#WEekMatters

by Michaela Alisa V. Flores

After spending a week-long working on tasks, attending to busy schedules, urgent meetings, and a lot more activities in our workplace, it is inevitable that most of the time we feel drained and exhausted. Further, findings from the World Happiness Report point to a 10% drop in happiness at work since COVID-19 was declared a global emergency in March 2020 (Cotofan, De Neve, Golin, Kaats, & Ward, 2021). With this, it has been evident that there is a decline in the well-being of employees. As evidence of declines in worker wellbeing continues to emerge, employees are now seeking solutions to the growing threats to their happiness and health. Likewise, awareness in the public consciousness was made requiring employers to take action on workplace wellbeing.

With Centro Escolar University’s action towards this matter, the Human Resource Department led by Dr. Bella Marie L. Fabian, Assistant Vice President for Administration and Head of Budget Office, together with Mr. Roland P. Ordañez, Head of the Human Resource Department, implemented a week-ender activity called #WEekMatter which is shared to all employees of CEU. Every Friday, the Human Resource - Training and Development Section shares different creative and fun activities that everyone can enjoy. They may participate in short games, share their feelings, thoughts, gratefulness, and many more which will depend on the activity instruction per week.

In this write-up, we will feature one particular activity called “#KindessMatters” which was conducted last March 23, 2023. This activity was shared to all CEU employees through their emails asking them to share a picture and a description of their most valued little act of kindness. Some of our employees shared their fulfillment in providing new learning and making their students happy; others shared their journey in public service and charity for the elderly, youth, and indigenous people; some also shared special moments that serve as an act of kindness through fixing their grandchildren’s bicycles, feeding stray cats they encounter on streets, showing care for the environment, religious acts, regularly donating blood to a child (who wasn’t a relative) with a critical condition, and one who donates her hair to cancer patients. Attached below are images of entries submitted by our employees.

It is truly amazing how one can give compassion to others through a simple act of kindness. This somehow teaches everyone that there are many things we can do, little or big, which can make an impact on someone else and could also bring fulfillment to our purpose in life. These contribute to the essence of #WEekMatter, to help our employees not to dwell on the negative things they experience at work or life in general, but instead to help them divert in seeing positive things that made “We” in our week matter.

Here are the inspiring words and deeds that make every week matter:

“Kindness often costs very little, yet its value is immense. During the height of the pandemic, our province was devastated by a typhoon and most of the 26 barangays were flooded. A day after, I contacted my nephews and nieces if they could come up with a plan to help our kababayans. We were able to raise funds and able to distribute 300 food packs to our kababayans. There’s no shortage of reasons to be stressed and afraid nowadays, but there are spots of hope worth savoring, too. –Benedict B. Reyes, Jr.

“Since 2018 I started donating hair for Cancer patients and survivor through Cuts against Cancer and The Hope Project of UPM.” - Christine Jade

Santiago

“The picture of outreach that served as an act of kindness could be of a group of people gathered together in a community setting, engaging in activities that help others.

For example, the picture might show volunteers distributing school Supplies in a very remote area. The volunteers in the picture could be smiling and interacting with those they are serving, showing genuine care and concern for their wellbeing. The scene might be filled with a sense of warmth and compassion, as the volunteers work together to make a positive impact on the lives of others.” -

Rommel Jotic

“’Charity begins at home but it doesn’t have to end there. Ministry and apostolate work exposed me to different ways where we can be a channel of blessing to others. Such channels is the ALIW BATA program organized yearly by the Dominican Studentate of the Santo Domingo Convent in Quezon City. Every Christmas, the brothers invite less privileged kids from nearby environs to participate in the gift-giving cum Christmas party.

Another program is the HAPAG HANDOG organized by the Santo Domingo Parish, QC in partnership with the Ministry of Lectors and Commentators. This activity aims to provide nourishment not only for the body but also for the soul. Recent participants were single mothers, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Kindness doesn’t have to be a big gesture. Sometimes it is the small things that we do that make a big impact in the lives of others.

#KindnessMatters

‘And the King will reply, “truly, I tell you, whatever you did for the least of my brothers, you did forme.’ - Matthew 25:40’” – Ramil Cuerdo

“More than 2 years na po ako nag do-donate ng blood sa bata na may thalassemia every 3 months nag do-donate po ako ng blood.” - Jim Fogelberg S. Satoc

“Cathecism on Stewardship of the environment. Taking care of our mother earth is an

act of kindness!” – Sofia

Magdalena

N.

Robles

“I always share my blessings with the stray cats, both those in our condominium premises and those on the streets. Stray animals need care too. In the near future, I hope I can build a shelter for them and give them the life they deserve. The picture below shows some of the cats I feed regularly. Let us be kind to stray animals, as we have no idea what they are suffering on the streets.” – Roshida

Mae D. Mama

“Fixing the seat of the small bicycle of my apo Idris with Adam in this picture during one of the few times I joined them in their fam bonding near the PICC grounds is a small act of kindness that I felt self-fulfillment that I am still able to experience being with my grandchildren now that I am in my senior citizen ‘portal’ Thank you Lord! Thank you CEU!” – Renata

Raymunda F. Parungao

“My kindness is to feed the children of one community or brgy every quarter. I started last 2020 start of pandemic just want to share to others my blessings and the motto is I don’t cook but I feed the KID..... one way of sharing and good kindness to least of our brethren...” -

Corazon Amparo

“Sharing my blessings to a community by giving rice and small amount of groceries tuwing birthday ko at tuwing sasapit ang pasko upang kahit sa konting bigas ay mapasaya ko ang mga tao na mas nangangailangan at upang may pagsalu-saluhan sila sa hapag kainan. For almost eight years ginagawa ko na ito, little things na alam ko madami napapasaya na mga pamilya.... God bless always.” -

Leah Bautista

“May I humbly share to all that I have found my selfless dedicated… by conducting various humanitarian community outreach programs of CEU AFI Alumni Foundation Incorporated integrated medical, dental, optical, psychological, legal, educational and livelihood missions since I became the president of CEU AFI Foundation School of Science and Technology Alumni Chapter in 2009. Our CEU AFI thru our beloved president, Dr. Paz Lucido, gave me a lot of opportunities and endless moral support to serve the least of our brethren…. All Glory to God!” -

Marietta D. Subida

“Sharing my blessings with indigenous people and seeing their smiles gives me happiness beyond words.” - Ma.

Gladys Aquino

“Showing my care to the elderly is one way of loving them. God bless.” - Joel

D. Zuniga

“Sharing blessings with my religious community and giving free dental treatment for kids always bring me a deep sense of happiness and self-fulfillment. God bless.” -

Lilian Co

by Paz I. Lucido