The Epic Conlusion to my Internship

Last week, May 24, 2013 Friday 6:40PM - my internship in Primer - KIDC ended. It was my last day to go to their office as an intern. I would have loved to extend but there are commitments (particularly ABSC and Ignite Conference 2013) that I cannot miss. I wish I started a little earlier but I know I started at the best time. I entitled this as an "Epic Conclusion" because of what we did on my last day but before that, let me share a couple of things that I learned and the principles that I have seen its application.

1.) Team work is VERY (very, very, very) important - I like groupworks, group studies, etc but I would always prefer working alone (not working lonely). Primarily because when I weigh my decisions, it would not take so much time on consulting everyone and waiting for their comments/suggestions but don't get me wrong, I like being in a team. One of my bosses, Ms. Tiff, is a great team player. She would always strive to get your insight regarding a particular plan or idea. I noticed this when I was in a meeting with her, she would always, ALWAYS ask for almost everyone's opinion and allow everyone to speak up. But this does not only apply on a meeting. Whenever one member of the team would do store rounds or would go on a meeting and forgets something to do before he/she leaves (normally emailing a file or a store person), people who are left at the back office would have the initiative to do that person a favour. You may say "It's just an email" but in the world of marketing wherein almost everything is done through email - "an email and its content" are very important and this importance is also conveyed through their team work.

2.) A good sense of work ethics will attract a good set of friends - People in the team that I belong to have a great sense of work ethics (yes there were delays but they always know where they stand and when they have given their best) and what I find amazing is that they are also good friends. More than the style of humor - I think their good set of work ethics is also a factor that strengthens their relationship with one another.

3.) There will always be an issue of Integrity - The context of the word "issue" does not connote negativity in this statement. What I mean is that in any workplace, there will always be an issue about Integrity - reimbursements, trips, meetings, etc. regardless if its commendable or not.

4.) Character is more important than skill - I have heard this in church a dozen times. With all due respect, sometimes it's easier to apply this in church than in workplace because there will be more people to understand you in church but despite the difficulty - it's still possible and I saw it first hand. There was a time wherein we had a meeting with a client and we felt like this person is too demanding and is full of himself. At the end of the meeting, my boss asked for my opinion and I said: "He is too demanding." I felt like he doesn't see this as a privilege to work with our company. He is a talented person but his character was not in the same level as his skill. A person who has a great talent might find it difficult to develop a great attitude but a person of great character can bring his talent to a higher level.


Before I left the office, Mr. Arian Zaragoza and Ms. Soleil Sanchez, had a meeting with me. They asked for the things that I learned. They told me that they don't want me to leave their office without me learning about the job that I applied for and I saw it on the first day of my internship up to the last. Yes, they made me photocopy some papers but the difference is, they made me realize how important that particular paper is. Yes, they asked me to go and deliver products for sponsorships but they also told me what it is for and why I should do it. Yes, there was coffee - but unlike other companies - it was my bosses who offered me. Yes, I  carried big and heavy boxes but if I was not there - my bosses would do it. They were deliberate to teach me the things that I need to know and I was deliberate in observing it. The last thing that they wanted me to do is to have a mock interview. Yes. They interviewed me as if I was really applying for a REAL job. They wanted to make sure that they get to see how I communicate with the interviewer.

To Kuya Arian, Ate Soleil, Ms. Tiff, Ms. Joanna, Ms. Malyn and Ms. Eleoni,

Thank you so much. I have learned so many things.Thank you for teaching me how to work with people than merely working with data. It is a great privilege to learn from you. Thank you for making me feel that you were grateful to have me because you know the feeling of working every day without getting paid. I really appreciate that. I would try my best to bring the values I learned to wherever I may be. Glad to had worked with you. I hope to see you guys again even if I will not be led to work in your company. God bless!

Because it's Mothers' Day.

When I was born in this world,

It was your warmth that I felt

Before I was born in this world,

I know, to Heaven, you knelt

When I was born in this world,

It was your strength that I took

Before I was born in this world,

You chose my name from the Book

When my heart was about to die,

you decided to say "No"

Believing that God cannot lie,

You saw that I will live and grow

You saw me walk my first steps,

You saw me walk when I fell

You saw me rise after the fall

You saw me respond to God's Call

We waited for the sunrise together,

showed me the beauty of hope

Taught me to love God forever,

and to lead others to the Blessed Hope

Happy Birthday, Ma! I love you always and I will never get tired of honoring you. 

Seeing Things Differently: How Jesus views Lack.

It took me some time to follow up on my first blog (Seeing Things Differently: An Eternity's Perspective) because I was thinking about how to start this entry in order to get the reader's attention. No story emerged from my head. No creative illustration. No flashy introduction. Just this truth: EVERYONE EXPERIENCES LACK. Whether it is material or immaterial - all of us experience lack. Whether you're a student, a young professional, a businessman, a housewife, a retired CEO, professor, teacher, preacher - you name it. A student experiences financial lack or lack of experience. A leader experiences lack in skills or character. A young professional experiences lack of clarity in direction for the next season. A retired CEO experiences lack - maybe in attention - family attention. In whatever status of life we are in, we always experience lack. 

While thinking of what to write about this, God made me realize that ultimately it is not the lack that we fear - it is what this lack can do to us. It is the possibility that this lack can become something more. A student who lacks in financial support may cause him his future. A leader who lacks in skills and character may cause him his people or even his people's welfare. A young professional who lacks in clarity of direction may cause him his long term goal in life. We fear not just the lack - but what this lack can do to us. We fear that this lack may result to a loss. The good thing is, lack is not a new thing - meaning people in the past had experienced it, particularly people during the time of Jesus. Another good thing is this: If lack has already been experienced for a long time in the past - the Word of God stands Eternal - older than the past and from this, we learn how Jesus views lack. 

In the New Testament, Matthew wrote the account of Jesus feeding the 5,000. This is a famous story in the Bible mainly because it is one of the stories that everyone can relate to (and of course the miracle of multiplying the loaves and fish). You can read the story in Matthew 14:13-21 but let me do a quick rundown After John the Baptist was beheaded, Jesus went to a solitary place but because his fame  has already spread to many places, crowds followed him (v.13) and had compassion on them (v.14) so He healed the sick. Since it was going late, the disciples said to Jesus to send the crowd away (v.15) (sometimes we tend to be like that to Jesus - we impose our will) but Jesus replied to test them by saying "You give them something to eat." The disciples only had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish but Jesus gave thanks and multiplied it and fed the 5,000 and still had leftovers. 

The lesson here is simple: give what you have to Jesus and he'll multiply it. But there's something more to this. Remember the way Jesus responded when the disciples said that they only have 5 loaves and 2 fish? He said, "You give them something to eat." What do you do when the Son of God tells you that? What will you do when you're experiencing financial lack then God says, "Give your tithes."? What will you do when you're leadership is in the brink of not improving then God says, "Surrender this."? What will you do when you're experiencing lack of attention when God says, "It's okay, give it to them."? What will you do when you are in the verge of losing your source of validation then God says, "Let it go."? 

Bible scholars said that Jesus' statement served as a test to His disciples and it really is but I would like to see it as an Invitation. Jesus' statement was an invitation to See things differently. The disciples saw 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and they saw it as a lack but Jesus saw it differently. A student who experiences financial lack has an opportunity to experience God's overflowing provision. A leader who experiences lack in skill and character has an opportunity to improve. A person who experiences lack in validation and security has an opportunity to experience the completion of God's Work in His life. Anyone who experiences lack has an opportunity to be changed - to never be the same again. While we saw it as a lack, he saw it as an opportunity to provide - an opportunity to display God's glory.

The next time we see lack, let's see it as an opportunity to see God's Provision - let's see it as an opportunity to see God's Glory. See Things Differently.