No regrets, Lessons Learned: A Sunday well spent with Duck Delights

When I heard that a group of third year Xavier students were going to hold a Bazaar at Rockwell Tent with the National Children’s Hospital Patients as their beneficiaries, I knew that I wanted to support them and so when offered to have a booth in their bazaar, I took the chance.

I honestly didn’t know what to expect especially since I never really went to the Rockwell tent area nor did I frequent the Rockwell area on Sundays. Yet, my desire to continue our entrap product and business pushed me to take this opportunity to relive the Duck Delights experience and make our customers go quack, quack, quack.

Reliving the Duck Delights experience!

After going through the Entrep weekend around two months ago, I thought I learned everything I needed to learn already. I thought that with my previous experience, everything would go smoothly this time around. Well, guess again, I thought I learned a lot during the Entrep weekend yet I learned even more yesterday during our stint at the Cupid’s Bazaar in Rockwell Tent.

Going into the bazaar, we were confident that we’d be able to easily sell all our duck wraps given that we got good feedback from the Entrep fair last time around. Because of this, we were very lax and didn’t really advertise that much anymore. We assumed that since it was a bazaar organized by 3rd year Xavier students, there would be a lot of other Xaverians as well as students from other schools who would be visiting the bazaar.

However, we were wrong not only on that point but on a lot of other things. But the beauty in these experiences is that you don’t really have much to lose. We’re still young and these types of events are invaluable learning experiences for us aspiring entrepreneurs.

It truly was a growing and learning experience like no other for us three aspiring foodpreneurs

1. Start with your family and friends

As a business starting out, it’s really important to spread your product and get the word out. Don’t be embarrassed to ask your family and friends to try out your product. Eventually, more and more people will want to taste your product, but you have to start somewhere and sometimes, it’s your family and friends who you can bank on the most. You have to utilize the resource you have and really network and get your product out there!

EDSOR 2014 – A peace camp like no other

*My Edsor article taken from the Philippine Daily Inquirer http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/149291/a-peace-camp-like-no-other

The EDSOR participants going through a Wu-Shu Session

What happens when you combine red, blue, green and yellow? You get one of the biggest inter-school events of the year where students coming from the EDSA-Ortigas Consortium of Schools, namely Xavier School, Immaculate Conception Academy, La Salle Greenhills, and the Saint Pedro Poveda College, gather in Edsor—a two-day peace camp for grade school and high school student leaders.

Opening Program

 Held last January 16 & 17 at Xavier School, this year’s Edsor was one like no other. This was evident right from the get-go as participants were greeted by Xavier’s amazing Lion and Dragon Dancers, followed by band performances by equally talented Xavier performers.

An Enchanted Last 3 Days – Entrep Weekend + Christmas Gift Giving

The last few days have been so tiring yet so surreal. The Entrep weekend is over. It seemed just like yesterday when the third quarter just started as we sat in the Multi purpose hall listening to a talk about social entrepreneurship yet here we are three days away from the start of Christmas break.

Writing a reflection paper during CLE a while ago about the third quarter Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm experience really made me pause for a moment and think about everything that has happened during this third quarter. It truly has been an amazing adventure like no other. I’ve learned so much this quarter especially during the last three days.

It’s mind blowing how much this third quarter has shaped my dreams and aspirations. The social entrepreneurship curriculum of this quarter has really inspired me to pursue my goals and dreams of becoming a social entrepreneur, starting my own business and creating an innovative product that will forever change the world.

Duck Delights — Our business Produck that I will forever be passionate about 🙂 This is where it all starts!

Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm – Starting Them Young – DUCK DELIGHTS!

As you step into Gawad Kalinga (GK) Enchanted Farm you will be blown away for you can’t help but feel amazed as you see the vast farmlands with unique built centers of entrepreneurship in between. This awe-inspired feeling was the feeling Xavier students felt as we walked into the Hyundai Center for Green Innovation, a social entrepreneurship center made with bamboo for natural cooling and glass to maximize the sunlight, a powerful example in itself of what the Enchanted Farm is all about, sustainable innovation.

The Hyundai Center for Green Innovation!

Just from the area itself, you can see that there is so much potential for growth and development. And once you hear the social entrepreneurs speak, you suddenly realize that this potential growth isn’t just potential, it is a possible reality. With a mission to not only educate villagers but to also enable them to start their own social enterprises, Gawad Kalinga (GK) has become a hub for social entrepreneurs.

My Hong Kong Debate Open 2013 Experience – More Than Just Winning Debates

The HKDO cover photo from the HKDO facebook page shows just how diverse the teams were!

I’ve always dreamed of winning an international competition and although, I fell one step short last week during the Hong Kong Debate Open (HKDO), I’ve got to say that all the learnings, insights, memories and experiences I got from HKDO more than made up for the loss.

It’s been a week since HKDO but it’s only now that I’ve found time to look back at the experience and appreciate the entity of the event. It’s really amazing how I got to partner with one of the greatest Filipino debaters of the past decade, Kip, who is also my school team’s debate coach.

It’s not everyday that you get to partner with one of the most revered and prominent debaters in the Philippines. When the idea of partnering with Kip, my debate coach, for an open tournament presented itself, I knew that I just had to take the chance. Being that I’m just four months into debating, I still have a lot to learn and honestly, there’s no better way to get better at something than by learning from the best!

Making it to the Grand Finals actually looks just like a bonus when compared to everything I learned from this entire experience! 😀

My stint as an SM grocery bagger

My SM immersion article taken from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/131783/my-stint-as-an-sm-grocery-bagger

My stint as an SM grocery bagger by David Ongchoco

 Every year, fourth-year high-school students of Xavier School embark on a four-day “adventure” where they get to experience what it’s like to be an SM employee. This is under the school’s SM Supermarket Immersion Program.

Entering our senior year, my classmates and I were really looking forward to the experience, as it’s not every day that you get these  opportunities.

On the first day, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. Just entering the employees’ workplace of the SM Marikina supermarket was already a completely novel experience for a lot of us. It was the start of an “insider” journey that many of us will surely look back on as a highlight of our senior year.

To start things off, we were greeted warmly by the SM supervisors and given a few guidelines and reminders. We then headed to the SM supermarket proper and learned about the different sections.

Then the fun finally began as we got to try out the different jobs in the supermarket.

From boxing and bagging items and goods to the chopping of  chicken, experiencing every work station for ourselves really showed us students what it’s like to be on the other side of the fence.

SM Immersion Day 1 – “Libreng Mangarap” (“It’s Free to Dream”)

The SM immersion is one of the most anticipated programs for senior students. A lot of us seniors look forward to this opportunity to get away from the classroom and be able to experience what it’s like to be an SM employee. Going into the first day, my expectations were quite vague for I honestly wasn’t sure how things would go. Turns out, Day 1 in itself was already an eye opening experience that really was an immersion into the lives of SM employees and what it’s like to be on the other side of the counter.

The day started of with the usual orientation and learning how to segregate and box the different items. Afterwards, we got to tour the SM supermarket itself and understand the different types of goods SM supermarket sells. After going through every aisle and trying our best to familiarize ourselves with all the products, we headed to our lunch break where I got to strike my first conversation with an employee.

The first worker I got to talk to was Leo when I sat beside him during lunch time. He looked like a really reserved and quiet person but I took this chance to get a sneak peak into the life of an SM employee. Leo has been in SM for 5 months now with his contract about to end. He previously worked in Savemore for 2 years and has to constantly search for jobs in order to earn a livelihood for his 2 kids. Unfortunately his wife doesn’t live with him anymore and his daughter stays with his mom.

He talked about the hardships of life especially where he came from. He emphasized how life in the province is even harder since there are even less opportunities and it’s even harder to earn money there. He was actually thankful to be working in SM and accepted the fact that sooner or later his contract will expire and he’ll have to apply to another job once more. Despite all that, he was still able to keep a smile on his face as he talked about how he must work hard in order to feed his kids and send them to school.  

My First Debate Tournament – A Humbling Learning Experience

Yesterday marked the first time I ever joined a debate tournament. Prior to yesterday, I didn’t really know what to expect from an actual debate tournament. Sure, I’ve been training with the team for a few weeks now but competing in an actual debate tournament was an entirely different experience.

My First Debate Tournament, Idea Lite in St. Paul College, Pasig!

As I entered the convening hall, I was surprised to see how many participants there were coming from several different schools. I couldn’t believe that this was supposedly just a minor tournament yet there were so many participants already. Everyone was either reading their books, writing down their notes or talking with their teammates.

I have to admit, I was a bit culture shocked at the start. I was really happy when the room assignments and the motion for the first round was announced. I honestly just wanted to start my first debate and get the first time jitters out.

My first debate which was THBT prisoners should be allowed to vote, went pretty well. The thrill and excitement I felt during this debate was just so amazing.

However, me and my partner were screwed over during the second round where the adjudicator, in my honest opinion was very very biased. We ended up with zero points during that round which significantly destroyed our chances of breaking.

I felt really bad after that round and didn’t even want to do the last round anymore. I couldn’t believe how we were given a zero for that debate when I we were able to present sound arguments and kill the points of the other side. The worse thing is that when we asked the adjudicator for comments after the round, all the things she said that we didn’t do were things that we did do. (by the way, the motion for this round was THBT the US should use military force in Syria)

I was really annoyed and at the same time, devastated. It really hurt deep inside for I’m a very competitive person and I really wanted to break during my first tournament. She didn’t even give us 1 point.

There was still one more round for preliminaries and I honestly didn’t want to go through it anymore because of what happened in the second round but I still did for pride. The final round’s motion was THW stop the funding of all space exploration programs. During this round, I was able to deliver my best speech and ended up with first but it didn’t really matter anymore since we got a zero during the second round.

Countless of Lessons Learned

At the end of the day, even if we didn’t break to the next rounds, I really learned a lot from this first debate tournament of mine. Things won’t always go our way but in everything we go through, there is always something to learn.

There are somethings we just can’t control. There will be times when we give our best yet it’s not enough. There will be people who are biased but we shouldn’t allow this to make or break us. Looking at it form the picture, it really is up to us what we make out of the different challenges and shortcomings we have in life.

Humbling Experience

To be fair though, thinking about it now, one day after the tournament, I could have done so much better. I am obviously still a beginner and I still have so much to learn.

It was such a humbling experience that right now, I feel really motivated to do better during my next tournament. There are so many talented debaters out there and if I want to be just as good or even better, I have to put in the work. Right now, I still have a long way to go but like they say, you have to start somewhere.

Mix of Emotions

After going through my first debate tournament, I can honestly say that debate is something I really enjoy. The mix of emotions you get during the entire duration of the debate tournament is simply amazing. One moment, you feel so scared, the next, you feel so confident. One moment, you feel so happy, the next you feel so devastated. Yet in the end, no matter the result, you always learn something after every debate! 

The thrill you get before and after every round is priceless. After everything that happened during my first debate tournament, I’m really glad that I joined the debate team.

Overall, the experience was one like no other and I can’t wait for the next tournament I join! This is definitely just the start of greater things to come!

With my partner in crime! We may not have gotten the results we wanted, but we definitely learned a lot! It was really fun teaming up with you Jason! 😀

-DOitChoco

Looking Back, Moving Forward – My First Day of Senior Year!

I honestly didn’t know what to expect and how the first day of senior year would go but man, it couldn’t have been better. It was just so surreal to see all my friends, classmates and teachers once again all in one place. Aside from that, today was just filled with such vibrant energy that it was contagious and I just couldn’t help but be zealous throughout the entire day.

The first day of classes started out quite well as we all gathered for the usual orientation, except that this orientation wasn’t so usual. It’s our last orientation as a batch and a lot of us were just nostalgic and at the same time excited to start the last year of ours in high school.

The student council reemphasized school pride and making the most out of our last year. Aside from that, they also encouraged each and everyone of us to break new grounds and make a difference in our last year.

Loving every second of Senior Year so far!

This was followed by our student activity programs head’s talk which was about this year’s Xavier China Experience, or XCE. I was really blown away by his presentation and I just can’t wait for XCE! The activities seem so awe-inspiring and it will also be my first time to join XCE.

Aside from XCE, our class adviser also oriented us about the different events for 4th year. Aside from college entrance exams, we’ll also be having our recollection in Xavier Nuvali, our SM immersion and our Entrep Bazaar. These are all things I’m really looking forward to and will without a doubt, make senior year memorable!

Moving on, what made this day also so fantastic and surreal was the fact that I, along with a few other seniors, were given the opportunity to talk to the younger batches about Xavier pride and making the most out of high school.

Through this, I was able to look back at my stay in high school and at the same time, share my insights, regrets and realizations with these young guns who will eventually, one day also be seniors trying to make the most out of what’s left of their stay in Xavier.

I’m really glad that I was able to share my experiences and pay-it forward. I really don’t want them to commit the same mistakes that I’ve committed and regret it later on. Everyone is talented and these younger Xaverians have so much potential. Hopefully, the other seniors and I were able to inspire these young men to step out of their comfort zone, try out new things, find their passion, strive for excellence, make the most out of high school and simply, make a difference.

After giving talks to the younger batches, I had lunch with a few close friends of mine from freshman year. It was really nice catching up with them and talking about how fast time flies. When we first entered high school our problems were just about fitting in and getting good grades but now, life is just so much bigger. Most of us are looking forward to college and our future career yet a lot of us also aren’t entirely sure what we want to be and what the future holds.

Everything will definitely work out for the better for all of us. Right now, we may have so much uncertainties but that’s what makes life exciting! Right now, we may be confused but eventually, we will find who we truly are and what really matters to us. A quote from that our guidance counselor showed us perfectly embodies this and what our mindset should be in facing the future.

“The big picture doesn’t just come from distance; it also comes from time.” – Simon Sinek

The first day of Senior Year has been nothing short of amazing. Every second, every minute and every moment just seemed so surreal. Day one is over but there are definitely a lot more memorable days to come! This is only just the start! I honestly can’t wait for tomorrow, the second day of Senior Year!

My Senior Year Schedule! Excited to meet my teachers! 😀

-DOitChoco

It’s Finally SATurday! May the Odds be in our Favor!

It’s finally tomorrow, the day I’ve been preparing for for a month now, the day of the SAT. Profuse amount of time spent learning both new and old concepts, thousands of new words stuffed into my brain, countless of hours answering worksheets and practice tests, tedious moments figuring out why I made a mistake, and it all boils down to one test and that test is tomorrow. To be honest, this is probably the one written test I’ve prepared for the most in my entire life. I don’t know if I’ve done enough but what I do know is that I’ve tried everything in my power to prepare myself to a certain extent given the time.

I’ve done everything that I can to control what I can control and learn what I can. Like they say, “Do your best and God will do the rest.” I just have this feeling inside me that this Saturday will be my lucky day.

Like the old adage also says, “Pray for the best but expect the worst.” Reviewing for this test has definitely been quite an experience in itself. From the early stages where I was still a bit lax and complacent to the past few weeks where I’ve been pushing myself to my limits. I’m really thankful for this experience for not everyone has a chance to apply to colleges abroad, let alone take the SAT.

 Reviewing for the SAT, reading success stories online, reading about tips and tricks from successful test takers and simply learning as much as I can has really opened my eyes to the power of knowledge and the joy of learning. I may have gone to an SAT tutor for a while to brush up on the fundamentals but towards the latter part, it was truly all on me and whether I was up to the challenge. The 8 hour a day self study sessions, the memorizing of vocab while eating breakfast, the late hours solving a math problem will all be fond memories of mine when I look back at this period of time.

Tomorrow, I’m shooting for the moon so even if I fall short, I’ll end up in the stars! I’m going to seize the day, give it everything I got and leave the testing room knowing that it definitely has been one hell of a ride reviewing for the test! I’ll probably forget a good chunk of the vocab words I’ve been cramming into my brain but all the profound and eye-opening insights, realizations and even the constant headaches I gained from reviewing for the SAT are things I’ll forever remember.

I may not have the best study habits, I may not have been the most studious student during the past years, but one thing I can say about the last few weeks is that I really gave my best in trying to make every second count as I prepare for probably the biggest written test in my life so far! Without a doubt, it’s been a growing process, and I’m proud to say that I didn’t just grow as a student or learner, but I’ve also grown as a person!

Good luck to everyone taking the SAT and may the odds be in our favor!

-DOitChoco