Save Yourself, Energy

By Susmita May B. Policarpio (Published in Omega Magazine 2013-2014)

Energy is essential. Energy-induced activities are getting bigger and faster and the temperature in the environment is getting less predictable. In warm days, people cool their homes while in cold days, there is water heating that affect either gas bills or electric bill if using an electric water heater. One way or another, we should find ways to save energy at home for power crisis is not beyond today.

Lighting for less cost

While ideas for saving on lighting should be in another article, here is a nutshell of saving lighting use and costs in a much simple way. There is simpler way than using energy-efficient bulbs like CFLs and LEDs. For example, do not over light the room. Match the power of bulbs and your lighting with the purpose and the ambience of the room.

Install multiple switches to cover different areas in lighting of a large open-plan space.

An electric lamp cost lower than overhead light so if a task to be done needs a focused light use lamps instead, with regular dusting of bulbs and lampshades.

Turn it off

Unplug appliances as soon as you stop using them, or by plugging them into a power strip, and turning the strip off when not in use. Moms cannot say it enough. This advice is as old and popular as electricity, and still the key to simple saving on use and costs.

Weather-stripped doors and windows

Who have not heard the phrase of: “Close the door, the Aircon (AC) will go out” in an air-conditioned room? While the correct statement should be “Close the door, you are losing the cool air,” there is more to leak proofed than the big openings of doors and windows. Sealing tightly through weather-stripping the small cracks and gaps where air is leaking into and out of your home could potentially save a percentage from your family’s annual energy billing.

Summer Shade of Trees

In summer season, fans and AC are in demand usage to cool homes, office, schools, and other facilities. And cooling is costly in energy bills especially in summer. Trees as a summer shade can reduce energy bills if properly place around the vicinity, while doing a favor to the environment.

Planted Deciduous trees (ones that lose their leaves) on the east and west sides, will keep your house cool in the summer, create soothing shade from the hot summer sun, and reduce summer air conditioning costs. And, Shading the ACs helps cool a building more efficiently, using less electricity. A unit operating in the shade of trees uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.

Alternative source of energy

Let us be honest. Replacing a conventional energy use to alternative sources of energy like solar power system is not a simple-and-no-cost thing. But these are investments that will pay for itself in a definite time.

Solar power system is the most real thing homeowners can install to homes if their location has adequate solar resources. A shade-free, south-facing location is best, and mostly, if a homeowner is willing to pay more than the conventional energy to reduce the environmental impact of their electricity use. Solar panels are the most popular form of renewable energy today. You can use them to generate heat, electricity, and indoor and outdoor light.

Heating water is a great use of solar power. Most solar heating systems are cost competitive with conventional systems and have very low operating costs. It is actually the most cost-effective use of solar energy.

Corruption never ends. Then you allow it.

By Susmita May B. Policarpio (Published in Omega Magazine for National Issue 2014-2015)

Leader of Roman Catholic Pope Francis visited the Philippines with the motto of Mercy and Compassion.

Pope Francis went to typhoon Yolanda-devastated Leyte. He heard voices of the marginalized about hardships of life. He listened to children asking with tears why God allow those hardships of losing someone.

With all this, Pope Francis said he do not know the answer to those question nor any words to give them peace.

If human is capable of conscience, the corrupt people in the government should had thought for a second that maybe they know the reason for Filipino’s hardship and struggles in life.

Maybe corrupt-elected leaders know the answer to never-ending poverty and crimes in the Philippines.

The Philippine culture is corruption and corruption is a Filipino culture. Government leaders and officials enter politics “to grasp” the public’s money and not “to serve” the public as said by René B. Azurin.

If a percentage of budget is allotted for social services, a greater percentage of the national budget was lost to graft and corruption.

Measuring corruption would be a daunting task to do. What we can elaborate is the effects corruption do to us Filipinos.

We are made to pay for overpriced goods and services or to deal with low-quality and substandard goods and services.

There is no need to define the instances of corruption published on national broadsheets because aside from politicians and government officials, corruption is around us happening right under our noses.

Doing business in the Philippines would require a lot of papers and years of business permit approval. Aspiring businessmen results in bribes in exchange of processing their business permits.

Corruption in business sector is in abundance. Development and improvement of life is exclusive to few families who run business and politics.

As instance, government business transactions are given to private companies who will provide a “return of favor” to government officials. Instead of competing in quality services and affordability among company bidders, these companies result in who can return the biggest favor in the corrupt officials.

A gold turn pebbles happened in Filipino farmers when the budget for fertilizer funds was lost to private pockets during Arroyo administration. In agricultural country, the government must support, nourish, and protect the natural resources in any way possible.

What happen are, unsubsidized hectares of lands and exploitations of minerals by foreigners and opportunists. And worst land-grabbing of lands from the helpless farmers.

From all the corrupt acts, no one is ever punished. The stories of corrupt acts are replaced by another corruption stories.

The fear of trouble is also the reason for upright citizens to disclose any knowledge in matter of graft and corruption. The corrupt patron has the private armies’ protection.

Corrupt leaders resist the duty and responsibility to create a better life for impoverished Filipinos.

Once, developed country United States under its Foreign Corrupt Practices had penalized and dissolved a US company involved in partnership with Philippines based company which had made numerous illegal payments to foreign government officials.

This is a good example of fighting graft and corruption that must be done by Aquino administration who cries for “Daan matuwid.” Furthermore, serious anti-corrupt officials could establish intelligence institution for good governance.

As a youth, if you are living in slum and have a relative in slum areas, strive to be part of better social cultural location. Be more oriented with justice, be disciplined and be responsible at all time.

Take action using Social media to demand right questions and consequently hear the right response from media, TV and newspapers alike.

Blaming the corrupt acts that have taken away chances for quality life and good governance when you elected them as the leader of the government would be nowhere to go.

However, make the weakness of being part of the masses into strength. With the masses, we have knowledge on how simple things could be precious and the powerless interests and aspirations.

Almost there: 10 Tips to Survive OJT

by Susmita Policarpio

As a post high school graduate looking for a College or University, the LPU brochure that includes list of organization and companies where students can take practicum course would attract enrollees. That was a good brochure. It made you look forward that enrolling to LPU is a way to get into these known companies where your relatives or parents talked about.

However, in reality, college is learning theories and acquiring skills. Getting nto those companies might require someone to know someone from the company and a good timing of passing your resume to score an intern slot.

On-the-job training (OJT) is defined as: Providing training at the job site, usually one-on-one, where the learner performs the job or tasks to be learned.

So, make sure the company or the job site regardless of the organization’s popularity provides you a trainer who is easy to approach and can help you in your objectives in taking a practicum course.

To that end, the following is unpopular opinions on what awaits you in OJT days.

1. Learn by doing. When you start working and a trainer told you a new concept or to do a strange task, my advice is to Google it or, if the internet would not be possible, it is better to simply ask right away and clarify that unknown concept.

2. Stamp your time card. While it is exciting to start a day on doing the OJT task, upon arriving at the job site accomplish first the Practicum Attendance Log.

3. Be friendly with the guard of your company. You never know when you will forget your university ID or OJT ID. In my case the only person that needs to talk to is my trainer and the day is good. However, to talk with workmates and future colleagues will gain the capital N, networks.

4. Dress smart. This is a basic thing plus your supervisor/ trainer will evaluate you on how you dress. There is a criteria for physical appearance in the LPU OJT journal.

5. Always bring the LPU OJT journal. During free time, you can put entries on the journal about your day so on submission to thesis adviser it will save yourself from cramming OJT requirements with senior academic subjects like Thesis and Electives.

6. Be friendly. When someone invites you to eat with them, eat. Or at least reject politely.

7. Get a uniform exemption from SAO. When unfortunately you are still completing the OJT hours during resume of classes, the uniform exemption is a saviour from bringing double attire: LPU uniform and OJT attire.

8. Bring some good cameras. Shoot every experience. Take a group shot with your workmates or take a selfie with your trainer then paste it on your journal. This will save you space on writing the daily work journal.

9. Bring earphones, books, or any gadget. There might be a lot of not-doing-anything time during your OJT hours because there is no intern work assigned to you. To pass your time, these things might help you to save the day.

The last tip is hearsay. As an intern (10) perform the duties and responsibilities. OJT has a lot of doing serious things in the name of your future career. The OJT experience could be the best mentor of your college life if done right. Be passionate, committed, and dedicated.