1)    Legitimate Power: As a Section Chief, my functions were mostly focused on supervision, coordination and implementation of the different projects and programs of my section, thus yielding influence over my subordinates;

2)    Coercive Power: As a Section Chief, I was also given the task to monitor/assess personnel performance and preparation of accomplishment reports thus, I can impose punishment if my subordinates are not performing well;

3)    Reward Power: As a Section Chief, I usually treat my personnel with free meals during brainstorming meetings and whenever they excelled in delivering/accomplishing their targets;

4)    Expert Power: I had my Doctoral degree and having honed my skills as a paleontologist for 40 years, I became an authority with regards to my field;

5)    Referent Power: My experience as a Union President for 20 years somehow cemented my ability to lead and empower people;

6)    Information Power: My field of expertise is very rare in the Philippines thus, any information I can give relative to it is very valuable.

 

There are different types of power and a leader must be aware of this to take the organization to where it is expected to be. As a good leader, one must be responsible in exercising his powers.

One model of leadership worth emanating to increase positive influence on others is that of Jesus Christ. The approach or style is called servant leadership. It focuses on interactions and well-being between leaders and followers. This type of leadership could develop a supportive relationship between a leader and his/her subordinates. One notable characteristic to become servant leader is humility. Since a servant leader focuses on the well-being, eventually his/her subordinates will be empowered and inspired to work which could contribute to the success of an organization. 

As the National President of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Employees Association (MGBEA) for nearly a decade, I can say that even before the learning Session for Day 2, I was able to apply the step on articulating a vision of abundance for the employee’s union. I remember when I was hired by MGB as a budding geologist, MGBEA consists merely of a group of employees from the MGB Central Office. It took years before I became seriously involved with public sector unionism and took the cudgels of transforming MGBEA with the assistance of its other officers into a formidable union of national stature today.

In fact, under my leadership, the Association has achieved several milestones which include its recognition as a legitimate employees union registered and accredited by the DOLE-BLR, Civil Service Commission (CSC) and Securities and Exchange Commission; and the successful negotiation of six (6) Collective Negotiation Agreements (CNA). A 2015 data from the CSC showed that there are only 424 registered CNA out of the thousands of public sector unions in the Philippines and our CNA is one of them.

Being the sole and exclusive representative of all the rank and file employees of the MGB, the role of MGBEA was recognized by the MGB Management in the attainment of its vision, mission and mandates. Through the years, MGBEA remains to be a loyal partner of the MGB Management in its efforts to carry out its plans and programs, geared toward the goal of turning the MGB and the mining industry thru its workforce, into one of the country's vital partner in nation building. 

This strategy for me is the most challenging as it involves emotions. Dealing with emotions is not easy, particularly since your colleagues' levels of maturity, age gap, behavior, attitude, etc. are heterogeneous. One leader could possibly be affected or carried away by the emotions of others. Charisma, passion, diligence, and cautiousness, among others, play a critical role. Hearing examples and experiences on creating positive energy networks in the workplace is perfect for me. Many thanks!

Influence is the life-blood of leadership. To influence others, a leader has to create positive relationships, ensure open communication, and make the working environment breathable and fun. A leader must be the role model to inspire his/her subordinates towards a common goal.

The core value that I realized from that moment of self-truth is self-love and acceptance. I need to love myself and accept myself for who I am and develop my strengths and focused on them rather on the things that I lack. The strengths I realized were: I am okay with being alone and can focus really well on the task-at-hand and I don’t depend so much on others when it comes to finding my happiness, although I still need people.  Other strengths I realized were, I have empathy, I can feel what others feel and I don’t judge people because I don’t know there story and where they are coming from. I wish everyone happiness and contentment in life.

I went into law school without informing my family because I had to figure out for myself, if it was what I truly wanted. It was on my 2nd year when I was already feeling the physical exhaustion thwarting my studies since I had to juggle work and law school. So, I turned to my family, for financial support. When everyone was doubting, I turned to my father— I am a Papa's girl. I grew up having all the things I wanted because of him. Unfortunately, he too, had refused politely since he had to support my other sibling who was pursuing medical school at that time.

My world crumbled for a moment. But then, I didn’t give up. The years I spent while finishing law school were the most lonesome years. It was definitely one of my most difficult journey—financially and psychologically. 

Finally, this year, I have become a full-fledged lawyer; I am the first one in our family who is a lawyer— and I am proud to be the first Indigenous Peoples (IP) Subanen lawyer in our province. 

Although I am in a much better place now, up until this very day, that conversation I had with my father still breaks my heart. But, I would always tell and remind myself, I wouldn’t be where I am now, if not for the things I had to go through then. So, whenever I have my moments of defeat from time to time, I would always look back to that moment— then I come back invincible every time.

 

Amazing how one situation can shake our inner being and make us the person that we need to be. Because from then on, I started paying all the different bills using my own money which I do not usually do. It used to be that my parents would pay all the bills. Also, I was forced to clean the house on weekends even if I don’t feel like it. I had to mark the calendar for when the “basurero” will collect the trash; when’s the due date for the water bill, the electric bill, the phone bill and other fees within the village; when to wash the beddings and my clothes. I started buying groceries and other commodities needed in the house like extra bulbs, etc. It made me value every penny I earned. That one incident changed my whole perspective about life and living (independently and responsibly) and made me realize that I can actually do things which I never thought I would.

After college, I started my career as science aide (imagine a ‘__LAUDE graduate, pero yung pinakababa na position ang binigay most of the time no work no pay pa for 3 yr) but then again with strong determination, acceptance, dedication I was able to surpassed. Three years after, I was awarded as Most Outstanding R&D staffer. This brought me into a better career roadmap as researcher and to my education as well.

I was graduated in my PhD with flying colors and awarded as Best Dissertation during the LBSCFI competition. Part of this award, is a re-entry research grant and a publication fee. 

All those hardships were endured with the spirit of perseverance, determination, innovations, hardwork, “pakikisama”, looking -UP attitude (Am always in good HANDS), and unlimited overtime (but making sure to spent quality time with my Tatay, siblings, apos, and most of all to my YUMA of my life😊.  My dear YUMAnizer has contributed a lot to make my BETTER be of BEST.
Now, I am happy coaching and mentoring our junior researchers in their field of interest. Envisioning to improve the delivery system of our EPFs as the long- term goal of our R&D.

“The world needs hope. And with gratitude, with this habit of saying thank you, we transmit a bit of hope. Everything is united and everything is connected, and everyone needs to do his or her part wherever we are. ”

There was a teacher who was coming to school late in all the days of July. It was something that I can’t just ignore, being an Administrative Officer. I talked to her and pointed out her unprofessionalism—her lack of self-discipline and commitment to her vocation. Also, to me, her tardiness might be a cry for help. 

We talked and finally we compromised on minimizing her tardiness in the next proceeding months. We ended our conversation positively, with a goal of working on her schedules—plotting her weekly activities beforehand— for her to not compromise her profession over her private affairs.   

2.     TEAMWORK

3.     FORGIVENESS

4.     APPRECIATION OF BEAUTY & EXCELLENCE

5.     HUMOR

 

Forgiveness is what I usually or commonly use strength, because making mistakes is inevitable because we’re only human and forgiving people will not only make you feel at ease and also freeing our minds of emotional constraints will improve and will make work easier. in addition, avoiding conflict in workplace is very significant that it will also avoid stress and poor productivity.

My Top 5 signature strengths according to the VIA assessment are:

1) Love of Learning

2) Perseverance

3) Hope

4) Bravery

5) Perspective

 

Out of all my top 5 signature strengths, as a leader, I can surmised that all of them moulded me into what I am and whatever I have accomplished in my life today, be it with my career or personal life. My Love of Learning and Perseverance can be manifested when I decided to pursue graduate studies despite the fact that I am just about to start building a family having been newly married and with 2 kids in a span of 1 ½ years. It was a golden opportunity for me since I will be on a scholarship grant for both Masteral and Doctorate degrees and it was only the first time that the program will be accepting someone who is married. I was really torn between my priorities, that is, the desire to go on with my graduate studies and starting a family. Fortunately, I was able to bring my family to Japan which more or less addressed my dilemma temporarily.  I could have inherited my insatiable quest for knowledge from my parents because even with the inadequacies of their lives they never get tired of learning formally and informally. My parents did their best to give me and my siblings the best education which I also did to my children, always prodding them to take graduate studies especially since they are not yet married.

 

As a leader, I consider my stint as a Union President as more challenging and rewarding because I was able to touch so many lives in the organization. I used all my top 5 signature strengths to carry out all the responsibilities bestowed upon me. Love of Learning enters the picture because we need to constantly do research and strategize on how to sustain the employee’s benefits gained thru the efforts and initiatives of the Union. In so doing, “obstacles” abound so we need to persevere until all our requests from the Management are granted thru peaceful negotiations. There are times when the request of the employees are not granted but it does not dampen our spirits to go on. I see to it that our hopes are always high and never be slowed down by threats, challenges or difficulties. Under my leadership, we do not dwell on failures, thus bravery is a must. Lastly, developing a wider perspective of the essence of true leadership is what drives me most to continue serving my fellow co-workers probably until such time that I retire from the office.

 

Even as a newbie in the government service and even before I was introduced to PIES, I have always put premium in honesty and integrity. It has been my habit whenever I step out of the office to ask myself whether my integrity is still in tact. Alhamdulillah up to this day, I am glad that it still is. Because I promised myself that when the day comes that I would be tempted to do something against my values, that'll be the day that I quit from the government service.