MARIJUANA: TO BE LEGALIZED OR NOT?

      Epileptic seizures, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis are some of the diseases that marijuana can treat according to some studies. It can also treat loss of appetite after chemotherapy or following treatment for HIV and AIDS. People with these condition especially parents, whose children are suffering from such illnesses are seeing Marijuana as the light in their darkest problem.

    Here in the Philippines, The committee on health of the House of Representatives is considering the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. Despite of its known medicinal benefit, a lot of people disagree with this bill as it detriments outweighs its benefits.

So the question is, to be legalized or not? Let us answer this question using the Utilitarian approach.

Utilitarian approach answers the questions “Who benefit from the act?” “Who are burdened?” “Does the act maximize the total net benefit to everyone concerned? “

1. People suffering from the disease

Isabella Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, principal author of House Bill 4477, said that there have been research findings that children with frequent medical seizures who were given medical marijuana felt a great improvement in their condition. He also added that t would give hope to persons with debilitating disease, severe pain, intense seizures and persistent muscle spasms that the legal solution to their problem is at hand.

2. Government

This bill will give our government a huge responsibility. It should address the issue on how it will regulate the plantations to ensure that it would not be abused.  Law enforcers will be forced to distinguish medical users from "recreational" users.

3. Doctors or Medical Practitioners

"I will use my power to help the sick to the best of my ability and judgment. I will abstain from harming or wrong doing any man by it. I will not give a fatal draught to anyone if I am asked, nor will I suggest any such thing." This is a part of the medical practitioner's oath. Physicians are in the best position to know what the patient needs and legalizing marijuana will be a great help for them in fulfilling their duty.

4. Community

Dr. Junice L.D. Melgar, executive director of the Likhaan Center for Women’s Health mentioned that marijuana has side effects like the alteration of moods. The community will be threatened due to government’s lack of ability to strictly implement policies and regulations.

    5. Marijuana Industry

Once, this bill is legalized, it would create an opportunity for the Marijuana industry.

"All the public knows about marijuana is the stereotype, that it's all for getting high and nobody shines a light on the few instances where it is the most compassionate for children who have epilepsy, for patients who have cancer," (Dr. Melgar). Based on utilitarian approach, medical marijuana should be legalized as the act maximized the total benefit to the people concerned. However, there is no committee hearing has been held on the bill at the lower chamber as it was only filed in May 2014.

sources:

https://www.harvestoftempe.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Harvest-of-Tempe-Medical-Marijuana-Dispensary3.jpg

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/06/09/Philippines-medical-marijuana-pending-cannabis-bill-House-of-Representatives.html

Moral Compass

Ancient travellers used compass to direct them to their destination. It would be easier for us to go on a path if something or someone is guiding us. Wouldn’t it be nice if business people could have this moral compass that can point us to an ethical direction?

Ethics is the activity of examining ones moral standards or the moral standards of society, and asking how these standards apply to our lives, reasonable or not. There are a lot of reasons why we should believe in Ethics and Social Responsibility. Here’s why:

1.      Ethics tells us how we should act towards other people.

One should always consider how he/she act towards other people from the highest position down to the lowest. Respect begets respect. Thus, we must be a great example of showing our respect and compassion to others.

2.      Businesses cannot survive without ethics.

Ethics creates harmony within the organization. Business requires a stable society in which to carry on its dealings whereas morality is a stabilizing force in the society.

3.      Ethical behaviour cultivates goodwill and loyalty among employees and most especially among the customers.

Employees involved in designing and implementing a socially responsible program in the company develops important skills that allow them to grow outside of work.

Customers love socially responsible companies. They would be willing to pay more for goods and services from such companies.

4.      Businesses can have exemplary ethics and still be very profitable.

Ethics can build a good reputation for the company. Consumers will start to patronize their products or services and could also lead to customer loyalty. Due to their favorable reputation, the company can attract better applicants, enhance its access to capital markets and attract investors.

       We, business leaders should be a great example of this ethical practice not because of the benefits we receive from it but because we want to serve and give back. Together, let us make a difference in the world. ☺☺☺


sources:
http://www.happylawyersblog.com/files/2014/02/moralcompass.jpeg

Career and Life Planning

This photo is taken last year during our 6 day trip to Hong Kong and Macau. This is our first time to travel without an agency fixing our hotel accommodation, itinerary and air fare. A lot of friends are advising us to look for one so that we will not experience the hassle. But still, we insisted to do a DIY (Do It Yourself) tour to maximize our time with a particular place that we want. Compared with the packages that I saw, the itinerary for one day is loaded with 4 to 5 destinations which give you a very limited time to enjoy the place.

Prior to our tour, my sister booked our air fare at Cebu Pacific and I booked for our hotel accommodation. My siblings and I conducted a research about the tourist spots of Hong Kong and Macau. After listing them, we made our own itinerary. We searched for their transportation system and how we can get from one place to another.

I must say that we really enjoyed our tour. We didn't get lost because we planned our itinerary plus the transportation system of Hong Kong is good. Reminiscing this, I started to think how planning can really help us not just for our tours but in our daily life.

            Setting our goals helps us to know what we want to achieve in our life. Planning for it will help us determine the steps that we should take. Through planning we can:

     1. Avoid wasting effort.

     The priorities that we set will help us to find directions and can avoid us from distractions. That is why, it is important for us to know our hierarchy of priorities so that we can avoid spending our life and energy chasing on temporary things while neglecting the things which matters most to us. 

  

    2. To take into account all factors, and focus on the critical ones.

    Our goals in life can determine the steps that we should take. Knowing the steps that we have to take, helps us to know the implications of what we want to do. And by knowing its implications, then we can also prepare ourselves for such events and can immediately do something about it. 

   3. Gather the resources needed.

   Our goals is always intertwined with resources. Resources plays a vital role in fulfilling our goals. That's why it is important to know how much or more do we need and what do we need. By doing so, we can also tell if our goals is possible now or we have to wait for the right time until our resources are complete. 

  4. Carry out the task in the most efficient way.

     Efficient means achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense. Thus, through planning we can evaluate the best alternative possible so that we could conserve our limited resources,time and energy. 

  Always let every decision and action in your life be influenced by the goal that you have. Planning is not to say that we will not fail. You and I will fail many times. That's why it is important that our goals are aligned with God's purpose in your life. But we can rest assured that God is in control and He can re-route us to what and where He wants us to be. It is by His great love for us that will enable us to rise again. I pray by God's grace, we will learn not to depend on our own strength but to our Heavenly Father who has always a better plan for us. 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11 

  

Family and Work Life Harmony

       Remember this classic Nescafe commercial? It is probably one of the commercials that inspired you and me to wake up with a reason. Reminiscing this, I started to ask myself, "Para kanino nga ba ako bumabangon?"

      I remember as a kid, every Sunday after going to church, my family and I would spend time together at the mall, restaurant or just stay at home watching movies. We never let pass a holiday without spending time with one another. When I started working, it is not easy for us to meet our schedules. From Monday to Friday I usually wake up with a rush, spend 8 hours, plus over time in our workplace. Whenever I reached our home, I am already tired and exhausted. There was a point in my life that I spent weekends and holidays in the office. I began to distance myself from my family, spending less and less time with them.

    Last 2013, I experienced an anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to something you’re allergic to. In my case, it got severed because I abused my body which led to poor immune system. This made me realized how important it is to rest. I was on a sick leave for one week with my mom and dad who also took their leave, so that they could take care of me. This situation reminded me how important the family is. Since then, I began to pray to God for the restoration of my relationship with each member of the family. 

   

       "We have 24 hours a day, 8 hours is intended for our work, 8 hours for rest and another 8 hours  for us to do the things that we are passionate about with the people we love." This is a wonderful advice I heard from the radio. God desires and commands us to always enter His rest. But sometimes, we fail to rest because we fail to trust Him that He is in control with everything we need. I want to thank God, because it also made me realized not to sacrifice family over temporary success. Learning to value family made me rely on God's grace to become a good daughter to my parents and  to be a supportive sister to my siblings.

      I hope and I pray that by God's grace, we will learn to have a work-life balance and will cheerfully and confidently answer the question "Para kanino ka bumabangon?"

"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:15

sources:

https://viewerdiscretionisadvised.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/bangon_main.jpg

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anaphylaxis/basics/definition/con-20014324

       

Business Leader: A vocation

           Does this scenario look familiar? Many of us hate Mondays because it reminds us that we have to endure a week of monotonous filing of reports and soul-crashing deadlines. But our purpose for work as a business leader is not just about self-advancement, financial freedom or securing you and your family's need. We are called for a higher purpose. 

“It is God who has called you, who has destined you for this work, and who has sent you to work in His vineyard. Do this, then with all the affection of your heart, working entirely for Him” 

-- (MTR 201.1; see also MDF 87.2, 99.2)

            Yes, we are called by God to minister in the world of business. He chose you and me, to become His representative, to serve other people for the common good. We are supposed to look at work as a privilege and delightful gift from God. He heave to "rely" on our skills because He wants us to participate in His creativity. Moreover, our work is an act of worship. If we can only comprehend our true purpose and high vision of work rather than monotonous burden, then we won't have to drag ourselves to the office every single day. Many of us, started in our job with excitement and passion. But our high vision for work is impaired by seeing it as a routine and burden rather than a privilege. Thus, I listed some of the key themes of a business leader that would remind us that this is not just a mindless routine but a wondrous privilege.

1. Business is a Vocation.

    Our work is our vocation. It is a genuine human and Christian calling from God. Therefore we have to view our work as an opportunity to honor Him by engaging in human flourishing. "We are not just doing an 8 am to 5 pm duties, we are building, creating, and shaping something just like our Father does. The moment these things sink in our hearts, is the moment our work becomes a calling"- Pastor Jojo Agot, 2015

2. We need to embrace a sophisticated appreciation of the opportunities and challenges facing modern business leaders.

    Oftentimes, we are bombarded with ethical issues and economic difficulties that we need to face. Thus, we need to make wise decisions that will benefit all stakeholders. This will also remind us that we cannot do this alone. We need the strength and wisdom from God. By God's grace, let us work hard.

3. Most business activity occurs at the micro-level of the economy.
 
    Each of us are given a set of unique talents. God placed us to where we are now to use such talents in serving other people and to meet their concrete needs. As I mentioned earlier, we are God's representative. Thus, as a business leader, we are expected to discern, accept and faithfully carry out our vocation with our God-given talents which open up possibilities for human flourishing.

4. Live with Integrity

    Integrity is imperative for a healthy working environment. It starts with honesty, decency and trustworthiness. Being impeccable with our actions, creates respect and will make a difference not only to our professional development but will also enhance the overall company culture.

5. Relativism and utilitarianism that disfigures many contemporary culture represents a clear and present danger to a sound understanding of the vocation of business.

6. Creative and Initiative

   Our work allows us to use our creativity and it gives us delight to build and create something new because it testifies the fact that we are indeed created in God's image. (Genesis 1:27)

I hope that this will inspire us to do well in our work and will give us the feeling of excitement, the excitement that we felt during our first day of work. Together, let us work hard and honor God with where He placed us and what He entrusted us to do.





Sources:
Retrieved from http://pre05.deviantart.net/e41d/th/pre/i/2012/268/8/e/i_hate_mondays_by_sasa_jane-d5fu628.jpg

http://jojoagot.com/2015/07/13/how-is-flipping-burgers-an-act-of-worship/