The IDEAList: GOING BACK IN KINDERGARTEN (The Basics of Life)

The IDEAList: GOING BACK IN KINDERGARTEN (The Basics of Life): As a teacher by calling, (I believe on that) and by profession, I constantly read this familiar poem posted by pre-school teachers in their...

The IDEAList: “OOOPS! JEALOUSY HURTS”

The IDEAList: “OOOPS! JEALOUSY HURTS”: David was a man after God’s own heart. From a humble beginning as a shepherd boy, the last out of Jesse’s eight sons, he was chosen, appoin...

“OOOPS! JEALOUSY HURTS”

David was a man after God’s own heart. From a humble beginning as a shepherd boy, the last out of Jesse’s eight sons, he was chosen, appointed and anointed as the second king of Israel, the one who replaced the first king, Saul.

One of the practices during the old times is giving more preference to the first born. All privileges, special treatment, power, authority and blessings are given to the eldest son. Looking at this situation, David has by no chance at all to be chosen when the prophet Samuel went into the house of his father to anoint the God’s chosen king.

In the book of first Samuel, Prophet Samuel saw Eliab, the eldest son of Jesse, good looking and with good physique. But the Lord said unto Samuel, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him.” This kind of situation proves that appearance and position is not the qualification God is looking for a person whom he wants for a mission. He said, “…for the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b)

And so David was anointed king of Israel, the simple shepherd boy, with gift of music and extraordinary obedience to God. He was anointed in the midst of his brethren and the “Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward”. From other people’s perspective, he was described as “astute in playing (music), a mighty valiant man, a man of war, a comely person and more, the LORD is with him.

As he successfully administering his call, Saul grew jealous of David. He became so envious of his achievements for he recognized that God took care of David. He saw the difference in David’s life because of God’s blessings. As David is busy doing what the Lord asked him to do, Saul grew even more self-centered and fearful of David. David grew closer to God, even as Saul grew more distant.

Jealousy can start out as a small thing.

You notice that your friend or office mate seems to have something you don’t have. Like success, talent, possessions, favor from your bosses and other people. You pay closer attention, looking for differences in the way God blesses him/her. You have an increasing sense of privilege--- “Don’t I deserve to have what my friend has?” Before you knew it, you are heading to the same path Saul took. You grow angry, bitter and suspicious of your friend or office mate--- what is worse, you are now looking for ways to even the score!

The consequences of simple jealousy might lead to something tremendous that in the end, you yourself will be the one at the losing end. You will try to expose the flaws of the person you are being envious of; you would want others to see his/her weaknesses to cover up his/ her strengths. You will try to manipulate circumstances that might lead to his/ her failure--- sabotage in other word, just to put him/her down. You might even use people in position to maneuver circumstances that will lead to his/her failure. All these and the likes will still go back to you, in the end, the one who gets hurt is you.

Let us learn from Saul’s mistake. There are plenty of reasons for him to be thankful, but his jealousy blinded him to his own blessings.

Jealousy makes people blind. 

No wonder why there are a lot of broken relationships. 

Jealousy leads to selfishness and it makes us not to see the blessings that we have. God created each one for a purpose. He created us uniquely from each other. What one have, is not the same with others because how would we be able to appreciate the beauty of life if we are all the same? We were created to complement each other. Like the different parts of the body, each one has its own function. The eyes can’t ask the feet to see things for the task was given solely for the eyes to see and vice versa.

Let us be contented with what we have, what is given to us, what is within the power of our hands and out of that, let us give our best. Let us make ourselves busy with what we can contribute for humanity and not on what others can and cannot. Let us not settle for mediocrity so that in our own special way, we too can bring good fruits to be seen and emulated by others.

Don’t take your eyes off God to compare your blessings with anyone else’s.

Choose the path David took--- the path of THANKFULNESS--- and you’ll enjoy God’s blessings throughout your life.

--- inspired by Henry Blackaby in his book Experiencing God Devotionals.

GOING BACK IN KINDERGARTEN (The Basics of Life)

As a teacher by calling,           (I believe on that) and by profession, I constantly read this familiar poem posted by pre-school teachers in their classrooms. For those numbers of times I read it, I already memorized the verses. I like the concept of Robert Fulghum in his presentation of the realities of life. But I have come to appreciate it more when I heard it from a Police Officer in his privilege speech during the regular Monday Flag Raising Ceremony of Police Regional Office – Cordillera.

He entitled his speech The Paradoxes of Life. He mentioned a lot of inconsistencies in the organization even in our personal life and ended it with the resolution of why not consider the basics of life in the poem “All I really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten.”

Let us take a look at some of those important points of the poem:

All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten

by Robert Fulghum

- an excerpt from the book, All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten

  

All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten.

ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW about how to live and what to do and how to be, I learned in kindergarten.

Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sand pile at Sunday School.

         These are the things I learned:

·                           Share everything. 

·                           Play fair. 

·                           Don't hit people. 

·                            Put things back where you found them. 

·                          Clean up your own mess. 

·                          Don't take things that aren't yours. 

·                         Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. 

·                         Wash your hands before you eat. 

·                          Flush. 

·                          Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. 

Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. 

Take a nap every afternoon. 

When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. 

Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the styro foam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that. 

Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we. 

And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK. 

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living. 

Take any of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or your government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if all - the whole world - had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down without blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess. 

And it is still true, no matter how old you are - when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.------- end

It’s true, right? These are the things that our teachers and parents keep on bombarding us at our young age. These are but just simple manners and good conduct that we need to exercise in our daily living. We obeyed and applied these during those days. But why is it when we became matured, physically, mentally and emotionally, we seemingly forgot all those basics of life.

So, we end up:

·         being selfish--- we forgot to “share everything”;

·         We became competitive that we forgot to “play fair.”

·         In the expense of our own personal advancement, we forgot rule number 3: “Don’t hit people.” We “use” people to reach for our “star”, we practice “whom you know, not what you know”, in this way, we are hitting--- hurting people.

·       Put things back where you found them. Don't take things that aren't yours. So simple yet hard to do. Instead, we justify our deed with “finder’s keeper” practice. Why would you keep something which is not yours?

I admire my husband in imposing this rule in the house. Knowing to put things back in its proper places make things easier. There will be a common knowledge where to get things in case you need them like scissors, comb, broom, shaving razor, and all other common materials at home. This idea made our kids organized and disciplined.

            If only we, in our work place practice the same, there will also be little misunderstandings to handle.

Taking things which is not yours also pertains to taking credit on the accomplishments of others. Work done without proper recognition corrupts the intellectual and capabilities of personnel functioning hard for the organization.

·      Clean up your own mess. Well, in the Philippines, when we eat on a food chain or restaurants, we are used on leaving our mess on the table because we knew that a crew is tasked to do so. However, we became so dependent on people cleaning up our own mess that even if simple fixing of work table in the office, we can’t do. No wonder why even our own mistakes, wrong decisions, bad actions and the likes, we blame other people. We want others to clean our created mess. So bad.

·      Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. Why is it hard for this thing to do? Instead of saying sorry, we keep on looking for reasons to justify what we have done. We are so prideful to admit that we are sinners. We are really sinners. The real reason why Jesus came to earth, for us sinners, because He loves us so. (John 3:16). We are quick to say we are of God’s but so slow in admitting our mistakes. Loving God requires lowliness--- humbleness--- it requires “saying sorry” for hurting others.

Remember the pre-schoolers? They too have misunderstandings in little things yet they are quick to say sorry whenever they hurt their playmates. Then, they are back playing with each other again. Just like that.

And so the rest of the poem is so simple.

There are mysteries in life which we cannot explain like the roots that go down and the plant that goes up, let us just allow God to reveal it, someday.

We will all soon die. Nothing is permanent in this world. So if we will all soon leave this life, what legacy are we going to live that others might emulate?

We will all soon die, what we hold precious for now like our possessions, our positions, our family, everything that we value, we will all soon leave it here. So let us not treat what we have and what we are as if it will not be gone from us.

Let us enjoy life and we can only do that if we learn to see our purpose, if we learn to apply just the simple things in life. There is nothing to lose if we go back to KINDERGARTEN.

And it is still true, no matter how old you are - when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

Picture courtesy of : Teacher Divina Pascual & Julieveth Mataba

GIS in PNP (A Logical Intervention Plan)

The Geographic Information System-Based Crime Analysis

One of the innovations on data sharing is the use Geographic Information System (GIS), an application that can create data mosaics and shares some of the potential problems of other database systems. GIS has database functions and mapping features and can perform spatial analysis and so create entirely new sets of data. The data gathered and created by public agencies have become increasingly valuable and attractive to a wide range of people and businesses. GIS are often operated by local, state, and federal agencies--organizations with the resources to run such costly systems. 

PNP Cordillera or Police Regional Office -Cordillera, utilizes the potential of GIS in crime prevention and crime solution. Below is the documentation of said project.

A.  BACKGROUND:

Being informed is essential to man’s survival. The knowing of “what” and “how to” is vital in determining one’s success. According to Jack Dangermond of Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI),"Knowing where things are, and why, is essential to rational decision making”.

Nowadays, criminals are becoming technology savvy. It is therefore imperative that law enforcers should take advantage of technology to address crimes.  

Cognizant of this fact and in line with the PNP’s vision to become a highly capable, effective, and credible police service, PRO-COR initiated the GIS-BCA project.

B.  PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Under GIS-BCA, crime data is stored in a Master Table using MS Excel for a user-friendly data manipulation, management and processing. This generates location-based information, crime statistics, crime clock, and crime trends. Through an algorithm, the data will be transposed to Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) where crime incidents will be overlaid in a map along with crime hotspots. For better analysis, the crime categories are broken down into modes of commission.

Police personnel can then track the movement of crimes in their AOR. Aware of historical events, they can plan for an effective response, determine mitigation priorities, and predict future actions. The ground commanders could maximize his limited resources by identifying areas where crime incidents happen most and the time they happen.  (see tab “A” for more details)

C.  EXECUTION:

1.    Regional Level

            The GIS-BCA project which started on July 12, 2012 aims to make reporting of crime incidents transparent. After validating the crime data of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), issues on mismanagement of data and poor preventive plans were discovered.  This prompted PROCOR to use Geographic Information System in crime mapping and data recording. Brainstorming and intensive meetings with personnel of the Regional Investigation and Management Division (RIDMD) resulted in the formulation of the GIS-BCA. To implement and develop the project, a GIS Team was subsequently organized at the Regional Headquarters. The team is headed by PSUPT Christopher Acop and the following members: NUP Oliver Paculan, NUP Shan-ry Roberts, NUP Karen Annasiw and NUP Mischelle Junio. The team manages the application of GIS-BCA, develops the project and updates the fields of the Master Table, including the conducts of trainings to the PPO/CPO and other requesting agencies.

2.    Provincial and City Levels

On August 30, 2012, 53 personnel of the Operations and Investigation Section of the Baguio City Police Office underwent the 1^st training on GIS-BCA.  Subsequent trainings were conducted by the team to the other PPOs. Trainings were held on September 11-14, October 4-5 and December 10-13, 2012. GIS Team from the PPOs and BCPO were also created to fully utilize the application of the project.

To date, PRO-COR’s GIS Team has already trained 32 Units regionwide under the supervision and administration of the GIS Team as shown:

Table 1. Units trained on GIS Crime Analysis.

Units/Office	No. of Units	No. of Units Trained
Abra PPO	3	3
Apayao PPO	2	2
Baguio City PO	12	12
Benguet PPO	5	5
Ifugao PPO	3	3
Kalinga PPO	2	2
Mt Province PPO	2	2
Region	3	3
Total	32	32

D.  Project Developments:

  
Endorsement and Support

a.    National Headquarters

On October 19, 2012, the GIS-BCA was presented to the National Operations Center (NOC), Directorate for Operations and, Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management Division (DIDM), Camp Crame, Quezon City. Appreciating its capability as a tool for crime intervention, the participants expressed their eagerness to adopt the project in their AOR.

 

Subsequently, the Regional Director, PCSUPT BENJAMIN B MAGALONG presented the project to the former Chief, PNP, PDGEN NICANOR A. BARTOLOME and the Directorial Staff on November 21, 2012.Then Chief, PNP BARTOLOME, fully appreciating the potential and capability of the project in crime prevention/ intervention, recommended its use as template for all PNP units.

The GIS-BCA was officially launched on December 5, 2012 during the NALECC meeting at the Multi-Purpose Center, Camp Crame, Quezon City, attended by the Undersecretary of the DILG, RDs of all regions, and NALECC members.

Aware of its potential as a tool for national crime prevention / intervention, the undersigned presented the project to the office of the Directorate for Operations headed by PDIR. ALEX PAUL MONTEAGUDO. The response was positive. On the following day, PDIR MONTEAGUDO requested another demonstration of the project application during their Family Conference.  After the presentation, he directed his IT personnel to learn about the project and adopt the same.

b.    LGUs and Other Agencies

On January 28, 2013, the RD together with City Director PSSUPT JESUS D CAMBAY and staff also presented the project to the city council of Baguio. The council presided by Vice-Mayor Daniel Farinas realized that the PNP is aligned with the good governance and “Tuwid na Daan” campaign of the President. They were inspired to support the project and even tasked Councilor Edgar Bilog to head a committee to ensure the full utilization of the project in the city of Baguio.

The project was also presented to the members of the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Council (RLECC) on February 21, 2013 during their 1^st Quarter meeting. Members from the NAPOLCOM, PDEA, NTC, DSWD, DENR, DPWH, DepEd and others appreciated the capability of GIS-BCA.

In addition, the project was also presented to the members of NAPOLCOM Head Office on February 26, 2013 where it was adjudged as highly recommended police management tool.

Launching of Web GIS

            On December 19, 2012, the Command launched the newly developed Web GIS Project, or the “PRO-Cordillera Crime Mapping” which allows the general public and the community to view up to date crime incidents, crime types, trends, patterns, and other relevant information through the PRO-COR website (www.procor.pnp.gov.ph).  The WEB GIS project highlights the importance of disseminating public safety information to the community. Residents can in turn share this disseminated information on criminal incidents with their neighbors or they can give feedback on problems and issues faced by police agencies and the community. This engages them to become partners in crime prevention and control.

 Other Updates

On February 26, 2013 to March 1, 2013, 5 personnel from the Southern Police District (SPD), NCRPO underwent training on GIS-BCA application. 

On March 12, 2013, PRO-COR presented the GIS-BCA to the National Advisory Group for Police Transformation and Development (NAGPTD). The project was appreciated by the NAGPTD members, as the chairman recommended the crafting of a resolution for its nationwide adoption.

 

            On April 1, 2013, the GIS Team together with the Deputy Regional Director for Administration, PCSUPT ROBERTO Q SORIANO presented the GIS-BCA project to the Department of Tourism- CAR headed by its Regional Director Mrs. Purificacion S. Molintas. She signified interest of adapting the concept of GIS-BCA for tourism monitoring, analysis and some other tourism purposes.

            On May 9, 2013, PROCOR Regional Director PCSUPT BENJIE MAGALONG presented the project to the Chief PNP, PDGen. ALAN LM PURISIMA during his visit to the region. The Chief PNP applauded the dynamics of the project, instructing the head of DIDM to craft a resolution that GIS-BCA will be adapted and be implemented nationwide by the PNP.    

Likewise, the project among other PROCOR innovation on IT were presented and demonstrated to different PNP Units, other agencies and media such as NEDA, ISA (Institute for Solidarity in Asia), DIDM, PRO1, Philippine Information Agency, UNTV, ABS-CBN, The Midland Courier, Civil Service Commission, PNP Personnel from Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB), PNP Personnel (joint IOBC-OAC) undergoing training at CARTS, Benguet LGUs, and to students of different schools in La Trinidad.

            Moreover, on August 20, 2013, the team presented the Crime Situation of the region using GIS-BCA to the members of Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) held at NEDA-CAR.

On August 29, 2013, the DRDO, PSSUPT ULYSSES J ABELLERA presented the Vehicular Traffic Accident Report using GIS-BCA to the personnel of DOTC and DPWH during the 4^th RLECC conference leading to the appreciation of said agencies of the capacity of GIS-BCA in addressing even Vehicular Traffic Accidents.

           On September 2-13, 2013, five (5) personnel from PRO-3 and four (4) personnel from PRO-7 underwent training on GIS-BCA and WEB GIS. They were able to organize their own crime data, came up with their own Master Table and execute analysis using GIS-BCA application. 

The GIS Team together with the Regional Director presented same project to NCRPO on September 10, 2013, gaining the same positive response from the personnel therein.

On September 27, 2013, the Regional Director of PRO-ARMM, PCSUPT Noel O Delos Reyes, brought his team to PROCOR to acquaint themselves with the innovations being utilized by the police personnel of the region, including the GIS-BCA. During the demonstration of the project, they fully understood the capacity and possible efficiency of it in addressing crimes, thus, they requested for a-10-day training of their personnel before the year ends.  

PRO-ARMM Regional Director & his team with PROCOR GIS Team, PROCOR SDS and C,RPSMU

 

Same project was also presented to students, barangay officials and the participants of the National Crime Prevention Week Program on September 29, 2013 at the University of Baguio, and even to the 102 students from Naga College Foundation who visited on October 31, 2013. 

The GIS-BCA as management tool became wide spread to other police regional offices, which led to the coming of 5 PNP Personnel of PRO-6 on January 13-23, 2014 who underwent the same 10 days training.

D.  PROJECT IMPACT:

         1. Crime Environment

With the use of GIS-BCA, PRO-COR was able to get an authentic crime data, which through this, the most prevalent crimes committed specifically in the city of Baguio and La Trinidad were properly addressed. Pickpocket which comprises the 27% of the total Theft cases decreased by 11% and its hotspots along Maharlika area going to the Baguio Public Market was dismantled. In September and October 2013, there were no Hotspots of Pickpocket recorded. Homicide cases decreased by 33.33% compared to the record of 2 years ago. Hotspots and crime peak hours were identified in the city of Baguio and La Trinidad, resulting in the disassembling of crime groups in said places. 

2. Crime Management

By getting the true picture, police personnel became fully aware of what’s going on in their area of responsibility. They became analytical in addressing crime incidents and planning preventive measures, courses of actions, and they were able to maximize their limited resources because of rational deployment of personnel.  Their management skills became directional and practical, thus, making them more effective in delivering public safety services. Moreover, crime data management became authentic and transparent.

           

D.  ASSESSMENT:

With its continuous usage, PNP commanders will be more scientific, analytic, and logical – instead of being just intuitive – in formulating law enforcement intervention measures to pre-empt or prevent and control crimes.