Valenzuela City BPO Job Fair Draws “Promising Talent Pool”

TO THE NEXT LEVEL. Shortlisted candidates receive a heads up from Billy James Cruz, talent acquisition officer from TeleDevelopment.

 

The city government, in coordination with the Rotary Club of Valenzuela, recently held a job fair in VCCPA Theater that accommodated applicants interested in pursuing a career in business process outsourcing (BPO) companies.

Ms. Luningning Martin, head of the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) said, this joint undertaking between the city and the civic group is able to bring TeleDevelopment Services, a company that provide clients with global outsourcing and back-office solutions, for a one-day recruitment campaign in the city.

“That’s good news to our graduating students as well as to our constituents who wants to step up with their career,” Ms. Martin declared. She said City Mayor Win Gatchalian wants his constituents to play active roles in the $7.3 billion dollar BPO industry.

 

JOBSEEKERS. The city facilitated the one-day job fair to assist constituents in finding better career options offered by the burgeoning BPO industry.

 

Mr. Ricardo Yu of the Rotary Club said the BPO industry is already a major driving force in the economy that substantially employs a significant segment of the country’s workforce.

Of late, the Philippines has been named as the “Best BPO Destination in the World” twice by the London-based National Outsourcing Association (NOA) and is attributed mainly to its career-driven people. “I see no reason why Valenzuelanos should be left behind,” he said.

This statement was later supported by Mr. Billy James Cruz, talent acquisition officer who headed the six-person recruitment team from TeleDevelopment. Of the almost 230 applicants, he revealed at least 10 percent of them got shortlisted. “It’s a lot better compared to other places where our hit rate usually pegs at five percent,” he said.

 

HOT SEATS. The one-day job fair drew over 200 applicants, mostly graduating students from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela.

Mr. Cruz further said, applicants were idealist, optimistic but street smart. “They know what they want,” he said, “that’s why Valenzuela should nurture and support its promising talent pool.”

 

Text and Images by Mark Lester S. Cayabyab

Valenzuela City Public Information Office

http://www.valenzuela.gov.ph/press.php?id=200900629&tbl=press

 

Livid PUP students smash desks, chairs to protest 2,000% TFI

"Nag-walk-out sa kanilang klase ang daan-daang estudyante ng Polytechnic University of the Philippines sa Sta. Mesa, Manila para iprotesta ang nakaambang pagtaas ng kanilang matrikula!

Giit nila, walang konsultasyon at hindi makatarungan ang halos 2,000% dagdag singil sa matrikula! Sa tindi ng galit ng mga estudyante, kuhang kuha sa video ang nagliparang mga gamit sa eskwelahan! Exclusive, nagpa-Patrol, Ryan Chua."

TV Patrol World/ABS-CBN, Biyernes, Marso 19, 2010

Update: The PUP Board of Regents is set to discuss the pending proposal to raise tuition from P12 per unit to P200 per unit on March 29 - Malaya

Valenzuela City Grade 2 mentors grasp teaching methods beyond chalk and blackboard

After the City of Valenzuela notched a banner year in 2009 with the most number of classrooms built, students and teachers stand to gain from yet another shot in the arm in uplifting the quality of basic education in the city.

The "WIN ang Edukasyon Program" recently completed a three-day seminar-workshop for grade two public school teachers in partnership with NGO partner Synergeia Foundation, a consortium of individuals and institutions committed to work together in improving the quality of basic education in the country.

TEACHER FOR TEACHERS. Valenzuela City public school teachers grasp new ways of teching from a facilitator at the recent Win ang Edukasyon Program's seminar workshop. Photo by Valenzuela City YSL Office.

The program gathered some 250 English and Mathematics teachers for a three-Saturday course held in Parada National High School.

Fifteen lecturers and resource persons invited by Synergeia from the Ateneo de Manila University and the DepEd Division of Bulacan facilitated the training that promotes information and communications technology as an essential component in today's classroom teaching methods.

Workshop facilitators used the English and Mathematics workbooks provided for free by the city government for the students as basis for their training modules.

"We must better prepare our elementary school teachers, not only with their mastery of the subject, but also in the ways they can motivate their students to begin appreciating the lessons and its applications, Valenzuela City Local School Board Chairman Mayor Win Gatchalian said.

WINNING FORMULA. City Mayor Win Gatchalian stresses the importance of a multi-stakeholder collaborative efforts in uplifting the quality of education in the country.

 

"Times have become more technology driven and students have gotten more attuned with modern conveniences, our teachers should likewise learn to update and adopt by integrating multi-media approach with their traditional ways," he added.

The teachers however drew mix reactions citing the multi-media approach was particularly new to them and access to technology was limited.

In light of this development, Valenzuela DepEd Division Superintendent Dr. Flordeliza Mayari, however said, the Local School Board is strongly committed to capacity building measures for the teachers with their transition phase.

She said the city government has already bankrolled the development of computer laboratories in Valenzuela's public schools and would provide all the necessary help that would improve the performance of teachers through systematic reforms and other processes.

PGMA Groundreaks Valenzuela City Housing Project for Ondoy Victims

After Tropical Storm Ondoy left their families in Tullahan River homeless last year, these children will soon find a better and safer place to live in once the Valenzuela's Disiplina Village is put up for around 900 families.

Amidst swirling cloud of dust and late morning sun, Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came over Valenzuela City on February 12 to groundbreak Disiplina Village in Bgy. Ugong, a housing project for 900 families whose homes were swept by the raging waters of Tullahan River at the height of last year's Tropical Storm Ondoy.

An initial 100 families are temporarily sheltered there on makeshift houses to participate in the construction phase that exemplifies the spirit of 'bayanihan."

Being in the profession, it's my third instance to cover an event where the Chief Executive is the leading figure of interest. The first two assignments were held in a rather confined environments (a BPO facility in Alabang and in Malacañang) but this is the first time to document her engagement outdoors.

With my white polo being embraced by the dusty wind, an old-timer who lives near the area told me the vicinity used to be a quarry site for adobe during the Marcos administration. Even though the landscape is barren (which reminds me of Barrio Cupang straight from Ishamael Bernal's "Himala"), if seen with eyes wide open, the promise of a better life for the recipients is hard to miss.

For full report: http://www.valenzuela.gov.ph/press.php?id=200900615&tbl=press

Citizen documentarists in Iran poll protest awarded journalism prize

You've seen her looking at the camera as she bled to death at the height of protest rallies after the allegedly rigged presidential elections of June 2009 in Iran.

Authorities tried to clamp down access to information and news coverage. But vigilant -and nameless- citizen journalists proved to wield more power than censorship.

And they are commended for their work and giving the world a heads up. This visual evidence of a dying protester, Neda Agha-Soltan, was awarded a George Polk Journalism Award in New York.

New York Times' John Darnton, the curator of The 2009 Polk Awards said the recognition underscores the "increasing importance of user contributions to journalism in an era where cameras are commonplace."

"This award celebrates the fact that, in today's world, a brave bystander with a cell phone camera can use video-sharing and social networking sites to deliver news."

From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/feb/16/george-polk-awards

Combo image taken from: www.nytimes.com

To know more about Neda Agha-Soltan: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/world/middleeast/23neda.html?_r=1

Fly with the Firefly Brigade

Start:	Jan 24, '10 08:00a
End:	Jan 24, '10 2:00p
Location:	169 Kamias Road corner Langka St., Kamias, Quezon City

Check this out...

Firefly Brigade Activities this weekend, January 24

Happening at 169 Kamias Road near corner Langka St., Kamias, Quezon City

1) Membership Orientation Workshop, January 24, 9.00am-1.00pm

You've been joining our rides, you're already online members...
it's about time you take your Firefly Brigade support to the next level...
Be a Firefly Brigade Core Member!


The Firefly Brigade is now inviting interested applicants for the

Basic Firefly Flight Training (FFT), a 3-Sunday workshop on Bike Safety, Bike Maintenance, Road Etiquette, and the Firefly Brigade work which will start on Sunday, January 24, from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

Registration: 8.30am
Venue: Firefly Brigade Headquarters, 169 Kamias Road near corner Langka St., Kamias, Quezon City.

Application Fee: Php100.00

Bring: pen, paper or notebook, personal snacks & drinks, own bike (if you don't have one yet, please inform us)


For inquiries, please contact:
Rosar Crisostomo
VP & Membership Head
rosar_c@yahoo. com
9225616

Multiply: tourofthefirelies. multiply. com
Twitter: fireflybrigade
Website: fireflybrigade. org

-----------------------------------

2) Garage Sale - Firefly Brigade Merchandise and Members' Garage Sale P20 up
January 24, Sunday, 8.00am-2.00pm

Firefly Brigade Tour & Advocacy Shirts - P100-250
Firefly Brigade Tour & Advocacy Jerseys - P100-250
Deuter Bags, Firefly Lighting Bulbs, Spyder Shades, Zefal Pumps etc.

Please pass on this bulletin to your cycling friends :) Thank you!

“Global World: Through the Lens of Human Rights” photo contest

Start:	Feb 1, '10
End:	Feb 5, '10
Location:	Slovenia

DEADLINE: Ekvilib Institute's (Slovenia) international photo contest “Global World: Through the Lens of Human Rights.”

Topic 2009: The topic of this year’s contest are economic, social and cultural rights, which, in spite of massive violations, are still being neglected in human rights debates and are often represented in ways that lead to stereotypes and generalizations.

Prize for the winning photo or photo story: Reimbursement of travel and living expenses in a selected developing country in the total amount of 1.000 EUR, with ensured contacts with Ekvilib’s Institute partner organisations working in the field of human rights in the chosen country.

Who can participate: both professional photographers and other interested individuals, who share the vision and passion to contribute to a more just and balanced global development, and to a socially responsible representation of global development challenges.

Jury: Adriana Zehbrauskas (Polaris Images), Murad Sezer (Reuters Turkey), Jože Vogrinc, PhD (Faculty of Arts at the University of Ljubljana), Max Zimani (The Association African Center, Slovenia), Anita Ramšak (Ekvilib Institute).

Deadline: February 1st 2010

More information available at: http://www.ekvilib.org/en/photo-contest-2009 or alma@ekvilib.org.