Leadlines 2014

12 (KalfiLead Beneficiaries cont.) UP Feast. She was also the marketing head of the GUHIT project of UP Circle of Entrepreneurs. Maria Christella Florendo takes up BSE Art Education and is also a member of Tanglaw Catechism Club. Soren Gacillos studies BS Civil Engineering while Lyka Mae Lucena takes up BS BAA. Odessa Louise Mauricio also takes up BS BAA. She serves as the Finance and Corporate Affairs Manager at UP Advertising Core and Vice President for Marketing and Publicity at UP Klub Tala. Christina Alexandra Morales takes up BA Psychology. Hazel Jean Soriano takes up BS Chemical Engineering and is a member of UP Academic League of Chemical Engineering Students (UP ALCHEMES) as well as UP Feast. She is also a consistent University scholar. Ruby Athena Comiling takes up Speech Pathology at UP Manila. She is the Project Vice chairperson of the Collegiate Association of Speech Pathologists and auditor of College of Allied Medi-

cal Professions (CAMP) Synergy.

She is the head of CAMP Synergy Volunteer Corps to the UP Manila Universtiy Student Council. She is also a member of UP Manila Caduceus and a College Scholar (1st semester, AY 2012-2013).

Four members of Batch 2 study at Ateneo De Manila University. Reina Krizel Adriano takes up (...p. 11) BS/M Applied Mathematics major in Mathematical Finance and is an Office of Admission and Aid scholar. She is Deputy for Publications and Design at the Ateneo Chemistry Society, the head of the Crazy Math Pool, and a member of Klub Tala. She was also Documentations and Publications Head for Sipnayan 2013.

Khristine Dee Montenegro studies AB Communication. She is the finance manager of the Association of Communication Majors (ACOMM) and the Communications Deputy of Youth for ChristAteneo. She also writes for Commotion, the official publication of ACOMM. She won 3 rd place in

the Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Essay Writing Contest in 2012. Maria Carmela Suarez studies BS Legal Management with a minor in AB English Literature. She is a member of MEA and part of the marketing team of MEA Slate Magazine. She is also the Performance and Recognition Management Head of the Department of Internal Affairs at Ateneo Sanggunian.

Her group won 1st Runner up at the MEA ACCESS Corporate Sustainaibility Competition.

Alyssa Felsophie Silor takes up BS Human Biology at De La Salle University. She is a St. La Salle Scholar and a consistent 1st Honor Dean’s Lister. She is also a member of Societas Vitae Academics Core.

Meanwhile, Marie Pauline Zamora studies MA Political Economy at UA&P. She is a partial merit scholar and was on the President's List (SY 20122013). She is the executive secretary of CATALYST, Head of Program of Live United-Assistant, Head of Program of SABIO Quizbee Committee, and Head of Documentation in the SABIO Finance Committee. (Clarence Diaz)

The

LEADLines

Kalinangan Youth Foundation Inc.

What’s Inside: The Art of Giving Back | Of London and Its Winds of Change | Opening Our Hearts

KALFI Celebrates 30 Years of Excellence Reaching a milestone in its service of nurturing Filipino women through its holistic development programs, the Kalinangan Youth Foundation (KALFI) celebrated its 30th anniversary last September 29, 2013 in Ayala Hall, Makati Sports Club. Attended by around 500 people including KALFI’s alumni and their families, special guests and partners among many others, the anniversary celebration, primarily consisting of talks and testimonials, had been an opportunity to have a glimpse of the rich past of the 30 years of service of KALFI, a close look into its present programs and initiatives, and a hopeful gaze into the future of the beneficiaries and the whole community which the organization has made impact on.

One of the testimonials given was that of Liezel Tamon, a KALFI LEAD beneficiary belonging to the organization’s pioneer batch of 2011.Commenting on how KALFI has made a “make-over” of her life as well as those of her co-beneficiaries in the program, Liezel highlighted what true leadership means and how each one has to take on the task of making change. Below is Liezel’s testimony given during KALFI’s 30th anniversary celebration: To start, I would like to congratulate of course the Kalinangan Youth Foundation for the 30 years of nurturing young Filipino women like me for the brighter future of our nation.

Kalfi LEAD is a 4-year program for incoming female college students. With its aim to hone future leaders, we are given the privilege to attend classes on leadership, to organize our own outreach activities and (Cont. on p. 2)

KALFI LEAD

Leadership. Excellence. Accountability. Discipline.

The KALFI Leadership Program (LEAD) offers holistic formation to prepare future leaders. It highlights personal development, values and social responsibility.

Benefits of a KALFI LEAD student: (1) Holistic Mentoring Program (2) Leadership Training (3) Social Outreach Projects (4) Monetary Allowance

Aims   

Foster academic excellence Develop morally upright and responsible leaders through personal mentoring Cultivate social responsibility

Qualifications: - Incoming female college freshman - Admitted into any of the top Metro-Manila Universities (e.g.

U.P., Ateneo de Manila, UST, DLSU, UA&P, and the like), - Among the top 10% of their high school graduating class

For more details, please visit us at: KALFI LEAD PROGRAM 202 Alexander House, 132 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi VIillage, Makati City

Or find us at :

kalfi.org kalfilead.blogspot.com

Or email us : kalfileadprogram@gmail.com For donations, please contact us at (632) 813-4895

November 2012 — April 2014 issue

KALFI Leaders Speak Out Leading through serving! This was the message conveyed by KALFI (Kalinangan Youth Foundation, Inc.) Leaders in an interview with Ms. Aliza Racelis of DZXL 558 RMN Manila in the radio program “Buhay, Pamilya, at Bayan” aired last December 2.

Representing the first batch (2011) of KALFI LEAD, Cela Argodon and Jen Peralta of University of the Philippines (Diliman), together with Joan Ponce de Leon and Cherie Mae Jardeleza of University of Asia and the Pacific, gave insightful testimonies about leadership and excellence in line with the program theme “Pagsasanay ng ating mga Kabataan sa Kahusayan”.

With the organization’s commitment to holistically forming competent moral leaders of the future, KALFI students

are taking leadership modules on Motivation and Self-Mastery, Time Management, Team Work, Elegance, Style and Modesty, among others.

On top of these, KALFI leadership has been emphasized as servant leadership for the students, who committed themselves to 4-year leadership training, are being formed in view of leading a life of service to the society.

One of the KALFI students, Joan Ponce de Leon, asserted that servant leadership does not seek for credits but is rather an act of “disappearing” (Cont. on p. 2)

The Art of Giving Back It was on December 22, 2011 when the KALFI Lead scholars organized their first outreach program as one batch – a simple and short Christmas party for the kids of Gawad Kalinga in Payatas. Meetings were held, fundraisers were employed, and talents and skills of the girls were exposed. For the Gawad Kalinga beneficiaries, they gained the pleasure of celebrating Christmas with games, candies and new toys.

For the KALFI LEAD scholars, it started a cycle of reaching out to other people’s needs. (Cont. on p. 3)

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2 (KALFI Celebrates cont.) other causeoriented projects and my personal favourite, the privilege to have a one-onone mentor.

It would have been better for all of us to come up here on stage to testify how the program did a make-over of our lives. But for now, I just took the liberty of reading some of the testimonies of my co-LEAD scholars posted in the KALFI’s website. Different analogies have been used from a kaleidoscope to LEAD being a new stanza in her song of life but all boil down to one thing: LEAD makes us see not just a different perspective of life but what life really is and how it should be lived.

LEAD believes that holistic formation is the key in becoming leaders ready to serve. Your high school teacher may just tell you to study hard to graduate summa cum laude. Your friends may advise you to take a break in studying to mingle with them once in a while. But a LEAD mentor does it differently, or shall I say creatively.

She will tell you to study hard to get high grades and think of it as a mortifi-

(KALFI Leaders Speak cont.) as to let other people to take the step forward. The young students also further discussed their initiatives particularly their social outreach projects to 40 children of Gawad Kalinga (GK) Payatas and to sick children of Philippine Children Medical Center (PCMC), which

cation to be offered up to God. In addition to that, your mentor may start auctioning you as a tutor suggesting perhaps that it could help you master the concepts. But you’ll realize that you get more than that, you meet new people and gain friends. This is formation, KALFI style. All aspects are being taken care of, academics, spiritual and social life simultaneously.

Since we have here our parents tonight, I would like to take this chance to acquaint you of this program. The classes are there to equip us with the concepts and values associated with leadership but since learning entails application, the study centers, as well as the projects we are given, are there to serve as training grounds. When we were informed about the projects we need to accomplish, I‘ve asked this to myself, how can a group of trained leaders work together? Most will have the courage to step-up as the leader but will there be ones humble enough to work as a good follower instead? In these situations, our

mentors being good listeners and advisers are there not to dictate but to help us carry out the right decisions and right here will not always mean the easy thing to do. Often, we are pushed beyond our limits to help us change into what we want to become. It’s a boost for us to know that we are not alone; we have our mentors and of course our parents.

At some point, I have felt that at the end of this program, I will not be able to reach KALFI LEAD’s ultimate goal. To my co-LEAD scholars who share the same sentiments, fret not. Remember that becoming a good servant leader does not have a deadline. Think of the four years as a chance to turn this leadership training into a habit - make it a part of your everyday life. In this way, you can continue the learning process wherever you are in the future and even share it with others.

Just a last note, to be a good leader is to be a good servant of God. (Speech by Liezel Tamon, Text by Cherie Jardaleza, Photo by Mari Arambulo) “I was moved to hear directly from my niece how she is receiving so much formation from KALFI that is truly incomparable with the other leadership programs” said Ms Nelly del Rosario, aunt of KALFI scholar Jen Peralta, via phone patch.

Aside from leadership modules, KALFI students claimed the mentoring program they have been receiving as a helpful tool for them to be effective leaders and students. As part of their formation, the one-onone mentoring program tries to address their personal and professional concerns.

KALFI LEAD is now screening applicants for the fourth batch of future servant leaders. The program is open for female graduating high school students who belong to the top 10% of their batch. Accepted applicants will undergo to 4-year leadership training, composed of modules and projects, and will benefit from the mentoring program and a semestral allowance.

were made possible through donations and their own fund-raising activities. They have also taken part in Rural Service Projects in different places like Palawan, with the aim of helping the communities as well as training future leaders in a 3-day (text by Cherie Mae Jardeleza, pholeadership seminar designed for grad- to by Aliza Racelis) uating high school students.

Of London & Its Winds of Change Anne Mimille Guzman is among the pioneer batch of KalfiLEAD chosen last 2011. She was among the 60 out of 3400 applicants worldwide who were invited to participate in the Global Changemakers Youth Summit hosted by the British Council in London. She represented the Philippines as an advocate of education and children’s rights.

Two days after arriving from London, I could feel jet lag beating down its wrath on me as I wiggle my way through my classes. Not very gracefully I might add; slight hints of irritation kept nudging me as I kept up with a world that was a week full speed ahead. In a moment’s pause, this question came to mind: what can we give to the world?

It was Scilla Elworthy, a 3time nominee for the Noble Peace Prize, who shared this as we need is to be exposed to difference.” the modern age’s mantra. And I recalled it Another favorite was a previous change now. 55 wide-eyed young fellows listening in; maker named Simon Moss. He gave us an they were the ‘we’ she was talking about, it overview of the projects he has handled was their world, and now, their mission as and helped us realize our strengths and global change makers. And it took only a weaknesses in handling our own projects. week to plant that drive.

With other change makers sharing their Introducing the Global Youth Summit 2012, frustrations and obstacles during the open an event hosted by the British Council where forum, it was great to feel that you aren’t alone. they selected 60 from over 3.400 applicants The Marketplace was also my super fafrom all over the world to join the Global vorite part of the Summit where we got to Changemakers network. This network is com- choose which area of specialization we’d prised of social entrepreneurs, community ac- like to learn more about. The sessions I got tivists and advocates between the ages of 16 to go to were: Fundraising, Media, Project Clinand 25. The latest generation of Changemak- ic, Presentation Skills, Social Media, and Social ers is an amazing group with impressive track Entrepreneurship. But imagine, six nifty one records, covering issues from environmental hour sessions! It’s like creamy fruit salad with campaigning via social entrepreneurship to all the goodies mixed into it! How’s that for a anti-bullying. productive Thursday?

From November 25-December 1, Uplands And, of course, one of the most wonHouse became a haven to share and grow un- derful part of the Summit was getting to der the training of the awesome British Coun- meet new people from different cultures, cil Team, 9 inspiring peer facilitators who at- advocacies, and race! My friends, this tended previous Global Youth Summits, and was what I have seen on the other side of experts from different fields (varying from the world: Abdoulie from Gambia empowers project management to presentation skills). the youth in his area by using his gift of For 7 days, what took place inside those halls speech to host a television show. Mushfiq were like seeds planted upon fertile soil nour- from Bangladesh shared about his camished by icebreakers and enlightening conver- paigns to build libraries in schools upon sations. learning about my reading advocacy. Mai We were fortunate enough to meet speakers Anh of Vietnam fascinated me with her who made me rather reflective of my endeavor efficiency in producing textbased proas a young leader in my community. My fa- jects, like her award-winning handbook, vorites were comedienne and actress, Frances- “Green Handbook for Housewives”. All ca Martinez‘s, talk entitled “What the hell is that and more. normal?!” Fused with naughty remarks and And through this, I had slung my funny stories, she shared how society was school bag over my shoulder and stood up quick to point her out as abnormal upon notic- straighter. I shall definitely not offer the ing her cerebral palsy (although she actually world hate, but change. (photo and text just prefers the term “wobbly” to make it seem by Anne Mimille Guzman) less scary.) She shared a simple solution, “All

(The Art of cont.) Sure, KALFI LEAD started its charity work on a Yuletide season but it did not lead to a tradition of outreach programs that happens only in December. In fact, it opened our eyes to the suffering members of our society we seldom meet and to their needs that we never knew. Ideas on how to help hit us all in one rush. These ideas were further enriched by the university lifestyle that exposes us to the community we are in. Surely, we have to cater constantly to the needs of our fellows- even those outside Gawad Kalinga.

Responding to needs is not new to leaders. In one of our lectures with Professor Aliza Racelis, we learned the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs- a theory that makes it easier to visualize the needs of each member of our group. Fulfilling these human requirements may be quite taxing but it is a big and important part of managing people. The picture even comes bigger in terms of leading the society, when we have to respond to each member’s requirement without asking anything in return.

With baby steps, we come face to face with the demands of our immediate community. Small group projects were launched to initiate charity works for the urban poor.

One of these, organized by Tiffany Uy, Lea Laco, Jessica Ranola, Carmita Urbano and Joan Poncedeleon, was an academic tutorials for the kids at Barangay Paltok, Quezon City. The second batch of LEAD followed the steps of the previous ones and also organized a Christmas party at Payatas. Outreach programs were not limited to the empty-handed as LEAD members also extended help to the sick in many hospitals in the metro.

Indeed, we are just getting started. We have gone out there and immersed ourselves in the community we plan to lead soon. As leaders, we are not only getting our tasks accomplished but are concerned in improving the lives of people around us. And with these simple acts of charity starts our commitment to serve our nation’s needs. (Clarence Diaz)

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5

Opening Our Hearts Oftentimes, we tend to indulge ourselves in the everyday pleasures of life that we forget that there are people who deserve attention as much as they truly need them. The visit to the sick children at the Philippine Children's Medical Center last December 2 served as an eye opener to me and to my fellow KALFI leaders, and true enough, it was an ultimately exquisite experience to see the smiles on the children and their families.

To bring joy this Christmas especially to the poor and the sick is something we have never thought of doing before - or maybe we did, but we never even thought about the effect it would have on them and on ourselves.

Fortunately, all our hard work and effort paid off as we KALFI leaders were able to come up with this project after planning for four months or so.

When we were already at the public children's hospital, we were a bit unsure of how to open up to the children and their families, but we realized that they are welcoming and hospitable. Soon we found ourselves talking to them and learning their names and the condition of the children. As soon as we warmed up to (...p.8) them, we had storytelling for the little ones who were willing to listen to Bible stories and fairy tales that we have grown fond of in our childhood. We also took turns in performing to share our talents and to inspire the children in singing Christmas carols (with them singing along in their beds), playing the violin, and even dancing to modern songs that children really love. We laughed and sang until we ached our hearts out just for them.

It was also a wonderful chance to open up and talk to the parents for comfort and reassurance as long as faith exists, and above all, when there is hope. By distributing the prayer cards of St. Josemaria Escriva, we introduced them to him and taught them how to do prayer intercessions, the same way our mentors would have done if they were with us.

Because of the money we have procured from the fundraising projects, which includes the selling of the KALFILEAD shirts and the bake sale, as well as the kindhearted sponsor, we were able to buy lunch for the children and their families. We also distributed loot bags filled with candies, old toys and a few books to the children which they truly appreciated.

Looking back at what we have learned on that day, we have made The CONTRIBUTORS: it to a point for ourselves that leadership is not just showing off that Jenina Peralta 3rd year, BS Economics you are superior or even far above EDITORS University of the Philippines them - in fact we found out that Diliman we are alike in so many ways - but Cherie Mae Jardeleza knowing that there are a lot of 3rd year, BS Human Capital Mari Arambulo Development things you can do to help and 3rd year, BA Communication University of Asia and the Pacific Research eventually reach out to others.

University of the Philippines Those three hours could be short, Mimille Guzman Diliman maybe not even enough, but they 3rd year, AB Humanities & AB did bring something to us, like we Integrated Marketing Communications Joan Ponce de Leon University of Asia and the Pacific 3rd year, BS Industrial did to them. We found ourelves Engineering captivated by things we rarely see Clarence Diaz University of Asia and the and yet strike an impact on our 3rd year, BS Biology Pacific hearts. (Text by Reina Adriano, University of the Philippines Diliman photo source unknown)

LEADLines

The Makings of a Lady Leader Mela Suarez has been on the road to becoming a leader, even before college.

Now that she has been juggling academics, organizations, and KALFI LEAD, her trip to being a leader has never been faster. Mela shares her recent experiences and future plans with KALFI LEAD. LEADLines: Before you joined KALFI LEAD, did you have any background on leadership?

Mela: In highschool, I was part of the Fair Committee and I managed the event on my fourth year. We actually pioneered the Haunted House in our fair and I’m not sure if this is leadership but I was part of a few clubs like Big Brother, Big Sister, the Debate team, and I was also part of the Yearbook comm. For the debate team, I arranged training with other schools so I had to contact them, meet up with them, plan with them.

That’s basically it.

L: How did you find out about KALFI LEAD? M: I actually found out about KALFI LEAD from two of my batchmates: Reina and Bianchi. Reina is still a member of KALFI. Bianchi was until she left for Singapore. So I was interested because usually an [school-based] organization is composed of people from one school so I wanted to try and meet people from other schools.

(Cont. on p.6)

Arms Race of Digital Natives

Reina Adriano 2nd year, BS/M Applied Mathematics Ateneo de Manila University Dianne Argamosa 2nd year, BS Economics University of the Philippines Diliman Pauline Zamora 2nd year, MA Political Economics University of Asia and the Pacific

Not so long ago, the media was said to be a hypodermic needle injecting messages to a passive audience. Today, technology has equipped the audience to take a more active role in the production of media content pushing mass media institutions to evolve or be annihilated.

Now that we have the “syringe” in growing number of applications that our hands to inject our messages to the promise to remove blemishes, lighten blood lines, that is our social networks, skin color and allow you to compose imwhat are we doing with it really? Are ages, many people are still swimming in we injecting bile deceptive substances the uncharted waters of the potential that destroy rather than build? Are we brought to you by the ever popular, Adofilling people up with sugary junk that be Suites. no one really needs? Or are we injectWhat I tell most of my students in my ing immortal cancerous messages that Tricks of the Trade Photoshop workspread and become tumors of society? shops is that this software is definitely Yes it may sound overly dramatic when I like one of its trademark tools, the put it this way, but knowing that YOU prob“Magic Wand”. ably have an attention span of mere seconds, The limit is your imagination. to go back surfing the net pressures me to To put that concretely, you can turn an craft words like links of a chain to ensnare average looking overweight teenager you, long enough to tell you what you really with frizzy hair into a smokey-eyed, are holding at the palm of your hands or pouty lipped, narrow-nosed, size 2, flawwhat you’re tapping with your fingertips. less bombshell! Sort of like a fairy God When we go online or look at print Mother who can turn a pumpkin into a media, it’s definitely hard to tell which beautiful carriage. Bibidy Bobidy, work is “professional” or not because BOOM! even amateurs today produce results As someone who studied the practice convincingly sleek and to phrase it of “professional” graphic editing, you’d frankly, “legit”. But you probably albe surprised to know that in the magazine ready know that. industry, they do not publish photos So let’s zero in on a topic close to my without undergoing “treatment” and heart: Photo Manipulation. Despite the “tweaking” taking hours (Cont. on p. 7)

The Genuineness of a Leader We have been taught that life begins at the end of your comfort zone. Throughout the different activities this school year I have begun to see the great truth behind this statement. In high school I was involved in a number of varsities and organizations but it was only this year that I truly began to understand what it felt like and what it meant to be involved. I am not saying that life in my high school was full of comfort but I have to admit that from college I was really able to see what it meant to devote all your time, energy and effort to the success of that project.

This year I decided to join a number of organizations and I decided to involve myself with a number of major activities. I joined Catalyst (the outreach organization of UA&P) and POLIS (the organization for political economy students), I volunteered for the University Student Government’s project “Live United: The You-turn” and I took on the responsibility as NSTP group leader. Joining all of these was one thing, staying committed was another but being excellent in each of them was the challenge.

In the past I was content just being part of an org. This changed however when I learned that I was capable of being more than just a member who attends general assemblies, more than just a member who attends monthly meetings. It changed when I learned that no matter how well off an organization might seem, there is always something I can do and always some way I can contribute. All that was really needed was a greater sense of initiative and a greater will to be able to resist staying in the comfort zone. Within the course of this year I have come to learn that the difference between someone who merely lives in the world and someone who actually changes the world is this drive to make a difference despite the challenges. Challenges in this sense may seem like walls—big and seemingly impossible to overcome. One however, can always, always find a way to (Cont. on p. 9)

6 (The Makings cont.)

L: Why did you join KALFI LEAD? M: I was interested in the way that it works with people from different schools and I was interested in the leadership opportunities it provides.

Since I’m technically in a business course, I wanted some more background in it.

L: How’s the experience so far?

M: It’s fun. I like helping with the KALFI project. I’m just kind of worried because sometimes I don’t have the time to in my schedule in college, sometimes I don’t have the time to attend the monthly outreach or something but at least it teaches me to balance my time.

L: How about the mentoring part?

M: I like talking to my mentor. She’s fun to talk to. I sort of feel guilty ‘cause we don’t meet so often but I’m grateful she’s there because we are sort of similar. She took Economics so I can talk to her about stuff. It’s like having someone who is older and who’s been through it.

(The Genuineness cont.) get through them. Walls can be broken, walls can be climbed and in instances where neither are possible, one can always find a ways to get around them or even live with them.

Through the organizations and activities I joined this year I have come to learn this and so much more.

To my surprise despite the stress and problems caused by these extra activities, I have become so happy. This happiness may not just stem from the fact that I am becoming involved and also improving myself in the process.

In my opinion the happiness I feel also stems from the fact that it is possible for a person to find utmost fulfilment when he uses his talents for the service of others. Maybe this is really what we are meant to do. Maybe this is really also something we can do. It has been said that “we can because we think we can.” If man can definitely think so, what else is stopping him from doing what he thinks he ought to? (Marie Pauline M. Zamora)

7 L: Last December you organized your first project, the Christmas party.

How did your batch do it? How did you come as one group and organize it?

M: They made me the head (...p.6) [of the project] and we had some committees like Program, those people asking for sponsors, and people who gather goods. It was actually okay because most of my batch mates were active and all of them participated. We made an email for our batch and then we asked for sponsorships. We were able to get one. Someone organized a bake sale, Kate [Rañola], one of my batch mates. They distributed cookies to people from different schools and they were sold and then they just gave back the money to one of our batch mates, Reina. She was like our unofficial treasurer. We got the money from that, the people organizing the bake sale, and our sponsorships.

L: So how was the party?

M: The party was fun. Not everybody was able to go. It was not actually a party but we visited one whole floor of ward. For the first part, we had goodie bags for them and then we talked to them for a while and Reina performed and one of our other batch mates sang. And then after, we ordered McDonald’s for every kid so we went back to the ward one more time. So basically we spent the whole morning

with them. We were even able to give pancit to the nurses so they were part of it too. I think the funnest part was actually talking to them because you can see that most of them really wanted to get well.

There was this kid. He draws with his right hand. He draws really well but then he got a dextrose there so he learned to draw really well with his left hand so now he can draw. It’s really a motivation. It was in Philippine Children’s Medical Center, in their charity ward.

L: Was that your first time to organize an outreach?

M: Yes L: What do you think your batch contributed to your beneficiaries aside from the goodies?

M: I think we also managed to make them happy. They just (Cont. on p. 8)

Batch ‘11 hones decision making skills Gearing up in making informed actions for the future, KALFI LEAD’s pilot batch of 2011 tackled a module on effective decision-making given by Professor Aliza Racelis at Tanglaw University Center last January 20.

Discussions were primarily held on decision-making models and managerial decision-making processes. Ethics, as a guiding principle, was also touched on. Models introduced ranged from classical to administrative and political, while situations when each of these models proved more efficient were also pointed out. Ethical principles and personal values were integrated in the previous subject matters and were

applied through consideration of present issues on chastity and contraceptive mentality.

Through the module equipping them for successful management of near projects, students have been left with a challenge to translate this knowledge into concrete actions reflected in effective decisions. (Jenina Peralta)

Teach to Lead It is indeed a sad reality that, in our world today, we are having much of distressing social issues afflicting man’s situation. People are misled by false truths and are looking for happiness in the wrong things. All these are a result of lack of knowledge that brings forth wrong choices and actions in life, making people fall into a great depth of misery. But we cannot let them go astray, because if we would not say yes to take on the task of instructing them, who else would? option as we cannot afford failing to The chance to know is a gift that no serve our purpose in this life of ours. one should be deprived of. As formal It is time to take on the lead. As education is a right, so much more the “to lead” connotes directing towards education of the truth that everyone an end, that end should be the right thirsts for. One may not recognize this one. People are then needed, those search of his, but deep within him lies a who can teach the right direction. heart that longs to be satisfied through This is what it means to lead. It is not and through. And in the silence of his so much about making extraordinary heart breaks out his cry for the darkness things happen but being involved to be uncovered by the light that the with the things that truly matter. And world at present is in dire need of. we do not need to go far because We, who are receiving so much, are right beside us our people who need the ones holding the torch. We cannot help, who need to be instructed. just remain standing, held back by our Leading is teaching. A great love for comfort, while others are in a prize awaits for a great value lies in state of no one would wish to be in. It is the work of instructing people. This our duty to pass on the light because it is an immediate need. And we cannot is for this that we are called. It is prejust turn a blind eye from our fellows cisely for this reason that we are receivof the same journey. (Cherie Mae ing what we have now and are placed Jardeleza) where we in. There is really no other

(Arms Race cont.) and hours to make these model slimmer, taller, and even more beautiful.

So to those wishing they looked as good as models at the front cover of their favorite magazines, THINK AGAIN; because I’m sorry to tell you honey, but that image is even more beautiful than the models themselves and that kind of beauty is unattainable without surgery or “a fairy god mother with a magic wand”.

Then again, I’m not here to scare you off like Jack Nicholson in the Shining; because I do want you to be literate in using these awesome softwares.

To put it lamely, I want you guys to realize that “with great powers comes great responsibility” and that “you’re beautiful just the way you are”.

I can’t possibly end with those lines, but I will end with an original and that is…

“Be creative, not destructive. Spread news and not rumors. Show the big picture and not just an angle.” (Mari Arambulo)

Being More of a Woman Women today are already into various fields. They have made their marks in their own environment and continue proving their worth to the society. By this, their beauty indeed sparkles and shines. However, a more ordinary field is not so much given consideration that we forget to appreciate a work that is truly of great value. Done by mere hands it may seem, but this work is a lot more than that.

“No woman is ever a woman if she is ig- ing layers of cloth in every bed, and still to make our work into prayer. We were norant of how things work at home”. valuing the little details. The same work shown faith in action. It was very movWork in the home is real professional for the washrooms; it was not only clean- ing to see people so virtuous to joyfully work. We got to learn this ourselves from a ing the sink and the toilet. It was disin- tire themselves out the whole day. The 12-day experience of working in an admin- fecting 80% of the whole washroom, whole work is really a service that enistration as part of our OJT on home leader- removing watermarks and then drying tails sacrifice to some extent. It is a ship for KALFI LEAD . As we served a con- everything. All these not in hours but in very noble work and the people behind siderable number of people attending an minutes, without sacrificing the quality getting things done in the home get event, we learned that such work is no easy of work. Everything was according to their joy from making things pleasant task because it is truly hard labor which re- schedule and each one was expected to for the others. What is this then if not a service of love? quires skills in properly accomplishing the work professionally.

It is not that women should only tasks.

The training more or less included four After setting foot at the working place, all days in kitchen and two days each in be doing work in the home. But it of us became “professional” housekeepers. bakery, pantry, laundry and housekeep- is that being into it, knowing how We cleaned the washrooms, the bedrooms ing. It was as if we have enrolled in a to do the work and do it well, and the hallways. This was not simple “mini-HRM” course. But in this makes us more of who we are. It sweeping and arranging. It was dusting, “course”, we were taught not just getting makes us more warm, more loving, sweeping, dry mopping and sometimes pol- the work done but getting them “well more passionate- more of all that as a woman. (Dianne Argamosa & ishing. For the bed, it did not only mean fix- done”. ing the pillows and the blankets. It was fixMoreover, we were shown how it was Cherie Mae Jardeleza)

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(The Makings cont. from p. 6) wanted to go home. Even the parents felt good that there were people visiting. Sometimes the parents would even ask us “Where are you from?”, “What schools [are you from]?”, “Why are you doing this?”. They were really happy. Actually when Reina and Gabby were performing, Reina was doing the violin, they were making videos. The parents were making videos so it was kind of an experience for them as well. We also performed and we didn’t just stay there for a while, we stayed there for the whole morning so they could really see it. The parents, they parang ranted to us like this parent would tell us about he needed so much funds because of his daughter’s illness. We weren’t really able to offer him like, millions, but still, at least someone was there to listen to him. We actually helped in the money-making scheme of one of the parents. One parent of a sick kid was like “I can give you make-up if you pay a small fee”. It was like her diskarte because her son needed an operation. So one of my batchmates availed of that.

L: Do you think your group benefited as well?

M: I think so. It helped us sort of manage our time because we had to look for sponsorships and then we had to decide on a schedule agree-able to

most of us which is hard at the same time we had to look for people [who can teach us] on how to manage our money. So we ended up deciding on McDonald’s because it was the most convenient for most of us. At the same time, I think it helped us all think better. With the bake sale, I really applaud my batch mates who did that because it took a lot of effort to coordinate between batches. Oh, I forgot to mention we also sold our KALFI batch shirt to our batch mates and that was also really fun because we had to coordinate between batches and then there’s the shirt printing and shirt designing.

L: Since LEAD trains us as leader, what do you think this experience imparted to you?

M: I think the most important part of it was communication. I think it was really fun. Almost everyone was really really active. I think there were a few [that] I had a hard time contacting them. They weren’t replying to text [messages] or they weren’t replying to group posts and that was the hardest part. I know we’re from different schools and we’re all busy but we all have a commitment to the organization so I learned that we should all at least honor that commitment by at least, like, replying. I’m really glad that most of them were active. Most of them showed up on the day even though they had so many things to go to. Most of

them tried to participate in the planning, the design and shirt buying and bake sale. I think that was the best part of it.

Even if we’re all from different schools and we all had heavy things to do, we could work on it.

L: Any projects that you’re looking forward to after this one?

M: Actually I’m not sure about the project but I would really like to help in any of the project like projects in second year, I know it’s by group. Maybe I’d like to help in an outreach again because it’s really fulfilling.

L: Would you recommend KALFI LEAD to incoming college girls?

M: Of course I would recommend it because once again, it’s an experience and I think KALFI also helps in our formation because we have our mentor, we have the outreach. It makes us remember that living college life is beyond ourselves. Beyond our college is a community. It’s [college] also for service to others because I think there’s no meaning in what we’re working for if it’s only for ourselves. It just sort of makes us not grow as people.

Mela admits KALFI LEAD has helped her in her leadership skills. What better way to prove it than having a dedication to leading that keeps getting stronger.

(Clarence Diaz)

Days When Lessons were Learned January 26-27 of this year were the dates that I got disconnected from the busy world of Ortigas and immersed myself in an intense two-day LEAD (Leadership Effectiveness and Attitude Development) seminar.

My restful stay in Latag Study Camp in Batangas had not just been a break from heavy academic workload but above all a great learning experience as it changed the ways I see things as a person and as a leader.

The talk on self-knowledge and temperaments had enlightened me more about the uniqueness of each person. We all have our own preferences of the kind of people we want to be with and to make friends with. We even fall into prejudice more often than not. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that in real life, we cannot choose the people we can work with. If ever this happens,

as this will really happen, we just have to make the most out of it. After all, we do not know what we can gain in the end; it might be a successful work, or even a new friend. We just have to look at the positive side of the situation and turn our back away from negative things that cause us to like less the people around us.

The series of games during our team building activity also left a great impact on me as those activities

taught me valuable lessons that a leader must know by heart. For our first game, partners were tied together (resembling three-legged race) and both of them were blindfolded.

The goal of the game is for the partners to get across a mine field without touching the mines (balls, sticks, a log in the middle, and what have you). We did not see the mine field itself because we were brought there blindfolded. Our (Cont. on p. 9)

(Days When cont.) instructor was at the other side of the mine field. During the game, I actually noticed something different. Helena, our instructor, could not give us quick commands and it made me impatient. When my partner and I had finally made it to the other side of the mine field after starting over three times, we removed our blindfolds and we were really shocked. Helena was not actually facing us but she was facing Liza instead, another instructor. Liza was the one who can see us and she mimes the instructions to Helena regarding our positions and how to avoid the bombs since she was forbidden to talk, making the relaying of information difficult and thus causing the delay.

During the game, we actually failed to do an essential thing–to communicate. Since they were not instructed that it was forbidden to tell us their situation, they should have told us beforehand that we could have communicated with Liza instead and told her our difficulties while inside the mine field. There were unclear instructions and some of our questions were indistinctly answered by Helena. On our part, we did not complain and ask them even if there was something we could not understand during the game.

The game had emphasized how crucial feedback really is. Feedback should be given before it is too late.

People are hindered by pride, fear, and insecurities that they fail to be transparent with regards to their comments, feedbacks, and ideas. As one of the

facilitators said, many relationships have been build and destroyed simply because or errors in communication.

There was also another game which I have enjoyed and learned a lot from. The mechanics was easy; all of the members of the group should be able to go through the garter web without touching it. We were only allowed to cross over and under the web once. To have at least one person in the other side is the most crucial part of the game.

After our unfruitful attempts of trying different strategies, without thinking, I asked them to make a pyramid with three levels for me to jump over. It was successful but very risky. We actually won that game; however, there was so much room for discussion about our actions.

In the evaluation, I actually realized many things. One was to think first before acting. This essential step in decision-making is actually often missed out and it is really irritating when people stop and back out from what they are doing because they have not planned it beforehand. In my part, I thought that it was a form of sacrifice. I knew that nothing would happen to me after that big jump and that the others could not jump like that except me. But the experience made me realize that I had a wrong notion of sacrifice. It was a selfish motive because I believed so much that I

could do it. In the process, I forgot to save them from worrying if ever I would have broken my leg after.

A leader should be a risk-taker but he should be able to weigh the consequences of the actions are worth the goal. If not, better not push through with it. I also realized that part of taking care of the others is also taking care of oneself.

Through this, the person will not fall in a state of self-pity and clamor for attention and care.

This whole activity taught me to have a deeper sense of concern for others. As leaders, sometimes we are so much focused in reaching the goal that we fail to appreciate the process of achieving. Far worse is to be blinded by our material ambitions that we forget the value of the people we work with. All these defeat the very purpose of leading. We should not regard a person as a mere instrument to attain our goals but as another person that we (...p.12) should help in order for him to reach and uplift his full potentials for his own sake.

This experience had indeed taught me not just lessons on leadership but most importantly about life. Lessons were to be remembered and lived especially when we went back to our ordinary lives as daughters, friends, students, and leaders. Ordinary it may seem, but we are now more equipped to do things a whole lot better than before. (Joan Elaine Ponce de Leon)

KALFI Leaders Learn Style and Beauty KALFI leaders learned the essentials of style and beauty in their module “Urbanity: Elegance, Style and Femininity” last November 11, 2012 at Tanglaw University Center.

Mrs. Pacita “Baby” Cruz, a columnist style that can be developed. selected Kalfi leaders. Among the at Lifestyle Asia Magazine and awarded Ms. Mari Wild spoke about make- styles demonstrated were the natuas one of the most elegant women the up for the second part of the module ral, the party, and the corporate Philippines, spoke about style for the by sharing tips on basic skin care. look. first half of the module. She talked She also mentioned the essential The seminar-workshop was held as about the importance of modesty when tools in make-up and their proper part of the holistic formation of the considering style. Cruz also told the maintenance. At the end of the talk, KALFI LEAD beneficiaries, in view of leaders that Mother Mary should be the she conducted a make-up workshop creating competent young leaders with model in dressing up. She then introwhere three make-up artists from character projecting elegance and modduced the basics and different types of Franck Provost applied make-up on esty. (Clarence Diaz)

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KALFI LEAD Beneficiaries: Truly a Cut above the Rest KALFI LEAD has firmly believed in the potential of its beneficiaries. Along with regular leadership modules and the mentoring program, it proceeds to properly equip them with benefits that will truly boost their skills.

Read on and be amazed at how much these ladies have bore fruit as they garner achievements in both their academic and extra-curricular activities: LEAD BATCH 1 The first batch of KALFI LEAD, accepted into the program on June 2011, currently consists of 20 third year female college students. Eight of them came from the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

Deborah Lynn Afuang, a BM Dance major, qualified for the Creamsilk Women Empowerment Scholarship and a consistent University/College scholar. She is also a member of the UP Dance Company and an instructor at Kampo Uno Junior Rappel. Shela Marie Algodon takes up BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BS MBB). She is a DOST Merit scholar and a college scholar in the 1st semester of AY 2011-2012. Mari Angelyn Arambulo takes up BA Communication Research. She serves in both the UP Advertising Core and the College of Mass Communication Student Council where she is a secretary. Clarence Aira Diaz is a consistent University/College Scholar studying BS Biology. She is also a member of the Tanglaw Catechism Club. Anne Sharmaine Ochoa, also taking up BS Biology, is an OWWA EDSP scholar and a member of the UP Pre-Medical Honor Society.

She was a college scholar for two semesters (2nd sem SY 2011-2012, 1st sem SY 2012-2013). She is also a member of the Tanglaw Catechism Club. Lea Laco is a BS Business Administration and Accountancy major and is an awardee of the Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship. Jenina Alyson Peralta is a BS Business Economics major and is an active member of the UP Organization of Business Economics Majors (UP OBEM) and Tanglaw Catechism Club. She was

awarded Best Academic Committee member in SY 2012-2013 and Best Breakeven (Official UP OBEM publication) staffer. She organized a number of projects such as Econ-No-Mix events in 2012 and 2013. Peralta was also a college scholar in 2nd sem AY 2012-2013. Liezel Tamon is a BS MBB student and a member of Philippine Society of Youth Science Clubs. Tiffany-Anne Uy takes up BS Public Administration and is a Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardee.

Three members of the batch are from the University of the Philippines Manila. Ayra Mae Balingbing is a BS Physical Therapy major while Dyan Gabrelle de Guzman is studying BS Biology.

Jessica Grace Rañola, who is a BS Nursing student, is also the current secretary of the Young Empowered Advocates toward Responsible Nursing and the assistant treasurer of UP College of Nursing Batch 2015.

Three Ateneans are also part of KALFI LEAD’s first batch. Heidi Elizes takes up BS Legal Management while Maria Carmita Urbano studies BS Applied Mathematics major in Finance. Justine Matias takes up Management Engineering and is also a member of the ADMU Management Engineering Association (MEA) and AIESEC.

for the Dean’s List as well as for President’s List at the present. She is currently serving as COMELEC Commissioner of the School of Education (SED), head of PHAROS (SED's official org) Research and Evaluation Committee, and a member of the Junior Networkers' Society.

Two of the batch members are also from the UST Conservatory of Music – Melisa Camba and Jem Tangalin.

LEAD Batch 2 The second batch of KALFI LEAD

comprises of 20 female college sophomores. Twelve come from University of the Philippines Diliman. Dianne Christelle Argamosa takes up BS Economics and is a college scholar.

She served as business manager in Ilang-Ilang Residence Hall in SY 2011-2012.

Marie Gabrielle Camacho studies BS Architecture and is currently the Logistics Committee Head of Architectural Students’ Association of the PhilippinesUniversity of the Philippines

(ASAPHIL). She is also the publicity officer of Organization Week 2013 and a member of UP Architecture Student Council Design Corps. Roma Belle Laylo, a BS Architecture student, is a member of ASAPHIL and Tanglaw Catechism Club. Joanne Diaz is a Geodetic Engineering major and a consistent college scholar. She is the vice president for membership of UP Klub Tala and an executive committee officer of (Cont. on p. 12)

KALFI LEAD Curriculum and Outreach Activities

Aside from this, three members from the University of the Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) also comprise Batch 1. Anne Mimille Guzman takes up a double course: AB Humanities and AB Integrated Marketing Communications. She was awarded the New Media Online Scholarship Awardee at Ball State University, Indiana and was a Global Changemaker in 2011 of the British Council in London. She is also one of the 35 awardees for Makabagong Rizal Pag-asa ng Bayan in 2011. Currently, she is a Features Writer for The Bosun (the official student publication of UA&P) and a photographer at the Media Management Committee.

She is also a recipient of the CCP Maria Scholarship. Joan Poncedeleon is a merit scholar taking up BS Industrial Engineering. She is a consistent Dean’s Lister and also qualified as President’s Lister. Cherie Mae Jardeleza takes up BS Human Capital Development and is also a merit scholar. She has also been qualified

Year I

Year II

Year III

Year IV

THEME

Introduction to Leadership: Who am I? (self-management)

Lead to Serve: What is genuine service?

Serving with Integrity: Am I good? Is my organization good?

Vision: Where am I headed to? Where will I lead my people?

MODULES

1 Leadership & Excellence

1 Servant Leadership & Team Work

1 Moral & Virtuous Leadership

1 Strategic Management (visioning)

2 Motivation & SelfMastery

2 Effective Communication; Urbanity (GMRC) 3 Goal-setting

2 Project & Organizational Management

2 Professional Deportment

3 Time Management SPECIAL

3 Change & Change Management

3 Human Resources & Conflict Management: EQ, IQ, SQ, AQ Personal Option to attend for free a yearly silent retreat

Anchored Leadership Batch Teambuilding (July) LEAP to LEAD – interbatch retreat-seminar (March/April, usually end of classes)

OJT [12 days or 96 hours throughout 1 academic year] Menu of OJT Options Home Leadership [Training Centers] Media Leadership [MTRCB] Servant Leadership [Alalay sa Pamilya at Bayan Foundation or APBF] Business Leadership [Amici] Administrative Leadership Program [Kalinangan Youth Foundation or KALFI] PROJECTS Christmas Outreach; Urban Outreach; Community DevelopCMCF Payatas (c/o Catechism or NSTP ment; batch) (c/o small group: 3-5) Livelihood project (c/o dyads)

OUTREACH RURALS UNIV

I AM STRONG/ CMCF PAYATAS (w/in the SY or sum(w/in the SY or summer after Yr 1) mer after Yr 2) Center-based Rurals Volunteer or Centerbased Rurals

(w/in the SY or summer after Yr 3) Volunteer or Center-based Rurals

Public Opinion; UNIV (c/o individual)

(w/in the SY or summer after Yr 4) Volunteer or Center-based Rurals