Risa Garucho

Importance of Filipino characteristics and Values System

Posted on April 15, 2022April 15, 2022 by Risa Garucho

Filipino characteristics and values system has a great significance to the Filipino’s way of life and to the growth, and success of Filipinos. Its importance is widely seen but not realized since for us Filipinos – practicing our own values system and characteristics is natural, and we do not do it for ourselves but for everyone so to maintain peace and harmony . The practice of passing down the Filipino characteristics and values system also became the culture of Filipinos, that is why most values and characteristics are noticeably traditional. Thus, it preserves not only the positive traits that most of Filipino possesses like being hospitable and respectful, but also to correct the negative ones traits of some.

The characteristics and values system of Filipinos has a very long history – how it was formed and discovered, how it became a part of practice in the Filipino way of life, and many others which I can share one to you.

Sugar and the Origins of Modern Philippine Society — Photo Credit: publishing.cdlib.org

One trait that you may or will really hate is that the laziness of some Filipino people, which I remember when I was in first-year in our Philippine History class there’s a study saying Filipino people are not naturally lazy. On the older days, Filipinos are traditionally punctual and hard workers especially farmers who woke up early in the dawn to go and work in the farm field before the sun rises. The sole purpose of rising early in the morning and starts working is to avoid the heat before the sun takes its peak in the afternoon. In the noon time, the farmer Filipinos takes their time to rest, then finally finish their work before the sun sets.

All is well before the Spaniards came, the Spanish colonialism changed the Filipino way of life; slavery and force-labour happened that most Filipino people lose their freedom to get their rest and was working all day. During this times Filipinos skip or stop working when no one’s looking to rest and to avoid from the raging afternoon sunlight on which appears them as lazy people and doing the act of “ningas-kugon” which means stopping from work when no one is looking.

Though Filipinos had some unpleasant past, still until today Filipinos quite owned a unique culture that will really make you say, “I Love Philippines!”

Love Philippines Stock Illustrations – 472 Love Philippines Stock Illustrations, Vectors & Clipart - Dreamstime — Photo by dreamstime.com

Commonly known for being hospitable, Filipino people possesses other more unique traits on which they practice on their everyday life.

Pinoy Dream Builder - Filipino Clip Art , Free Transparent Clipart - ClipartKey — Photo Credit: clipartkey.com

The importance of the Filipino values system and characteristics are not only for us to be known as Filipino or how it serves as our identity, but it was also way more than that. These values system and Filipino characteristics help us in our everyday life; it serves as our guide in decision-making by knowing what to do, how to react, and where to go next. Aside from that, it also helps us organize our thoughts and behaviour in a certain situation, for example; Filipino have a very strong family ties or family oriented people, so most Filipinos don’t like the idea of leaving their parents or grand-parents to the home for the agent to take care of them, instead we take the responsibility as daughter and son to keep our parents with us that we feel will make them feel safe, cared and loved. So you see, Filipinos are very sentimental kind of people having a good heart and genuine emotion like being cheerful and staying happy even after experiencing rough days or even calamities and disaster –they’re happy for a reason that they are still alive and ready to stand again for another day.

Now, what are your thoughts about Filipino characteristics and values system?

What do you want to know more about Filipino people?

I love reading messages! Comment your thoughts and suggestions below 🙂

Thoughts

MY TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Posted on May 1, 2021May 1, 2021 by Risa Garucho

Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world” this quote made me realized that there is one thing I can do for my students, and that is to ensure them the best education I can provide by utilizing all the available resources I can get in order for them to succeed in the path they choose to walk-on.

Time, effort, knowledge, and patience are one of the qualities I should acquire when I meant to giving the best education for my students. I know it is not easy and it will be a challenging journey but that is no reason to give up especially when I see that it is my responsibility to make these sprouts bloom beautifully. For me teaching is like growing plants in a garden, to see my students’ bloom it’s my duty to give the care and attention they need, water them with meaningful learnings, and staying patient for their growth.

As a Teacher, knowing my students is a crucial part for their development. Every learner is unique in their own way which requires a large amount of time and effort to know what kind of approach and strategy I can use to unlocked their potentials and skills. In a garden of different flowers; there will always be a plant who needs a lot more attention than others, a thirsty plant that needs a lot more water, and a plant that will ask for your patience – so you see, teaching is like that and as a teacher I have to see to it that every learners get what they need in order for me to see their progress, and the difference of who they are yesterday than today after looking-out for them and meeting their needs. In a diverse classroom, differentiated instruction works well and this give learners a fair learning environment where everyone can grow at the same time or learn at the same phase.

I teach the way I do because I know that those strategies and approaches I will apply are something that will benefit my student as well as enhanced my way of teaching. My desire to do the best for my student is the center goal of my teaching career. As an educator, I want to make a difference and that is by teaching the young ones to become a better version of themselves and giving them the best I could offer for them to become a best member of the society.

Mandela has point when he said that education is a powerful weapon that can change the world, for reason that if education can change a person and so maybe the world too. The goal I established for my students is same goal I want for the world because I know that my students have the ability to become a great generation. Someday our world will be full of educated people, and I hope for that day the world will become better.

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My journal: Importance of becoming a team player inside faculty room someday

Posted on October 29, 2020October 29, 2020 by Risa Garucho

What does it mean to be a team player?

A team player is the one who actively participates in the team’s mission and vision. Whether they are the leader or a member, they understand their roles and responsibilities in a team and respect the other team players within the team. Team players who do their roles and initiate to do the task in the team makes the work lighter and will direct the team to success.

The importance of becoming a team player inside the faculty room someday is that I can able to communicate and share my ideas and expertise for the team’s projects and missions to reach our specific goals.As a team player inside the faculty room, it is important that I am aware of the goals and missions of the team and what are the underlying steps to reach the goal. Having a good communication within the team will made it easy for every team member to share and contribute ideas when it comes to brain-storming of concepts and ideas to be used in reaching the goal.

To be a team player, especially inside the faculty room one must have qualities necessary for the team to use along the way. For example, having creative and innovative skills helps a lot in making new things and innovate ideas which will be helpful to hit the team’s target goal.

Here the other qualities of a good team player for the team’s success:

• Actively listen to team’s purpose and goal, and respect each and everyone’s ideas and concepts.

• Demonstrates initiative by having the willingness to work without being told

• Flexibility of a team member means having an ability to adapt change, and overcome the challenges in the team which is one of most important in the team

• Participates in brainstorming and collaboration which will result to a unique innovation and make the ideas of the team effective to reach success

• Reliable and responsible as a team player

• Committed to the teams goal and works in reaching success

• Critical thinkers in problem solving

Each team player is important in teamwork, whether it’s a leader or a member they have always something valuable to offer for the team’s progress and success.

Character Analysis, Thoughts

Reflective Journal: Character analysis of a great leader

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Risa Garucho

While writing my analysis on Abraham Lincoln about how great he is as a leader, I was so inspired by his life story before he became the 16^th president of the United States. His long years and rocky roads to be the U.S. president was an amazing journey.

His life is so inspirational especially to a youth like me who aspire to become a great leader someday. He was born poor, and his parents were almost illiterate, yet his curious mind and ambitious trait drives him to have an early appetite for reading which shaped his character and personality. It’s surprising that his town in his childhood days have little or no motivation in education and he only had little days in his year of education but he was fond to read every book he could borrow and find.

Most of the youth today gave easily and throw their lives in misery, but Abraham was different in his youth. Lincoln don’t have read much books in his early years but having no interest in farming, he spends his days reading books and absorbing the thoughts as much as he could.

I can really see the effort he makes to do something great and his thirst to do the right thing paves a way to make his visions into a reality. Even in his younger years, he is an ideal leader and a visionary one – he knows his weaknesses well and what are the things he lacks which is very important as a leader. After that, he spend another years to improve his communication skills and continue his education and later on became a lawyer.

What I have learned from Abraham’s life journey is that there is no shortcut to success, like him he reaches the top because of hard work, commitment, and passion to what he really wants to be. Of all the struggles and conflicts he had gone through, maybe it is fulfilling for him to reach his main goal ever since he dreamed of doing something great.

The 4 Secrets of Truly Great Leadership | Inc.com — Photo credit: Inc.com

His life and journey to become a great leader will be a very good example for the youth today who aspires to be one of the nation’s leaders. For me, Abraham Lincoln is very exceptional and talented a leader of his time and up until today. I will be gladly recommend anyone to read more about his life and works from his early life to his presidential year and like me, I expect them or maybe you to be inspired and motivate to become a leader too. Also, you will learn more about other things aside from knowing the life and works of Abraham Lincoln which is very significant. And I would also like to recommend you to read my character analysis on Abraham Lincoln as a great leader by clicking this link -> https://risas.home.blog/2020/10/27/an-analysis-lincoln-as-a-leader/

He’s a visionary and transformational leader who makes the dream became reality. As a reader of the life story of Abraham Lincoln, I can say that he is truly an amazing man. Now I understand why his name echoed throughout the history and to the world.

Character Analysis, Thoughts

An Analysis: Lincoln as a Leader

Posted on October 27, 2020October 28, 2020 by Risa Garucho

Abraham Lincoln is repeatedly remembered as one of America’s greatest leader. He is known as the Great Emancipator and a man who is against all pressure save the union and ended slavery in the midst of civil war that claimed the lives of over 700,000 Americans.

The source of biography is from Britannica.com written by Richard N. Current and was updated on October 22, 2020. Here is the link of Abraham Lincoln’s biography: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Abraham-Lincoln . The purpose of the article is to inform the audience about the life and works of Abraham Lincoln. Since his assassination in 1865, Abraham Lincoln has grown to be a legend and has been memorialized throughout the years and across the land naming many things from theaters, museum, streets and colleges, parks, statues and monuments, cities and towns in his name.

But is it that makes Lincoln such a great man?

Lincoln was born poor, he has only less than a year of education, and his father lost all of their property when he was just 9 years old. His first love died when he was 25, he failed in business, suffered from depression, his wife was mentally unstable, and he endured several electoral defeats, yet through it all he rose to become one of the greatest presidents of the United States.

Lincoln was a man of unquenchable ambition. He said that he wants to be great; he wants to be remembered doing something great. Determined to succeed, he has the willpower and strength of mind to face the impossible odds that will even make a stronger man fail. He always perseveres and bounce back from fall and get back up again, and again, and again.

As a president, Lincoln was definitely a transformational leader –he was such a remarkably honest man of integrity and was trusted by everyone who knew him. His reputation for fairness and honesty helped him to be trusted by everyone. He always sees things from the perspective of others and has a great empathy for taking others point of view, he was always working hard to connect with the people; this earns him the love and respect of the people he served.

He was a visionary who imagined America to be a shining beacon when it comes to democracy and morality that all men are created equal whether you are black, white, red, or brown. He imagined a world where Americans not just believe but practice the long standing doctrine that we should love our neighbors as ourselves including our enemies. And after winning the civil war he did not boast nor celebrate but called for healing and reconciliation, pardoning enemies he has face in the war.

Even though his life was cut short by a bullet we still have his word today offering us wisdom and his life that serves as an example in our modern world. That a man who preserve the nation and never give up in the darkest of times; he stands as a symbol of honesty, empathy, humility, perseverance, and courage –a continuous reminder that the government should they be the people, by the people, and for the people.

Self-Case Study, Thoughts

SELF-CASE STUDY: Childhood Days

Posted on October 26, 2020October 26, 2020 by Risa Garucho

Mean girls and boys - Parents worry more about bullying than anything else | International | The Economist — Photo by Economist.com

Bullying and Suicide: What Parents Need to Know | Parents — Photo Credit: Parents.com

When I was in grade school I rarely have friends because my classmates are only fond with someone who’s pretty, handsome and always at the top of the class. Sometimes I was being bullied with my surname which some of my classmates say words that sound like my last name and as a child I was so ashamed because of that. Aside from that, I was also bullied because of my physical appearance of being chubby and my classmates sometimes call me a pig.

Developing Healthy Self-Esteem in Children and Young People - Mind Moose — Photo by Mind moose.co.uk

But those were just part of my past now and I’ve learn many things from those experiences – after that I strived hard to study well and became one of those in the class ranking, and then later on my classmates forget about how my surname sounds like, became friends with the other children which push me to join in every poster making contest that greatly helped enhance my confidence. And about my physical appearance, well I am still being bullied but at that time I already don’t mind about how my physical body looks like, I am just a chubby kid not a pig and that only prove how parents love me. Those experiences had agreat impact on my overall growth and identity, I wasn’t able to face my fear if I would not have experienced those past – It helped me improve myself as a learner, make some friends and became sociable, be confident, and lastly is to accept myself as I am.

Conflicts is everywhere, we can’t avoid it even if we do the right thing there will always be something that will oppose it and I think that is part of our life – to be challenged, and to continually stand up after the fight.

If conflict occurs on me, I always remember to believe in myself that I can overcome it – may not be today or tomorrow, just don’t lose hope. Facing a conflict is not easy, it sometimes brings me to a roller-coaster like experience when I feel like giving up, God never fail to help me and I always find ways to get back-up.

Hitting a balance if conflict occurs is not an easy task too especially if there are responsibility I must do and things I have to finish. What I do if this happen is that first I pray and ask God for guidance on me that I know I will able to solve the problem sooner or later. And then, ask an advice or help from my family and friends what I can do to survive the challenge. Lastly, how I able to handle and solve the problem is now on me, I may experience negative vibes around but I know to myself that it can never stop me to hit my target and so that gives me strength to keep going and keep doing things to overcome those challenges and conflict in my life. In the end, I will be the one who will benefit it – not the material things I will have, but the sense of self and personality development is what I gain.

What I learned from those problems and experiences is that, “Never, ever stop trying.” Not trying or stopping yourself from doing a trial only means you’re giving up – and that won’t contribute to the development of your personality, it might only drag you down.

Thoughts

My Duties and Obligations as a citizen of my country

Posted on October 26, 2020October 26, 2020 by Risa Garucho

To be a citizen of our country does not mean you’re free to roam around without doing anything to contribute for the sustainable development of the country. Being a citizen of a country requires a big responsibility to stand with our roles in the society and do our duties and obligations.

I am a student, and I am living in a country where I was born; therefore, I am a citizen of my country.

As a citizen of my country which is the Philippines, it is my duties and obligations to:

Can an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Qualify for a Tourist Visa to the USA? | Law Office of Jennifer Fabian-Verzosa — Photo Credit: Jennifer Fabian-Verzosa, Esq. on law-jf.com

Be a responsible student by studying well, graduate in my chosen career and get a good job – in that way I can able to pay back to the support the country have given to me while I was still studying.

Be aware of the community issues, whether it is environmental or societal issues it is important that I know what is happening in my country and think of what I can do to help.

Serve my fellowmen, though I am still a student I can do small things to help the country, for example, an act of kindness makes a difference like cleaning the environment, planting trees, teaching my nieces and nephews’ literacy and numeracy and others.

Make use of the rights that the country has given to me. For instance, my right to vote right people in the political position.

Promote, preserve and value our own unique culture because our culture also serves as an identity of whom we are and where we came from, so we should be proud of it. Our culture, whether it is tangible or intangible reminisce the past of our country’s history, it is the key of who we are right now because culture is a way of life.

Respect each and every one.

Support our own local product and our fellow countrymen. It does not only shows how supportive and proud I am, but it also helps to improve the country’s economic status and local product popularity.

By listing down all this duties and obligations, I take these responsibilities as a citizen of my country because there’s nothing much more than serving our own motherland.

Family Roles - The Philippines — Photo Credit: Soc2273.weebly.com

How about you? What is your duties and responsibilities on your country?

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A JOURNAL: THE BENEFITS OF NSTP-LTS TO ME AS A STUDENT

Posted on October 26, 2020October 26, 2020 by Risa Garucho

NSTP-LTS benefited me in many ways and I will list it down in the later part but before that, I want to define first what NSTP-LTS is from what I have learned in module 1.

What is NSTP-LTS?

The National Service Training Program or NSTP is a program established to promote patriotism among the Filipino Youth. This program aimed at enhancing the civic consciousness and preparedness program to the youth by developing the ethics of service and patriotism while undergoing training in any of its three program components. The Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), and the Literacy Training Service (LTS).

As a pre-service teacher, I am taking the Literacy Training Service program or LTS. LTS is one of the program components of NSTP that focuses on training students with skills and potentials in teaching literacy and numeracy. It aims to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and values of the future educators to be used not only in the field of teaching, but also in volunteering to teach literacy and numeracy to young ones, out-of-school-youth and indigenous children.

The benefit of NSTP-LTS to me as a student is that it gives me knowledge not only about the course subject matter, but also more things about volunteerism and serving the country. Aside from that, I can feel that this program will truly help in enhancing my skills and developing my potentials as an aspiring teacher. The program was established to train the youth for defense and preparedness to serve the country in times of disaster or calamity, but the one who will benefit the most in this program are the student and youth like me who will be receiving the training to become one of those the country will need. I am grateful to the things I have learned and will be learning in this program.

Furthermore, I list the other benefits of NSTP-LTS to me as a student and these are the following:

Become knowledgeable about the purpose of NSTP-LTS to the Filipino youth
NSTP-LTS will help enhance my skills in basic leadership. Since most students taking NSTP-LTS are future educators we are trained to enhance our basic leadership so as to prepare for the future because I am not only going to teach inside the classroom but also to help, volunteer and lead in the country in times of need.
Develop my skills and potentials to teach literacy and numeracy among the other youth, especially to the Badjao children of Puerto Princesa.
Unlock new sets of skills and abilities in teaching
Experience real-time teaching to the Filipino Youth by the next semester
Explore the duty of serving and volunteering for the country

And many more…

I can’t count on how NSTP-LTS benefit me as a student, but as for now I am really grateful to be a Filipino Youth.

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ED3 Experience: Where did my journey take me?

Posted on March 23, 2019October 3, 2020 by Risa Garucho

Studying is never been easy for most of my subjects, aside from learning you have to accomplish everything in order to passed the course. But, this course taught me that every activities does not mean you have to stress-out yourself to finish it (well, honestly we are a little bit stress), yet I see this activities adds up to the fun we experience throughout the semester.

What are your challenges in this course?

Well, we have been in to seminar-workshop before but I never imagine myself being one of the organizers of the seminar-workshop we conducted. The challenge is that in organizing this kind of event, we need to be more patient and careful and also as a group we should work as one in order to achieve things great and in place. Another is the lesson plan making where I don’t have any tiny bit of idea how am I suppose to do that, so when I finally meet the lesson plan outline I really ask myself, “What is that?” like it is so new to me, the fact that I am gonna be teacher someday.

How did you overcome those challenges?

One tip to survive all this things and to overcome this challenges pretty well is that you have to enjoy every bits of moment doing it. Things are easier when you are having fun, you won’t notice you’re done because you are having a good time. Just like when we are doing our seminar-workshop program. Preparations of before is nothing after we taste the success of our first seminar-workshop. And I’m happy because every one of us is happy. I learned that to overcome those challenges is always think positive and enjoy the challenges, not having fun has nothing to do with what are you doing yet it only make things worst.

Experiencing and achieving these things would not be made possible if it is not because of our Professor who facilitate, guide us and gives us the reason to enjoy every activities she prepared for us. She makes us realized that enjoying in what you are doing is the key to achieve what you wanted to reach.

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MEDIA and ME

Posted on March 23, 2019 by Risa Garucho

Photo by Mikes Photos on Pexels.com

Photo by Flo Dahm on Pexels.com

Media is as popular as it made people, events, and all other entities itself. It rings anywhere and make trends itself and make impacts to the humanity bigger than it seemed, in fact it is a giant that is composed of different patterns and mechanics that made it less likely as one. It could be in paper form, in a TV screen, in a billboard, or a man speaking inside a radio machine.

three person holding smartphones — Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

All of them formed as one and is made to be one, directed to affect our lives, from infants ‘till no more. But not just that, humans will be far more selfish to think that they are the only one who is, plants and animals too.

accounting apps bookkeeper business — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

As a millennial myself, I can always tell every day of my existence that I am a media driven, a user, a victim, a host, and a parasite as well. Ironically, I can be both of these at the same time. I could be a victim from using so much devices that it cost me my health while I’m ruining someone else’s image in the media highway. Pretty cool isn’t it? That is how monstrous it could be, this media. Not all that, we made devices in order to operate therefore we hoard resources, some replaceable, some not. We made loud noises around the world, making noise pollution, killing and implicitly invading habitats of other living creatures. Such beauty it creates to our society, however, I am using media as I write this down, would that make it a less cruel and destructive?

man and woman in front of laptop computer — Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

I tend to understand day by day that humans are lost creatures, succumb to its power to think, thus, creates, build and build till it satisfy its ego, the thing is they can never be satisfied. Media were created for this purpose and it affects us, more than we can ever think. Lately, here in the Philippines we heard rumors of children dying because of an app, with the character Momo, it seeps to our lives subtly and we all are victims and yet predators. We must understand, as a cliché goes “anything that is too much is bad”, we lessen our media use, we conserve our time, we can give more love to people who are in a measure of a distance is closer to us and not inside of our screens. We less our using hours we add to our living days, and we saved someone else’s face out of humiliation. We use wisely so we can live meaningfully.