AGSB Relief Operations

To those in the Makati area, the Ateneo Graduate School of Business Student Council is still accepting donations today (Saturday, August 11) until 9am tomorrow morning (Sunday, August 12).  Volunteers are helping pack the relief goods today.  We will distribute the relief goods together with the Ateneo Law School in Cainta, Rizal on Sunday August 12.

To those who wish to volunteer, you may register here: http://goo.gl/i5Q4o

Kindly drop off your donations at the ground floor of the Ateneo Professional Schools.

Preferred items are as follows:
- Water (in bottles, please, not in gallons)
- Ready to eat food items (canned goods/crackers,etc.)
- Noodles
- Blankets
- Medicine (priority meds: headache, fever & flu meds, cough & cold meds, pain relievers, antiseptics, band-aids)
- Toiletries

For inquiries, you may contact the following:
Christian Manuel 0915-590-2879
Martha Sapalo 0917-570-6604
Jenn Tarrobago 0917-895-8090
Jessie Abastillas 09062285505

On behalf of the Student Council, thank you to the generous donors and volunteers.

Patok Mag-impok!

Yesterday, some friends and I were given an opportunity to facilitate a workshop called Patok Mag-impok!, which taught the participants the basics of saving money or “pag-iimpok”.  Participants of the workshop were the parent volunteers of the Ateneo Blueplate Feeding Program.

I know, I know.  It’s ironic to be one of the facilitators of such a workshop when I myself probably need it more than them.  Good thing I was able to pick up a thing or two from guest speaker Ms. Sheila Ramos.  She said that if you want to save money, you should be able to do the following:

Mag-impok:

1. Mag-isip.  Think twice before buying something.  Do you really need it or not?

2. Maglista.  Keep track of your expenses by listing down everything that goes in and comes out of your bank accounts, down to last centavo.

3. Magpakatotoo.  Keep it real.  If you’re spending more than you should, just admit it to yourself and do something about it — either spend less on things you don’t need or look for other sources of income.

It all seems so simple but good Lord, it’s such a struggle for me.  If the participants knew about my lack in personal financing skills, they’d be calling me a hypocrite

Anyway, it was such a good way to spend my Saturday morning.  It’s amusing to see them all excited to open their own ATM accounts and promise to quit all their bisyos (I highly doubt they’d be able to do this right away, but still!!).  It’s also fulfilling how some of them personally thanked us for a learning-filled workshop.

In an effort to apply what I’ve learned from the workshop (especially the “maglista” part), I already downloaded an app that will allow me to track my expenses and manage my budget on a daily basis:

Whatever.  Will see how it goes :p

My LD Weekend

After almost a year of signing up then backing out due to my busy schedule, I finally found the time to attend the Life’s Directions (LD) retreat last June 1-3 at the Karis Retreat House in Tagaytay.

I had the time, yes, but mustering up the courage to actually go there was another thing.  Days before the retreat, I was on the verge of backing out (again).  I was begging friends to come with me or even take my place.  I heard from friends that people who have attended the retreat in the past have made some drastic changes in their lives as a result of LD, and I wasn’t sure if I was mentally and emotionally ready for that.  I was really freaking out but I went anyway, instructing myself to just treat it as a getaway or a short vacation.

So I did go, and I have no regrets at all.

LD had different effects on the participants — some found answers, while others just got more questions.  Some realized that they were asking the wrong questions all along, and some simply found some R&R in the lovely place.  In my case, the retreat served as a reminder of sorts.  It has brought to my attention things I already know but have somehow forgotten or neglected due to my preoccupation with my day-to-day activities.  I won’t divulge much, but this quote sums up what I learned from my LD weekend:

Falling in Love
Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the mornings, what you will do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.
- Pedro Arrupe, S.J.

LD made me realize exactly where I am now.  Did I figure out my “life’s direction”?  Maybe, but not quite.  It won’t happen in one weekend.  But in the process of figuring it out, I know I have God and the people I love with me.  I’m in no rush because as they say, the adventure is in the journey

What’s Up, Doc?

The Operations Cluster of the Ateneo Graduate School of Business invites you to “What’s Up, Doc?”, a forum on delivering service excellence in the health industry.  It will be on June 22, 2012, 6pm at the Ateneo Professional Schools Auditorium.  Speakers include Ms. Joyce Alumno (HealthCORE), Dr. Jose Acuin (The Medical City) and Dr. Reynaldo Joson (Manila Doctors Hospital).

Exciting raffle prizes await the participants so we hope to see you there!