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! :)

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. :)

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. :) 

Six Odd Ideas That Are Not Really Odd for BU

i've been a BUeño for almost six semesters now or three academic years. since the first year of my stay in BU, i've been exposed to a lot of things, both good and bad, admirable and disgusting things about the regarded premier state university in the Bicol Region. good thing such as the drive of the administration, staffs and students to make things better for BU despite its limited resources and bad things such as the mentality to only fix and beautify things when there is accreditation or a visiting VIP and the lack of facilities that still hounds the university in fully attaining its vision as an excellent academic institution.

i can say that in my case, i don't have anything to say about the kind of education my department is giving me and all the social work students. though the funds for books acquisition which is needed to update sources for social work courses is not being given by the administration, the department was able to find ways to do such things. plus, i believe that most of my professors are utmost competent in teaching the courses which is the very reason why the BUCSSP Social Work Department is one of the top social work school in the country today with the Mindanao State University as its prime competitor. anyway, my satisfaction about my department is not in anyway related to this post because this post is about some of my ideas that are not really odd which i can say might help BU and the BUeños in some little or perhaps big way. however, most of it are extra-curricular related. let me start!

first, if there is one part that BU continuously failing, i think it will be the part where BU inculcate to its students the love for their university. for instance, i find it very disgusting that during the four year stay of BUeños in the university, 90% - 95% is ignorant about the hymn of the university. worst, i find it very very disgusting that even some of the staff (both teaching and non-teaching) are also ignorant about the university hymn. i don't know, but i guess it's more than the VMGO that matters which i think is just included in the curriculum for accreditation matters. i mean, unlike other student from other universities, if they can, they will shout to the bottom of their lungs that they are from their university and that is not happening in BU. students are being apathetic and they do not develop the love for the university. is it the attitude of the students alone or it is also the system to blame? the system where the students (though we are supposedly being regarded as the most important part of the university) cannot feel that they are an important piece of the university puzzle. i dream of the day that BU and BUeños will do the things that the students of UP, ADMU, other Manila universities and even ADNU does when their school emerge victorious from competitions, that is to shout and sing their school hymn or march while raising their right hands. i dream of the day when BUeños would shout in chorus Go BU! Go BU! Go BU! i dream of the day when BUeños will be very proud wearing their school shirts or shirts inspired by being a BUeño. and here my first idea enters, why not create a 3 or 2 unit course, Know your University during first year where students will be taught with the VMGO (instead of having it every start of the semester), hymn and all other BU things that can help the students get more understanding about their university. i know it will not develop the student's love for their university 100% but somehow, i know something might be changed. (This idea was inspired by UNC's Know your University course given to their freshmen students)

second, i suggested informally to a USC officer whom i know personally about an event which can be called BUnyag which is very much the same with UST Freshmen Walk wherein their freshmen students will pass through the Arch of the Centuries on the start of their UST and college life. well, BU doesn't have an Arch of the Centuries but BU now have its four pillars. why not create an event that will serve as a ceremonial baptism to all the freshmen students of Bicol University through passing under the four pillars. Its one way of welcoming aside from the usual welcome party for freshmen. (picture below taken from the official website of the university)

third, NCF is Tigers, STI is Olympians, ADNU is Golden Knights, AUL is Phoenix, DWCL is Falcons, BC is Maroons, ICCA is Cardinals, Sorsogon State College (SSC) is Whale sharks (if i am right) and BU is unidentified. though having a team nickname or moniker is not in anyway a requirement for a university, it doesn't mean that BU cannot adopt such. my idea is that BU to adopt a team moniker because in one way it can engender the team or school spirit that BU obviously lacks. i think for originality and rareness sake, why not adopt BU Volcanoes (though it is the name of the PH Rugby National Team) inspired by the presence of the majestic Mt. Mayon.


fourth, Fun Run for Social Work Department which i am preparing to make things happen. naisip ko lang idagdag. anyway, perhaps the better idea is that conduct activities that will promote the university more. :)


fifth, since it Christmas, this one is Christmas related. hmm. Christmas in BU is simple but is also a color-filled one because of the different Christmas decorations of the different colleges in Bicol University. however, i think why not BU make a Christmas related activity aimed at promoting the advocacy and expertise of the different departments or colleges in the university. however, this suggestion is for the BU Daraga Campus only where my college is located. hm. why not conduct a Paskuhan sa BUDC which will be filled with inter-college Christmas activities highlighted by Christmas displays to be located in the vacant land in stretching from the front of Arcilla Hall up to CBEM which can be seen from Rizal St. and can bear the different departmental advocacy and expertise just like what i mentioned awhile ago. plus, maximizing the vacant lots and an opportunity for IGP for the two colleges, it would be better if booths selling different merchandise and foods as well will be put in place along with the Christmas displays.

sixth, etong last ang isa sa sinuggest ko talaga while i am a csc representative last academic year at tinawanan ako ng mga kasama ko. sabi ko, bakit hindi tayo gumawa ng Dr. Ricardo Arcilla Student Excellence Award to be given to the top student of the college at tinawanan nga nila. anyway, ang iniisip ko lang naman ay since one of the very few things that the CSSP is known is the Arcilla Hall, why not name an award or recognition after the first BU President. After all, it's during his term that the roots of CSSP was started through BUCAS. one way din yun ng pag-encourage ng students to aspire in coveting the award.


well, yan lang naman po ang naiisip ko for now. i believe there is nothing wrong with sharing ideas. sayang naman kung mananatili lang sa utak ko. after all, i am a BUeño and in my own little way, i want to help BU become a better university. :)

eerie twenty-fourth

today is november 24, 2011, thursday and there seem to be an eerie (at least in my perspective) atmosphere in Bicol University. classes in MP/CAL building are said to be suspended tomorrow, the fences, gates and even buildings are re-painted, light bulbs were replaced with new bulbs, the facade of MP Building was well-lighted at night same with the four pillars of the university - all because of the ISO visit and the visit of President Noynoy Aquino for the Inauguration of the Climate Change Academy of Albay which is located at Bicol University.

well, the eerie thing was because of the unusual cleanliness of the university and the extra-ordinary politeness of some of the rude security guards of the university. naisip ko tuly, sana everyday ISO visit. sana everyday AACUP Accreditation at sana everyday bibisita si PNoy para mas maganda, maayos at mas malinis ang beyubs.

i wonder why this kind of mentality is still being observed by BU up to now. hindi ba pwedeng kahit walang bibisitang VIP o accreditors, maayos ang BU? I wonder...

PuregoldAtKaligayahan

wednesday is a mass day for MnT and after such a long time of not attending mass on the said days for the previous months, i am happy that we were able to attend our first wednesday mass for the semester. after attending mass with friends, mean, ja'de and i decided to eat at Wah Foo Chan. yumyum. salap! haha. and since it was also the opening of Puregold Embarcadero we went there for the sake of pakikiusyuso. what happened next? almost hundreds of photos were taken which is equal to another dose of happiness with friends. :)

realization 4

interviewing is never easy. right question should be asked, good follow-ups should be raised and non-verbal should always be guarded.

this photo on the left are some of the moments captured while we are interviewing in line of a requirement in Communication in Social Work course. i interviewed an alumna of the department while melvz interviewed street children who sells sampaguita in front of Pacific Mall. share lang. :D

justice for laesybil

a news reached me through sms that a schoolmate was found dead after being raped in an area near their house in bascaran, a rural community in daraga, albay. actually, she is from our neighbor college, the college of business, economics and management (cbem). she is also a third year student who is taking BS Accountancy, a valedictorian when she graduated in high school and a consistent dean's lister of cbem. what could have been a bright future for her and her family was crashed by an immoral person.

yes, perhaps, i don't know her personally but i don't think personally knowing the victim is a requirement for a person to stand-up against rape, violence and other kinds of inhumane acts. that's why when prof. mirabueno (bu cal) encourage the used of black ribbons as DP in fb, i changed my fb profile picture and when i was asked by laisa to make a lay-out of the tarp to be displayed infront of the department, i immediately did it. just like what i mentioned in the bu-cssp social work fb page, our silence is not needed at these times. we need to stand up. we need to condemn all acts of violence committed against any person. we need to join the call for justice for laesybil so that her death will not go in vain. come to think of it, i would not want it to happen to my friends and family members. JUSTICE!

extrang sikat

sikat na naman ako. haha. wala lang. trip lang. pampasaya ng buhay kumbaga. hm. extra ako sa website ng simon of cyrene. hahaha. sabi ko ulit kay kuya bjorn at mean, ibblog ko to kaya eto na! :)

MNT CHRISTMAS

SOON

and i'm excited. >,<

vote for PH

since yesterday evening, i am voting for Dianne Samar Necio in the internet voting for Ms. International 2011 as encouraged by the honorable governor of the province of Albay who is almost sleepless just to make sure that Vietnam will not overtake Philippines in the voting. haha. grabe sa suporta si gob. anyway, you can vote and help Dianne in making the country proud. GO PHILIPPINES! :)

CAST YOUR VOTE AND HELP THE PHILIPPINES! HERE'S HOW:

1. Press the link (http://missinter.cn/vote/index.php?1319993360) .

2. Go to the upper right tally.

3. Go to the rightmost box along the row of Dianne.

4. Press the light-blue, it turns to yellow.

5. Encode the 4-number code.

6. When a ^.^ appears, your vote was counted but when it's absent you must cast your vote again.

7. Wait for 2 minutes (disregard the 30 minutes rule) and repeat step 1.

RSR and Gov. JOEY

it's october 26 and it's Raul S. Roco Day in Naga City if i am not mistaken. well, since my childhood, Raul S. Roco was my idol in public service and in politics. his ideals, his principles and his personality made me believe that he is the best president the Philippines never had. he died early because of prostate cancer a year after the 2004 Philippine presidential elections.

Also, this day is the birthday of the good and humble governor of the province of Albay. every passing day, he proves that he deserves to be an idol of many. his vision for Albay is very wonderful (Albay Rising like California in the next 30 years) but what is more evident is the results of what he is doing. if and only if, he decides to run for a senate seat in the next election, i'll vote for him and even campaign for him. haha.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RSR and GOV. JOEY!

***photos taken from the facebook page of governor Joey Salceda.

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!

****************************************************************************

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!

happiness

 EXTRA DOSE OF HAPPINESS WITH FRIENDS TO EASE THE STRESS AWAY! :)

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.  :)

fun. photos. lessons.

for the last couple of weeks, i'm having much lone times because everyone (my college friends) including me, seems busy with thesis and other requirements while ate dianne is in Naga because tapos na siya sa mga dapat niyang tapusin, sembreak na siya. that's why i would usually look for someone to accompany me for dinner. ang lungkot sa feeling ng mag-isang kumain. this time, kuya bjorn and mean joined me for dinner. actually, if i am right, kasama din dapat namin si ruksii and sime pero dahil umuwi na sila eh kami na lang ang naiwan. and since may camera si kuya bjorn, we started taking some shots and do whatever things we can like mean drawing the 'floorplan' of jollibee albay and pose in front of the camera with whatever we have in mind.

the simple fun evening of picture taking ended as a photography 101 session (someday, i'll be a professional photographer) with kuya bjorn teaching us what he knows with photography. ayos! the Dong-A My-Gel Pen shot above is the first shot i have wherein the focus is the focus emphasized by the blurred background. kung may pera lang ako, i would buy my SLR pero dahil wala pa ngayon, someday i will. :)

happy birthday margie! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ms. MARGIETHEL B. ECLIPSE! haha. sayang! i missed the opportunity to be a part of the pre-birthday celebration. dapat lumalangoy din ako. anyway, all the best for you kaibigan! :)

No to SUC Budget Cut!

a rally against SUC budget cut was staged in BU. sayang i did not attend because i cannot attend dahil may field work kami sa Anislag (a rurban barangay of Daraga in Albay) on Self-Awareness but kung wala kaming field nung mga panahong yun, i will surely attend the rally (first time ko sana!).

Anyway, eto lang mana ang gusto kong sabihin - 
STOP SUC BUDGET CUT!
Higher education must be accessible to all.

BU at 42

Today is the opening of the 42nd Foundation Celebration of Bicol University na binubuo ng Septemberfest (Pageant, LitViMusDa Competitions, Amazing Race atbp) and BU Olympics (Sports). walang pasok pero required umattend ng parade. kaya nagparade kami. the picture above is the annual BU Hataw wherein the freshmen and sophomore PE students coming from the atleast 9 academic unit of BU perform a dance routine in the BU athletic grounds. isang bagay na maipagmamalaki ng BU. HAPPY 42nd BU! :)

legazpi boulevard

Say hello to the new Legazpi Boulevard which is envisioned to become the Roxas Boulevard of Legazpi City in Albay. I do not own the picture above but that's how it looks like by day. Mas maganda kung yung night version. anyway, i only visited it twice and such a perfect place for relaxation and walk therapy. Yung una purong lakad-lakad lang but then the second time was for night life which is starting to be established in the area. ayos! saya! :)