BIG SHOES TO FILL, HARD ACT TO FOLLOW..

i'm always having goose bumps every time i read or hear reviews/interviews/anecdotes about how good a person was my boss SILG Robredo.. maybe because i can't believe there would be someone in the government service who would prefer not to use his power and government resources to his advantage; maybe because 'naghihinayang' ako why people like him would pass away this early when he still has to continue stirring LGUs towards excellence in governance; maybe because desperately i wish that all people in government would emulate his prudence as a public servant, his participatory leadership style and modest personal life.. but on top of these, maybe i am just having my apprehension knowing that being part of the department pushing for the much needed reforms in LGUs- i will play a big role in upholding the legacy that he bequeathed upon us.? haiz, first, there were withheld tears, now it's this- goosebumps.. :( RIP #SecJesseRobredo

AN ATTEMPT TO REVIVE A HIBERNATING BLOG.SPOT

I can't believe it's been two years, two months and fourteen days since i last wrote and publish my random thoughts here.  Much as I would like to take the blame myself for this inaction, but honestly there were so many factors other than my failure to sustain what was supposed to be a promising start.  There is career and family, and a small business to attend to, plus career and family, and career and family, and nothing more.

I am not promising anyone the moon or the stars, but this is all I can say- I'm back.!

DESTINY IS ALWAYS THERE FOR THE TAKING

As I watched Jovit Baldivino wait for the announcement of his sure win in the Pilipinas Got Talent last night, the more I was convinced that destiny in any form is always there for the taking. It's not available for just anybody though, but only for those who were conceived to go for the kill, and Jovit is one of them.

Jovit Baldivino was an ordinary pinoy before PGT. He would have been just an ordinary hopeful spectator all through his life, had it not been written in the stars that he will soon be one of the stars- and that, you call destiny. Kris Aquino says it's charisma, FMG may say it's just sheer talent, but having any or both won't assure anyone of superstardom as immediate as that which happened to the 16 year-old Batangueno. As it is, life would surely not be the same again for the diminutive singer that has rocked the whole of Araneta with a voice so powerful it has sent people from all over the world, including me, texting PGT JOVIT to 2331.

Melay Cantiveros was a simple lass from Davao before PBB. She would have been forever simple had it not been her destiny to conquer Big Brother's house and PBB fans. The euphoria of his winning PBB Double Up- Season 3 has already died down, but look where she is now, rubbing elbows with the gods and goddesses of movie and television fiefdoms. A feat that has steamed not from extra-ordinary looks and a super-duper talent because we know she cannot boast of so much. Yet, whatever it is that has endeared her to the masa, there is no denying that Melay is already there where her stars should be. So again, for me, that is destiny.

Charice Pempenco has been wishing to reach the stars since she was a kid, until a contest in ABS-CBN shuttered all her dreams. Young as she was then, and not quite prepared for that one big loss, she retreated and stopped her fancy flight for a while. It took someone else to upload a video of her singing in another country for her to redeem the victory that she felt was denied of her, and the rest is history. Where is Charice now? She's all over the world. What is she now? A renowned artist of the first caliber hobnobbing with the mightiest of the mighty in the international music world. If you don't call that destiny, then what do you call that?

The above-mentioned references with how destiny chartered itself is not so much different from the fate of Benigno Simeon Aquino III being finally elected to the Presidency. Who would have think PNoy would be President of this country? First, it was never an ambition for him. Second, the Aquino family was against the idea: no, not again, never. Third, his critics say there was no outstanding political performance to back him up, just in case. In fact, he and his family were so reluctant to give the nod even up to the last hour, an the decision was such in a haste that not even a clear platform was made available until halfway through the campaign. Moreover, he didn't have the much needed political machinery and campaign funds yet he survived through the help of millions of volunteers and donations, and finally he was elected.

PNoy's percentage of the votes at 42.08% is the highest plurality since the restoration of democracy in EDSA. It may not have been pre-programmed but he was destined to lead, and so it is. No one can ever prevent destiny because it's there for the taking, and so it goes..

Kalayaan Mula Sa Kamay Ni PGMA, Sa Totoo Lang!

Mula ng ako'y mapasali sa napakalaking organisasyon ng kawanihan sa gobyerno, nakagawian ko nang namnamin ang diwa ng Araw ng Kalayaan. Hindi iilang beses na ako'y naging derektang kasali sa napakahalagang araw na ito sa kasyasayan nating mga Pilipino, mula sa paghabi ng mga plano hanggang sa aktuwal na pagpapatupad ng mga ito. Katulad ng mga nagdaang taon, isang muling pagsasadiwa ang pinagkaabalahan ng kasalukuyang pamahalaan upang minsan pa ay maisapuso at maramdaman nating lahat ang kadakilaan ng mga naunang bayani ng bayan.

Ang ipinagtataka ko lang, bakit sa halip na buhayin nating muli ang alab ng puso ng ating mga ninuno, ang pagmamahal sa bayan at ang kasarinlan, bakit iba ang ipinangalandakan.

Ang ipinagtataka ko pa rin, bakit kelangang isa-isahin at iparada ang mga nagawa ng kasalukuyang pamahalaan kung ito ay talaga ngang ginawa? Kasi imposible namang hindi natin ito nalaman, nakita o naramdaman man lang?

Ang ipinagtataka kong mas higit, bakit kelangang gumastos ng pagkalaki-laking sampung milyon peso para lang dito? Sa halip na tayo ay malula sa mga ipinagmamalaking hindi birong mga nagawa, tayo ay nalula sa napakalaking perang nawala.

Sa totoo lang, kelangan pa bang gawin ng pamahalaan iyon? O kinakailangan lang talagang gawin ng isang Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang mga yun.? Para saan? At para ano?

Sa totoo lang, meron pa bang mababago sa kung pano natin mailalarawan ang mahigit 9 na taon niyang pamamahala sa bayan? Pa-ano?

Sa totoo lang, dapat sana noon pa naisip ni Gloria Arroyo na mas masarap at mas masaya sana kung aalis siyang panay magagandang legado at pamana ang iiwan sa puso ng tao.

Sa totoo lang, mahalaga pa ba talaga sa tao kung anuman ang gusto niyang ipahiwatig ngayong nalalapit na ang inaasahang pagtatapos ng makulimlim niyang bituin?

Ang pagkaka-alam ko, hindi masyadong tumatak sa tao kung anuman ang esensya ng selebrayon ng Araw ng Kalayaan sa ika -112 na anibersaryo nito. Maliban kasi sa iniba nila ang dapat sana'y buod nito, ang buong bayan ay ibang kalayaan ang inaabangan, sa totoo lang. Ito ay ang kalayaan sa kamay ni Arroyo, pinakasusuya-an at pinakayayamutan na Presidente pagkatapos ni Marcos.

Sa wakas, labing siyam na araw na lang at tayo ay makakabanaag na nang mga hibla ng pag-asa para sa pagsasakatuparan nang minimithing pagbabago sa ilalim ng bagong gobyerno. Bagong Pilipinas. Bagong Pilipino. Mas may dangal. Mas matatag. At mas nagmamahal sa bayan.

Funny Nene: The Old Man On The Way Out

(Here is an excerpt from Karen Davila's talk with Senator Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, Jr this morning in HEADSTART at ANC.)


Davila: What's your legacy as a Senator?
Pimentel: Saying NO to the temptations of public office to enrich one's self.

Davila: One word to describe Enrile?
Pimentel: Authoritarian.

Davila: Escudero?
Pimentel: Very shifty.

Davila: Zubiri?
Pimentel: Should be out.

Davila: Describe Biazon?
Pimentel: Thank God, elected to the house.

Davila: Bong Revilla?
Pimentel: Fit to be local executive.

Davila: Describe Jinggoy Estrada?
Pimentel: Better than his peers in the movie world.

Davila: Lito Lapid?
Pimentel: Should go back to Pampangga.

Davila: Describe Pia Cayetano?
Pimentel: Good exponent of women's rights.

Davila: Legarda?
Pimentel: Good spokesperson for climate change.

Davila: Miriam Santiago?
Pimentel: The senate would be a sad place without her.

Davila: Joker Arroyo?
Pimentel: An old man waiting to retire.

Davila: TG Guingona?
Pimentel: Good man from Mindanao.

Davila: Drilon?
Pimentel: Getting sad over Kiko's challenge.

Davila: Pangilinan?
Pimentel: Trying to upset Frank.

Davila: Villar?
Pimentel: Man of the hour, he'll probably be Senate President.

Davila: Madrigal?
Pimentel: Very difficult to describe.

Davila: Honasan?
Pimentel: Stable under fire.

Davila: Angara?
Pimentel: Could be anywhere, anytime, very astute politician.

Davila: Laczon?
Pimentel: In hiding of course.

Davila: Bongbong Marcos?
Pimentel: He might prove a redeeming feature of the family.

Davila: Trillanes?
Pimentel: He should've been out a long time ago.

Davila: Describe Nene Pimentel?
Pimentel: Old man on the way out.

Seven Habits Application for Managers (Dec. 2009)

(Echos lamang po eto.. lol.. napilitan lang po akong isulat eto noon kasi hinihingi ng training management sa mga nominees para sa Seven Habits Application for Managers. Mangyaring huwag pong seryosohin.:D)

Name of Nominee: JOY FRANCES M. MONSANTO (DILG-Samar)

1. How do you see yourself in the next 10 years?

For seventeen (17) years of being in the Department, first, as an LGOO directly involved in the implementation of major programs at the Municipal Level, then, as an OIC-Assistant Provincial Director involved in the administrative and management operations at the Provincial Level, I could say that I have gained the knowledge and skills required to effectively promote and put into concrete action the Department’s mission and vision. Nevertheless, I know that I should not rest on these accomplishments. Instead, I should nurture everything that I have learned and turn it into something more valuable and contributory to the betterment of the Department’s Provincial Office’s operation. In order for me to do so, I should seek greater and better training in this area.

Our generation of Local Government Operations Officers came at a time when the Department was undergoing change from its previous regulatory and supervisory function to that of coordinative and facilitative.We were lucky enough not to have experienced the different transition dilemma brought about by the sudden shift, but were inauspicious to be in the frontline trying to content ourselves with what was left for us to do after decentralization and local autonomy. This had just been part of a dim past. DILG withstood its trying times; and today, it remains as an agency that continues to develop programs and strategies which brings and spells, relevance to local governance and development. Now considered as a knowledge-centric organization, there is a need for its people, specifically the LGOOs, to be equipped with enough familiarity and understanding of its major programs, share it with the clientele, and ensure that it is utilized to produce the expected results.

Banking on all these, I could very well see what I would become ten years from now. In a broader perspective, I could see myself still in the government service and proud to be part of a Department that has always required quality performance from its human resources. To further narrow down my option based on a self-imposed long term goal, I would probably be one of the DILG regional leaders with excellent capacity in converging development partners towards local development. Just like any other LGOO, I can see myself as a catalyst in its truest sense, a complete resource person with a key role in promoting a culture of learning for excellence in local governance through linkages and networking strategies, facilitating knowledge sharing and utilization processes, and brokering strategic knowledge to transform and apply data information for effective and responsive action.


2. With broader and deeper local autonomy, what strategic role should DILG play?

In a decentralized government like ours, there needs to be a convergence of stakeholders (i.e. the national government, the LGUs, business sectors and civil society, etc.), in administrative, political and environmental governance, that shall focus its concerted efforts on the main issues to be resolved. In the present set up, the national government, especially the DILG shall provide policy directions so that local governments shall be able to effectively and efficiently perform service delivery aimed towards the attainment of self-reliant and autonomous local authorities and active partners for national development.

The role that our Department plays in local governance has changed considerably from that of regulation and supervision during the pre-local autonomy days, to coordination and facilitation after the implementation of the Local Government Code of 1991. Capacity development for local governments has been a major concern since then, and being a proactive organization, DILG has introduced numerous initiatives through its different programs, projects and activities that would address related issues and help capacitate LGUs. Over the last few years, it has exerted effort to keep its new mandate as catalyst for excellence in local governance while trying to strengthen local autonomy in its real sense by practicing knowledge management through the use of performance data, identification, documentation and replication of exemplary practices, establishment of Local Government Resource Centers, and the convergence and synergy of local governance initiatives within the Department and with other national government agencies.

With this positive development in terms of building a culture of learning and knowledge sharing in the local governance sector, while at the same time maintaining the principles of local autonomy, DILG, then, shall be the capacity development enabler, specifically directing and steering the capacity building efforts of local government units and providing support both to the service providers and beneficiaries to ensure that these are sustained and utilized. In so doing it shall work hand in hand with the various leagues and the different level LGUs as direct partners; the academic institutions, local resources institutions, NGOs and Research Institutes as capacity development providers; and the civil society, people’s organizations, non-government organizations and the rest of the citizenry as indirect partners.

Today is June 9 - nueve - NoyBi.. pwede..

At past 3:00 Pm today the two people i voted for the first two highest positions in the land were proclaimed in a joint session by the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives. The choices of the Filipino people were officially made known to the world. Finally, the Philippines has its new leaders now in the persons of President-Elect Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino Cojuangco III and Vice President-Elect Jejomar Cabauatan Binay who are to be inaugurated into office on June 30, 2010.

For the first time since I had my rhinitis attack the other Friday (May 31) to the time I took my first antibiotic last Friday (June 5), It is only today (June 9) that I was thankful I ever had the attack, because I was able to watch the entire proceeding at home undisturbed by office works and walk-in clients.

UNTITLED

When I was a child, I had this notion that wise men don’t make mistakes. This impression didn't last long though because real stories of people I know tell me that just like any other human being, they are also capable of committing blunders. Some of these miscalculations were even sensationalized because the subjects were either scholarly or just plain smart. Time hasn't reversed these realities. Until now blunders committed by high profile individuals still happen every day: in government, in society, in business, and just almost everywhere.

There are a lot of factors that contribute to how we make good decisions, one of which is our perceived ability to rationalize or to make sound judgments. Yet, this is only possible with a focused mind and a conscious awareness of a given situation, virtues that smarter persons are regarded to posses. It is when we let our emotions set-in that we begin to refuse to see reason and we opt to deny ourselves the obvious truth. Eventually, in our effort to set something according to what our preconditioned minds want it to be, we over-rationalize.

Sometimes intelligent people fail, because they always give reason to almost anything: bad decisions are justified, wrong plans are given contingencies, negative effects are reinforced, and so forth. These reasons and many more consequently put these persons in complicated circumstances especially when it comes to matters of the heart.

In relationships, over-rationalizing individuals usually start off as hopeless romantics but eventually end up being romantic fools. Some don't even have the guts to get out of the situation they're in even if worse comes to worst. Their kind of rationalization sometimes don't come within reasonable bounds, hence they fail to define their exact masochistic limitations. They are afraid to let go of the status quo and some much-preserved memories, hence they find it hard to move on. Some are just plane rational to want to shield themselves from public scrutiny, and from the self-righteous glare of the very society that dictated to us what is moral and what is not. Afraid of the stigma attached to people involve in failed relationships, they put emphasis on what is right for society to see than what is actually good for them.

Things are different now though. It’s like we all have to dance to the latest craze, sing the latest tune, walk the latest pace, and act in conformity with what the world has to offer. The world is evolving and so must we. Have we ever wondered how things around us would have been different if we haven't shifted to what are already acceptable in present times? Would there have been automation in elections, or would we still be in caves till now? Let the future be the judge.

WHO AM I

by: Maegan Zeresh Mahinay Monsanto

(This was part of the portfolio she submitted to her English teacher, who gave her 5 points each for the following criteria: mechanics, artistry, creativity and neatness. She was 12 years old at that time and was a struggling first year high school student, MG Section at Samar National Scool.)

My full name is Maegan Zeresh Mahinay Monsanto. I have been in this world 12 years since the day I first saw light in the early morning of November 07, 1995. My mother delivered me through cesarean operation after 12 hours of maternity labor because I weighed 8.0 lbs at birth. The second child in the family, I was born 8 years after my first sibling was born and 3 years before our younger sister.

The family was living in Paranas, Samar at the time of my birth. We transferred to our new house in V&G Subdivision, Barangay San Andres, Catbalogan City in 1996. Due to the separation of my parents, my mother brought me and my siblings back to Paranas, Samar in April of 2005 and we live there for some time, while my father stayed in our house. In November of the same year, we went back to Catbalogan City and rented a house in Barangay 11, Patag District.

For my preparatory education, I went to Samar Christian Academy for Nursery, and at Catbalogan I Central Elementary Scool for Kinder I and Kinder II, where I graduated first honors. I had my elementary education at Catbalogan 1 SPED Center where I was a consistent honor student from Grade I to Grade VI.

I had so much learning during my elementary years. Being in SPED Center, I was given a lot of opportunities to hone my knowledge, talents and skills through academic and non-academic activities. I also had a lot of fun during those times together with my classmates and friends. My very first friends then were Camille Yboa, Jenssen Uy, Ara Linde, Kloster Saises, Quennie Resco, Nicole Dimaculangan and a lot more. We are still friends until now.

We have a big family both from my mother's and father's side. My mother is Joy Frances Mahinay Monsanto, 45 years old. She was born on October 18, 1962 at Bagacay Mines Hospital in Hinabangan, Samar. She is from Paranas, Samar and a descendant of the Mabulay, Babalcon, Figueroa, Jabinez and Quebec clans. My father is Alberto Villalon Monsanto, 43 years old, born on November 15, 1964 in Calbayog City. He traces his roots from both Calbayog City and Oras, Eastern Samar.

I have a 21 year-old sister, born on May 22, 1987 in Catbalogan City. She is Ashley May Alison Mahinay Monsanto who is now taking up Bachelor of Laws in San Beda College. She graduated cum laude from UP Diliman, and has a Bachelor of Public Administration degree. A younger sister, Zeimon Abijah Mahinay Monsanto, also born in Catbalogan City, will be truning 10 this coming August 05, 2008. She is currently enrolled Grade III at Catbalogan I SPED Center.

The writer is my second daughter, who from a very early age has already shown potentials of a good writer. She was into diary writing in elementary, and it was during those times that i found out she has penchants for writing. She has stopped writing though when she realized that her works were not private anymore because I was reading some of them, a violation to privacy which I have regretted doing. I am encouraging her to go back into writing again. I told her that instead of cutie diary entries, she might do some light and simple literary works. I also said she may start by creating her own blog, which she already did. As to when she will begin to write in that blog and eventually publish her works, that remains to be seen.

Power Offs and Quality Bonding Trade Offs

I learned about today's scheduled brownout late last night, but I didn't expect it to happen as early as 7:30 in the morning. I am sure of the exact time because when I was aroused from sleep due to the very hot temperature, I immediately looked at the clock to ensure that it was the pre-announced power off that was causing the unbearable heat. I even remembered wishing odtherwise as I slowly panned my gaze towards the time-piece.


I admit I really felt bad not having known early of the scheduled power-failure because had it been so, a family movie date for Sunday would have been set today. A last minute schedule adjustment would have been possible had it not for an earlier appointment with the house help for a Saturday house clean-up. Honestly I was satisfied that the house grooming did push through, but not without exposing all of us to an oven-like temperature that had us all sweating and silently cursing until 5:00 in the afternoon.


As I sit down to write this piece and ponder on what transpired during the day, I realized that power-offs have positive effects on people. First, my children and I found ourselves reading some books that we haven't even had the time to scan in the past. It was because all the while, we had either been glued to our television set or engrossed with the net. Second, children from the neighborhood busied themselves with outside games at mid morning; the much older ones watched and teased them. Third, people went out to talk with their neighbors; some tried to find time bonding with family members. All these happened because it was not possible to surf the net and watch television. I also assume a lot of cellphone batteries were half empty just before the brownout, hence texting was not maximized.


It may sound absurd, but I wish unannounced power offs will be more often if only to bring back age-old traditions: long quality talks with family members, pleasant conversation with neighbors, cheerful outside games among neighborhood children, and so forth. A powerless day could be worth all the sweat and the secret curses because during that moment, we tend to set aside leisurely activities that do not promote camaraderie and tight family bonding.

Breaking Loose..

At first i thought i could not make it, but i did. Then i thought it would take days or even weeks before i could even post my initial thoughts, but my excitement broke loose, and i did. This is just the beginning, I vow to make this a lifetime passion.

Not-So-White Lies..

"I care about the housewife who has to care for her children, I care about the farmer who has to fed the nation, I care about the student who has to graduate, I care about the padre de pamilya who has to care for his family." These are the words of Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the most hated and despised Philippine President after Marcos. She had more than 9 years to have had put these words into action, but she did not.


Ex-President Joseph Ejercito Estrada said, "I am willing to offer my services in whatever capacity should Presumptive President-elect Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III request for it". He uttered this words for all the world to hear in the midst of his pronouncements that he is not conceding to the latter, despite their almost 5 million vote difference as of the latest count and with only about 1.4 million still to be canvassed.


"I did my best but I guess my best wasn't good enough", said Speaker Prospero C. Nograles on the failure of the 14th Congress to ratify the Freedom of Information Bill. Yet, we saw on national television that he simply laughed-off a duly seconded motion invoking a house rule saying that congressmen can be arrested so that they could be physically present during plenary proceedings.

Hachiko

from Wikpedia, the free encyclopedia:

Hachikō (ハチ公, November 10, 1923–March 8, 1935), known in Japanese as chūken Hachikō (忠犬ハチ公, "faithful dog Hachikō" ('hachi' meaning 'eight', a number referring to the position within the nest the dog came from, and 'kō' being a Japanese familiar suffix)). Hachikō was an Akita dog born on a farm near the city of Ōdate, Akita Prefecture, remembered for his loyalty to his owner, even many years after his owner's death.

In 1924, Hachikō was brought to Tokyo by his owner, Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo. During his owner's life Hachikō saw him out from the front door and greeted him at the end of the day at the nearby Shibuya Station. The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor Ueno did not return on the usual train one evening. The professor had suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage at the university that day. He died and never returned to the train station where his friend was waiting. Hachikō was loyal and every day for the next nine years he waited sitting there amongst the town's folk.

Hachikō was given away after his master's death, but he routinely escaped, showing up again and again at his old home. Eventually, Hachikō apparently realized that Professor Ueno no longer lived at the house. So he went to look for his master at the train station where he had accompanied him so many times before. Each day, Hachikō waited for Professor Ueno to return. And each day he did not see his friend among the commuters at the station.

The permanent fixture at the train station that was Hachikō attracted the attention of other commuters. Many of the people who frequented the Shibuya train station had seen Hachikō and Professor Ueno together each day. They brought Hachikō treats and food to nourish him during his wait.

This continued for nine years with Hachikō appearing precisely when the train was due at the station.

Learning is a continuous process. Relying on this dictum and inspired by the story of Hachiko, the Japanese Akita dog, I created a blog today June 3, 2010. A long time plan is now a reality.

I will differ posting my succeeding random thoughts until i would have mastered all the ins and outs of blogging. I am giving myself enough time, maybe until Presumptive President-Elect Aquino's Inauguration Day or earlier. Wish me luck!