Regis Cebu Leadership, Leader Ivy Eleanor U Ko Reflection Paper #1 -Defining Moments (Revised)

Dear Prof,

Sending a revised copy of my Reflection paper #1

Thank you for the the guidance and opportunity to rewrite it.

best regards,

Ivy

Regis Cebu Leadership, Leader Ivy Eleanor U Ko

Reflection Paper #1 -Defining Moments (Revised)

My goal in life is to find happiness and excel in all the things I do. Having studied at a Catholic school all my life, I grew up think that if I do good and follow God's and our parent's commandments, I will receive what I want for to happen. But as I grew up, and had responsibilities, doing good and praying is not enough. It takes skills, planning, leading, organizing, controlling, and ultimately strategizing so that I will achieve what I want to happen. In short, life gets tough as you mature, but things are within your reach is you work hard for it. 

Growing Up

As a child, life was quite easy. Papa was a car parts agent and Mama was a housewife and our tutor. Since papa travels almost every week, it was really mama who guided us while growing up. Mama was really strict with us in terms of our studies, and she is happiest when we get honors at the end of every school year. We are a typical Chinese family, Pa and Ma ensures we are well provided for, but we don't talk about feelings and emotions. I would say we grew up in a middle class family. Pa's earnings were enough  to raise a family of 6, support my paternal grandmother (we call her Ama), send us to a good school, eat out during special events, go on trips once in a while. My mom was thrifty and we grew up knowing every cent matters. 

Summer vacations means trips to visit my mom's parents who were based in Manila. When I turned 7, I had the first real responsibility to be left home and stay with Ama so she would not be alone for two months. Since I am the second amongst four sisters, and the closest to Ama, I volunteered to stay with her. One afternoon, while we were in the temple, she had a slipped through the kneelers and fell. Good thing she only suffered minor bruises and did not affect her so much. That incident really made an impact on me and I took upon the responsibility to look after her and accompany her when there is no school.  My Uncle and Aunts called me as Ama's purse as she never leaves home without me. Ama loves to have tea with four of her closest friends, go malling, to the temple, the beauty parlor and most of all Cook! From active, robust, and independent woman, she aged and gradually grew frail. For me, Ama was a superwoman because she can do everything. When she became weak, there were a lot more of falling incidents, bouts of various illness like pneumonia and UTI, making her in and out of hospitals. Thank God she was generally healthy as it was really due to old age that caused her passing. I was already in 2nd year college when she died,   I can say who I am today is a huge part due to her.  

During one of my trips with Ama to visit my aunt (her daughter) in Iligan, at the age of 8, I had my first summer job - a tindera in a General Merchandise store her family owns. Since I enjoyed Iligan experience so much, I became a tindera for 3 summers. When I was 10, it was back to Manila for me, an being used to having a summer job, I helped my uncle in managing his hardware store in the next 3 summers.  My great uncle who owns an electronics store is expanding his business needs assistance on someone they can trust when I was 15. As he is like Papa's second father, he volunteered us to help Uncle. Of course, goodbye to summer vacation again. It was not only during summer breaks that I helped out great uncle, but also semestral breaks and Christmas breaks. This lasted for about 5 years. 

The first difficult event in my life was when Papa suffered stroke in 1999 needs to have a triple vein bypass. Seeing him in the hospital with all the wires the CCU was really scary. The thought of losing him was something I could not imagine. Another concern was the financial budget we need to survive the ordeal. With the four of us are still studying, and it was very heavy for the family to fund the operation. Good thing we got some assistance from family and friends. I could remember the family's worried condition back then, but we had to stay really strong to survive this difficulty. Praise God that my hard headed Papa listened to our prayers and agreed to take things slower, had a change of lifestyle and diet so he can enjoy life and reach senior citizenship. Now, he enjoys a healthy lifestyle and exercises everyday. 

Regis Cebu Leadership: Leader Izumi Yamashita, Reflection Paper #1 - Defining Moments REVISED

Regis Cebu Leadership

Leader Izumi G. Yamashita

Defining Moments - Revised

"She's taking up her Masters Degree at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business Regis Program, she's 26 years old and she's graduating by August of 2016, hopefully with Gold honors. She's an investment banker in the country's number one investment bank and she pioneered their company's Cebu office at a very young age of 23!" This is what my peers say about me now.

"She's a good, responsible, intelligent, and kind daughter. She provides her family with everything they never had in life. They are very lucky to have her." And this is what my then non-believing relatives say about me now.

Only all good words for me now from everyone within my circle, but this never used to be the case.

As far as my first memory as a child can go, I've known myself to always have been a very sociable person. I've always been fond of approaching people, introducing myself, and making new friends.

Cebu Regis Leadership Reflection Paper 1 - Defining Moments by Leader Lito Andre Ladan (rev 3)

Dear Prof jorge,

submitted prof is my 3rd revision of my defining moments. i hope its good enough

Andre Ladan

Regis Cebu Leadership

Leader Andre Ladan

Defining moments

What is the learning

My defining moments are points in my life where I made important decisions regarding where I am going. Those critical events changed me to what I am today. My defining moments are not emotionally charged like what others may have written or shared, probably it's because of the nature of what I do that I've learned to look at the bigger picture. I strive to get over myself under most circumstances, it could be a reason why my defining moments are what it is.

I was raised in the suburbs in a middle class household. We weren't rich but we're happy with what we had. My parents were meticulous in our education, all of us coming from science high schools and going to UP for college. My high school life was as exciting as most people, learning to cut classes at 13, drinking at 14, smoking at 15 and girls at 16. I have the same group of friends upon entering college and we were full of optimism and an unquenchable sense of adventure. College life was not difficult at all, academically it wasn't much of an adjustment. My science high school education gave me an advantage in school work. I may not get high grades but I need not study as hard as other people. What I was not prepared for was the culture of UP, the school offers too much freedom. We were even allowed to smoke in class. The smell of "herbs with spices" permeates the concert grounds and nobody gets into trouble. I spend half of my day in billiard halls and half of my nights drunk.

My consistent college lifestyle eventually got me into trouble academically and my parents were already panicking as they fear that I am self-destructing. I took the PMA exam because I needed a safety net in case I got kicked out. Eventually my parents prodding and my lackluster academics forced me into going to PMA.

Regis Cebu Leadership | Leader Melissa Abarrientos | Reflection paper 1 – Defining Moments

Regis Cebu Leadership

Leader Melissa Abarrientos

Reflection paper 1 – Definign Moments

  

That was June of 2006 when I decided to move out from our house. I quit law school and courageously traveled to a place where everyone was a stranger. I never knew this decision would become my defining moment.

I only had Php 5000.00 in my pocket for my fare to Cebu, room rental, transportation while I'm still looking for a job, and food. Luckily, I found a job after a week of stay but I didn't receive my first salary until after a month and a half; and because my budget was too tight I only had to set aside Php 10.00 a day at most for my food. There were several occasions I could really feel my stomach begging for food but I cannot go beyond my budget. Fare was my most important commodity. I need to work and I need to get to my office for the succeeding weeks. Fortunately, our office offers unlimited free coffee that often saved me from my pangs of hunger.

I never told my mother of my money-less situation. I lied that I received a training allowance. I did not want her to worry. I did not want her to send me money because I fear she will just loan it from someone. I left and quit my dream of becoming a lawyer because I knew she could no longer sustain it.   Despite the situation, she never complained about it.

Cebu Regis Leadership Reflection Paper 1 Defining Moments (rev.) by Leader Andre Ladan

Dear Prof Jorge,

       SUbmitted is my 2nd revision for my defining moments following the three points that require answering as based on your email to me the last time. Thanks again Prof for the tip.

Andre Ladan

Regis Cebu Leadership

Leader Andre Ladan

Defining moments

My defining moments are points in my life where I made important decisions regarding where I am going. Those critical events changed me to what I am today. My defining moments are not emotionally charged like what others may have written or shared, probably it's because of the nature of what I do that I've learned to look at the bigger picture. I strive to get over myself under most circumstances, it could be a reason why my defining moments are what it is.

I was raised in the suburbs in a middle class household. We weren't rich but we're happy with what we had. My parents were meticulous in our education, all of us coming from science high schools and going to UP for college. My high school life was as exciting as most people, learning to cut classes at 13, drinking at 14, smoking at 15 and girls at 16. I have the same group of friends upon entering college and we were full of optimism and an unquenchable sense of adventure. College life was not difficult at all, academically it wasn't much of an adjustment. My science high school education gave me an advantage in school work. I may not get high grades but I need not study as hard as other people. What I was not prepared for was the culture of UP, the school offers too much freedom. We were even allowed to smoke in class. The smell of "herbs with spices" permeates the concert grounds and nobody gets into trouble. I spend half of my day in billiard halls and half of my nights drunk.

My consistent college lifestyle eventually got me into trouble academically and my parents were already panicking as they fear that I am self-destructing. I took the PMA exam because I needed a safety net in case I got kicked out. Eventually my parents prodding and my lackluster academics forced me into going to PMA.

I entered the academy at age 17, though it was a rigid life it was really the first time that I felt free. I was in charge of my own fate. Training was hard, my physical, emotional and mental faculties were tested to their limits. I longed for the company of friends, deep in the night I would hear the cries of other seventeen year olds longing for home but I never heard mine because I knew that I belonged.

Even as a cadet I still was the same carefree person, I still smoke, hide in some obscure places to drink with others who were just like me. My luck eventually ran out, after my second year I was suspended because of academics. Academic suspension in PMA is a normal occurrence, at the end of academic year more than a quarter of cadets are made to join the next class to repeat the subjects they've failed. There were five of us who banded together and never went back to our homes, we spent our suspension living on our own.    

My suspension turned out to be a good thing as I get a taste my first defining moment. Living far from family and the safety net it offers taught me a lot. At 19 years old and as a kid coming from the suburbs I was forced to work to be able to eat. I learned how it feels everytime the landlady asks for the rent. From that moment on, I knew the harsh realities of life. I knew that if I wanted to survive I need to have a job and finishing PMA was the closest thing to that goal.

I returned to PMA with a better sense of what I wanted to be, though still care free and fun loving I made sure that my grades will not suffer. I eventually graduated in 1999.

My first deployment was in a ship in Cavite. She was a cargo ship more than a hundred yards in length with a supposed crew of around a hundred people. I was designated as the ship's supply officer. Graduating from PMA, the burden of getting a job was already far removed from my shoulders. I was back to my gallivanting ways, treating my job as a necessary distraction. I delegated most of my task and never even bothering to check the veracity of my men's work. That over dependence got me into trouble. One day a message for an emergency rescue mission came, we were supposed to deploy. As the ship's supply officer it was my responsibility that we have the necessary fuel, water and provisions to perform the mission. Because of my overdependence, those requirements weren't met because the guy I depended on for that got sick. The mission was eventually given to a different ship albeit on a later time. That delay may have claimed lives of several people. That became the second defining moment of my life, my incompetence may have been responsible for people losing their lives. From that moment on I tried to learn everything that concerns my responsibility, there was no task small enough not to learn. It was that moment that taught me the value of knowing and mastering the job.

After my deployment in Cavite, I was reassigned to Mindanao. We were conducting barrier and negation patrols in the areas of Basilan, Jolo, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga. There are times that we would venture into the southernmost islands of Sibutu and Sitangkai, other times we would be patrolling the waters near turtle islands to capture poachers. It was an adventure in itself because it was also the time when then President Estrada issued an all out war against the Abu Sayyaf. We were in combat zones for months on end, weeks spent at sea patrolling Jolo and Basilan. Those were hard times, but time well spent.

I married after my Mindanao duty and got assigned to a different ship, it was a smaller one designed to patrol coastal waters. After that ship billet I transferred to a different military unit specializing in military communications. The Oakwood mutiny of 2003 was the precursor to my assignment to PSG. During that time one of their communications officers got involved with the Magdalo group necessitating an immediate replacement. I eventually got transferred, and in a few years I was one of the operations officers responsible for planning advance security preparations for the President both local and abroad. Most of the time I was on the road, having very little time for my family. My professional life was on the rise but my family life was taking its toll. My children were inviting me to their own birthday parties, going back to the office on Sunday mornings were normal occurrences. The schedule we're living in was so hectic and the pressure to ensure the safety of the President was at its highest (Pres GMA was not the most popular president). In 2009 my body gave in, I was hospitalized for a few days. As I spent time recovering, I saw my wife sleeping beside my hospital bed. It was four in the afternoon, she was probably awake all night looking after me. No one from PSG paid a visit (though I never informed anyone about it except my immediate boss), as it is with every soldier we were a statistic. It was my family that took care of me during those times. It was my third defining moment, from that moment on I promised myself that I would devote more time to my family. That I would take care of them and cherish their company. As soon as I got back to the office, I arranged for a transfer to Camp Aguinaldo and asked that I be given a desk job.

From 2009 to 2012 I dutifully performed my desk job in Camp Aguinaldo. I had the opportunity to go home after work everyday. I was able to attend all school activities of my children and involve myself with the trivialities of our household. It was only later in 2012 that I have to take up a course in Zambales that was required for my promotion was I forced not to spend my evenings at home.

The seven habits program was one of our requirements to complete the course. In that program we were given the whole day to discern who we are and the credo we would like to have. In that moment I was able to have another defining moment. As I looked inside myself, I tried to determine who I am and what I wanted to be. In that moment and until now I really could not give a definite answer when it comes to what I need to be. But I've always known the values I uphold and what I love to do. So at the end of that day and all the days that followed I've endeavored to build GOOD bridges of friendship, make a BETTER self and bring out the BEST in people.

There are several learnings that can be taken from those moments. Oftentimes those learnings veered me in the right direction and eventually contributed to what I am today. For my first defining moment the learning was "foresight". It was knowing what was more beneficial in the long run. That youth is not an excuse for throwing the future. Learning the value of hardwork to put food in the table grounded me and taught me the value of work and anticipating what tomorrow may bring. During the first meeting we were shown the leadership triangle where the center is the authentic self. In it where the words self-awareness and reflection. That is the learning that can be taken from this basing from our lessons. The initial steps to become a great leaders requires a path towards self-discovery. It requires an awareness of ones self when faced with difficulties that brings about the best in us. It helped me develop my own character and brought out my perseverance and positive outlook. Those traits are essential in mantles of leadership for character gives the leader the ascendancy to lead and perseverance and positive outlook gives you the edge during hard times. It is at this times where the people you lead look for a source of strength,   and that strength coming from a leaders solidifies the effort of the group and carries with it the will to overcome.

As with my second moment it taught me to study my craft and take it seriously. That knowledge is a key component of any profession and that success is anchored in competence. Basing it on our discussion regarding HBR must reads on leadership, one of the seven transformations is to be an expert. I think that my second defining moment helped me to be one. Because of that incident I became very particular of my craft and tried to learn everything that involves it. I became attentive not only with the operations of what I do but also the policies governing it. My experience transformed my leadership from being an opportunist to an expert. Presently, that event is helping me make the right decisions for my organization. My technical expertise that was honed from years of experience and attended trainings help me deliver effective communications and information technology services to the AFP.

My third defining moment taught me that leadership is not just about taking care of others but also taking care of one's self. Being hospitalized taught me the importance of taking care of one's health and appreciating the family we have. Attributing it with our lectures and lessons on J Campbell's hero with a thousand faces, my third defining moment coincides with the hero surviving a great ordeal and leads to a discovery of self-knowledge. As a leader that learning is helping me in my responsibilities as a military officer. Ever since that day, I have been very vocal to my men about them taking care of their health and their families. I do not forbid them to drink or smoke as they are still the masters of their own fate but I lead by example and share them my story.

My fourth defining moment taught me the importance of direction. Leadership cannot just be about mission accomplishment and welfare of the men. There must always be a guiding principle or direction that will eventually improve the human state. In one of our sessions, HBR's must read seven transformations of leadership discusses the leadership of an alchemist. The Alchemist is someone who is capable of social transformation. In my organization that learning helped me develop an alchemist type of leadership. I am not claiming to be ab alchemist leader as I know I still have ways to go to be one. But that defining moment showed me the initial path, it has become my way of changing the perception of my men regarding their lives and hope that my personal mission of building Good relationships, making a Better self and bring out the Best in others rubs on them and help create a better society.   

Regis Cebu Leadership - Leader Maricel Ngo -Reflection Paper 1 - Defining Moments (Revised)

Regis Cebu Leadership - Leader Maricel Ngo -Reflection Paper 1 - Defining Moments(Revised)

 Defining moments

1)             My Childhood

I am the eldest among 3 siblings. My father is 10 years older than my mother whom he met in a bar where she worked as waitress. They got married after 6 months of courtship. My mother gave birth to me at the age of 18.

My father was a womanizer. He had several partners even before he married my mother. I can vividly remember the many fights my parents had. It is like a normal scene that strangers would come to our house, looking for my father whom they claimed their father as well.

My father was a good provider. He was businessman selling crabs and shrimps at Farmer's market in Cubao. He sent me to good schools so as my siblings. But my dad was violent when drunk. If he came home intoxicated, that would trigger the fight between my parents. I would hide inside a cabinet, covering my ears so as not to hear the breaking of glasses, the screams of my mom and loud sound of the appliances being thrown to the wall and floor. More often than not, I ended up urinating inside the cabinet due to nervousness. I was 6 years old then.

CEBU REGIS Leadership Reflection Paper No.1 MY DEFINING MOMENTS PL Castañeda

Hello prof! Hope everything is in order.

CEBU - REGIS Leadership 

REFLECTION PAPER # 1 - My Defining Moments 

Leader Pedro Leonard G. Castañeda

Normally, being assigned to write a reflection paper is a source of joy for me. Writing has always been one of my biggest forms of release, and over time, I have learned to be proficient in elucidating my thoughts in a relatively coherent manner. However, this one, which should have been the easiest, since it is all about myself, has become one of the hardest to start.

They say  that a person is made up of the sum of all his experiences, both good and bad, including how he acts and reacts at certain junctures in his life. Having lived for four decades, there are several times that stand out in my life's journey, some as low points and some as high points.  Some say it is not the experiences that make a man, but how a man acts at that moment in time. At the same time, however, the experience itself, combined with realizations or self-justifications that inevitably follow one's reflection of past actions, can and does shape how one thinks and acts when presented with similar circumstances.

Sometimes, it isn't a moment, but a person. Or perhaps it is a series of moments with significant persons.

Much of what I am right now is somehow related to my father, and indeed, he serves as a point of reference in many significant moments I've had in the past, but first, a little background:

I was born out of wedlock. My father was a married man, 15 years older than my mom, and an executive in a multinational oil company. Six months after I was born, I was whisked off to my maternal grandmother's family in Mindanao, where I stayed until I finished grade school. My grandparents kept me in the dark about my real family situation, only telling me that my father was often assigned overseas. I had old letters and pictures, and he sent regular financial support for me. It was only in my fifth or sixth grade when I learned that I was an illegitimate child.

I transferred to Manila in high school, having been the only child in my province to pass the two entrance exams of Philippine Science High School, and soon after arriving, I asked my mother if she could arrange for me to meet my dad. She consented, and we met over dinner in Hyatt Hotel in Roxas boulevard. I felt with mixed emotions: resentment at being practically abandoned and disowned, and excitement about meeting my dad. After dinner and small talk, my mother picked me up. I remember my dad asking to talk about my future, only to be cut off by a brief, "there's nothing to talk about, Pete" from my mom. 

Had anyone asked me, there would have been a lot to talk about, but nobody bothered to ask the opinion of a 12-year old boy. I guess that's when I started feeling resentful towards my mother, a feeling that I still have until this day. Looking back at it as I write this, I am mindful of the fact that she put her pride first over my own welfare. We had very little means: she had a part-time job and was living in a rented room. I would say that this was a "defining moment for me," because the lesson that stuck was that of pragmatism: always consider the practical component of your decision. Sometimes, it is better to swallow your pride in order for you to gain benefit. Maybe I learned the lesson in the wrong way, because in many instances, it has allowed me to see value in compromising principle for material gain. Processing it now, maybe what I should have learned is to stand on your principles - but also make sure that you deliver what you promised.

Before entering college, I made sure that I would meet my father again, and this time, asked him to support me financially, to which he consented. He had just taken an early retirement from his previous company, so he said while there wasn't much, he would still help me.

Because of his family, our relationship was pretty awkward. To get my allowance, I would call his home to arrange for us to meet, and never use my real name. Over the phone, I was "Alan," a younger friend who played chess with him. His wife knew about me, and knew it was me, but we kept that charade for the sake of my half-sisters. There was even a time in Makati when we met a family friend of theirs, and he introduced me as his nephew. I hated him for that, but because I needed his money, I just kept much of this to myself. Truth be told, I liked those few hours when I was with him: riding his car, listening to his stories about his trips abroad were interesting and exciting to me, and made me forget the drab apartment where I eventually had to go home to. I still remember that one time when he drove me all the way to UP, and some of my friends saw me get off the car. I just smiled and told them it was my dad who took me there.

This whole stretch of time was a complicated slew of experiences to me: I wasn't dumb, but my issues in life affected my studies, and my insecurities about not having a "real" family led me to seek for it through friends and a fraternity. I generally underperformed, telling myself how "deprived" I was of what I should have been entitled to.

There was one more incident in college that profoundly influenced me. Our fraternity was in a fight with another group, and I was in a dormitory with 4 other fraternity brothers when our opponents came for us. There were at least 25 of them, in 5-6 vehicles. 3 of my companions were outside the dorm, while 2 of us were inside. I panicked and hid myself in a locker while my 3 brothers engaged our opponents. They could have slipped off in the dark, but they decided to stand their ground. I eventually confessed to our team leader and was disciplined by the fraternity, which dropped me from the rolls. For a few months, I was a "barbarian," shunned by my own. This changed when we got into another fight and one of my batchmates was killed while they were having lunch. When I visited the wake, my fraternity reinstated me in front of his coffin. These two incidents "taught" me that I should never back down even in the face of insurmountable odds. True enough, the other fights I got in taught me that I could use rage (I was a very angry person back then) to silence my fears and make me deaf to the beating of my heart. The lesson here for me, at that time, was to never back down from a fight. Better a death with valor than life with cowardice. Funny how, looking back, this lesson is the exact opposite to the lesson of pragmatism that I learned earlier. Time, however, has taught me the value of prudence and circumspection, and how diplomacy is not necessarily a manifestation of cowardice.

Later on, when I had started working, I told my dad that I no longer required an allowance, but I would like to meet him every now and then. That's when we started becoming friends. Unfortunately, it would not last, because soon after that, he stopped communicating altogether. I thought he was vacationing abroad with my half-siblings, but after about 6 months of silence, I gathered the nerve to call his house. His wife answered and told me that he died last June (it was November). They published an obituary and tried to find me, but they didn't know where I was. Of course, that's half-true. While she didn't consent to meet me, she at least told me where he was buried. I went there with my girlfriend but there was no closure: only anger and bitterness. I was angry and bitter towards him for leaving me just when I was starting to feel love for him, and angry with God for taking him from me too soon.

Later on, I went back to college (I was expelled by UP after I was caught carrying a deadly weapon in a fight) and in 2003, while in Iligan, where I took up and finished a degree in Sociology, I met a childhood friend, and renewed our friendship. She became my girlfriend, and, in January 2004, she became my wife.

 In April 2004, we moved to Manila and stayed there for a while, looking for employment, to no avail. My wife was eventually forced to go back to her job in Iligan. I stayed in Manila, still looking for a job, virtually penniless save for some cash from my mom and from some well-meaning fraternity brothers. I also attended a Bible study (out of sheer curiosity) begun by some of my alumni fraternity brothers and I was quite surprised at the changes I saw in their lives.

At this time, I was also jobless and far from my wife. I was miserable and penniless, and in despair, I cried out to God. This was the beginning of my "homecoming". I started to pray again and read my Bible. I slowly, and a bit inconsistently, started going to church again, which was a surprise to many of my college friends, since I was an angry agnostic before.

I eventually got a job offer in Cebu and have been here since 2004, rising slowly through the ranks to eventually head one of our branches. Marriage, and a restored relationship with God, have slowly healed some of the anger and bitterness in my heart, and leading a family, and having children, have taught me other lessons,  reversing the two harsh "lessons" I have imbibed in the past. This was my third lesson, and one the most enduring ones: courage includes being willing to accept when you're wrong, and that we stand strongest when we are on our knees.

Having people under my care, both in my family and my workplace, has also taught me to slowly develop compassion for others, and realize that my experiences are far from unique. Other people have gone through similar or worse experiences, and some have been destroyed by them but others have triumphed, and ended up better persons. I have sought to learn from others, both from people I know and from the books I read. To this end, even my decision to take further studies are part of my desire to be deliberate in learning how to develop myself. Even my choice of graduate school shows how far the shadow of my father reaches in my soul: he was also a product of AGSB (batch '79).

There are other defining moments, other lessons, that have made much impact in my life, but to delve into them is would take up another 50 or so pages, so I will end here. What I am now has been undeniably influenced by my past triumphs and failures, but I have since then learned a fourth lesson: that our past does not ultimately define who we are. We are able to deliberately learn in the present and aim to be better in the future. We can learn from our mistakes, and we can learn to forgive others who have wronged us, as well as forgive ourselves for opportunities lost and irrevocable mistakes committed.

I wish there were more positive stories in this long narrative, the way some stories of consistent achievers would be written, but what has happened has happened. What remains unwritten, the future, is a blank slate where one can draw a masterpiece or graffiti. That, I believe, is where all we have learned so far about leadership can come into play: we can take the lessons to heart and grow to be better than what we were. Not only that, but we can, by sharing and teaching others. also enable them to learn from both our mistakes and our successes, and inspire them to reach loftier heights than what we ourselves have achieved. We do not have to be shackled to the shadows of past failures: the prison of the past is but an illusion. Push the cell door and you will see that it is unlocked.

As time continues its relentless march, taking you and I with it, I know there will be more mistakes to make and learn from, as well as triumphs to enjoy, but I have also come to realize that all our successes are ultimately meaningless apart from meaning that endures forever. Material success is elusive and fleeting: Alexander's empire is in ashes. Rome is no more. Hitler's Thousand-Year Reich is but a displeasing memory.

And what meaning and purpose endures forever? It is the one that can only come from God, and from knowing His Son Jesus Christ. He is the model of true servant leadership: of a King who washes the feet of the unworthy, and who gives Himself up in death so that others may live.

It is only when we do things for His glory, and depend on Him for strength and ability, that what we do becomes meaningful and significant. I end with this admonition:  

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16. Soli Deo Gloria!

_______________________________________________________________________________

 "Leadership is understanding people and involving them to help you do a job. That takes all of the good characteristics, like integrity, dedication of purpose, selflessness, knowledge, skill, as well as determination not to accept failure." - Admiral Arleigh A. Burke

Regis Cebu Leadership, Leader Melchor Castro Daclan Reflection, Paper #1 - Defining Moments

Regis Cebu Leadership

Leader Melchor Castro Daclan

Reflection Paper #1 – Defining Moments

Divine Direction and Accountability

Because of my life's peculiar challenging weaknesses, I learned to become humble and submissive to the Will of Heavenly Father. Then I gained some favor that will bless the lives of other people. To gain the knowledge and wisdom of the purpose of life is a great blessing.

I believe that Heavenly Father has a special purpose for each one of us and we were planted in different ways. Just like the seeds, for some reason we were planted to an unexpected circumstance, to a place where we are expected to grow and to survive to the best of our ability. Ateneo MBA Regis – Cebu is one of the places I am talking about, where we will learned a lot to be become an authentic leader that will change the world.

Authentic Leaders are Always Searching for Mentors

I learned from our Leader Professor Jorge Saguinsin that each one of us have our own leadership potentials and that we have talents and unique abilities to act as the instruments in building our organization, community, country and the church, by helping the people whom we love serve and in such a way we are changing the world by becoming the best and authentic leader..

Everyone Have a Humble Beginning

I grew up in a humble and struggling family due poverty. I am the second out of nine children. Because of our challenging circumstances, I able to understand the word survival and I became very experience in taking care of little children. Considering diapers did not exist those years and if did for sure we cannot afford to buy. Since grade two I am used to absent from school. Because each time my mother will give birth to another baby sibling, I am the one cooking our meals, cleaning the house and attending my younger siblings.

"Life is not easy, nor was it meant to be. It is a time of testing and trial." (M. Russell Ballard)[1]

As I witnessed my seven younger siblings growing up, I came to a realization that I am talented in caring and training children to be the best as they can be, by helping them discover their God's given talents.. As I reflected and pondered my experiences, those days were my early intensive training to become a well prepare, respected and ordained leader of God. That will lead hundreds of people in the Church and in the community.

Family is Always the Best Leader's Inspiration

My leadership was enhanced after I got married and became a father of my own children; I got two sons and a special child daughter. Because of her autism she cannot communicate and socialize with other children, while my wife is now conceiving for our fourth baby. Life is challenging but I love the sensation of being challenged.  

I loving believe that fatherhood is leadership, the most important kind of leadership. It has always been so; it always will be so, with the assistance and counsel and encouragement of my eternal wife in magnifying with all God's divine directions and accountabilities given by Him.

Leader should prioritize his family!

 'No other success in life can compensate for failure in the home' (David O. McKay)[2]

                                                             

Righteous Self-Control and Conduct

When I was serving as a full time missionary I learned to follow with exactness the defined high standards of moral worthiness and the physical, mental, and emotional stability missionary service now demands. The standards are rigorous, but with my strong determination and faithfulness I able to conquer my weaknesses.

As human being we are always subject to our physical senses and strong emotions that are very hard to control, but by the spirit of God I became a very success missionary by following all the standards.

As a leader we should practice self-control. Self-control is like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it gets. Avoiding something tempting once will help you develop the ability to resist other temptations in the future and will help you become a better leader.

 A principle of eternal progression is that exercising self-control and living righteously strengthen our ability to resist temptation. This is true both in the spiritual realm and in temporal matters. In developing Christ like attributes is very humbling but it is emphasizing obedience and spirituality of a true leader.

Decision Determine Destiny

Before I became a Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I had a lot of options in life, like immigrating to another country together with my whole family to enjoy higher quality life style. However, I receive a call asking me to come back to my own country and to serve. After receiving that call, I immediately packed my things and flew back to Philippines. After that, the life style of my family were never the same but I never had any regrets because I know that this is the Lord expected me to do. I will go where the Lord want me to go and serve no matter what.

Abraham, who led Isaac on that heartbreaking journey to Mount Moriah, was faithfully going where the Lord wanted him to go (see Gen. 22). So was David when he stepped out before the hosts of Israel to answer the challenge of the giant Goliath (see 1 Sam. 17).

As a leader, we know who we are and what God expects us to become. As I listen to the truth taught to us in the book of Genesis:

God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. . . .

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

And God blessed them. [Genesis 1:26–28]

We are created in the image of God. We cannot sincerely hold this conviction without experiencing a profound sense of strength and power. 

We believe that we lived before we came to earth, that mortality is a probationary period wherein we might prove ourselves obedient to God's command and thus worthy of celestial glory. 

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[1] https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1987/04/keeping-lifes-demands-in-balance?lang=eng

[2] https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-05-0907-teachings-of-david-o-mckay-the-importance-of-a-strong-family?category=david-o-mckay&lang=eng

Regis Cebu Leadership Bryan Evangelista Reflection Paper 1 Defining Moment

Regis Cebu Leadership

Leader Bryan V. Evangelista

Reflection Paper 1: Defining Moments

Leadership is hard. For the uninitiated, leadership may mean bossing
people around. To a certain degree, there is some truth in this.
There are some people who I work with that have the misconception that
authority emanates from your rank in their business card. They fail to
realize that authentic leadership happens when there is trust. People
believe and trust in you and their respect and willingness to follow
is earned.

As I gathered my thoughts on which defining moment to use for the
purpose of this reflection paper, I came up with a few moments in my
life which were life changing. Moments such as when my Mother and
Sister joined my Father in Singapore (as he was an expat back then)
and my younger brother and I were left in Manila to finish our studies
and I was left in charge of our household for 3 years until they came
back ,no big deal as we had 1 house help and a driver back then. Or as
a young adult, I left home (Paranaque, Metro Manila) for Cebu to
pursue a career and a woman and started living on my own; learning to
become self-reliant and independent. Or the day I married the Cebuana
whom I met in Dagupan or maybe the day my first child was born which
taught me many things such as unconditional love, sacrifice and
patience. In the end, I decided on a more recent defining moment as
this changed my paradigms not just in my career but in my personal
life as well.


I've been in the Insurance Industry since forever. It is my first job
right after graduating and getting my diploma from the university. I
still find it amusing how I ended up in this career; but that's for
another not more than 2 pages and not less than 1000 words reflection
paper. I started with a local insurance company and now I'm with a
multinational insurance company. I rose through the ranks starting as
a marketing assistant, promoted to training executive, then on to my
first management role as agency development officer to my current
position as Sales Director for Visayas. My defining moment was my
transition from being a Manager to the current
work-in-progress-so-called Leader.

With all humility, I believe that I was competent Agency Development
Manager (ADM). This position spanned 5 years, starting with the
junior role of Agency Development Officer to eventually my promotion
as Agency Development Manager. In this role, I worked closely with
our Distribution channel commonly known as Agencies. I loved this
position as I did nothing but execute plans and strategic initiatives
set forth by my Regional Manager. Coming from a training background,
I was technically skilled/competent. I was good in networking and this
helped me tremendously in doing collaboration work with other
departments. I had the respect of my peers, colleagues and even our
Agencies as I considered them all as partners in the business. This
was a high point in my career as I was respected, well liked, and
people sought me for advice and consultation. In 2009, with a new
Executive Team in place, we had a reorganization. Departments were
streamlined. My boss, the Regional Manager for Visayas and Mindanao
was eased out and with the reorganization, the Sales Director position
was created and I was promoted to this position. This is where my
lessons on leadership began. As a Sales Director, I know had the
responsibility set the direction of Visayas. I now realign the whole
territory to the new direction the company is taking and this was not
taken in stride by Agency.

This was my defining moment in my career as my management and
technical skills did not prepare me for my leadership role, or so I
thought. From being one of the most productive territories in the
company, the Visayas became a group of bickering and complaining
agents and managers. I struggled and I'm still struggling but through
the years I've learned a lot of soft skills important in leadership
and one of them was the value of influence.

I did not call in influence back then. I called it getting the buy-in
of our Agencies. In my new role and the new direction of the company I
started with dictating the company directive and our Agencies resented
me for this. Coming from a collaborative role, they were not used to
me telling them what to do. As always, we learn our lessons the hard
way. Later on I realized that the buy in or influencing is an
important tool in my new role. Simple things such as reciprocity
helped me improve my influence on our agencies. Simply put,
reciprocity is the old adage "scratch my back and then I'll scratch
yours". Since I was able to develop a good network with other
departments within our company; I coordinate and resolve issues
between home office and field office. Sometimes I even catch myself
saying, "why does the Sales Director have to follow-up to get things
done in Home Office?" Complain as I may, but I do find this useful in
gaining the buy in of our Agencies.

Another old adage "absence makes the heart grow fonder" is actually
another influencing technique. Some leaders call it scarcity. Given
that I handle the Visayas territory, my official business visits to
the different branches maybe far and wide. The most recent example of
which was just this November where in the first two full weeks of the
month I was in Manila for various meetings and trainings. When I came
back to Cebu, low and behold, our agency actually missed me. They
were more cooperative, a little more accepting of the initiatives I
had planned for November, they were more open to new ideas.

One last influencing technique I've learned is Authority. Authority
not because of the position you hold but because of your expertise and
skill. I've made it a point to know more than my Agency so that they
rely on me for information. I want to be the person that can answer
most if not all of their questions, be the one to solve most if not
all their problems. I want them to rely on my expertise; that I know
what is right and therefore put myself in a better position to
influence them in other issues. Admittedly, this technique has some
drawbacks specially now I'm on call 24/7 for consultation.

The first lesson was the value of influence. The second lesson I
learned was the importance of shared values. To get the trust and
confidence of our Agencies I needed to find values common in our team.
People will follow Leaders whose values reflect their own. It took me
some time but the value we shared was staring at me right in the face.
We are in the service business and one thing in common between me and
especially our agency leaders (managers) is our value of helping
others. Our business is not just selling insurance products but we
provide a service that makes sure that someone's family, their dreams
and aspirations, their lifestyles, their future is taken cared of no
matter the circumstances in life. We also say "that we do not pay
commissions because you sell insurance; but because you are expected
deliver a check when a grieving family needs it the most". Be in the
service of others is what we do and I anchor on this value of
selflessness as a reminder to our leaders on why we are in this
business, why we do what we do.

What is my reflection? Leadership is hard and I am a work in progress.
For as long as I stay true to our shared values and have the energy
and patience to influence the people I work with, I think I have a
chance to move from competent manager to becoming an authentic leader.
With a wink and nod from our God above and cross my fingers.

Cebu Regis Leadership Reflection Paper No. 1 by Leader Dr. Kerwin Mark L. Gubantes MD

Dear Professor Jorge,

Good morning! I hope you find the reflection I did on the moments that defined me interesting to read.

Sincerely,
Leader Kerwin Mark L. Gubantes, MD.


CEBU - REGIS Leadership
REFLECTION PAPER # 1 - My Defining Moments
Leader Kerwin Mark L. Gubantes, MD.


I would like to believe that there are three defining moments in my life. The first one brings me back to the wonderful, carefree times in high school. During those years, my life revolved around school activities and growing up with my sisters Carlyn and Christine and Mama. My father was conspicuously not around during my formative years because he sacrificed to work overseas to be able to support our family. I never really understood the impact of growing up without my father around until now that I have a family of my own. I could not really blame anyone, we could not possibly dictate how our lives move forward. As a dutiful son, I did my best to excel in school so much so that I graduated High school as the class Salutatorian. I never expected it to be honest but knowing what just happened, I started to realise the potential I have to probably achieve greater things in life. All I need to do is to be diligent in my studies and see where it leads me.I would have to say that Don Bosco High School did a good job in inculcating and cultivating in us the values of hardwork, prayerful life and diligence. These values sustained me through the difficult and challenging years later in my life in College and Medical school. These are the same values that I am trying to impart on my children. Another important aspect of my formative years in high school is the Love for Sport. Don Bosco system allows children to really play because sports helps build good character. It allows us to bring balance to our stressful lives as well as to ensure good health. Presently, I make sure that I dedicate enough time and effort to do biking and swimming just to stay healthy.

Regis Cebu Leadership – Leader Oliver Solijon – Reflection Paper 1 – Defining Moments

Regis Cebu Leadership – Leader Oliver Solijon – Reflection Paper 1 – Defining Moments

During my younger years, I always consider myself a happy-go-lucky person. I find comfort in the company of friends. As a child, I played as much as I can and sneaked out away from household chores and as a teenager I explored every aspect of being a teenager as if tomorrow never comes.

I came from a humble family. My parents always instill in our minds that for us to prosper in life, education is our only key. When I attended college, my personality of being a happy-go-lucky has turned from bad to worst. I joined a fraternity that was noted to be notorious as we were in constant clashed with a rival group. As a person who wants to be in the middle of the action, I either got beaten up or hurt was able to somebody pretty bad. Although my college life was a bit colorful, I never took for granted my academics.

As a college student, I am both dedicated and active member of my fraternal organization and academic organization despite the fact on the unpleasant involvement of my fraternity to some unruly behaviors and conduct. The leadership skills in me were already present as I held the highest position on both organizations twice on separate occasions. Although leading an academic organization was an honor and privileged, it was a different story for the fraternal organization.

The fraternal organization was subjected to constant threats especially its leaders. There was literally a war happening at that time and for four (4) years since I became a member, half of me was already considered dead. Many asked me of all the fraternity in the campus, why my fraternity. For fourteen (14) years now, that question still lingers in my head. I have no definite answer on why I chose my fraternity. All I can say is I belong not just a member but as family despite the fact that we were engage in a serious conflict with a rival group and as a leader then I have to lead and be strong for my brothers and sisters in the organization. For four (4) years, my life was under constant threat that each day was like a survival for the fittest but my luck almost runs out of me.

March 17, 2004 two (2) days before my graduation, me and a fraternal brother was drinking together with some members of other fraternities when a member of our rival fraternity came and was trying to look for someone. After he wasn't able to find what he was looking for, he chance upon me and my fraternal brother drinking with other members of other fraternity when all of a sudden he approached us pulled a sub-nose magnum .357 and started shooting at my direction. Fortunately the gun jammed and was immediately taken from him after he was subdued.

The incident that happens fourteen (14) years ago was a result of a misguided principle. It was anchored on hate and anger as a result of too much pride that one is better than the other. As I quoted in our Tenets and Codes of Conduct, "First of all do not harm. Let alone in defense of once self for whatever man has cause to be".  This principle brings so much learning that I never tried to understand it during my college days.

As I continue my journey from being a student to becoming a professional, the transition from being dependent to independent caught me off guard. I was in shocked on the taught that I was earning for myself and that I can sustain whatever engagement I'm into and I was back into being a happy-go-lucky person again.

Since graduating and for the next seven (7) years, I explored and enjoyed my life as if I was about to die. There were party's left and right and meeting women all around to hook upon. In short it was a crazy professional life not until in 2010.

Meeting someone in an unexpected manner is like exploring an unchartered isle. I never thought I got serious considering that I still have with me the personality of a happy-go-lucky person. Days and months passed, our relationship becomes from being a mere companion to becoming a couple. By then I still wasn't able to let go of being a happy-go-lucky person that I resulted in lying to her about my night outs.

In the middle of 2012, she told me of news that forever change my life. I was going to be a father. At that very moment when she told me, a lot of things runs into my head that I was having a hard time digesting the words she said. Apart from the confusion, I felt apprehension as I try to contemplate the idea of her being pregnant and I of becoming a father. No words came out of my mouth to utter my reaction.

As I try to face the reality, I reassessed myself if I was ready to become a father and if I can let go of the things that provides me temporary jolt of happiness or face the responsibility that lies ahead. As I had waited for that moment, I keep on thinking how will I do as a father to my child and as a husband to my wife. That thought constantly runs in my head for the next nine (9) months.

February 26, 2015 at 5:41pm, my wife gave birth to a healthy baby boy. It was an indescribable feeling that caught me for while looking at him at the nursery. I never felt so good about anything that I already have a son. A realization sinks in that now I'm already a father and I need to prioritized things from now on.

For the last eleven (11) years, 2 major events have change the way I see things and have brought the realization of being responsible. As a leader in our organization, it was my responsibility to lead my fraternal brothers and sisters not to astray but to the right path were the tenets and codes of conduct of the organization embodies. As a leader, I should have showed then that I am a role model in promoting harmony to other organization that equality exist and respect could never be demanded.

As a father, having a son defines my character as a responsible person not only to provide but also how well do I raised him to become a better person. Leadership provides an insight that each one of us is capable of leading not only our families and organization, but leadership will provide us clear path on what we want and how we want attain and influence others. As I quoted, leadership can be making good men better.