CARPE DIEM!


Only one month left and we’re back into our ordinary lives again. The question posed for all of us Congressional Interns will be “What comes next after CIPYML?”. However, before I answer that question, I am pretty sure I will be missing the people who have become part of my life in this particular journey. This has been pretty much one of the best memories in my life and as always, I am so grateful to be in this program and the learnings I have acquired is something worth sharing with.         
   
I guess with the remaining days left, I will truly make the most out of it. Well, the word of the day, as inspired from one of the Latin poems of Horace is CARPE DIEM. I have one month more to recapitulate the things I have learned in the Congress, the preaching’s of my second family in the Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization under the supervision of Ma’am Cora, Ma’am Shierryl and Sir Greg, the enlightenment and reviews given to me every morning from our Committee neighbour, Atty. Mon, the revisions and constructive critique in my policy paper from my mentors Ma’am Alou and Ma’am Diola, the pieces of advice by Ma’am Lina, our ever supportive mentor for the round table discussion, the friendship I’ve formed from most of the Committees in the House of Representatives and from my co-interns from CIPYML plus the new experiences I’ve had during my stay here in Manila is a blessing and something I will forever cherish.            

So what comes next after CIPYML? I think, if God permits, if there is a job offer here in Manila especially in the HREP, I might grab the chance to work here and to continue studying Law as well in one of the prominent universities in Manila. I already told my family about my plans and they somehow approved of it. My brother would always tell me that I am special, that I have what it takes to do more and that Iligan is too small for my dreams. I believe that in order for me to make some of my “to-do-list” a reality, I better step out of my comfort zone and start discovering new opportunities for me to grow as an individual. I submit that it is high time for me to truly test the waters given that I am now 23 and bestowed with the freedom to do what I believe is just and the trust reposed to me by my family, I will do my best because this is not just for me but for them too and for the future of our next generation in the family, which I value being an auntie of five nephews and five nieces.

So yeah, CARPE DIEM to that! ♥ =)

For You. This. Always.

10703.8 miles away. G'nyt, you! YES, you! Belated happy birthday. I may have not greeted you personally or on that day but know only this, for eight long years, I have loved you silently. I missed you big time, if only you knew. ♥ :)

Self-centeredness


A close friend of mine suggested that I immediately read a certain book of which he believes I would love to and perhaps get addicted to it whence I get the chance to hold it and read it for myself. And so, I DID. There’s a particular line there which totally captured my attention especially to the situation that I am in right now, hence the title, SELF-CENTEREDNESS.

“Selfishness is weakness. But loving and caring for others is
a position of power beyond anything
we can possibly imagine.”
               
Some people are gifted with the virtue of patience and understanding but not all are blessed to have this. Perhaps others are totally naïve to notice that their being self-centered or selfishness has caused to the disadvantage of others. And these kinds of people may forget that sometimes, it is not always that one is able to control their temper or are able to understand with an open mind and heart. Human as we are, we are never limited to err, for to err is human as they say it. And this becomes worst when the person abuses such patience bestowed to them especially when that person’s patience has already come to its limit, or has already pushed the red button, the fact that such person is sick or is suffering from such illness at that particular instance. I may have encountered a not so serious altercation with one of the interns but I was hoping that a little compassion nor common sense was observed in such a way that I was in deep slumber and needed a sufficient rest to overcome such illness. We may have expressed our apologies as I was the one who asked for her to come back and talk it out civilly as matured persons do but I believe such was not enough to address the issue. I have forgiven such a person despite some instances where other co-interns would observe her being such self-centered. I do not know if such person has made up stories to tarnish my reputation but I am in good faith and believe that only God knows what the truth is.

Either way, even with a sick body, my mind was working on our policy paper and round table discussion. Even if I am nauseating, my mind couldn’t rest until such time that I have completed my unfinished business. My fever did not stop me from accomplishing what needs to be done. Although I may have been absent in the HREP for one day, for the first time, but I have worked out my aim for that particular period even when at home and not feeling that well at all. I am also grateful that my RTD group mates visited me at my dwelling to check up if whether I was doing fine. Such companionship together with Ma’am Nor-en has lifted up my weary-spirit and weakened heart. I do not appeal for any bad remarks against that person but I wish her well and pray to God that she may have also realized her mistakes the way I did. I am guilty of not being faultless, because maybe I may have unconsciously hurt her feelings too, but I am hoping things will get better between us two as I do not want to end such friendship in bitterness. This does not only refer to her but to some other interns who are guilty also of being such self-centered individuals who at some point have not really understood the real essence why we have been chosen by this program. ♥ =)

Let’s Inspire Each Other


INSPIRATION. This has been one of the recurring words I’ve had in mind for this week’s event in my life here in Manila. The word itself is very powerful and could change lives for the best. I’ve been inspired in so many ways from the chat I’ve had with my big brother straight from Jubail, from a visit in the Makati City Hall, hearing pieces of advices from my fellow co-interns and of course, being in love with the same man for eight years. Nothing beats a heart full of passion to learn and to share what I have learned from the most inspiring people I’ve had chit-chats with during my CIPYML journey.

I say INSPIRATION because this fuels me to push through my plans in life given that I am now at the age of 23 and is not getting any younger. Time flies by so fast and so cherish every moment, every second that passes by. My brother would always remind me that there is only one life to live so we should have to seize the day, thus, CARPE DIEM! I’ve had a chat with him via Skype and he among the other members of the family would always motivate me to do great, be good to others and stay grounded. His advices pertaining to the love department always amazes me. His warnings, his foresight, his guidance and love for his little sister have given me enough reason to be the best that I could be.

I see the same INSPIRATION too when we just had our LGU visit at the Makati City Hall last Friday. Seeing the grandeur and efficacy portrayed in each of Mayor Jun Binay’s employees and his noble plans for the so-called Wallstreet City of the Philippines, is truly an inspiration that the National Government must implore. The visit was quite refreshing and they were very accommodating to us, the CIPYML interns. The experience we had at the helipad on the 24th floor was breath-taking as if we were floating on cloud nine.









Since I am mentally dazed which is caused by a tremendous pile of paper works and meeting deadlines, I am actually lucky and INSPIRED to be with the people from Don Antonio with even just for a few months. Together we cried, we smiled, we were defeated, we have triumphed and we became a family through thick and thin. This bond was tested when in this week we had experienced the wrath of typhoons and monsoons in the capital city of the Philippines. We were hand in hand as we transferred to another room since our previous place was drenched with rainwater. It was a scary experience having heard and seen the news of flooding in some parts of Manila. My family back in Iligan & Jubail was scared and called me every now and then to check if I was doing well and is far from danger. I assured them that I was doing fine and that they have nothing to worry about since I am with a group of people who will never leave me and will stay by my side no matter what happens.

Lastly, I am inspired of the thought that once I am finished with the training, I shall be coming back home with a heart full of love and lightness. That special someone my family approves of is waiting for me and with such INSPIRATION stemming from true love, my plans for the betterment of my society based on my learnings in the Congressional Internship shall be successfully applied. God-willing! ♥ =)

Rolling in the Deep

It’s twelve forty in the morning and still it is raining hard outside. It’s been more than a week that Manila have had stormy days the same thing I feel whenever I go about my paper works for the policy and round table discussion. It feels like I am rolling in the deep for me to survive this Congressional Internship and I am beginning to feel the real tension. So in order for me to comply with the said requirements, I’ve made my own timetable since I know this month and that of September will be our “hell months”. I say it’s “hell” because we are competing with the limited time we have in order for us to polish our paper assignments. I admit, it’s quite perplexed but I am learning a lot and I am trying to enjoy the journey as much as possible even if I am bombarded with heartaches and homesickness.

In my fourth week stay here in the Congress, I’ve had manifested the intricate processes in the lower chamber and I’ve compared it with my exposure as well in the Senate. I’ve enjoyed it a lot even if it was only held on a half day due to the stormy weather. From Pasay to Quezon, upon going back home, me and the rest of the CIPYML interns residing at Don Antonio did such hilarious stuffs. Surprisingly, we decided to make our own music video covers just like that of Georgina Wilson and company’s cover on “Call Me Maybe” which was a hit on Youtube. We surely had fun and that was another amazing memory in my Congressional Internship journey.







Yet we go back to the mundane tasks as interns, just last Thursday I attended for the first time a committee hearing pertaining to GOCC’s particularly GSIS. I have witnessed heated arguments between the counsels of GSIS and other stakeholders involved like the TWG of Government Enterprises and Privatization, DEPED, various representatives from the Congressmen’s offices among others. I was even flabbergasted to have seen how each counsel have defended their stand on each section provided in the matrix that I have helped created. It was such a gratifying feeling to have seen them civilly managed a heated argument like that which most definitely made me all the more inspired to continue my quest of becoming a lawyer once I finish this training.



Having met other people from the Congress such as the Committee Secretary on the Committee on Suffrage has also given me the chance to talk to them and learn a lot from them. Since one of my close co-interns, RI (Ralph Ivan) is celebrating his bday, the Com. Sec. on Suffrage, Ma'am Debbie, Ma'am Karla and the rest treated RI, me, Karen and Venus also as a reward for the assistance we gave them during the mock election held at the Congress in coordination with Smartmatics. It was also another beautiful experience with such nice people. 

      

Other than that, I’ve also met with my group for the RTD and having discussed with them our plans for August 29 excites me. The pressure is on and I am even more motivated to push this through because of my group members. I am inspired to work with such amazing people. But I am a bit frightened and sad for my group on the policy paper since we shall soon have our pre-defense this 16th and we just had to change the title of our policy paper which is quite alarming given the limited time we have. I just pray that we can make it through this and although hope may be a bitch sometimes (please excuse my profane words) but I am still firing up the passion and desire I have for the success of our papers. I will, in my might to have this polished soon even if I am now rolling in the deep covered with thoughts of giving up. I CAN DO THIS. WE WILL PROSPER! ♥ =)