On Being Professional

May 31, 2013

Today, we were tasked to attend the (GAD)  Gender and Sensitivity Seminar , held at Ultimart Cinema, San Pablo City. There were two districts joined together  to participate in this seminar, San Francisco District, where I belong and Fule-Almeda District.

The night before the seminar, I prepared schools who will be grouped in every cottages to be used after the seminar, because the district, only San Francisco, decided to have team building after the said seminar at the resort near the city. I was tasked to group the eleven schools that will fit for six cottages. It was late that night when I finished the groupings. Before I went to bed, I texted the eleven school heads for them to inform what cottage number they belong and who will they be then after the seminar.

I was not able to check replied that night because I was so sleepy. Only early morning when I checked my cellphone; there were many messages. Thus, one message struck my attention so much and it stated like this: “WAG mong isasama ang ___________ (I’d rather not to mention the school) sa ______________.” Then another message has been sent by the same individual stating “INUULIT ko WAG mong isasama ang ________________  sa kanila, sa iba na.” I really don’t know why was she texted me that way that night. So, I paused for a while and thought, “Oh I see.” I knew the reason.

Then I went straight to the cinema, where the venue of the seminar is to be held. Luckily, I saw the person who texted me. I arrived a bit early in the venue so I had a chance to talked to her. I told her, “Mam, good morning po. Since, iyong school na ito po ( I mentioned her certain school) ay dalawa ang naka-assigned na cottage, dun ko na lang po kayo isasama.” Then, she replied, something like “Duon mo kami isama sa ____________________ (she mentioned specific school where one of her sister is teaching),” she stated firmly. I told her “Mam, mahirap po hiwa-hiwalyin kayo sa cottage gawa po ng food.” She said, “Hindi,magkasabay kaming uuwi ng kapatid ko.” “Mam, eh di pagkatapos na lang po dun na lang po kayo magkita sa labas,”  I suggest. But, she got mad at me because her request was not granted.I asked her”Mam, ilan po ba kayo?”, she did not answer me. I asked another question and another and suggested something still she didn’t look at me and she never entertained my query. Then, beside her was another administrator, she professionally answered and entertained me when she saw, the person I was talking to did not mind me anymore. So I decided to go and went straight to one of her faculty members to re-grouped the cottage for every school just to satisfy her wants.

My point there was that, be professional. Be sensitive enough, let us grow. What happened yesterday let it be. Past is past. You are the only one who don’t like that certain school, why was it that you wanted your subordinate to include in your personal grudge in other people. If you are mad at them, so be it. You are an administrator, we are all professionals. Whatever personal grudge you had against them, it is your own. Do not include others.

As human being, let us practice what has been stated by our GAD speaker, about human rights, that for every right there is an obligation, and it is not absolute. As professional, we should learn how to deviate our personal feelings from being professional.