IN PHOTOS: Lanao del Sur's Nature Trek and Marches

Staying at MSU since 2002, visiting Marawi City several times, going to the viewing deck of the cliff, fasting for a day, and joining our brethren once in Tarawih during Ramadhan, as well as taking a glimpse and swimming in Lanao Lake, made me feel like I had seen everything. However, it wasn't until I trekked down the hill that I realized there was a hidden beauty far from the hustle and bustle of the city—where a lush environment was all I could see: no trash, no pressures, just peaceful living. :)

In November 2014, I received an invitation from Lt. Colonel Bienvenido Alabot of the 1006th Community Defense Center to join the 1st Lanao del Sur Nature Trek and Marches. I was excited because I truly love exploring new places, and the thought of doing it in Marawi City was especially interesting.

The day arrived, and I woke up at 5:00 AM, given that the assembly time was 6:00 AM. I was accompanied by a colleague from the Marketing Department, Sir Ralph Buca.

Upon reaching Campo Ranao, we were greeted by an awe-inspiring view. :)

The participants started gathering at the Campo Ranao Grounds.

And so the trek begins...

Sharing with you the photos as we explored Marawi and neighboring places in Lanao del Sur.

Sir Ralph Buca taking photos :)

Sir Buca enjoying the trek. :)

It was a long and tiring day, but my heart was filled with awe and gratitude. Indeed, Lanao del Sur is such a wonderful place. If only people from other regions could visit Marawi and explore its tourist attractions, they would realize that Lanao del Sur is not just about war, kidnappings, and bombings. Thank you so much, Sir Alabot, for having us. :) God bless ;)

I'm looking forward to more adventures in Lanao del Sur :) Thank you, Lord :)

Resiliency and Vigor in the name of Peace and Progress - A Declamation Piece

Photo Credit: https://erikbrewer.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/jehovah-shalom-the-lord-is-our-peace/

“Papa!!! Help!!! Please help us!!! My body aches!!! I can hardly move.” I fell badly from the motorcycle we were riding in. “Papa!!!” I screamed out loud but I could not hear any reply except for the deafening silence of the night. Then, strange sounds from the jungle made me scared. Huhuhuhu. I slowly opened my eyes and with all my might, I looked for my father and a couple of meters away I saw him breathing in and breathing out uneasily. “Father, please hold on! Help, we need help! My father is dying! Oh my God!!! My father was shot dead by a gunman riding in tandem on board a motorcycle.” He tried to survive but the criminals shoot him again. Then, before my father’s one last breath, he uttered, “Mary Jane, pursue your dreams and never give up. God will be with you.”  “Yes Papa,” was all I could say. Huhuhuhu… “Oh God, please help me deal with this problem. I don’t think if I could ever survive. Huhuhuhu.”

Then, someone said, “Mary Jane, Mary Jane, Mary Jane, wake up!!! It’s already 8:00 o’clock in the morning. Hurry, today is our rehearsals for graduation at the Dimaporo Gymnasium. Get yourself fixed and we’ll catch up! Or else we will be required to have an extended CIVAC and we will not be allowed to join the commencement exercises!!!” I paused for a moment and reminisce the days when my father was still alive and everyone in the family shared happiness. “Mary Jane, there you go again,” my roommate interrupted. “Your graduation will be your ultimate gift to your father and your family. Remember that they strived so hard to help you reach this far. And yes, an MSUan will always be a survivor!!! You can do it!”

Like a thousand hopefuls, I dream to graduate in a prestigious university and my achievement will be dedicated to my father and my family.

Then comes the 50^th Commencement Exercises, “Mary Jane Panto, Bachelor of Science in Peace Education, Magna Cum Laude.” I can hear the resounding applause of the crowd and looking at my mother and siblings, I can see the joy in their faces. “How I wish my father is still with us, so I could make him proud too. But I know, he’s also happy with this humble achievement.”

“Good morning class. Today is Monday, August 1, 2016. I am Mary Jane Panto and I gladly welcome you all to Peace Education. I believe that Peace and Progress are inseparable for humanity to thrive. This is one of our ideals and may we all be guided in our dealings with our fellow human beings.”

I have loved teaching peace education that it makes me excited and passionate to teach my students the essence of peace building towards progress until one gloomy afternoon, when all my students have gone home before 5:30PM, a tall, dark and hmmm ‘nevermind’ guy entered the room. He stared at me and I began to quiver. Nevertheless, I managed to ask him, “Yes, how may I help you?” He took a glance at the window, as if to check that no one is around the building. Then, he immediately grabbed my hand, pulled me towards his body and maliciously touched the whole of me. I forcefully pushed him but he was strong enough to resist my opposition. I screamed out loud, “Help!!! Help!!!” But the rains have started to pour down heavily with a roaring thunderstorm and a frightening lightning. I begged him, “Please, don’t do it,” but he was too forceful. I tried to kick him and escaped a bit but he chased me with a wild grin on his face. “Nooooo!!!” I exerted everything I could but he got what he wanted. “Oh my God, what in a world is this? I could no longer bear this suffering!” Huhuhuhu.

Days passed and I convinced myself. “If I will remain mum and weak, the criminals will continually abuse other ladies like me. I need to fight for my right and with what happened to my father who was killed without any reason.” “Mr. President and to this most august body, these problems have become a norm in the university and elsewhere. Every now and then, a guy killed, a girl raped, a student wounded and a lot more. Will we let these life threatening occurrences to continue without doing anything? I am a rape victim and I will do my best to help Mindanao State University a better place to live in. We need to implore all the faculty, staff, students and residents to be vigilant and let us work hand in hand to attain lasting peace.”

Months passed and positive change has come in MSU. No more killings, no more rape incidents, no more snatching and everything is in order. Peace and Progress have become prevalent that academic excellence, social responsibility, cultural sensitivity and professionalism serve as the new culture. “Thank you God.” MSU now has all the updated state of the art academic facilities and every MSUan is enjoying it.

I am Mary Jane Panto, the newly appointed Vice President for Peace Administration J To God be all the glory J

Speech: Digital Marketing Skills Training Opening Remarks

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

My greetings to our distinguished and esteemed Resource Speakers: the ever vivacious 
Mr. Jhonny Paul Lagura, Founder and CEO of RISPhillipines. To the ever dazzling Mr.Ronald Ramboanga, Founder and CEO of Knights of Online Marketers. To the debonair Mr. Junriel Bonachita, Co-Founder and CTO of RISPhilippines. Mrs. Xerxes Queen Apostol Libre, Proprietor of Dexter Printhouse. Mr. Francis Steve Martinez, Enterprise owner of Tibo Martinez Videography.  To the ever hardworking event organizers, energetic students, ladies and gentlemen good morning and welcome to the 1^st Digital Marketing Skills Training in Mindanao State University, Marawi City.

The advent of the digital age has made the world of business more exciting, interesting and vibrant. It has paved the way for boundless opportunities from searching keywords to uploading contents online, from the traditional office jobs to virtual assistance programs and from brick and mortar store to electronic storefronts.

Today, I am enthused and overjoyed with the first big step we are traversing: that is, to explore digital opportunities and I thank the good Lord for the guidance, provision and for the availability of our Resource Speakers for this significant event.

The idea of conducting Digital Marketing Skills Training sprouted out of the need to elaborate and support the theories tackled in Mktg 111 which is all about E-Commerce and Internet Marketing. I firmly believe in the essence of putting into application the theories for it to become more useful not just to the learners but also to the beneficiaries such as the customers and the country at large. We also would like to capacitate the students with Digital Marketing skills and have it as one of their competencies in earning extra income while studying through online job opportunities and selling products through the e-commerce sites.

At this point in time, I would like our Resource Speakers to know that I am truly grateful for their lives. Thank God for allowing me to meet Sir Pau at the British Council’s Leaders for Social Impact Workshop, who at the time became part of my decision to finally appear at the venue because despite his busy schedules, he made it through the workshop (in stalker mode ako that time) :D To Miss Piper, reigning Miss Earth who really looks like a lady, thank you for our first meeting during the Rural Impact Sourcing Forum together with Mr. Junriel Bonachita who also readily said yes to my invitation for this Digital Marketing Skills Training. To Ms. Queen, my former marketing officer when I was the Marketing consultant at Tita Fannies Liempo and Chicken Haus and now our graphics designer in Deliciosa Ice Cream Center, thank you for the great works you have done. Thank you also to Sir Tibo for the quick positive reply to my invitation through facebook :) Even invitations have gone digital :) Thanks to the internet technology.

To my students, take this as a great avenue for learning and application. You have so much potentials to succeed in this field.

I’d like to end this talk with a quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe which goes “Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.”

Once again, welcome to the Digital marketing skills training and may God bless us all. 

Prof. Richard S. Celeste, MBM, REB

Mktg 111 Adviser 

HOPE AMIDST TRAGEDY - A Declamation Piece

This is the declamation piece I composed for the 54th MSU Literary Competitions. My inspiration for this article is Ms. Norombai Utto, the class valedictorian of Barangay Tukanalipao High School in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Part of her speech as translated by Rappler News is reflected here. :) God bless :) 

Photo Credit: http://www.kesn1033.com/hope-fellowship-podcast/

“Ladies and gentlemen, let us all welcome Omairah Mamasapano, the class valedictorian of Tagmalinao National High School for her valedictory address. A round of applause!!!”

“Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu. Peace be with you all. How I wish graduation day happens every day so that there will be no military operations, no crossfire, no outcry for safety and no signs of danger. How I wish that Maguindanao and the entire Mindanao will be peaceful where people of different cultures will live harmoniously and how I wish for an empowered youth for a bright future. But this moment I know is just temporary because the ceasefire order will expire in three days, in three short days. To the Philippine government: Instead of supporting war, I am hoping that you support and invest in our education – that education, and not fear, becomes the foundation of peace in our land.”

“I could still recall the day when my mother swiftly carried me and moved away from our home because a war ensued between the rebels and the military.” She hurriedly abandoned our place without wearing slippers just to keep us safe. “We were always frightened, terrified and traumatized of the incident that even until now, our safety is still at stake.”

Just this January 2015 while we were busy preparing for our breakfast, a disturbing crossfire startled us! Bang! Bang! Boom! Ratatatatatat! “Oh my God! Please keep us safe!” Boom, bang, bang, bang! The firing of guns continued as if it was targeted to us. Oh Mama, how I wish you are here to help us.” Being the elder sister of two brothers: Halim 10 and Arafat 12 years old, I quickly guided the escape, running towards a safer place but fate was harsh to us, Arafat got wounded and Halim got a stray bullet that made him paralyzed. “Halim, Halim please hold on, keep fighting to survive.” But Halim faced his untimely death… “Haliiiimmm!!! Oh my God!!!” Then, the most hurting realization was to notice my father meters away crippled because he was also hit by a gunshot during the crossfire. “Papa, huhuhuhuhu. I reached out to him but he was gasping to survive. Father, please hold on!” “Help, we need help! My father is dying!” Then, before my father’s one last breath, he uttered, “pursue your dreams and never give up. God will be with you.”  “Yes Papa,” was all I could say. Huhuhuhu… “Oh God, please help me deal with these challenges. I cannot do it alone. Huhuhuhu.”

These have brought me to pursue my studies in Mindanao State University Main Campus – the Melting Pot of the South as an academic scholar, with the goal of finishing a degree and become a teacher so I could educate the generations to come about advocating peace and harmony towards progress. But MSU is not complete without a couple of unique challenges:

“Mindanao State University Main Campus gladly welcomes Freshmen, Transferees and Old students!” Wow! I love that warm welcome message reflected on the tarpaulin and I got excited for enrolment. However, a group of students rallied against the administrators, “We demand justice! Extend the enrolment!!! Open new courses!!! Give us sufficient load!” It’s a sad fact that the enrolment every semester wouldn’t be complete without the emergence of problems such as inadequate courses offered, unavailability of the enrolment task force members, slow internet connection, endless waiting lines and even harassments. “Oh Lord, help us get through the struggles during enrolment.”

Then there’s a news that a student was shot dead, a girl summoned to death, a boy wounded and a lot more. I know I can withstand it. After all, I am Omairah Mamasapano, a survivor! And I am proud to say that MSU continues to soar higher by producing graduates who are topnotchers in various board and licensure examinations as well as graduates who are now successful in their fields of expertise and this keeps me excited. And well, there are newly constructed academic buildings resembling that of MLuilhier, Western Union, Puregold, Gaisano and a lot more! Only in MSU!!! :-) And yes, MSU has updated its curricular offerings in line with the ASEAN Integration like Outcomes-Based Education and K-12 program. “Thank God for giving us this wonderful university where we are molded to become culturally sensitive, socially responsible and morally upright. I believe my learnings here in MSU would serve as my inspiration to become an ambassador of peace and goodwill. Together with the other aspiring students and successful alumni, we will make Mindanao a better place to live in.”

Ladies and gentlemen, the candidates for graduation from the College of Educational Management! - Bachelor of Science in Peace Education, Omairah Mamasapano, Magna Cum Laude! Thank God!!! After all the struggles, here I am receiving a great honor. Papa, Mama, Halim, Arafat, and to all Mindanaoans this is all for you. Thank you so much. And to everyone in this hall, have the courage to face life’s difficulties because one way or another, it will help you become more resilient in the tests of time. Indeed, every struggle, heartache and disappointment has a seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.

The journey doesn’t end during our graduation and let it be that we join our hands in helping our beloved Mindanao State University realize her vision as a world class institution in 2020. Thank you everyone. God bless.

Let the Love Begin in Business

The world of business has always been attractive to business-minded individuals because of the anticipation of profit, prestige and expression of one’s passion. While businesses thrive towards progress, public impression goes evident that businessmen exist mainly for profit motives. This raises concern among the new generation of entrepreneurs taking into consideration the welfare of the society where they operate. In the same manner that quite a number of challenges including poverty, unemployment, human trafficking, and lack of access to affordable education bombard socially responsible individuals to do something for the benefit of others. This leads the way to a new concept in business – touching the very emotion of the entrepreneur which eventually becomes his expression of love in business. Hence, the era of social entrepreneurship.    

What is Social Entrepreneurship?

Entrepreneurship as a concept and as a practice has evolved from engaging into business for profit motives into a business venture for the good of the society which is named as social entrepreneurship. It is in line with the Chinese Proverb that goes “Give man a fish and he will live a day and teach man how to fish and he will live a lifetime.” Moreover, it is an undertaking whereby the entrepreneur conceives, organizes, manages and assumes the risks of an enterprise created for the good of society.

Truth be told that Social Entrepreneurship touches our emotions that we tend to be receptive and sensitive of the community that we belong. It is giving attention to a painful need, a seemingly endless problem that a large number of population suffers – something that makes you uncomfortable, disturbed and agitated that propels you to think of business ideas that would serve as a solution to the challenges. Simply put, Social Entrepreneurship is a business by the people, of the people and for the people.

My Journey  to Social Entrepreneurship

I learned about social entrepreneurship exactly four years ago through Project Pagsulong – a nationwide competition for Social Entrepreneurship Ideas. With its advocacy to have a societal impact, I took the chance of joining where I submitted E³ Radical Ventures which is all about Electronic Entrepreneurship Education. From then on, I fell in love with the concept and I was inspired to share it to my students with the commitment that I will apply it the simplest way I can.

While I find it to be too ambitious to undertake social entrepreneurship because I am also in need, I just find it imperative and necessary to do my part. We basically started MSU Young Entrepreneurs Society, 2nd semester of A.Y. 2013-204 with the end goal of helping out the self-supporting students by educating them about entrepreneurship, teach them how to implement business ideas and guide them in earning money for their benefit. It was a failed attempt due to busy schedules and other priorities but we have started reviving it now by producing polvoron, banana delight, papaya delight among others. We are few in number but I hope and pray that we will expand and be able to push it through no matter what.

Ideaspace Competition

Sometime in November 2014, we received an invitation to join a Nationwide Business Idea Competition in the field of Technopreneurship at MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology. Student participants converge at the venue, fully inspired to offer a business solution to societal problems through technology. I was one of the faculty chaperons and after knowing that the competition was open to all, I grabbed the chance. We then formed a team including the late Dr. Perla Calunod and Mr. Ralph Buca who are also my colleagues. The idea is coined as E³ Learning which focuses on Electronic Entrepreneurship Education. The main goal is to encourage the unemployed, less fortunate and struggling Filipinos to learn about entrepreneurship, do business and make a living out from it. Our business solution is far unique from the existing businesses because we lead the way from education to business idea implementation and from the employee mindset to entrepreneurial mindset. We make it a goal that all enrolees will be guided from idea generation, making of a business plan, sourcing of funds until implementation. The advocacy goes further with giving them tips for marketing strategies, bookkeeping and overall business management so their individual businesses will be successful. We were qualified for the Round 2 of Judging and we hope and pray that we could proceed to Round 3 and onwards J 

The Ongoing Challenge

Venturing into social entrepreneurship necessitates lifelong commitment, selfless effort and unwavering dedication to get things done. These challenges may be daunting and demanding but the advocacy is worth a try for the benefit of everyone concerned. Let’s embrace social entrepreneurship, practice it and may we become the catalysts of change this world has been longing for!  

Let the love begin in business. 

P.S. This is the article I wrote in the Portfolio Monthly Issue of ANG PAGSIBOL :-) 

Get a copy of the issue and enjoy reading :)