Career-Talk: Success
and Why?
by Yna
Valenzuela-Torres
What makes a
success a success? This is one of
the elementary questions defined and
discussed during the talk. As in
life, success is a complex issue
with a simple solution – in the end
it boils down to attitude and a
correct understanding of happiness.
The appreciation of that which are
true and lasting. Applying the same
measure and principle the recently
concluded USTHS Career Orientation
turned out to be a resounding
success. Even if I say so myself (am
I tooting my horn here?)? No!
Because I was there and I saw it. It
presented itself before
my disbelieving eyes.
Was it a success
because the speakers were good and
articulate?
Long before their
eloquence was manifest I never
doubted the capabilities of our
batch volunteers not only to deliver
a speech but from where they are
coming from. Allow me to write about
this at length. This is a tribute to
the band of men and women who
answered the call for volunteers
when the working was plenty and the
planning was rough. Who took time
off from their busy schedules,
eagerly yet humbly prepared to share
their trove of experience to these
young boys and girls, wishing only
to enlighten them, endured my kulit
texts and emails, answered them ever
so politely, and merrily went along.
I thank Leo for
entrusting to me this project. It
reacquainted me with Rocky Cabanes,
the elusive Rene Molano(presidente
ako ng fans club nya), Chong Hans
Lopez, dear Margie Agapinan-Alfonso
(suki!!), the more elusive Tato
Martinez, dynamite Joel Navarro and
of course I need no reacquainting
with Teng and Leo. I get to work for
the first time with affable Rey
Matias, and met a fine gentleman in
Buddy Tan. I get to have a Heckle
and Jeckle or a version of those two
decrepit dudes who quarterback in
The Muppet Show as my egroup
consultants. Who I will hide behind
the alias, Will Fly. Zipped yun, ha.
I received mails of support from
batch mates from different points of
the globe; Rita Hans-Maclang, Titoy,
Andrea (miss you!), Lyn, Onald, and
Nonoy (from different points of the
Philipppines). Working with friends
surprisingly turned out to be one
delightful experience. I guess they
left their egos in their workplaces,
or, they never had one. Shucks!!
Nerds! Of course we miss Vita, her
story would have inspired. I thank
those who previously volunteered
their services for those two
postponed Career-Talk dates: Gina
Navarette, Benjie Mallari and Wendel
Mediarito..and Teng, who came just
the same to give us moral support.
Going to the next
question: Was it a success because
it was well organized? No false
modesty, it was a bit of a challenge
to plan a program involving
hard-nosed professionals with packed
schedules, a newly installed high
school Principal, and two
twenty-something guidance counselors
who keeps appending "po" to their
every sentence making me. Kidding aside, Ms. Leny and Ms. Olive are no less
professional and dedicated as they
are sweet. The theme was chosen by
the school and we three ladies
decided on the program content and
format, or so I thought. I did a
little writing here and there, a lot
of texting, updating and hounding.
There was a point Margie was
tweaking me na, "O, Yna, kulang na
lang dry run." In the end, after all
the elaborate planning and
brainstorming, Murphy’s Law has to
reign. Everything seem pat down in
place, even parking for speakers
were reserved, then the two hour
wait - before we were able to start
"rockin." It was, I was informed,
because of this unforeseen,
never-heard-of technical difficulty?
Oh, but that was soon forgotten when
our esteemed batch mates started to
rattle their wares. It was mostly
heart-speak laced with cautionary
tales and replete with wisdom and
experience.
The effervescent
Rene presented the Big Picture and
the BIG entertainment. The gallery
was roaring with laughter. Forget
about time! Dra. Margie was in her
best form, so motherly even in her
function as a doctor-lecturer. Her
mother was present that morning to
proudly watch her baby all grown and
wise. Dr. Rey Matias with that Rey
smile on his face gently lectured on
a very grisly topic (Physical
Therapy) complete with pictures of
broken bones and severed limbs. The
tribute of Jojo Sayson I read after
the end of his lecture got a lively
reaction from the audience. Then
came an impromptu intermission
number from our very own Happy Dos
Santos, looking gorgeous as usual,
and who else, but the star for all
seasons – Rene! They sang this
tagalog song- a love song. Crowd
lapped it up.
One more speaker
before lunch break and that was
Rocky Cabanes. Rocky’s story of his
rocky path from frat guy in high
school who almost got kicked out to
a well rounded, well traveled
executive is worth emulating. A poem
of his he wrote (which I read) when
he was in high school elicited a
collective sigh from the young
female audience. After lunch a
speaker not from our batch talked on
Actuarial Science. Hans Lopez was
next, he who is considered the court
jester of the batch turned out to be
a very cool, serious lecturer. Now,
talk about split personality. The
teacher who introduced him took ten
minutes to read his Curriculum
Vitae. Tato Martinez talked on
Architecture and clearly
differentiated common misimpressions
people have of architects and
engineers. Of course he was handsome
as he was lucid. He significantly
pointed out that the most important
career talk he ever conducted was
when he advised his child as to what
course to take. Joel Navarro’s high
school photo (Veirtas photos of the
speakers are flashed on a huge
screen as the speakers mount the
stage) drew a sigh from the
audience, male and female. Like his
field of expertise, which is,
business management and insurance,
he provided much of the cautionary
tales. For our final speaker we had
Leo. The other speakers had members
of the faculty to introduce them, I
was given the task to intro Leo and
boy was he toast! If Joel’s photo
drew a sigh, Leo’s was not to be
outdone. As I thought, Leo would be
ideal to speak last as he would
deliver a strong finishing kick.
That, he did – running an extra lap
after crossing the finish line! He
held the crowd in his hands.
It was a good
show, ladies and gentlemen. It was
more than a program. It was a show
of professionalism, competence and
service. It was a show of success
and humility, of characters forged
not through the fiery stove of
youthful fervor and ambition but
through the slow furnace of
hard-work, patience and careful
deliberation.
It was a success
because the students held on to
their seats despite the two hour
overtime. To behold their bright
gazes, ablaze with hope and
encouragement from the life examples
of our speakers. It was a success
because they wanted more and
jauntily marched into their
designated (break-out)rooms. Buddy
Tan, joined us in the break-out
session. Articulate in language as
he is in urban planning and
transport and traffic design. Jo
Medina-Manalad joined Leo in the IT
room. Every college was assigned a
room and this for me was the best
part of the day. We all lectured and
answered inquiries pertaining to
subjects close to our hearts. I took
charge of those who wanted to take
up liberal arts, Philosophy and
Journalism. The high you get is
incomparable when you talk to
kindred minds. At the end of the
sessions, more than half enlisted in
the Career Buddy Program, final
tally not yet out but growing. We
have just begun, we can do so much
more. We do not ask much, just a
little of your spare time and it
will redound to much good. There is
a multiplier effect in sincerity and
downright service. We believe in the
principle of "won by one." Capture
one soul, change for the better and
we set off a quiet revolution that
will not be limited to one person
but to a new generation.
To Rene, Margie,
Rey M, Rocky, Hans, Tato, Joel, Leo,
Buddy, Teng, Chito and Jojo (ayan,
lumabas din), it was a great
pleasure to work with you people. I
look forward to working with you
again. Cliché, cliché, but true.