Blog 3: Training and Observation under Ateneo School of Government

FORMULATING THE INSTRUMENT
(3rd week: January 25-27, 2011)

Accompanied by ate Karen, who is an employee in Ateneo School of Government, Executive Education Program, and Reynald, we were called by Ms. Aurma Manlangit for an important meeting. She told us that we’ll be part of a big project that International Labour Organization (ILO) and ASoG will do. This research project is about the Assessing Capacities and Training Needs of LGUs on Local Economic Development (LED): An Assessment of Four Provinces in the Philippines. These four provinces are Masbate, Antique, Agusan del Sur and Maguindanao. First task that we did is to accomplish an instrument anchored to the formulated objectives of the study.

After reading all the materials that we need in formulating the instrument, Reynald and I had a brainstorming session to create questions anchored to the objectives of the study. We then also ask pieces of advice on how to accomplish our task well to ate Karen and ate Rose Ann. That was really a big task for us, but still, we gave our biggest shot and fullest effort to come-up with a good instrument. This is our output on the 3rd week training under ASoG.





I am very glad that the real training that I am looking for finally gave its clear vision. I know that this could be a tough work for me but I know that this is my baon when I enter the real world that I am about to see.

On that same week, we met Sir Caezar, a hired senior researcher to go through with us during the research undertaking. Since the study will cover the four provinces in the Philippines, we are hoping to be part of the data generation team so that we formally feel and experience the process of getting information needed for the completion of the study.

Blog 2: Training and Observation under Ateneo School of Government

FINAL OUTPUT OF THE DOCUMENTATION
(2nd week: January 18-21, 2011)

On my first day in ASoG, I saw ate Rose Ann Cruz, an alumnae of batch 2010 in PUP-CommRes. She graduated with Magna Cum Laude honor and she was the one who delivered the valedictory address during their commencement day. I had a thought of having a jampacked training under ASoG since ate Rose also accomplished her internship in the same office. Without any interview, Ms. Aurma Manlangit, the director of the JVO Executive Education Program, explained to me the task that I was about to do on that day. She instructed me to document the whole process of the seminar-workshop about policy making. Its participants are the superintendents and high school teachers who came from the different region of Visayas. :D

It was indeed a stressful week for me. That’s how I described my first week stay in ASoG. Almost 180 hours were left to accomplish my final requirement as an intern. It has been still a long long run of draining my brain in doing bunch of write-ups for this training yet I am very grateful to have this very extensive training in preparation for the job I am about to have after graduation. This is really a good start for me, to whatever I face in the future; I will be able to conquer it in wholeheartedly manner. This could be a lesson of life that I should always bare in my mind. It is definitely true that hardwork is the best investment a man can make.

I gained so much knowledge on that training. I met several people who are really smart and professionals. On a lighter note, I actually felt outcast to the environment that I was into by that time. Kaya medyo nanibago ako sa mga kaganapang nasasaksihan ko. I had a hardtime to accomplish my task since that it's my first time to document a whole training program and I was not totally guided with my boss. Kaya kung ano ano na lang yung sinusulat kong notes mula sa training na dino-document ko. But it was fun on the other hand for the reason that you will really learn a lot of stuff. I realized that it is better to be physically stressed than mentally. You can’t do anything if you’re mentally stressed.

On the second week, to come-up with my final report of the seminar, I consolidated all the notes that I have jotted down during the training. I got this feeling that I drove in a not-so-good final write-up on this task. Good thing that it was just a 2-day seminar-workshop.

Boss is already asking for the final report that I have to pass within the week. It’s already Saturday and I haven’t finished my report yet. She told me to send my report to kuya isko (part-time researcher in Executive Education Program) for him to make the final output of the documentation. By this time, I have acquired with the deadline.

Blog 1: Training and Observation under Ateneo School of Government

THE SEARCH IS ON...
(1st week: January 12,13,2011)

Excitement stroked me soon after we defended our undergraduate thesis for the reason that we can finally start entering the maze of finding an office to undergo for the on-the-job training.



We started finding an office for OJT last December. GMA7, ABS-CBN, Ibon Foundation, TV5 are some of my options to submit for an application. I heard that GMA7 is not accepting interns yet. I then called the office of the network to confirm on this. They told me that there are no vacancies for interns and they will start accepting trainees in summer time. Upon knowing this, I immediately work on my curriculum vitae (CV) to apply on my other target offices.

CV will serve as a marketing tool to souk us in preparation to the real world of having a decent job after college. This will also serve as a basis in getting primary information about the applicant to whoever will conduct an interview. Since I am just applying for a practicum, I didn’t expect at all that interview will be done. Though my CV is not a well-constructed one because I exceeded to the 2-page requirement, I make it to the point that I can still empress the person who will do the interview.

The true process of learning cannot only be obtained in the academe but most of the time in the places that we are normally embrace and will be embracing especially in the workplace. I was confident enough to what I have written and included to my CV. First stop, TV5. I was accompanied by my other aspirant friends when I went to TV5. We went to the HR office of the said network and waited for the notice of Ms. HR. After some time, she confronted us and announced that they’re not already accepting interns for the reason they have enough trainees by then. She also told us that she’ll transfer our CV’s to the news department where still it has more vacancies for interns and they will call us back soon our CV’s have processed.

I don’t want to give any hope on that call since it is better to apply more offices for high chances of getting accepted. We enthusiastically left the place and went to Ibon Foundation to render our application. Luckily, we are notified to start our internship on their office after a week.

On our first day, internship orientation and tour at the office was carried out. On that same day, we are divided according to our designated offices. I was assigned in the logistics office were lots of newly published books are being printed. Together with my two colleagues, we roamed around by our boss to logistics office and to its publishing house. He then explained to us the process of printing books from lay outing, editing, printing, cutting, and folding and up to the final packaging of the books. He then also explained to us the tasks that we’re about to do. We are assigned to check and look on the deficiencies that the newly printed books have. It was indeed a boring task for us yet we are very grateful that the foundation accepted our applications.

Afternoon on that same day, I received a call from someone who is not on my phone book list. An employee from Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) notified me to report early in the morning at the MMLDC Hotel in Antipolo to formally start my internship period on their office. I was very astounded, thankful and at the same time nervous. Since I have just started my internship in Ibon foundation and since I know that I will extensively use and further enhance my writing skills in ASoG, I hastily decided to pursue my training in Ateneo and give a formal notice of resignation to the office of Ibon.