instead of buying overpriced goods which may or may not have been made through unsafe labor conditions.

Giving and Taking: The Dual Processes in Volunteering

Contrary to popular belief, volunteering isn't just about giving our time and talents for free. Volunteering actually doesn't work that way. You also take something. Albeit invisible or intangible. But you do take something. I'll explain why.

Giving

Prior to writing this post, I looked around the Internet for data on volunteers. I wanted to make an infographic to express my point. I was looking for the monetary value which volunteers create in a year. I was impressed when I saw the numbers. According to Dr. Romulo Virola of the National Statistical Coordination Board, in 2009 alone, the total value of volunteer work amounted to Php 44.5 B. That's a huge sum. I was about to make a killer infographic on this data and make things all visually pleasing for my lovely audience, but then I chewed this little data in my head a little bit more.

Should we give volunteering a monetary value? The main thing which makes volunteering special is that it is done by a person without asking for anything in return. No matter how small, no matter how big the volunteer work has been, the volunteer does not receive compensation for this. If I attempt to explain the impact of volunteering in numbers, won't I mess up the essence of volunteerism?

Thus I decided to let go of the whole infographic idea and let the essence of volunteering emante in this part of the post. Giving is giving. The time we give to volunteer is invaluable, no matter what the stats say. Whether a volunteer helped organized the Met Gala or helped collect trash, helping is helping. Giving is giving. And I think Aesop pretty much nailed it when he said:

[caption id="attachment_142" align="alignnone" width="525"] Remember that! Even small actions make a difference, volunteers! :)[/caption]

Taking

I've had the chance to volunteer for a social enterprise I really care about before. When Reese posted on Facebook and said that they needed volunteers who will interview the members of their partner communities so they could help these people better. Our task was pretty simple. Ask these mothers a couple of questions in Tagalog and write down the answers for them. Looking back, I know I volunteered firstly because I wanted to gain more insights on social entrepreneurship; but, in the end, I gained so much more than just an insight on entrepreneurship. I gained friends. I gained mucho experience in commuting around Quezon City and Caloocan. And most of all, I just gained.

Aside from the direct effects that volunteers are able to contribute to a project or NGO, volunteering, I think, also has a huge effect on one's person. Much like how love works, volunteering gives people a chance to grow as a person. The more time we are able to give our time and talents to serve others, the bigger our "takeaways" are. And these are the things that are essential. Our actions leading not only to physical refinement, but spiritual refinement. And I am not even talking about going to heaven. I'm talking about becoming more human in the process.

And that's how we "take" things when we volunteer.

[caption id="attachment_144" align="alignnone" width="525"] This quote by Churchill is spot on. When you give love, you take love. When you don't, well, uh, you don't![/caption]

And with that, I encourage you guys to volunteer so you can give and take all at the same time. :)

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This post will also serve as my submission to Hands On Manila's Bloggers for Social Change. They're looking for bloggers who are passionate about social change and I'm more than passionate about change. I'm passionate about ACTION. Selected bloggers will blog about HOM's gigs and whatnot. At the same time, we'll facilitate and co-represent in their activities. Pretty cool huh? I hope I get in. Wish me luck!

3 Simple Ways on How to be a Conscious Consumer

Ethical consumerism is on the rise. Join the movement. Choose consciously.

Looking at the Silver Lining

Because it is useless to stay useless. We have to find the way to keep inspired despite the crises we face. We have to learn to cope by moving on and hoping for the best.

The Manila Zoo: A Constructive Criticism

It's just 7:30pm as I'm writing this but I'm already in pyjamas because it's been such a long, torrid, and tiring day. But despite that, I'd still say it was a great day (yay for optimism!). Earlier this morning, I had to be at the Manila Zoo for my Public Relations class. My dad brought me to the place and I'm quite pleased that we were there in no time. However, I was greeted with disappointment, although to be honest I expected that, after reading the reviews about the place the other night. Without having to go inside the actual zoo, I've already had a few observations about the place. I could go on and on about these observations I have about the zoo but I feel bad for doing so because the bad profusely outweigh the good. Thus, today, I will attempt to give some constructive criticisms for the Manila Zoo.



I'm not an animal expert so I would first give suggestions on how it could improve as an establishment. And of course, after being greeted by this passe signage, I immediately thought that the place could use a design intervention. Not just for the signage -- but for the maps (which were scarce and dilapidated), the information signs, the murals, etc. I do hope some Fine Arts students could do a thesis on the Manila Zoo and help them with at least adding more informative materials so that visitors, children and adult alike, learn more from the animals. This way, the zoo could save up on money and receive fresh, innovative ideas from talented students who need school credit!

[caption id="attachment_97" align="alignnone" width="567"] Can you spot Mali? :)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_95" align="alignnone" width="567"] The Elusive Hippo! I appreciated this hippo. He's very cute.[/caption]

Aside from feeding the animals more, or looking after their health (as it has seriously been my first time to see a wild boar whose bones are sticking out of its body), the zoo could also get more zoo  guides. That, and its staff members could be a little more friendly. I have no doubt that having zoo keepers or janitors who would say "hi" or smile at you would make one's experience in this place much better. Training the staff to be open to take questions and what not from its visitors is probably a great touch for tourists who want to have a great time. Besides, the Philippines is known for its hospitality. In its public recreational spots like this should this hospitality be most visible. I'm sure out of my recommendations, this would turn out to be the most inexpensive changes they can implement.



I cannot really say much about the conditions of the animals because I'm not an expert or anything. I'm generally neutral about zoos. However, when its purpose of educating is lost, then I don't think the suffering of these animals are worth it. The lone Thai elephant, Mali, for example has been showing signs of distress as it just walks back and forth its den. It's not healthy. The least the Management could do is to exert every effort to 1) ensure that these animals are treated right, and 2) ensure that visitors LEARN from these animals.

I have tons of other suggestions for Manila Zoo but I'll keep this short and save the rest of my recommendations lest this post will turn to an Operations Management paper. To be frank, I do think that the zoo has a lot of potential despite all the criticisms. It's really a matter of creating a strategy to utilize all their strengths, opportunities and minimize its weaknesses and threats. Thus, for my initial assessment as a tourist, I think the management problems (aside from the very obvious need for money) may boil down to their branding strategy and member recruitment & training. I hope some private institutions or corporations help out our poor Manila Zoo. Unless by some miracle the upcoming Mayor of Manila decides to allocate more budget to this place. But I honestly doubt Lim/Erap would do that. :(

I also couldn't help but realize how frequent my visits to Manila have been recently. Every time I go there, I feel more and more convinced that there's a need to revamp that place. There's just so much pollution and disorder left and right. I cannot believe it's our country's capital. I want to do up Manila one day. Though I still have about to study for six more years (one for undergrad and five for law school and reviews), I promise that I will serve the government and help rehabilitate our capital in the best way I could.

It's bound to happen.

I've probably been creating blogs since sixth grade; and, my first post always went like this. The truth is I've given up blogging since last summer for some personal reasons. But after reading Ms. Serafico's blog, and feeling amazed and pumped up from all the energy and optimism it exuded, I felt like blogging again. And thus, just so I can always remind myself as to why I am doing this, I'm listing the reasons down, and will soon post this on my desk.

I am writing a blog because:

1. I'd like to believe that a blog is a creative output. I know every person can create something. My sister creates scrap books, my mom cooks sinigang, my friends make mixed CDs, and this is what I will create. Even though I know I will never have a wide base of online readers, it doesn't matter because I'm setting up this blog so I can feel more encouraged to write, think, take pictures, etc. in the future.


2. I want to be productive. When you're creating something, it means you're being productive. I stay online a lot, and I should probably channel my online presence into creating output that's more relevant.


3. I want to somehow document my life, in the most creative way possible.


4. I want to inspire just like how Ms. Serafico's blog inspired me! :)

Besides, I have a feeling this summer would be particularly riveting anyway. Some of the things lined up for me are summer class, which, to say the least, look very interesting. I'm taking up a Literature class on Drama under Ms. Rica Bolipata-Santos, while taking up a Public Relations class under Mr. Sev Sarmenta and a Nano-Enterprise consulting class under Mr. Jay Cruz all at the same time. While my course load this summer is very inter-disciplinary, it's also very exciting because I feel that all of them are relevant and challengine. I can tell, because my professors are awesome. I hope to write more about it as I go along with the classes.

Aside from classes, another reason why I'm psyched for summer is, although I'm no longer an elected officer in the Sanggunian, I found myself still serving it as its new Ateneo Student Concern Head. The name is subject to change into something more apt to our function, but it's also very exciting. It has something to do with making Sanggu's services known online; and, with me starting a blog, I think that experience would be good for me too.

In a gist, what's bound for me this summer is: learning and service. And for a girl who's not OJT-ing or interning, this definitely beats lounging around the house all day! Besides, my blog's name is very suitable to my newfound productivity. EXCELSIOR -- ever upward. It's New York's motto, and I'm borrowing it ;)

I better go soon because I still have to study for my classes in the afternoon! Until my next post. :)