2nd

It's our 2nd month. Happy 2nd month baby! I'm pretty optimistic that more months will come! haha. Love you! :)

Employed!

In a span of two days, the number of valid IDs that I have jumped from one to four. Aside from my Driver's License, i now have my BIR TIN ID, PhilHealth ID and of course my Professional License! wohooo! aside from that, i also now have my SSS number and my very own LandBank account. I  underwent medical check-ups and filled-up many forms as well.

And all that happened because of one very important thing - i'm EMPLOYED! yohooo! I'll be working with and for the DSWD Field Office V and i'm hoping for simply the best of the things to come with a little bit of extra challenge and opportunities to prove my worth as a person and as a professional. As a tribute to my status as a newly employed as a challenge to myself, i decided to change my twitter bio with words that fit my eagerness, excitement and enthusiasm for my job and my practice of profession. ;))))))

Giving :)

Something inspiring for me and maybe for you as well! Hope we'll never grew tired of giving whatever we can to others! :)

CC goes Coca-Cola

The Creative Circle or CC never fails to amaze me. From a small group of talented social work students of BUCSSP, CC is continuously evolving into something else and into something better. I believe it also continues to break expectations and go beyond the perception of other people. I guess pushing for the formal creation of this group is one of the best things that I did when I was the president of the Human Welfare Advocates way back 2011.

Just today, they qualified for the Grand Finals of the Coca-Cola Regional Dance Showdown (not really sure though of the name of the competition) and is in fact the official representative of Bicol University (and of Albay as well). I believe that they need to step up their dancing skills and push themselves to the limit in order for them to win. I know they can and I know they will try because that's what they have been doing eversince - improving and becoming better.

But I hope that the university and some Albaypeeps will also give them the support they deserve especially moral and physical support on the day of the competition (September 18, 2013 at JMR Coliseum) considering that if the criteria for judging will not be changed, audience impact amounts to a very big 20%. Kaya sana talaga sumuporta ang mga tao.

Of course, my support to them will not be change. 100% pa rin at dadagdagan ko pa ng dasal para sana mas maging effective!

Go CC! Go CC! Go CC! Kaya Yan! Laban Lang! :)

Big Ass Fans

Presenting... ang bad big ass fans ng LCC Mall Naga! At first, na-curious ako kung bakit big ass ang pangalan pero after some research, now i know that Big Ass Fans is a brand of industrial fans. hahaha. salamat sa Big Ass Fan ng LCC, may bagong learning ako! :)

Peñafrancia 2013

It's September once again and in a few days, all roads will lead to Pilgrim City of Naga as the city (and the entire Bicol Region as well as the whole country) celebrates the 303rd year of devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia. As a Nagueño and a devotee of Ina, I don't have any other words to say but VIVA LA VIRGEN and VIVA EL DIVINO ROSTRO! :))

PS. Pictured above is one of the stained glass pieces that can be found in the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. :)

At Dusk

I am always fascinated with the beauty and awesomeness that the sky has to offer during dusk and since I had the opportunity, I tried to capture a view of the Naga City CBD II Skyline at dusk from the window of a room in the third floor of the newly opened NICC Doctor's Hospital. I really like the pic and I hope you like it too! :)

Some of Isarog's Marvels

My father went to a hiking trip recently with his college org mates somewhere in Curry, Pili part of Mount Isarog and he went home with a breathtaking pictures of the two hidden and virgin falls with clean and cool waters. Makasama nga next time! :)

Happy Birthday Ruksii Baby! :)

Wow Cubao!

Spent some time in Cubao going around SM Cubao, Gateway Mall and Ali Mall with Ruksii and Pareng MJ. After more or less six (6) hours, we ended up with the items pictured above. That's what we call Shopping Galore! Hahaha. Excited to do that again soon! :)))

Proud Bueño!

That proud moment when your university - Bicol University College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, is being given recognition by the Professional Regulations Commission and the Board for Social Workers as the Top Performing Social Work School in the Philippines. :)

#2013RegisteredSocialWorkers

Some of the newly registered social workers from Bicol University College of Social Sciences and Philosophy!

MnT, RSWs

Reaching a life achievement is waaaaaaaayyyy merrier with friends who happen to be true friends! I'll miss my MnT friends! :)

#OneProudBueñoHere

The Placers from Bicol University College of Social Sciences and Philosophy together with Professor Tania Lana, Professor Annelyn Mendoza and Board for Social Workers Member Mr. Jesus Far.

Russ, RSW

 Am now a truly Registered Social Worker! Hooray! :)

FIELD INSTRUCTION 2 DIARIES: 2

A day after (January 16, 2013) I wrote my first entry in my FI 2 Diaries, I wrote the second and the last entry and here is it:

All the while, I thought things will eventually fall in it's proper places. Something like a bad start with a happy ending. But i was wrong. Expectations have been broken. Positivity is winding down and every passing day becomes a struggle to hold on and survive. I thought this journey is something exciting, something genuine, something worth while and something worth remembering. But reality tells me otherwise. I don't and I won't stop the fight but will you blame me if I say that the only reasons why I hold on to this ill-fated journey of mine are my peers, friends, family and my need to get my diploma?

:'(

Field Instruction 2 Diaries: 1

During one of the most trying times that I experienced during Field Instruction (or OJT for other degrees), I tried to pour my emotions out through writing. I entitled it Field Instruction 2 Diaries. Sadly, I only came up with two (2) entries due largely to the never ending requirements that I need to accomplish and comply. Nonetheless, i decided to put the two entries here and so here is my first catharsis dated January 15, 2013.

It's the third week of the year and pretty much, it's my eight week here in the area as a community organizer. Akala ko things would change along the with the change of the year. But since things are not getting any better especially with my community organizing experience (CO), I decided to start writing a series of write-ups. At least, I can devote my free time before going to dreamland in writing something that I can share to my fellow students and would-be FI 2 students and at the same time, in order for me to maintain my sanity. However, this is something I would call as a bitter experience.

Well, my seventh FI week started not good and things and turning to worse and from our supposed transition to CO related work and tasks, we are back as data gatherers or surveyors or interviewers. Akalain mo, pinagalitan kami ng minamahal naming supervisor dahil sa tingin niya ay hindi kami flexible and we lack sense of urgency. Should we be informed earlier na nandito kami sa area as data gatherers or surveyors or interviewers and not as CO workers, eh mas matatanggap ko sana ang mga pangyayari. But last time I checked, we should be here because we need to organize the community. Ano ba talaga?

I never imagined my CO experience to be this worse. Sayang ng opportunity to learn. Wala naman akong magawa dahil nakagapos ako sa isang sistemang pagnagreklamo ka, ikaw ang masama. Napadpad ako sa sitwasyong wala akong magawa kundi lulunin at lumulon.

At the end of the day, I just realized how 'doing what you love' differs from 'doing what you need/forced to do.' Iba talaga kapag gusto mo ang ginagawa mo. Mas masaya ka! Mas productive ka at mas magian ang pakiramdam mo. But things are different if you only do something because you just need to do it. Dun na ako sa puntong ginagawa ko nalang ang mga bagay-bagay dahil kinakailangan at hindi dahil gusto ko. Haaay! I remember dreaming of my CO experience as something worth remembering. Something more real, something good, something funfilled and something which can be called as a lifetime experience. :(

Ang aking kalokalike. Bow.

A former classmate who is fond of calling me JL which is short for John Lloyd made this and she uploaded and shared it in facebook with my permission. HAHA. She calls me JL because during our sophomore years, i would always claim that I look like John Lloyd. Ayun, nasanay na ata siya kaya yun na ang tawag niya sakin. hoho.

Hmm. Regarding the pic, nag-expect pa naman ako dahil sabi niya sa text katulad daw ng picture ko. Yun pala, kakulay ng damit ko. hohoho. anyway, sayang lang at lamang pa rin sakin ng kalahating paligo ang totoong JL. I was that close pero ang layo pa rin! HAHAHAHA. Salamat nalang kay Argelyn na nag-abala. :)

BucketList 1

I just thought of starting listing down some things that i would love to accomplish before I die of whatever causes here in my blog so that it can be kept here and will always be available for me to see.

Well, earlier today, i watched a video about kissing in the rain and poof! I said to myself that i would want to experience that with her. Thus, kissing in the rain is my first entry in my bucket list. Of course, her would refer to someone i love. I find it really romantic and intimate. HAHA. Madali ko ata magagawa 'to and let's just see. :)))))

Original Picture was taken from: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lm65crWGwr1qfq8ubo1_500.jpg

Testi

I had been lucky to be a part of the organizing team of the 3 out of 4 testimonial rites that was conducted by the Social Work Department since 2009. In fact, I acted as the head of the organizing team twice. As always, tasks were arduous and things were being given attention and being checked to the last and smallest details. Yung tipong dapat ay no stones are left unturned. Organizing such activity (which was simultaneously being conducted with the Acquaintance Party of the department) is very much stressful and tiring. And I can say that it's the biggest activity of the department with the end goal of making your guests and honorees feel special.

As years go on, the simple joy of being a part of the organizing team and attending the said event as regular attendee ignited a dream in me and to my classmates as well. That is, to attend the said event not as a student, nor an organizer but as an honoree. I would like to admit that I even dreamed of speaking in front of the department sharing my experiences and my journey towards passing the board exam. Of course, just like how we did it, at first I dreamed of a Testimonial Rite in a comfortable venue with an atmosphere of joy, gladness and appreciation with all the students in the department together. Feeling ko, kaparehas ng ilan (kung hindi man lahat), eto yung isa sa dalawang mga pangyayari na matagal kong (or naming) inantay at inabangan.

Pero siyempre, I know for a fact that dreams do not come true most of the time and as early as March 2013, I laid down my expectations regarding the testimonial in order for me to avoid being disappointed in the end. Okay na ang simple basta masaya at basta sincere ang atmosphere - that's what I said to myself. But as time progresses and the date for the activity is nearing, the information I got regarding the activity made me realized that this dream is now dead. In fact, when my classmates would ask me if I would attend, i would either keep quiet or answer a straight NO. But in the end, I still attended the activity. Not because I really would love and I really want to attend. I attended because of the respect and courtesy that I still have for the department. Come to think of it, last naman na ito. After that, sabihin na nating, I'm through with the department. Tapos na and I'm thankful for that!

Marami pa akong gustong sabihin pero I guess I have to end here to avoid saying things that may put me again in the spotlight. I just hope that the organizers and the department itself will hold an honest-to-goodness evaluation of an activity once fit for professionals and would be professionals (except ata kung barrio meeting or gathering ang theme ng activity). But before others react negatively to my statement, let me validate it. What I am trying to say is that I hope they (the organizing team) will give more effort on the next testimonial rites to come. Simplicity is fine or simplicity is even beauty but simplicity is not the avoidance of things that we think are grandiose, it's about making things comfortably easy for everybody without sacrificing the basics (eg. a truck for passers with simple designs made of recycled materials, proper coordination and information dissemination, a humane venue for all attendees, a nice and better program perhaps and such other things).

Well, yun lang naman ang sa akin. Simple na yan para maintindihan mo/niyo! >.<

Motorcade Truck

Lo and behold, ang pinakamagandang motorcade truck that I've seen in years with matching 'College of Social Services and Philosophy' streamer hanging on the front. This is epic. Just epic!

Ang Tinta. Bow.

Hello! How are you? Kumusta? Ano ang gagawin ko para tuminta ka na? Sayang ng Php 40.00 ko. Huhuhu. Tinta please? Bakit? Please! A □ □ □ Wala na namang tinta! □ #1≥♀○«Å P1II Tinta Please. Bakit ka ganyan? Nakailan ka na? Sayang ng tinta. Huhu. Tsktsk. Hmp. Please be careful! Please be gentle! Please don't be too much sayang! Huhuhuhuhuhuhuhu. Tsktsktsk. tsk. tsk. tsktsk. ! Bakit ganito?


-Isang novelang nakita ko sa isang lumang notebook na nagsasalarawan ng aking pakikibaka, kagustuhan at pagiging desperado na mapa-tinta ulit ang aking yumaong GTech. Hahahaha.

Photo from: https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/2606844588/agnw05g58weygtkvgezv.jpeg

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Photo taken during the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in the Carmelite Chapel in Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City. :)

Sir Jori says...

After posting my 'catharsis' in facebook regarding my failed attempt to land a spot in the Top 10 of the Social Work Licensure Examination, a former professor of mine, sent me a private message and pretty much reminded me of the things that i should have given more attention to. I just thank God for giving me a teacher like Sir Jori! Though we're not close, i guess the fact that he sent a private message indicates his care to his former student. Kudos to Sir Jori and may his kind multiply a thousand folds. :)))

My HBD Greeting to Mama! :)

Belated HBD Papa! :)

Something for you!

ITO AY PARA SAYO! Sa nag-iisang ikaw at wala ng iba! RRR! :)

Child's Play

My cousin Jandi while enjoying her morning play/exercise. :)

Flowers

These are some of nature's gift to humanity and such a good view to start the day! All photos taken at our house! :)))

One and Only Mayon

Superb Scenery. Mayon never fails to amaze me and all the people who come to see her unique beauty. This time, her silhouette gives a dramatic touch to the colors of the sunset. :) 

Dome of the Apostles

A visual treat for art lovers out there. Here's the half of the Dome of the Twelve Apostles (the first european inspired dome in the Bicol Region) located at the Immaculate Concepcion Parish, Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City. :)

#iThought

If we fail to get through this today, we'll never succeed in getting through this in the future.

Unemployment Series

Unemployed like me? I found available jobs at Molino! Hahahaha. Ang masasabi ko lang, mahirap talaga ang buhay umemployed. :))))

This series is inspired by Alekkss' Unemployment Series.

SP Resolution No. 2013-167

One reason why I am proud that I am a Nagueño is because Naga is a haven of responsible and responsive leaders. The resolution passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod is one of the testament that the City Council really serves as the voice of the Nagueños. Congratulations to all the councilors especially to Councilor Gabby Bordado! #Save651! :)))

photo courtesy of Councilor Gabby Bordado FB.

#Save651

I must admit that during the first time i heard about the project of DPWH about transforming the current two-lane maharlika highway to a four-lane highway, my ears clapped and my heart was filled with joy. Come to think of it, widened highways aside from booming infrastructure are somehow indicators of progress. But when things started sinking into me, i started feeling ambivalent towards it because of the immaterial and irreparable costs that it would give cause to the Nagueños.

After thinking things out, i decided that my conscience will haunt me if i say to the world that i would want things like this to happen. Besides, i really do not like the idea of cutting trees (i remember i once wrote an article about the cutting of trees in BU to paved way for the construction of the gate that is still closed up to now despite being completed some three years ago). Moreso, 651 good old tress will be cut and it's very much, too much. I just don't know but i find it not worth it to cut the trees just to have widened roads if there are alternatives. Alternatives that are not far from reality.

So to sum things up, i am one with the people of the city in saying #Save651.

PS. I am not against the project, i am against the cutting of trees. :)

photo courtesy of #Save651 FB page.

Operation Initiate

During my whole stint in college, i always wonder when will the alumni (as a group) visit or even give something in return to the department. Of course, since my mother was a alumna herself, i know of some reasons why that's why i understand why in the world would they not want to return especially that i also experience perhaps some of the experiences that brought them to that decision.

But i guess whatever reasons we have, there is still something that binds the generation of graduates that the department produced in its 34 years of existence - it's the department itself, the profession and the memories that we develop as we traverse the sometimes bumpy road of social work education. So, i decided to create a facebook community page dedicated into grouping the graduates of the department. A page which will serve as an online venue for the alumni to share something like their experiences or perhaps adventures and misadventures related to the profession and to their lives. A page which will serve as a virtual world for us to rekindle bonds and build new relationships as products of the department.

So eto na yun:

Pero gusto ko din (kung ako lang ang masusunod) na tawagin yun as:

given that the department's domicile is named as Agoho Building. Kaso i think i am right in saying that it was just recently ng napadpad ang department sa Agoho kaya baka hindi rin makarelate ang prior batches. But regardless of the name, i just hope that my initiative will work and eventually, alumni from different batches will be a member of the said page. I have my fingers crossed. :)))

A Fresh Start

After hours of searching, selecting, editing, finalizing and many other processes, I now have my new and enhanced blogsite. By the way, i decided to transform this blog as a photoblog. Soon posts will be posted. :))))

Cheers! :)

I dreamed of reaching the top and i failed. Not only did i dreamed but i also gave my best shot but my efforts were somehow futile. I was disappointed with myself and i have no one and nothing to blame except myself. I was scared about what other people might say. About their expectations that i failed to meet and about what they will be saying. That was my initial reaction.

But now, i'm over it. I accepted things as they were and as they are. Perhaps there's something greater that is waiting to be realized. The horizon is wide and far ranging and instead of flooding myself with disappointment, fear and ill-feelings, there are countless reasons why i need to celebrate what had happened like the fact that BUCSSP remains as the Top Performing School of Social Work in the Philippines and of course, the fact that almost all of my friends (of course including me) passed. 

So sa lahat ng nagturo, gumabay, umagapay, dumamay, tumulong, nagmahal, nagpasaya, nagpangiti, nagbigay ng inspirasyon, naghatid ng motibasyon, umasa, nagdasal, nagpamisa, nagpakain, nagtweet, nagmessage, bumati, nakiramay, nakibahagi at nagpugay sa akin -- SALAMAT at SALAMAT ng marami!

With love na may halong pagmamahal,

Russ Daniel Oliva Baldoza, RSW