creation 1

POWER LEGIONS

Passionate: The very heart of a volunteer beats because of a deep and loving desire to give back all the graces God showered upon you through an act we call service, through selfless student service. This deep desire grows in a pace which ceases to stall but rather it accelerates into a compelling emotion we call passion. A volunteer is passionate. He ticks because of it and passion makes him do things not because he has to but because he wants to. Passion builds up energy while hard work consumes it. Passion then is the very fuel of a volunteer’s heart.

Openness: An open mind and heart to new experiences and ideas incites growth. It is in this growth that the volunteer finds more of himself. It is in this openness to growth that the fullest possible development of the volunteer’s capabilities is realized. He uncovers magnificent and new ideas about the world that acts as a springboard for more ideas, ideas that may change the mind, the school, and the world for the better.

Walks the talk: A volunteer’s mind and heart is rich with wisdom gained through experience joined by that passion to serve. This richness can never be kept in the mind and feelings alone, it will never grow. The volunteer has to animate this richness into concrete action. These actions, bold or simple, reveals what a true volunteer is.

Efficient and Effective: The two E’s governs the work of the volunteer. Efficiency is doing the best possible manner with the least waste of time. Effectiveness is accomplishing the purpose. These two E’s work hand-in-hand in producing a competitive volunteer who embraces each task with optimism, focus and an end in mind. A volunteer who walks and masters these 2 E’s emerges as a champion of his time and energy.

Resourceful: Seeing the three – dimensional world with a zillion point-of-view forges the genius in you. This notion that the world is a treasure throve of possibilities triggers the resourcefulness within you. Resourcefulness is not simply dealing with new situations skillfully but it is focusing in the richest possible potential in every moment, person, idea or object. A volunteer masters this art of finding countless possibilities and knows how to extract, create and develop it to good results.

Loving: It is in a loving heart that a volunteer sees the richness of the world around him. A volunteer can only love if he recognizes first himself as a unique being and personally and unconditionally loved by his Creator. Knowing that you are loved transforms how you look and deal with others. Engaging others with a loving attitude unlocks their potential and as an effect, creates a loving community poised to do great things. It is love that binds the passion, the openness and the eagerness into one powerful driving force inspiring the volunteer to do heroic deeds, deeds for others especially those who have failed to recognize God’s infinite love.

Excellent: “Go as far as the eyes can see, and if you reach it, go even farther.” Magis or more encapsulates the very being of a volunteer. His passion for service is joined by the passion for excellence. Excellence is the yardstick for our performance. Magis doe not imply comparison with others or measurement of progress against an absolute standard; rather is the fullest possible development of each person’s individual capacities at each stage of life, joined to the willingness to continue this development throughout life and the motivation to use those developed gifts for others.

God centered: The volunteer recognizes that the God of the universe dwells within and this loving God is the ultimate truth, the ultimate source of everything and everyone. It is because of God’s grace that we are called to this mission and it is still God who is our ultimate goal. Thus we acknowledge that all the things and talents we have are only given for us to use to glorify God further, all for the Greater Glory of God.

Ingenuity: A volunteer placed in a fast changing world can get lost into if he lives with a deep inordinate attachment to the past and never innovates. Ingenuity or innovativeness is the proper means in facing a fast paced world. Ingenuity is embracing change. A volunteer relentlessly pursues new means and methodologies in doing things better with the greater effect.

On time: A volunteer is a master of his time. He acknowledges time is of the essence and engraves it in their daily routine. A volunteer manages time not as an enemy to beat but an ally to benefit with. A volunteer’s only enemy is himself, his idiosyncrasies that costs him valuable time. He knows the art of focus, zooming-in all energies in one particular task at each moment. It is the combination of awareness of habits and high energy points of the self, critical thinking, proper delegation, anti-procrastinating attitude and focus which makes a volunteer a true master of his time.

Not Many, But Much: A volunteer sees the quality rather than the quantity of his actions. It is not how much you have accomplished in a day but rather it is quality that yields through that accomplishment. Thus a volunteer sees to it that in the things he do, what matters is the quality rather than the quantity.

Self-Aware: Last but definitely never the least is the mastery of the self, the bedrock of all things. It is in the awareness of the self that a volunteer becomes a leader. He knows what he values, what his strengths and weaknesses are and where he wants to go. Knowing your values makes you stand firm in a fast moving world. Spotting your weakness can lead you to conquer them. Knowing what you want energizes your pursuit of it and in the process it inspires others. Know thy self.

speech 1

Address given to the LCLC Graduation Ceremony
XUHS ~ Ateneo de Cagayan Chapel
May 19, 2007 - 5:15 pm

Dear Cavaliers, I was actually texted by ma’am Alice to give you a so-called "inspirational speech". Now, I really find it difficult to inspire you because you joined this community with that sense of inspiration in the 1st place. So, how can I inspire the inspired? It’s quite difficult and this though kept me thinking. In that moment when my mind was suspended, I clicked my fingers to browse the internet and search for the definition of “Inspire”. In Dictionary.com, there was an array of definitions ranging from the divine to the physical implications of inspire. Of all the definitions that appeared, the one that struck me most was this definition of inspire.

Inspiration actually means to inhale, to take in. In our case, breathe in oxygen for us to live. Now with this meaning of inspiration in mind, let us imagine the millions of microscopic oxygen molecules bouncing in space. We then took a deep breath. The oxygen molecules then run through our nostrils, trachea, bronchi and finally into the little air sacks we call the alveoli where the oxygen diffuses into our bloodstream, where the oxygen is carried all around the body, flowing into our muscles, delivering fresh oxygen supplies, providing us energy and that energy drives the passion, that drives you to serve...that drives you to accept this noble mission and to be a cavalier spreading the light where darkness lurks.

So cavaliers we have creatively moved from the image of an oxygen molecule, we travelled inside the air tube, bloodstream and to energy, now we move to passion, passion that is the product of that energy. What is passion? Ignatian Leadership 101 – Cavaliers, Your very heart beats because of a deep and loving desire to give back all the graces God showered upon you (intelligence, talents, skills etc.) through a loving act we call service, through selfless service. This deep desire grows in a pace which ceases to stall rather it accelerates into a compelling emotion we call passion. A cavalier is passionate. You are passionate. You tick because of it and passion makes you do things not because you have to but because you want to. Now you may ask, what is the difference between passion and hard work? Simple, Passion builds up energy, builds up that oxygen supply from inspiration while hard work consumes it. Passion then is the very fuel of a cavalier’s heart. Did you have that experience that you worked hard for a project but at the end felt unsatisfied? Because in the process, you never put your heart into it. You did it because you have to, not be because you love to. So do things with that deep desire to give and everything you touch will turn into gold.

In ancient times, the light cavalry of kings are for scouting and screening purposes for the king to get a vision of the enemy’s position. Now as a cavalier, you are ought to see not the battlefield but the future. You are required by the Order to mold a vision for you and your class to follow. That vision is the light at the horizon where you strive to inspire others to follow and reach it. Cavaliers, vision is very important because it sets the direction where you want to go. So visualize, visualize for yourself, for your class and especially for your school. Do it daily. Never let a day pass without assessing your vision. You must monitor your vision. Ano ba ang gusto ninyo? Sit and think about it, form it, and relentlessly pursue it.
Now you reached it! You have reached the horizon but never be satisfied, go even further. That is where the M word comes in. Magis. Be cavaliers of Magis guys! Use this as your standard banner. Never settle for “ok lang”, “pwede na” but aim for the better, the best, that brings the good into the most number of hearts. Think of programs and projects that is more than the usual. Think of projects that affect the greatest number of hearts. Magis, use this as your measuring device.

And cavaliers, as you march into columns to that grand vision of yours, never forget the people beside you. Look at the faces beside you. Each one of you is unique, having his own character, having his own distinct way in contributing something for the community. I ask you to love them. Engage them with a loving heart. Personal Care. Cura Personalis. Why Love them? Because it is in love that unlocks the brightest potential of each and every one of you. Love only makes this community stronger and makes a community loving poised to do heroic deeds. So do it, kiss each other and say I love you! So Cavaliers, four simple points of inspiration: Passion, Vision, Magis and Cura Personalis all fuelled by the inspiration of Passion to love, passion to embrace every experience to serve and to spread the light. The four points in not the formula of success rather it is the substance which makes success.

Lastly, you are in this room with a purpose. Ika nga ni Fr. George, Why Me? WHY YOU?! ASK YOURSELVES?! You are accepted in this noble mission and it is God’s will for you – plain and simple. Thus serve this duty with humility, loyalty and generosity. A cavalier’s job is never an easy job but i assure you, it is the most rewarding. You have accepted the duties and responsibilities that a mere mortal trembles in sight. Thus, you are not “mere mortals” – you are simply great men and women. You accepted this mission recognizing the magna anima - the great soul – the magnanimity with in each and every one of you ready to serve others, others who don’t even care All for The Greater Glory of God!

Congratulations!

God bless and Thank You Very Much and always spread the light!

thought book essay - 5

ACCOUNTING 3 and Onwards

For the past days, I have developed a personal routine that may soon evolve in a “repetition compulsion” disorder. It’s studying. Accounting 3 or Partnership and Corporation is no joke people! It is the stage where English proficiency and logical illustrations collide for you to get the truth. And this subject is generally the waterloo of Accountancy students.

How to prepare to get the “truth”?

This needs mind set. I think that is fundamentally THE factor. It is the mindset or way of thinking which separates a winner from a looser, an anxious man from an amazed man. So what is my mindset? My mindset is that of a treasure hunter (I’m really fond if fantasizing) which always triggers my amazement or sense of wonder in all things I see. An accounting problem paragraph – filled with words and amounts is like an enclosed archeological field filled with hidden and priceless treasures ready to be excavated. For you to unearth these treasures, you need tools. The tools here are the procedures and templates in deriving the accounts needed. With the correct practice and use of these tools, the treasure will be in your hands in a minute or two. So I hope the treasure hunter mind set may give us a fun and adventurous kick start in analyzing and answering accounting problems.

Studying is a Prayer.

God can be found in all subjects.

Accounting is a subject.

God can be found in accounting.

True. Accounting is actually an art or we need to treat it as an art. As a form of art, it has beauty. It is beautiful and it is in beauty that we find truth. The absolute truth is God. So what is with the syllogisms? I’m just excited about Philo 1 next semester. Anyway, it is appreciating the gift of the human mind in its pursuit to establish order and beauty in a seemingly chaotic and random universe. Studying accounting in a sense is actually one way of you understanding, practicing and extending a faculty of man which is creating beauty out of chaos in the context of civilizations and material exchange.