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I read about world travel, religion, social sciences, and also learned a little bit about Microsoft Word in the computer. This opened my eyes to the vast availability of knowledge in the world and I prided myself in my discovery of how limited (and limiting) college curriculum were. I felt that I made the right choice dropping out of college rather than going through what was called a holistic education and enrolling in subjects that I felt were irrelevant to the career I tried to pursue. It seemed to me that there was this “missing link” between the courses offered in College and the career niches available in the Philippines. I moved on to work for a non-government organization, which provided me the opportunity to develop skills in process documentation, facilitation, field research, grant proposal writing, project planning, community organizing, livelihood training, and Inter-Personal Relationship. It was the best “school” I’ve ever been into and provided the best education I ever had – but without the diploma. The school was free from the boring four-walled classrooms, free from routine class schedules and free from the instructor’s pen – I do not get marks from either passing or failing my tests. Education was free as well, with free board and lodging, free transportation and free tuition, plus stipend. I applied to be a participant to an International Visitor Exchange Program in 2000 and received two placements as a staff assistant in two US non-government organization based in Washington D.C. I studied and received practical training; attended “classes” weekdays to learn about International Affairs, US Policies towards Asia, Advocacy, Peace, Human Rights, Democracy, Alternative Security, Economic Justice, lay-out editing of newsletters, desktop publishing, fax broadcasting and IPR 02 (Inter-Personal Relationships with Non-Filipinos). Similar to my previous “school”, my “marks” were not dependent on any instructor and the education was also free, though I did report to a “classroom” and had a regular “class schedule”. I completed my two “semesters” in July 2002 but without any "transcript of records" for this non-formal education. Thus, upon my return to the Philippines I was faced with the same problem that the other capable but diploma-less individuals in our country are facing – unemployment. I realized that if I wanted to be re-integrated into mainstream Philippine society, I had to compromise – go back to university, complete a degree and secure a diploma. Or, maybe not... INVOLVEMENTS: International Participant, International Visitor Exchange Program, USA, August 2001 - July 2002 Member, Program/Policy Committee, Filipino/American Coalition for Environmental Solutions (FACES), USA, December 2001 - July 2002 Member, Southeast Asia Working Group, Institute for Conflict Analysis & Resolution, George Mason University, USA, December 2001 - July 2002 Member, Indonesia Working Group, USINDO, August 2001 - March 2002 Member, Laos Working Group, FCNL, August 2001 - July 2002 Member, East Timor Working Group, IPS, August 2001 - March 2002 Contributor, www.poetry.com Contributor, Mennonite Central Committee Newsletter, USA, April-May & June-July 2002 Contributor, The Thirdway Cafe, USA, March & May 2002 Contributor, "The Advocate", Asia Pacific Center for Justice and Peace, USA, November 2001 Contributor, www.pcusa.com, Presbyterian Church, USA, November 2001 News Compilation & Production, U.S. NGO Forum on Sri Lanka, USA, August 2001 - January 2002 Compilation & Layout Editing, "The Advocate", Asia Pacific Center for Justice and Peace (APCJP), USA, Fall 2001 Urgent Appeal Letters and Call to Action on Human Rights Violations, APCJP, USA, October-December 2001 News Compilation & Production, Philippine News Survey, USA, July & August 2001 Conflict Mapping, Southeast Asia Working Group - Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, USA, December 2001 - March 2002 Congressional Visits, "US-Laos Cooperation", Friends Committee on National Legislation, June-July 2002 Small Group Facilitator, IVEP Year-end Conference, USA, July 2002 Presentor, Philippine Situationer, Spring Seminar, MCC, USA, April 2002 Presentor, Philippine Culture, Menno Simons Christian School, Canada, February 2002 Guest Speaker, IVEP Mid-year Conference, Foothills Mennonite Church, Canada, February 2002 Small Group Facilitator, IVEP Mid-year Conference, Canada, February 2002 Volunteer, Soup Kitchen, Servant Leadership School, June 2002 Volunteer, Farmers Market Clean-up, Colombia Heights Metro, WA, DC, USA, April 2001 Participant, "Art as a Contemplative Practice", Servant Leadership School, USA, Fall Semester 2001 Participant, "An Introduction to Square Word Calligraphy by Xu Bing", Smithsonian Institute, USA, April 2002 Cover Designer, 2001-2002 IVEP Yearbook, USA, May 2002 Cartoonist, "Temporary Assistance for Needy Families", MCC, USA, April 2002 Performer, International Festival, Foothills Mennonite Church, Canada, February 2002 Chairman, Music Committee, MCC-IVEP Orientation Conference, USA, August 2001 Participant, 5K Run, Arthritis Foundation, USA, December 2001 Feautured in "www.mcc.org/vep/ivepstories.html", May 2002 Featured in The Mennonite Weekly, USA, May 2002 Cited in MCC April 2001 - March 2002 Annual Report Booklet under its Peace Program, USA Quoted in Intercom, USA, July-August 2002 Issue Recognition, Honorable Mention, Summer Iliad Literary Awards, Iliad Press, USA, Summer 2001 Recognition, President's Award for Literary Excellence 2002, National Author's Registry, USA Member, TakingITGlobal Local: Volunteer, Medical Mission, Local Government Unit, August 2003, Lugait, Misamis Oriental. Volunteer Translator (Bisaya-English/English-Bisaya), Youth with A Mission, August 2003, Agusan Nationalized Highschool, Cagayan de Oro City. Volunteer, Feeding Program 2003, Bonbon United Church of Christ in the Philippines, October 2003, Cagayan de Oro City Volunteer, Medical Mission, St. Benild's, November 2003, Iponan, Misamis Oriental. Volunteer, Medical Mission, Federation of Family Welfare, December 2003, Cagayan de Oro City. Producer and Editor, "Lunao" Newsletter, January 2005, TEAR Fund - New Zealand Blood Donor, The Philippine National Red Cross at the German Doctors for Developing Countries Community Health Care Center Blood-letting, January 2005, Cagayan de Oro City Producer and Editor, "Medical Probe: A Documentary on the Community Health Care Center of the German Doctors for Developing Countries", March 2005, Cagayan de Oro City Producer, Photographer and Editor, "Lunao" Magazine, January 2006, TEAR Fund - New Zealand Author, "Fireflies", "Haiku Bios" and "Begeondan Realis", Literary Folio, Capitol University, April 2006, Cagayan de Oro City. Volunteer, Medical Missions, Hagdan sa Pag-uswag Foundation, Inc., TEAR Fund - NZ, Women's Forum 10 & ER Staff of COMC; February 2004 - Gingoog May 2004 - Iligan October 2004 - Gingoog April 2005 - Iligan February 2006 - Iligan October 2006 - Gingoog Participant, "Pink October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month", Philippine College of Surgeons and Philippine Society of General Surgeons, October 2006, Cagayan de Oro City Volunteer, Medical Mission, Philippine-American Medical Mission Foundation of Michigan and Capitol University, January 2008, Cagayan de Oro City Volunteer, Universal Medical Dental Check-up, Department of Education - Misamis Oriental, June – July 2008, Jasaan District Participant, “Avon Walk Against Breast Cancer 2008”, Avon, Inc., October 2008, Cagayan de Oro City Participant, “Avon Walk Around the World Against Breast Cancer 2009”, Avon, Inc., October 2009 Cagayan de Oro City Nurse Volunteer, Medical and Relief Mission for Flood Victims, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, January 2009, Opol, Misamis Oriental Nurse Volunteer, Ateneo de Cagayan Batch ’71 and Usec. Jess Paras, October – November 2009, Municipalities of Bukidnon. Nurse Volunteer, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, November 2009, Igpit, Opol, Misamis Oriental Nurse Volunteer, Universal Medical Dental Check-up, Department of Education - Misamis Oriental, August 2010, Jasaan District
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