THANK YOU MADAM PEARL: A Blog Tribute

Truth be told that people come into our lives as God’s instruments for us to grow, appreciate life and learn lessons from. The person’s existence however is limited, such that no matter how much we would love to have people stay in our lives, natural forces dictate that one has to bid farewell ahead of others. Hence, death is a phenomenon that poses a challenge to everyone concerned.

Photo taken on June 2006 during our practicum at the old CBAA Canteen. 
I was a fourth year student then. 

My journey in this beautiful world entails series of encounter with people who have made significant impact in my life. One of them is a dear fellow in the name of Dr. Perla Manzano-Calunod. My first encounter with her was during my college years where she served as my Academic Adviser. I felt privileged and cared because I always had full academic load every semester which made me finish the academic requirements of BSBA Entrepreneurial Marketing in less than 4 years; not to mention that I didn’t take summer classes and that I was a consistent academic scholar then. While I was under her advisory in various subjects such as Mktg 104 (Advertising), Mktg 198 (Marketing Research), and Entrep 109 (Entrepreneurial Competency Development) among others, I could not recall any moment when she reprimanded me. Perhaps because I managed to submit all the requirements on time and followed all her comments and suggestions on my research and paper works. 

I was 4^th year by then, when she encouraged me to join the department as a faculty. With my goal to immediately land a good job, I grabbed the opportunity. It was a momentous decision for me to explore the world of teaching because it was not my chosen degree. With Ma’am Pearl’s task of assigning me basic and/or foundation courses in Marketing such as Mktg 101 and Mktg 51, I was able to cope up with the demands of teaching the students even if meant an ordeal to me. It was also during my early years of teaching that I acted as her personal secretary, encoding communication letters and modules for her online instruction. Her penmanship must not be so good but I became adept at understanding what she meant through context clues and her unique strokes of alphabet writing :D Through this, I learned how to easily prepare correspondence and I am so thankful for the learning.

This was during the first department meeting on May 8, 2014 under my 
administration as Chairperson.

There came a point in our work relationships when we had a conflict due to the establishment of Entrep 110Pahayahay Resto – a business laboratory for the BSBA Entrepreneurial Marketing students at the commercial center. I thought all the while that it was due to the large difference between the schools of thought we advocate, i.e. the traditional and innovative ways of teaching. But it was about coordination, of letting them know my plans and advocacies and having them involved in the decision making. This conflict lasted for 4 long years, yes four long years… to the extent that he wouldn’t enter the office because I was around. There were a lot of instances that we crossed paths where I consistently greet her hello and good day but she remained snob. But God is gracious that He set things in order. At the time when we had elections for the Department Chairmanship, she expressed out all her grudges, heartaches and disappointments towards me. I never reacted but listened to all what she said until I had the chance to reply. Thank God we were reconciled. It was such a relief. From then on, we went well along. 

Then came our Department Team Building and Strategic Planning on May 2014. All the faculty members of the Department were around which added to the merriments of the activities. We explored the beautiful islands of Socorro, Surigao del Norte and ventured into sea adventures like swimming, snorkelling and diving; plus caving and scenic views watching. It was really a wondrous experience where everyone of us enjoyed each other’s company and each of us appreciating the awesome beauty of nature. 

Coincidentally, our getaway fell on Mothers’ Day Celebration. After our sumptuous dinner together, I surprised her and Ma’am Codas necklaces made from shells. Both of them got teary eyed being moms to their kids. Ma’am Pearl happily said that she won’t remove the necklace while we sleep. “Dili nako ni tanggalon, hatag baya ni sa Chairman,” she expressed. True enough, she had the necklace on while we travel back from Socorro to Iligan City.

God also gave us another chance to work as a team during the Ideaspace Technopreneurship Bootcamp held at MSU-IIT. I was amazed when Ma’am Pearl responded positively to my invitational text that we are joining the bootcamp, even if the notice was sent 3 hours before the event. The seminar-workshop included a business pitch competition where innovative ideas are showcased to a panel of judges.

Q & A portion during Business Pitch Competition

I asked the organizers if faculty members can join the contest and they readily said yes because it was open for all interested participants. I immediately formed a team of 3 with Ma’am Pearl and Sir Nash. We got so excited learning from the mentors who happened to be grand winners of the Ideaspace last year. They are simply inspiring because they were able to turn their ideas into reality with the help of Ideaspace. Then the time for the business pitch competition started where we needed to present our business ideas in 3 minutes so the audience and the judges could determine the best idea

Pictorial with the top 3 winning teams, Ideaspace personnel and judges

Our team was the 4^th presenter among 8 contenders. After my presentation, Ma’am Pearl and Sir Nash joined me in facing the judges’ queries. After thorough deliberation, the winners were announced with a canned drum roll… Starting off with third place, second place and the first place – E³ Radical Ventures… Ma’am Pearl jumped off her feet for joy which I seconded after I set aside the things on my lap. Thank you so much Lord for such success. I give credit to Ma’am Pearl for naming our business idea as E³ Learning because it used to be E³ Radical Ventures (now the company name). We received Php 5,000 worth of cash prize with Ideaspace shirt, notebook and other items. The judges and our mentors warmly congratulated us for our win. Ma’am Pearl kept on smiling, we hugged each other and cherished the moment. So glad that we had this chance together. After the event, I gave her Php 1,000 because she didn’t join the delegates for dinner. Thank you so much Ma’am Pearl for joining even if it was too close to the schedule.

Sharing happy moments of receiving the rewards... :)

Another moment we shared was during the Grand Opening of the New CBAA Canteen. I found it unusual to have Ma’am Pearl join the entire program because she doesn’t want to be recognized by the emcees. As the Adviser of Entrep 197 (Practicum in Entrepreneurial Marketing), I delivered the welcome message during the program. After my speech, Ma’am Pearl congratulated me. But instead of a handshake, she put her palm on top of mine. I just disregarded it but by the time I learned that she already passed away, I interpreted it as a gesture of goodbye, like there was a message through it that goes, “Take care of the Department Richard.” It has always been Ma’am Pearl’s concern on what will be the future of the CBAA Canteen. Huhuhu. I honestly feel pressured this time because a big responsibility is at stake. With what happened to my brother, I think of resignation from my job anytime soon. But with Ma’am Pearl’s last signs, I am having second thoughts. I lift unto God this confusions and plans and may He direct me in everything that I do.

Ribbon cutting ceremony for the New CBAA Canteen

These are parcels of our lives that we both share, moments that are really unforgettable and memories that will be forever cherished. Thank you Ma’am Pearl for the following lessons:

1.       Be open and be prepared to opportunities. I must have been very prepared to become a teacher because the moment you showed me possibilities, I readily grabbed it. I dedicate these successes I have in my career to you Ma'am Pearl. Thank you so much for the encouragement so I could join the faculty workforce of the Marketing Department.

2.       Be open for reconciliation and be willing to forgive. Our reconciliation was one of the biggest blessings I have in my career of dealing with people with different personalities. That 4 long years was enough for me to bear and it was truly a relief when finally we got reconciled. I wouldn’t be at peace now had we not solved our conflict.

3.       Be generous in showing gestures of love, concern and care to the people around you. We never know when will be the last time that we get to interact with the people we love. Don’t hesitate to give a flower, a card, a present or anything because we never know how significant it is for them. Appreciate, love and show some care. Nothing will be lost from you.

 I must have made this post quite long. I just want to express how thankful I am to God for having Ma’am Pearl as an instrument of faith, hope and love.

In pace requiescat Ma’am Pearl.

Speech: HOW DO I GET THERE FROM WHERE I AM NOW

Speech of Prof. Richard S. Celeste, MBM during the Seniors' Ball of Mindanao State University, Marawi City, October 11, 2014. 

Good evening Ezer Batch! Good evening warriors! How are you feeling right now? Can you please tell your seatmate right now, You look awesome tonight! My warmest congratulations to everyone of you for making it this far! You are indeed victorious warriors!

A couple of weeks from now, you will be conferred with your respective degrees and it reminds me of the day of our graduation way back in 2006. I simply got teary eyed and couldn’t help myself but ask, “WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?”  

Where do I go from here is the most common question of the students after they will be conferred as graduates. Tonight, we will transform the question into “HOW DO I GET THERE FROM WHERE I AM NOW? Again, HOW DO I GET THERE FROM WHERE I AM NOW? This question enables you to find means and I would like to share with you 5 important steps for you to reach what you want in life.

First on the list is: SET A GOAL. Goal setting is a mental preparation of what you want to be, what you want to do and what you want to have in the future. Your goals serve as the blueprint of your journey. According to Robert T. Kiyosaki – author of the renowned “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” – Goals have to be clear, simple and in writing. If they are not written and reviewed daily, they are not really goals. They are wishes. Wishes are just mere expressions and may not come true. Ladies and gentlemen, I encourage you to write all your plans in a goals book and review it daily because GOALS become powerful and attainable as you put it in writing and review it daily. Bo Sanchez – author of the 8 Secret of the Truly Rich further added that by writing down your dreams, you open yourself to life’s river of abundance. And when you read what you wrote daily, you multiply the power of that river tenfold.” Wow! Don’t you like to achieve your goals? Then start writing your goals when you get home and review it daily.

Second is: VISUALIZE YOUR FUTURE. Visualization is the power of creating clear mental images of who you will become in the near future. Doing it enables you to think, speak and act as if you are already the person you have dreamed of. Allow me to share with you a video clip showing what I have been through and my dreams in life.

This is so powerful because you will be able to attract people who will help you achieve your goals. It’s as if that the entire universe will conspire to make your dreams come true. I myself, experienced this. I visualized to be a well known and effective motivational speaker in the world and my presence at this very moment is a justification how visualization works. When Mr. Pelongo invited me to speak before you, I readily said yes. Why? Simply because this is a great opportunity for harnessing my speaking skills and soon I will be one of the most sought speakers.

Third is: PRAY AND BELIEVE IN GOD. Saying a fervent prayer and believing in God will lead us to the realization of our dreams. Faith in God is a very powerful guiding force available to mankind because as we pray, we develop in us, a positive mental attitude – making us enthusiastic and motivated in dealing life. In Mark 11:24, the Lord says, “Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. Thus, when we ask something from God, we should be happy and believe that we already received it and eventually, what we want will be realized, provided that it is based on a selfless intention. My faith in God was made more meaningful when I happened to know this passage in Jeremiah  29:11. I consider this as my guiding verse. It goes this way, “for I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Everything that has happened and will happen into our lives entail God’s plans, so patterned for our own good. What we need to do is to trust God and thank Him for everything. Showing gratitude to God can also be done by appreciating His creations and by thanking every person you mingle with, even circumstances. In fact, Napoleon Hill said, “Every adversity like disappointments, failures, misfortunes and even heartaches carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.” Every time you will encounter an adversity, give thanks for it because behind it is a blessing.

Fourth: Believe in yourself. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does. That’s what makes you a winner (Venus Williams). I like Dr. Daniel Amen’s 18/40/60 rule: When you’re 18, you worry about what everybody else is thinking about you; when you’re 40, you don’t give a darn what anybody thinks of you; and when you’re 60, you realize nobody's been thinking about you at all. Surprise, surprise! Most of the time, nobody’s been thinking about you at all! They are too busy worrying about their own lives, and if they are thinking about you at all, they are wondering what your are thinking about them. People think about themselves, not you. Think about it. All the time you are wasting worrying about what other people think about your ideas, your goals, your clothes, you hair and your home could all be better spent on thinking about and doing things that will achieve your goals. (Excerpt from The Success Principles by Jack Canfield).

Another thing that I would like to emphasize is: Make it a habit to say I can, rather than maybe I can or I cannot. When you think you can, you awaken in your mind the power that can. This simply means that from the moment you think you can, you will realize that indeed you can really do it and certain forces will guide you to the realization of what you want. Thus, what your mind can conceive, your body can achieve. Also, what is your immediate reaction when you want something and the price seems too high. More often than not, we say I cannot afford it. But don’t you know that there is a better way of saying it. Just mention, HOW CAN I AFFORD IT. This question opens possibilities such as being able to raise that certain amount of money or somebody will give you some funds or simply someone will give you what you wanted.

Fifth is: TAKE ACTION! [WHO WANTS THIS ACTIVITY]. Taking action is one of the most proven strategies to achieve your goals. It is the best way to succeed in life. Set aside the self-limiting beliefs and take one step at a time. The sooner you do it, the better. With your goals written out, make it real by taking a step one at a time. The task may be so daunting but don’t give up. Keep pushing forward until one day, you reach your dreams.  

Anytime soon, you may forget all these. Perhaps this is just one of the throwback moments you will have but I would like you to remember this fifth step which is to take actions. As Ms. Fleire Castro puts it, “Life is about being brave and taking that next shot at success.” 

Want to get rich? Do business. Network with like-minded individuals. Explore possibilities. Take action!

Want your dream job? Plan, prepare and prove your worth it! Take action!

Want to tell someone you love them? Be brave. Don’t hesitate! Take action! I tried but to no avail until the other way around happened :D I’m happily into a relationship :D Thank God J

What are those five ways for you to get there from where you are now?

1.    Set a goal

2.    Visualize your future

3.    Pray and believe in God

4.    Believe in yourself

5.    Take action!

Thank you so much everyone! I fervently pray for everyone’s success! God bless us all and have a good night!

Happy Teachers’ Day to all Educators

The onset of learning happens at home and the formal way of education is facilitated in schools by significant individuals whom we call teachers. These people prepare lesson plans, update class record, meet the class and teach students.

The world celebrates Teachers’ Day every October 5 of the year. This is to give honor, appreciation and gratitude to teachers who have a great impact to everyone’s life.

Like everyone else, teachers get tired and there are times when they feel futile and insignificant especially when challenges cross their paths. But as long as the commitment to touch people’s lives is felt, teachers face the struggle and continue pushing through despite the odds.

No wonder why teaching is considered to be the most noble profession because it takes a lot of patience, sacrifice and passion to teach and mold students to become better persons.

My Teacher, My Hero is no exaggeration. I could still remember my Grade 1 mentor “Teacher Lynneth” who showed me confidence and passion to teach me how to write, read and do arithmetic calculations. The little punishment inflicted in me remains fresh and it happened everytime I fail to recite the multiplication table and much reprimand when I got inside a “margarine container” for curiosity sake. Indeed, she has welcomed me well to the world of formal education that I finish every grade level successfully until I graduated elementary. It’s a bit funny though seeing each other these days that I become taller than her and doing the same thing :D Thank you so much Teacher Lynneth.

Entering high school was a bit tougher. Teachers seemed more demanding and threatening :D . Nevertheless, I have had the happiest experience during high school days. Among the teachers that left an enduring impact was Ma’am Andoy, now Sister Andoy who portrayed us the “must-do’s” in life. Everyone would be terrified when she gets mad and reprimands the class. Cleanliness in the room was well-emphasized that we exerted a lot of effort in maintaining it. Thank you Ma’am Neng.

Getting into college was the toughest when I had to deal with the financial situation our family faces. It was then the period when I had strong convictions to reach my goals of getting a degree and be employed to help our family. I was also receptive with people whom I can emulate with. Thanks to our kababayans Te Trex and Ma’am Edna who finished a degree in MSU and successfully became members of the MSU faculty. More thanks when Te Trex happened to be my instructor in English 4 that I had a close encounter with one of the persons I truly admire. Sharing the story of “The Little Prince” was worth pondering and meditating. Thank you so much Te Trex.

Pursuing graduate education was another exciting experience when I had to explore learning opportunities including blogging, social media marketing, toastmastering, leading the student organization, being the Marketing Consultant of Tita Fannies, exploring places and a lot more. Check the details of my MBM experience here. 

These are just some of the personal experiences I had with great teachers and how their influences endure. I thank all my teachers from elementary to present for the learning shared. My appreciation also goes to all teachers in the world.  May God bless you and your families. Keep inspiring more souls for you never know how far your influence goes.
Happy Teachers’ Day.

How about you? Who among your teachers inspired you the most? You can share it here…  Thanks…

MBM faculty and students go beyond borders

Graduate Education is a learning experience with a higher level of qualifications and expectations. It is undertaken by eager individuals to broaden their knowledge on their field of specialization. The Master in Business Management program of Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) aims primarily to produce competent human resources needed in the management of private and public sector organizations and cooperatives and in the development of new enterprises. One of its thrusts is to expose students to the actual world of business locally and internationally.

On July 14, 2011, 9 MBM students together with Prof. Milagros Narido, MBM Coordinator, Dr. Alita Roxas, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Ms. Merlyn Salimbangon, staff of the Marketing Department, ventured into an educational tour with the main objective of learning business operations, cross-cultural differences as well as new perspectives in business and life in general.

At 10 o’clock in the morning, they visited the country’s regulator of the capital market – the Philippine Stock Exchange located at Ayala Triangle, Ayala Avenue, Makati City. It has another trading floor located at Pasig City which will eventually be closed to minimize costs and have a centralized monitoring of the stock market. 

The group was accommodated by Ms. Mary Jane dela Rosa, a staff of the PSE’s market education department. She happily welcomed everyone and made an initial lecture on the history of PSE as well as refreshing the terms: stocks, stock market and stock exchange. She then led the team to the conference room overlooking the trading floor. Each cubicle is rented by a brokerage firm responsible for facilitating trading of a company’s stocks to various clients. Most of them are old to reflect credibility but there’s also the youngest broker whose age is 20.

The lecture included the benefits of investing in stocks by emphasizing the great returns one can have. As said, the higher the risk, the bigger the gain. To offset this risk, one can actually choose “blue chips” stocks or safe stocks offered by giant companies such as San Miguel Corporation. All publicly listed companies are required to submit a written report of the company’s status a couple of hours after each board meeting concerning the stock market. Violation of this requirement suggests sanctions including withdrawal from the roster of companies allowed to continue trading publicly. She also explained the significance of the colors on the wide screen as well as the names of the companies reflected in it. 

 The ringing of the bell will be made at the beginning and end of the trading session at 9:30AM and 12:00 noon, respectively.

The Trading Platform

 The group thanked Ms. MJ for a fun-filled and inspiring discussion. Then the group went to Ninoy Aquino International Airport to prepare for the 4:55pm flight to the next destination.

At 9:00 o’clock in the evening, the group arrived at Changi International Airport, Singapore which is considered to be one of the world’s best international airports. They were welcomed by Mr. Bernie Mantos, the President of the MSU-IIT Alumni in Singapore.

The next day, the group prepared to visit Mycofarm - the largest producer of mushroom in Singapore as well as Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd. – with their Tiger Beer as Singapore’s first locally brewed beer.

On their way to Mycofarm was a bit challenging. As strangers of the said country without a travel agent to guide them, the group “probed” by referring to a map, asking bus drivers and reading the guideposts in each station. Thank God, a Singaporean freely offered a suggestion what route are they going to take. It was such a relief because Seletar West Farmway 5 can be reached by riding two different buses, and a walk is needed to find that far flung area. Everyone was so glad to reach the entrance of Mycofarm, (sighs…hehe)

 The participants were welcomed by the general manager of Mycofarm and were further introduced to Mr. Johnny Lim, the production and marketing manager. After a brief introduction, they went to the “plant” where mushrooms are grown. The “plant” includes a number of air-conditioned buildings to facilitate proper nurture of mushrooms. The group was amazed with the sophisticated way of cultivating mushrooms and accordingly, it’s very expensive and only Singapore in Southeast Asia invests into such kind of technology. The team tried to taste the “raw” mushroom and some of them grinned…hehe. The most exciting part was the cooking demonstration where Johnny did the effort. Ma’am Narido and Ma’am Roxas also volunteered and enjoyed the activity. Then, the group enjoyed eating the dish with satisfaction and delight. It served as their lunch because it was already past 12:00 noon. After taking of photos, everyone thanked Johnny and the general manager for the accommodation. The group bade goodbye at 1:30pm.  

A glance inside the air-conditioned buildings

The next visit was at the Acia Pacific Breweries Ltd. located at Alexandra Point, an extreme opposite of Seletar. The team decided to take some snacks before proceeding toAPB. They were welcomed by the company’s tour guide to its showroom and production facilities.

They name it as the “Brewery Tour” where everyone gets the chance to learn the history of the company through multimedia presentations. A journey to the brewing and packaging facility followed where one can smell the beer, hear the sound of the machines operating and the colorful lights in the Tiger Tavern – a bar type lounge in which the visitors can enjoy the various types of beer. Mind you, it’s bottomless. If you love beer, this is the perfect place for you to plunge in. The group tasted some of these like the Heineken, Anchor Smooth, ABC Extra Stout, Baron’s, the Guinness and the original Tiger beer. It was a simple "trial" moment but the beer showed its effect when 2 of the ladies Ms. Leah and Ms. Nenenplayed billiards with some men there. Everyone cheered and the winners of course are from the visiting team! Kudos! Wew!!!

Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd is one of the major players in the beer industry. It has its branches in more than 10 countries. The manufacturing plant in Singapore can produce 40,000 bottles of beer everyday. The most popular beer product is the Tiger Beer with a high market share in Singapore, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Cambodia among others.

The group left the place at almost 6 o’clock in the evening. Thank God, the company visit has ended. The group explored further Singapore by visiting its tourist attractions. They visited the Merlion, the symbolic statue of Singapore, Universal Studios, Sentosa, Bugis Street,Expo, Marina Bay Sands, Esplanade and a lot more. They enjoyed riding a cable car, sightseeing at the Marina Towers, conquering their fears at the Galactica – the biggest roller coaster in the region, and the creative Revenge of the Mummy ride; being surprised with a relatively small “dragon” ride, witnessing a Hollywood live shooting at theWaterworld, and walking, walking, and walking where everyone got tired and would have wanted to sit along the streets, streets, streets.hahahaha…

 The educational tour ended on Monday, July 18, 2011.  It was a long journey of fun, learning and appreciation on the new perspectives about business and life in general. Singapore is a showcase of discipline, cleanliness, continuous development, great tourism and a foundation of great hopes for our country. Their people, their culture and aspirations are really amazing. Their love for their environment is equally impressive that anywhere you can find trees despite the tall buildings and the like. Their mode of transportation is highly convenient especially so that the MRT has a way to interconnect the various routes consisting of theNorth South Line (Red), East West Line (Green), North East Line (Purple), and theCircle Line (Yellow). These lead to different locations at your convenience. The government really has invested in its infrastructures, tourism and even people where every citizen there has a ready job.

Singapore is indeed a good example of where our country may be heading. It may take time but small steps are advised. A point of comparison has no room for debate considering various factors but seeing how Singapore started and grown is a great way to emulate.

The group would like to thank Mr. Bernie Mantos for his willingness to help the organizer coordinate with the companies to visit and even for the accommodation. Thank you Sir for doing the booking. More thanks to Prof. Milagros Narido and Dr. Alita Roxas for the patience, understanding and support. To the managers and other personnel who warmly welcomed the team for the company visit. To the alumni of MSU-IIT who met the group and spent a couple of hours for bonding. To their kababayans who find time to mingle with them. To the tourism of Singapore, thank you for the free map that served as their guide wherever they go. To those who joined the tour for the trust and confidence that it will be successful. And to those who in one way or the other has contributed to the success of the undertaking. And most importantly, to the Almighty Father who has been their ultimate protector and giver. Thank you so much.

There has been moments of mistakes and re-routes during the entire tour but it made the venture really educational in the truest sense of the word. The group has indeed learned in terms of enhancing self-confidence, appreciating cross-cultural differences and relating the theories to the actual world of business.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. God bless…

You may also read:


MBM Students' Tour at Mycofarm Pte. Ltd, Singapore 

Photo Credits:

Jerame Beneros

Marjorie Filoteo

Asia Pacific Breweries

Mycofarm

MSU-IIT

Thanks :-)