MM Leadership AVP by Leader Mel Flores - THE QUEST

Hi Prof. Jorge,

Here's the link of my AVP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCIgugmonVQ&feature=youtu.be

regards,

Mel Flores

MM Leadership Reflection Paper 3 - My Passion by Leader Mel Flores

Hi Prof. Jorge,

Here's my reflection paper 3.

What is your passion? 

This is a tricky question.  If this simply means what do I love doing, I could give a lot of answers – I love to eat, I love to play badminton, I'm starting to love running, I love venturing to places, I easily fall into solving problems and take pride in providing solutions, I love hanging out with my family and friends and like any other girl I love shopping. However passion must be more intense. It is something that can drive one to work 24 hours, or it is something that one loves doing day by day, month to month and year on year. I love to eat, but would only indulge occasionally that sometimes I even skip meals. I love playing badminton but would not do it in two consecutive days. I love running but does not see myself going for a marathon (for now I feel it would be a punishment to my body). I love shopping but if I have all the money to buy anything I want (a test of determining passion), I don't think it would be as thrilling as when I save months to afford buying it. I enjoy the noise and the jests when hanging with friends, I love the serenity of spending time with my family but doing just that all throughout my life, make me feel self-centered and futile. So what could be my real passion?  I went blank….

To help me figure it out, I did a little research.  According to Mark Sanborn (from Fred 2.0 by Mark Sanborn), there are five ways to figuring out your passion.  I wanted to take this chance to really reflect and discover my passion so I have assessed and replied to these five critical questions to uncover my one true passion:

1.      What would you do for free?

I think this question equates to – "If I have no time, financial or priority constraints, what will I do without expecting anything in return except for the joy of doing it".  (After 5 minutes of thinking) There are two things that I would like to undertake. I am someone who gets bored doing things the same over and over again, so I like to be working on one thing and occasionally shift to the other to break the ritual. 

First, I like to be working in a/with a community.  While others may enjoy catching up with their hundred friends in the web world, I like to connect and interact traditionally with people like we used to, when folks from our barangay gather in front of our sari-sari store and chat about their daily lives and other topics affecting them from politics to commodity prices and others.  Though this time apart from listening to their stories, I want to work with them to try to alleviate their struggles given what I have learned during the period I was out of town.  Now that I know so much, learned so much, I feel that it would be fulfilling to go back to such communities to introduce solutions, organize tested and successful undertakings to improve their lives. 

MM Leadership Call to Arms Speech by Leader Mel Flores

Call to Arms Speech by MM Leader Mel Flores

"THE MODERN-DAY HEROES"

I would talk about the modern-day heroes.

The first step to becoming an authentic leader is to be self-aware.  The past activities has directed us to learn more about ourselves, to understand our beginnings, determine the origin of our values, identify our strengths and assess our weaknesses.  Out of this process, I recognized that listening is critical in learning.  We learn first by listening.  And I realized that listening is vital in becoming who we aspire to be.   

Listen to your conscience.  Even before rules, laws, regulations and policies were written, we have our conscience that guides us well to act accordingly.  Numerous rules have evolved to impose or restrict our actions.  Some of which have become contradicting and the interpretations are vast as the number of parties concerned, but if you listen to your conscience, it will clearly guide you to what is right and what is fair.  It will direct you to a decision that you will never regret.    

Listen to your heart.  By listening to your heart you would realize the things that should really matter.  We may sometimes be blinded with things to desire in life - gadgets, accessories, properties, titles and the like, but the heart will dictate what genuinely provides you happiness. The heart will guide you to what you ought to pursue.

Listen to your body.  Sometimes we aspire too much,  We are living in an era where the fast, the strong and the consistent performers gets ahead.  We try to keep up with the fast changing world, as if doing nothing is unproductive, and in the process sacrifice the needed rest and needs of our bodies.  Listen to your body.  The journey is long and we need to last.  There are a lot of challenges in our time and certainly more is accomplished if we stay longer in this world.

Listen to the world.  Most importantly, listen to the world.  Sometimes, when we have conquered our own struggles and become comfortable with our lives, we consider that the world has become a better place.  But listen to the world.  You will hear the moans of people dying, due to sickness, starvation, or lack of comfort; the cries of the children not having opportunity to have proper education or deprived to play because they are exposed to adult problems; you will also hear the calls of our environment.  Essentially, the world will tell you how much are needed, where you are most needed.

The modern-day heroes are us.

We don't need wars to step up as heroes like Rizal, Bonifacio or Heneral Luna; we don't need rampant social discrimination to evolve like Gandhi, Luther King or Mandela.  In fact we shouldn't aim to be like them. We can just be us.  Because our time faces new challenges, requires totally different approaches, calls for a new breed of heroes. We ought to be us.  While the likes of our national heroes required bravery to save our country, our time requires compassion. 

We've had different beginnings.  Our personal histories were dictated by circumstances that we're not by our choice: our parents, our home and school environment.  Some may have had a good start, but our story is only half told.  The rest of the story and the ending are yet to be written.  Luckily the script is now within the control of our hands.

By coming here, I assume we all aim for one thing.  I would like to believe that "part of being here is because each of us want to make the world a better place, each of us want the Philippines a better home for the Filipinos." 

My fellow leaders, soon we end this course and take our separate paths and go on with our own endeavors.  May we all be guided by a clear conscience, a pure heart, a healthy body and throughout our journey, a wisdom from God to fulfill our chosen missions.

Ladies and gentlemen, good evening!

Mel Flores

Call to Arms Speech

MM Leadership

MM Leadership Genogram Sharing by Leader VP Mel Flores

Hi Prof,

Pls. find below my genogram. 

Grandparents (Father Side)

1.     Saturnino Flores (died in 1998)

There was not much information known about him since he came from a province far from our hometown, except that he originated from Bimmale, Pangasinan.  He relocated to Benito Soliven and lived with my grandmother.  He was a farmer who've had several lots to support his family.  He died at our tender age, so we have not had many memories or interactions with him. 

2.     Maria Lungan (died in 1997)

My grandmother was a native of Benito Soliven.  She did not finish elementary (I guess the need to complete education was not very common then or the necessity is not evident).  She was a plain housewife tending to their five (5) children.

3.     Children

1.1            Ernesto (died in 2010)

High school graduate; retired as Police officer in our town. 

Children

1.1.1       Charito Sunico – Best in Mathematics, graduated salutatorian in high school, now a high school teacher holding an advisory class and leading a (students) team in the Math Olympiads;  Great advisor. 

1.1.2       Julie Telan – an elementary teacher, now working on her credentials for Principal position.

MM Leadership Reflection Paper 2 Internal and External Factors that Shaped Me by Leader Mel Flores

Hi Prof,

Here's my Reflection 02. 

I recognized that the person I am today was shaped by many factors.  My beliefs and values were initially shaped by my family's culture and circumstances then changed by the influence of environment from the school and from work experiences.  It generally evolve from my dependency on authorities (my parents, grandparents, teachers, supervisors, rules and regulations) then later formed based on my own chosen principles.    

EXTERNAL (Family, Environment School and Work Experiences)

Family

My first memory as a child started when we were relocating from a place to another town in Isabela.  I remember my mother, brother, sister and I carrying bags and moving to a new house.  In that house I remember playing games with my siblings and cousins.  My mother was the strict in the family while my father was liberal and allows us things that my mother forbid.  In one occasion, my mother did not allow me to go out with my father, so I went inside waited for a few minutes then jumped out of the window and met with my father (planned all along with him).  Generally, my mother guided us to be disciplined, while my father, being a happy go lucky taught us to enjoy, play and take things light.  Then my father went abroad, go home and back for several years, but there was a period that he could not find another contract and have become jobless.  So my mother had to apply and take domestic job abroad to fill our financial gap.  That was the beginning of marital issues between them.  My father cheated on my mother, my mother wanted to break up with my father but he would not want to.  The start of my mother secretly meetings us, trying to take us with her and my father chasing us.  Eventually, my father got us in custody.  Then my mother had to head back abroad without clearing the issue between them.  My father, finally, got another job opportunity abroad, so he humbly asked my grandmother (mother side) to look out for us.  Those memories were vivid but we were (I am) at very young age.  We stayed with my grandparents during most of our forming age.  So I would attribute that family influence was hugely contributed by my grandparents.  My grandmother was a typical strict tyrannical lola from the old era, even my grandfather would bow to whatever she say.  She was conservative, me and my sister were not allowed to play outside for a long period of time, we were ordered never to mingle with boys (it is considered flirting).  We had to wake up early, because we were told we're not senoritas or senoritos.  We cannot go outside in the morning and feel the breeze, because we have to clean the house, wash dishes before displaying outside.  We were raised to be respectful and mahiyain, to the extent that we were not comfortable being put into the spotlight.  It was not the perfect way to raise children as I would like to raise my own children now, but we will forever be grateful to my grandmother for instilling strong foundation of good values in us.  People who knew our family situation commended us for not losing good control of our lives.  Some children whom parents are in abroad have often indulge in drug addiction, get into marriage early, etc.  But all the three of us finished our education without causing any headache to our parents and grandparents, and that can be accounted to the discipline shaped by my grandmother.  On the other hand, we were very lucky to have a lolo who would patiently cook for us (using the traditional stove fired by wood so it was not as convenient as today), walk 100 meters back and forth to fetch water for our needs everyday (for cooking, cleaning and bathing) and always the one to calmly explain the rules imposed by my lola.  I have seen in him how to empower people without using force.  When we have grown and got jobs, it was always great to treat our lolo, because of his attitude of being grateful, be it a small pasalubong, travel to a simple resort, etc., the smile in his face is overwhelming.  Separately, my parents made amends and got back together.  For me their biggest influence to us is the willingness to sacrifice for a love one, sacrifice for a certain period for an ultimate goal.  They have financed our education sacrificing to work away from our town for many years. 

MM Leader Movie Synopsis, John Campbell and my Life Story analysis by Leader Mel Flores

Hi Prof. Jorge,

Pls. find below my Reflection on John Campbell's "The Hero with a Thousand Faces."

 "MERLIN" – MOVIE REVIEW IN RELATION TO JOHN CAMPBELL'S "THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES"

I have always been fascinated by fictional movies showcasing magics and sorceries.  I am particularly captivated by the possibility of supernatural powers and how people would handle and employ them in the ordinary world with ordinary people.  Thus my all-time favorite movie and TV miniseries is "Merlin". 

MOVIE SUMMARY

The movie "Merlin" portraits the legend of King Arthur, from the perspective of the King's Wizard, Merlin.During the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain, the spread of Christianity has weakened the power of Queen Mab, goddess of the fey (fairies). Coupled with the destruction of both Christian and pagan holy sites due to the turmoil, Mab's world of magic faces imminent extinction. While her sister, the Lady of the Lake, accepts the inevitable, Mab vows to resist. She decides to create a wizard named Merlin, that she believes will bring people back to the "Old Ways" and save her and the kingdom.  In the turn of events, Merlin rejected her teachings setting up a war between them which leads to her attack on Arthur.  Merline faced many challenges but did not stop, even sacrificing the chance for a good life with his love one, Nimue, until he won over Queen Mab.

1)          THE HERO IS INTRODUCED IN HIS ORDINARY WORLD

"Merlin was born to Elissa who dies shortly after giving birth to Merlin, leaving the child to be raised by Ambrosia, an old woman who used to be a pagan.  Merlin grew as a normal boy with no knowledge of his true heritage." 

In our childhood days, we all live our lives like any other kid, not having knowledge and with little concern of what we are fully capable of based on our genetics or economic and social footings as we are when we grow older.

I was an ordinary kid, living an ordinary life in a rural town.  Like Merlin, we were raised by aged people, by our grandparents, as both our parents were working abroad.  We live in a barrio approximately three (3) kilometers away from the town proper.  Life seems simple.  We walk to and from school daily.  Financially, we were adequately provided though could not afford some luxuries like buying new clothes if there is no special or intended occasion.

MM Enneagram Test Results Shared by Leader Mel Flores

Hi Prof Jorge,

I have tabulated the test results from 3 different sites below and my take on the results.

Test Results

		Initial Assessment	Eclectic Energies	Enneagram Institute	Similar Minds
1	The Reformer	1	2	2	6
2	The Helper		8	8	9
3	The Achiever		1	3	7
4	The Individualist		-	4	4
5	The Investigator		5	1	2
6	The Loyalist		6	4	8
7	The Enthusiast		4	4	5
8	The Challenger	2	3	4	1
9	The Peacemaker	3	7	7	3
			Wing 8w7		sx/sp/so

·         so = social variant (compliant, friendly), sx = sexual variant (assertive, intense), sp = self preservation variant (withdrawn, security seeking).

After reading the characteristics of the enneagram personality types, I have classified myself as first and foremost "The Reformer" and then could be a "Challenger" or a "Peacemaker".  However after taking three different tests, my dominant type swing from "The Achiever" to "The Investigator" to "the Challenger".