Is US ready for CHANGE?

The US Elections is definitely arousing our global interest. For the past months, even non-American voters such as I, people all over the world were glued on how a black man can out-stage the popular Senator and former first lady of Bill Clinton, Hillary. Now his battle continues as the November 4 Presidential elections is fast approaching. His triumph would mean a lot not just because it historical, for he would be the first black-American President, furthermore because He proposes to make a lot of changes such as in tax and in American regulations. For the conventional, mostly who supports his predecessor George W. Bush and adversary John Mccain, this would spell trouble especially to the current economy that US is facing. They believe that this is not the opportune time to have radical changes and even promote "socialism" throug redistribution of wealth (as one of the economy boosting plans of Barack). Giving Barack the chance to lead US may definitely change America and whether he's doing a better move than McCain, perhaps America can give him a wise try. Why not? They have 2 Bush as Presidents already so perhaps it won't be bad to shift for a change. McCain is good but sometimes same menu won't give the same thrill of deciding for the best option unless you would choose what's really unusual. I am confident that either ways, US economy will be in good hands for these 2 presidential candidates but making Obama the president would mean so much more. This proves racial discrimination in US had finally come to an end. After all, the most famous celebrities in US are even blacks so why not for a President this time? America has nothing to lose, if they are afraid that Obama might make wrong decisions well he will not be the first one right? Gosh, what are they so frantic of they still have the senate and other local leaders. So if ever I'll be given a chance to vote now, I'll go for him. Brack Obama is educated, with reputable political experience and definitely American!

So what's your Hallo-win Plan?

I used to remember how typical my both "All Saints' Day" & "All Souls' Day" were back when I was obliged to accompany my mom to the cemetery, but now she's in the U.S., so I guess I'll be having a different one this year. I recall, after the cemetery we just gather in our home and enjoy a sumptuous meal prepared by mom to be shared with the rest of my clan. The holidays also served as our reunion, eerie right? Well, perhaps just to have a head-count of those relatives who are still alive, kidding aside. Nowadays, as people are becoming more liberated and impersonal to some traditions such as myself, we are looking forward to some events such as parties or just a long weekend of stress-busters by watching a movie, talking to friends, having beach get-aways and divulging to wide-menu of food treats.

Perhaps, gone are the days when Filipinos were so religious, or those who pretended to be one, who observes these particular days as-if-Holy Week! We have accepted that trick-or-treating is the new gimmick which I believe to be helpful especially to a very stressful lifestyles that we deal today. It was said that Halloween started in the earlier years to be more of a ceremony to acknowledge the dead souls who once believed to pass the earth during these days. As time progresses and as mix in cultures occurs, beliefs and traditions evolves to become more appealing and practical. I believe it will come a time in our country that we would no longer visit the cemeteries as of often as we used to. As almost all commodities increases, people would think that gassing-up for cemetery visits would no longer be practical or perhaps even healthy. Besides, in religious sense, praying can be more useful regardless of location.

Another fun part are the ways we express our interest to scare ourselves. I'm sure by this day, you have bought/rented numerous horror films in DVDs. I myself was even annually glued to a Halloween-special of the defunct "Magandang Gabi Bayan" as hosted by our Vice-President, Noli de Castro. I admit that I easily have goosebumps upon watching horror flicks or just listening to scary folklore and I just really find them entertaining, though sometimes I even hardly fall asleep.

Whatever we used of doing or planned to change of doing this year, just remember our loved ones who were with us and unfortunately passed away. Pray- pray for their souls, pray for our own souls as well.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Sign up for GSB Olympics SY 2008-2009

Dear Fellow Students, the Graduate Student Council is now searching for athletes in the upcoming GSB Olympics. From this week onwards, you may expect council officers doing some room to room announcements and will distribute registration forms to your respective class officers. We are encouraging everyone to please take this opportunity to extend your contacts and most importantly be physically fit! This event is also a fund-raising project that will aid future student development activities. Let me also take this opportunity that this project is also open for sponsorship. Very enticing packages awaits our generous sponsors such as the wide arrays of media mileage and promotions, very timely for the last quarter of the year.

So register and become part of the sporty Green Archer's Team!

DLSU-GSB Inducts the Student Forum Officers S.Y. 08-09

The officers of the GSB Student Council from Manila, Makati, Ortigas and MBA-JD campuses/program took their oath of office in St. La Salle Hall of GSB’s RCBC Campus last September 26, 2008. The oath-taking ceremony was made solemn by a mass entitled “One Spirit”, a healing mass for the term ahead. It was officiated by Rev. Takele Tesfaye, a fellow MBA student. Present as guests were Ms. Evelyn Esparago, Director of the Office of Student L.I.F.E and Mr. Voltaire Mistades, Dean of the Office of Student Affairs, who led the oath-taking. The occasion will not be a success without the usual support of Ms. Pia Manalastas, our Vice Dean; Prof. Dennis Berino, GSB Makati Campus Coordinator; and Ms. Khristine Ignacio, Graduate Students Programs and Services Coordinator. Thanksgiving dinner and socials were held after.

By: Rhea Pabustan, President of the Manila Student Forum S.Y. 08-09

Strong Hearts-a-Beating - The First Bar Operations Experience

Strong hearted men and women have filled up the North and South Conference Rooms of the Angelo King International Center for the past three Sundays of September.

Yes, a strong heart fully depicts the passion of service that the volunteers and organizers displayed in handling the very first bar operations of the MBA-JD Program of DLSU-FEU. Each person carries out a task that aligns to one simple purpose: help the barristers. From Saturday night until the afternoon of Sunday these individuals are manning the hotel, expecting errands left and right and conquering lack of sleep throughout the process. Not only that, they have to keep themselves in one piece and stay afloat during the bar operations despite the pressures of assignments galore, gimmick time compromised, and even family hours missed. Needless to say, the two days are physically taxing.

To overcome all of these, it takes a committed person to set aside one’s own needs away for the meantime, and make way for the more urgent need of the barristers. Indeed, one cannot fully circumscribe each sacrifice that the volunteers and organizers give every Saturday and Sunday of September.

But the volunteers and organizers work as a team. In the dramatis personae of the bar operations, the barristers are the graduates of the school who are about to take the bar. Each barrister has a runner. The runners are the barrister’s assistants whose role is to ensure that the barrister feels comfortable. Their activities include everything from preparing food to running errands as well as delivering review materials to the barristers. In the hotel operations, there is also the academics committee that comprises of top-notch students. These law students are the ones who are consulted by the barristers to help them recall certain legal provisions and principles of the subject matter they are taking.

What lumps the whole operation together are the hotel, logistics and food committees. These are the pilots that course the processes, ensuring that the barrister’s requests are delivered efficiently and effectively without detriment to the runners and the academics committee. Facilitating all of these is the support of the school’s management, professors and personnel. Everyone is working as a team that the whole team effort is such an inspiring action to see.

But as mentioned, the purpose remains simple: help the barristers. The volunteers and organizers are not searching for the cure of AIDS nor are they endeavoring to stop global warming. Still, this is service at its very raw but concrete form. It may not make the world a better place to live in, but it surely impacts the lives of the progenitors of MBA-JD of the school – in the long run, the institution becomes stronger as its graduates are empowered. In effect, the persons involved, in whatever way are perpetuating the concept of paying it forward.

As a result, these people who are serving someone with the goodness of their strong hearts are bound to receive karmic benefits that come back in multi-folds at their time of taking the bar – and so long as this practice is continued, our school will make a beautiful history that repeat itself with strong and gracious hearts-a-beating.

Truly, a resounding applause with a big and sincere thank you is in order to all those who assisted in the bar operations!

By: Mary Rocelyn Lim, 3rd yr student of mba-jd program