Aspirations and Setting that Goal

What do I hope to achieve?
The Journey to Realizations

LaSallian student volunteers together with BEADang Kabuhayan participants
and speakers from PCF Mr. Marcel Clado and CampBeads Mrs. Mariela Sison
during the recognition rites last August 04,2012. Photo Credit: Jin Dela Cruz

It has been a year when my team began joining competitions from inter-university marketing strategies, social entrepreneurship programs, to social advocacy projects.

Baby Ella, daughter of one of the
program participants
Photo Credit: Jin Dela Cruz

The past year has been about stressing about graduation, doing perfectly well in the last remaining classes so as to maintain that good old CGPA. Job and training applications had been sent out and gruesome interviews with the big bosses have all been guided by one question that may usually be addressed by impulsive responses, carried out without much thought, “What do I really want?”

In the five whole years of my stay in De La Salle Manila, I felt that achievements were about medals and honors given and bestowed upon high academic standing, eloquent and perfectly designed presentations given and the joy received when people are impressed by the results of all that hardwork. In interviews I fondly spoke about how challenging handling people was, the triumphs over the hurdles of bureaucracy, team politics and resource constraints and how impressive those, as I thought were. I have travelled around and spent months spending summers and term breaks in foreign lands, going beyond merely seeing culture but literally living, breathing, eating and experiencing it. I have compared Philippine living conditions from these foreign lands and one direct response was to immediately leave the country upon graduation. 

Paper bead making seminar and hands-on workshop
BEADang Kabuhayan organized by LaSallian team Beads.ph

It was a mere perfect world, as I thought. All travels to and from exotic, highly-cultured, much safer and richer lands, a highly promising career geared towards surpassing expectations constituted my goals and aspirations, until recently when all else is given yet something seems to be lacking. What do I really want? Where do I see myself 1-2-5 years from now? Why so? These questions began to creep in and taunted my spirits, my being me. I felt that all these wins were great to say, but does not have this element of deep desire, this feeling of intense fondness, this what we call passion.

It has been a year since we joined one competition that has  been, as cheesy as you may deem life-changing. Certain realizations came to mind:

Youth participant Annaliz Aniceto,
daughter of mother participant receives
her certificate of participation.

Leadership is never easy. There are those made to lead, and there are those follow. Commitment and responsibility go beyond mere words spoken or pledges written. It is but tested by persistence, patience and the kind of heart one has in pursuing that goal. In this world,  I want to be that fruitloop in that bowl of cheerios. Change begins within. No matter how much you try to inspire, to guide and lead, if the willingness does not, even in the slightest amount; come from the heart, nothing will happen.

Fundamentals of recycled paper bead making and hands-on workshop with Ate Virgie Juntillo July 27, 2012
Grant sponsored by Colgate FreshU 2011. Photo Credit: Jin Dela Cruz

Nanays and youth during the
BEADang Kabuhayan Seminar

 Given this new phase in life, with all my colleagues venturing into new heights,  priorities have changed. I am but left to remain persistent in translating one vision we once shared and bringing them into life. Now that I have assumed responsibility to oversee implementation of this project we were privileged to be given a grant for, it is but life changing to see how one can make much difference in peoples’ lives- bridging that gap, being that instrument of putting people together and allowing interaction to become pro-creators. Given my past 3months working as head of implementation for our project on BEADang Kabuhayan Social Education Program sponsored by Colgate FreshU, I have dealt with mothers and the youth from impoverished communities, negotiated with instructors from other non-government organizations and volunteers to take part. 

Recycled paper bead jewelry-
products taught in seminar

Hearing their stories of happiness found in providing livelihoods for themselves and how successful they’ve been seeing their children finish school with their funds raised have touched my heart. Witnessing their passion and commitment in teaching each other and being friends who pass on skills and become little sparks of inspiration to each other has awaken a desire to become relevant not by virtue of academic honors and studies presented, but by the impact and that mark left by being that person who helped things make possible- possible to realize dreams, new opportunities, new skills and talents and new realm of opportunities opened up by this one project that the team and myself have passionately worked hard for.

BEADang Kabuhayan mother participants with Alay Kapwa head Ms. Marisa Suarez, LaSallianBeads.ph organizing team,
LaSallian Student Volunteers and module instructor from PCF Mr. Marcel Clado
Photo Credit: Jin Dela Cruz

Hug of thank you for the meaningful partnership for change
with Mommy Helen

I have long hoped to land on that perfectly highly paying job that would allow me to travel as much as I would like. I vaguely hoped to be able to give back to society by providing home for the old and homeless. I wanted to be remembered.

What do I really want?

I hope to be the best that I can be- resourcefully successful, passionately driven to be that small spark of change and persistently be that instrument in bringing people together and touch lives.

Colgate FreshU sponsored Advocacy Program
Spearheaded by LaSallian Bead.ph team 2011-2012
Photo Credits: Jin De La Cruz

Lens Baruelo, Rachel Chua, Jin Dela Cruz and Riz Malabanan
with daughters of nanay Irene during the seminar

(L-R) Kennard Guiaco & Rachel Chua for heads for Logistics, Jin Dela Cruz head for Documentations
Rizelle Malabanan head for program design and Co-head for Project Implementations and Lens Baruelo Head for Implementations and Treasurer: Beads.ph spearheading Social Advocacy program BEADang Kabuhayan 2011-2012.

Recycled Paper bead jewelry

LaSallian Student volunteers Gavriel Sullano, Ernest Jeremy Jose,
Ann Sia Pua and Yannis Rigor with Beads.ph's Lens Baruelo.