Last Look: Suggestions and Recommendations

Before I finally set sail to another unknown venture; allow me share some points on how we can become a power house in sports. Given that our institution has excelled in academics and in other priority areas like Community Extension Services and Research, there is a need now to give chance to sports. I hope this could be of help to the next person who will spearhead the program of the institution.

1. Alumni Support- we have established to a certain degree a good relationship with some alumni of the institution. But there are still lots of things to be done until the alumni association fully supports the sports program of Sacred Heart College. The presence of the alumni association in the field of sports has been proven vital in order to achieve supremacy. Take for example the a true to life movie entitled "The Blind Side." (watch it for yourself, I will not be giving a gist). They can be of help by simply sending some funds to sustain whatever we have stored or planned for our athletes. They can provide our institution with manpower needed to beef-up our roster of athletes. They can also assist us with necessary aid such as but not limited to sports equipment, trainers and coaches and necessary linkages. All we need to do is draw out a plan to involve our alumni because they are very much willing to work. All they need is a little encouragement. A good example of a program is the Hermana Fausta Cup "Alumni Basketball Cup" which has been running for two straight consecutive years despite odds. The next person to spearhead the program should now include other indoor games which can be played during off season.
2. A Person and an Office- I was just wondering, we want to excel in sports but we do not have an office and an appointed person who will really oversee the implementation of the program. In almost all Colleges and Universities in Manila, a specific office/officer takes care of the concern of athletes. Without a point person, we cannot just blame anyone if our program fails. Do not be afraid to spare some money for honorarium, there are lots of personnel in our institution who are very dedicated in/to SPORTS. They can thrive without the honorarium. But of course, an honorarium for the work done is advisable.
3. Support from the Administration-I think everybody understands the reason why I included it in the list of things one should do. Without the support and even understanding of the administration, everything else will crumble. Nothing will happen without their willingness and conviction that sports can also bring enrollees to our institution. Convince the administration that sports is important and then after convincing them lead them to help you achieve the goals one set for the institution.
4. Inform the Parents- I have seen the power and influence of the Parents' Association. They will do everything for their children. Ask for their help and they will surely come to help us. Parents like the alumni association can be the differentiating force that will determine whether our institution can excel in sports.
5. Orient the teachers on their role-to excel in sports, we cannot simply put the whole task to a single/group of persons. Not even all PE teachers can do it. We need a more dynamic role coming from the teachers. A little encouragement from teachers/professors can bring out the best among our athletes. A little understanding from them would spell much to our athletes. I still dream of this.
6. Allot funds for scholarship- a balance between academic life and sports in our institution can spell a big difference. However, since many promising athletes came from towns which are shall I say very far from our institution, assistance to these would-be athletes in the form of scholarship and allowance grants can bring more promising athletes in the College Department.
7. Evaluate the Program- A program has been created and finalized by the committee. We now need to implement and evaluate the program and propose changes as needs arise

There are still lots of things that we need to do. But for now, we can just focus on these areas. Good Luck.

Interpersonal Skills Needed

A quick definition of interpersonal skills...it refers to a person's ability to work within an organization effectively through communication and interaction. Of course, it has its own importance. An effective interpersonal skill ensures productivity among employers and eliminates conflict which can possibly destroy employees’ morale. Good interpersonal skills also encourage wider participation.

In this age of titles (MA and Ph.D.), electronic communication (e-mail, SMS etc.), leaders often tend to forget the importance of this skill. They perhaps unknowingly fail to remember that they deal with persons and not machines that operate based on strings of command that can be fed to a computer.

In the school setting and perhaps in any other business, interpersonal skills among administrators are crucial to the success and even perpetuity of the organization. Titles are also important, but people will not look and gauge an administrator with the number of titles he/she has after his/her name nor with the quantity of programs initiated during his/her term. Employees will remember how administrators associated with everybody. We will remember how an administrator dealt with personnel on different occasions. Employees will bear in mind the way an administrator try to understand the feelings, words and gestures of their subordinates and how they react to a given situation.

Like any other skills, interpersonal skills can be developed through:

1. Ask yourself, "Is this the way I like be treated?"- Empathy is the ability to feel with other persons. It is a trait that enables one to be in the place of other persons. There is always a need to see how other persons respond to a given situation. By keeping in touch with their responses as well as feeling, an administrator can deal fairly and efficiently on occasions that require decisions.
2. Practice good communication skills- Communication is a two-way process. It involves a speaker and a listener. Determine what you want to say and how you will say it. This eliminates miscommunication which is oftentimes the source of conflict.
3. Be a good listener- People will appreciate one's decision and recommendations if employees know and are convince that they are not simply lip service.
4. Be appreciative.- learn to acknowledge the innate goodness in all persons whom one works with.
5. Observe other persons- our employees are persons. Thus, they have a life which can be full of sad experiences or happy milestones.

I guess there is a need to include in the curriculum a short or an elective course on the development of interpersonal skills.

The Cebu Experience

I will be going to Cebu! I am thrilled. Yes, I admit I am really excited although I have never shown the anticipation for several reasons: the flight was cancelled for 3 or 4 times and most of all, we do not have enough resources to send all the participants to the venue. Just imagine 15 persons. How much will it costs?

Nevertheless, we took the challenge and bravely surpassed it. Three days before the flight, I was able to secure 15 tickets through the help of a friend. The question is "Saan ako kukuha ng pangbayad?" Yes, we finished around 1 am finalizing the details of the said trip. Two days before the departure, we only have Php 32,000. We owe somebody the amount of PhP. 49,000.00. Alas, we were saved. A last minute solication with our City Mayor, Mayor Ramon Y. Talaga provided us with the much needed respite from thinking, we have at least PhP. 40,000++ at our disposal. Laughingly, I said to myself, we succeeded. Everything is alright for now.

A meeting was scheduled the following day for briefing. The unthinkable happened. A parent came and angrily questioned us. Actually not me. It was Mr. Alzola and Mr. Mercado who came to talk. I missed the whole incident. (I was not around and I am happy for that).

A sad news came that same afternoon. A text from one of the school's administrator that was received and read by my sister took me down, as if I have been running non-stop for an hour or so. The feeling was weird. All I can say is, "Is that the way it should end?"

Yes, that feeling of excitement was gone. All of a sudden, the thrill I felt, the sense of anticipation... are all gone.

Now, I am here in my house typing non-sense thoughts for you to read (during your spare time of course) waiting for updates and still hoping and even planning that within the week, I will be joining the team that went to Cebu. After all, this might be my last trip with them.

Dedication:

To those who helped us in many ways, I would like to thank you and for all those who made this experience really worth remembering, I also thank you.