A BOY WHO DREAMED OF BEING AN ASTRONAUT, LANDED IN GOOGLE INSTEAD

Jonathan calls himself a Digital Media Professional, Educator, and Marketing Geek.

When he was a young boy, Jonathan  Joson was fascinated literally by the moon and the stars. He wanted to become an astronaut. Eventually however, he realized that there was no educational track in our country that would propel him into a space program–nor an actual space program, at least not in his lifetime!

He enrolled at  Ateneo de Manila  to earn double college degrees: BS Management Engineering and AB Economics (Honors Program). Upon graduation, he aimed to be in Finance. But as fate would have it, his sense of adventure prevailed. Jonathan went into the new and expanding world of digital marketing, where he was readily  recognized both locally and regionally for his impressive work.

In 2011, when he was twenty-five, he became the youngest-ever Young Market Masters Awardee for Digital Marketing.  Jonathan worked for five years at Havas Media Philippines—where he was recognized as Havas Media Asia-Pacific’s Staff of the Year in 2012, the same year that Campaign Asia-Pacific selected him as the Southeast Asia Planner of the Year.

In the April 2013 issue of Campaign Asia-Pacific Magazine, Jonathan was named the youngest member of the “40 Under 40” list of industry movers and shakers.

In  2014,   he was  the Regional Platform Strategy Director for Red Fuse Communications based in Hong Kong, where he worked  on digital strategy and implementation for Colgate-Palmolive’s brands in nine markets across Asia.

And in 2015,  he was appointed  Industry Manager at Google Philippines.

In "Pointers for New College Graduates,"  Jonathan shares  the following pieces of advice:

•  Do not adhere to traditional roles. As things are rapidly changing, be open to for new opportunities. There are jobs and roles today that did not exist at the time you went to college.

• Take risks. You are young, no family of your own to support yet, you have the academic credentials—you have time after graduation to take risks and you could reap rewards. Take the case of Xurpas, a mobile content company. It was founded by fresh graduates more than a decade ago. From scratch, it evolved into a giant. When it launched its IPO in 2014, it generated more than P6 billion. This is one risk-taking venture that paid off big, literally.

• Do not rely on your college curriculum. The academe will always be behind.  Those who are on the forefront of innovation usually do not teach. If you look at the trend in Silicon Valley, fresh graduates look for apprenticeship. So reach out to someone you look up to. If you can afford it, work for free. What you will learn in the process is invaluable in jump-starting your career.

Read more about Jonathan's pointers for those considering a career in digital marketing.

"Pointers for New College Graduates,"  by Gerry P. Siquijor.  Available at Fully Booked, St. Pauls and Paulines Bookstores, and branches of Catholic Book Center.

AN ADVENTURER INTO BANKING

Almost 30 years ago, Edna at Mt. Sorak National Park, South Korea.

Edna Jasa  had always dreamt of traveling even before she enrolled in the BS Accountancy program of de la Salle University. After she earned her degree, Edna did not know that her subsequent jobs would allow her to visit almost all Asian countries, take periodic trips to New York and London, and her future family would live abroad, specifically in Singapore and Guam.

She proves that loyalty and mobility pay off in her field. Edna has logged more than twenty-five years of solid banking audit and compliance experience in one of the leading global financial institutions in the world.  To-date, Edna has participated in more than one hundred audits and reviews across Asia.

Edna’s job took her and her family far and wide. Currently an empty nester with her husband Pascual in Guam, Edna—the adventurer that she is—looks forward in the next ten years to continuing her travels to new and exciting places.

Today,  Edna with her husband  Pascual,  on a date in Guam.

In "Pointers for New College Graduates,"  Edna shares  some pieces  of advice:

• Grab any opportunity to work. Do not be choosy. Consider yourself lucky if you get your “dream job”. The job market remains challenging so be passionate with whatever job you get into.

• Get out of your comfort zone, literally. Explore beyond not only your chosen field but also beyond environment. Do not be afraid to step out of your mother’s house—there is a great world to discover. If you can find a job that would allow you to travel—go for it.

• Start saving early. Once you get a job, save at least 5% of your salary from the very first day of work until you retire. Every penny counts – and it is never too early to save for the future. The latest
cellphone or signature purse can always wait until you earn enough for those luxuries.

Read more about Edna's pointers for new graduates considering a career in banking and audit.

"Pointers for New College Graduates," by Gerry P. Siquijor, available at Fully Booked, St. Pauls and  Paulines Bookstores, and branches of Catholic Book Center.

PHYSICAL DISABILITY NOT A HINDRANCE TO THIS FEISTY LAWYER

Atty.Jessica Siquijor-Magbanua,  State Solicitor and advocate of rights of  PWDs   (Persons  with Disability)

Atty. Jessica Siquijor-Magbanua was born a “special” child.  She had a rare medical condition called “spina bifida” that left her  with clubbed feet and with a part of her spinal cord exposed.

Early on in life,  Atty. Jessica learned to walk with  crutches.  She went to traditional schooling like any other girl of her age. She  did not allow her physical condition to stop her from having a life of her own.

Atty. Jessica  earned a college degree at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila.  She  later worked at the Hall of Justice of Pasay City, where her daily encounters with lawyers inspired her to become a lawyer herself. Determined, she enrolled in the weekend law classes of Arellano University. For five years, she balanced work and studies. She eventually finished law school in 1999 at age thirty-four.

But while preparing for her bar exams, life sprung a surprise. Atty. Jessica  was diagnosed with "pyelonephritis" or inflammation of the kidney. She had to undergo dialysis right away.  A nephrologist advised her to have preemptive kidney transplant.

While still recuperating from her kidney transplant operation, Atty. Jessica  took the bar exam. In March 2002, Jec saw her name in the list of bar passers. And two months later, she was sworn in as a lawyer.

In 2006, life gave her another surprise, she met her future husband named Angel, whom she married two  years after.

Atty. Jessica is currently a State Solicitor at the Office of the Solicitor General in Makati City.  where she has been  working for more than ten years now.

In "Pointers for New College Graduates," Atty. Jessica had these to share and more:

• Have a dream. If after self-examination, you find that your course is not going to take you to where you want to be, you need to retrain. You have to save money and allocate time preparing yourself. It is important that you ask for emotional support from your family members. Ask for their understanding.

• Look into your future. Reflect on what is important to you when you reach your twilight years, would you be happy with the career path you have chosen? Be brave and go for your dream. Take the “road less traveled” if you have to.

• Pray. Ask for signs to confirm that whatever career you perceive to be best for you is actually what God has planned for you. You will need quiet, solitude and time to find answers.

Read more about Atty. Jessica Siquijor-Magbanua,  and her pointers for new college graduates-- specifically those considering a career in  government service.

"Pointers for New College Graduates" by Gerry P. Siquijor. Available at Fully Booked,  St. Pauls Bookstores and branches of Catholic Book Center.

A RECENT LA SALLE GRADUATE'S INSIGHTS ON WORK

Alex D. Ledesma, LIA-COM,  DLSU, 2013

When Alexandra Denise D. Ledesma —”Alex” to family and friends—was at De La Salle University, she  was either elected or  appointed officer to the University Student Government throughout her entire stay in college. That  was an  early indication of her  innate  ability to influence  her peers.

In January 2014, a few months after earning her double degrees in AB Political Science and BS Business Management,  Alex  was offered a position at Unilever Philippines, where she is currently a Category Operations Executive for the Skincare line.

Below are few of the  pieces of advice   that she shared in "Pointers for New College Graduates:"

• Wake up. The world does not owe you anything. When you graduate from college, you are not entitled to anything. Once you leave the safe confines of school, you will realize that all are trying to make it on their own. You no longer have the support of your university and your parents can not get that dream job for you. Whatever you have set for yourself, you have to work for it and that would entail hard work and perseverance. The world definitely does not owe anyone anything. In fact, in whatever industry or career you end up getting into, always ask yourself: “What can I do or contribute to make this a better place?” Whether it is simply improving a process, or initiating new ways to do things, always have the mindset:

“I want this organization to be better off than when I joined it.”

You have the responsibility to not only be invaluable, but to be an agent of change in your own sphere of influence,

• Challenge yourself. Whatever is worth pursuing will never come easy. If it does not challenge you, it does not  change you. I came across the quote:

“ If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” 

We all have a calling and we all have a purpose to fulfill in this life, how relevant you make it is entirely up to you. From my experience, the best satisfaction you can get in life is knowing that you worked hard on something that bore fruit. So take risks, go that extra mile. Those who are willing to work for their dream relentlessly and regardless of the obstacles are the ones who achieve great things.

• Be willing to wash the dirty dishes. When I was in high school my economics teacher shared a quote that I will never forget:

“Everybody wants to be a hero, but nobody wants to wash the dirty dishes.”

Although he meant this in the context of economic development, the principle of it remains; everyone wants to be part of the highlight reel or be the front liners, but not all are willing to work behind the scenes, make the unpopular decisions, do the heavy work. If you begin on something you truly believe in, whether it be a small project or a job you will be taking on, always do it with passion. Remember that with passion, nothing is too difficult or inconvenient, you will always be willing to get things done.

Read more about Alex's  words for new graduates and for  those considering  a marketing career.

"Pointers for New College Graduates," by Gerry P. Siquijor. Available at Fully Booked, St. Pauls Bookstores and branches of Catholic Book Center.

JOINING THE CALL CENTER INDUSTRY? READ THIS FIRST: PART 2

Jane B. Montilla in  an ad as Teletech  HR Director, before she  moved to Tupperware  Brands Philippines, Inc.

In person, Jane Montilla comes across as calm and amiable. In conversations, she can listen actively and effortlessly switch to conversing animatedly. These are qualities that seem to suit her role as Human Resource Director of several big companies in her career spanning more than thirty years now.

One of her most memorable stints was in Teletech, one of the country’s leading names in the BPO industry. As HR Director in Teletech, she headed twenty personnel, who attended to the requirements of over 2,500 CSRs or Customs Service Representatives.

In the first ten months of Jane at Teletech, she was able to develop and implement the new benefits structure of the company; implement the Oracle Human Resource Management System; complete all the training programs of HR and senior hiring managers on the Oracle System; finalize the company employees’ manual; and review the compensation structure and career tracks.

She was excited by her role in such a new and dynamic environment, where most of the employees were young and energetic. However, one realization caught up with her. The company followed the US time and this affected her attention to her family. Jane had one child, a son who was fast growing up. She wanted to have more time with him together with her husband. She eventually decided to accept an offer of another company in a different  industry.

Today, Jane still happily remembers her days at Teletech–she has several pieces of advice for those who would explore joining the BPO industry.

Read more about Jane Montilla and her pointers for  new college graduates.

"Pointers for New College Graduates" by Gerry P. Siquijor. Available at Fully Booked, St. Pauls Bookstore and Catholic Book Center. 

JOINING THE CALL CENTER INDUSTRY? READ THIS FIRST: PART 1

Aggie Flavier   has close to 20 years' experience in the  BPO/Call Center Industry.    Photo source: Facebook

Before you respond to  an ad for a BPO/Call Center Agent  position,  read  up on the career journey of  Aggie Flavier-- former Director for Operations and Client Services at 24/7. 

Her career in the BPO/Call Center industry   started in 2006   when  she was hired at Cititrust as Phone Banking Officer. At that time,  people – including Aggie’s parents-- would call her “Telephone Operator.”

She remembers that after training for six months for her new job, the moment her first caller came in, she froze. It took her almost a minute to say anything on the line—while her manager watched nearby. Aggie was able to recover through and she completed the transaction. In time, she became very comfortable and competent in her role that when Cititrust  was acquired by Bank of the Philippine Islands, she was invited by her former manager to help set up the call center in Asian Bank. Her new role empowered her to organize and manage a call center.

In 2003, Aggie was hired as Senior Operations Manager at Convergys, where she contributed in signing up more corporate clients and in expanding the support manpower infrastructure. She was eventually promoted to Site Director for the Makati Operations.

She was already a mother two young children when she was appointed Director. The US time that Convergys had to follow became a concern forAggie. She wanted to spend more time with her family. Aggie moved in 2007 to another BPO company—24/7, which followed the Australian time that was more suitable to her family situation. As Operations Director, she had to collaborate with the the Recruitment and Talent Team  in  hiring  Call Center Agents, a process that proved to be more challenging through her years in the industry.  To her, it was a roller coaster ride.

Aggie  believed then-- and even today-- that people were the key to success of any BPO operations. She found it unfortunate  though   that  there were promising experienced call center agents, who hopped from one company to another within short periods in their  pursuit of greater compensation. This was further compounded by the apparent lack of qualified applicants. She noticed that only 10% of applicants were hired because of lack of basic oral and listening skills, as well as adequate thought processing.

Read more about Aggie's observations and sentiments on the BPO industry, and her pointers for those considering  joining it.

"Pointers for New College Graduates," by Gerry P. Siquijor.  Available at  Fully Booked, St. Pauls Bookstores, and Catholic Book Center branches in Metro Manila.  

WHAT IS DISCERNMENT?

(Above) Fr. Rolando R. Agustin at St. Andrew Cathedral in Paranaque City.  Before he was assigned Rector and Parish Priest, he was once Spiritual Director at San Carlos Seminary and Rector of Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary, where he helped many young men discern their vocation. Photo source: Facebook

In the book, "Pointers for New College Graduates,"  Fr. Rolando R. Agustin, former National Executive Secretary of Directors of Vocations in the Philippines, under the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP),  writes -- in simple terms-- a  chapter on   "discernment."

"Discernment comes from the Latin word discernere meaning to“separate or distinguish.” As a process, it takes time. As an ability, it is a gift, a personal skill that allows you to quiet down, to listen and to see signs and their meanings.

In discernment, it is assumed that you have a prayer life. This means that you recognize God’s presence in your life and that you have a personal relationship with Him, the One whom you believe created you for a purpose.

Remember that discernment is different from the decision-making process as taught in business school. Specifically, decision-making in business involves metrics and cost-benefit analysis to reach a decision for optimal results in the short- and long-term.

In contrast, you turn to discernment to uncover God’s purpose and mission for you. You discern when you are faced with a number of options. Or when you need to decide on what state in life you will take, which profession or career you will pursue, and who to choose as your partner for life. "

"Pointers for New College Graduates," avaialable at Fully Booked, St. Pauls Bookstores and Catholic Book Centre.

=====================================================================
Note from  Gerry P. Siquijor, author of "Pointers for New College Graduates:"

I am deeply grateful to  my high school classmate, Fr. Rolando R. Agustin,  for for  contributing this  chapter on "discernment."  I will certainly be joining him  on January 19, at the St. Andrew Cathedral in Paranaque, when Fr. Rolly celebrates his 25th year in the priestly ministry.

COMMITTED TO SERVE AT 17

Source: www. mannrentoy.com

Emmanuel "Mann" Rentoy was only  17  years old and in his third year in  high school,  when he wrote to the Prelate of Opus Dei  in Rome  to express his intention to  dedicate his life as a blessed single.

In "Pointers for New College Graduates," Mann-- who earned a  double degree in AB Journalism and Literature,  and an MA in Creative Writing at University of Sto. Tomas-- recalls his youth when he decided to join Opus Dei. He was nineteen when he left home to reside in an Opus Dei center  in Quezon City.   Since then,  Mann has served in numerous capacities.

• Founding President of "Character Education Partnership" (Philippines) or CEP Philippines, an International Affiliate of CEP based in Washington DC, USA.

• Since 1984, took on  various posts in PAREF  Southridge,  including Vice Principal of High School, Vice Coordinator for Personal Formation, and Principal of Intermediate School.                                       

• Founding Director of PAREF Westbridge School in Iloilo City from 1992 to 1994, the first PAREF School outside of Luzon.

• Founding Moderator of the Creative Writers' Guild of University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), and also of CATALYST, UA&P's only outreach Student Organization.

Currently, Mann serves as a professor at the University of Asia and the Pacific, English Department; and also as a  high school teacher in Bannister Academy,  and  in PAREF Northfield in Quezon City. He is also  taking up his PhD in Literature at the University of Santo Tomas.

Mann advises new college graduates to keep a sense of mission, to aspire to make a difference,  and to always aim high.

Learn more about Mann Rentoy’s call to single blessedness and his pointers for young adults.


"Pointers for New College Graduates," available at Fully Booked, St. Paul’s Bookstores and branches of Catholic Book Center.

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