My Kalimulan Experience : A Dream Come True

1990.  I was on my fourth year of high school.  I heard of the Kalimulan Dance Troupe.  As I like to dance (though I don't know if I really dance well,hehe), I thought of joining the group. Have thought about it over and over again.  And told myself, yes, I would definitely want to join the group.

But.

An announcement informed me that for anyone who wants to be a part of the Kalimulan Dance Troupe, one has to audition.  And with their own cultural dance number.

I froze.  

Audition? Dance Number? Oh NOOOOOOOO!!!

I don't have a dance number to use for the audition.  I don't even know how to make one.  :-(

I didn't know what to do then. 

I sigh.  And.  Just ignored the audition.  And moved on with life.

Or so I thought.

I studied in MSU-IIT for the next 4 1/2 years after high school.  And every time I see the Kalimulan group practice and perform (since 4th year high school), my heart ache, telling myself I could have been one of them if  I auditioned. 

Then I graduated college, worked at city hall. Somehow, forgotten about my Kalimulan dream.  Then 9 years ago, I married Pat,  a very close friend of Mr. Christian Aguado, the Director of Kalimulan Dance Troupe.  And every year, we get invited to attend the Kalimulan Anniversary celebration.  And we get to see it almost every year.

Which.  Brought me back to my dream that I thought I have already gotten over with.  Every time the Kalimulan performs, I imagined myself dancing with them.  My heart aches. Still.

But now.

After 23 years, from the day I set my mind on joining the Kalimulan. And. After 9 years of watching them perform, finally my wait is over. 

On the 25th Anniversary of Kalimulan, Pat (finally) asked Sir Christian if it would be possible for me to join the Kalimulan when they dance during the Pagpakanaog ni Sr. San Miguel.   Sir Christian said yes and told me to be on the practice day (every Sunday at 1:00pm-5:00pm) at the CASS Lobby of MSU-IIT.  That would be 4 Sundays before the Pagpakanaog, September 20, 2013.

I got excited.  Finally, a step to making my dream come true. :-D

Yet.  Something is not quite right.

Then it hit me!  Sundays are my class day for my cooking/ baking.  Ohhhhh nooooooo!!!!

Finally, my dream is now within reach.  Why does it have to have conflicts? huhuhu

Pat said I have to make a decision.

After a heart-to-heart talk with Pat,  we decided I take a leave of absence from my cooking class so I could join the Kalimulan practice.  But since I also don't want to totally miss the lessons in the cooking class, I asked my sister to attend in my behalf and video record the discussions.   I know then that the time for me has come to perform with Kalimulan when my Cooking Instructor gave me permission to be absent and allowed my sister to attend for me.   And my sister cancelled all her Sunday activities for me.   Weeeeeeeeeeehhhh! I was really all smiles from ear to ear.  :-D

Practice Day 1.  I was asked to just observe first the performers practice and probably choose a dance set that I would want to perform.  Pat went home to get a camera so I could video record all the dances.  

No practice for Day 2.  MSU-IIT Palakasan (Sports Fest).

So I have to content myself with the video.  I studied their moves and tried to memorize the sequence of the dance that I want to perform.

Practice Day 3.  Sir Christian was not around, but two Kalimulan members taught me the basics of the dance steps.   And they had me dance with a group to check.  For my first official practice, I did some mistakes.   BUT.  I was smiling from ear to ear when they told me I did ok.  One male member even commented that I could still be a Kalimulan dancer (Pwede pa ka mag Kalimulan mam.).  I was so happy I was wearing a big smile on my face as I walked out of campus.  And as much as I want to tell Pat, then and there, I can't .   I forgot my cellphone at home, hehehe...

Practice Day 4.  Last day of practice.  Officially, my second time yet to practice with the group.  And Sir Christian was there to watch the practice.  And I got so tensed.  I got conscious.  The result?  I made so many mistakes.  Grrrr....  Ulaw kaayo ko!!!  :-(

Tensed and pressured.  Even as I practice at home, I could not get the steps right. It came to a point where I thought of quitting. Of cancelling my performance.  But I know it would not be right.  It would definitely hurt Sir Christian if I don't show up on the day.

So, even if I lost confidence in me, I showed up.  And waited for our time to perform.

I can't describe the feeling I had when the first set of dancers started performing.  I really had goosebumps all over my body.  My heart felt so great.  And I can't help but smile to myself.

This is it.  Finally. :-D

Below are snapshots from my sister's video recording :

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, from a different angle, below are snapshots from Pat's video recording :

During the finale together with all of the performers :

 
Well, I did ok.  I had a few mistakes, yes.  But Pat said, for a first timer, I did better than some of the real dancers. Hmmm.... sipsip...hehehe...

 Photo with Pat before the performance.  All smiles. :-)

 

 Photo at our house, after the performance.  All smiles :-D

 I asked my sister to video record my performance. 

 

But, as the dance was about to finish, the camera's battery drained out.  So, the recording was not complete.  Good thing Pat also did a video recording.  Below is Pat's video on a different angle.

Thank you Lord for another dream come true.  Thank you Pat.  Thank you Sir Christian. :-D

ISTIV - Succeeding in Business

July 24, 2013.  The 24th day of my new life.  From being an employee (of 17 years) to being a budding entrepreneur.  :-)

5 days before.  I chanced upon a post in Facebook about a training on "Succeeding in Business" which was to be held in Elena Tower Inn on July 24, 2013.  It's a Wednesday.  I checked my schedule.  Hmmmm... I'm free on that day.  Of course!  I don't anymore have a day job heheheh....

The poster though, only invited the hotels/inns/pension house, resorts and restaurants. So, I ask if a non-restaurant or hotel would be allowed to attend the training.  The reply was, "this is a DOLE initiative targeted at hotels and restau mam".   I got disappointed.  Sayang. Gusto ko moattend.


The next day, I decided to contact DOLE and inquire.  Since I don't have a landline at home, I asked my sister to call DOLE Iligan Office.  And I was so happy with their reply.  They said that any business could attend as long as it's a related to food.  :-)

So, I told myself.  I have a mango float consignment.  And I definitely want to put up my own cafe-restaurant in the future. 

So. 

On July 24, 2013 9:00am.  I registered to the training program at Elena Tower Inn.  hehehe

I was glad I really attended the training.  I learned so much from their inputs.  As well as the inspirational messages from the DOLE Regional Director Atty. Johnson Cañete  and the Board Secretary of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-X. 

Some of the learnings I have during the training :

1.  Operating a business is a partnership between the employer and the employee.  Both are essential for a business to succeed.
2.  A company is improved operation by operation.  Not one-time.
3.  A business operation should be planned according to the existing resources.
4.  To improve one's business, you have to benchmark with other companies that have a higher level of success than yours.
5.  To measure enterprise improvement, answer the questions  a) how is your revenue? and b) what makes you click in the business environment?
6.  Work smarter rather than harder.  Be systematic.
7.  People - workers and customers - are the asset of the company.
8.  Aside from the salary, provide intrinsic rewards in recognition of a job well done by the workers. This is a way of motivating them to always do their best in their work.
9. Keep communications open between management and workers to encourage feedback and commitment.
10.  Build team-based initiatives for improvement.
11.  One way to improve productivity is to improve the arrangements of production facilities. Implement 5S technique.
12.  Preventive maintenance is always better (and cheaper) than repairs and replacement.  Make sure to regularly clean and check the equipment.
13.  Encourage workers and managers to share ideas using joint problem-solving techniques.
14.  Continually measure your progress to see if you are meeting your workplace cooperation and improvement goals.
15.  Always monitor all aspects of the business - human resources, health and safety, purchasing/ supply chain, marketing/sales and production.
16.  To implement 5S, the company must have continued commitment from top management as well as involvement of every employee.
17.  Optimizing production flow will help to reduce wasted materials, time and energy.
18.  The staff or employees are crucial to the success of a business.  They are the front liners who deal with customers or make the products.
19.  Safe work environment not only reduces risks but also improves overall working conditions and productivity.
20.  A positive work environment is the foundation as well as the result of a good workplace cooperation.

It was a good day for me.  I have my first accomplishment in less than a month of being at home. :-)

Too bad, I don't have any photos of the event.  I sure brought a camera and took photos, but when I check earlier my files, I can't find them.  Then I remembered, I formatted my memory card because it got infected by a virus.  Thinking I have already downloaded the photos from the training.  Grrrrrr...... What a life.

We had a group photo ops with the speakers though but I don't have a copy hehehe...  I'll email DOLE and try to ask a copy of the photos. 

I was thankful they allowed me to participate.  Actually, I became a gate crasher to the training as it was really targeted on the hotels/inns/pension houses and restaurants and resorts for at the end of the program, the body was asked if the IHARRA (Iligan Hotels and Restaurants Resort Association) Industrial Tripartite Council could be organized for Iligan City.  But the content of the training though is applicable to production business.  It is also appropriate for my souvenir business, the Keepsakes Iligan Souvenirs and Crafts.  :-D

Even as a gate crasher, I got a certificate too.

You might be wondering what ISTIV stands for in my blog title.  I also wondered too, when I saw the poster for the training program.  Well, ISTIV stands for

    Industrious 
    Systematic  
    Time-Conscious 
    Innovative 
    Strong Value for Work
   
They say this is how a business should be run.  ;-)


Hmm.. I'll definitely keep this in mind.