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. ;))))))

MnT, RSWs

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

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.

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

disclaimer for myself

i'm becoming busier every day. requirements after requirements are being given by the six major subjects that we have (if my memory serves me right or was it five?). anyway, a lot of catching up is still to be done with regards to my blogging. however, i don't have the luxury of time and the internet access that i need. sayang! anyway, as things become more challenging, i must learn to adapt. hindi pa ata ako graduating. third year pa lang ako. kung ganito ang third year, ano na kaya ang fourth year. anyway, since, i gave a promise to myself to blog whatever i would like to blog, the so be it. as usual, just like what is written on the right corner of my blog page, posts here (mostly) are ante dated. haha. ayos na yun basta may post. :)

#12.01

my first post for december and i wish everyone a meaningful month especially that t'is a season to be jolly. falalalalalalalalala.

MERRY CHRISTMAS PIPS! :)

experience

11/19/11
been to the beautiful town of Casiguran in Sorsogon province to facilitate a personality development training for children and youth beneficiaries of the Green Valley Development Program and World Vision Development Foundation, Inc. the experience was exhausting and the hardest sa lahat ng training na nagfacilitate ako. but the tiredness is all worth it seeing from the children's faces that they learned something. plus, mas masaya dahil kasama ko ang mga kaibigan and i have received my first token as a facilitator. haha. :)

blogmates

:)

i'm just happy that my friends started blogging here in blogger. haha. latest was laisa who was inactive for almost a year, then melvz and sime who were just starting plus kuya bjorn who blogs occasionally these days because of his hectic working schedule as well as mean and roxanne who have their blogs but are inactive because of the lack of motivation. haha. to my new blogmates and old friends, WAY TO GO! may you be motivated to stay here and express yourself!

Pilipinas, Tara Na! v.2 and v.3

last time, i posted the newest version of Byahe Tayo made by the department of tourism in line with the launching of their domestic tourism promotion campaign (?). haha. well, that was the first version. now there are two other versions, obviously, it's the second and the third version and should you be interested to watch please do so below. haha. (parang may mali lang. basta yun na yun)


ps. i found out about the second version through alfred's blog. :)

justice!

i was tasked by laisa to help her in the lay-out and in the messaging of a tarp that will be displayed infront of the department in connection to what happened to a student of bicol university and this is what i made:

well, i know its just normal but i'm just happy that our condemnation and message was spread directly to 35 persons and was shared with 20 other more persons. calling for justice is not easy, but together, we can make our voices heard. :)

volunteerism

i remembered that just after the values enrichment for the first year which happened on august, the "wishing wall" posted on one of the white boards of AH ICTC was not removed. perhaps, nakalimutan na. upon seeing it, i was thinking to remove it but i did otherwise. i get my blue sign pen and write as many wishes as i could with the help of my classmates and batchmates. ako lang yung taga-sulat at sila ang taga-bigay ng wish. so, i started putting any kind of wish from success of madam vida for her doctoral studies, marriage for madam che, money for those who need it like me, good health, lovelife which happens to be the blockbuster wish, and so on. then, if my memory serves me right, my "wednesday girlfriend" terelle as she calls herself put there:

after some time, perhaps weeks, may sumagot! aba! pwede daw siya. haha. magpakilala ka nga sa akin ng masubukan! well, sympre joke lang yun. departmental policy bans intimate and romantic relationships between social work students. babaeng kaibigan na lang. haha. bottomline, wala lang. natuwa lang ako sa pag-volunteer! keep it up and thanks 'anonymous!'

as for love, it might come. it's coming! ♥

photographic dream

PHOTOGRAPHY
picture paints a thousand words

i always believe that picture paints a thousand words that's why i would want to become a photographer someday or let me just say it, i have with me my photographic dream. haha. so from photography 101 session we had after dinner at jollibee albay which i also blogged about, this time, we're out in the field to take pictures on different subjects and these are the pictures i taken. comment ko sa sarili ko, not bad for an amateur though i know that there's more to improve.  :)

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.

Daddy, Daddy, Daddy (For Yesha) Daddy Christian a.k.a. LUGAChris

i got this from jowhee's blog and i find it cool. indeed, very cool for a dad to that. and someday, i want to be a dad like that to my kid/s. haha. such an inspiration. :D

pasado ako

tapos na ang battery examination namin. of course, i am quite confident that i will pass because pinaghirapan ko din naman kahit papano ang battery exam though i can say, i did not really exert that much effort that i know i can because tinatamad lang ako. ibig kong sabihin, there are times na mas pinili kong manood ng pelikula sa laptop, maglakwatcha or matulog kaysa mag-aral dahil sa iba-ibang rason kasali na ang katamaran at katamaran pa rin (to be named pa ang iba). hm. pero ang bottomline, pinaghusayan ko ang pag-aaral sa mga panahong nag-aaral ako. pero yun pa rin, alam kong hindi ko binigay ang 100% ko sa pag-aaral. pero atleast, binigay ko naman ang 100% ko sa pagtake ng exam yun nga lang with a twist. kasi nung first day, ang goal ko ay dapat una akong makapasa ng test paper, huling makapasa naman nung second day at wala akong goal basta makapasa nung last day. hm.

moving on, ayun na nga. lumabas na ang results last week or last last week pa ata and hindi ko pa alam kung ilan ang nakuha kong percentage or average. ang alam ko lang ay nakapasa ako at nakapasa ako with flying colors. initial reports from my classmates ay topnotcher ako. kung oo man ay pinapasalamatan ko ng so much si Bro sa isa na namang biyayang binigay niya. haha. salamat po! at natutuwa din naman ako dahil kunti lang ang hindi nakapasa pero mas masaya siguro kung lahat kami pasado. sayang. dapat sa board ay 100% passing na kami. hm. basta yun thank you Bro.

pero ewan ko ba, hindi ako ganun ka-enthusiastic. kasi sabi ko nga sa sarili ko before ng test. hindi ko target ang top. ang target ko lang makapasa. hindi ko target dahil sa isang rason, kasi alam ko na kapag nag-top ako sa battery ay lalaki ang expectation sa akin ng mga kaklase ko (siguro) pero mas lalaki ang expectation ng teachers ko (sigurado) at ayaw ko yun dahil ayaw kong malunod sa expectations ng ibang tao. sa expectation ko sa sarili ko pwede pa. haha. pero binigay ni Bro kaya i'm bracing for more challenges ahead na alam kong makakaya ko (hopefully).

ngapala, sinabi ko din kina mama ang result habang nagmomother's day celebration kami sa SM Biggs. hindi siya nagulat. sabagay sabi niya nga before pa man magtake ng test ay kayang-kaya ko daw at magtotop pa ako. sabi ko noon overconfident naman si mama. hm. pero nakakalungkot. wala akong narinig na CONGRATULATIONS. hm. hindi naman ako humingi ng materyal na kapalit at hindi na rin ako humuhingi ng kapalit tuwing may 'achievement' ako dahil ayaw ko silang nahihirapan ng ganun pero ang ipagkaiit ba naman ang one word sa akin?? hm. sa napakaraming nag-congratulate sa akin, wala yung taong inaasahan ko. nakaksama ng loob pero life must go on.

pero eto pa isa, nabasa ko ito sa social work students group ng bucssp sa fb:

feeling ko dapat compliment ang mga statements sa ibaba pero ewan ko ba. parang na-offend ako (feeling ko mali ang term na ginamit ko) pero hindi lang ako masaya. nawawala din kasi ang elemet of 'surprise' kumbaga at isa pa ay isa itong expression ng expectation sa akin. kitams 'as expected' daw. hm. pero gayunpaman, salamat pa rin sa compliment dahil alam kong ang hangarin nina ate doris, kuya jade, melvz, argz ay para icongratulate ako.

hm. ewan. nalulungkot (pero parang mali pa rin yung term) ako sa bagay na dapat ay kinatutuwa ko. pero sandali, hindi yun eh. narelize ko, nalulungkot ako hindi sa pagiging top sa battery pero sa consequences na dala nito. yun. fitting na ata yun.

hm. kelangan ata mas magfocus na muna ako sa pagiging masaya sa kinalabasan kaya again, salamat kay Bro sa isa na namang blessings at mas pagbubutihan ko pa. congratulations din sa lahat ng nakapasa!

cravings

oh mangga! hinding-hindi kumpleto ang summer ko kung wala ka. haha. sarap!

GUSTO KO NG MANGGA! DRIED MAN O WET?! haha.

MANGGA! MANGO! MANGGA!

meet my new 'unrealistic' crush

ang ganda ni Alodia. crush ko na siya. nyahahaha. sayang! i miss the opportunity to see the goddess of cosplay during her visit in Albay for the Magayon Cosplay. huhu. sayang na sayang!

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

words

got a text message from a friend and classmate which contained a beautiful quote. since it's a beautiful quote for me, i decided to share it here in my blog.

Don't ever believe that you have nothing to contribute,

you are that combination so that you can do what is essential

for you to do... the world is an incredible unfulfilled TAPESTRY...

and the only YOU can FULFILL that space that is yours.

:D

ako 'to

"ako ang taong kapag hindi masaya ay maghahanap at maghahanap ng dahilan para maging masaya!"