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Yes, there are days like these

When a rush of emotions,

Stark memories come flooding back;

No, it’s not a longing for the past

But merely a sense of remembrance

for people, places and things..

For certain, you share my smiles,

You bring me laughter;

Yet to really know me,

You must understand the source

of the sadness that cause my tears.

The lives I’ve lived are a part of me;

Denying them diminishes my experiences

And trivializes my achievements,

But know that even my pain and suffering

Are what gave me the strength and courage

That I have now…    GPL 7/2013

Speech 4 MovingUp

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Active Thinkers Moving –Up Ceremony

March 24, 2018

 

Our children just finished another schoolyear; that is no small thing. To them, that amount of time and hardwork is about the same kind of effort you put into your regular workday in the office. So congratulate them and celebrate this day. Let us enjoy these moments, for it is the little celebrations that make for the sweetest memories. 

I am used to speaking before big crowds of impatient senior citizens, rowdy teenagers, and even antagonistic conservatives, but this is the first time I’m going to have a group of primary students as an audience. But when Teacher Lenith invited me to serve as speaker, she assured me that the message would be more for the parents themselves.

Thus, I’ve decided to make this something like Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”. I would like to share some ideas on how we can help usher our kids to “all the places they can go”.

Too many parents nowadays put academic pressure on their kids that they no longer enjoy school. Don’t make the mistake of being too grade-conscious. Instead, let us instill in our kids a genuine love for learning. We must remember that education is not confined to the 4-corners of a classroom. There is real value in actual experiences. Travel with your kids, even on short trips. Bring them to museums, zoos, and parks. You may think they might not appreciate these things, but be open to new stuff and try everything at least once.  

Remind yourself that studying is not always about rote-memory. Most of it is about truly understanding how things work. So encourage your kids to be curious. Let them ask questions. And to the best of your abilities, try to explain things. This exercise is more about teaching them to learn to think for themselves. Don’t worry because they don’t really expect you to have all the answers for them. And as they grow older, they will figure things out for themselves.

Remember too that IQ (intelligence quotient) is different from EQ (emotional quotient). Scholastic or academic intelligence is school-based education, but parenting and family environment determine a child’s Emotional Quotient. This is our primary responsibility, instilling the proper values in our children. You cannot rely on the school and teachers to be the only ones to teach good morals and proper conduct to kids. That job is ours and we must take it seriously.

I cannot over–emphasize this enough with so many instances of bullying, discrimination and violence going on in society right now. Somewhere along the way, we must ask ourselves, have the adults failed our youth somehow by forgetting to focus on values and virtue? So this early, think about the kind of adult you will be unleashing upon the world. Remember that kids are always watching you and will be copying you. Be the kind of person you want them to grow up to be. Be that good example for them and teach them about respect, compassion, and caring about people and things other than themselves.

Some of you here may have seen the wonderful movie, “The Greatest Showman” starring Hugh Jackman. I recommend watching it as a great family bonding activity, with many important Life lessons to share. Most significant of these is about challenging prejudices and societal norms which limit one’s potentials and opportunities. It is my hope that in its own subtle way your eyes have been opened to promote progressive ideas such as gender equality, respect and tolerance instead of reinforcing stereotypes.

This is the 21^st century, after all - the age of technology and scientific progress, and it greatly affects how we learn, communicate and have relationships with others. But even with all these gadgets and electronic instruments, give your kids the opportunity to enjoy the simpler things like nature and open air, and even “real” books. Reading may seem like a chore to them at this point, and only connected to school matters. But slowly, try to introduce to them a habit of an almost “automatic” necessity of reading. They must realize that reading will also take them to worlds they can only imagine.

Finally, I urge you, fellow parents, to be present, to be involved, participate in your children’s lives. The years can pass by so quickly, and before you know it, our kids are all grown up and are living their own lives. Don’t begrudge them these days when they especially need your guidance.

Today, as they Move-Up to new levels, we must impress upon them the reward one reaps for almost 10 months of studying and schoolwork. Let us show them what there is to look forward to with courage and wonder. School Life is more than just a journey, it should be an adventure fueled by dreams and imagination.

“I think of what the world could be

A vision of the one I see

A million dreams is all its gonna take

A million dreams

For the world we’re gonna make”

-       From The Greatest Showman

Making Things Happen: Tips for an Advocate

Dear Co-Learners, I would like to share with you some simple tips on Legislative Advocacy and Policy Development..

1. Always question and don't simply accept things as they are. - Just because a bill has been passed or a policy is issued, it doesn't mean it's already perfect. While they must be applied uniformly to be stable, laws and policies must be also be dynamic and responsive to the needs of the times. There is always room for improvement.

2. Dream Big and Believe - Too many development workers get disillusioned and frustrated. Some easily lose faith and confidence, and turn negative. Try to remember why we are in this kind of work - it's to make a difference and improve people's lives. We can change the world and make it better even by doing our own little things.

3. Small Bites Only - Most people get overwhelmed with the amount of work to be done. You must avoid getting lost in the forest, and simply see the individual plants and trees as they are. Don't look at the whole wall, but at each brick or hollow block making it up. So it is with legislative and policy work; take the problem bit by bit, one piece at a time. Each issue will have a multitude of possible strategies already which can be separately or jointly tackled.

4. Connect with people, Engage All - Maximizing partnerships, linkages, and networking are key words here. You don't need to do it all alone. You may be surprised how many like-minded people as you are out there. Truly listen and know the sentiments, concerns, and suggestions of your intended beneficiary-sector. Also remember that it’s not just the stakeholders you must engage, but also the duty-bearers/govt agencies and institutions, as well as the private sector composed of the business establishments as well as the civil society organizations. Doing this will ensure that once the time comes for implementation or enforcement of the law or policy, all of you will already be on the same page.

5. Know Your Role - Don't try to do everything all by yourself. Not everything is within your power or authority. So in line with Tip#5, let others do their jobs also. Keeping this in mind will keep you from stepping on other people’s toes and over-stepping your boundaries. This will also keep you from burn-out and stressing yourself. Each stakeholder has his/her own role to play based on legally-mandated jurisdictions, whether it is legislative, policy-making, or actual enforcement of rules. You can only nudge your champions and supporters in the direction you want, but ultimately it’s their own “diskarte” too.

6. Cover All bases - As in Tip#3, while it's better to tackle issues one-at-a-time, each concern can have many strategies and simultaneous efforts. For legislative efforts, for example, always remember that while both House of Congress file bills that become national laws, provincial boards and city/municipal councils can also pass ordinances that are considered local laws. Meanwhile, that should not stop you from enjoining govt agencies to also issue guidelines or rules to facilitate implementation of existing/current programs or services. In addition, it is always best to have the beneficiary-sector speaking in their own behalf so duty-bearers can hear first-hand accounts straight from the horse’s mouth. This is not considered “spreading yourself too thin” since other people are also working and helping.

7. Maximize Opportunities - This is in line with Tips #4, 5, and 6. You must learn to recognize opportunities for possible engagements. Capitalize on personal interests and agendas of politicians, legislators, and duty-bearers and check if you can align them with your priorities. You can always use another ally or supporter. Be quick also to grab opportunities for showcasing your issue, such as national events or celebrations, i.e. elder abuse-Elderly Filipino week, Responsible Parenthood/RH-National Family Week. These are good venues for generating more dialogue and discussion on your topic or concern.

8. Develop As Many Materials as you can - There is something to be said of evidence-based policies which makes full use of relevant researches and studies because it helps make your position more credible. Additional IEC materials are always helpful for advocacy and awareness-raising because they help popularize your concern and generates more information and discussion. But be conscious that these are not mere compilations or consolidation of mindless statistics and figures. Your material must be fair representations of facts - objective and neutral, and if possible, able to present both sides.

9. Drive Home your Message of Urgency and Relevance – The most basic function of your advocacy and lobbying is communicating your message. Whatever the form of your policy document – policy notes, position paper, discussion paper, draft bill or resolution, you must clearly present What Needs to Be Done. Your position or stance on a subject, whether it’s a proposed legislative measure or policy recommendation, must be fleshed out and articulated well in your material. As in Tip#8, it is not enough that you simply compile a bunch of facts and figures, you must be able to argue and peddle your proposal or suggestion with conviction.

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