Innovation and Thumbtack

I got the online job as a Snippet writer of Thumbtack.com

Thumbtack is an internet marketplace for local services, launched in December 2009.^[1] Thumbtack allows service providers and consumers to find each other and negotiate jobs online.^[1] In August 2010, CEO Marco Zappacosta claimed Thumbtack had over 50,000 service providers signed up on the website

I had the privilege to meet the co-founder of Thumbtack, Jonathan Swanson in Thai Me Up last May 21. I also met my co-workers in the Mindanao group and our immediate bosses. I believe this was their first Philippine tour and they also met other team members in Manila and Cebu.

Aside from the great food and company, innovation was the real highlight of the night for me. Their stories showed me how innovation specifically online jobs are helping a lot of people earn money in the convenience of their homes and in their own time.

Meeting Jonathan was also a highlight. Though we did not really strike a substantial conversation, his presence has allowed me to see the face of youthful innovation and vision. This, I believe is a fundamental trait for all of us Filipinos. We are by nature innovative. However, our economic circumstances has stalled much of the potential creativity we have and I hope someday in the future, Filipino made online businesses will boom and employ more Filipinos.

First step towards the College of Law

This is the first step towards a long journey. This morning, I took the Xavier College of Law entrance exam. It was a mix of bittersweet. I got my first chance of how the mind ought to operate in the context of studying the law. Math and reading comprehension was kind of ok but the long critical thinking problems were quite a shock. The essay was like a last-minute inspiration charge. Nonetheless, I am confident that all will fall into place. I am looking forward to get the results two weeks from now so I know what particular area of basic skills I should improve. I also got the chance to see all my potential classmates. It was a very different feeling from my undergraduate exam experience. We have people of different age brackets and professional background. A dynamic experience awaits all of us. I just personally hope that sanity will still prevail under the pressing stress of law school. I would like to conclude with this thought.

Lawyers are vital players of nation-building especially in the preservation of our democratic ideals and the dispensation of justice. The honest practice of law is indispensable in the development of our nation and the attainment of social justice.

I hope as I begin this journey, the thought above will manifest itself. We face a complex society, so let us stay close to the uncompromising values of what is best in humanity.

He is truly the Students’ President.

As his final official act as President of Xavier University, Fr. Jett signed the 2011 Magna Carta of Students’ Rights and Responsibilities on May 11, 2011 during the student leaders’ tribute in Apple Tree, Opol Misamis Oriental. After 10 years, the CSG proposed a revised version which articulated more specific rights ranging from the prohibition of the purchase of ticket as an academic requirements, freedom to peaceably assembly, right to petition the board of trustees, the preservation of the activity hour/s among others.

We in government hope and pray that every member of the community will be informed about these new rights. Moreover, we hope that we shall act on these rights and the responsibilities associated with it.

Considering all his reforms and improvements done in our University, He is truly the Students’ President.

“To give and not to count the cost...to Labor and not ask for reward...”

In a simple ceremony last May 10, 2011, Xavier University symbolically turned over 20 housing units to the victims of the last 2009 flood through Habitat for Humanity. In his message, Fr Jett shared a very interesting thought which I wish to share it with you. It goes something like this:

What is inspiring about this project is it is born out of generosity. Imagine a world were mere transactions happen. We lose some, we gain some – net gain zero. The world would pretty much be stagnant. Generosity on the other hand does not seek for reward. We labour because of our love for the poor and this moves our nation forward.

Take away the rigidity of economic considerations, this thought actually is true. We do not gain directly at least financially from our volunteer work but social justice is well served through our labor of love. And social justice is the ultimate objective of our work. I am also happy to see the fruition of the Central Student Government’s House Build Program which contributed one housing unit. The resources were made possible through the generosity of our students and student leaders led by Iraquel Gala.

So for all us, let us keep the equation unbalanced most of the time. As what Ignatius perfectly stated: “To give and not to count the cost...to Labor and not ask for reward...”

Good Governance and Heroic Leadership

Last May 8, 2011, I delivered a talk on Good Governance and Heroic Leadership to the incoming officers of the Center of Integrated Technologies Student Council. The intention of the sharing was to present the intimate relationship between the personal qualities of a leader and the factors of good governance. I discovered that the 4 pillars of heroic leadership can be “operationalized” as public governance mechanisms in four specific areas. As a summary, a formula which captures the importance of different leadership variables in the overall impact of the council was then derived from this basic idea. I hope that this idea will be further enhanced. As I shared, it is through linking our personal values to public leadership where we begin to appreciate our mission.

Citsc power

View more presentations from Ernesto Neri.

Meeting Fr. Ronnie

We had the privilege to meet Fr. Ronnie, the parish priest of Princeton, British Columbia. He is the parish priest of my brother who is living there. It was an insightful conversation. He shared to us the difficulty in gathering the young Catholic community there. Nonetheless, it is amazing how the world seems to be smaller because of this meeting. God bless and safe trip back to Canada.

A meaningful day in Claveria

Last May 30, I had a rare chance to observe the living Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) Planning Session in Claveria, Misamis Oriental. Wikipedia defines BECs as:

“Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs), also called Basic Christian Communities, Small Christian Communities and Small Human Communities^[1] (or in the Philippines, Maliliit na Sambayanang Kristiyano) are units of parishes with a greater lay administrative and quasi-sacramental role.“

True to its definition, what I saw were the basic ground movement of the Church and how it continues to be relevant in the lives of these town folks. Well to be honest, this was my first time to hear such movement in the Church. And this has become a source of envy seeing these people live simple uncomplicated lives while committing themselves to these communities. I never have any such community based experience and I am seeing a future life that is far from uncomplicated (As I perceive it). Nonetheless, the church is so alive because of them. I also took the chance to walk around the center of Claveria (an exercise I always do when I am in a new place, especially rural places). Once again, I was struck by their simplicity and uncomplicatedness. Electric wires were well tucked far from our mangled wires here. The public buildings were arranged in very a functional manner; all in walking distance to one another. And I even saw a big family reunion gathered around a big wooden table outside a very old house. They even had a nifty banner hanged by the wall; so simple yet so happy. I learned so many things from a day in Claveria. One thing is how important communities are not just for the Church but for the nation as well and how we city dwellers should begin to organize our lives around simple and functional things and values.

Visioning Exercise

Articulating clearly what you want to achieve in the long term really helps a lot in sustaining the motivation.

Atty. Ernesto B. Neri is a CdeO based developmental lawyer and public governance specialist specializing in people’s participation mechanisms in LGUs and public service quality development.

He is also an educator and a blogger/writer. He is the founder of the “Tabang Legal” (Northern Mindanao Public Interest Law Center) and the Neri Law Foundation.

He organized the Makapaya Social Farm project. He is also the President of the Katarungan Newsweekly, the oldest weekly newspaper in Mindanao.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam