Housewives can still work, at home..
Technological advancement has made it possible for housewives to work home-based
August 24, 2015
by: Gemma P. Diaz
The helper just quit and there’s no one to turn to. There’s no other choice but to give up job and stay home. Budget is so tight and bills are piling up. Those are one of the biggest issues in most households. But not anymore, a housewife can still do something.
At present, many housewives are enjoying work at their own home. Working at home does not only save time and money for commute, from home to work and work to home but also maximize quality time with the family. This also allows housewives to do household chores which means that they could save money from paying a helper. Several of them are online teachers, virtual assistant or secretary, transcriptionist, customer service agents, bloggers, article or news writers, graphics designers and animators. Many home based jobs offer flexible time that a busy housewife can choose from. Some can choose to work for 2 to 4 hours early in the morning, others work anytime convenient to them and for most, they usually work 4 to 6 hours in the evening to late at night when the chores had been done and the kids are on bed.
The affordable technologies like laptop computers and internet has made work possible to many housewives. It helped them increase the income of the family while managing their households. Working at home is simple; just need to have the basic technical requirements such as a desktop or laptop computer, fast internet connection. Basic skill on computer, internet and the ability to speak and write in English are also necessary. Most common skills needed for online home-based jobs are teaching, secretarial work, medical or legal transcription, customer service, article or news writing, blogging, graphics designing and animation. So previous work related to these, gives the best chance of getting hired. To the newbie, some companies offer free trainings. Some can help themselves by reading articles or blogs about a certain job and practice at home.
Pay is not an issue when working at home too. Various companies here and abroad offer above the minimum wage. Working time is also flexible, they can choose to work part-time or full-time time. There are so many free job websites in the internet. Some are Craiglists, Bestjobs, Olx and Jobstreet. Although there are so many companies offering online home based jobs over the internet, precaution is a must. There are countless bogus companies out there who just want to trick or steal from you. And their targets, housewives who are desperate to have a job at home. Apply only with email address or Skype ID as contact list with job experiences and education on your resume. If the company requires bank account, personal information or money, do not apply for genuine company requires experiences and technical skills only.
Few good companies offer bonus and benefits such as health insurance and social security system but most don’t. Be sure to pay own health insurance and social security system as volunteer for future need. Salaries are usually wired through Western Union or Paypal so be ready to have an account by visiting the Paypal website. Making a Paypal account is free. Never give bank account number unless you know the company well.
Working at home has so many things to offer not only to housewives but to everyone who wanted to use their time also productively. It is pretty rewarding. But keep in mind that, while taking care of family and managing the household don’t forget that children grow up and have a family of their own. Whenever there’s chance upgrade skill and education, grab it. It might be one of your assets when the time comes to go back to work again, whether it’s home-based or office-based.
Photo Credit:
Bombeck, E. [Modern Mom]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/256225587769758/photos/a.256306741094976.62742.256225587769758/975211895871120/?type=3&pnref=story
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A development issue ...
March 08, 2015
By: Gemma P. Diaz
By: Gemma P. Diaz
For many housewives, staying at home was not the easiest to do. The mentality of most Filipino is that a full-time housewife is lucky, that she doesn't have to work, that her husband must be earning well and more. Maybe these are true for the few but not to many. Among my friends are also housewives like me. And you won’t believe what they have to say once to talk to them. Boredom was the enemy; the budget is tight, self-esteem falling apart. It’s true that nothing can ever compare the joy and satisfaction of taking care of your own family firsthand but there are also setback on staying at home 24/7. Most of the time, they end up unappreciated and usually take the blame when there are problems with the children or at home. And I believe that this is a development issue. A dejected housewife hinders development at home and could lead to a serious family problem. Most of the time, friends and close relatives would tell about their worries or needs at home. They would ask the most productive way to kill time at home, what’s the best business to start and what’s the easiest way to get a loan. Some would say they want to fly away and get lost. I guess being listened to helps someone feel that other people care about them and what they have to say.
I only have few understanding about DevCom and there’s a lot I need to know about this degree but let me share something I have been doing for the last 6 years. I don’t have any good solution but I couldn't turn myself deaf to their plight. I am a housewife too and I know how they feel. As an online tutor I offer my skill. Often I encouraged them to learn how to teach ESL (English as a Second Language), get acquainted with their computer and the internet. These days, internet and computer proficiency has a lot to offer although you are only at home. It’s the most practical job I've ever known that I wanted to share to them. Some are hesitant they don’t have the experience or not confident enough but I always remind them that I too, didn't have the experience when I first started in the field not even an Education graduate. I was willing to train them everything I know in teaching ESL and even invited them at home to see teach my students. I always tell them that if I can do it, they can too. They are college graduate after all.
Six years since I started this job, seven of my friends (all married) are also online tutors in their own home. A year ago, we also started bowling and having dinner at least once month. We play; we talk about our married lives, our worries, our feelings and our goals. Doing these help us relieve our stress, our worries. Results of this advocacy were not always positive. It takes a lot of patience and time. I don’t have any organization or affiliation; I’m just a housewife who usually spends time at home. But I’m glad I did something in my own little way. I think I will continue doing it as long as there are unhappy housewives in my group. People might say we are just having fun but for us, it’s more than just fun. It’s rebuilding human spirit and optimism once again. On a final note, I can’t make any promises on things I couldn't do; probably this degree I am studying would just give me confidence to continue with what I just started. A proof I would always tell other housewives out there that learning doesn't stop at home, that they can do something other than doing chores.
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Diaz, Gemma P.
Corruption has long been an unyielding issue in our country, from one administration to another. Many times our country has ben dubbed as the ‘Sick Man of Asia’ and was even entered Guinness Book of World Records for allegedly the biggest corruption of all times during the time of former president Ferdinand Marcos (Moratalla, n.d.). But what really is corruption. Corruption is the use of public fund, materials and goods in enriching oneself, family and acquaintances. In addition Samura wrote that, corruption is the illegitimate use of office by public officer for personal intention (2009). Furthermore, Quebral added that corruption exists in any society but it is more prevalent in developing countries (2012). Corruption deters development, aggravate poverty and heighten social injustices. In fact, poverty has long been used by politician as their vehicle and ‘glue’ to power. I’d say, in the Philippines corruption is a way of life. Hearing and watching news about a public official from national or local office charged for violating RA 3019 or ANTI-GRAFT AND CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT is not a surprise to us anymore, we are so accustomed to it that we don’t do anything to counteract this problem. But I guess, we ordinary people can still do something as the former president of India Pratibha Patil said, “Corruption is the enemy of development, and of good governance. It must be got rid of. Both the government and the people at large must come together to achieve this national objective (2012).” I totally agree with her since behind the different scams done by the past and present administrations were the courageous whistleblowers. They brave themselves to stand among others and tell the nation what they know and witnessed against these public officials. But what instigate them to do it, when in fact their lives and the lives of their families were at risk. Is it because they were not given their part of the bargain? According to them they wanted to vindicate themselves especially their conscience, they claimed that they can’t sleep at night feeling that it was not right to just shut their mouth and do nothing. Therefore, the whistleblowers’ moral values and fear of the Supreme Being hammered them to tell the truth.
Hence, what can we Development Communicators do to create reforms in our government? First of all, it is must that we have a deep sense of commitment and acceptance of responsibility (Quebral, 2012). That is to make sure that the changes we are aiming to make will be realized. Secondly, we need to understand that development means more than economic development. According to Lagerway, development is a total approach. It does not only involve economic programs. The development of people is the main focus (n.d.). Thus, as communicators of development, we motivate and empower people, we help people recognize their potential; we open their eyes into something that they don’t clearly understand, we stimulate their interest, Thereby, the approach is more on human development. And if we can do that then there’s a probability of behavioral change then a course of action. Ong added that for economic development to happen we need to better our social structures, have relative peace and order, highly motivated people, a skilled labor force, a minimum of GRAFT AND CORRUPTION, and so much more. Furthermore, he said that when talking about social justice we talk about moral values (n.d.). Therefore, in my opinion moral development is crucial to help combat corruption. We need to dig deeper our inner selves and remind ourselves again the values and morals our parents and our church had taught us. We need to change our attitude and get ourselves involve. The Moral Recovery Program (Proclamation No. 62) initiated by former president Fidel Ramos in 1992 is a profound development program that aims to inculcate following virtues for national development: teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop moral character and personal discipline, encourage critical and creative thinking, and respect human rights. It stated that there is a need of moral recovery in order to eradicate the social ills that have afflicted us for the past several decades, such as graft and corruption, patronage politics, apathy, etc. It further added that moral recovery is an integral aspect in ensuring success in the government’s economic development and people empowerment programs and projects (GovPh, 1992). I believe this is a holistic approach in helping minimize if not eradicate corruption.
In development communication there are various communication tools used by communicators to empower the people; the Information, Education, and Communication (IEC), photography, mass media, and the internet and social networking sites. So how can I use these communication tools to create reforms in the government? With enough budget and support from stakeholders, making and distributing IEC materials such as leaflet, newsletters, brochures, posters, comics, flyers, t-shirts and caps with anti-corruption messages or information would enhance people’s understanding about corruption. One good example is to inform the people about the Republic Act 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act using leaflets or brochures, writing newsletters on the stories of the whistleblowers on what motivate them to come out and disclose the corrupt practices of public officials, and printing short bible verses about corruption on t-shirts, caps and even umbrellas. On the other hand, I can also use photography to instigate awareness as 65 percent of us are visual learners (Brown, 1998). This only mean that we easily learn and pick-up an information through our eyes. Moreover, photography has the power to bring about change. They evoke emotion and deliver information that can provoke people to action (Transparency International, 2015). Photography enables me to show the people a scenario created by the government not only in my community but also in various places I go to. To mention few, difficulties of farmers due to inaccessible road, traffic rules not totally regulated such as cars parked in each side of the road, unfinished projects or projects that are taking too long to finish such as roads or bridges, the many faces of ubiquitous poverty in the community, and more. Additionally, since most of us use smartphone to shoot videos and capture I would also encourage participation in Social Networking Sites to share their photographs of corruption thus showing the nation what is our government doing. It reminds me how Janet Napoles and the senators involved in the PDAF scam obstinately denied their involvement together; but their partying photographs showed the nation they were liars. Another useful communication tool is the mass media. Utriainen professed that the media can employ investigative journalism to reveal inequities, and violations and, in an educational sense, reinforce social values that reduce the incidence of corruption in government and business (n.d.). Therefore, radio and television are the watchdogs, the gatekeepers that can monitor the government and the voice social injustices. The radio, it is commonly described as a mass medium because can reach millions of people anytime of the day and can surpass boundaries. And so, creating meaningful scripts and dramas incorporating corruption or anti-corruption laws and making gag shows that mock the wrongdoings of the corrupt public official are another way of forming awareness and educating people. One good example is I can’t help to share is the ABC 5 show ‘Bayaw’, it is a perfect way to ridicule the politicians and other public officials in our country. Last but not the least; I can also employ the services of the internet and social networking sites. These have been a common ground to communicators who wanted to educate and inform, and a channel to many who wanted to vent their dismay and fury over the government and public officials. As we Filipinos are very social and we love meeting in various social networking sites, I guess it’s perfect to circulate photos and actual videos of personalities and politicians creating news due to grave misconduct. They say fish is caught by its mouth, as the nation once again witnessed how Napoles and her family lavishly lived in California when the blog and videos of her daughter went viral. In addition posting short bible verses and quotes about values and good morals would remind the people what is good and bad. Spreading visual art parodies and information on corruption and anti-graft and corruption laws would give them ideas and therefore guide them in guarding our so called ‘Kaban ng Bayan’. And again, encourage the participation of the people as the internet and social networking sites are one fast and effective way of mobilizing social issues and information.
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Using communication as a tool for realizing reforms/changes in the bureaucracy
Diaz, Gemma P.
December 01, 2015
Corruption has long been an unyielding issue in our country, from one administration to another. Many times our country has ben dubbed as the ‘Sick Man of Asia’ and was even entered Guinness Book of World Records for allegedly the biggest corruption of all times during the time of former president Ferdinand Marcos (Moratalla, n.d.). But what really is corruption. Corruption is the use of public fund, materials and goods in enriching oneself, family and acquaintances. In addition Samura wrote that, corruption is the illegitimate use of office by public officer for personal intention (2009). Furthermore, Quebral added that corruption exists in any society but it is more prevalent in developing countries (2012). Corruption deters development, aggravate poverty and heighten social injustices. In fact, poverty has long been used by politician as their vehicle and ‘glue’ to power. I’d say, in the Philippines corruption is a way of life. Hearing and watching news about a public official from national or local office charged for violating RA 3019 or ANTI-GRAFT AND CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT is not a surprise to us anymore, we are so accustomed to it that we don’t do anything to counteract this problem. But I guess, we ordinary people can still do something as the former president of India Pratibha Patil said, “Corruption is the enemy of development, and of good governance. It must be got rid of. Both the government and the people at large must come together to achieve this national objective (2012).” I totally agree with her since behind the different scams done by the past and present administrations were the courageous whistleblowers. They brave themselves to stand among others and tell the nation what they know and witnessed against these public officials. But what instigate them to do it, when in fact their lives and the lives of their families were at risk. Is it because they were not given their part of the bargain? According to them they wanted to vindicate themselves especially their conscience, they claimed that they can’t sleep at night feeling that it was not right to just shut their mouth and do nothing. Therefore, the whistleblowers’ moral values and fear of the Supreme Being hammered them to tell the truth.
Hence, what can we Development Communicators do to create reforms in our government? First of all, it is must that we have a deep sense of commitment and acceptance of responsibility (Quebral, 2012). That is to make sure that the changes we are aiming to make will be realized. Secondly, we need to understand that development means more than economic development. According to Lagerway, development is a total approach. It does not only involve economic programs. The development of people is the main focus (n.d.). Thus, as communicators of development, we motivate and empower people, we help people recognize their potential; we open their eyes into something that they don’t clearly understand, we stimulate their interest, Thereby, the approach is more on human development. And if we can do that then there’s a probability of behavioral change then a course of action. Ong added that for economic development to happen we need to better our social structures, have relative peace and order, highly motivated people, a skilled labor force, a minimum of GRAFT AND CORRUPTION, and so much more. Furthermore, he said that when talking about social justice we talk about moral values (n.d.). Therefore, in my opinion moral development is crucial to help combat corruption. We need to dig deeper our inner selves and remind ourselves again the values and morals our parents and our church had taught us. We need to change our attitude and get ourselves involve. The Moral Recovery Program (Proclamation No. 62) initiated by former president Fidel Ramos in 1992 is a profound development program that aims to inculcate following virtues for national development: teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop moral character and personal discipline, encourage critical and creative thinking, and respect human rights. It stated that there is a need of moral recovery in order to eradicate the social ills that have afflicted us for the past several decades, such as graft and corruption, patronage politics, apathy, etc. It further added that moral recovery is an integral aspect in ensuring success in the government’s economic development and people empowerment programs and projects (GovPh, 1992). I believe this is a holistic approach in helping minimize if not eradicate corruption.
In development communication there are various communication tools used by communicators to empower the people; the Information, Education, and Communication (IEC), photography, mass media, and the internet and social networking sites. So how can I use these communication tools to create reforms in the government? With enough budget and support from stakeholders, making and distributing IEC materials such as leaflet, newsletters, brochures, posters, comics, flyers, t-shirts and caps with anti-corruption messages or information would enhance people’s understanding about corruption. One good example is to inform the people about the Republic Act 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act using leaflets or brochures, writing newsletters on the stories of the whistleblowers on what motivate them to come out and disclose the corrupt practices of public officials, and printing short bible verses about corruption on t-shirts, caps and even umbrellas. On the other hand, I can also use photography to instigate awareness as 65 percent of us are visual learners (Brown, 1998). This only mean that we easily learn and pick-up an information through our eyes. Moreover, photography has the power to bring about change. They evoke emotion and deliver information that can provoke people to action (Transparency International, 2015). Photography enables me to show the people a scenario created by the government not only in my community but also in various places I go to. To mention few, difficulties of farmers due to inaccessible road, traffic rules not totally regulated such as cars parked in each side of the road, unfinished projects or projects that are taking too long to finish such as roads or bridges, the many faces of ubiquitous poverty in the community, and more. Additionally, since most of us use smartphone to shoot videos and capture I would also encourage participation in Social Networking Sites to share their photographs of corruption thus showing the nation what is our government doing. It reminds me how Janet Napoles and the senators involved in the PDAF scam obstinately denied their involvement together; but their partying photographs showed the nation they were liars. Another useful communication tool is the mass media. Utriainen professed that the media can employ investigative journalism to reveal inequities, and violations and, in an educational sense, reinforce social values that reduce the incidence of corruption in government and business (n.d.). Therefore, radio and television are the watchdogs, the gatekeepers that can monitor the government and the voice social injustices. The radio, it is commonly described as a mass medium because can reach millions of people anytime of the day and can surpass boundaries. And so, creating meaningful scripts and dramas incorporating corruption or anti-corruption laws and making gag shows that mock the wrongdoings of the corrupt public official are another way of forming awareness and educating people. One good example is I can’t help to share is the ABC 5 show ‘Bayaw’, it is a perfect way to ridicule the politicians and other public officials in our country. Last but not the least; I can also employ the services of the internet and social networking sites. These have been a common ground to communicators who wanted to educate and inform, and a channel to many who wanted to vent their dismay and fury over the government and public officials. As we Filipinos are very social and we love meeting in various social networking sites, I guess it’s perfect to circulate photos and actual videos of personalities and politicians creating news due to grave misconduct. They say fish is caught by its mouth, as the nation once again witnessed how Napoles and her family lavishly lived in California when the blog and videos of her daughter went viral. In addition posting short bible verses and quotes about values and good morals would remind the people what is good and bad. Spreading visual art parodies and information on corruption and anti-graft and corruption laws would give them ideas and therefore guide them in guarding our so called ‘Kaban ng Bayan’. And again, encourage the participation of the people as the internet and social networking sites are one fast and effective way of mobilizing social issues and information.
As a closing
remark, I am truly grateful on the advancement of communication technologies as
it has always been steadfast in spreading significant information. From the
time of the Estrada’s administration to present, we transparently see what they
have been doing to our country. To fellow development communicators let us give
our unwavering support to fight corruption and continue to educate and inform
the people in our community and our country.
May
you have a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!!!
Cheers!
References:
QUEBRAL,
N. (2012). Development Communication
Primer. Southbound, Penang.
Samura,
B. K. (2009, January 25). The Negative Effects of Corruption on Developing
Nations: A Perspective on Sierra Leone’s Effort. Retrieve from http://www.carl-sl.org/home/articles/125-the-negative-effects-of-corruption-on-developing-nations-a-perspective-on-sierra-leones-effort-to
Moratalla,
N. N. (n.d.). Graft and Corruption: The Philippines Experience. Retrieved from
http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN019122.pdf
Ong,
G. V. (n.d.). A Theory of Development Communication. Retrieved from http://cfamedia.org/main/?p=2417
Lagerway,
F. (n.d.). Introduction to Development Communication: Its Philosophy and
Approach. Retrieved from http://cfamedia.org/main/?p=2427
Utriainen,
T. (n.d.). 8th International Anti-Corruption Conference. Retrieved
from http://www.8iacc.org/papers/utriainen.html
Transparency
International. (2015, May 5). Capturing Corruption: Global Photo Competition.
Retrieved from http://www.transparency.org/news/feature/capturing_corruption_global_photo_competition
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