Two years into my corporate life (oh what a jungle it was!), I decided to go back to school and take up Masters in Marketing..primarily to develop myself and my potential and partly to get a much needed respite from all the hulabaloos of work.
As a part-time student, I only took 2 classes this term, and one of them is Statistics. Though not really my favorite subject in the world, it's something that I have a background on as a Management student, something I can be average or excellent in..depending on which side of the boat I wish to sit.
Classes and lessons started slow because as expected, there would be some sort of introductions among the 21 or so students in that class; which by the way my professor is disappointed in as she had wished that it would be a smaller class size so she can manage to teach us one by one. One by one?? Are we not masters students?? Or does she think of us as some grade schoolers?
I was actually shocked that she may be thinking lowly of us. Not that I'm a computer genius or a statistics whiz but I guess her expectations were really that low.
Imagine my surprise when at the end of the introductions, I found out that there were some classmates who did not even own a computer - even a desktop computer at that! Luckily, the school is able to provide students with fully-functioning computer labs. But how would they get by knowing they do not even know the basics of using a computer or its applications?
My hunch proved true that come laboratory time, there'd be disturbing buzzes among those who did not even know the following:
- Log in to the computer
- Save the downloaded file as an Excel file
- Copy and Paste an entire column
- Create new worksheets
My professor's perception of her students are REAL now! The need for a smaller and more manageable class size is real too!
On my part, I do not fault my classmates because they do not own a computer nor because they do not know how to use the applications. I just wish that there would be a desire on an effort on their part to learn. As it is, most of the oldies are just complainers at this point. Well, they have to start somewhere before they gain that proficiency. In the long run, it would really be annoying if all they ask the professor is how to save or how to copy this and that...I would appreciate it more if there would be more insightful questions and analytical discussions on STATISTICS!
Maybe DLSU should look into this too when screening their potential students. Not really to reject those who are not tech savvy but to help those deserving students use technology better as a tool, as an aid to their learning and development process.
I agreed to help my friend and former classmate, Nikko Lim, promote the new book that he has worked so much on to bring to the Philippine shores..not so much as "malakas siya sa akin" (as he had originally thought) but because I believe that this book will beneficial to our country and the society in general.
Article clipping was sent as is, sorry I can't link back to the publisher or the author
N.B. Will be available soon in our local bookstores!!
Today i received surprising messages from my friends that i was on TV. No way I say...
But Madz it's really you! Lining up in a cafeteria!!
Thoughts and memories rushed through my brain...
"Eeeeeaaaahh.....it must really be me!!"
Funny how incidents that happened less than a month ago have been completely forgotten..turns out it was that Mel and Joey (GMA-7's) coverage of our favorite nearby carinderia-eatery-cafeteria. I was more concerned whether I looked PG (patay gutom or very very hungry) on TV than my telegenic appeal...hah! yes i have that! = )
It's a quaint place, the "low end" counterpart of Cafe Juanita, both owned by Dr. Vasquez (an ob-gyne). That's low end with quotation marks because the Mechado and Caldereta viands sell for almost a hundred pesos each! Nevertheless, it was very Filipino the way they use the antique stuff they sell as the resto's furniture and how they play Bayanihan songs (think, Ang Pipit) each and every day.
Yeah, how could I really forget..the place whose walls have heard almost every juicy office gossip or latest lovelife chikas..the place I shared with my old colleagues..and a place that I now miss..
Well it's just too bad that our cable connection had a problem due to typhoon Frank...phhuuey...
whew, it really is soooo hot here in manila...mercury rising (gulp!)
i know i'm living in a tropical country plus it's summer but this is something else, not funny anymore..imagine:
- having to wipe off sweat right after you've toweled yourself dry from the shower
- feeling a single sweat dripping on your back only to realize that it's not a single sweat after all and your sweat has formed diff shapes and sizes on your shirt
- feeling tired and lethargic all day long
..if i lived on the beachfront or if we had a pool it might be more bearable..otherwise, it's just humid and sticky all day and unfortunately, even at night.
what to do what to do..i guess this is nature's way of telling us that we are really going overboard in environmental abuses; thus, greenhouse gases and global warming.
i pity the daily commuters and PUV drivers who have to go through all these plus smoke emmissions too! ditto for those living in slum areas who don't have proper insulation, nay electric fans! think of their galvanized iron roofs absorbing all that heat and the danger that can ensue...
as for me, i guess i'm lucky that i stay in an air-conditioned office most of the time and that there is proper insulation, ventilation and air conditioning at home..although it really doesn't solve the problem here are just some of the things that are must-do's to prevent yourself from getting scorched:
1. Take a bath daily or even twice or thrice a day if you can.
2. Stay light on make-up, lotions. It just adds to that heavy, sticky feeling.
3. Drink lots of water, really! Don't disregard possible dehydration because of the heat...Make sure you have a safe and clean drinking water by your side at all times even at night.
4. Avoid going out when the sun is at its brightest (?). If possible, use an umbrella or hat, and apply sunblock to your face and body.
5. Wear light clothes.
6. People that are high-risk for strokes, beware!
7. Know the first aid treatment for dehydration, heat stroke, rashes, etc.
8. Lastly (because I can't think of any..hehe) - Always stay cool!
