Sounds morbid? I hope not! The famous line in the movie "Meet Joe Black" is "Two things are certain: death and taxes!" And having faced death several times, one can appreciate life all the more, and resolve to do only what is good, and what matters most. And with too many deaths. especially this weekend, of two good people who are close to my heart, one in the arts and one in the academe, I can only reflect that while my time has not come, life is too short to waste.
Looking back at the past 7 years, many people who knew me back in the 1990s, have openly shared what they saw and observed of me then - "uptight! high-strung! self-centered! unfriendly! Too much potential! What a waste! unhappy!" Of course they offered reasons why. I just joke and ask them - "why didn't you tell me?" As if what people thought and felt about me back then would be welcome.
In 2000, when I had to make a choice and decision that would shock everyone in the entourage of then Mayor Efren Tungol in the US, I still remember clearly, Fr. Boboy Curso in San Francisco, talking to me and asking me why? My answer was "Family!" and he understood. Everyone understood. Or at least I had hoped so.
Once again, I made a life-changing decision for the family when I decided to join the Exchange Teacher Program in 2001. Then Father President asked me to stay for the tarsiers. I was shortlisted to be the Chief of Staff of then Vice Governor Edgar Chatto. And the late Mr. Cubeta, Planning Officer of DWCT now HNU said: "We gave you a scholarship in FAPE and you will just go to San Jose?" thinking I was going to USJR (hehe) but when I said San Jose, California, he reluctantly approved. At that time, it was be best decision I could ever make. The rest is history. But more than 100 cadets at the East Side Cadet Academy have made a turn around for the better, once considered outcasts, now productive citizens of the American society.
Fast forward to 2018. I have dedicated my life mostly to education reforms, with trainings, team buiilding, titling, documentation etc on the side. I can only sing praises to the Lord Almighty for giving me an extension to life. I am grateful for every single opportunity to be relevant and to give back!
- To my hometown in Alburquerque, where I started my life back in 2010, especially in Education Reforms with Synergeia, with USAID/FEF PRCEM Project converting tax dec to titles and access to credit, in Arts and Culture, promoting the Asin Tibuok, the now non existent Alburquerque Municipal Library and the rich collection of books from Pusong Pinoy and many donors both international and local, the Jollibee Group Foundation BLT Schoolfeeding now in Year 5, the Alburquerque United Cooks, the Alburquerque Performing Arts Group, my under 12 soccer team, my Vera's Essence, with new hopes for the Alburquerque Heritage Walk, with the option for a mangrove tour, Vera's Essence Wellness Hub, and a long-term project on Zorbing.
- To my mother's hometown in Maribojoc - I have helped with Synergeia's Education Reforms, Jollibee Group Foundation BLT for 2 years, and USAID Synergeia Hugpong sa Pagbangon Project.
- To my father's hometown in Antequera - Synergeia's Education Reforms Program and USAID Hugpong sa Pagbangon
- all the other Synergeia LGUs and other LGUs I have worked with as facilitator, documentor, trainer, speaker on my favorite topics such as VAWC and Gender Sensitivity - Baclayon, Loboc, Dauis, Danao, Anda, as well as for the Abot Alam Program of DepEd
- LGU Panglao - Synergeia's Education reforms, Turo Turismo, Angat Buhay, Abot Alam, JGF BLT Schoolfeeding, and most recently the BLT Central Kitchen
- LGU Ubay and Talibon for Eskwela Agrikultura
- now on the bigger picture with the Provincial Government of Bohol on the three (3) pillars in Tourism, Agriculture and ICT
- all the organizations I have worked with for the last seven (7) years in the Philippines - Synergeia Foundation, Foundation for Economic Freedom, Kaya Natin Movement and Seaoil Foundation, The Asia Foundation Coalitions for Change in Basic Education, The Books for Asia, Pusong Pinoy, Australian Embassy, BAHRR and all the member hotels, resorts and restaurants, ADB-DOT-CANADA Skills Improvement Project, PRMF, USAID SURGE, Jollibee Group Foundation, AMOSUP, JSU, Office of the Vice President Angat Buhay, TBTK, Ateneo Cultural Laboratory, National Museum of the Philippines, Central Visayas Association of Museums or CVAM, NCCA, the School of Living Tradition in Cabilao, Teatrong Bol-anon and Kasing Sining, Wikimedia Philippines, Wikipedia, IMPHIL, SWAPP, Women's Feature Service, WomenLEAD, Coalition for Better Education, the Tagbilaran Community Hospital, CEDE Engineering, OG Holdings Corporation, Reyna's Haven and Gardens, Water Paradise, East Capitol Pensionne, KAKA, Baji, TACECCO, TAUPO or Tagbilaran Urban Poor Organizations, NEDA 7, and the various offices in the Provincial Government: BTO, BIPC, BICTU, etc., the City of Tagbilaran, the JCI Chocolate Hills Lady Jaycees, the Bohol Jaycees Senate, the Rotary Club of Tagbilaran and most of all the Department of Education Bohol Division, Tagbilaran Division, Regional Office No. 7 and of course, DepEd Central.
Thank you for all the wonderful opportunities that have been given to make the last 7 years as exciting and wonderful! Including consultancy with the Step Up Consultants, BOSEC and the Beautiful Hearts Consultants. Thank you to all the wonderful people and most of all the beautiful heart who have been with me in this journey.
There is a reason why I try to avoid the negative vibes and occasions. Only the things that matter most!
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