August 1, 2011
Journal Entry
(Office of the American Affairs)
It’s Monday again and I have to wake up early in the morning to go to my practicum at DFA. I was excited to work but waking up early in the morning at exactly five makes me unagitated. But still, I have to fight the feeling and reflex my muscles. This made me realized that working isn’t really a fun thing to do. The good thing about it is that you’ll get paid, but it is full of sacrifice. I think studying is better than working though.
After struggling if I have to stand up on my bed or not, finally I got dressed up and at seven I went out of our house. I came at DFA at 9: 06. Yes! I was six minutes late and it’s not a good record for a person who is representing our School and God.
I finally arrived at the office, and of course say ‘good morning’ with a smile to the people that I see. This is what you called being polite and it is done to be ethical, also to show how good your God is in your life. I asked Ms. Nadia Benito, of the things that I must do doing the day. I feel the adrenaline during that time.
She doesn’t have idea what I should do, so she told me to just ask our Director. Before that, I was sitting on my desk and I realized that I had been calling Ms. Nadia, ‘Najda’ ever since I met her; I’m calling her with the wrong name. A lesson: know and honor the people around you by calling them with their right names! Good thing, Ms. Nadia was so kind, she still talked to me nicely even I often call her with the name that is not really hers.
Enough about that, Sir Gines gave me a task: to retype, summarize, edit the grammar, and to make an outline copy of a document. I don’t know if I should mention it here, so I better not say it to be safe. Another challenge again for me to do that kind of task: to retype, to summarize, to make an outline is all fine with me, but to correct the grammar – I’m not sure about that. However, I still have to do that so I just pray and really study it and to give my best so that the outcome would be well. I finished it and gave it to my boss. Then another tasked was given to me but it was easy, I just have to continue retyping a document. After all the tasks, Dive, Joy, and I logged out at 12:02 pm. It was a fulfilling day; I had done something that I never did before.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
THE benefits
July 21, 2011
Journal Entry
This is the highlight of my week. I had a chance to see our very own Vice President Jejomar Binay. This is what I am saying that it is a great privilege to be an intern of DFA. You will have a chance to meet dignified people. More than that, you will somehow feel that you are part of what they are doing. On that event, I also met the Ambassador of Washington to the Philippines, others are General Consuls, Ambassadors, and ABS-CBN and GMA reporters like Mariz Umali.
What happened was, Ma’am Joc called me last Wednesday evening and asked me and my friends to come to DFA at 7am. We were assigned to help on the registration of an event on the Policy Making of the heads of the consular post for our Kababayans abroad.
The meeting took from 9am-6pm. There were consuls invited to speak, there was an open forum, a bureau of immigration speaker, and of course, our Vice President. The topic was focused on human trafficking and other issues of Filipinos abroad.
During the meeting, there was also morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack that we also had a chance to have. While the Ambassadors were eating, there was a chorale from DFA that sang and entertained them. What a very nice day. I am looking forward to more events at DFA.
Joy, Dive, and I logged out at 5:05 in the afternoon. We were so tired that time. However, the day was very fulfilling and it made me wonder about my future career. I was encouraged at the same tome challenged! I said to myself, someday we the diplomats are going to meet again.
Journal Entry
This is the highlight of my week. I had a chance to see our very own Vice President Jejomar Binay. This is what I am saying that it is a great privilege to be an intern of DFA. You will have a chance to meet dignified people. More than that, you will somehow feel that you are part of what they are doing. On that event, I also met the Ambassador of Washington to the Philippines, others are General Consuls, Ambassadors, and ABS-CBN and GMA reporters like Mariz Umali.
What happened was, Ma’am Joc called me last Wednesday evening and asked me and my friends to come to DFA at 7am. We were assigned to help on the registration of an event on the Policy Making of the heads of the consular post for our Kababayans abroad.
The meeting took from 9am-6pm. There were consuls invited to speak, there was an open forum, a bureau of immigration speaker, and of course, our Vice President. The topic was focused on human trafficking and other issues of Filipinos abroad.
During the meeting, there was also morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack that we also had a chance to have. While the Ambassadors were eating, there was a chorale from DFA that sang and entertained them. What a very nice day. I am looking forward to more events at DFA.
Joy, Dive, and I logged out at 5:05 in the afternoon. We were so tired that time. However, the day was very fulfilling and it made me wonder about my future career. I was encouraged at the same tome challenged! I said to myself, someday we the diplomats are going to meet again.
The consequence of being LATE
July 19, 2011
Journal Entry
On the second day, I was late. For that, I missed going to Malacañang (The lesson: I should not be late again). I regret that I missed seeing the President of the Philippines.
So Joy and I stayed the office. I was asked again by our Director to retype two documents – to make a soft copy of the Model Extradition Treaty and an Agreement between Federative Republic of Brazil and __________ on Mutual Legal Assistance and Criminal Matters. The files were already an existing document and I was asked to retype it directly to the MS Word. It took me five hours to finish it. Joy helped me in retyping the other document: The Agreement between Federative Repubilc of Brazil and ________ I am just thankful that my director is kind. He didn’t pressure me to finish those documents. However, I finished retyping the Model Extradition Treaty and passed it to him.
Well, what I did even though it took me 5 hours to do it is so tiring. However, I am happy that somehow I contributed even a small thing for the Philippines. Imagine, I made a soft copy of a draft of a treaty from Brazil that would be reviewed by our government. I thank God for that.
I was just hoping now that I would be able to increase my skills more like simply as typing so that I would be able to help the office to work more efficiently and effectively. I logged out at 3:26 in the afternoon using my DTR. Dive came back from Malacañang with stories about her experience. And I together with Joy hoping that there would be another chance went home with Dive with happy thoughts that the second day of our ‘on job training’ was over.
Journal Entry
On the second day, I was late. For that, I missed going to Malacañang (The lesson: I should not be late again). I regret that I missed seeing the President of the Philippines.
So Joy and I stayed the office. I was asked again by our Director to retype two documents – to make a soft copy of the Model Extradition Treaty and an Agreement between Federative Republic of Brazil and __________ on Mutual Legal Assistance and Criminal Matters. The files were already an existing document and I was asked to retype it directly to the MS Word. It took me five hours to finish it. Joy helped me in retyping the other document: The Agreement between Federative Repubilc of Brazil and ________ I am just thankful that my director is kind. He didn’t pressure me to finish those documents. However, I finished retyping the Model Extradition Treaty and passed it to him.
Well, what I did even though it took me 5 hours to do it is so tiring. However, I am happy that somehow I contributed even a small thing for the Philippines. Imagine, I made a soft copy of a draft of a treaty from Brazil that would be reviewed by our government. I thank God for that.
I was just hoping now that I would be able to increase my skills more like simply as typing so that I would be able to help the office to work more efficiently and effectively. I logged out at 3:26 in the afternoon using my DTR. Dive came back from Malacañang with stories about her experience. And I together with Joy hoping that there would be another chance went home with Dive with happy thoughts that the second day of our ‘on job training’ was over.
Entering DFA..
The day of my on job training had already begun! Finally, I am now at the beginning of my working days at DFA.
I was really excited, I seriously chose my attire. I bought new shoes and slacks because I didn’t have any of those. I want to look decent but simple. I want to be presentable, and be prepared as if it is really my first day at work. And at the same time I was also nervous.
Entering DFA as an intern is a great privilege for me. It’s an opportunity for me to learn more about foreign affairs and to be involved in some of the events that they have which I will be talking about here later.
At the first day of work, Mr. Delano assigned me, Joy, and Dive to the office of the American Affairs. The office of American Affairs has 4 divisions: the Division of South America, Canada, United States, and Central America. I was assigned to the South American Division with Director Gines Gallagal.
I was introduced to my new boss with her assistant Nadia, and then shown my own desk. Thereafter, I was given a task already. I was asked to read and research information about FEALAC (Forum of East Asia and Latin America Commission) and summarized it.
After half a day of doing it, I finished it well with the approval of my director. And just like that, the first day of my practicum just ended. I logged out using DTR. Praise the Lord for his goodness reaches me!
I was really excited, I seriously chose my attire. I bought new shoes and slacks because I didn’t have any of those. I want to look decent but simple. I want to be presentable, and be prepared as if it is really my first day at work. And at the same time I was also nervous.
Entering DFA as an intern is a great privilege for me. It’s an opportunity for me to learn more about foreign affairs and to be involved in some of the events that they have which I will be talking about here later.
At the first day of work, Mr. Delano assigned me, Joy, and Dive to the office of the American Affairs. The office of American Affairs has 4 divisions: the Division of South America, Canada, United States, and Central America. I was assigned to the South American Division with Director Gines Gallagal.
I was introduced to my new boss with her assistant Nadia, and then shown my own desk. Thereafter, I was given a task already. I was asked to read and research information about FEALAC (Forum of East Asia and Latin America Commission) and summarized it.
After half a day of doing it, I finished it well with the approval of my director. And just like that, the first day of my practicum just ended. I logged out using DTR. Praise the Lord for his goodness reaches me!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Overseas Filipino Workers to Outstanding Filipino Witness
Welcome! This will be the last ASEAN country for this Blog. This one has an important place in my heart and I could not compare it to any place in this world. 
The Philippines is a place where Chocolate Hills are,white sand of Boracay, Taal Volcano, beaches, rivers, and mountains. This indeed is a perfect place for me. In addition, the people here are loving and caring!
I grew up in this country and i know many things about it even without searching the internet. I love talking anything about it. Now, in this blog more than what i just shared above, i want to share what we call here in the Philippines the "new living heroes" or also known as OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers)
They were called this way because of their deeds and sacrifices for their families. They chose to work abroad, to be away from their families, friends, and loved ones to give a good life for them. Indeed they are heroes.
I know these things because my parents are one of those "heroes" that we are calling. And from the perspective of an OFW daughter, its kinda hard for your parents to be away from you. There are birthdays, graduations, any celebrations that you are not together and no choice but to celebrate it on my own.
More than that, I've seen the lives of these OFW when i had a chance to visit my parents abroad, and i tell you they are the lowest of the low on that country. And not only to that country but also around the world. They stayed in their because of the wages that they received in exchanged of discrimination and loneliness.
However, good thing Filipinos are capable of standing on what they believe and capable of doing things more than they could imagine. I believe that Filipinos scattered around the world will also be effective in sharing the gospel -- the truth about God. An it is not hard fro Filipinos to share what they know and what they beleieve especially in the workplace.
However, before that, this can only be done when we also give value to our Filipinos abroad. They sacrifice their lives and they give what they can give. May be it is just right that we'll give back that kindness that they showed to us.
For the ones who their parents are OFW, may be its just right if we will respect them and give them honor by studying well and understand them.
For the government, maybe it is just right to take care of them outside the country and be sure that they are all okay. and give them benefits.
For the churches that an OFW is involved or member, assist and be with them in prayers. Guide them in their spiritual life as well as their families.
For this, stress and problems would be lessen. For that these Overseas Filipino Workers would be an Outstanding Filipino Witness for Christ.
The Philippines is a place where Chocolate Hills are,white sand of Boracay, Taal Volcano, beaches, rivers, and mountains. This indeed is a perfect place for me. In addition, the people here are loving and caring!
I grew up in this country and i know many things about it even without searching the internet. I love talking anything about it. Now, in this blog more than what i just shared above, i want to share what we call here in the Philippines the "new living heroes" or also known as OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers)
They were called this way because of their deeds and sacrifices for their families. They chose to work abroad, to be away from their families, friends, and loved ones to give a good life for them. Indeed they are heroes.
I know these things because my parents are one of those "heroes" that we are calling. And from the perspective of an OFW daughter, its kinda hard for your parents to be away from you. There are birthdays, graduations, any celebrations that you are not together and no choice but to celebrate it on my own.
More than that, I've seen the lives of these OFW when i had a chance to visit my parents abroad, and i tell you they are the lowest of the low on that country. And not only to that country but also around the world. They stayed in their because of the wages that they received in exchanged of discrimination and loneliness.
However, good thing Filipinos are capable of standing on what they believe and capable of doing things more than they could imagine. I believe that Filipinos scattered around the world will also be effective in sharing the gospel -- the truth about God. An it is not hard fro Filipinos to share what they know and what they beleieve especially in the workplace.
However, before that, this can only be done when we also give value to our Filipinos abroad. They sacrifice their lives and they give what they can give. May be it is just right that we'll give back that kindness that they showed to us.
For the ones who their parents are OFW, may be its just right if we will respect them and give them honor by studying well and understand them.
For the government, maybe it is just right to take care of them outside the country and be sure that they are all okay. and give them benefits.
For the churches that an OFW is involved or member, assist and be with them in prayers. Guide them in their spiritual life as well as their families.
For this, stress and problems would be lessen. For that these Overseas Filipino Workers would be an Outstanding Filipino Witness for Christ.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Floating Village in Cambodia
Most of us associate Cambodia with the word genocide: the stories of killing fields, the wonder of fertility tree, and the dictatorship of a ruthless ruler Pol Pot. Actually, no one will know Cambodia without knowing these things. Truly those historical stories are remarkable.
However, there is another thing, another story of life in Cambodia that I have found. These are the floating Villagers. They are called that way because literally their houses or boats are floating on the river. They are considered as the poorest people in Cambodia.
The sad fact is that they cannot really afford to have a house or even rent one because the money that they have is just enough for their food (most of the time, there is no money even for food). Just imagine how hard it is for a family of many members to live in a boat.
They have hammock used as their bed for sleeping. They cooked their food inside the boat. What’s more, they even dispose their body wastes to the river. Most of these floating villagers are fishermen because that is the closest thing that they could do for living. When there is storm or even just rain, it would be a struggle for them, but they have to survive. What they do during rainy seasons is tie their boats on the near shore so that the wind and the waves would not blow them and destroy their houses.
God loves these people. I hope and pray that these people would be given a chance to live a normal life with a normal house. Nevertheless, while waiting to be blessed and to have a normal life, may these floating villagers find their shelter and refuge in the Lord.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Music of Vietnam
Vietnamese lull their babies to sleep. This was used not only for babies but Vietnamese sang songs like this to express their feelings like homesickness or a wife misses her husband.
Vietnamese used music to express themselves. Actually, while I'm looking for informations about Vietnam, I found a music that tells about wars. The message of the songs expresses their feelings of wars, they tried to stop it through their music.
This is a sample lyrics of a Lullaby:
o au o. The lights in Sai Gon are green and red,
The lamps in My Tho are bright and dim,
May you go home to read your books,
I shall wait nine months, I shall wait ten autumns
The lamps in My Tho are bright and dim,
May you go home to read your books,
I shall wait nine months, I shall wait ten autumns
I think this Lullaby or any other songs of Vietnam shows their culture and history. It shows how important their families for them. Most of families in Vietnam scattered during WWII that made them missed their families.
Let us pray for the Vietnamese especially for those who still feel and experience the pain of suffering in their country.
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