Change : It Starts With Me

            Everything has a change. If you want a change you must first start it with ourselves.
            ONE particular saying that has always struck me as unintelligent is, “People don’t change.” I believe that although each individual has deep-rooted personality traits, we are not held captive by them. Believing that we can’t change encourages us to accept our weaknesses. Countless people with substance problems declare they aren’t capable of quitting. But then it is much easier to continue a harmful behavior when accountability is placed on an outside force like genetics or an “addictive personality”.
            When we say people can’t change it is analogous to saying people can’t learn. I have read that when you learn something new, that knowledge fundamentally changes you. Each fragment of information adds to your personal database, creating additional resources to draw on when interacting with the outside world. We face the same temptations to take on negative behavior, but we also build a body of experience that tells us the reward isn’t worth the penalty. Comparing ourselves today from ourselves a few years ago, we can observe that we are the same but more.
            Truth is that individual and organizations can change but choose not to. Reason is change hurts. It makes people insecure, confused and angry. People want things to be the same as they’ve always been. They hate to relinquish an old training or philosophy for a new way of thinking. They want to do things the way they are accustomed to because that makes life easier. But if you are a leader, you can’t let your people hang on to the past. Leadership is ultimately about changing people’s behavior.

Kannawidan : The Ylocos Festival

           Ilocos Sur has a rich heritage and unique culture. However,  it is observed that many of these traditions, songs, dances and other Ilocano culture are no longer familiar with the younger generations. Children of today prefer the modern and novelty dances they see on television shows than the traditional ones.
There is a need to preserve our rich heritage and unique culture. With this in mind, the provincial government of Ilocos Sur has conceived a festival that highlights these culture and traditions and attract local and foreign tourists as well. Dubbed the Kannawidan Ylocos Festival, it is also a commemoration of the anniversary of Ilocos Sur as a province.
                On January 29, Kannawidan Ylocos opened with a celebrated mass held at the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral followed by a procession of the patron saints of the 40 parishes as well as images of Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary around the province’s capital city, a testament to the deep rooted religiosity of the Ilocanos.               Residents and even the local and foreign tourists partook of a delicious dinner held at the Plaza Salcedo after the procession. The big crowd enjoyed the fireworks display after the meal.
The Bayanihan Dance Company regaled the Ilocanos with their world class performance showcasing the beauty of the Philippines through dances, music and sounds. The audience lapped up their graceful movements and excellent rendition of songs and dexterity in playing indigenous musical instruments.