Saturday, May 03, 2008
Leading Outside the University
I just came home from a pastoral planning in our parish. It was the planning session of the various units of the parish. Our parish priest knew about my involvement in various socio-political issues, so he put me in the Commission on Human Promotion. Basically, it's the one that handle's the provision of basic services like health and education (since there are numerous indigents in our big parish). Our commission was also in charge of promoting human rights in the community. That means that we would also be working with the various informal settlers within the community.
Monsi (as we would call our parish priest) wants me to head the advocacy team. Basically, its task is to know the various issues being faced by the community and those within it. This can include unfavorable city ordinances and other needs of the community. Therefore, one of the regular activities of that team is to conduct monthly consultation with the various areas of the community.
I like the task that was given to me but I told our parish priest that they cannot expect me to function full-time because of my responsibilities in the Ateneo student council and because of my distance from our parish (during school days, I live in a dormitory outside Ateneo). His response to me was striking. He told me that he wanted me to be part of the commission, not only because of what I can do but also because of what I can learn. Truly, our planning session today gave me a taste of the challenges that people face outside the university.
I learned that people, especially the old ones, are not so easy to work with. If we think that dealing with our fellow students (issues of apathy, etc.) is difficult, dealing with people outside the university setting is a hundred times more difficult! I remember an instance when our commission chairman and a member were quarreling over something that was yet to be discussed. It's really difficult to be a leader in a setting where we don't share common experiences just like in a university or school setting. Leading in the "real world" is very difficult, but at the same time, I feel a strong calling for it. I was mulling over whether I will devote one year (after graduating) to helping organize our community here.
On another note, while we were planning, I felt like all the concepts I learned about project management (i.e. logframes, project proposals, Gantt charts) were not as easy to do as in a classroom or even in an NGO setting.
I had this funny encounter yesterday when me and my officemates in AIM-Mirant went out for our special lunch. While we were waiting for Boyet's [Dy] (one of my center-mates) cotton candy, a girl asked me, "Ikaw po ba ang nanalo?" Apparently she's Atenean and she was asking whether I won the elections or not. I said yes and even pointed to Boyet and said, "Siya naging Sanggu president din dati."
@ 
the youth have always been so dynamic. don't lose your dreams. don't lose your fire. make a difference. make a good difference. the best of luck to you.
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