john3vanmba

[john3vanmba]

New Learning!

Last Saturday, the time has finally come for our Service Learning! Luckily, our leader is very active and she had assigned each one of us tasks to divide the workload. That is for us to provide a good experience to the GABAY people. I woke early that morning and went to La Salle campus to buy a huge distilled water container since that’s my part. Of course, I did so we all can enjoy a delicious and fresh cup of coffee early in the morning.

Since it is still too early, our speaker has not yet arrived, and the official start of the program is about 9 AM. Alex and I decided for me to give GABAY people a simple ice breaker game to beat the drowsiness; since they left their compound by 6 AM early in the morning! I think we all enjoyed the game I did, it’s a simple binary survival game where I say a Philippine President and they have to choose odd or even depending on the which order the president falls, i.e. Aguinaldo is 1st so odd, Osmena is 2nd so even, and so on. Not to gloat, but it was fun and engaging, I gave the price to the one survivor later that afternoon.

And so, the speaker, Mr. Arturo Ablan has arrived and proceeded with the workshop. His seminar is about leadership where he taught the GABAY people on how they can improve their leadership and people management skills. I have noticed that both the speaker and GABAY are equally engaged in the discussions as they are trading thoughts and teachings all throughout the program. We, as students taking up MBA, also learned from the workshop as we can apply those as future leaders if we still aren’t. The most important thought that reached me is that you have to help your people grow and develop themselves for the better. I have experienced a leader where I don’t really feel that he wants me to aspire for great things. I don’t want to be that type of leader. I’ll be the senior that I need when I was still a junior employee. It would feel better as a leader when your subordinates became successful. That would be a great achievement.

I hope there comes a time that HIV as a disease won’t be scorned from society. I hope people will stop treating it as the worst form of diseases since even it’s contagious, it does not transfer in conventional ways, only through sexual acts and passing of bodily fluids. As I have said from my previous journals, I relate to them since I have a friend who also has HIV and I know how he suffered. Although he is okay now, I still wish for the day to come that he can announce his condition and no bad remarks will be mentioned. People like them need support, not discrimination. They are still people and still sons and daughter of God so we should treat them as such.

That was a very happy and fruitful day. Although you can see the obvious signs of tiredness in Miss Mei and Miss Pia’s eyes, I think they also enjoyed. We understand since we are tired too, but are happy seeing the fruits of our efforts. I am very sure that the GABAY people went home happy too.

Here's a picture of all of us after the two (2) workshops:

I am the guy in white holding a "pancit" container, sorry for being weird.

P.S. I think I'm in love with my classmate, the girl in the front. XD

[john3vanmba]

New Hope

A huge part of our requirement to pass Miss Pia’s Lasallian Business Leadership, Ethics, and CSR is to help a chosen non-profit organization. Miss Pia and Miss Mei collectively chose GABAY, an organization that help people with HIV. Honestly, I feel that we’re lucky to have the opportunity to help them an in turn learn from them as well. Our group planned to give them a leadership training and that is what we are preparing for this coming Saturday. While preparing, I can’t help but to do a bit of researching about the history of discrimination aga HIV and AIDS.

So, a few classes ago we had a topic discussing about discrimination in hiring and in workplaces. But I think there’s also discrimination not only because of racial or ethnic backgrounds, but also discrimination because of acquiring diseases. I think we all directly or indirectly experience some form of that in the past. A good example was when COVID struck! Positive people get shunned because of that. Luckily, COVID is not a threat anymore and we are past that era. That is not the case for HIV and AIDS though. There’s even a phobia coined for such disease, serophobia, the prejudice, fear, rejection, and stigmatization of people with HIV/AIDS. Statistically, the most common patients of HIV are LGBTQ+, drug users and sex workers so they suffer a huge part of discrimination amongst the normal people. Because of that, the societal stigma against people living with HIV evolved severely, as HIV/AIDS discrimination actively obstruct access to HIV/AIDS testing and screening worldwide. The most important parts of controlling contagious diseases are testing and screening, so doctors and health experts can manage the spread thereby preventing worse phenomenon. We learned that the hard way during the COVID crisis.

Even in this era, there still lingers misconceptions about HIV or AIDS. I have read that one-third of Americans still believe that HIV could be transmitted through sharing a drink or touching toilet used by HIV-positive individual. Many still won’t be comfortable sharing a room with such disease and many more. I think the solution for this is for health experts and volunteers to spread factual information about HIV. I believe it won’t be that hard anymore since we have access to the internet, a very powerful tool to spread facts and critical information. I promise that I’ll be doing my part to share my newly acquired knowledge from GABAY representatives and this study to share information to my family and friends.

I hope more people can also help HIV people such as GABAY so they can have access to testing and maintenance medicine and prolong their lives as it can be a death sentence if not managed well. As I’ve shared, I have a close friend with HIV, helping individuals like him is like helping my friend indirectly. I know all his troubles and I can imagine the GABAY representative having the same suffering or worse.

Our service learning for GABAY is a few days from now. I am excited. I hope me and my classmates can give them a positive experience even for just a day. I would definitely pray for that.

[john3vanmba]

New Realization

One of the requirements for us to pass the Lasallian Business Leadership, Ethics, and CSR at the De La Salle University is that for us to present a case study. For that, our ever so brilliant teacher, Miss Pia Manalastas grouped us separatedly into six (6) groups and assigned each team a case reading, for us to ponder and present in the class. Luckily, Miss Pia allowed us to group the class into our own liking, and of course, Che, Alex and me agreed to form our group. We thought that this activity would be fun!

The case assigned to us is the fourth case titled “Silent Initiative: Pedro’s Commitment to the Hearing Impaired”. This is part of our lesson that tackles Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CSR by the way is a management concept where companies can integrate the social and environmental concerns in their operations and interactions with their primary stakeholder, maybe not just stakeholders but the whole community in general. Going back to the case, do you know that Pedro Lamoiyan is the founder of Hapee toothpaste? The twist is that he was able to bring a Filipino company to almost levels of Colgate and Close-Up brands that dominates the oral products industry, even up until today, with some of his employees legally disabled. Yes, you hear that right, a lot of his employees are disabled, deaf and mute to be exact. Pedro wanted the deaf to function normally in the society even if they have disabilities. There are a few difficulties encountered along the way but he was ready and still gave them equal treatment and salaries like what a normal Filipino citizen would receive. If you thought that it was too good to be true, I understand, that was my initial reaction too, but it’s true!

Nowadays, to be fair, a lot of companies now fuses their goals to some corporate social responsibility acts. Energy companies plant trees to compensate for their use of natural resources to produce power, banks giving donations to poor communities and providing scholarship to those who deserves them are a few examples. As we are now in the modern world, the landscape of corporate responsibility has also evolved, where businesses are now embracing corporate social responsibility not merely as a strategy for enhancing profitability, but as a genuine commitment to the welfare of society. It marks the departure from the traditional profit-centric approach of businesses, where we create an era where companies recognize their role as prime movers of the greater good. While CSR initiatives can be used to boost a company's brand image and foster goodwill among consumers, it is still good to observe that selflessness, rather than just marketing techniques, is increasingly becoming the driving force behind such endeavors. The realization that businesses can have a significant influence, not just economically but also socially and environmentally, has created a reshaping of their obligations beyond the bottom line.

Moreover, the essential value of giving back extends beyond not just corporate interests, but also considers the critical parts of social cohesion and collective progress. By investing in initiatives that uplift marginalized communities, support education and healthcare, or promote cultural enrichment, companies are sowing the seeds for a more equitable and prosperous future for all.

The embrace of CSR represents a pivotal point in the evolution of corporate culture, where profit goals merge together with a genuine sense of responsibility towards the greater good. Through their actions, companies are not only redefining success in terms of societal impact but also reaffirming the fundamental principle that business success and social welfare are mutually important objectives.

[john3vanmba]

New Year, Old Divide

Had you ever experienced any discrimination in your school, workplace or community? If not, you’re very lucky because believe it or not, even in our current time, plenty of people still experience the feeling of being left out for reasons they are at no fault to begin with.

In one of our previous lectures under Lasallian Business Leadership, Ethics and CSR, we have tackled a subject about workplace diversity and discrimination. While discrimination is a neutral word in our old dictionaries, it is now usually used in a negative sense such that it refers to the differentiation not based on the individual merit of a person but rather on prejudice or some other negative attributes. Discrimination, unfortunately, continues to be prevalent in our society where it is till and an issue even in the supposedly progressive era of 2024. Despite significant efforts of caring people towards inclusivity and equality, the bias still exists in the many segments of our society, including in our workplaces. Many stories of discriminatory hiring practices, whether obvious or not so obvious, continue to tarnish the reputation of companies across different industries. You can just scratch the surface of common exchanges and you would still see numerous anecdotes of experiences highlighting the frequency of racial discrimination in the hiring process. Stories from qualified candidates being overlooked or outright rejected on the basis of their race and with hiring decisions influenced by stereotypes and prejudices than by the applicants’ credentials. Such discriminatory practices manifest in various forms, ranging from the refusal to consider candidates from certain racial backgrounds to the worse phenomenon of tokenism, wherein individuals are hired solely to fulfill diversity quotas rather than on the basis of their qualifications.

Much to our regret, discrimination is not only visible to a few isolated incidents but is rather symptomatic of deeper systemic biases, which are already integrated within our society. Hidden biases, shaped by centuries of ingrained stereotypes and social conditioning, continue to inform the decision-making processes of hiring managers and recruitment teams, often leading to the fostering of such bad practices even in the most talented and skillful work environments. One shocking manifestation of racial discrimination in hiring is racial profiling, whereby individuals are pigeonholed into certain roles or industries based solely on their racial or ethnic background. This form of discrimination operates on the misguided belief that individuals of a particular race possess inherent attributes or characteristics more suited to certain roles, thereby creating harmful stereotypes and limiting opportunities for career advancement. Also, the practice of preferential treatment still exists, wherein individuals are favored for employment solely on the basis of their race, often as a means of fulfilling diversity quotas or projecting a certain image of inclusivity. While these are well-intentioned, such practices ultimately serve to undermine fairness where it creates another cycle of inequality and resentment.

The consequences of discriminatory hiring exist not only within the individuals directly affected; they extend further even across generations. By growing these disparities in employment opportunities and cycles of poverty and marginalization, discriminatory hiring practices continue to magnify existing inequalities and causing more trouble and disparities in different groups of people.

The fight against discriminatory hiring and discrimination in general is a collective goal; it requires the concerted effort of policymakers, employers, business leaders, government and civil society alike. Only through a commitment to equality, fairness, and justice, can we hope to realize a future where opportunities are truly accessible to all, regardless of race, ethnicity, or background. I hope we can achieve that in the near future; I will pray for that time to finally come.

[john3vanmba]

New Purchase?

Thinking back of our topic about marketing strategies and how companies go out of their way to promote their products, it made me realize that I frequently fall victim into these tactics. It is still my fault though since I voluntarily buy these products on my own. But I think it’s not only me; plenty of people worldwide do too, with the advent of the internet age and you can buy almost everything online now!

I always share this, but my primary hobby is painting scale models. When I am not painting these robots, I upgrade my personal computer with new parts and a lot of times, those are a tad expensive. In our marketing lesson in Lasallian Business Leadership, Ethics, and CSR, I thought of my previously made 25 – year life plan. I wrote there that I should be financially responsible. I mean it is essential that you have hobbies to destress when you’re having a hard time at work or gets overwhelmed by school requirements, it does not mean that you have to splurge on your hobby expenses irresponsibly. Month by month, I purchase new two (2) or more model kits as well as paints and hobby tools. Every now and then, I also buy high end computer parts to upgrade my PC’s performance.

Here's my current scale model backlog and there’s still a lot in the platform above my PC and under my bed:

The algorithms in my phone and web browsers all bring me to shops showing me new things that activates my impulse buying. When Miss Pia taught us about the modern marketing strategies, I realized that advertisements are getting smarter day by day, even infiltrating our personal search histories and posts that interests us the most. That was the turning point where I decided that I won’t be buying new kits unless my finish what I have at home, and to be honest, there’s still a lot of untouched, unbuilt and unpainted scale models that I purchased years ago! It’s now piling up. My PC is also already powerful enough to accommodate my gaming ang school needs that I don’t need to upgrade in a few years. The 25 – years life plan made me realize that to achieve my financial targets, I need to be smart with my earnings to reach those. Reflecting that it is not too late to change and manage my personal habits, I promised myself that I will finish first my scale model backlogs before buying anything new; I would still be preoccupied with those for about two (2) years without buying. I will also stop upgrading my computer for now unless one major part broke, I think that would be manageable. I guess that would be the start of creating a responsible habit for my own personal growth.

We were so fortunate that Miss Pia taught us new things that would generally improve our work ethics, personal values and sense of responsibility. Her topics in leadership and business ethics are interconnected and can be applied directly in our everyday personal lives, although that should be automatic since we should all be kind and responsible sons and daughters of our Lord. I am also very thankful in De La Salle University for giving me this opportunity to see this new light in my own personal growth. It accentuated my thinking of there is always room for improvement and every day, there is a chance that we can learn something new. Tomorrow yet again, I will be a better version of what is me today.

[john3vanmba]

New View

Are you a frequent online shopper? If you’d ask me, well, admittedly I am. I buy clothes, shoes, cat foods and most especially my hobby tools and supplies. My hobby is collecting model kits like robots, mechas, a few train structures and other science fiction scale models. I also paint them to give them my personal touch and to have a release of my frustrated artistic career. With the advent of online shopping and e-commerce, it became easier for me and other people in general to buy the things that they want with the swipe or click of a finger. Thinking of those reasons, marketing has been more prevalent in the past couple of year since the world has been struck by COVID19. What are the effects of these new marketing strategies combed with major use of e-commerce in our current post pandemic times?

In one of our classes in Lasallian Business Leadership, Ethics, and CSR at the De La Salle University, Miss Pia, our ever-brilliant teacher taught us all about Marketing Ethics. Over the past decade or two, depending on your age, chances are you've encountered a lot of questionable marketing advertisements. Although they are controversial, they often proved effective, echoing the old saying that any publicity, even if they are really bad, is still publicity. However, when it comes to advertising and marketing, corporate leaders must remain aware of the negative impacts such advertisements can have on the public, particularly through easily visible mediums like billboards, posters, and signs. These platforms can be everywhere and their messages can be absorbed by underage children, significantly influencing their thinking processes and, more importantly, shaping their personal values in a damaging way. The influence of marketing on gullible minds cannot be overstated most especially to children as they are highly susceptible to the messages conveyed through advertisements. The values and ideals they absorb at a young age can have profound impacts to their view and behaviors. Thus, it should automatic for businesses owners and leaders to be responsible in making their product campaigns. As someone aspiring to climb the corporate ladder in the future, I recognize the gravity of this responsibility. It is upon us, as future leaders, to prioritize the integration of positive values into all sections and divisions of our organizations not only for profitability but it should also cover the commitment to ethical and socially responsible practices. By doing so, we are not only protecting the well-being of our consumers but also contribute to the betterment of society in general.

Even for those of us who have yet to assume leadership roles like me, it is still our obligation to uphold ethical standards in marketing endeavors. Each employee plays a part in shaping its public image and influencing the perceptions of its consumers. Therefore, regardless of our current positions, we must always be aware of the manner in which we present our products and services to the public. Furthermore, in an age where information spreads quickly through the internet and the advent of e-commerce, the potential reach and impact of marketing messages are amplified exponentially. Maybe it looks like a harmless advertisement, it could also have far-reaching consequences, particularly when disseminated without careful consideration of its implications. Thus, it should be the priority of corporate and business leaders to exercise foresight in their promotional efforts, ensuring that they align with ethical standards and societal values. And, while the allure of shady marketing tactics may be too attractive, corporate leaders must recognize the bigger effects of their actions. By prioritizing the spreading of positive values and adhering to ethical principles, we can create a culture of responsibility and integrity within the realm of advertising and marketing, so that, we are not only protecting the general well-being of consumers of all ages, but also contribute to the cultivation of a more ethical business and corporate landscape.

[john3vanmba]

New Friends and More

Last year, on May 8, 2023, my MBA program in De La Salle University has started. I met my initial set of friends in the orientation; they are Che, Alex and Jeah. We’re all different but we clicked right away. The first two (2) terms were a bit light since we’re just trekking our bridging courses since we aren’t business or accounting graduates.  It was really fun and I never thought that I would enjoy going back to school at my early 30’s.

Then this 2024, we enrolled for our third term. We just need one (1) more bridging course so we enrolled that, together with some true MBA subjects. One of those subjects is the “La Sallian Business Leadership, Ethics and CSR” under Miss Pia Manalastas, our ever so bright teacher. Part of the subject completion is for us to have a “Service-Learning Program”, where in the whole class is grouped into two (2) sets of nine (9) people. Luckily, I was grouped with my batch mates, Che and Alex, plus a new set of awesome friends, Roma, Zyrus, Rovin, Thea, Mel and Simms. Our goal is to provide assistance for GABAY Ph, a small local organization situated at Caloocan City. GABAY, by the way, is a non-profit, community-based organization with a central mission to establish comprehensive and enduring psychosocial support and spiritual guidance for individuals living with HIV in the Philippines (PLHIV), which they referred to as “clients.” The group and their representative agreed to provide some sort of leadership trainings to GABAY’s officers, volunteers and member. Also, we’re thinking of giving them additional assistance like improving the aesthetics of their place and adding other merchandise options in their sari-sari store. We gave a lot of ideas and it was fun brainstorming with my group mates in order to help those in need.

Little did they know, I have a very close friend who also has HIV for years now, so I quite understand the thoughts and feelings of the GABAY clients. He always tells me his struggles so I always give him the listening ear that he needs. I’m so touched that he trusted me this very sensitive secret. I can’t give him anything to help with his disease so being a supportive friend with no judgement is the best I can give for now. But now that we have this service-learning activity in DLSU, I can help people like him at least alleviate a few of those uncomfortable feelings. What I learned from my friend is that what HIV patients really needs, is understanding and treating them like a normal person, because they still are. Shutting them from society and showing disgusts are not the solution, rather help them live like us and prolong that life. We are all children of God so we must treat each other with kindness and respect; and I promise to do that as long as I live.

We still have a long way to finalize all our ideas but I guarantee that this would be awesome and beneficial to them. Although, we cannot provide long term assistance as of this moment, I hope our leadership training, as well as a small help in their place and business would at least lift them up and make them happy. We had a lot of good thoughts and we plan to see the place ourselves so we can plan better. Maybe room partitions and repaint would be helpful? Maybe redesigning their store and sign board are great too? Maybe Roma and Che can share their leadership experience to them? I don’t know but I’m very excited!

[john3vanmba]

New Road, Old Street

So, in one of our classes in Lasallian Business Leadership, Ethics, and CSR, we were asked to write our own life plan. This should cover at least cover the next 25 years of our lives; you heard that right, a quarter of a century!

Thinking back, I realized that I never really have a long-term goal in my life. In the last decade, after finishing my undergraduate degree as an Electrical Engineer, I just go to the office, do my job and go home. I am saving money here and there but I was not able to think yet of what I’m going to do with the amount that I am saving. I just think that at least I have a good amount in times of emergency or any unfavorable crisis.

In our write up about our life plans, we were tasked to cover at least our family goals, career aims, education, attitude, financial planning, physical and social well-being, artistic craft, public service and some pleasure. The parts were originally listed alphabetically but I ordered them as such because that’s the order of my priorities with family and career-oriented goals being on top.

Family-wise, my goal is to have my father have a comfortable life for the remaining of his life. Although both my sisters have good careers and earn good money, I also want my sisters to have good family life together with their children and husband; so, I intent to help them when necessary.

When it comes to my career and education. I am taking this MBA course to tackle both because I think they’re interconnected. Hopefully, this MBA program improve and smoothen the road to my corporate world journey. I wish to become a CFO someday; it’s going to be difficult but there’s no harm in trying.

Currently, I only have a few hundred thousand pesos in my bank account and an old car as my main assets and no liabilities, fortunately. I plan to save more and invest a few so I can hopefully have stacks in the future. All the remaining aspects are all bonuses but all those mentioned will be taking the front seat in my priorities.

I have re-read what I have written and submitted to Miss Pia. This is the same conclusion I put in the quarter century life plan, but I’m happy our professor required us to do that assignment as it made me draw a clear street that I will walk through in the next 25 years. It's remarkable how the assignment, mandated by our teacher, has proven to be instrumental in providing me with a clear roadmap for the next 25 years of my life. Through this exercise, I've come to recognize the critical importance of discerning between my wants and needs, which is a fundamental step in shaping my individuality and of course, for me to have a brighter future, not just selfishly but for everyone I love. It has become evident that this self-awareness is key to navigating the complexities of life effectively. Also, thanks to this activity, I've also been reminded of the invaluable role faith plays in our journey. Acknowledging the presence of the Guy upstairs, I have found comfort in the belief that He will guide me and help me build my own success. It's a reassuring notion that, amidst life's trials and tribulations, we are not alone. All that's required of us is patience, coupled with faith in the benevolent forces that govern our universe. I also realized that you need all aspects mentioned to be generally successful in life. Life is not just having plenty of assets, it is about your journey in this world and that there is God to help us; we just need to be patient and believe in him.

[john3vanmba]

New World

In one of our classes in Lasallian Business Leadership, Ethics, and CSR, we are introduced to a non-profit organization named GABAY Ph. They are a non-profit, community-based organization with a central mission to establish comprehensive and enduring psychosocial support and spiritual guidance for individuals living with HIV in the Philippines (PLHIV), which they referred to as “clients.” We learned a lot from them based from their representative Sir Dhan, along with Miss Mei acting as a bridge for our class and the organization.

Admittedly, when I was younger, I used to show disgust and discrimination on people with HIV and I deeply apologize for having those point of view. My thoughts changed when I discovered that one of my close friends have HIV. I am so shocked at first but that was not the right to ask sensitive questions. I laid down all my judgement and tried to understand what he is going through. Instead of asking stupid inquiries, I just asked him about the tests that he did, treatments that he’s doing right now, what are his plans and so on. I am very glad that he trusted me this critical information and I promised him that this will remain a secret util he’s ready to tell the world. I swore to him that this did not change our friendship, I told him that it’s just a disease, he will live it through. Fortunately, he is still very happy apart from some things and a few immunity issues but he was able to push through. Of course, I’ll root for him and although HIV is uncurable, I think it is manageable and patients live a long life despite the fact.

As part of the subject, we formed two (2) groups of nine (9) people to help GABAY. Our group did a operations plan for them to organize their organization. They can use it as a reference to better their org chart, officers and managing their finances. I supplied a way for them to manage their records and also suggested a retention period for such. I have asked my friend that I mentioned earlier regarding the needs of people like him. He shared to me that typically, patients are in dire need of vitamins, free lab tests for CD4 count, free viral load and also, free counselling. CD4 by the way is a test to count the CD4 cells in the blood stream to verify if effectivity of the antiviral drugs that they’re using; while viral load is a lab test to know if the virus is still undetectable in the body of an HIV person. I learned that he’s using his money for all these things! I think we can help by endorsing GABAY to other private and government organizations that supply these tests, vitamins and medicines.

We’re still a long way before our brainstorming and ideas come to fruition but we are really glad we were given a chance to help people with HIV. I also see the vigor in the eyes of my teammates; they really want this project to be successful not just for grades but helping the community in more ways that we can. I know we can’t promise long term assistance for now, but our short term and “band aid” solutions can at least alleviate the feelings and make them feel welcomed, they’re still people and we should treat each other as such.

I don’t really know what to future holds for my friend, GABAY and people with HIV, but I am proud DLSU gave this opportunity to do things and sacrifices for the greater good.

[john3vanmba]

New Job (hopefully)

In our third session in Lasallian Business Leadership, Ethics, and CSR, we were taught about the value of work and its purpose in our lives. Miss Pia asked us, “What are you working for?” The question resonated on me and made me reflect about my life.

My career started jumping around different construction companies. I was a field engineer back then doing quality control and assurance. That experience went on for two (2) year until finally deciding the I am not going to do field work ever again because I feel like my physical health is deteriorating with all the heat, solvent, pollutants and dust in the workplace. If you’ll see me, I’m a scrawny guy (laughs). Luckily, in 2015, a large distribution utility company hired me to do verifications and approval on new service applications. It was then that I was exposed to finance and fell in love in that field since then. I kept doing the finance job for more than seven (7) years until finally resigning in 2023 for reason I will not expound; I don’t want to stain the office since my manager there is very kind to me. A few weeks after resigning in the summer, I started a new job in a power generation company. It was a great start and thought the role (mixture of finance and IT) was amazing; but unknowingly, in my sixth month of stay, just the time that I was regularized, the department I was working for, got dissolved and I was moved to a different department and role. I feel neutral with the new role, I do not dislike it but I do not like it either. I don’t really myself doing the new role long term so I planned ahead and made critical decisions. So, I started looking for a new job in December and up until now, February, no luck.

My previous work and current job search made me realize a few things. What does work do for me? I thought I am working to build a career but, all those years, it finally came to me that I am just working for the job and the pay, for me to do or buy the things that I actually like. I work to pay the bills, my father to live comfortably, to help my younger sisters whenever they’re in need and to have funds for my hobbies. I think I decided to change that point of view when I started MBA in De La Salle University, and that is to finally get a proper business or finance degree since I am originally an engineer. I aspire to climb the corporate ladder and become a Chief Finance Officer someday. I was so inspired to reshape my career in my current job but you already know what happened, but I am definitely not giving up, I am very hopeful that I am going to find a new finance job soon; I know God will help as long as I believe.

Here's my hobby if you're curious. I paint scale models like these, either real or fictitious. Left is before painting and right one is the result after painting and a few modifciations.

[john3vanmba]

New Discovery

We have discussed about the various facets of human development in our class about values. Values, as we all know, are the basic notion of what is right and wrong; and should be fairly stable over time. Also, a value is a principle, standard, quality and should be considered to be desirable according to the American Heritage Dictionary.

What has piqued my interest in the class is our sharing of the various facets of integral human development. These are materiality, bodily, cognitive, emotional, aesthetic, social, moral and spiritual facets. We were asked to pick among them what we have abundance and what are lacking in our current work environment. Although the idea is to relate it in our work, I think I would also wan to reflect which among these facets I lack.

I have come to realize that aside from my workplace, there are also the aspects in me, as a person, that need more attention or refinement. It is to improve my emotional well-being and spirituality. These are the "defective" facets of my character that I am humbly acknowledging, as it has not received any level of focus it deserves. As early as now, I would really want to address these issues so that I could create a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life.

First, I would like to fix my emotional intelligence. In my observation, I have seen instances where I have struggled to regulate my emotions; particularly during moments of heightened frustration. During these challenging times, I have found myself succumbing to bursts of anger, often reacting impulsively in manners that not only harm my own well-being but also have the potential to negatively impact those around me. This acknowledgment underscores the critical importance of regulating my emotions and cultivating a mindset of mindfulness. By understanding my emotions more and identifying the underlying triggers, I would develop healthier coping mechanisms that would enable me to navigate life's inevitable challenges with grace and composure. Also, I am very aware of the necessity to carefully consider the potential consequences of my actions, particularly when fueled by intense emotions such as anger. Through gathering empathy and exercising better judgment, I aspire to approach the aforementioned conflicts with a newfound sense of clarity and understanding.

In parallel with improving my emotional intelligence, I also acknowledge the pressing need to revitalize my connection with my spirituality. Despite being raised within a home and neighborhood of faith and values, I have found myself quickly drifting away from the embrace of regular spiritual practices and being aware that there is a God in my life. This realization has served as a trigger that ignited a new desire to reawaken this spirituality. I intent to reestablish and deepen my relationship with God and nurture my spiritual well-being in general, I will commit in reincorporating prayer, meditation, and contemplation into my daily life. These practices would not only serve as sources of solace and guidance; but also, as fountains of resilience and fortitude during times of difficulty. Through a renewed dedication to living a life guided by faith and seeking help from the Above, I am confident that I will rediscover a sense of purpose and fulfillment, both in my personal journey of self-discovery and in my interactions with others.

With this new personal discoveries and ongoing chase toward emotional and spiritual refinement, it'll surely accelerate my evolution as an individual. From now on, I would try to make meaningful contributions to society with all my power. By facing those two (2) areas of lack that I shared earlier, I'll grow a more balanced and empathetic personality. Through commitment, diligent self-reflection, and a steadfast devotion to personal growth, I am confident in my ability to overcome challenges, forge meaningful connections, and bring positive change in the world around me.

[john3vanmba]

New Year, New Subject

I enrolled in the Lasallian Business Leadership, Ethics, and CSR subject during my third term at De La Salle University. This marked a significant step not only for my academic pursuit, but also my life in general. With the guidance of our ever so brilliant professor, Miss Pia Manalastas, the course promised not only academic improvement but also a deeper understanding of moral principles and leadership ethics. Our first lesson in the New Year of 2024 deep dived into the life and teachings of St. John Baptist de La Salle, the illustrious namesake of our school.

As we read through the life of St. John Baptist de La Salle, I can't help but say that it was enlightening. His legacy shone brightly as a symbol of compassion, focus and dedication to the greater good. I have discovered another person who was willing to givee up his life of comfort for a noble cause. He demonstrated great humility and selflessness as well as commitment in giving kids the right education regardless of their social status or background. I was touched and this thought resonated deeply within me. It was a testament to his belief in equality and inclusivity which are still as relevant today as they were in his time. St. John Baptist de La Salle also lived not only as a virtuous person but also as a pioneer in education and leadership. His willingness to take risks and innovate in this field set him apart as a visionary. As I dug further into his life story, I have discovered valuable insights about his servant leadership, which is a philosophy centered on such selflessless and personal empowerment. This highlighted the importance of good mentorship that could inspire countless individuals to embrace such roles with integrity and compassion. I felt a deep sense of internal healing and new purpose as we watched the video and read the teachings of St. John Baptist de La Salle including participations in conversations about ethics and corporate social responsibility. Our virtual classroom turned into a safe haven for intellectual discussion, where I wrestled with difficult moral decisions and thought about the sort of leader I wanted to be. It became clear that genuine leadership comes from a place of moral integrity, empathy, and sincerity rather than from authority or skill alone.

When I think back on my professional experience, I see that it had been a long time since I had encountered a subject that placed such a strong focus on ethics and values. The idea of staying as a good and moral person in both my personal and professional life seems to have been pushed back in my quest to move up the corporate ladder. But, this subject may potentially give me a chance to go relearn these fundamental ideas and trekk through a path of self-realization and growth. In my pursuit of personal and professional growth, I recognized the need to farm not only competence but also character. Each lesson will serve as a stepping stone towards becoming a better son, a loyal friend, and a responsible leader. I realized that leadership is not confined to board meetings; it also manifests in everyday interactions, in the choices we make, and in the values we uphold.

In summary, I think Lasallian Business Leadership, Ethics, and CSR course is more than just an MBA subject that we need to go through. It is going to be an important bridge that will help me reshape my personality and would definitely inspire me to become a good leader that respects that important social responsibility and ethical standards. With insights coming from St. John Baptist de La Salle, I am eager to push through this incredible adventure of self-growth and development. I'm very excited to change not only my world, but also the world around me.