Service Learning at Virlanie (Part 3)

Before our activity, my personal objective was to impart my knowledge on computers to the house parents. However, during and after our session, I actually gained more than what I have shared with them. My learnings were more on the realities of life, which are beyond my technical knowledge. Mr. Cenen, the program director, encouraged us to focus on our interaction with the house parents, than the actual computer program/lesson. Every day, the house parents interact with the kids. Interacting and being served by new people, like us, would be a new experience for them. It is very seldom that they entertain receive proposals wherein the beneficiaries of the programs are the house parents, and not the kids. 

Our group was assigned to the Daycare house. In between our computer sessions, we got a chance to ask the house parents about the stories of the babies in their center and how were they brought to Virlanie. As a mom of two boys, it is very difficult for me to accept that there are really mothers who abandon their children intentionally. Some babies were left in the parking lot, garbage areas, comfort rooms, and some of those babies even have fresh umbilical cords when they were discovered. I can’t help but really question why they were chosen to bear these babies, wherein other couples are really trying for years, and sometimes spending a lot of money just to conceive a child. I have two close friends and a relative, who have experienced this, and they should have been the chosen as the biological parents of those babies. God may only be the one who can answer these questions. I understand that those parents, particularly the mothers who abandon their child, have a lot of different stories, and probably most of them are financial problems. However, if these mothers believe that they cannot support the lives of their babies, they should have sought help from their families and friends. And if they cannot give proper guidance, they should have sought help from certain helplines, foundations, and institutions. In this regard, I realized that our country lacks awareness about the existence and the purpose of these institutions. Personally, I do not know any institution in the Philippines, who can provide free counsel, unless I browsed the net. Or if I knew of a helpline number, my next concern is, is the call free? If I, having an access to the internet, have these doubts, what more those ordinary mothers who do not have access to media or to internet? How would they actually know that there are institutions who could help them, or could lead them to proper institutions who could take care of their unwanted babies, rather than leaving them in a public place? Upon searching the net, I came across Natasha Goulbourn Foundation, who has partnered with Department of Health to formally establish “Hopeline Project”, to provide a “phone-based counseling service available 24/7 to any individual who suffer from crisis and depression (healthpromo.doh.gov.ph).” Our local government should exert more effort on these types of projects, not just to avoid abandoning of children, but to address the crisis and depression in general. To increase public awareness, the HOPELINE number should be advertised more through different forms of media, including billboards. 

Despite being abandoned, those children at Virlanie were very fortunate that they are well taken-care of. Aside from the donations from certain individuals, corporations and other institutions, the house parents really take care of them as if they were the biological parents. When asked if they cry when a child leaves and adopted, I was expecting a simple “yes”, but did not expect that they are really affected when a child leaves. During the debrief with Mr. Cenen, he said that house parents are being counseled as well, before a child leaves their institution and handed over to their new parents. There is really a program that weeks or months before a child will be adopted, there should be a certain “detachment period” to help the house parents adjust. I was not expecting that they become really attached to these kids, whom they took care of not just for months, but for years. For those children at Virlanie, God has really planned something better for them. Some of them might not be able to meet their real parents anymore, but a new set of parents would be able to give them a brighter future. 

I have also realized that the house parents’ work in the foundation is a lot more meaningful than my work. If our judgment time comes, and asked by God, how did you serve and touched the lives of other people? The house parents can easily answer this question, while I… may be struggling.

Computer Literacy Program at Virlanie (Part 2)

October 15 – the big day for our group.  I honestly got some jitters on the day since I was the one who organized the program, and I feel accountable if it will not turn out the way I wanted it to be.  Then we finally met Mr. Cenen “Mac” Milan, Jr., the Program Development Director.  He gave us an orientation of what Virlanie is and what he does.  Coming from a zero background about Virlanie and Mr. Cenen, our group was in awe as we listen to his stories and testimonials. 

If Virlanie was in a hospitality industry, it can be classified as a five-star hotel.  They had very high standards and high achievements, and yet they stay grounded, and as much as possible, they want to be away from the limelight.  Virlanie was established by Dominique Lemay in 1992, and as of 2014, it had cared for 819 children, 878 individual sponsors, 111 employees, 39 local volunteers and 76 foreign volunteers.  Inspired by the success in the Philippines, Virlanie was also established in other countries such as Belgium, France, USA, Denmark, Canada, Spain and Switzerland. 

One of Virlanie’s core programs was the Residential Programs, which provides various services and programs to empower a child’s life (usually street children, abandoned, or abused) and let him/her live life to the fullest.  Virlanie also have other programs like Family Reunification which helps children reunite with their families; Independent Living Program (ILP) which aims to empower and support young adults to become more sustaining; Balik Probinsya Program, which offers financial support to families so they can earn a living and go back to their province, and also provides a start-up livelihood like sari-sari store, tricycle, etc.; Mobile Unit, which provides non-formal education, educational assistance, medical services, psychosocial and social assistance in Divisoria and other streets in Manila; and other support services and sustainability projects. 

For the Residential Programs, Virlanie has about 7 houses, and I think 6 of them are located in Makati, while the other one is located in Cavite.  Each house, headed by “house parents” and assisted by house aunts/social workers and helpers, caters to a specific cluster based on the child’s age group.  Our group composed of 11 members, were further divided into 4 houses.  Our subgroup was assigned to Babies and Toddlers Home (0-4 years old), and other subgroups were assigned to Marco Polo Care Center (4-6 years old), Ella Yallah Home (male teenagers aged 13-18), and Elizabeth Home for girls who went through difficult situations such as physical and/or sexual abuse. 

Realizing how big and prestigious this foundation is, we were really thankful that our request to conduct our service learning activity was granted.  Mr. Cenen explained that he immediately granted our request, because it is very seldom that they receive proposals to serve and reach out to the house parents.  It is usually the kids who are targeted by the organizations, and not the house parents and social workers.  He also explained that his primary objective was to give a chance for the house parents to interact with other people…new people to talk to other than the kids.  He again emphasized not to dwell too much on the topic, but rather, just interact and talk to the house parents.

I realized at that point that no matter how big an organization is, there is always something that needs to be filled up, and needs to be given more attention.  I am thankful that this CSR activity focused on rendering service rather than just giving donations to the foundations.  Our contribution may not be as big as what Virlanie’s sponsors have given, but it was still valuable to a segment of their organization.   

Other than the success stories of Virlanie, Mr. Cenen shared with us some of his experiences in the Lasallian community.  He started studying in La Salle since gradeschool upto college, worked as a La Salle faculty, and almost joined the La Salle brothers.   Although it was not pushed through, he continued to live by La Salle’s teachings of serving the poor.  He worked at Virlanie to continue his mission and advocacy.  One of his most remarkable stories was when he shared his 17-day 1,500 km run from Davao to Manila, to launch a book-distribution campaign and tree-planting program in Davao.  Because of his advocacy and successfully finishing the 17-day journey, he was able to receive 90,000 books as a donation from a non-profit organization.   

This year, I have started and ran 2 ultramarathons with my husband.  First was Luneta to Tagaytay for 64 km, and our second ultra was Laguna to Tagaytay for 50 km.  My husband and I both struggled finishing this 12-hour and 8-hour journey.  But our experience was dwarfed by Mr. Cenen’s journey.  Our longest distance was only 5% of what he has ran.  Other than that, I came to realize….what am I really running for??? His run generated 90,000 books, but how about us?  Who benefits really when I run?  His story is actually a turning point in my running goals.  I realized that I run just for myself, to set me apart from others, to brag about what I have achieved.  I realized how selfish my goals are.  In my 64 and 50km, I was not able to raise even a single book.  At this point, it’s really a challenge revisiting my life and fitness goals.  I am planning to run an ultramarathon again in January or February, but how can those events benefit other people? Some events may have beneficiaries, but am I really running for them or just for myself? I am also planning to try running in barefoot…but for what cause?   

(to be continued - post program reflection)

Law, Ethics, Business and Practice

How I see it now:

How I see it should be:

The first diagram above represents how I see the reality, and the second diagram represents my personal “ideal” framework on the interconnection of Law, Ethics, Business and the actual practice.  Ethics is defined as “the principles, norms, and standards governing the organization” while Law is defined as the “society’s minimum norms and standards of business conduct”.   

For economic dimension, solid boundaries pertain to management’s and investors’, target income or profit and return on investment.  Thicker boundaries for legal dimension represent black and white rules and regulations, laws and policies set by the government.  Dotted boundaries for ethical dimension represent flexibility, openness and uncertainty. 

Reality

     In my perspective, business environment in general are bound by economic considerations and most often, bound by their desire for profits.  Business central focus is on the profit generation and return of investment.  Legal matters are embedded, but sometimes go beyond the economic bounds.  One perfect example for this is the current yet outdated tax bracket for individual tax payers.  Businesses comply with this tax code, but it no longer makes an economic sense.  Ethical dimension is overlapped with both economic and legal, but usually given less consideration.  Some legal considerations may not necessarily be ethical, and vice versa.  Since most of the time, there are no black and white rules on ethical standards, and that some factors do not overall or align with the legal matters, confusion and conflicting decisions are being made. 

Ideal

For me, legal, economic and discretionary considerations should all be within the bounds of Ethical considerations, and the latter should be given the utmost importance.  I agree that the “law should not be the only guiding principle for deciding what’s right”, rather, “Ethics” should prevail among the other factors.  Laws and regulations should be written and implemented, on the basis of common good.  Although the current president of the country is being criticized for his undue remarks, I am grateful that certain tax laws (like rationalizing the income tax brackets and rates, as well as increasing the rate and coverage of sin taxes) will be reviewed by the current administration.  These laws, if approved, will definitely benefit a larger part of the society. 

Economic on the other hand, should also be within the ethical bounds.   One example is the law on minimum wages.  Most businesses often restrict themselves on these minimum rates on their drive to minimize costs and increase profit.  However, businesses would always have the flexibility to go above the minimum rate set by the tax code/labor law.  Wages of the ranks and file are always considered for cost minimization, but sometimes, the company would feel a greater impact if the management’s compensation or benefits, or at least their number will be reduced.  Companies should have a regular review of the management’s functions, and if their compensation really commensurate the level or criticality of their work.   In some organizations, the cost of 1 manager personnel may be equivalent to the cost of 20-50 minimum wage earners.  If on the ideal world, economic and legal dimensions are “always” within the ethical boundaries, then every action taken by the company would have a positive ripple effect to the stakeholders and to the wider range of society.  

Computer Literacy Program at Virlanie (Part 1)

In organizing our group’s service learning activity, our primary concern was the location of our chosen institution.  We preferred that the location is within the Makati area, or at a nearby city so we can have a shorter travel thus we can maximize our time.  Since two of our groupmates are getting at the end of the month, followed by a long weekend (All Saints / All Souls Day), and followed by the Christmas season which might conflict with other charity events, our group decided to conduct our service learning activity on October 15, our CSR free day.  Upon searching for potential institutions, I came across Virlanie Foundation, Inc., one of the foundations located in Makati City.  I didn’t know much about Virlanie, neither my group. 

On October 3, I contacted their office and inquired if our group can render service learning activity to their community, which may be in the form of art and music class for the kids, or financial/computer literacy workshop to affiliated communities, or they can suggest what type of activity they would be needing.  Two days later, their Program Development Director replied to my email, stating that they are interested on the Computer Literacy Program for their house parents, and we can conduct in on October 15, our preferred date.  House parents are the main caretakers of the children, other than the helpers and other social workers. 

In the early part of our CSR class, we have watched the life of St. La Salle.  My reflection at that time was – how can I live by St. La Salle’s teachings in this modern world?  Yes, it can be applied as a Lasallian Business Leader.  But honestly, I can see myself more as a teacher rather than a business leader.  I believe that teaching would make my life a lot more meaningful. In teaching, I won’t be contributing to the profit of a company, rather, a profit on the student’s character and knowledge.   I initially wanted to teach accounting undergrads in DLSU after my MBA, but at some point, I realized that it won’t fulfill La Salle’s mission of educating the poor children.  I have actually thought of teaching street children instead, since earning extra income through teaching is not my primary consideration. 

Even if our participants are not ‘street children’ per se, this Computer Literacy Program really excites me.  I have handled Excel training sessions in my current and previous firms, and it just makes me satisfied knowing that I have imparted my knowledge and contributed to other people’s skills, and even more, to their increased efficiency.  I’m excited to impart these to non-corporate participants. 

I have some apprehensions though.  Is this new knowledge really helpful to our participants? Our group initially planned to include “creating a resume” as part of or hands-on exercises on Microsoft Word, and also planned to give them inspirational talks as to other possible job opportunities for them (like online jobs).  We then realized, this is probably not a good idea.  By orienting them on how to explore other job opportunities, they might leave their current jobs as social workers or house parents and our group might be blamed later on.  If not for better opportunities, what would be the benefits of our session to the house parents?  Will they be able to apply it in their work?  Well probably, it can be somehow used to push and inspire the children they take care of.  Or probably, they can use it later on for compiling data about the kids, or can use powerpoint for presentation to their community or to Virlanie’s management. 

Whatever the benefit may be, I am hoping that the event will turn out well.  According to the program development director, this program is just a kick-off or an introduction.  Virlanie will later on have more formal training programs to be conducted by French volunteers, probably starting in two weeks after our activity.  Given the limited time, we do not expect our participants to absorb everything in one blow.  Our objective now is to make sure they will get interested on the topic, and that they may somehow gain more confidence and familiarity before they start with their formal computer literacy program. We are advised anyway by the program director not to dwell too much on the technical side.  An overview would suffice.  

What happens next?  See Computer Literacy Program at Virlanie (Part 2)

Laws of Money

       I have first heard of Suze Orman when I attended a financial workshop in 2014,  but it was only now that I really had a chance to hear and read about Suze Orman’s lessons.  In her video, Suze cited 5 basic laws of money, which made me reflect on what I have done, currently doing and what will do next.  These lessons gave me more drive to pursue my chosen topic for my Management Action Research, which is to conduct Financial Literacy Program to our employees.  These are some lessons worth sharing with my friends, family members and colleagues:

Lesson 1:  Truth Creates Money, Lies Destroy It.

Suze has cited some examples which reflect the reality, and I was really guilty of.  First example is when your best friend asked you if it’s ok to borrow some cash to finance a certain loan or investment.  Deep inside, you know that she won’t be able to pay as promised, but you ended up lending her money because of your friendship.  For Suze, this is a form of a lie.  But in reality, particularly for Filipino culture, this is already a way of life.  Filipinos in general really value relationships, particularly the family.  If someone is in need, particularly if a close friend and a relative, most of us go out of our way just to extend help.  Oftentimes, Filipinos find it very hard to say “no”, even if in reality, we do not have means to extend financial help.   

        Another example she cited is when we purchase items using credit card, to feel good or feel that we can also afford what the people around us can afford.  Anyway, we will pay when the bill is due.  This is indeed very true and I am guilty of this since I’m a credit card user.  I admit that there were times wherein the truth is - I really can’t afford to buy a certain item.  But because we want to blend with the society, or because we don’t want to get insulted by the people around us, we are trying to project another image.  Thank God my husband helped me change this habit, and helped me control my purchases which I really cannot afford.  

Lesson 2: Look what you have, not at what you had.

Our decisions are usually based on past, and we are afraid to look forward.  I remember when I was still starting exploring the stock market.  I invested in Double Dragon at a very low price, but sold after a few months when I didn’t see an improvement.  A few months later, when I pulled out some more investments to finance other needs, Double Dragon’s value increased significantly.  I really regretted selling at an early stage, and now, I am hesitating to invest in the stock market again.  This is a perfect example of making my decision based on the past.  Instead of doing nothing about it and not making my money grow, I should look at what I have today, keep looking forward---invest----and wait more patiently.  

Lesson 3: Do what is right for you before you do what is right for your money.

According to Suze Orman, “The quality of your life can be affected just as much by how you feel about your decisions as it can by the decisions themselves” and that “Money flows through all of your life aspects, and you will not know what is best for your money until you know what is best for you.”  In the third lesson of her book, I have answered an assessment on “finding your unique balance.” Based on the results, I have a “high need for safety, comfort, and known quantities” in my life, I should consider them if making my decisions.  It also appeared that I have a “high interest in adventure, risk and challenge”.   Putting this into action, knowing that I have a high need of safety and that I have a high interest in adventure, risk and challenge, I should already start doing something in my investments. On the safety side, I should continue setting aside for my savings through a capital contribution.  This might not earn a high profit, but I am confident that it will just be there, safe and sound.  On the riskier side, I should start investing in the stock market or mutual fund again.  This will somehow create a balance in making my investment decisions.  

Lesson 4:  Invest in the known before the unknown.

Before making ‘unknown’ investments like investing in stocks, it is but appropriate to look at the ‘known’ items first like actual historical income and expenses.  What are the expenses that can be cut or avoided?  What are the other ways to increase the income?  For cutting the expenses, I am proud that I have already removed the habit of not paying 100% of the credit card due amount, and I have maintained such habit for more than 5 years already.  Despite receiving offers from various credit card companies, I opted to reject those and just stick with my current card, which is an extension of my husband’s.  In this way, knowing that someone monitors my expenses, I become more disciplined in handling my finances.  

Lesson 5: Always remember: money has no power of its own. 

I have what it takes to make my life more powerful, to make my money grow, to create what I deserve, and to keep what I have.  Money is just a tool and it doesn’t have the power to control me.  I firmly believe on this mantra, but I guess most people are not.  For most people, it’s actually not the money that controls them.  It’s their own greed for power and money that controls them, thus resulting to wrong decisions and actions.  

Jump and Run

MILLENIALS, per Wikipedia, are known to have too great expectations from the workplace, “look for the versatility and flexibility in the workplace, and strive for a strong work-life balance”.    I indeed belong to this generation.  In 12 years after I graduated from college, I jumped from 1 employer to another, and now on my fifth employer.  

My work life started as an auditor, where I gained experience and increased my market value.  Those were also the years of sleepless nights and weekends were weekdays.  I never regretted working in this firm, as I carried on its prestigious name in my CV.   After three years, I jumped to another audit firm outside the country.  Workload was the same, except that I was earning much higher but away from my family.  I cannot count the nights when I have to go home just to get some clothes, sleep in the office alone, take a bath in a nearby gym, and go back to office.  I may have struggled to have a work-life balance, but I was very thankful that God allowed me to work in these two firms during my first 5 working years.  Aside from being able to support my family and save something for my wedding, I have also learned to be more independent, stronger and resilient.  

I went back to Philippines to get married.  I started having my own family and worked in my comfort-zone company, but it did not last for long.  I may have achieved a work-life balance, but my earnings were not sufficient to support my growing family.  It was really hard for me to leave the job that I loved.  I jumped again to another company, with a higher income, but again struggled with a work-life balance.  I usually go home at 10 – 11pm, and there were times when my son did not want to sleep beside me, and chose to sleep with his Tita instead.   Those were my turning points, and my husband requested me to look for another job where I could spend more time with him and my son.  

Thankfully, God led me to my current job, where everything fell into the right place.  In my current job, I have managed how to balance my life.  In my first year with my current employer, I gave birth to our second child.  In my second year, I got hooked into fitness and running with my husband, and have also enrolled in a dressmaking course.  In my third year, I started with my MBA, got into ultra-marathons and got promoted.  Despite these various activities and busy lifestyle, I have still managed to regularly spend a quality time with my family.  

Looking back, now that I have achieved the kind of work and the kind of life that I wanted, I came into the following realizations:

• The main reason why I jumped from one organization to another, is really not about the money or the time that I wanted.  The main reason is that I was always trying to compare myself with others, who had a higher paying jobs, higher benefits, and a lot of time to spend on extra curricular activities.  It was actually the "envy" comparing my employer with their employer.  I have set very high standards, on what's the ideal job and company for me.  
• Balancing work, life, family, and relationship with God, really depends on a person's values, choice, strategy and outlook.  Probably in my early 'working' years, leisure or work-life-balance was not really my priority.  Perhaps my priority back then was really to be recognized for my work, and a sense of completion or achieving something.    
• Being in the right organization has a factor of prayer, luck and listening to someone else's advice.  Before I got employed byit  my current employer, I thought of accepting the offer of another organization, a start-up company.  Between the two, I preferred the start-up company but my husband let me realize that I may again struggle in juggling my role as an employee and as a family woman.  He let me to a more stable company, and I'm glad I listened to him.  Just recently, I heard that the start-up company is now closing and has laid off a number of employees.  
• Tone at the top and company's culture really matter in ensuring that employees achieves a work-life balance.  My previous superiors in prior organizations used to stay late in the office, and this was actually normal with the rest of the organization.   With my current employer however, at least 95% of the directors, managers, supervisors and staff, go home sharply at dismissal time.  This proves that an average person does not need to exert excessive effort to achieve the "ideal"balance between life and work. 

I may have jumped several times looking for a flat and safe ground...and when I got there, I started running to God's chosen path for me.