Time to be thrifty!

 The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.

                                                                             Proverbs 21:20

Ok, since the day i know how to reason out. I am aware that money is very important and it should not be wasted   on things unimportant. But ever since I became an AVON representative with an online job, I spend a big amount of that money for FOOD. I'm not a shopaholic, I don't get seduced by those drop dead shoes or dresses.. (I admit I was seduced once, but I fought with the urge anyway. But food? 

Hot fudge choco sundaes? Burgers? Greenwich pizza? Overload? Kwek-kwek? Crisscut fries? roti? Choco filled donuts? Hotdog sandwiches? Piattos? the list could go on and on.. Ohh.. I could live my life with just food by my side.

And so.. I have been wasting my money on these babies... (but i did pay for some school expenses though.. a teeny bit (: )

Earlier, since the AVON payments are near, I decided to calculate my earn.

and it turns out. I OVERSPENT AND HAD A DEBT INSTEAD. D: 

..luckily, it was only four pesos BUT. As i can see, it is a reminder that I should SAVE money. 

I have to buy me a new cellphone too so overspending now will never be an option

embedded and etched in my heart and brain is the word "THRIFT"

A resolve that should never ever be ignored.

So.. back to my old life. I have to reduce my weight anyway so I should avoid overeating too. (sigh) 

Goodbye food.

sometimes I wonder...

Professionalism in the Philippines

Professionalism. Our clinical instructor was asking our own definition of professionalism and the first thing that came through my mind was "degree holder". Turns out, my classmates also have this same thought. 

Professionalism is actually the combination of knowledge, skills, and attitude equivalent to competence.

I see, now that is what professionalism is. Let us dissect these three requirements: knowledge, skills and attitude.

• knowledge- I think this refers to gaining a degree, for you to be officially and legitimately called a PROFESSIONAL.And of course, you had to have the standard knowledge and the advanced knowledge for you to be called a professional.
• skills- These are REALLY important. For you to work effectively and efficiently, you've got to have the skills. Work to gain these skills for your profession.
• attitude- this is a very important element in a professional. Your attitude should fit with you profession. Your knowledge and skills will be useless if you don't have the right attitude. In fact, this is required everywhere!

So how is professionalism in the Philippines? I've heard from the news about teachers harassing their students, salesperson talking back at the customer, a policeman who committed rape, arson and etc., health care workers who are involved with an abortion and so on...

Well that's bothersome, I am really hoping to maintain my professionalism when I will become an officially registered nurse someday. I admit, most of their reasons usually involve money matters, life is really hard here in the Philippines and many of us live with "isang kahig-isang tuka". Yet, this is still WRONG. There is no such thing as a wrong being right. I mean, what you've done unprofessionally has its damage, it's effect on the other person, the people involved or even yourself.Plus you have tainted the profession's name, surely the negative outcomes will outnumber the positive ones. 

Ok, let us look into the bright side of things. Filipinos are known all over the world for the hardworking yet cheerful service they provide. And that is a good thing to be proud of, we Filipinos have the attitude! When it also comes to the knowledge and skills, we Filipinos are also competitive. We are the third largest English speaking country in the world and that makes me even more proud. Filipinos are known as fast learners too, diligent that we are we strive to reach that goal we believe in. I certainly hope all of these traits will not go in vain because of a single error that will destroy our professionalism.Certain important things are to be considered such as ethics so as a professional, we have to do what is expected of us appropriately.I guess each profession has its own standards of professional practice and I think doing a few reads won't make you ignorant of this anymore. 

Anyway, I've learned a lot from our class especially the topic about nursing professionalism and ethics. Now I'm not ignorant anymore, so it will really help to educate yourself with the ethics involved in your profession.

Good luck :)

Bother.. bother...

Let us dig deepah.. corruption in the Phils.

Enough with all the blabber about the its-all-the-leader's-fault-because-he's-corrupt mentality. It's clear to see that corruption is on a "trend" with our society today. Stashing some money from the student government's budget, buying votes, doing "mokong" in the jeepney, or even cheating itself is manifesting corruption (chos). 

By the way, corruption is actually defined as the use of public office for private gain.Or for more specificity, it is the Wrongdoing on the part of an authority or powerful party through the means that are illegitimate, immoral or incompatible with ethical standards. So that's it, that is corruption. But what I meant is that, I'me getting tired of filipinos always blaming and blaming and blaming. I'm sure you've heard of "utak talangka" or the crab mentality trait of filipinos. And yes, this is a very problematic inherent quality that  blocks our country-the Philippines in to becoming a successful nation.

Of course I can't deny the fact that a lot of our leaders are corrupted. As proven by the prestigious(joke:P) list of most corrupt countries in the world by the Philippine Star last 2010, we rank fourth. And that is why I am thankful with our latest president Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III that he had done what he said he would do with our corruption problem in the Philippines. And now, our transparency rate has improved. But how do we maintain this? Are we just gonna place these in the hands of the government? All of these?

Let us believe in the saying that it all involves with beginning from ourselves. I mean, many presidents have ruled over Philippines and yet, the problem of corruption has not yet been solved. Why is this? I start to wonder. The Filipinos (we) have already done people power 1 people, power 2, and people power 3 (and I believe people power 4 will make me sick na) but still, nothing significant has actually been changed (except for the people power 1 of course). Maybe it is because the people themselves are corrupt, or shall we say dishonest too. I also have done a few dishonest things myself and I am not proud of it but now, I resolved to do what I can and avoid making things that will make me corrupted. Really, it all starts with ourselves. 

"thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle..."

-Siddhartha Gautama 

Honesty is still the best policy. And if we try our BEST with being honest, I think corruption then will never be a problem. I am saddened as well as angry by our election situation today, especially here in Mindanao. Lots of running candidates are buying votes for their sure win in the elections. Dear reader, If you have received P100 or P500 or whatever for his/her vote do you think that sneaky candidate will serve the country with pure honesty? Hello? please wake up, this is for our country's sake. (so definitely, it is for your sake too). Please vote WISELY.

Mother Teresa

A saint, and a leader as well

"We  can do no great things, only small things with great love"

                                                       -Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa, is one of the most fascinating and highly respected women of our time. She dedicated her life into helping the poor, the dying and the sick.She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and won other awards such as the Philippines-based Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Pacem in Terris Award, an honorary Companion of the Order of Australia, the Order of Merit from both the United Kingdom and the United States, Albania's Golden Honour of the Nation  for her determination and will to be of use to the world. She is not at all that type of leader which worked for a higher position only for herself but she did it because it is her calling. She was born into a family with a comfortable life yet she chose the path the will let her undergo struggles. Instead of making herself rich and having that usual dream of  a house with white picket fence with a loving husband and kids, she chose to live with lepers, emaciated children and HIV-AIDS victims. Mother Teresa inspired me to be a nurse that cares for the sick and dying. Her beliefs and aspirations are my motivation.  

One amazing thing she did was her refusal for a conventional ceremonial banquet and asked that the $192,000 funds be given to the poor in India instead. Her selflessness had made her a leader, she gave the world all her talents and abilities and she was given love in return. Millions of people around the world regard her as an icon for love and peace.During her lifetime, Mother Teresa was named 18 times in the yearly Gallup's most admired men and women poll‎ as one of the ten women around the world that Americans admired most. When Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize, she was asked, "What can we do to promote world peace?" She answered "Go home and love your family." 

 Mother Teresa's leadership

Transformational leadership according to Bass and Aviolo is concerned with engaging the hearts and minds of others. It requires trust, concern and facilitation rather than direct control. The skills required are concerned with establishing a long-term vision, empowering people to control themselves. In 1948, she founded a religious order for nuns in Calcutta called the Missionaries of Charity,which is the primary task was to love and care for those persons nobody was prepared to look after. In 1965 the Society became an International Religious Family by a decree of Pope Paul VI. and up to now, even after her death she her organizations are still doing their work with zeal. Mother Teresa is a transformational leader, she has transformed many individuals into followers, inspiring them to love in action. Her faith and determination are so strong that it had moved many people to help others as well. 

                     "Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person."

                                                        -Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa's legacy will always stay in other peoples hearts, as well as mine. The living saint, the fountain of love, hope and inspiration.

"We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing."

                                           -Mother Teresa