The 4th of July

image credits to Christopher Ramos/GMA Network online

The 4th of July also popularly known as ID4, for the Americans, was the day they become independent. Independence day is celebrated every 4th of July, the day the United States of America has been established. The independence was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on 1776 of July 4. The Second Continental Congress was a meeting of 13 colonies that united the American Revolutionary War. This is actually a separation from the British government which happened on July 2, 1776, and is believed to be the real Independence day.

The 4th of July is being celebrated by the Americans as it marks the day the United States has become its own nation. Americans celebrated it with parades, fireworks, and festivals. Watch the highlights of the celebration in New York and Washington DC.

image credits to Wall Street Journal youtube

Coincidentally, it was the day the Philippines has been recognized as an independent and sovereign country by the American government. It was July 4, 1946, as the Philippines were under its rule for 48 years after the 333 years of Spanish colonization. July 4 back then is being celebrated as Republic Day  It was a national non-working holiday until the late former president Ferdinand Marcos, changed it to Philippine-American Friendship Day, and became a working holiday. Then the former president Cory Aquino abolished it as a national holiday. 

I still believe that July 4 is the correct Independence Day for the Philippines and not June 12, 1898. Yet the islands were free from Spanish colonization but they had just passed it on to the United States of America. It becomes totally independent as a nation on July 4, 1946.

The Lady in Pink

image credits to People Asia

     The lady who scoured places most candidates had never been, made a radical change on volunteerism. On October 7, 2021, when she signed up for her presidential bid, she wore a blue blouse with a pink ribbon. Though she had not planned on the campaign pink color, according to her, it is the color of volunteerism, protest, and battle... thus Pink Phenomenon was born...nay for those times when candidates were the ones who gave foods and gifts, she seems like the rockstar whose supporters are like fans. People were so delightful, gave her gifts, shared talents, and dole-out foods to fellow 'kakampinks'... the outgoing Vice President of the Philippines and the number 2, in Presidential elections according to COMELEC swift count. 

        For most people, businessmen, entrepreneurs, artists, talents, farmers, vendors, laborers, and students... she is number 1 as she had conquered the toughest hurdles in this year's presidential elections. Served as Vice President of the Philippines yet contributed to a radical change in the history of Philippine elections. Poems, songs, dance movements, paintings, and murals are dedicated to her candidacy and the people who supported her. Dubbed as the pink light at the end of the tunnel by People Asia Magazine. She is also awarded the Honorary Outstanding Woman Award of the Year (2016) by the Thailand government.

     As Vice President, Leni Robredo's office has these flagship programs that catapulted her into somewhat like an icon, a rockstar being given gifts during the campaign period. 

• Ahon Laylayan Koalisyon - for working with grassroots organizations to form multi-sectoral coalitions that develop their concerns into a common agenda and work with the private and public sectors in fighting poverty through Angat Buhay.
• Angat Buhay - bringing together the public and private sectors to address the needs of families and communities in the farthest and the poorest areas in the country.
• Istorya ng Pag-asa - showcasing extraordinary stories of ordinary people who remind us of the Filipino's strength, compassion, and resiliency for rising above the challenges of the times.
• BISErbisyong Level Up - building the Office of the Vice President into a model agency that went from performing largely ceremonial functions to leading advocacies for the laylayan.

     The Office of the Vice President has also been granted ISO Certification and still maintains it today. The OVP successfully emerged from the audit certification, assessing the office implementation of its quality management system under ISO 90011:2015, which the OVP first obtained in 2017. 

     VP Leni is Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo, a mother of 3 and a widow by his late husband Jesse Robredo.  The latter died from a plane crash and at that time the Secretary of  Interior and Local Government under the leadership of then President Benigno Aquino III. Being a single Mom, VP Leni as she is popularly known, managed to send her daughters to prestigious universities with their intelligence and demeanor and with the help of scholarships abroad. Her eldest daughter, Jessica Marie Robredo also known as Aika is a graduate of B.S Management Engineering at Ateneo de Manila University. She has had her master's degree in Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School, USA. According to her Linked profile, she is currently the Executive director of Restart Micro-Enterprise Inc. (ReStartMe), a wholesale micro-finance NGO that assists micro-entrepreneurs to recover from disasters in the form of financing and business development grants through its member micro-finance institutions. Aika is also the chairman, along with Doc Tricia,  of the Jesse Robredo Foundation. VP Lenis's second daughter, a doctor by profession is Janine Patricia Robredo, also known as Doc Tricia. She is a graduate of B.S in Health Sciences at Ateneo de Manila University. Doc Tricia earned her Doctor of Medicine degree also in Ateneo with another degree of Masters in Business Administration. Doc Tricia also served as one of the volunteer doctors for the Office of the Vice President's initiative of  BEK (Bayanihan E-Konsulta). After the May 2022 election, VP Leni along with her three daughters went to the US for the graduation rites of her youngest daughter, Jillian Therese Robredo. Jillian is a scholar of New York University with a double major degree in Economics and Math.

     VP Leni has been known as a strong advocate of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) and a supporter of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. If you have been visiting the OVP website, one can observe that FOI is noticeable and inherent in the office itself. Transparency at its finest. Leni Robredo had served the country before being hailed as the 14th Vice President of the Philippines.    

     As her term ends this 30th of June, her supporters are waiting for a Non-Government Organization that stems from her campaign slogan, "Angat Buhay Lahat".

Educational Background: 

1997 - Philippine Bar Passer

1992 - Juris Doctor, University of Nueva Caceres

1986 - Bachelor of Arts in Economics, University of the Philippines

Occupational Background before politics:

2008-2010 > President of Naga City Council for Women

1998-2011 > Branch Coordinator and Lawyer of SALIGAN (Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligan)

1997-1999 > Lawyer, Public Attorney's Office

1987-1997 > Economics Professor, Universidad de Sta. Isabel

1986-1987 > Researcher and Economist, Bicol River Basin Development Program Office

1992 > Founded Lakas ng Kababaihan in Naga

Political Background: 

2016-2022 > 14th Vice President of the Philippines

2013-2016 >  Representative, 3rd District of Camarines Sur

            Vice-Chairman on Good Governance and Public Accountability

            Vice-Chairman, Committee on Revision of Laws

            Member, Committee of Appropriations

            Member, Bicol Recovery and  Economic Development

            Member, Climate Change

            Member, Human Rights

            Member, Land Use

            Member,  Local Government

            Member, People's Participation

            Member, Rural Development

            Member, Suffrage and Electoral Reforms

            Member, Welfare of Children

            Member, Women and Gender Equality

from OVP website

The Time to Quit

https://www.ajc.com/blog/get-schooled/challenge-isn-getting-teachers-into-classroom-keeping-them/

Quitting is not always giving up. Quitting is also changing everything. Quitting is pivoting to a new role. They say quitter never wins. What is the best thing to do when you quit a certain job or career, from a person in your life,  because of stress, anxiety, and abuse? What are you quitting at?

Four years ago I made a decision to quit someone. Being a single Mom and a teacher is stressful enough but don't get me wrong, these roles give me fulfillment in my being. Quitting on someone to do his obligations and responsibilities gave me relief. I don't have to ask or beg to care for his children if he is that responsible. You won't expect, you won't ask, you won't talk. Quit on him as a father of your kids, yet within yourself, he would puff out because there are connections. But at least taunting him to do his responsibilities is an absent thing, you won't have to always ask for anything. If you are an independent woman, think about these things.. does it make a difference if he helps or not? If you say no, then quit talking to him else let him know more about you and the kids.

Quitting on a job or career that is your bread and butter, one that you are equipped with needs a lot of thinking. It somehow affected my decisions. In quitting a job, you need to examine factors, especially if you have kids depending on you. It has been years since I wanted to quit as a teacher, but a turn of events made me finally decide on this. Last year was the tough decisive decision I have ever had. Too much stress from work, health factors, and peace of mind are the factors against the uncertainty of finding a new job or venturing into business. And I made it. I quit a job that I had stayed on for years. My bread and butter. Yes..12 long years and finally decided on it. 

Teaching tied you up for long hours, not the teaching per se but the preparation for it. The thin line between having your personal time mixed with your work and other extra things to do. The good thing that happens to me? I was able to find earning opportunities, and I was able to rest after work. Unmindful of the things that I needed to do after my working hours, I can sleep soundly and eat properly. I can do things that I have planned before, the renovation of my house. Quitting on my part is pivoting to a new role that would give me peace of mind, and a less stressful environment which is my home.

To sum it up, there are questions you need to answer before you quit on something. 

• What are the pros and cons of the decision to make?
• What is the value or the importance of these pros and cons?
• Is the decision urgent? - does it affect your physical and mental health?
• Is it feasible for you to quit now? - alternatives for pivoting to a new challenge.