DOLE Batangas empowers career advocates on labor education and self-esteem

DOLE-Batangas held a capability-development activity focused on labor education and self-esteem last February 19 at WODP Training Room, DOLE Bldg., Lipa City for 60 career advocates of the Province.

DOLE-Batangas, according to Dir. Predelma M. Tan of DOLE-Batangas, is aware of various potential challenges to students, especially the graduating ones. Drawing the insights of the participants, she highlighted the observable insufficient knowledge of graduating students as to the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers. Furthermore, she narrated the HR officer's claims that many graduates seemed to be uncomfortable for who they are and what they have. Such incidents affect job application (for those unemployed) and work performance (for those employed).

Hence, Dir. Tan said, addressing the participants, "Minarapat namin na magkaroon nang ganitong gawain upang kayong mga guidance counselors at iba pa ay maging aktibong katuwang namin sa pagpapamulat sa mga estudyante na ang mundo ng pagtatrabaho ay kailangang paghandaan nang lubusan, sa aspektong legal at aspektong sikolohikal."

Ms. Ann Jelyn F. Natividad, alternate focal person for labor education, served as one of the resource persons. She navigated her discussion on labor standards and occupational safety and health demands.

Answering one of the career advocates questions, Ms. Natividad said, "We do not want our students na inalaagan at pinalago natin ng husto na mapupunta lang sa mga trabahong maabuso sila. Kaya naman yung knowledge nila pagdating sa usaping related sa labor ay magiging shield nila for whatever kind of abuses."

On that note, she requested the career advocates to communicate often with DOLE-Batangas to verify the labor status of companies, especially if recruitment activities within the school premises shall be held.

Succeeding Ms. Natividad as speaker was Rev. Fr. Manny Lucero. Citing his learning on psychology from U.S. and his experience as a psychotherapy practitioner, Fr. Lucero first differentiated first self-confidence and self-esteem. He taught the career advocates that self-esteem is something that is woven by many factors and is a womb-to-tomb thing. Fr. Lucero also mentioned about studies that show how social media has significantly led to low self-esteem and worse, to depression.

"Alarming yung mga information na lumalabas nowadays about social media. Nariyang marami ang nasisira ang buhay; hindi malaman kung saan sya pupunta. Nawawala ang focus dahil simultaneous ang mga bagay sa sphere na iyon. And students end up broken," Fr. Lucero revealed.

Ms. Cleofas Khoo, 2016-2019 President of Advocates for Career Educators, Inc. (ACESI) Batangas, agreed with Fr. Lucero. In her discussion of the accomplishments of ACESI-Batangas, she stated that students are all the more needing of guidance. Looking back at her eight-year stint at the organization, Ms. Khoo challenged the career advocates to intelligently craft effective activities that will show the students the damaging effects of social media if such is abused.

She added however that steps should not end there.

"Kailangan nating magakaroon rin ng activities that will sharpen the students' focus and desire to know what it is that they truly and really wanted. Only then that the career journey advances."

After all the sessions, an election of ACESI-Batangas 2019-2022 officers took place. Ms. Mariefe Balane got elected as President. There were equal representations on the elected roll from the four Batangas Divisions and from private schools.

Mr. Karl Joseph Sanmocte led the whole activity.