Splendid Isolation

My column in BusinessWeek Mindanao, Mindanao Daily and Cagayan de Oro Times

Social anxiety is the single most common psychological problem according to innumerable survey results worldwide. The magnificent, gorgeous and excellent isolation, resulting out of being nervous when meeting people is really the opposite. The state of being isolated reminds me of being in a hospital with an infectious disease.

Does the project of giving a speech or going to a social gathering give you the willies?

Relax, there are always ways and solutions to help you by teaching you "never to be nervous again". 

During the last weeks, I experienced several situations meeting new people, asking questions, replying to questions delivering speeches. 

I have been always the most silent pupil in elementary and high school. I was ashamed even to talk to or with my teachers. Several terrible school records have been the result. But, I wanted to become a journalist. I am still one. And, I am teaching in Davao in the University of Southeastern Philippines, as some of you might know already. 

During college times and while writing my first articles, I learned from my first boss, a daily news publisher, to avoid being nervous while meeting people. I was always prepared. Preparation for any communicating situation is a must. I have been invited to many parties and gatherings. I always asked for the guest list. I scanned all newspapers and browsed in the net. 

"In your opinion, who..." or "What do you think of....?" kept the momentum going. That was sometime during the 1960s. Since that time I was just very lucky to meet always the right people at the right time and place, which kept on teaching me how to avoid splendid isolation. Whether you're delivering a speech, approaching your boss, or joining an important social occasion, do at first your homework.

The most polished, smoothly delivered and spontaneous soundings talks are the result of many hours of work and years long experiences. The memorable one-liners and moving phrases that went down in history didn't come from the last minute bursts of inspiration.

I also learned from Harvard University historian Richard Marius, "that good writing is a kind of wresting with thought". Or, as New York Times columnist William Safire expressed before: "To communicate, put your thoughts in order, give them a purpose, use them to persuade, to instruct, to discover, to seduce!"

Let's don't forget, that everyone of us has something to be proud of, and that everyone enjoys talking about it. But, you have to make it happen!

Kalayaan - Independence Day Celebration 2019

Scene City

BY MARILYN ROQUE ON JUNE 20, 2019 in MINDANAO TIMES

It was the 121st Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence on June 12, 2019. Being an official holiday, it was a day to gather the members of the Diplomatic Corps and heads of government agencies to offer a toast to our country on this occasion.

Ambassador Uriel Norman R. Garibay, Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary, DFA Mindanao hosted the reception held at the Pinnacle Hotel in Davao City. Mr. Ebrahim T. Zailon, Officer-in-Charge of the DFA Consular Office read the message of DFA Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. and offered a toast and led the cutting of the cake.

Representing Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio was Vice Mayor Bernard E. Al-ag who delivered the message of the Mayor.

KORO Dabawenyo entertained the guests with Filipino songs.

Theme for the celebration was “Tapang ng Bayan, Malasakit sa Mamamayan” (Courage of the Nation, Compassion for the People”).

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The First Hungarian Film Festival in Davao

Cultural Potpourri 

BY MICHAEL EBRO DAKUDAO ON JUNE 21, 2019 in MINDANAO TIMES

Davao’s cinemaphiles had a good introduction to Hungarian cinema when the Embassy of Hungary in cooperation with the Film Development Council of the Philippines and SM Lanang Premier presented the Davao edition of the 3rd Hungarian Film Festival (HUFF) in the Philippines last June 19, 2019. This was the first time that HUFF was held in Davao City. Welcoming the guests, which included Mindanao’s diplomatic corps, were H.E. Hungarian Ambassador Jozsef Bencze, the Hungary Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission David Ambrus, and of course, our beloved Honorary Consul of Hungary in Mindanao, Mary Ann Maceda-Montemayor.

H.E. Hungarian Ambassador Jozsef Bencze and Deputy Chief of Mission David Ambrus

The Hungarian Film Festival is already on its third year in Manila but is expanding to cover both the Visayas and Mindanao regions “to present the essence of Hungarian cinema to more and more Filipinos” as explained by Ambassador Bencze. The good Ambassador said, “The Hungarian Film Festival set its insights in Mindanao in order to fulfill its original goal to bring Hungarian cinemas closer to all Filipinos and not just the residents of the capital.” Although it is a week-long event in Manila, Davao and Cebu will have one-day screenings of the best Hungarian films from June to November of this year.

Hungary’s Honorary Consul in Mindanao Mary Ann Maceda-Montemayor with Ambassador Jozsef Bencze, Deputy Chief of Mission David Ambrus, Foreign Affairs Assist. Sec. Norman Garibay

At the HUFF launch at SM Cinema 6 last Wednesday, Hungarian director Gabor Herendi’s “Kincsem–Bet on Revenge” was screened. Director Herendi’s homegrown blockbuster is a lavish 19th century melodrama based on the true story of a legendary racehorse named Kincsem. This movie is Hungary’s most expensive local production to date and the biggest box office hit of the last 10 years. Kincsem was the most successful thoroughbred racehorse in history. The mare won all 54 of her races before she was retired in 1879. Even Budapest’s main horse racing track bears Kincsem’s name to date. The interesting two-hour long film is set against the backdrop of the 19th century political turmoil in Hungary complete with elements of love, revenge, relationships and sportsmanship which Filipino moviegoers could easily relate to. The lead actor, Nagy Ervin, a handsome and talented hunk, will definitely win the hearts of Pinays.

Representatives from the Indonesian General Consulate in Davao

According to Ambassador Bencze, the other films to be shown in Davao will include “Brazilok,” (Brazils), a surprise hit in the year 2017 in Hungary. The funny and entertaining film is about a gypsy football team named “Brazilok” which takes part in a village football championship game. The winning team’s prize is a trip to Rio de Janiero, Brazil. “Genezis” (2018) is a dramatic depiction of sin, catharsis and rebirth with biblical roots. The story is told through the journey of different individuals coming from completely varying sectors of society whose fates become intertwined in the midst of a terrible crime.

Davao’s cinemaphiles in attendance

“Moszkva Ter” (Moscow Square) is a film set in April of 1989 during the period which saw the collapse of Communist regimes in Europe. Four friends spend their evenings hanging around the clock tower in Moscow Square while all around them, the old regime is on its edge. Everyone knows that something is bound to happen; but the question is whether they make it happen or they just wait for whatever is going to happen. Lastly, the film “Tales from the Lakeside” is an animation film meant for the younger audience. Dubbed in English, Lakeside introduces a wonderful microcosm around a small lake where inspiring creatures defend their quiet corner of the world from outsiders.

Mindanao’s Consular Corps headed by Consuls Baby M. Montemayor and Joji I. Bian with the Ambassador of Hungary, Dr. Jozsef Bencze

The history of the Hungarian cinema dates back to 1896 when the first screening of the film by the Lumiere brothers was held; and the first Hungarian movie theater named Okonograph was opened to the public. By August 1911, more than a hundred movie theaters operated in Budapest. Oh yes, the Hungarian Ambassador pointed out to me that the history of the Hungarian cinema is older than that of the Philippines’ which is celebrating its 100th year this year.

(l-r): Betbet Pichon, Neneng R. de la Paz, Consul Joji I. Bian, Tisay Torres and Co.

For more information or updates on the film showing, please visit the Embassy of Hungary facebook page. Congratulations to H.E. Ambassador Jozsef Bencze, Deputy Chief of Mission David Ambrus and Hon. Hungarian Consul in Mindanao, Mary Ann Maceda-del Rosario. Thank you for sharing with us, Davaoenos, your interesting Hungarian films. And thank you, Ambassador Bencze, for the story on Hungarians in our midst since the turn of the 20th century that we know so little about. Oh yes, I love those Hungarian sausages definitely.

Hi! Hope you're well!

A short article of Emily Torres of BBC London caught my attention. And yes, the lady is so very right.

Great to hear from you!

As former Managing Editor of several law magazines, published in Berlin, Amsterdam, and New York, my job has been also editing a lot of articles. Every time, I met an exclamation mark, I felt an alarming signal.

Yes, even until today, I’m well-known for my cheerfulness. Even on my worst days, I put on a happy face to communicate with people outside my immediate friends and colleagues. In my emails, this behavior manifests itself as exclamation marks. And being honest, I experience the same feelings as Emily Torres.

Honestly, allow me to quote Emily: preoccupied with appearing nice, I used to catch myself using exclamations at the end of every other sentence. And I’m not ashamed to admit it because, chances are, you’ve sent those emails too.

And now, let's stick together: Take a look at the last few messages you sent. If you’re like me/us, you’ll see exclamations and other niceties peppered throughout: “Looking forward to seeing the end result!” and “I’m excited to hear from you!” and “I’m happy to help out!”

But are you?

I like the example of Emily Torres at this point: former US presidential candidate Jeb Bush's use of an excitable exclamation mark in his logo during his 2016 campagin drew some mocking from the media.
Whether you send off a few – or a few dozen – emails a day, you’re making these micro-decisions about how to accommodate your recipient when you address, punctuate, and clarify your ideas in real time. And this is where decades of conditioning creep in, and that anxiety-driven need to be liked emerges.

Especially for women, who use exclamation marks more often than men do. In a 2006 study, researchers analysed 200 exclamations used in professional discussion groups, and found that females used 73% of the exclamation marks. The study concluded that women use these marks more often than men do in order to convey friendliness in their professional interactions.

How is your opinion? The scourge of the exclamation mark is this: I use it excessively because of the pressure I feel to manage the recipient’s feelings. My default tone is enthusiastic, even when the situation doesn’t call for it, says Emily Torres. How about you?

Exclamation marks can sometimes be jarring or convey strong emotion. The European Parliament used them to protest changes to Hungary's constitution in 2013. Have you seen another example during last days or weeks?

I strongly agree with emily in saying, that women tend to overemphasize our kindness at work, and not without good reason. According to McKinsey’s 2018 Women in the Workplace report, we are still less likely to be hired in or promoted to senior positions, and there’s pressure to provide more evidence of our competence than our male colleagues. And, unsurprising to many women, we’re more likely to have our judgement questioned in our area of expertise.

Allow me to ask: is this why I overcompensate with enthusiasm?

This goes beyond my emails, too. In mixed company - maybe you too my dear reader... . I’m not always the loudest voice in the room and I used to be hesitant to interject. I used to fear speaking up and standing up for my ideas and expertise in an effort to let others take the credit they demanded. That meant my contributions went unshared in the name of politeness.

Well, next time you're planing to use exclamation marks think about, that we are often found in warning signs. Using them in your writing to convey enthusiasm too often could warn others to not take you seriously.

When I started paring back my punctuation, I noticed how that same inauthentic enthusiasm was showing up in my day-to-day. I discovered that the time I spend adjusting my tone takes a toll on my energy.

Managing other people’s feelings is exhausting. And what’s worse, it’s unnecessary.

Because an exclamation mark, like kindness, is a valuable resource. And I will use it properly. Full stop. And now let's count, how many exclamation marks I used in this column! Thank you!!! Period.

Comval commemorates the 121st Independence Day of the Philippines

COMPOSTELA VALLEY— The province of Compostela Valley celebrates the 121st Independence Day of the country today, June 12, 2019 at the provincial capitol.

This year’s theme, “Kalayaan 2019: Pagbabagong Ipinaglaban, Alay sa Masaganang Kinabukasan.”, signifies the challenges and progressions the country has gone through the years as to how it is visioned in the present as well as the observance of the country’s economic advancements and success.

The proclamation was signed by 98 delegates in 1898 at the home of General Emilio Aguinaldo in Cavite, and was authored by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, entitled as the Declaration of Philippine Independence.

Prior to the flag raising ceremony, a wreath-laying was spearheaded by Vice-Governor Manuel Zamora as it offers with solemnity good thoughts and conveying victory, bravery, peace and eternity for the National Flag and the country.

“There is no need for martyrdom to become heroes. Our times call a different form of it. The heroes of today are those who understand the plight of the poor, those who feel their struggles, those who have the heart to help, those who have enough compassion to enter the chaos of another,” Gov. Tyron Uy said.

After the flag raising, the provincial government officials and employees, representatives  from the national government agencies, and other guests attended  a short program at the capitol lobby.

“With gratitude to our freedom fighters and heroes of the past, let me take this opportunity to encourage each of us to be a hero. A hero who can touch the lives of others; a hero who can make a difference and be relevant to others," 1001st Infantry Brigade Commander Gilbert F Saret said. BGen Saret  is the guest speaker of the celebration. 

All government offices are closed for the day as well as the suspension of classes in all levels, with some private establishments also being closed in observance of the national holiday. (Sean Seismundo, ID Comval)

Celebration of 121st Independence Day of the Philippines in Davao City

Thou art the one.

My column in Businessweek Mindanao, Mindanao Daily News and Cagayan de Oro Times.

The fault we see in others often reveal our own imperfections. We frequently criticize our own shortcomings when we see them in others.

Very often, we hear from colleagues, neighbors, friends or family members and others things they seem to hate. They even criticize other people about their looks or activities during weekends, vacations or off days. Most of the time, gossiping can really easily ruins others' life. 

And where does gossip start? Gossips come about because of envy. Why not try to love unlovables instead of giving so many negative comments and criticisms? Why not examine ourselves first before criticizing others?

Upon examination of my own life, I'm annoyed when others are late for an appointment and keep me waiting. I really feel angry, when parents speak harshly and treat their children cruelly, when an individual monopolizes the conversation. Or, when others neglect the spiritual side of life in favor of temporary physical pleasures. 

At such times when I look inward, I hear the words "Thou art the one". Then I realize that imperfections I see in others are often my own.

When the Lord looks at us, He sees not only what we a re but what He enables us to become. We can learn not to expect too much from ourselves that we become discouraged. The grace of our Lord does not change us unless we respond. It can change our outlook and our attitudes. With changed attitudes, we can become what we otherwise would never be.

Comval hailed one of the victors for the "Rice Achievers Award"

By Sean Seismundo

Compostela Valley Province—The provincial government of Compostela Valley won yet another award for the "Rice Achievers Award" for 2019, earning the title of being one the top producers of rice in the country.

Awarded by the Department of Agriculture (DA), a ceremony was held last May 30, 2019 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, Metro Manila.

The National Rice Achievers Awards is an annual event by the Department of Agriculture under the National Rice Program (NRP) by PRRD, for the purpose of promoting and honoring those provinces, municipalities, cities, farmer technicians, and agricultural workers and associations for their contributions for the rice industry of the country. 

Provincial Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy received the award during the ceremony along with Dr. Minda Agarano, PG Department Head of Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAGRO) and Dr. Ronald Sibayan, Asst. PG Department Head of PAGRO from the ceremony’s guest of honor, Senator Cynthia Villar. 

Among the prizes were a certificate and official plaque of the award, as well as 4 million pesos as given by the DA.

Out of all 82 provinces in the country, Compostela Valley won the “Rice Achievers Award” and the Municipality of Compostela was named as the LGU with the most sufficient production of rice in Davao Region.

A total of seven provinces also won the said award throughout the country, which includes Compostela Valley, Lanao del Norte, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Viscaya, Occidental Mindoro, Bukidnon, and Zamboanga del Norte. 

"Our province won the highly-coveted Rice Achievers Award today. We are one of the only seven (7) rice-sufficient provinces in the whole country. As a reward, the Department of Agriculture extended us a four (4) million pesos incentive. We dedicate this award to all hardworking rice farmers in our province, to the Department of Agriculture and our Provincial Agriculturist's Office for assisting our farmers. Indeed, a huge leap for our goal to achieve zero hunger and food security in the province.", said Governor Uy

This is not the first time the province has won the Rice Achievers Award, as they have also won three times before, making it the 4^th recognition this year.

"Despite our limited production area of about 13,000 hectares, yet we were able to contribute significantly to the regional and national rice sufficiency. The province attained a 102% rice sufficiency in 2018. This award was achieved due to our concerted efforts, unity and cooperation among our stakeholders,” Agarano said. (Sean Seismundo, ID Comval, Photos by M. Lasaca)

That' me ... / Das bin ich ...

A big thank you  dear Aurelio "Boy' dela Pena for this awesome portrait in oil of mine. It got a good place in my home now.

Comval celebrates "Farmers and Fisher Folks Month"

Compostela Valley Province – Approximately 700 farmers attend the annual for the “Farmers and Fisherfolks Month Celebration” at the Municipal Dome at Monkayo, Comval Province.

The celebration was held on Wednesday, May 23, 2019, with the theme “Magsasaka’t Mangingisdang Pilipino, Saludo ang Bansa sa Sipag, Tibay at Lakas.”

The farmers were given calamansi seedlings and durian seedlings, along with rice seeds for crops for their attendance of the celebration.

Among officials in attendance were Mayor Ramil Gentugaya, who gave a welcome message at the event and PAGRO Chief Minda Agarano  also gave a rationale of the events in the celebration. New Calape MPC Chair Lope Padilla was also present and as well as Congressman Elect Vice Governor Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora, who gave an inspiring message, were also in attendance.

DA Region XI Dir. Ricardo Oñate also gave his message of support for the farmers and fishermen for the development of the province’s agriculture, and 11th EastMinCom Commander Lt. General Felimon R. Santos Jr. also gave a keynote message during the event.

The giving of the “Award sa mga Gawad Saka: Provincial Level” was one of the highlights of the event through the recent winning of the recent Philippines Coffee Competition. Dr. Jaime Anter also explained the progressive innovations of the coffee products along with CEO and Founder Felicitas B. Pantoja, as they also explained the potentials of coffee within the market. Curriculum Instruction Division (CID) Chief Josie Bolofer also addressed the highlights of the “Liwanag ng Pamilya” program as made by Comval DepEd.

The “Farmers and Fisherfolks” celebration, made possible by the Department of Agriculture (DA) is an annual celebration held every May for the Filipino farmers and fishermen for their hard work to provide food to Filipino tables.

Different corporations, companies, and  DA-Regional Field Offices (RFOs) also volunteer in the activity to express their appreciation of the farmers and fisherfolk’s important role in the implementation of agriculture and fisheries programs. (Sean Seismundo,  ID Comval)