got back
Let’s see what I did these few days.
I went with friends to a night swimming escapade and been toxic a little. Drank coffee with Sandra at McGregor and talked about her new work experience and bloopers. I thought her also basics of Macromedia Flash MX and Selteco applications that she will be using as tools in her work. The next day, we welcomed Kix for returning in Marbel to continue the Sharing the Light Program of the Youth group in Davao. We had a coffee talk and barbeque party at Baywalk.
I was also invited by the Junior Philippines Association of Management Accountants to be one of their speaker and facilitator in their Leadership training and teambuilding workshop. I prepared for the said workshop together with Sandra and we really enjoyed the energy of the young leaders of the organization to serve while having fun. I hope you have had influenced them.
JPAMA Leaders
LeaderShaping SessionListening and participating to different ideologies, beliefs, stand, and principles of the youth during the discussions turned to debate is hot.
I really appreciated their effort in organizing such event to strengthen the awareness of the youth on the present environmental and political situation of the country. I hope more youth will be moved and who will take an action and role as catalyst of positive change.
By the way, the camp is all expense paid by the sponsors. And it was really a camp. We brought and set-up our tents the traditional way.
These were some of the major events this summer I have attended.
Next week, I will be in Davao city to hunt jobs and visit some friends. I hope there are free Accommodations in Davao for me to enjoy.
I feel good to be back. There will be more blogging soon.
God bless.
notre dame, pay for us
In Notre Dame of Marbel University, a 10% tuition fee increase next school year was proposed.
It was proposed that the 10% of the tuition increase will go to the teachers’ salaries and improvement of infrastructures and facilities inside the campus.
Some students speak up.
The Library is too big for a too small internet section to accommodate the need of students. The computers can be described as “de-uling” due to slow internet connection.
Students repeatedly voice-out about the presence of some teachers who are not world class, who don’t know how to speak English well and whose method of instruction is too old school for college-level learning. Are we going to expect fewer teachers of these kinds next school year?
Those are just a few.
The more than 4000 souls may have more than 4000 different concerns intertwined. I understand the University’s rigid annual increases but I hope that they can compensate the amounts we’re paying, and hope that the minimum increase is enough and can be justified.
Let’s not wait for Notre Damean to pray and say, St. Marcellin Champagnat , pay for us.
Speak out and raise our concerns. Our great founder who wished to educate the poor children did not want us to be indifferent. I hope they could still remember the teaching of Marcellin, In order to educate the children, you must love them. I hope they will love us and understand the sentiments of the students.
We should never be complacent about things such as tuition increase. To ignore this fact is pathetic and downright stupid.I pray that Notre Dameans would not be apathetic about tuition fees.
Let us remind them to practice what they teach. Copy the image to your blog or set it as your primary photo in Friendster.
the blog seminar
Blog, the fisrt blogging seminar in SOCCSKSarGen (South Cotabato,
at the Hall
The seminar was attended by 176 participants from all over the province including students from General Santos and Marbel, some teachers, professionals who are interested in blogging.
NDMU President Bro. Willy Lubrico, FMS who welcomed them congratulated the CSIT Student Council and the Mindanao Bloggers group for this and vowed to continue supporting their cause.
Hon. Peter Laviña delivered his keynote speech
Davao City Councilor Peter Laviña, who came all the way from
Hector Miñoza, UN Consultant from General Santos talked on Blogging and Participatory Governance. The participants had fun and been interested with his serious talk on encouraging everyone to take an active role in participating in nation building through blogging.
Ayel giving the basics of the blogging ativity
My blog buddy, Ariel C. Lalisan, a public high school teacher from Sarangani orients the participants on the origins of blogging and share some reasons and purpose why do we blog? He also designed the layout of the event poster.
Sandra Mae Bonrustro, the Project Officer of Pathways to Higher Education talked emphatically about changing the socio-cultural mindset of Mindanaoans and to blog about 
Organizers, speakers, and guests after Lunch at Lantaw Marbel
We had our lunch at Lantaw Marbel Lodge and Restaurant where the City of 
crowd's favorite shoppingera
The seminar resumed at 1:30pm with a talk on Blogging as a new Media given by Ria Jose, the crowd favorite shoppingera as Avel tagged her. She came all the way from
Rolly Jude Ortega, a Political Science student at the University gave a “shout-out” also about why he blogs and what motivates him to keep on blogging.
It was followed by a surprise video of Blogie and Winston of Mindanaobloggers.com who expressed their support and congratulated the organizers for such initiative.
The organizers gave time also for the participants to ask questions about blogging and related issues in an open forum.
The last part of the seminar was the reading of the Mindanao Bloggers Summit resolution by all of the participants.
Domain and hosting packages were also raffled. This is made possible by the generosity of Toto Lozano who gave a web development package. He has a web-hosting company and designs web pages.
Dennis Paul Custorio raffled a FREE TEMPLATE package too. He is the owner of everygladestudio.com.
Job Oberio, also gave away a NoKiAHOST hosting package.
We hope that more bloggers will emerged from SOCCSKSarGen region for a better
The seminar was sponsored by
Matchbox café Campus Art Mozilla Firefox
Jehzeel Laurente
Toto Lozano
Dennis Paul Custorio
Bro. Vince Celeste
Mindanaobloggers.com
Thank you for making the seminar possible with your generous heart. It was a smash!
help build a nation
AMYS
The 4 days and 3 nights summit of the Youth of Asia and the Marist Brothers of the General Council concluded last September 25, 2007 at Mariapolis, Tagaytay city. It was an enriching experience for us to share, talk, think, and discuss about the Christian life and Marist vocation today. Purposely the activities was designed to get a clear picture of the Asian reality, and to understand how Asian Youth face the realities today and to share our role and commitment as young Christians within the Church in the Asian context and finally to share about Marist vocation as one way to respond to this Asian reality.
We arrived one day ahead before the meeting at MAPAC and we were welcomed by the whole community during the dinner together with Bro.Sean Sammon, FMS, the Superior General. There I first met personally, Bro. Vince Celeste, FMS of the IamBalong blog. He was a good person, he accompanied us in Marikina. 
We have explored the center of Marikina and bought some personal items at S Mall. Marikina was indeed a clean city, the colored pink fences and posts made the place more attractive. It was like a little Hong Kong in the Philippines.
29 youth from different part of Asia participated; 20 from Philippines, 4 from Malaysia, 3 from Hong Kong and 2 from Korea. Delegates from the Philippines were from Notre Dame of Marbel University, Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, Notre Dame of Kidapawan College, Notre Dame of Cotabato, Marist School of Marikina, Buda in Bukidnon and Marcellin Homes in Gen. Santos City. The activity was attended also by the Superior General of the Marist Brothers, Sean Sammon, FMS and his General Council from Rome; Brothers Luis Sobrado, Maurice Bequet, Peter Rodney, Anotnio Ramalho, Emili Turu, Pedro Herreros and Theoneste Kalisa.
The program started with a welcome mass. The message of the homily of that mass struck me personally. It was about Matthew the tax collector and God as the center of his life. It made me cry as I relate it with my experiences and my constant search of my self and happiness in life. After that, we had dinner and I was full and satisfied by the food served. We also had a getting-to-know activity and each one of us was expected to share something about ourselves and our country. Everyone is also encouraged to talk and express in English since the gathering is an International event.
That night was the start of my nose-bleeding experience. In some moments I prayed to have an out-of-the-body experience so that I can survive in that place. But language and culture difference was not really a factor that creates gap between participants in communicating to each other. In fact, the delegates from South Korea brought an Interpreter to convey their ideas and as well as to understand the talks and sharings in English.The following days were great, we had shared about our own experience of Marist life and discussed about the Asian reality and the problems of faced by the Youth today and on how we respond to that reality. Also, we have talked about the Marist vocation and our ideas about it. Actually, they would encourage the young if they have a calling for the vocation but I personally told them that, This is not my world. I am to live a married life and to have a family. But I have a calling for it then I’ll discern for it. If God wanted me to be an instrument of His love for others then I won’t hesitate to enter in this vocation.
We talked also about how the Marist brothers influenced the Youth today and shared on our views of the life they lived. The summit was loaded also of mass, morning praises, prayers, and reflections. It was like attending a retreat in a relaxing and very perfect place. Also, on the last night, we showcased the diverse but rich culture of our country. We had this halo-halo cultural dance presentation. The delegates from Buda portray how Christianity was established in our country followed by a Muslim dance, Maskara festival dance, Kalilangan dance, Kembot dance and Kabataang pinoy dance which was participated by all delegates from Philippines. The Brothers from the general council was stunned and entertained by our performance. While the other delegates have their own presentations also. The delegates from Malaysia rapped and danced with their traditional music and also the delegates from South Korea. the Hong Kong talked about their tradations and sung a song in their langauage. They brought a Moon cake and they have shared it among the other delegates. It was my first time to taste that cake. The Brothers also gave us a presentation, they sung Santa Lucia. The entertaining night ended with never-ending picture taking.
On our last day, we had a light sharing and an open forum. This was the moment that we were about to say our Goodbyes to each other. Though it was hard but we have to, unless, we have extra money to stay. Parting was never easy specially if you established friendship and close relationship to each other. I will miss you all guys. 
We stayed one more day at Taguig after the summit and before we went home. We went to MOA, Market Market, Baclaran church, and walked on the streets. I went also in Cubao for an invitational dinner at Dencio’s with Kuya Jay, Ate Ria, Ate Aya, and ate Emz, JVPs based on Ateneo de Manila University. It was also my first time to ride on MRT going to cubao and it was fun. 
I met also Jehzeel Laurente, he waited at the Domestic Airport to see me. He was very thoughtful, he gave me a book of Bob Ong entitled, Mac Arthur. We did not talked long because we were late for our check-in. We were I rush because we might not meet our flight schedule. But only to find out that our flight was delayed for 3 hours. If I knew earlier that it would happen, I might be able to thank him and even talk to him formally. But anyway, It was very nice meeting him, he was a very good person. I hope we can talk more longer next time we’ll meet.
[I will be posting more pictures soon]
AYLC 2008
The Ayala Young Leaders Congress is an annual summit that brings together about 70 of the most promising student leaders from colleges and universities from all over the country. The Congress is keystone of the Ayala group’s youth leadership development program called “Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders”, which was launched in December of 1998.
Learn more about AYLC 2008 and check if you are qualify to join.
Go lead and serve!
tenkyu
Ate Ria, Ate Em, and Ate Aya, my co-pathways builders greeting me a Happy Birthday.
It’s been 3 days since my birthday but I haven’t yet thanked the people who greeted me a Happy Birthday. To my friends, pathways family, classmates, textmates, friendster friends, loved ones, and to my family, thank you very much for letting me feel so loved and remembered.
And of course I would not forget my friends and family in the blog community.
Ariel Lalisan [12:00:00:01 – 080807]
Jehzeel Laurente [12:00:01:00 – 080807]
Winston Almendras [12:00:10:18 – 080807]
Sandra Bonrustro [TEXT]
Leann Jester Daus [TEXT]
Daniel Jr Confesor [12:02:14:05 – 080807]
redLan [bLOG]
Bro. Vince Celeste [bLOG]
Cantilangnon Ini [bLOG]
Jemme Putchir [bLOG]
Kix Rodrigo [TEXT]
Mykl Faller [bLOG]
Ham in the strawberryfield [bLOG]
Arn Villegas [FrIENDSTER]
Mark Tan [bLOG]
Rodel on REMOTION [FrIENDSTER]
CourtChief [bLOG]
John Paulo Aguilera Lamano [bLOG]
Fjordan Allego [bLOG]
Quincy John Tampo [bLOG]
TrizZz [bLOG]
Jepoi Sistoso [FrIENDSTER]
Coiledice [bLOG]
Jackie [bLOG]
I really appreciated and acknowledged the greetings of my fellow bloggers who were not mentioned above. I decided to shorten the list of this post because I’ll be catching my absence for the last 3 days by posting blogs, tonight. Again, thank you, bloggers. I love you all!
God bless us all.
***
Got a [dot][com]
Guys, I got an official domain. You can know visit my blog at www.aethen.com. Thanks to kuya Jehzeel .
***
Fly a Kite
Just this afternoon, Ate Sandra, Kix, Ayel, and I, the tropang pathways, were the facilitator of the Teambuilding and Planning session of the Pathway Youth Group of the Notre Dame of Tacurong College. It is a volunteer-oriented youth group, just like the organization I am into, also. Ate Sandra, talked and gave lectures about the trust and vision of Pathways to Higher Education and on Working as a Team, Kix, the JVP from Ateneo de Naga University, lectured on Volunteerism. After the talks and lectures of the staff, I facilitated the activities on Personality and Working Style. While, Ayel, gave them an activity and orientation on Planning and SWOT Analysis.
At the teambuilding concurrent session
The teambuilding ended with Kite Flying, a commitment setting activity wherein the volunteers take part in making a kite and decides to what part they will work on. Together, they have made a successful fine big blue kite with signature of volunteers to attest their true commitment to pathways mission.
"Lilipad ako para sa Pathways para matulungang makalipad din ang iba"
Aethen facilitating an activity
It was fun to be with my fellow young volunteers while giving and exchanging insights on the same cause you are working to.
Tomorrow, we will again be helping Kix and Ate Sandra in faciltating another teambuilding workshop at Koronadal National Comprehensive High School, My Alma Mater.
a treat
Having a coffee break with Ayel and Ate Sandra.
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And also with Ate Kix promoting Ayel’s final President’s Report
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Later, Ate San, I'll let you read it!
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Treating? Or threatening?
Ayel joked in, Mark, your birthday must be celebrated everyday this whole week. Where will we be tomorrow? I just laughed at it. Ate Sandra added, It’s possible, Mark, since you have two birth date; August 08 as your real birthday and August 13 as your legal birth date (birth certificate date), you can celebrate it week long. Today is the pre-celebration, mark. Sure I can celebrate it everyday this week but only to commemorate the days between the dates. But parties would be minimized; I am on a tight budget, right now. Hehe. They said that every time you celebrate your birthday you are blessed because God added another year in to your life. In my case, I celebrate my birthday twice but I get older only by half year old per year.
life and etc.
From left: Mark, the principal, Ate Sandra, the Project Officer of education Development, Ms. Elma B. Rafil, speaker on Working Professionally in an Organization, Sol, TYG English Dept. Head, and Rog, TYG Volunteer Formation Program Head.***
I've received a call from Ate Sandra this early morning and she said that I qualified to the National Search of Outstanding Volunteers 2007. She told me that i have to prepare all my certificates and awards received for reference. It mean that I passed the regional screening process. I am now to compete to the National. Being nominated to represent our school is too much and very overwhelming. Having qualified to the national is another. The credit will be for all the volunteers of the T'nalak Youth Group.
To volunteer is my passion especially if it is for a good cause.
***
School requirements are getting my nerves. Midterm is fast approaching. Deadlines are meeting their ends. Demands are getting more heavier. My sleeps are shortened. Stress and Pressure is everywhere.
I need to have extra time. I need more hands. I need to comply to all my requirements. I need money to fund all of it. I need to control time. I need effective management.
Areas of Growth and to Work On
- I seem prefer to do things by myself.
- Effective time management scheme.
- Can't say No for a good cause.
- has a sense of leadership and very passionate.
- Weak but determined.
- Need to be more stable both mental and emotional.
- Skill in Public Speaking. I always have butterflies in my stomach whenever i am to give a speech.
Here, I would like to tag these bloggers and I hope you make your own version, too. And of course, please tag another seven-friend bloggers as part of this rule Ariel Lalisan, Jehzeel Laurente, Quincy John Tampo, John Paulo Aguilera Lamano, Winston Almendras, CourtChief, and Nash - Wonderboy. I hope it’s just okey for all of you, guys. ;)
God bless.
***
The Genekewel '07 had concluded just this day. The programs and activities we have had organized were successful. I hope that we had inspired and moved our volunteers to serve and to be committed to their responsibility as volunteer of the T'nalak Youth Group. Yes, I am sure that we have awaken the passion and spirit of volunteerism on them.
Being a servant leader is our training for them. Taking an action for the nation building and for the attainment of our goal for a better education in the Philippines.
The 2-day orientation-seminar we have organized is the first step to realize our cause - to provide access to "quality" higher education to the marginalized but gifted youth of South Cotabato. Together with the new set of volunteers we will create paths for a better Mindanao.
Inbehalf of the T'nalak Youth Group we would like also to thank Ayel for imparting his ideas on volunteersim and on his talk on servant leadership and for facilitating and sharing his expertise in managing a class to our volunteers, giving them inputs on strategies on how how to handle a tutorial session class and for his continued support for the organization.
Though your not anymore a member of the organization, you'll always be part of the TYG family. Thank you for always inspiring the volunteers and being a model for them. Thank you and God bless.
Genekewel
***
Tomorrow is our GeneKewel '07 (Unang Paghabi), a T'boli term which means "the first weaving". We [T'nalak Youth Group] have had organized a 2-day orientation-workshop for our newly recruited volunteers. There will be talks on Philippines Educational Situation, servant Leadership, Social Responsibility and Volunteerism, and on Behaving Professionally. The activity also includes workshop on Teambuilding and weaving of Core Values. In this activity, we will also bless and confer our volunteers as agent of change, working for the betterment of the Philippine education.
We have dubbed the activity tomorrow as the first weaving because we want tag ourselves as Weavers of Dreams of marginalized youth in South Cotabato.
I have to wake up tomorrow early because I will be leading the group for the opening of the 2-day activity of the organization.
I was overwhelmed by the wanting of my co-volunteers to serve unselfishly to our fellow youth though of the high demand of their studies. I hope that they'll be always have that burning inside their hearts to volunteer and to serve for the education of our country.
God bless.
I was nominated to the 2007 SOV
The Search is open to all Filipino citizens and Filipino volunteer organizations. It aims to highlight and recognize the exemplary performance and dedication to service of Filipino volunteers in building strong communities across the country through volunteerism.
The University where I am enrolled was affiliated with SEC and been qualify to nominate Individual volunteers and Volunteer-based organizations for the search.
The Project Officer for Educational Development, Ms. Sandra Mae Bonrustro nominated me for the said Search. I feel happy about it at first but I am not confident for such nomination. The screening process will undergo a rigid and difficult evaluation. I was nominated for the Youth [Individual] Category where nominees must be 15-30 years old and had been active for atleast three (3) years in volunteering and must have significant accomplishments in his/her respective field of service.
I hope that I'll be qualified even in the regional screening phase. But it does not matter to me if I'll not be chosen as one of the outstanding volunteers. Recognition is secondary only. Service and the passion to create a change matters significantly for me.
“Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others.”
[Click here] if you want to know more about the NVM- 2007 SOV.
God bless.
PYC 07: 4ging Ties @ 5!
EducARThon!
A workshop on Project Proposal Making.
The TYG Booth at Marikina Sport Complex..jpg)
Fresh and Young!Are you Ready to Vote?
The OMNIANA and the CLA Student Council of Notre Dame of Marbel University had organized a City-Wide Political Forum with a Theme "The Youth's Criteria for the Next Public Officials".
It provides the majority voters (The Youth) of the country in the city an overview about how to choose their leaders for the betterment of the country. It also encourages them to be choosey and critical in investing their vote.
A Non Traditional Voters' education...
A brief National Situationer. ..
A Political Education...
A Call to Action...
A Dialogue and a Forum...
3 years na po kami
Join us as we celebrate the 3rd year Anniversary of Pathways to Higher Education in Mindanao.
Tickets are sold at only Php20.00 each at the Pathways Office, NDMU.
Honors' Society shirt
The Honors' Society T-shirt of the Notre Dame of Marbel University. This T-shirt design is the official tshirt of NDMU honors' society members. It was designed by kuya Jehzlau, a DOST scholar alumna.
The tshirt print design is also available in white shirt.
I just want to post it here, so I'll have an archive of this T-shirt design.
