Sir Arcee Thoughts

Just got the student eval result yesterday, and while reading the students’ evaluation comments from last sem. This one comment talaga yung sobrang nag strike sa puso ko. 😭❤️

I truly believe na ito yung isa sa pinaka magandang gift na pwedeng matanggap ng isang teacher—yung maramdaman mo na may impact ka sa buhay ng mga students mo.

Alam ko naman na hindi ako yung pinaka magaling sa profession na ‘to, and I don’t claim to be. Ginagawa ko lang talaga siya out of love—para sa alma mater ko, sa passion ko, at higit sa lahat, para sa mga students na araw-araw pumapasok para matuto ng mga bagay na magagamit nila sa future.

Iba pala talaga yung feeling kapag nare-realize mo na, in your own little way, may na-inspire kang tao na magpatuloy at tapusin yung pag-aaral nila. Ang sarap sa puso, and at the same time, sobrang nakaka-overwhelm.

Na-teary eyed talaga ako nung nabasa ko yung message. As someone na mahilig magbasa ng long and heartfelt messages, mas lalo niya akong na-touch.

Moments like this remind me kung bakit ko pinili ang path na ‘to—and why I’ll keep choosing it, over and over again. ❤️

Remembering love, humility, and sacrifice this Maundy Thursday.

Biscoff Oatmeal Cookie (Air Fryer)

Mga ingredients:
2 ripe bananas
Oats
Biscoff spread/crunchy Biscoff
Biscoff biscuits
1 medium egg
3/4 cup fresh milk
1 tablespoon cooking oil

Optional:

konting raisins/chocolate chips kung meron sa mixture mo
extra Biscoff spread for topping

Step-by-step
1) I-mash ang banana
Sa bowl, durugin ang 2 ripe bananas gamit ang spoon or fork hanggang maging soft at halos smooth.

2) Ilagay ang wet ingredients
Idagdag:

1 medium egg

3/4 cup fresh milk

1 tablespoon cooking oil

Haluin mabuti hanggang mag-combine.

3) Idagdag ang oats
Ilagay ang oats paunti-unti habang hinahalo.

Ang gusto mong consistency ay:

makapal

hindi sobrang runny

kaya i-scoop gamit ang kutsara

Kapag masyadong malabnaw, dagdagan lang ng oats.
Kapag masyadong tuyo, lagyan ng kaunting milk.

4) Lagyan ng Biscoff spread
Maglagay ng 1–2 tablespoons Biscoff spread sa mixture, then haluin.
Ito ang magbibigay ng Biscoff flavor sa cookie base.

5) Optional mix-ins
Kung gusto mo, idagdag dito ang:

raisins

maliit na piraso ng Biscoff biscuit

6) Prepare ang liner
Maglagay ng parchment paper o air fryer liner sa tray/basket.
Sa pictures, naka-scoop siya into small rounds.

7) I-scoop ang cookie mixture
Gumamit ng spoon para gumawa ng maliliit na mounds ng batter.
Mag-iwan ng kaunting space sa pagitan.

8) Toppings
Sa ibabaw ng bawat cookie:

lagyan ng kaunting Biscoff spread

tapos lagyan ng piraso ng Biscoff biscuit

Ito mismo ang style na nasa photo mo.

9) Air fry
Ilagay sa air fryer.

Temperature: 180°C
Time: 15 minutes

10) Check doneness
Pagkatapos ng 15 minutes:

dapat mas set na ang labas

lightly browned ang ibabaw

medyo soft pa rin inside dahil oatmeal-banana style cookie ito

Kung gusto mo mas firmer, puwede pa dagdagan ng 2–3 minutes.

11) Palamigin muna
Hayaan muna ng 5–10 minutes bago alisin sa liner para hindi madaling mabasag.
Habang lumalamig, mas nagse-set pa ang cookie.

Why you should document your achievements at work 💼

Sometimes when performance evaluation or self-assessment season comes around, we pause and think: “What did I actually accomplish this period?” And more often than not, we only remember what’s recent or what stood out the most.

That’s why it’s so important to track your accomplishments and achievements throughout the evaluation period not just at the end. Whether they’re small wins or major milestones, writing them down ensures your contributions don’t get overlooked.

Personally, I’ve found this really helpful when it comes to:

• Writing a solid self-evaluation (no more guessing 😅)
• Clearly showing your impact and value
• Having proof in case there are discrepancies in ratings or feedback

The reality is, performance evaluations can be influenced by things like:

• Recency bias (giving more weight to recent events)
• First impressions (primacy effect)
• Pre-existing opinions or perceptions

So if you rely on memory alone, there’s a good chance some of your efforts won’t be fully recognized.

At the end of the day, documenting your work is a way of advocating for yourself. It helps ensure that your evaluation is fair, accurate, and based on actual results not just what people happen to remember.

So don’t wait until evaluation season start documenting now. Future you will thank you. 🙌

References
DeNisi, A. S., & Murphy, K. R. (2017). Performance Appraisal and Performance Management: 100 Years of Progress? Journal of Applied Psychology.
Cascio, W. F., & Aguinis, H. (2019). Applied Psychology in Human Resource Management (8th ed.).
Latham, G. P. (2012). Work Motivation: History, Theory, Research, and Practice

Since it is already defense season, I believe this is a good time to share some helpful tips that can guide students in preparing for their Business Research defense. Defending a research study can be both exciting and challenging, especially for first-time researchers. With proper preparation and the right mindset, students can present their study more confidently and effectively.

10 Tips from Sir Arcee for Business Research/Thesis Defense (Face-to-Face & Online)

1. Wear proper business attire.
Whether face-to-face or online, dress professionally (business attire). Even in online defense, avoid overly casual clothing to maintain credibility.

2. Be camera-ready (for online defense).
• Turn your camera on at all times (unless instructed otherwise)
• Position your camera at eye level
• Ensure proper lighting (face clearly visible)
• Use a clean and distraction-free background

3. Avoid reading directly from slides.
Practice your presentation. Use slides as a guide, not a script. Speak naturally and confidently.

4. Speak clearly and audibly (especially online).
• Use a good microphone or headset
• Check audio before the defense
• Avoid speaking too fast

5. Maintain confidence and composure.
Smile and stay calm—even if nervous. In online settings, maintain eye contact by occasionally looking at the camera.

6. Know your research thoroughly.
• Every group member should understand:
• Title and problem
• Variables (IV & DV)
• Methodology
• Statistical tools
• Expected results

7. Answer confidently but remain humble.
Confidence shows preparation, while humility shows willingness to learn.

8. Listen carefully before answering.
Do not interrupt. Take a moment to understand the question before responding.

9. Be honest if unsure.
If you do not know the answer, say: “We are not certain about the question, but we will take note of it and review it further.”

10. Support each other as a group.
If one member struggles, another may step in. Ensure smooth coordination when answering.

Note: These tips are based on my experience handling different research groups. From what I have observed, these practices have helped many of them successfully pass their defense. While results may vary, I would like to share these insights as a guide to help others prepare more effectively.

Good luck on your defense! 💪✨
Remember: you’ve worked hard for this, and you know your study better than anyone else. Trust your preparation, believe in yourself, and support your team. You’ve got this—kayang-kaya niyo ‘yan! 🙌📊

Grace, Intensity, Grit, Inspiration = Gigi De Lana

Hindi ko ma-express kung gaano ako humahanga sakanya. Watching her live today felt more than just a performance—it felt like witnessing strength, passion, and resilience in its purest form. Despite everything you’ve been through, you still chose to show up, to sing, and to inspire. And that alone speaks volumes.

This Women’s Month, you reminded me of the kind of strength I deeply admire in women—the kind that rises, fights, and continues to shine no matter how heavy life gets.

Thank you, Robinson Galleria South, City of San Pedro for bringing Gigi to the RMusic Fest: A Women’s Month Special. Sulit na sulit!

Fan na ako since "Araw-Gabi sa Tawag ng Tanghalan", and I’ve been rooting for her ever since. Then came the pandemic, where even more people discovered your voice and your heart. And now, finally, I got to see you live. Literal na halimaw sa stage—walang kupas, walang tapon. NAKAKATUWANG MAPAKINGGAN ANG ORIGINAL SONGS MO NG LIVE 😭😭😭 Excited for LIMANG MINUTO to be released soon.🕒

And then "Ulap" came… and suddenly, it wasn’t just a song anymore—it became a story.

“Sayang naman ang pinagsamahan
Kung hahayaang magkalabuan
Sayang naman ang pinagsamahan
Kung tala’y tinakpan ng ulap
’Wag bibitaw kapag mahirap…”

These lines hit differently. Hindi lang siya tungkol sa pag-ibig—para sa’kin, ito yung mga pagkakaibigan at mga bagay na kinailangan kong bitawan along the way, dahil minsan, doon mo lang matatagpuan ang totoong peace of mind.

Hindi lahat ng pagkawala ay galit.
Minsan, growth lang.
Minsan, kailangan mo lang tanggapin na may mga relasyon talagang hanggang doon na lang—kahit gaano pa sila naging kahalaga.

GIGI — not just a singer, but a force.✨️🎤



Robinsons Galleria South

PAPALDO 💸

Napapaisip ako—paano ba natin masasabi na “paldo” na tayo sa buhay? Para bang kapareho ito ng success, pero mas personal, mas malalim. Kasi sa totoo lang, tayo lang naman bilang indibidwal ang makakapagsukat ng sarili nating tagumpay.

Para sa iba, ang success ay ang ma-promote sa trabaho, makabili ng pinapangarap na sasakyan, o magkaroon ng sariling bahay. At walang mali doon—mga konkretong bunga iyon ng sipag at tiyaga.

Pero gusto ko ring i-share ang experience ko.

Noong nasa 20s ako, parang lagi akong nagmamadali. Parang may hinahabol akong timeline—gusto ko ito, gusto kong gawin ‘yan, gusto kong maabot agad ang ganito at ganoon. Lahat minamadali. Lahat parang urgent.

Sa kakahabol ko, minsan nakakalimutan ko ang isang mahalagang salita—CONTENTMENT.

Nakakalimutan kong huminto. Nakakalimutan kong tingnan kung nasaan na ba ako, at kung sapat na ba ang meron ako sa ngayon. Palaging may kulang, palaging may susunod na gusto.

Pero habang tumatagal, doon ko mas naintindihan na hindi pala laging tungkol sa bilis ang buhay. Hindi pala paunahan. Minsan, kailangan mong mag-slow down para makita mo kung gaano ka na kalayo.

Dito ko rin mas naunawaan ang ibig sabihin ng “PALDO.”

Para sa akin, paldo ka na kapag marunong ka nang makuntento—hindi dahil wala ka nang pangarap, kundi dahil marunong kang magpasalamat sa kung anong meron ka habang patuloy kang lumalaban para sa mga gusto mo.

Paldo ka na kapag hindi ka na hinahabol ng pressure, kundi ikaw na ang may kontrol sa takbo ng buhay mo. Kapag hindi mo na ikinukumpara ang sarili mo sa iba, kundi tinitingnan mo kung gaano ka na nag-grow kumpara sa dati mong sarili.

Paldo ka na kapag natutunan mong maging present—na-appreciate mo ang ngayon, hindi lang ang “next.”

Sa huli, ang pagiging “paldo” ay hindi lang tungkol sa kung ano ang naabot mo, kundi kung paano mo natutunang pahalagahan ang bawat hakbang papunta roon.

At baka, habang akala natin hinahanap pa natin ang pagiging “paldo”… nandito na pala ito, tahimik na kasama natin sa araw-araw.

Looking for a new job or career can feel more like a challenge than a struggle and I’ve experienced this myself.

One reason is that what we learned before may no longer fully match what the job market needs today. As industries evolve and technology continues to advance globally, many roles now require updated and more specialized skills (Autor, 2015; World Economic Forum, 2020). Minsan hindi natin namamalayan na malaki na pala ang nagbago sa demands ng market.

That’s why it’s important for us to UPSKILL to strengthen and expand what we already know so we can adapt to these changes. Upskilling helps us stay relevant, competitive, and better prepared for new opportunities (OECD, 2019).

The good news is, maraming available na free learning resources. We can explore platforms like the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) MODeL, as well as government programs such as TESDA, which offer practical and in-demand skills training.

By taking small but consistent steps to improve our skills, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity for growth. 🌱

References:

Autor, D. H. (2015). Why are there still so many jobs? The history and future of workplace automation. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 29(3), 3–30. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.29.3.3

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2019). Getting skills right: Future-ready adult learning systems. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264311756-en

World Economic Forum. (2020). The future of jobs report 2020. https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-future-of-jobs-report-2020

University of the Philippines Open University. (n.d.). Massive Open Distance e-Learning (MODeL). https://model.upou.edu.ph

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). (n.d.). TESDA online program. https://www.tesda.gov.ph