The Human Resources (HR) Department manages Celadon’s most valuable resource: its members. HR strengthens bonds within the organization and provides Celadoneans with the tools necessary to develop as the organization’s future leaders. Upholding Celadon’s values and leading by example, Belrica Ma, Joshua Cua, and Jannina Ong make sure that the organization’s future is in good hands.
Belrica Ma
Janelle Chan (JLC): Tell me about your job and the work you do.
Belrica Ma (BM): HR is all about the people. More than the projects, it’s [about] making people feel at home in Celadon. One may wonder, why home? [It’s] because that is Celadon’s advocacy: to establish the Chinese-Filipino identity, and part of that is passing on the values of home, such as sensitivity, openness, and family.
JLC: What do you love about your job and what motivates you to do it?
BM: Our freshies recently surprised us during lunch with their appreciation gifts, and that just left me speechless. Ninabae, Joshua, [and I] were all just overwhelmed, thinking, What did we do to deserve this? This is why I love my job. It’s because I see people grow and learn. Seeing [that] just gives me the motivation despite being tired and stressed [from] balancing all the meetings, projects, academics, family, and more.
JLC: What is your proudest achievement in HR this year?
BM: Every time I hear [about the] touched lives of people after delivering a speech during JuMP, LDP, or other [HR] projects, I really thank God, who enabled me to achieve [all of] this. I never expected to speak so often [in order] to train and [to] inspire members, let alone to be an effective one. That is why every time I am able to do so, I just say [my thanks to] God, who really placed me in this position to be able to share my testimony and experiences, [especially] because one of my mottos in life is to really extend this love that I felt from God to every person I cross paths with.
JLC: Why did you choose HR?
BM: [As previously mentioned], I felt the impact and the love for the organization during my [Celadon] journey, starting when I was a freshie, and I want to pass this love on.
JLC: What values do you hold as a leader? What can a future leader of HR expect? Any advice?
BM: Passion, commitment, and love—these values enable me to go the extra mile, [to] attend that extra event, and [to] be more supportive. The key to HR is not [just] all the success of the projects, but also the road getting there and even beyond. That is why I love organizing surprises, Fitness Fridays, or HOHOLs that are not even official Celadon projects anymore because I just want members to bond and [to] really feel the family and the love that I [have] experienced. Although it’s no longer part of the official job description, I make it a point [to] show my support, not just in my own projects, but also in the other [departments’] like IAC.
JLC: What is your favorite HR project and why?
BM: The Leadership Development Program (LDP)! Other than being the project I headed last year, it’s also my favorite because this is where I found my Celadon family; and it’s my vision for members to also experience this. I love how LDP enables us to reach members in a special way; and I can’t explain it other than saying na sa LDP kasi, tagos sa puso yung impact (I love how LDP enables us to reach members in a special way; and I can’t explain it other than saying that in LDP the impact really strikes the heart). We’re not just impacting people with the skill learnings or the values, but also with the overflowing love that we’re trying to share [and] the magic we want them to experience, hoping that one day, they pass this magic on, [too].
JLC: Share one of your favorite memories with your co-EBs and/or managers.
BM: My experience being VP for HR would definitely not be the same if not for my AVP baes—yes, I call them my baes because I love them lots—and our #HRStrong managers. There’s just so much memories with each of them. Other than our meetings or UBEs, my favorite would be being just so casual outside work that I can joke around, show my silliest self with them, and see them be comfortable with me as well. Another would be when we’d always gather around for that #HRStrong photo! The #HRStrong hashtag and pose was something I started for HR to make them feel more [of the] departmental bond and empowerment. With this bond comes trust, which is an essential part in making things go well. As VP [of] HR, you not only take care of your members but most especially, the people closest to you [as well]: your AVPs and managers. Develop that bond and trust in your people [and] eventually, [that will] develop your unity.
Joshua Cua
JLC: Tell me about your job and the work you do.
Joshua Cua (JC): As the AVP for Leadership Formation, I am in charge of all leadership programs in Celadon [such as] FormSem 2, JuMP, and LDP. I, [along] with my co-HR EBs, handle various initiatives that provide our members with the avenue to grow and [to] develop their skills.
JLC: What do you love about your job and what motivates you to do it?
JC: What I love about my job is that I see people grow and break out of their comfort zones. Celadoneans have so much potential inside of them and [it] is simply waiting for an opportunity or [a] “push” to be discovered and [to be] nourished. What motivates me to do my job is the feeling of fulfillment or accomplishment after every project. This feeling is amplified when you see members become more active and competent than before.
JLC: What is your proudest achievement in HR this year?
JC: My proudest achievement in HR is the success of Formation Seminars 1 and 2. Our department organized FormSem in order to make sure that Celadon’s [manager] are geared toward achieving our mission and vision. Furthermore, this provides them with an opportunity to understand and [to] adopt the values of a Celadon leader. I consider this my proudest moment because I believe that we were successful in training our managers and [made] sure that they had good relationships with each other, even [with managers] outside [of] their own departments.
JLC: Why did you choose HR?
JC: Every since I fell in love with Celadon, the question on how I [could] engage new members and provide growth for them has been innate in me. I chose HR, specifically Leadership Formation, because the functions and responsibilities of this department [are] what I can contribute [to] the most and what I deemed as a crucial part of forming the future Celadon leaders.
JLC: What values do you hold as a leader? What can a future leader of HR expect? Any advice?
JC: The two most important values that I hold as a leader are the passion to serve and [the] commitment to my responsibilities. If you will be the future EB of HR, do not expect it to be easy because it is a yearlong commitment. Your planner will be filled with meetings, meetings, and more meetings. [However], I want to assure you that it will be all worth it when you see the outcomes of your hard work; the results will outweigh the fatigue that you will feel. My advice for you is to never give up. If you [want] to achieve something, make sure that you work hard for it and the results will surprise you.
JLC: What is your favorite HR project and why?
JC: My favorite HR project is LDP. This project started my Celadon journey and trained me to be the leader I am today. In my term as HR AVP, I enjoyed seeing new members experience the LDP magic and become more comfortable with the organization [as] LDP aims to train and to make sure that our members are well-equipped to be the future leaders of Celadon.
JLC: Share one of your favorite memories with your co-EBs and/or managers.
JC: My favorite memories with my co-EB members would be the EB meetings every Monday. I remember how nervous and awkward everyone was during our first EB meeting and [how we were] still reluctant to joke around. Although it did not happen instantly, the EB became one family through the countless meetings, post-meeting dinners, and the Planning and Evaluation Seminar. I [will] surely miss the uniqueness and the moments I shared with each one of my co-EBs.
Jannina Ong
JLC: Tell me about your job and the work you do.
Jannina Ong (JO): As AVP for Membership Development, my job isn’t just to oversee the projects such as the First GA, Tambay Week, CNL, Sportsfest, and Ball, and systems such as House/Pools, under me, but to also make sure that the members of the organization are well taken care of and [are] engaged. In HR, despite having projects officially assigned under [each of] us—[for example], on the Leadership Formation side, we have the Mentorship Program, JuMP, LDP, and Dreagle’s Cup—my co-AVP and I share the responsibility of equally contributing and supporting each other’s projects and initiatives.
JLC: What do you love about your job and what motivates you to do it?
JO: I love being under HR because its projects and events give me the opportunity to meet new people. Also, having been a core team member at least once in almost all of them, I’ve always loved the projects under the department.
JLC: What is your proudest achievement in HR this year?
JO: My proudest achievement is seeing the people who worked under my department grow. This includes the HR managers, the core team, and the volunteers. Back in freshman year, I used to join a lot of core teams for experience until I eventually became an EB member. During those years, I learned and experienced a lot of new things that people wouldn’t normally learn in academics. I grew—hopefully to become a better person—and I want my managers, core team, and volunteers to experience the same.
JLC: Why did you choose HR?
JO: As an introvert, I’m the type to shy away from people. Recently, though, I’ve been trying to be more outgoing. Being [part of] HR, in a way, forces me to step out of my comfort zone. Aside from this, I love mentoring people and seeing [them] grow. Despite being sabaw (messed up), I try my best to be motherly and welcoming to the members of the organization, offering help if needed.
JLC: What values do you hold as a leader? What can a future leader of HR expect? Any advice?
JO: As a leader, I wish to uphold the value of commitment. Being a part of the EB entails a yearlong commitment to not only make sure the projects are running smoothly but also to ensure that the people under you are enjoying their job, [in addition to requiring] a lot of decision-making that will affect the name and structure of the organization. Future leaders of HR should expect that there will be a lot of minor problems that will eventually—and hopefully—lead to the success of the project, which includes not only surpassing the expectations set by the success indicators, but also seeing that the people who worked under [their] project learn, grow, and have fun. For advice, love your job and the people around you because being an EB member is a yearlong commitment which needs a lot of time and attention. Parang pag-ibig lang ‘yan (It’s a lot like love). If you really love them, you’re willing to give them your all; and hopefully, your relationship will flourish in the end.
JLC: What is your favorite HR project and why?
JO: [There should be] no biases but the more challenging—and fulfilling—ones are LDP and Ball. LDP is a big outside-school project that requires a lot of time and effort to be able to pull off. The preparation becomes worth it in the end when we see the graduates grow and start becoming more active and invested in the organization. Ball is one of a kind [in] that it is extravagant in terms of [the] setting and preparation. The sendoff gives a melancholic feel, especially to the seniors; but at the same time, together with the induction of the new EB, it gives us hope for the future of the organization. The organization that the seniors grew up in and loved will now be in the hands of its new, capable leaders.
JLC: Share one of your favorite memories with your co-EBs and/or managers.
JO: One of the most memorable experiences I have in HR was during planning and deliberating about our projects and initiatives for the school year. I remember that my head was already throbbing and we were already very confused and tired that time. But despite this, we were just having fun and laughing in Serenitea because we all loved our work and our ideas have already become sabaw. It was stressful yet fulfilling.
Fueled by their passion and love for Celadon, Belrica, Joshua, and Nina continue to go above and beyond to develop future members who share the same passion and drive that they have for the organization. Exhaustion, fatigue, and sleepless nights come with the job, but witnessing Celadoneans grow as individuals make it all worthwhile. They stand firm in ensuring that Celadon will continue to be the family that it is, hoping that one day, the people they have touched and inspired will pay it forward.
For other articles on the executive board, check this out:
- Celections 2017: DOCPUB, Keeping Everyone in the Loop
- Celections 2017: EXT, Making Connections
- Celections 2017: COMM, Getting People Talking (in More Ways Than One)
- Celections 2017: CORREL, Bridging the Gaps
- Celections 2017: FIN, Making Everything Count
- Celections 2017: CUL, Traditions in Transition
Written by Janelle Chan.
Photos by Tinoley Digital Studio.
Pingback: Celections 2017: CUL, Traditions in Transition - Elements Magazine