CUT AND POLISHED BY ACHACOSO
Prof. Marc David Achacoso is my Strategic Management professor during 2013 summer class. I am already a senior student, due to failing grades my graduation was delayed.
When I started my summer class, I’m so eager to give my best shot until I graduated. So, I became more active and participative. My excitement beats up high. And my professor recognized it. The first time I met him during our first meeting, I felt and say: “I like this Professor!” I know he is a good professor. For every phrase and words that he says, it inspires me alot! It gives me strength, courage, hope, and excitement. Because of him, I became more inspired in his class. I became active and very participative to the extent that I always ask questions on him. I even shares some stories to him and he also to me. He even give me advices and thoughts that really helps and give me confidence. I’m so thankful that time.
I can even remember what he said: “Everything is constant, our observation is probably wrong.” that quote or phrase stick to my mind upto now. It gives me light even at some times when people misunderstood me with my actions and words.
I can never forget the things he says about Accountancy Department: ” You’re Accountancy Majors and you’re on the top of the food chain!” (Even his voice, I remember it, for how he said it. Haha!) And me? My reaction? I was so impressed!
Bihira lang kasi ako makakilala ng mga taong katulad niya. Napakalawak magisip at nakaka-inspire talaga. Ang dami ko natutunan. And at the time he said those phrases, I ask him: “Sir, is that an observation? Therefore, it’s probably wrong.” And the class laugh out loud. Haha! š He just said, I’m learning.
The class started well. I thought it would end well too. But when we started the first activity, the group was divided into two. He tried to appoint me as the leader of the other group, I declined at first. Natakot ulit ako eh. Yung fear na baka hindi ko magampanan pagiging leader. He asked why? I didn’t answer. But in the end, I accepted the challenge of being a leader of the group. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, sige na nga. Try ko ulit. Sana magawa ko. I face my fear. But it didn’t go so well. We survived but for me, I’m still not a good leader.
Until we started the pair project. I have a partner which I will not mention her name. She is a third year student who advanced STRAMA during summer. I think she is good, really. We started good. But sadly it didn’t go well as we continue our partnership. It didn’t go so well because my personal problems arise. During that time, I cannot go to school every now and then to work with her. So I suggest we work in our own home and talk each other nalang through Facebook messages. I thought it will work. But it didn’t. She wants to work together. But I can’t, even if I want too.
I can’t leave our house during that time…because my parents wants to be separated legally. My mom wants to file an annulment case. Its been really hard for me to face the problem of our family. Pero anlakas ng loob ko! Mas pinili ko alamin ang katotohanan sa mommy ko by asking her. WHY?! I want to know everything that time because I can’t live my life anymore with secrets and lies. All my life I’m asking bakit ganito kami? Ang pamilya namin? Ano ba talaga ang problema namin? Patong-patong na kasi.. Hindi ko alam san nagmula ang lahat. So I asked my mom, I asked her even though I know I will be hurt by knowing the truth. And that was the time I became so depressed and emotionally hurt, I cried to the extent I experience nervous breakdown. I even said that I already want to end my life. No one knows what we talked about during that time, that was thursday night. Friday morning I have midterm exam in my other subject (ADVAC2) . I feel so sick and tired that time. I can’t even stand that morning. My head is aching. I just want to sleep. So, that morning I texted my friend Ana, she is my classmate on the other subject. I told her the truth, I didn’t tell to her the details anymore but I said the main reason and I let Mam Estrella (my professor in ADVAC2) know, so that I can take the exam the following week. At that moment also, I message my friends in Facebook: Cyra, Chel, Anna and Jessai. They are my trusted friends who knows everything about me. I said to them what happened. Though, they know what is going on with me the previous days. I just updated them. I asked them to pray for me and my family. That’s the time my friend Cyra, shows me different inspirational and true to life videos that makes me inspire, that gives me strength and hope. My boyfriend that time, Dann, also know about it. I know he also having a hard time seeing me that way. I know he is somewhat irritated with me that time kasi muntik ko na mapabayaan pag-aaral at sarili ko. I also know that he understands me, but seeing him not okay because of what I am going through makes me feel sad also. Eto kasi yung kinakatakot ko noon pa bago pa maging kami, yung madamay siya sa mga problema ko at mahirapan siya dahil sa’kin.
I’ve been crying the whole week and no one knows in school about it, except my friends. When I went to school, it seems nothing happened. My hair became rebonded also that time. So as if, really nothing happened, ‘yung parang ang saya ko pa tingnan. Ayoko kasi ng kinakaawaan ako eh. I mean ayoko magshare sa iba that time kasi ayoko mapagusapan ng mga tao at umiyak ulit.
Also, during that time misunderstanding and misconception arises because of the condition of me and my partner in the STRAMA paper. I don’t know that my partner is complaining about our situation of working our paper. I thought it was okay with her. Until I recognized the class talking about me. Even though I didn’t heard it coming from their own voice, I know it by their actions and whispering. ‘Di naman kasi ako manhid eh, I was hurt. I think I was judged AGAIN by them, for the second time. They really don’t know me well, but that’s how they see me. That’s their opinion and I can’t do anything about that. They don’t even asked me ‘why?’. I never had a chance to explain myself that time. But because of my problems at home, ‘di ko na sila pinatulan. I let them! I tried to fixed my partner’s and I situation. Monday the following week, I can feel something isn’t good. My professors even said:“Kung sino yung gusto na mag-solo, or kung may gusto ba mag-solo?” I am shocked! Lagi akong wala di ba… Naging tahimik din ako ng konti dahil ang dami ko iniisip. So I’m shocked when my professor said about it. Iniisip ko kung sino yun, then, nagobserved ako, parang everybody is doing good naman, hanggang naisip ko yung kami ng partner ko. Aww. After exam, I personally talked to my partner, I asked her kung sino kaya tinutukoy ni sir. She didn’t answer my question pero umiling siya. I became honest to her. I even apologized for what happened to our partnership. But I personally asked her if she wants to work alone, I said to her that for me it’s fine if she wants too. Baka kasi nahihirapan siya maging partner ako. That’s the only time also na sinabi ko sa kanya kung bakit ako wala, kung bakit hindi ko magawa makipagkita sa kanya para sabay kami gagawa. She told me na: “mas magiging mahirap kung magsolo kami pareho.” Sabi ko sa kanya sure ka na ba? Sabi niya oo daw. Until the next day we meet in the morning to work together. We went to the library. I saw other pairs in the library working also. I even recognized how they see me. (Nabother ako actually, pakiramdam ko may ginawa ako mali) But I let it GO! ‘Di ko na lang sila pinansin. Me and my partner work together at the library. I have many questions that time about the matrices we are making, so I decided to go upstairs to ask Mr. Achacoso. While working, as if we are working at home also, we didn’t talked that much. I don’t even understand her works, how she did the judgements in the matrices and where she get the basis. And that moment I’m having problem collaborating our works together. I even revised our External Analysis. I was the one who make the Porter’s, one of the hardest part in Chapter 3. She asked me to do that because she told me she was having a hard time. So, I did without having any hard-feelings. I understand when she says, she’s having a difficulty on it, because it is really hard to do. Like what I have said, during that morning ’til noon we are working together without talking for what we are working at, magkasama lang kami. Kung maguusap man kami konting tanungan lang.
I’m having a hard time also working with her. Some of the content on her work are came from the internet which are copied from other people works. I can see it because I can’t understand it even I ask her question. I just told her calmly that, don’t copied it because we don’t know what are their basis. What if on the defense, we cannot answer the question of Mr. Achacoso, mahirap na, I said to her.
Noon time, I have lunch date with Anna, Cyra, and Jessai. I told them what happened. They even told me to work alone nalang kasi ako lang daw nahihirapan kaka-revised. I said no, because I think kaya pa naman ayusin. But when I’m in the road going home, I’m thinking kung ako na lang makikipaghiwalay. I still said no to myself, papanindigan ko na lang ‘to, kahit medyo mahirap. Until I got home and open my facebook account, I saw a distracting status or posts. I was disturbed and said to myself: “What is this? After all, I even ask her if she wants to be alone, she said no. Tapos eto makikita ko?” I cannot remember what is it (or I just push myself to forget it), but I knew that it was a conversation of her and her friend. By then, I decided to work alone. I even ask her nicely about it, I gave my reasons. I told to her na ayoko bumagsak siya dahil sa’kin. ‘Di ko na kasi mappromise ulit na kung gusto niya gumawa kami together makakapunta ulit ako dahil nga sa sitwasyon namin sa bahay. Sabi ko reply siya, kung okay lang and sasabihin ko na kay sir. But I didn’t received any text back. I just saw in our group page that she posted: “Sir magsosolo na po kami ng partner ko.” Medyo na pa-WOW ako! She didn’t told me about that. I ask and told her nicely, but I was embarrassed for what she did. One of my classmates like her post pa and said: “Congratulations to your new life.” I was hurt. I felt na parang ako pa yung mali? I mean parang siya yung nagdecide na makipaghiwalay. But instead of dwelling into my emotions, I just ask my prof. kung ano yung condition (nagcomment kasi siya) sabi niya kanta muna daw kami ng ” break it to me gently.” HAHA! Tinawanan ko na lang at sinabi, sorry sir wala ako boses eh. š
By then, I became worry-free for what others may think about me. I even remember what Mr. Achacoso said: “Everything is constant, our observation is probably wrong.” So, I gained my confidence and do my work alone. I even fight my intuition of thinking what my classmates saying about me, because I know I have to work and my time are short already. So I work and work all night kahit madaling araw. I even experience 2-3 hours of sleep just to finished my work. I even experience back pain that time, and my mom massage my back until I got sleep after a tiring day. Until I’ve finished Chapter V happily. I felt fulfilled and confident about my work because I trust my work and even I know I didn’t polished it because the lacked of time, I’m still happy. I just said to myself that I can revised it pa naman. š From that moment, hindi na talaga ko naapektuhan ng mga kaklase ko. Wala na ko pakialam kung may sabihin man sila o wala sa’kin basta ako okay ako nagawa ko trabaho ko, medyo nanahimik nga lang ako sa kakatanong kay sir. ‘Di nako active unlike nung mga first meeting. Pero ayos lang, tinyaga ko aralin mag-isa bawat matrices.
Jessai, Anna, Cyra, and Me
Then, I can say our friday planned bible study of that crucial week after I passed my Chapter V is worked so well for me. During our bible study of Jessai, Cyra, and Anna. I released my stress and problems. I really love them, they actually planned it for me. I’m so lucky to have them as my friends. They became the way of my new beginning as I gained the Holy Spirit. By then, I started reading bible and I always keep in mind the teachings and advices of Cyra’s mom. Everything became so easy for me starting that time. But that doesn’t finished there. Sometimes I can still feel pain, fear, anger, and guilt. But after reading the bible, somehow, the emptiness inside me fulfilled with unconditional love and inspiration by God. At that moment, I became so thankful for every blessings that I’ve received.
The following week, I went to Tagaytay for 3 days with my cousins even though I know I have to pass the last two chapters of my paper the next monday. I tried to finished everything that friday so that I can enjoy my stay in Tagaytay with my cousins, but I’m on a half way. Still, I went to Tagaytay with my cousins to enjoy and to release stress. In short, I chose to be HAPPY! š Until Sunday night when we got home. I rest then I wake up early midnight to finished my last two chapters. I am nervous that time because I thought I can’t finished it, but I just said God will never let that happened. I just pray in my mind and play christian song using my iPad while working. š
With my cousins at Tagaytay ā¤
During the evening of monday I became nervous when my professor told me that he didn’t received my email, I told him that I send it before 8 am that morning. (For the record, 7:47am ko siya na send). So he said to me, to send it again. Then I send it. After a while, I saw our professor’s post in our group saying about the essay that we need to past until midnight. I worked it on immediately that night and send it before midnight. And that’s what I want to share with you – My Essay Coming From the Bottom of My Heart.
MGT09
ESSAY
1. On the basis of your learning from all the activities you did in MGT09 do you agree that all the information that accountants process is the result of the operations of other business functions such as Management, Operations and marketing? Yes or no? And discuss the basis of your answer.
Yes. I strongly agree that the results of the operations of other business functions such as Management, Operations, and Marketing is needed as data by the accountants to process information needed to project financial outcomes. MGT09 ā Business Policy and Strategic Management helps me to understand each and every functions of the business. While doing each step in creating my Strategic Management Paper, from Stage 1 where we formulate our strategy through Stage 2 implementation of strategy and the last step, Stage 3 the evaluation of strategy, I carefully understand how each functions is important to form an effective and efficient strategy smartly. To become a CEO of a well established company, I need to understand how important these functions are. I need to know how the relationships of one functions to the other functions affects each other in order for me to formulate a better strategy. Itās not just about the things done by each functions, it is about the result of each functions that carry-up every business functions in achieving the goals of the company. Every move and step is counted, every failure and mistake must be carefully observe and solve. Every small step is important; moving one-step at a time is better than doing every thing at one moment without accomplishing one goal.
Doing our management paper is not easy but it is very challenging! Every detail is important, every thing must be consider.
At first I admit that Iāve been enjoying doing this paper, especially when I understand every step in Internal Analysis in āTropical Hutā, I thought I can make my excitement up-high ātil the end but I think I did not.
In the middle of making the paper when I am in partnership, I find it difficult because at some point I donāt understand my partnerās work and Iām having problem in collaborating our work together. I didnāt say that I donāt have fault in our situation, I know I have too because Iām having a hard time to balance my personal problems and school works. Then Iāve realized that itās better for me to work alone in our paper. Even it was so hard for me to say to my partner that I want to make it on my own, I did. I did even though it will be hard on my part to work alone especially thereāre still many steps need to be done, but like I have said I did, I did because I canāt take anymore what other people say about me working with my partner. There are misconception about me working with my partner because people donāt see me doing my work (because Iām doing it at home) and also because they donāt hear anything about me(because I always stay silent and I donāt wanna waste my time defending myself without them hearing what I need to say). It is really hard for me to be judge that way, but then again I just remember my professor said: āEverything is constant, our observation is probably wrong.ā And finally, after that realization, I learned to go on my own way without thinking what other people say and I stand confident in front of them. I know Iām not good like others, like what I have said from the beginning, āI am not.ā I want to learn more, and I know I still have to learn many things before I consider myself I am good. Itās just that (probably) people see me thinking and analyzing the details, and thatās the reason why I always asking questions. When I started to be affected by their thoughts about me, I started to be quiet, I barely ask questions but Iām trying to fight my intuition of thinking them so that I can move forward. Then, as I move forward, I started to revise my external analysis, thatās the reason why I lacked of time in finalizing my Chapter V. But still Iāve finished the matrices in Chapter V. Wow! I know my draft-work isnāt that good but it is a fulfilling- feeling I felt when I finished it. I am happy that time because I know that is my work and I know that, I use my own mind in every step I take in order for me to finished it.
Maybe you are asking question right now why I am saying the things Iāve narrate above. Maybe youāre asking what the connection of it from the question is. Well, I can say there is a connection on it. Doing the paper is not about knowing the things and steps to be done; it is about understanding the things and steps to be done in order to make an effective and efficient strategic management. Relating to my story of working the paper, thereās some misunderstanding in the situation thatās why it did not work so well for me. There are no collaboration in the situation, there are no understanding, and thatās the mistake and failure need to be considered. But despite of everything happened, lesson-learned!
Before I realized everything, the time is short already; I really donāt have enough time to prove myself. But I proudly want to say thank you Mr. Marc David Achacoso, for teaching me the āconfidenceā. The confidence you have offered from the beginning of the class. Iāve finally gained it in your class. I might not have achieved your expectation, but Iām sure later on youāll be proud of me.
Going back to the question, as a future Certified Public Accountant (CPA) I need the processed data of Marketing, Management, and Operations department in order for me to work my job. Without them providing me details, I AM NOTHING. My purpose is to help them collaborating their data to make a wise, smart, effective, and efficient economic-decision that the company will benefited in the future.
2. In practice as you have simulated, which is truly more difficult, the processing of data or the generation of data?
āBased on what I have experience, the truly more difficult is the generation of data than processing of data. The generation of data takes alot of efforts of thinking and analyzing every data you have gathered and how it relates each other to come up to a useful information that will support your research process.
Every data gathered reflects one or more business functions. It may be management and finance or marketing and finance or operating and finance and so on. It is not easy to produce information, every little thing have factors in every information we are making. And every information we had make is another ingredient (data) use to produce another information until we come up on the best information that will support our strategic management paper.
Well, actually it is not really difficult, it just need alot of efforts and works in order to finish it. Sometimes lack of time is a problemā¦ but sometimes our laziness of taking the long-way too because we people wants the easy and shortest way. Well I guess and as I realized it long-way is better than short-way because in long-way maybe it takes miles and times to meet the goal but it builds a greater foundation and a fulfilling feeling in the end.
The next day, when I got home from school. I opened my Facebook account and read my professors another post. He said that he was done reading our essay, and he was happy in his post, I think! Haha. I’m happy too.
Another post was me tagging and another group, he said that our grades is on our email already. WOW! I am jumping and very happy when I told to my mom the good news. I GOT 1.5 grade. I told to myself before that I’m happy already to have 3.0. But 1.5 is a BIG BLESSING!!! I’m thanking God for everything.
This is the actual email he send:
After reading the email. I started to finished the first two chapters. Until I became tired and got a sleep first and wake up early morning to finished it.
The final paper is shown below with me. š
(During our ADVAC2 Class — late and haggard after I went to computer shop.)
THANK YOU FATHER GOD!!! I want to shout my HAPPINESS! Haha!
The Actual Paper
After taking the picture of my Strategic Management Paper. I left it on the desk of my prof. in their office. š
Until I got home and even now. I’M STILL THANKFUL AND VERY HAPPY!!!
I want to thank Mr. Achacoso for your trust, to my friends: Cyra, Anna, Chel, and Jessai for your advice, love and support; and of course FATHER GOD for the unconditional love, for the strength and hope you gave me, for all the guidance and blessings, and for not leaving me alone.
That in all things, God may be glorified!
Ora et Labora
The Unknown 