tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42235938143940992912024-02-20T17:49:53.648+08:00Triple Espresso ShotsNeil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.comBlogger434125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-43458052139666897682014-08-04T23:24:00.002+08:002014-08-04T23:38:06.728+08:00More that Solving PovertyI was catching up with a friend last week who share the same opinions that constantly checking your phone in the middle of a conversation with friends is so <i>bastos </i>and posting everything on social media, and heavens, selfies, are signs of mental illness. A warm cup of coffee led us to talk about what we love in our jobs despite the many frustrations. As I was explaining how loans help the poor, he plainly asked me, "how do you solve poverty?"<br />
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Well, uhm, I wasn't able to speak for like ten seconds. It's as if my brain got short circuit. With the question coming from an electrical engineer, I wasn't sure about the best way to answer. I tried to think of his motivation in asking. Does he want to help? Maybe I should start defining the different types of poverty, its characteristics, the multidisciplinary approaches to lessen it and how the government, civil society groups and the private sector contribute to its reduction. I even remembered a school of thought saying that zeroing out poverty will take a toll on our environment as consumption will go overboard. Is he really interested in an answer or is it one of those questions that you throw to keep a conversation going?<br />
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To keep it simple, I just said, it's complicated.<br />
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But he insisted, so I shared the stories of individuals, advocacy groups and corporations who make a dent in the lives of the less marginalized. Then I added that not everyone is "called" to solve poverty, which reminded me of a quote often used my one of my mentors, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions."<br />
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I think the more important question to ask ourselves is, how can I contribute to nation building? Regardless of our occupations, whether you're an engineer, call center agent, banker, domestic helper, priest or a sari-sari store owner, putting our daily tasks in the context of how one contributes to his country is something that more people can relate to and something that will keep us going "despite the many frustrations." More than solving poverty, we are called to continue building the nation. How often do you meet a computer programmer, a doctor or a security guard who is still passionate about his country?<br />
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I observed that a good part of our conversations with friends revolve around the frustrations we have at work - impossible deadlines, long working hours, impractical bosses, work politics - but if you put those challenges in the context of a bigger picture, struggles to build the Philippines, then it seems more bearable. I guess then that a perspective like that solves our own psycho-career-emotional poverty.Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-85973428186685220982014-03-13T21:02:00.000+08:002014-03-13T21:15:37.083+08:00A High School Student or A HousewifeI was stuck in traffic on my way to work along Ortigas avenue earlier, barely moving in front of the LSGH campus for like 20 minutes to forever. There were students going out of the school, sans drivers waiting for their <em>sundo,</em> so I figured, maybe it's their exam day cause it was only around 11:00am<br />
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Boredom got me and I started to think of the time when we were still in high school. Maybe the only major concerns that we had, apart from grades, were the level of coolness of the music that we listened to, how I'll be able to get more Starbucks stickers for my planner, or what to wear on the next <em>barkada lakad </em>(cause I don't repeat clothes <em>kuno</em>)<em>.</em><br />
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We didn't have to think of audits, key performance indicators or monthly reports. There weren't any dream yet of reducing poverty by empowering the poor with technology, or saving mother nature through interactive art installations. Yes, there was that plan of throwing the biggest soiree for the school or organizing a fund raising party for the library, but there was so much fun involved that it outweighs the "actual work."<br />
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I started to think of going back to high school - heck, I can't do that. Though I'm about to submit my application to graduate school next week and I'm kinda excited about it.<br />
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Still stuck in traffic, I stared further and saw this woman waiting inside her car for probably her son. I thought to myself, wouldn't it be great to be a housewife, married to a rich businessman? You don't have to think of work. All you have to do is take care of the kids, have desserts with your <em>amigas, </em>get the latest issue of a showbiz magazine, and spend the hard earned money of your husband to projects that can benefit the marginalized. <br />
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You can just attend cooking or art classes and schedule visits to your nutritionist and yoga teacher. Your most pressing concern would be on preserving your aging body or how to convince your husband to allow you to go on a Caribbean cruise with your girl friends.<br />
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Maybe if I were to be asked now what I want to become when I "grow up," I'd say I want to be a high school student, or at least a housewife, regardless of the limitations of those options. Or a monk.Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-3436382258262579192014-03-09T00:10:00.000+08:002014-03-10T22:57:42.768+08:00With Every Five Peso CoinI was riding a jeep on my way to work the other day when a kid entered, distributing white envelopes to each passenger. Apart from the telltale makeshift drum that he’s carrying, I learned that he’s a Badjao because it was written in his envelope, “Tulungan niyo ako. Kami ay Badjao.” Most people will pretend that they didn’t see or hear anything. A few will give the spare change they have, but I think this is not a good intervention because it will only aggravate begging on the streets. <br />
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Giving them food might be a better option. I know of someone who carries a pack of biscuits in his car specifically for street children. But really, how often does one carry a spare snack? <br />
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Here’s another alternative. Starting last January, at the end of every day, I gather all the five peso coins that I have and save them in a jar. Come December 31st, I’ll donate everything that I saved to a credible NGO or foundation that supports migrant youth. I got this idea from another friend who’s also a development worker.<br />
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Even though the first quarter of the year is about to end, you can still start this practice. Think of an advocacy that you’re willing to support because it will motivate you to consciously gather as many five peso coins during the day. Let’s say on a daily average, you save fifteen pesos. That’s already 5,475 after a year. Now imagine giving that amount to one street kid (through a credible foundation). <br />
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Everyday alms giving as support for these kids is detrimental to their development cause they might only buy cigarettes, drugs or unhealthy snacks with the money they get. Worse, these kids might be objects to funnel “charity” into the hands of criminal syndicates. If given in bulk to credible NGOs, there’s a brighter possibility that the money will be used to support education or health related projects to support their needs. Every five peso coin can be a humble contribution to having one less Badjao kid in the streets of Manila.Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-54488394605342646572014-03-06T23:20:00.004+08:002014-03-06T23:34:32.328+08:00Contributing to the Bayanihan EconomyI just read a paper written by the economist Cielito Habito on the "Solidarity Economy Movement" which started in North and Latin America. It talks about a system that creates inclusive growth for participants in the market economy whether you're a consumer, firm owner, laborer or a capitalist. One element in this system - the Socially Responsible Investments (SRI) - caught my interest because it's an easy avenue for people, especially those with money, to contribute to nation building.<br />
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It's a challenge to make people understand social development. I remember giving a talk to one of the biggest universities in Manila on Social Entrepreneurship. The emcee gave an introduction on social entrepreneurship as if the subject is on merging business principles with social media - creating enterprises that maximize the use of Facebook and Twitter. Que horror! If the majority finds difficulty in learning social development, there must be another way to "capitalize" on our population.<br />
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One of the current trends is the increasing number of people who want to invest - mostly OFWs and young professionals. I have lots of friends who are not yet 100% sure where to put their money - stocks? mutual funds? in the bank? foreign exchange?<br />
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I am averse to putting my money in stocks, mutual funds and even time deposits because these just fuel the machinery of capitalism. Yes, there's a possibility of a higher yield, but wouldn't it be more worthwhile to have your investments fund micro lending for the poor, capital for social enterprises, or finance operations of an agricultural cooperative? SRI is another alternative.<br />
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SRI involves investors who invest not solely on the basic financial returns, but also on their commitment to social development. On a macro level, these are people who orient their investments toward ethically responsible productive firms, cooperatives, ethical banks, savings & loans solidarity funds, and the like. If you scan the market for these kinds of investments, you won't easily find available options.<br />
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Yet, I know of a corporation that mobilizes resources from commercial banks, international agencies and SRIs (6.0% fixed annual return of investment) to combat poverty in the country. I also personally know founders of three groups who advocate financial freedom through investing (in stocks, mutual funds, foreign exchange, gold trading). Now if those groups can just integrate SRI from the corporation that I mentioned as an alternative investment vehicle in their program, that can be a big contribution to a more inclusive growth - or what we can call the Bayanihan Economy, as what Habito proposed.<br />
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It's one thing for the students/members of those groups to be financially independent, but through SRI, the investor earns and the poor are also uplifted. Bayanihan happens when the weaker members of the society are helped by those who have the capacity to share the weight of the task. It's ingrained in our culture, and I hope it transcends even in the financial markets.<br />
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Maybe a day will come when we can all pull out our investments from the stock market and allocate it to genuine companies and organizations that adhere to the Bayanihan Economy. I think SRI is the perfect alternative for those without the brains and time for development, but with the heart and money (and want to earn more money) to contribute to nation building.Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-20418544968023683112014-03-02T12:24:00.000+08:002014-03-02T12:24:22.701+08:00On Desires and FrustrationsWas in three meetings last Friday after work. The first one was for our online magazine, the second was for a youth ministry then the last one was a debriefing, or should I say de-beer-fing, for our colleagues who went on a month long expedition/research in the provinces damaged by typhoons Yolanda and Pablo - Samar, Leyte, Panay Islands, Compostela Valley. <div>
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There are two common denominators in the topics that were discussed in those meetings. The first is the desire for something greater. In the online magazine that we’re about to revive, the desire is to inspire the youth to act on their passions/idealism and to give them examples of people who have embraced causes bigger than their own. In the youth ministry, it’s about sustaining the fire that was ignited when the participants experienced the retreat. For our officemates who went on the one month project, it’s their desire to address the needs of the typhoon survivors in the most efficient and appropriate way possible.<br /><br />The second common denominator is frustration. All have operational inefficiencies, but more importantly, it’s the frustration of seemingly being alone while taking on a task that is so daunting, in the face of darkness that is crippling the little “desire for something greater” that you have.<br /><br />I remember giving a talk a few weeks ago to a group of young people who were about to embark on the steep journey of an IT startup. After being involved in at least 3 startups myself and being a curator of stories involving “successful” Filipinos under 25 years old, I want to cushion them on the frustrations I mentioned earlier.<br /><br />Part of my talk was on what our philosophy teacher – Sir Calasanz - mentioned in his lecture about hope. “What we know always surpasses what we can say, and what we desire, what we can commit ourselves to, always surpasses what we know… We can do more than what we can know. We can commit ourselves, we can desire more than what we can know.”<br /><br />I guess that’s what I want to say to the three groups that I had a meeting with last Friday, especially to our colleague who got so emotional brought by her anger towards the government. Frustrations will always be there, but it’s the extra-ordinary desire and commitment for something greater, which transcends even the boundaries of one’s consciousness, that will sustain the projects that we want to push through.<br /><br />And if you’re frustrated that you’re limited by what you can do at this current moment, put you actions in the context of a bigger picture. Think of your work as a humble contribution to something that can last a lifetime. And just do good in the best possible way you can.<br /> </div>
Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-50827229703681405922013-07-23T20:46:00.000+08:002013-07-23T20:46:05.473+08:00What I've Been Doing Recently<div>
A lot has happened since I published the my last post in this blog. I was rereading that post and I realized that I turned down that job mentioned - to be a trainer of marginalized youth who want to pursue entrepreneurship. It's not that I don't believe in the power of entrepreneurship to change the course of their lives. I supposed that the task might prove to be too frustrating since only close to 1% of entrepreneurs can sustain their startups for more than 5 years. And we're talking about marginalized young people as the main students of the classes here. So, yeah.</div>
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Another job that I turned down is a post for a business development coordinator for a consulting firm on social enterprises. I'm not sure why I turned it down as the pioneer of the firm herself was the one who talked to me. Maybe I'm on a career shift phase now. The lack of motivation to continue I'mABosco (now on it's 4th year of operations) and letting go Hundred Saints (for St. Bridget) are signals that maybe it's time to move on.<br /><br />Speaking of phases, it's the first time that I felt unemployed since I resigned from BDO last January . This feeling has compelled me to check on the FB page of Development Sector Jobs to look for openings every 3 hours, and to turn on again the notifications from JobsDB and JobStreet. As much as possible, I don't want to use the connections of relatives and friends. I'm also looking for a job in the government or an NGO because I've been really hungry for significance. I want to feel excited and alive once more, like when we were still planning for Manila Kid.</div>
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This means that I also have a lot of free time, most of which is dedicated to our movement DB DWTL. We just had a retreat last month that left the members of our organization with the feeling of ignited-ness. It's like a fire consuming and propelling us to do these activities that can sustain the "high" of the retreat. From recording our group's first music album, monthly series of talks ala The Feast and expanding the reach to other communities. It's an exciting time that I wish I can just work full time for our org (and get paid, of course).<br /><br />The activities that you may look forward to include (1) Living the 4th - community mass and talk on July 27, Saturday, at 2pm-4pm in RCBC Chapel, with Fr. Dennis Paez SDB to celebrate mass and give a one-hour talk on Healing our Brokenness; (2) Adoration organized by the High School Student Council Batch 2007 in DBTC Small Chapel on August 2, Friday, from 6pm-7pm; and (3) Launch of our first album on August 16, Friday at 6pm.</div>
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<br />Most recently, I got invited to give a talk once again, this time on volunteerism. It will be held in Mapua College at the end of this month from 1pm to 4pm. There are a lot of things to be said between me and volunteerism so I'm not really sure what to talk about. We'll be given 30 to 45 minutes each to talk about our experiences. I remember Steve Jobs' commencement address to the students of Stanford several years ago. He talked for only around 15 minutes but there was so much substance and wisdom packed in every sentence that he gave. I hope I can do the same.</div>
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As always, I hope to update this blog more often.</div>
Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-79405325169057209292013-05-15T23:50:00.003+08:002013-05-15T23:50:57.552+08:00Going Full TimeHaven't blogged as often as I wanted to even though I relatively have more time now. The scenario may change in two months in the event that I accept the sort of job offer to be a coach/trainer for an organization promulgating entrepreneurship to underprivileged youth. <div>
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It's always inspiring to hear someone who traded a high paying corporate job to work full time in the developmental sector. Bam Aquino, or should I say Senator Aquino, is the first person that comes to my mind. But actually being in that situation is more difficult that how it sounds.</div>
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For one, the salary is lower compared to my work in the bank. Before, there is up to a 16th month salary, clothing & grocery allowance and paid vacation & sick leaves which I avail as often as every other week. The hours are a bit longer in this new job but I guess the pressure is lower - no P5.0M loan releases every other day where my neck is on the line. And hooray for flexi time!</div>
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But maybe the main reasons why I'm inclined to go full time on this is because it's aligned with the trends that are starting to shape our country this decade. Filipinos are natural entrepreneurs, we just need an extra boost to scale up our novel ideas. The underprivileged kids will really benefit on the program since even if they don't go as full time entrepreneurs, it will challenge them to see things in a fresh perspective and dare them to dream a little more.</div>
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I observed one of their classes earlier and got to know about the students' stories. Quite confidential. Those stories would never be published in Manila Kid a year ago, but nevertheless, are worth hearing. And I hope these stories will have a happily ever after ending. </div>
Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-31746861380459335062013-05-06T12:27:00.003+08:002013-05-06T12:41:12.848+08:00A Different Kind of BirthdayI'm back in the Philippines. Back in my acrylic stained desk thinking of where to begin the series of blog posts about my 7 week trip in Saigon, Siem Reap and Siam. I'd like to think of it as a trip similar to what Elizabeth Gilbert did to find pleasure, spiritual connection and balance when she went to Italy, India and Indonesia. I feel refreshed. Maybe it's fitting then to start this with my birthday trip in Cambodia.<span style="text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">It started off with a thirteen hour bus ride from Vietnam going to the heart of Khmer Empire (circa 9th to 13th Century), to Angkor Wat. Survival tip: pop one capsule of Benadryl and you're good to go for long bus rides.</span><br />
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I arrived at around 8pm and was surprised when I saw a Cambodian raising a placard with my misspelled name. It was provided by the bus company (payment not included) so he took me to my hostel and insisted that I take him as my Tuktuk (tricycle in style) for my Angkor Wat tour two days from then.<br />
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I rented a bicycle the next day and had a tour around the city. Bought some souvenirs (wrong move as you'll see later), ate some traditional food, and at around 5:00pm, cycled for 7 kilometers to buy an entrance ticket to Angkor Wat. Validity of my pass was from that afternoon up to the next full day.<br />
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At 5:30am the next day, my Tuktuk driver picked me up from my hotel to watch the famed sunrise against the silhouette of Angkor's temples. Since it rained the night before, the view wasn't as spectacular as advertised by the brochure. Nevertheless, there was something very enigmatic about the place: two old monks meditating, a lone white horse grazing and the stillness of the place begging to tell it's harrowing story to its busy observers.<br />
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Angkor Wat, Bayon, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm. After around 8 hours of wandering around the ruins - getting lost within the stone skeletons of a once great empire - I asked the Tuktuk driver to take me back to the hotel. I was tired and a bit dehydrated.</div>
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I internally freaked out - still poised under pressure - when I learned that the hotel doesn't accept credit cards. I checked my wallet and figured that I have enough money to pay for my room, but not enough to buy food! Solution: I walked for 1.5kms (verified via google maps) to the nearest gas station to buy my birthday dinner.<br />
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I was able to return to the hotel just in time to watch the sunset. I drained a can of beer and floated over the pool while watching a flock of birds flying across the orange tainted sky, with the rest of the world drowned as half of my head is submerged in water.<br />
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I've had a lot of memorable birthdays - from staying up for the sunset in one of the best beaches in the world, to spending an afternoon in an almost deserted islands. But for now, this will be the most unforgettable. I've made some new friends, had some realizations. Refreshed and inspired, I took a bus at 6:00am to Saigon the next day to continue my Eat, Pray, Love adventure.Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-53971018173170325862013-04-16T00:38:00.000+08:002013-04-16T00:47:29.306+08:00Who Would Have Thought?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was browsing my Facebook album earlier when I saw a picture I posted last November 18. </div>
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The good thing about my birthday is that it falls on summer and often on Holy Week so we don't have classes / work and we get to go on a long holiday outside the metro. I can recall almost all my birthday cause they're quite memorable, especially the last few years.</div>
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I celebrated it on the mountains with my family,</div>
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Overnight in the country club in Tagaytay with my closest friends,</div>
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Waited for the sunrise in Boracay beach with my college friends,</div>
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And just last year, on an isolated island with the family again.</div>
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Who would have thought that my status message / wish last November will come true? I spent it alone in Cambodia, stayed in a South-of-France-looking hotel as observed by Kevin, </div>
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Explored the ancient ruins of Angkor,<br />
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Had some really good insights about myself and life in general,</div>
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Got lost and wished I can just stay there (even longer).</div>
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So how do I top that next year? Haha! Maybe Europe. Hopefully! (Fingers crossed)</div>
Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-49781735046340417042013-04-15T11:46:00.002+08:002013-04-15T11:54:09.276+08:00Step Out of Border, Vietnam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Several weeks ago, my co-volunteers and I were invited to promote cultural exchanges to college students in Ho Chi Minh City. The name of the event can't be more appropriate - Step Out of Border - of your country and your comfort zone. By joining internships or volunteering in community development programs (like what I do), you can spend at least 6 weeks in a foreign country to learn about their culture and more importantly, learn more about yourself. </div>
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We shared with them interesting things about our countries through performances, mini lectures and through food. Other countries include Holland, Russia, Germany, China. For the first time in my life, I had to sing in front of a major crowd! And I think I broke the stereotype that all Filipinos are good singers. Haha!</div>
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So what did I tell them about the Philippines? Following the queue from the Dept.of Tourism's ad campaigns, I told them all things fun about the Philippines - from my point of view - meaning parties, fashion, adventures and (staying true to Manila Kid) the people.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I think everybody had an awesome time. I hope to see one of student from the crowd to visit and volunteer in the Philippines one day! :D</span></div>
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Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-22165500626132063982013-04-13T08:51:00.000+08:002013-04-13T11:06:17.418+08:00Thoughts from Cambodia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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“I’ll tell you a secret. Something they don’t teach you in your temple.</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">The Gods envy us.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">They envy us because we’re mortal, </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">because any moment might be our last.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Everything is more beautiful because we’re doomed.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">You will never be lovelier than you are now.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">We will never be here again." - Achilles, Troy</span></div>
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I went to Cambodia to pray. The day when I visited Angkor Wat was the same day as my birthday so it was the perfect time to think things through. Rather than arising from logic, this thinking was much fueled by emotions resulting from a place haunted with ironies. You may call it reflection, though I'd avoid the word less run the risk of sounding sentimental. Praying will sound more apt as I'd like to think that there is divinity involved.<br />
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I felt the desperation of the Khmer empire to build a lasting legacy. Was it founded on the fear of being forgotten? Angkor Wat was a display of this civilization's power - and even at it's grandest, it still fell ill to the test of times. Yes, the stone temples may continue to stand and it's beauty only improved by the mystery shrouding it, but life has been sucked dry and what remains are skeletons of their traditions and beliefs. It only shows how little we really are in space and time - a spec of dust or a spark in this whole creation. Yet how often do we think too highly of ourselves?<br />
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Then I wondered if the institutions we have now - specifically religions, no matter how solid and true they claim to be - can still exist after a hundred years. We can see the influence of Catholicism and Islam today, but for how long? Egyptian, Greek and Roman religions served as truths millenniums ago, and now we call them myths. What does religions' contingent state tell us? I'd like to think that at the core of these religions are universal truths that are similar, if not related, with one another; values, beliefs and weaknesses that spans across generations and geographic borders that it might only come from a greater being (Western thinking) or from within ourselves and our shared humanity {Eastern thinking).<br />
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This time I was able to relate more to the Eastern thought because of the aspirations, fears, hopes and evils that unite us with even people who lived thousands of years ago, from the other side of the world. It's more relatable and comprehensible than Western ideology. Maybe that link we share with the rest of humanity is what drives us to do good towards others, to trust that our brothers won't irrationally hurt us or to believe that there is truth out there and we need to find it. That sense of unity in the face of decay maybe the reason why Achilles audaciously exclaimed that the Gods envy us. Instead of living off for ourselves, and doing anything we want (since we'll all die anyway), most of us decided to follow one's innate goodness, to be more loving instead.<br />
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And if ever there is a God, he's more likely to dwell within each one of us; he's someone or something who is bigger than the institutions created by men. A good question to ask right now is where does religion play in this train of thought? Since we have this insight of a being greater than human creation, can't we all just be spiritual?<br />
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I remember the question that my Philo teacher posed during my final oral exam with him, "is religion a mutually accepted delusion?" If I can answer him now, I'd still stick with my same affirmative answer. But it's a necessary mutually accepted creation of man in response to our weaknesses so we can fully comprehend that great being together as communities. As with the Khmer people of Angkor, religion serves as a communal response for us to sustain this innate goodness, and in turn, we are called for a personal response guided by the wisdom from the religions, but directed towards a more universal understanding and cooperation with each person.<br />
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Cooperation. Action. "Kapag nasabi na ang lahat ng masasabi, ang pinakamahalaga ay hindi masasabi. Magagawa lamang." - Padre Ferriols. </div>
Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-62468259229623693812013-04-05T00:05:00.001+08:002013-04-05T00:18:11.819+08:00Free As a BirdI was having lunch with Danielle, a co-intern from Holland, when she started sharing her experiences on backpacking. It's an activity that is not often practiced in the Philippines or even generally around Asia. Maybe the majority of us aren't built for these kinds of adventure - where you withdraw yourself from "civilization" and jump out of your comfort zone, into the wild. Or maybe because we have different priorities, like getting a job at once after graduating.<br />
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After finishing her degree in college, Danielle started her backpacking trip in Quatar then went to Nepal before staying here in Vietnam. She told me how she barely knew anyone in the countries that she visited, and how fun it was to meet new people on the way. She even crossed paths with some backpackers more than once, all of them surprisingly taking the same route and hostels. </div>
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This is a great feat for a very beautiful, Victoria's Secret level girl. I thought she was very sheltered, but through her stories, I was inspired to backpack on my own. But I guess the first thing I need to learn is how to pack light. Goodbye 20 kg maximum luggage limit!<br />
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Free as a bird. You can go anywhere you want without the extra weight of itineraries or tour groups. You leave when you like, eat what you want and set which direction you want to take.<br />
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On Saturday, I'll be on a 12 hour long bus ride to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat. Well you can say that it'll be my first backpacking trip since I'll only carry one backpack while the rest of my stuff will stay first in Vietnam.<br />
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I'm also going there cause I want to celebrate my birthday in a place where no one knows that I just turned a year older, when no one knows me at all. Commemorating your birth goes to back to its roots when you were just a clean slate. I think it's more natural and liberating that way. Just for a change.</div>
Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-34080825561907683932013-03-24T00:27:00.002+08:002013-03-24T00:41:27.675+08:00English: The Big Deal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I admire the Vietnamese because of their dedication to learn English; it can sometimes turn into a passion. Maybe in the Philippines, learning the language is taken for granted because we've had it ever since our moms told our nannies to talk to us in English, no matter how <i>barok </i>they may sound. Or we know it cause we watch Dexter's Lab or Sesame Street before we go to school back in nursery.</div>
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English for them is a big deal that you can find English clubs in different parts of the city. For example, in the condominium compound where I am staying, there are two English centers. Earlier, we visited an English club conducted by an Australian. Well, I got bored since most of the discussions revolved around things we've already mastered in elementary so I just waited outside sipping coffee and reading a philosophy book on traveling. (More on that later.)</div>
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<i>Magpapahuli ba ang mga Pilipino? </i>A Filipino family organized an English club in the building next to us. But there's a twist. They use the word of God and stories with values to teach people English. I like that they also use songs in their lecture. </div>
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It's great to have <i>kapit bahays </i>who have the same background as yours. That can be very handy in a foreign place since their presence remind me of where I come from. Maybe that's the reason why even though I already know what they'll teach, I look forward to going to their house as often as I can. It makes me more at home.</div>
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So aside from interacting with teacher Remil's family, I was able to meet lots of Vietnamese friends. They even got my number and are trying to add me in Facebook, haha! <i>Benta ako sa kanila.</i> Well I'm looking forward to making closer friends soon and helping them appreciate English.</div>
Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-51798653514237811822013-03-21T23:16:00.000+08:002013-03-21T23:53:07.544+08:00Postcards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Back in fourth year high school, I gave all my 40 classmates retreat letters. My teacher thought I was handing out invitations for my debut because each were finished in some artsy yellow envelope sealed with a purple ribbon.</div>
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So when a friend asked me to mail him a postcard, I got excited! He recently started collecting postcards from the different parts of the globe. Since I didn't have a teaching schedule today, I decided to go to the post office in the city center and figure out how this is done.</div>
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A short handwritten letter feels more special than a long electronic maybe because more time and effort are dedicated in crafting them. I guess it feels more human that's why the message becomes more sincere. </div>
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In the end, I had so much fun writing in a postcard and licking a stamp that I went back to the souvenir shop to buy more! So if you guys want to receive postcards from Saigon (or maybe from Siem Reap or Bangkok), send me an email or a PM so that I can prepare one!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuu9_2eNbFXS1cUU5x2pexwMTIujEnUwh88Bx1f35WiEzIFXluhdi81I9GPwLt4xCWJ19fq7VY_RUklmq61CzWt-t_i7vYRcmtxkDNvwhG6CtBI4Va0EuBDFKgdF00_BVsLNh01xrHMia/s1600/IMG_2761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuu9_2eNbFXS1cUU5x2pexwMTIujEnUwh88Bx1f35WiEzIFXluhdi81I9GPwLt4xCWJ19fq7VY_RUklmq61CzWt-t_i7vYRcmtxkDNvwhG6CtBI4Va0EuBDFKgdF00_BVsLNh01xrHMia/s1600/IMG_2761.jpg" /></a></div>
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I already have a dozen of requests that my stamp ran out. Will try to go to the post office again during the weekend! Hope my postcard reaches you!</div>
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PS: When you receive it, kindly take a photo of the postcard back to back and post it on my wall:D</div>
<br />Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-29830690813497693902013-03-21T01:12:00.000+08:002013-03-21T01:17:31.860+08:00Anything is Possible<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I got my first experience in teaching English just this morning when I went to Tu Xuong to meet my class of 8 students. Together with Danielle from the Netherlands, we taught them some vocabulary and phrases that can be used in conversations related to traveling. Some were advanced, while some students don't understand a thing that you're saying.</div>
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You need to have a heart for these kids if you really want them to learn. I think it shows when you just teach for the sake of getting the topics in their mind, as opposed to inspiring them to learn the language. It's teaching with the mind and heart. You need to have what the Jesuits usually refer to as <i>cura personalis </i>(care for the person) and probably loads of patience.<br />
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It especially helps when you know the background of these students because you can empathize with them.</div>
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I was talking to a local Vietnamese and she told me that some of these kids don't have parents, especially when I went to Anh Linh. Some of the children are so poor that their family can't afford to pay for school that's why they just send them to the orphanage to learn.</div>
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Well as you can see from the pictures, their orphanages are well equipped relative to the status of orphanages in the Philippines. But fancy classrooms and sleeping quarters does not numb them from the longing of love from their moms and dads.</div>
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I'd like to imagine that someday, these students will grow up to be good parents who will do their best to provide for their children - financially and emotionally. I hope they'll be adopted by a decent family, will have the opportunity to study in a prestigious school and work for a job that they really love. </div>
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Even though they were very naughty earlier (someone even brought a fake knife), I have many aspirations for them, as early as now. I saw this sign "Believe in yourself, anything is possible" hanging in their classroom and I trust that it will be the case when they go out of the safety of their orphanages. </div>
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I hope I can give more than my teaching skills, but right now, maybe the best thing that I can be is a brother to them who can make them believe that it's possible to learn English and it's possible to reach for their dreams!</div>
Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-9379768720952811302013-03-20T19:40:00.003+08:002013-03-21T00:34:21.786+08:00Reunification Palace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The pictures you see below is where the seat of power in Vietnam used to be. This was their own version of the Malacanang palace, but now, it's just a museum. Man, my host, took me here during my second day and I was able to see the opulence of Vietnam as displayed during the 1960s or 70s.</div>
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In the basement, you can see the former warroom of the president which was used during the Vietnamese-American war. My tour guide told us that the basement will survive no matter how hard the bombing may be above.</div>
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More history for you:<i> formerly known as Independence Palace, it was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It was the site of the end of the Vietnam War during the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates. - Wikipedia</i><div>
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I'm not sure if the president this time had kids. It must have been very stressful to have him as the father because their house, government offices and war rooms are woven together in one palace.</div>
Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-3901255714539974042013-03-19T13:34:00.001+08:002013-03-21T00:50:34.264+08:00First Three Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For the next two months, this blog will mostly contain my travels around Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and probably Laos. I'll try to write something once in a while mostly for my own sake since even though I brought a journal/diary, I find it more natural to record my experiences through a blog. Also, I promised my friends that I'll write about this Eat, Pray, Love adventure as inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert's novel.</div>
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I arrived in Vietnam last Sunday at around 12:40am but since my host won't be able to pick me up until 8:00am the next day, I had to sleep in the airport! (I was eventually picked up at 9:00am) It took me a while to find a good spot. I went to the third floor where there are empty sofas from some restaurants and settled myself there, with my luggage tucked under my seat. I was only able to sleep for around a total of 2 hours since the mosquitoes were feasting on me.</div>
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I'm staying on the 10th floor of a condominium. I am currently living with a family of three brothers. Their parents went back to their home town the night I arrived so that made me feel more comfortable, haha! The only concern is the language barrier since it's a bit difficult to understand their English with that strong Vietnamese accept. Most people here also don't know how to speak English so it's really a challenge, especially when commuting to where I'm supposed to teach.</div>
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Speaking of transportation, most people here have their own motorcycles. Buses and taxis are the common public transportation, while there are few cars since Man (the name of my host) told me that tax on vehicles is around 300% of the original price. I usually ride the motorcycle to get around the city.</div>
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For my first afternoon in Vietnam, I was glad that Man took me to see the Notre Dame Cathedral and other landmarks near it. It was Sunday so I was glad that I was able to pray inside the church. As much as I want to attend the mass, I won't be able to understand what they're saying since it's in Vietnamese. Surprisingly, some of the architecture in that square look more Western / European than Asian. It might have come from the strong influence of the French.</div>
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The next day, Man took me to the Reunification Palace where the president of Vietnam used to live. I was able to see some of the war rooms used during the Vietnamese-American War. I'll try to post the photos in my next blog.</div>
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My real purpose here is to teach English to young kids in an orphanage. The introduction/briefing won't start until this afternoon so I had loads of free time to get around Saigon (or now known as Ho Chi Minh) City. Maybe in the next few blogs, I'll tell you some stories of my teaching experience with kids who have zero idea on the English language. </div>
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Enjoy the pictures!</div>
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The next three pictures are from Saigon's post office. Aside from sending postcards / snail mail, you can buy souvenirs here as well. </div>
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The last picture is the view from my room on the 10th floor. And straight ahead, basing from the GPS of my tablet, is where Manila is. Whenever I miss home, I just look at that direction.</div>
Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-3073275751278738102013-02-28T23:36:00.002+08:002013-02-28T23:55:24.821+08:00Volunteering On A Global Scale"Why would you volunteer to another country if there are enough communities and projects in need of man power here in the Philippines?"<br />
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When I was moderating the Q&A portion of a youth congress earlier, that question particularly caught my attention, not because I'm guilty of it, but because it was asked by three different people - different structures but same idea. (Context: The audience was asked to send their questions.)<br />
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Those questions were addressed to AIESEC, the largest youth organization in the world which sends young volunteers and interns around the globe, and to the ASEAN Youth Volunteers Network which encourages and facilitates volunteerism around the region.<br />
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It is easy to see that the question points to a more practical approach to volunteerism. <i>Oo nga naman, </i>why spend thousands of pesos/euros to teach Italian kinds English if there is a scarcity of qualified teachers here in the country? Why waste resources and talent for those <i>na hindi naman natin "kadugo"?</i><br />
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I'll answer the question based from my own experience as a former youth representative of our country to the Global Ecovillage Network for Oceania and Asia.<br />
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First of all, it's more fun to work within an international community. The Japanese, Thai, Indian, Sri Lankan... volunteers that I worked with aren't very fluent when it comes to English so we laugh often and smile a lot! (<i>Parang high lang?)</i> Stories are exchanged in camp fires under the stars, and since music is a language that transcends all races, there are a lot of singing and dancing.<br />
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Conversations, generally, have more substance as compared to talking to a fellow country man. Most likely, you'll veer away from conversations on politics, sports or entertainment since you don't have much in common in those fields. They say that great people talk about ideas and more often than not, your conversations will revolve around ideas on leadership, community development, and making the world a better place.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Volunteering abroad gives you fresh perspectives on social issues. Your understanding of poverty may be different from those of the Japanese. Or a successful social model in Australia may not be as useful here in our country because we're an archipelago. So when you go back here, you'll be able to see corruption in a new light or you'll be able to discover new ways on how to market eco conscious living to high school students because of those differences and the hands on experiences you got from let's say from an Ashram in Thailand.</span><br />
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Of course, you get to travel a lot and learn about the culture of a foreign land. But more importantly, you'll get to know yourself better. There was a time when I was only with two other Filipinos surrounded by delegates from Asia and Australia, and I felt really proud of my country. I didn't know that I had it in me to be so patriotic, if only I brought a barong! Also, I did not know that I can be independent, nor that I can survive a week eating Indian vegetarian cuisine.<br />
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The work becomes more meaningful because you are in a situation dictated not by geography nor by demographics, but by choice. I want to build a self sustaining micro community and so as the people around me, that's why I'm here. Sharing a similar purpose connects you to everyone down to your core and the joy in those experiences I guess becomes more significant.<br />
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So the argument "why waste resources and talent for those <i>na hindi naman natin kadugo?" </i>becomes insignificant because a shared sense of purpose with those people whom you barely know widens your horizons on who your "real brothers or sisters" are. Barriers will be overlooked as you all work for the common good.<br />
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So before you are tied down because of your job or your family, try to travel with a purpose bigger than your own. Expose yourself to the unknown. You'll soon find out that if you have good intentions, people and circumstances will act favorably no matter where in the world you're in. </div>
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Dare to move!</div>
Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-80057125838449585192013-02-25T13:57:00.000+08:002013-02-25T14:02:36.945+08:00TornNot sure whether to<br />
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a) volunteer in a developing country<br />
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b) work for the government<br />
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c) get a scholarship and study abroad<br />
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d) or focus on a nationwide start up business with a big foundation<br />
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While at the same time continue running ManilaKid.com, contributing in TheCrustMag.com and managing two other small businesses.<br />
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I'm confused and torn.Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-45220230316277297902013-02-21T19:56:00.001+08:002013-02-21T19:58:57.832+08:00When 30% of Your Salary Goes to Your HairI saw Lincoln earlier. It's a story a man who dedicated the last years of his life trying to abolish slavery. The idea might not be as revolutionary now that the Unites States has an African American president, but during that time, the 13th Amendment to the USA Constitution seemed almost impossible to pass in the Congress, probably even more difficult than the passage of the RH Law here in our country. The price of standing up to one's convictions can cost a life. Lincoln was shot as he was on his way to the theater.<br />
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So then I went home after the movie, changed clothes and went to the kitchen to look for something to eat. Then I saw attached to the back of the head of our newest maid is a black shiny hair-like structure that looks so artificial I beg to not call it her hair. Two months ago, we introduced her to the mall. It was her first time to use the elevator then, and just this afternoon, she spent P1,200 of her salary for her hair.</div>
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I asked her why she did it (in the most <i>pangongonsensyang </i>tone I can muster). Apparently, her cousins who are also maids in our aunt's house had their hair rebonded, so <i>gumaya</i>. In this case, the price of standing up to one's conviction can cost 30% of one's monthly salary.</div>
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Being a half-baked economist, I wanted her to "appreciate" a pie chart of the monthly expenditure of the average Filipino family. Percentages may vary across several studies but there's no way that your hair occupies more than 30% of that pie chart. Usually, the biggest slice goes to food, rent or your kid's education, but for heaven's sake, not vanity.</div>
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"Do you know how many mouths your hair can feed in Africa? Or how many students you can send to a public school with that hair?"</div>
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Then I thought, doesn't her action reflect the bigger picture of our country with people below the poverty line spending a high percentage of whatever income they get to cigarettes and alcohol?</div>
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Eventually I got tired (and hungrier) trying to make connections and internalizing the micro economic damage she did to herself, so in the end all I said was "<i>isusumbong kita kay mommy!"</i></div>
Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-26109273551255880222013-02-19T23:32:00.000+08:002013-02-19T23:42:41.366+08:00We Need More HelpI had my much needed silent retreat last week. It's the perfect time to do it after resigning in my corporate job in exchange of pursuing the more challenging role of contributing to nation building partly through our online magazines. At least I like to think it that way.<br />
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I had anticipated the influx of press releases to be published, events to attend/host/speak, and organizations to be contacted, but not at this rate and this early. Aside from manilakid.com, we're also setting up another one, thecrustmag.com which intends to make volunteerism trend. I'm one of the contributing editors for The Crust and this allows me to use the influence of media to highlight and discover some issues. One of them is the very low morale of the children of Hansenite lepers staying with the Franciscan missionaries.<br />
<br /><b>Giving Back Lost Morale</b><br /><br />
I visited a leprosarium in Tala, Novaliches yesterday. The lepers have children, ages 3 to 24 years old, who have very low morale because of their background. The Franciscan sisters there coordinate with Don Bosco Makati to provide vocational scholarships (around P40,000 pax for 10 months) to eligible men, but they can use more help in inspiring their youth to feel comfortable with the outside world. These kids are more isolated than the nuns! I think that's a more pressing concern.<br />
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I was thinking of maybe going there to organize an entrep seminar, just teach them how to make a profitable social enterprise, or even facilitate team building or personality development workshops. Or since most of us are "busy", maybe we can organize a fund raising event for them so they can rehabilitate their facilities.<br />
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The picture below was taken with kids who participate in the feeding program of the Franciscan sisters just outside the leprosarium. I have a special heart for the causes of the Franciscan missionaries because during my silent retreat, I met Sr. Cecille who is the administrator of this institution.<br />
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<br /><b>Opportunity of a Lifetime</b><br /><br />
On a more positive note, I was ambushed by a high profile businessman / social innovator earlier who made me feel like John Sculley when asked by Steve Jobs to leave Pepsi for Apple, or like Anna Wintour when asked by Si Newhouse to lead Vogue. It was a meeting "for the books!" If ever someone decides to write my biography, there should be a special chapter dedicated to that meeting, haha!<br />
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He sealed the deal with a handshake, left and all I can say while I was semi-trembling and scratching my head was "what the fuck!" In the one hour that we met, I felt so inspired that I kinda felt teary eyed at some points in the conversation. We talked about social enterprises, citizenship, sustainability, social responsibility, the generation then and now, indigenous people, human dignity, schools and where the world is going. I'd be an idiot not to follow this guy! I really feel blessed to meet him. Whew!<br />
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To cap this blog post off, I'd like to share the video interview we did early this morning. It was shot for a presentation in University of Santo Tomas and I was one of the people they interviewed. The gist of the interview: how does the election affect social involvement? And I had to talk from the point of view of the editor of ManilaKid.com.<br />
<br /><b>More Apathy in UST</b><br /><br />
I learned through the brief given by the videographer that a lot of the students from the College of Science of UST (more than 80%) are not registered for the coming elections. What happened? Should we blame the institution for these students' apathy? I actually received an editorial giving a commentary on the issue. We need more help. And if these students can't even bother to take part into one of the most concrete and accessible acts to participate in nation building, what does this tell us?<br />
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Instead of looking for who to blame, maybe we can broaden their horizon. If we can show these students the likes of the Franciscan missionaries dedicating their lives for the service of the leper community, or the likes of that business magnate who's concentrating all his resources and energy to give back the dignity of indigenous people, then maybe we can give them the reason to register for the next elections and vote. It starts there. We're doing our part through manilakid.com and thecrustmag.com. How have you contributed lately?</div>
Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-1843920431213609182013-02-09T11:20:00.001+08:002013-02-09T11:20:48.572+08:00Of Separate Peaces and Faults in Our StarsHave you experienced those days when you just want to drown yourself in reading? Maybe you bought new books, you have nothing to do or you just want to be lost from the real world and be found in the company of new characters. Those days for me spelled A Separate Peace by John Knowles and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Both books have more similarities than the first names of their authors.<div>
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I find Separate Peace relatable because of its setting minus the early years of World War II. And because of the themes surrounding the novel - competition; though you might find it confusing who the main character is really competing against. "Beginning with a tiny incident among ordinary boys, it ends by being as deep and as big as evil itself." The title will sound ironic by the end of the novel because even this "separate peace" which the two best friends created will eventually be distorted. The inner war in this book is more poignant than WWII itself.</div>
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“So the more things remained the same, the more they changed after all. Nothing endures. Not love, not a tree, not even a death by violence.” Since nothing endures, we have this need to relish each fleeting moment. And that's how you will mostly feel about one of the characters.</div>
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Speaking of fleeting moments, The Fault in Our Stars is about two characters who cherished each other's company knowing that one of them will eventually die sooner that most of us are expecting. It's probably the "perks of cancer" or "side effects of dying." </div>
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“There are infinite numbers between 0 and 1. There's .1 and .12 and .112 and an infinite collection of others. Of course, there is a bigger infinite set of numbers between 0 and 2, or between 0 and a million. Some infinities are bigger than other infinities. A writer we used to like taught us that. There are days, many of them, when I resent the size of my unbounded set. I want more numbers than I'm likely to get, and God, I want more numbers... But... I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful.”<div>
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That quote reminded me of an interview we did with the late painter, Joey Velasco. We asked him which year in his life did he wanted to last twice as long. He said that the length doesn't matter, but the quality of life we live in those 365 days. It's how we create and treat those infinities in our given set of time frame.</div>
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Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-83040029973254030412013-02-04T00:45:00.004+08:002013-02-04T00:57:52.783+08:00On the Spot Rock Concert Hosting GigI woke up yesterday feeling indifferent that I was going to a concert with some of the biggest names in the local music scene because I haven't consciously listened to OPM for the last 3 years. The names of Silent Sanctuary, Urbandub and Up Dharma Down sounded familiar but not their music. Little did I know that in about 12 hours, I'll be hosting that concert!<br />
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Nikki Viola and I were anticipating a prom proposal from the high school portico when Marwell, the college student council president, called me up with most unexpected proposal instead - "is it alright for you to host Swere with Nikki?" And I was like, b<i>aliw ka ba?</i> Nikki was a professional DJ from RX93.1's Radio 1 while I on the other hand haven't hosted an event for like 5 years - and those were high school interactions.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">So naturally, having not listened to OPM and having not hosted (especially a rock concert) for years, I said Yes. Disclaimer: that was after several minutes of convincing from Marwell and Nikki (and I, that I could do it). Why not? If I can speak in front of students from high school to college, how different can this crowd be?</span><br />
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Well, it turned out light-years away from the conferences that I was used to in the air-conditioned auditoriums. This was a whole lot different! I had to perk up the crowd in the football field. Energy, energy! In the absence of vodka to loosen and energize me up, Nikki was there! Whew!</div>
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In the middle of the concert, while Silent Sanctuary was playing, I realized that although this was not in my bucket list, I'll be adding this to one of my most memorable experiences. I was very grateful for this opportunity, and it was definitely something new. I doubt if I can do this again. Haha!</div>
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<i>Carpe diem</i>, as they say.</div>
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Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-31643885699277442132013-01-29T16:24:00.002+08:002013-02-03T22:50:20.797+08:00A Year and A Hundred Days<br />
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466 days - including the weekends, holidays and times when I
was absent (which was more often than allowed) – that I worked for one of the
biggest banks in their regional office in Binondo. Yes, a pure blooded Filipino
with not much of a background in Chinese culture other than having eaten hopia
and siopao, was sent to deal with probably the most taxing clients in the heart
of Chinese civilization in the Philippines</div>
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“So do you do the Marketing of the bank?” asked by one of my
org-mates when I told him what my job was a few months ago. Well, not exactly.
I don’t shoot the advertisements or create promotional strategies for the bank
as I did back in college. I was included in the first batch of management
trainees and a big part of our responsibilities revolved around promoting the
services of the bank to our clients, mostly medium sized enterprises.</div>
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“You’re a sell out!” remarked by one of my college friends
upon learning that I accepted a job in an industry that epitomizes corporate
structures; banks fuel corporate machinery with the money they lend and I’m
one of the officers who facilitate this trade. I want to slap my college friend
back with the same statement since he’s also working as a management trainee
for a giant real estate company. But I guess the gravity of being a “sell out”
was more apt in my case after promoting “staying-true-to-your-passion” in our
online magazine, manilakid.com.</div>
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Though it can get a bit boring and pointless most of the
time, the experience of working in Binondo is really one of a kind - mainly because of its many peculiarities. For one,
there are many commute routes going from my place near Shaw Blvd. to Binondo
church. You can ride a jeepney, train, bus, tri-cycle (better with a friend
less the risk of being held up) and even a <i>kalesa</i>
with a parasol on your right hand while an <i>abaniko
</i>on your left, fanning beyond the reach of men pulling their carts of goods
(which I did only once). </div>
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There’s also an explosion of food choices – from your every
day fast food joints like Jollibee and McDonald's to the more traditional Chinese
restaurants such as Wa-Ying, Yin-Ying and Sincerity. It’s funny that I haven’t
seen any Chow King around our area. What people refer to as food tripping in
Binondo, we call lunch and done on a daily basis. Crispy frog legs, oyster
cake, bull’s testicle soup and a pork chop bigger than your actual plate are
just a stone’s throw away.</div>
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At first I thought that aside from the security guards,
messengers and maintenance staff, I was the only Filipino in our office. It’s
also not surprising to hear Fukien spoken from the telephone the moment you
pick it up, <i>no intiendes </i>sir. Or it’s
also not uncommon to see millionaires visit our office while wearing their <i>pambahays, </i>with a matching hole on the
right sleeve of their shirt. </div>
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Of course one cannot describe any office experience if one
excludes the bosses. Our unit head, the big boss, is a petite woman with an
appetite and grace of a flamingo – cause my arms are as skinny as her legs. The
moment we hear the tick-tack of her steel-heeled stilettos reverberating across the marble corridors, chills climb up my
spine forcing me to maintain the perfect posture. I hide any food that’s on my
table and (sometimes pretend to) become so immersed with the financial
statements in front of me. When the glass door swings, I can’t even look
directly in her eyes and say good morning because of the terror she brings - terror and beauty combined in that<i> tres petite</i> body But
I never forget to take note of what she’s wearing. She enters the office in a
snakeskin blazer and Hermes belt over an exceedingly short black dress while
combing her golden hair with her left hand and a Chanel clutch on her right.
Seconds after she passes, a huge uniformed driver (or more like a body guard)
follows bringing with him the proposals which she reviewed the night after.
She’s our own version of the cold Anna Wintour.</div>
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On the other hand, the boss who I’m directly under is
approachable and warm. He’s more of a mentor than a boss - very hands on in
teaching me what I needed to learn and guiding me to pass my revalida, an exam
taken after our training. He would teach me everything he knew regarding the bank
and values which might come in handy. The most memorable experience I had with
him was during a client call. The driver who was supposed to pick me was more
than an hour late that I was forced to commute. Instead of being angry to the
driver (cause that’s what I’d do) he was very calm and composed in handling the
situation, an exemplary display of kindness and pro-activeness that I will
never forget.</div>
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I will miss seeing the Post Office along the crystal river as I pass over Jones Bridges every morning; eating cassava cake, egg fritters and cornik just outside our office; visiting God in Binondo church occasionally; watering the plants; walking to Intramuros to have lunch; waiting for a bus in the Manila City Hall while observing the perfect sunset. For that one year and exactly a hundred days, thank you BDO! </div>
Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223593814394099291.post-54693239998151396302013-01-01T12:16:00.000+08:002013-01-01T12:16:04.896+08:0012 for 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This year is particularly special because of the people who came (and went) and made me refocus my direction. A lot of things happened this year but here are the top 12 moments that marked my 2012.</div>
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Spent the new year with my college friends in Cebu for Sinulog. It was also my first time to swim with whale sharks and attend a party which was so wild, the SWAT was needed to end it. </div>
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Vogue Italia featured photographer Adrian Gonzales took my 22nd birthday photos in UP. We featured him last year in our online magazine.</div>
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I'mABosco continues to soar while keeping our competitors at bay. James and Mike have launched their respective brands for La Salle and San Beda. I on the other hand launched a new school brand for St. Bridget with Joanne and Nikki.</div>
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Graduated from our training program with BDO, and before the year ended, I submitted my resignation letter. My more than one year with them has been really challenging and enriching. Wouldn't have survived it without my fellow trainees.<br />
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After my work in Binondo, I often take the trains going to Mandaluyong to hold office in Paragon Plaza where I help in the business of my mom.<br />
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Was able to rekindle my love for the UAAP and a worthy effort as the Blue Eagles closed this season with no less than a 5-peat championship. One big fight!<br />
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We had the first General Assembly of Magis Solutions in Tagaytay. They are one of the leading tech groups who provide IT solutions to the developmental sector.</div>
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Graduated from my Social Entrepreneurship class under Atty. Casanova. This is where we pitched our ideas, in front of esteemed panelists - directors, presidents, CFO/CEO. Our 6 months with him allowed me to reconsider my direction and focus myself into something more worthwhile.<br />
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Was able to speak in several schools this year including FEU and San Beda. The picture below shows me with my co-speakers, where most of them were featured in our online magazine. There will be more Dare to Move seminars next year, you bet!<br />
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That three day retreat in Batulao really satisfied the much needed escape and rest I've been craving for. I can say that I was able to reconnect with myself and filter my thoughts in that place. This is where we held our high school retreat around 5 years ago, and I always feel at home here.</div>
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Ended the year on top of a mountain, Pico de Loro. Climbed it together with some of my high school friends. It made me realize how small and powerless we really are, simply a dust in the wind. Ironic that after having "conquered" a mountain, I feel more humbled.<br />
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...and there are those moments which you wish you would just forget. But I still don't regret doing this.</div>
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Bring it on 2013! Another chance for us to get it right.Neil Paltenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03652002487957214542noreply@blogger.com0