resignation

if you have the patience to read my past blog posts, perhaps you know what blue feather society is and that i am the chancellor of the prestigious honor society in BU. things change now because i choose what i think i should do and what i think is right.

Supposedly, i will post this after being signed and approved by Dr. Lauraya but due to the usual process in the bureaucracy (i think), the president has yet to sign my resignation letter. Considering that it will be almost a month now after i formally submitted the letter, it would be good that everyone would know.

I hope you'll find time in reading my resignation letter, as to give light on why i choose to resign irrevocably. It is a pleasure working with you as your former chancellor and rest assured that i will always be in support for the officers and its society. Good day!

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THE ORDER OF THE BICOL UNIVERSITY ORDER OF THE BLUE FEATHER SOCIETY
The Official Honor Society of Bicol University
Daraga, Albay

05 September 2011

Dr. FAY LEA PATRIA MATA – LAURAYA

Adviser, The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society

SUC President IV, Bicol University

                            Through: Dr. BABY BOY BENJAMIN D. NEBRES III 

                                           Asst. Adviser, The Order of the BU Blue Feather Society

                                           University Scholarship, Financial and Grants-in-Aid Officer

Dear Dr. LAURAYA:

Greetings of Peace and Prosperity!

It is on March 2011 that the first cornerstone of the first honor society in Bicol University was laid on the ground through the First Scholars’ Assembly organized by the Office of Student Services through Dr. Baby Boy Benjamin Nebres III, gathering the top students of the different academic units of the university to select the would be interim officers of The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society, the first honor society in the university and perhaps in the entire Bicol Region.  With pride and honor, I accepted the challenge to become the first president of the Society with the first mission of establishing a strong foundation for the Society as I am proud that together with my fellow interim officers, we have achieved what was expected of us through framing the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society.

After four months, the Second Scholars’ Assembly was called to adopt the Constitution and By-Laws prepared by the interim officers and to elect full pledged officers who shall lead the organization in forming its identity and attaining its vision of promoting excellence in scholarship, leadership, character and service in the entire university. Again, with pride and honor, I accepted the challenge to become the first-ever Chancellor of the Society.

Since my election to the office, I have yet to prove my worth and my capability in leading this prestigious organization to greater heights and making the BUeños proud and aware of its existence. Sadly and truthfully, I must accept the fact that I am failing myself, the Society’s members and I am failing the Society as a whole. It is as if it was caught on a standstill with just papers and officers to prove its existence, nothing more, nothing less. I must accept the fact that while I am proving myself in my department and the college as the president of the Human Welfare Advocates in BUCSSP, I am failing in the university as the chancellor of the Society.  Perhaps in simpler term, I must admit my incompetence as the chancellor of the Society.

In this regard, I am submitting my irrevocable resignation as the chancellor of The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society: The Official Honor Society in Bicol University effective immediately due to the following reasons, to wit:

1. Incompetence to perform the duties expected of me as indicated above;
2. Conflict with some of the values that the Society wish to impart;
3. Desire to focus more on my studies and my extra-curricular commitments to my college and department; and
4. Personal reasons related to family which I do not wish to disclose.

Moreover, I would like to extend my appreciation to Dr. Baby Boy Benjamin D. Nebres III, the Society assistant adviser who unselfishly offered his time, ideas and efforts in organizing and guiding the Society, to the officers and members of the Order of the Bicol University Order of the Blue Feather Society who placed their trust to me since the First Scholars’ Assembly up to this day. I would also like to wish Mark Evan Aniel, the Society Vice-Chancellor for Internal Affairs, my constitutional and rightful successor all the best and that he may be able to fulfill the duties and responsibilities that I failed to meet and so as with all the officers of the Society. Rest assured that I will be supporting the Society one hundred percent in attaining its vision, mission and the purpose why it was founded.

Furthermore, before I end this resignation letter, I wish to convey three recommendations to the officers and to the administration as well on how the Society can be improved:

1. First, given the special nature of the organization as the official honor society of the university, it shall be accorded the same privileges given to the University Student Council as the Official Student Organization and Council of the whole of the university, The Bicol Universitarian as the Official University Publication and should not be simply regarded as just another university based organization left to stand on its own. Unlike other UBOs who get support outside the university, the Society must be supported by the university itself considering that the Society speaks of the best of Bicol University. For instance, financially, without the aid of the university, the Society can do less to become financially viable to create programs and projects especially that its members are academic scholars who perhaps worked hard for them to pay less tuition fee;
2. Second, political patronage must not be promoted in the Society by not allowing the nominations and eventual granting of honorary, emeritus and distinguished membership to politicians as a way to secure funds or funding. By doing so, the Society is sending the wrong message to the good breed of future leaders that Bicol University wish to produce; and,
3. Create and organize programs, with the aid of the University Administration who can encourage more BUeños to aspire to become a member of the Society and to do all things necessary to discourage the division that the Society could promote given that its members are branded as the crème de la crème of the university.

Again, my utmost gratitude and appreciation for this opportunity and my fervent wish for the Society’s success under a new leadership.

I am hoping for your favorable response regarding this matter and God bless!

Sincerely yours,

(SGD) RUSS DANIEL O. BALDOZA

Chancellor, The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society

Recommending Approval:

(SGD) Dr. BABY BOY BENJAMIN D. NEBRES III

Assistant Adviser, The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society

University Scholarship, Financial and Grants-in-Aid Officer

Approved:

Dr. FAY LEA PATRIA MATA – LAURAYA

Adviser, The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society

SUC President IV, Bicol University

***i originally posted this in the facebook group page of BFS and there are some who leave their comments and some did...

while a member from BUPC chose to write on my wall... 

and these people make resignations regrettable. i owe them some appreciation but i must stand by my decision. ADIOS BLUE FEATHERS! i started with a happy heart and i leave with a heavy heart but with a smiling face looking in the future. wish them all the luck!

galit na ibon

started playing Angry Birds and up to now i'm convincing myself na hindi sayang ang oras ko at nag-eenjoy ako. tsktsk. feeling ko dahil ito sa math component, the trajectory and estimation? tsktsk. anyway, atleast may napatunayan ako. sabi nga ng kaibigan 'ata' ni taba trixia, walang matibay na pundasyon sa galit na ibon. haha. :D

blue feather still

congratulations to me. i was just elected as the first ever chancellor of the Official Honor Society of Bicol University: The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society. actually, i am really not that optimistic in having my stint as the first ever chancellor productive. ewan. tila ba walang motivations and for sure, the group is on for the tougher times ahead.

REASONS TO CELEBRATE AY 2010-2011

Academic Year 2010-2011 had ended. in fact, matagal na. matagal na matagal na. but then the reasons to celebrate my ay 2010-2011 is not yet finished. in fact, it will never end for it will serve as the testament of my determination and hardships and a proof that my college life is on the right track and i myself is on the right track. that's why, before another academic year commence, it will be good to go back to the reasons why ay2010-2011 is such a wonderful year for me. yeah! let me start!

FRIENDS. FRIENDS. FRIENDS.

well, it is given that high school friends have a special portion in one's heart. after all, for the most of us, high school is the most happy or simply the best years in one's life. but we also have college friends and i have MnT or mababangis na tao. well, the name have a quite long story so forget it. hm. basta this year, friendship grew stronger, better and more colorful. :p

it seems that our circle of friends (structure) is getting more and more complicated. our group, JARUMAROKA is one of the many subgroups of MnT. evidently, i am the only rose among the thorns because from MnT boys eh ako lang ang naligaw sa block A. kaya ako lang ang solo. hm. ay si Dan pa pala. pero parating nawawala si Dan kaya parang solo pa rin ako. well, sila ang aking mga marias at miss ko na sila. :)

NOT MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

each academic year gives us different opportunities to explore. the recently concluded academic year indeed gave me a lot of opportunities i dare not miss. perhaps i could attribute it to my positions as the College Student Council Representative and Human Welfare Advocates Secretary plus PCO Auditor. haha. like for example the opportunity to attend the 8th Student Governance Training at Bacacay, National Art Theraphy Convention at Kanzo Hall, Legazpi, a dozen of university meetings and convocations, events and happenings.

PERFORMING ARTIST NA AKO!

yeah. i know that this can be accepted in Ripley's Believe it or Not pero wala kayong magagawa. i actually danced and sang at the Pacific Mall Entertainment Plaza in front of strangers and friend alike. good thing, supports and encouragement poured during that day. thanks fans! haha. :D

I PUBLISHED MY OWN BOOK. :p

yeah i published the book of myself entitled, "ako ini." it is actually a requirement for a course named Personal Growth and Processes and i'm proud of my book! haha. :)

CONQUERED MANITO, TABACO, STO. DOMINGO AT ISAMA PA ANG NAGA CITY

lakwatchero ako at aminado ako diyan. haha. exploring was always been a part of me. going there, going anywhere possible, game ako! haha. that's why this academic year gave me the opportunity to conquer manito (thanks to dan, jo and marlon), sto. domingo (for our Christmas celebration), tabaco city (for Farah's debut) and my home city - Naga City (for our group road trip and rizal tour). next year, mas maaksyon at mas malayo pa (sana!) ngapala, aside from those mentioned, i also reached guinobatan centro (for the first time) at mga liblib na barangay sa daraga at legazpi.

RECORD BREAKING TATLONG HATAW

Hataw, ang isa sa mga ipinagmamalaking something "unique" daw ng BU. given na kapag ikaw ay freshmen at sophies ay maghahataw ka whether you like it or yes once a year hanggang matapos ka sa PE subject mo (maliban na lang sa mga PE majors) kaya ibig sabihin usually, two hataws lang ang nagagawa ng estudyante. pero iba kami. tatlong hataw sa buong college life ay nagawa ko particularly (hindi kasama ang practicum sa PE). nyahaha. salamat sa SCUAA at iba ang batch namin.

I SURVIVED THE SWIMMING CLASS AND ENJOYED BOWLING

yeah! sa tinagal-tagal ng langoy ay nakaahon din ako. haha. enough said na ata. please refer to the prior posts na lang sa archives. haha. pero salamat din sa PE at natuto din akong magbowling. ten pin man o duck pin. haha. yeah! experience! well, sinali ko to dahil at first i am in doubt that i can pass and survive the swimming class plus the fact that i really enjoyed bowling thought the highest score i got is only just around 60-70.

IMPROVE SOCIAL LIFE

because of MNT especially my los lakwatchero bros angelo and melvz, my social life improved. we actually had a couple of night outs especially when there is a big reason to celebrate. :)

ZERO LOVELIFE

certainly for some, having a zero lovelife is not a reason for celebration but let me count it in. it's a blessing in disguise. haha. :)

PASSED THE BATTERY EXAM WITH FLYING COLORS

masyado atang colorful ang year ko. though this can be counted under the post academic year 2010-2011 in my own opinion, let me still count this in. i passed the battery exam and gladly i passed it with flying colors by being the topnotcher for this years test. :)

YET ANOTHER HARD EARNED ACHIEVEMENTS

well, i'm not into bragging things here. but i think that there is no reason for me to keep my achievements when i know for a fact that i work hard to get it or it is the by-product of being determined to do things extraordinarily or in my way. this is another reason to celebrate. i got my fourth, fifth and sixth achievement since starting college. the college academic excellence award, service award and outstanding social work student in academics. of course, i'm proud because i work hard for it (diba paulit-ulit ako) and i'm thinking that maybe it's the last time i will receive an academic award kaya dapat talagang magcelebrate na. haha.

MORE OPPORTUNITIES UP FOR GRAB NEXT AY

yep. you read it right. i'm bracing for more opportunities up for grab next academic year especially that before the academic year 2010-2011 closed, i received yet another challenge and position namely, president of the BU Blue Feathers Society and president of the Human Welfare Advocates. having that in mind, i'm guessing that my next academic year will be busier and challenging.

blue feather again

well, prior to this post i believe i had mentioned blue feather society for several times but here i am again, posting yet another blue feather society material. i was visiting the university site and poof - i saw the news about blue feathers and saw my name on it and since it is a very rare happening wherein i will saw my name and picture posted on the site, i 'printscreen' it and decided to post it here as a souvenir. haha. here it is: TAAADDAAAAA!

by the way, also on the list is Angelo Uclaray, a very close friend of mine and Alexis Mabini who happened to be my vice-president during our United Freshmen Organization years. :D

superRUSS

probably you laughed upon seeing the "badly" photoshoped picture of superRUSS. well, again, it is not known to many that i am regarded by atleast two friends as superman. sabi ko nga ay kung si kuya harry daet ang spiderman ng cssp, ako naman ang superman. well, actually it started with kuya lou lauraya who happens to be the BU presidential son and an incoming senior of social work and then the story continued. poknat also calls me superman because according to her, i'm kinda her savior and mavic calls me superman because she thinks that i can do anything or just everything (which is humanly impossible. haha)

of course, i'm flattered with me being associated to superman. it's a whoah! because how come i can be associated to superman. i don't have special powers like the power of flight and the superstrength but perhaps they called me because that's what they see and i thanked them. but then just like spiderman's famous quote, with great power comes great responsibility, with them calling me superman would mean that i should always be that superguy in their eyes. gladly, i'm not the kind of person who lives everyday fulfilling the expectations of others towards me for i think it would be better if i will live according to what i want and who i really am. living with the expectations of others comes second only because i am the driver of my life not them. katunayan, when i have the chance, i expose to them and i try to expose to them my weakness point and the not so superguy attitude. haha. that's life! that's reality!

but with the different events that happened during the last month of the recently concluded academic year plus the expected pressures, expectations, twist and turns of the junior year in social work (if ever i passed the battery exam), i just think i literally need to become a superman or let's just say superRUSS and let me dissect the different reasons/factors on why is that so.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR. first on my cape, i got on my hands a university based organization but its not a simple UBO - The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society: The Official Honor Society of BU. it is the organization of the cream of the crop of BU. the top 10 and top 15 of the different colleges/units of BU. worse, i am the president or the chancellor once the new draft of the constitution is finalized. actually, our term should end august of AY2011-2012, however, my co-officers are thinking of extending our term so that we could finish one academic year considering the facts that we are elected just one month before the closing of AY2010-2011. Dr. Bibi and the assistant dean of the BU Office of Student Services said that i should be up for reelection once a new election happens on august or perhaps july after we have finished laying the foundations of the organization but i don't really know. for now, i'm into the idea of not running for reelection but i think i can change my mind as the days pass. well, it's not just hard but it's very hard handling a UBO. Second on my cape under extra-curricular is the HUMAN WELFARE ADVOCATES. well, just this march i was promoted from being the HWA secretary by being elected as president with overwhelming votes with Angelo fielded as my opponent but then suggested that voters should vote for me instead thus it's as if i don't have any contender to the presidency. well, HWA is just a small organization, a college based organization and is the organization of all the students of the social work department. eventhough, it's a small organization, soo much is expected from HWA being the Best College Based Organization for AY 2010-2011 and the constant successes it enjoyed during the past years. meaning, i with my officers should strive to maintain the title and to even surpass what last year's hwa had done.

ACADEMIC PRESSURES. Maintain, Improve, Keep whatever academic achievements i have and the rest is self-explanatory being true to any student. haha. :p

THESIS. Though part of academic pressures, thesis deserves a lone spot because of the fact that this is the major stressor of the junior life. sleepless nights, tiresome data gathering, brain cracking write-ups and re-writes - more to come and yet again, the rest is self-explanatory. perhaps i can also add here our counselling subject and the practical for counselling. well, counselling is not that easy.

LOVELIFE. first question, meron ba? haha. hmm. i don't know but just like what i wrote in my Ten Years From Now article in the book of myself, junior year is my lovelife year but i don't think so. if ever, wawa man future girlfriend ko kaya wag na lang. i think i'll just wait until i finish college. haha.

OTHERS. these includes friends (MNT/BESTFRIENDS/NAGA FRIENDS), family and such other things.

well, they are truly some of the facts but i must say that after all, i am quite confident that at the end of Academic Year 2011-2012, i can proudly say that I MADE IT! better yet I MADE IT WITH FLYING COLORS! i am very optimistic and just like what i always bear in mind, positive thinking will transform into positive results. haha. :D

logo-logo

it is not known to many BUenos that a society of academic scholars particularly of the students who compose the Top 10 or Top 15 of every college/unit in Bicol University was established just this February or March (i can't really remember it well) to first and foremost, gather the creme dela creme of Bicol University according to Dr. Baby Boy Benjamin Nebres, the University Scholarship and Grants-in-Aid Officer. furthermore, it is not known to many that i am one of those elected first officers of the society tasked with laying down the foundations of the society for the full go of operations next academic year. aside from finalizing the constitution and by-laws of the society, prepare it for a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registration, design mechanism for membership and such other pertinent tasks related to building the society, we are also tasked to design the society logo since it is also related in establishing and laying out the foundations for the society. well, a first logo had been suggested by a member and it looks like this:

since i am not the kind of person who easily nods and easily satisfied, i decided to make yet another suggestion for the society logo. and here it is with the explanation of its symbols and colors.

The unconventional shape of the logo was inspired by the traditional shape of the coat-of-arms being used in Europe which symbolizes that the Blue Feather Society is not just another student organization having in mind the stringent qualifications that one should meet to become a member. In the uppermost part bears the full name of the organization which is the "The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society." The logo is divided into four quadrants. The upper two quadrants have exhibit the four pillars of Bicol University - Scholarship, Service, Character and Leadership which the members should uphold honor and excellence with. The lower left quadrant bears a torch, wreath, key and a book. The torch symbolizes the fire for learning and excellence. The wreath for glory and victory. The golden key for the way to success and knowledge while the book is for academic freedom and brilliance. The last quadrant which is located on the lower right bears 15 stars representing the 14 academic colleges and units of Bicol University and a star for those non-BUenos who will qualify for membership in the society. Dividing the upper and lower quadrant is a kind-of-a scroll which bears two important years in Roman Numerals. on the left side is the Roman Numeral for 1969 - BU's founding year and on the left is Roman Numeral for 2010 - Blue Feather Society's Founding Year. On the other hand, dividing the left and right quadrants is a big blue feather which is the very identity of the society and taken from its name BLUE FEATHERS society. Of course, the blue colors of two different intensities symbolizes Bicol University. Lastly, the latin maxim puts emphasis that the society's members are not only intelligent but also virtuous in character.

Hmm. nonetheless, i need an honest critiquing of the suggested logo for i know that there is a very big room for improvement. just like ate dianne's comment that it looks like a logo of the police. well, just in case, you read this and have a comment, don't be shy to leave one either through my blog, facebook account or even email. Thank You! :D