Work placement Module Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Work placement Module - Essay Example He then recommended me to this firmCheng Chan & Co to me., and fortunately At the material time, Cheng Chan & Co wasthe firm happened to be looking for a full time / part time clerk as because one of their employees just quit the jobhad recently left the firm. I posted sent them my CV to them and they were askingrequested for an interview. I had the interviewed with one of the firm's solicitors in the mid-dle of June., there was a solicitor who interviewed me. He asked me few some questions on pertaining to tort and criminal Law, such as which case to use or which statute to applies to a scenarioy. and they also require a presentation of me for 5 minutesI was also required to deliver a five minute presentation. Four days later, I received their phone call that I got the jobthey informed me of their decision to hire me. I was then appointed into this firm asworked as a clerk responsible for assistingant to solicitors, preparing legal documents, performing legal research, and for deali nghandling with clients. The fFirm is run managed by four solicitors and there are eight employees including clerks, an accountant and legal executives. The structure of the fFirm is very simple in that, each employee takesing orders directly from solicitors. Once a client placeds an order after consulting the solicitor, (e.g. a claim in a car accident), the solicitor will would then divide the work among the different personnel, such as including research, registration of the case with the court, communication with the other parties for the materials, and arrangement of conferences with clients or counsel. When we have completed ourUpon completion of an assigned task, we hand submitted itthe work back to the solicitor for approval and he will would return it to us if any corrections are were necessary. Then we will would finalize it and return it to him for further approval and signature. The work usually involveds documents, statements or letters. The documents or the statements w ill would usually be referred tofiled with the court or submitted to the other parties. LThe letters will

Sona Of Pnoy Essay Example for Free

Sona Of Pnoy Essay This is my sixth SONA. Once again, I face Congress and our countrymen to report on the state of our nation. More than five years have passed since we put a stop to the culture of wang-wang, not only in our streets, but in society at large; since we formally took an oath to fight corruption to eradicate poverty; and since the Filipino people, our bosses, learned how to hope once more. My bosses, this is the story of our journey along the Straight Path. Just last Friday, we inaugurated the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway. This is the first Public-Private Partnership project that we approved, and the first such PPP project opened to the public under our administration. Under the previous administrations: It was as if the government had to beg the private sector just to gain their participation. Now, companies are the ones seemingly courting the government-for MCX in particular, we were paid a premium of P925 million just so that our private partner could have the privilege of building the infrastructure we need. In fact, they are so confident that this project will earn them a profit, that they said the first month of toll operations at MCX is free. We have indeed come so far. And, in order for us to appreciate just how far we have travelled, let us recall where we started. When we came into office, we found a citizenry that had grown desensitized to the many allegations of lying, cheating, and stealing in government. Those in power boasted of the country having enough classrooms. In truth: classes had to be held in four shifts. Students went to school while it was still dark, and others would go home long after the dark of night had well and truly fallen. All of them were left in the dark because they were not accorded sufficient time in the classroom for learning. Our predecessor took pride in uninterrupted growth during her last SONA. Scrutinize what she said, however, and you would realize that a significant portion of this growth was fueled by remittances from Filipinos who had lost hope in our country. As they say: People were voting with their feet. If I were to imitate that style of governance, I would be loath to claim a success borne of forcing my countrymen to escape our shores. As the 2004 elections approached, more than 700 million pesos were allegedly used to buy fertilizer that was not suitable for crops; the endeavor was costly; and in many instances, the farmers who should have received the farming supplements never saw it. We ask: Who was nourished by such fertilizers? Definitely neither the farmers nor their crops. Perhaps  you also remember the NBN-ZTE scandal. We investigated this in the Senate; someone said there was an attempt to bribe him. When we undertook an inquiry, this person did not want to testify; he claimed executive privilege. Of course, we couldnt summon the sitting President-hence, the only one we could question was her henchman accused of bribery. Naturally, he denied the accusation. During those times, even children became familiar with the word scam. You might also remember Hello Garci, to which the answer was a mere I am sorry. The genuine bank accounts of the nonexistent Jose Pidal. The attempt to convene a Constitutional Assembly, so that they could stay in power for the rest of their lives. There was Executive Order 464, which tried to stifle the truth. The declaration of a State of Emergency, in order to do away with the checks and balances for Martial Law as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. There were midnight appointments. The policy known as Calibrated Preemptive Response, which was used against protesters. Even on the level of grammar, this is wrong. How could a response come before anything else? Its like saying you replied to someone who never texted you. These were the headlines that greeted us every time we had breakfast in the years before we came into office. The moment we assumed the presidency, we began to unearth anomaly after anomaly. In my previous SONAs, I have already mentioned some of them: In the National Food Authority, they allowed the debt to bloat from P12.3 billion pesos in 2001, to P176.8 billion in June 2010. Even worse: they continued to import rice, only to have it rot in warehouses. In PAGCOR, a billion pesos went to coffee. In the MWSS: excessive bonuses, one on top of the other. For the Laguna Lake: an attempt to waste over P18 billion just to play with mud. Indeed: I could not comprehend how those behind such controversies could willingly benefit from the suffering of our countrymen. Every government official takes an oath to do right by our countrymen and to uphold the law. But it was clear: our predecessor did precisely the opposite. We were all witnesses to the most appalling example, when 58 Filipinos were massacred in Maguindanao in November 2009. To think about committing such a crime was already heinous. To do it, which they did, was even worse. The worst offense of all: Their belief that they could get away with it, because they were in power-which is why they carried out their plans in the first place. These are only a few examples; there are many others. With this kind of situation,  can we really blame our countrymen for losing sight of hope, and consequently, leaving our country? Like you, the thought of giving up had crossed my mind. When my mother died, my confidence diminished further; our familys leader and inspiration to pursue change was gone. At her wake, someone approached me and suggested that I run for the presidency. My immediate response: I am not a masochist. I was one of the people calling for an end to impunity and wrongdoing; I understood just how dire the situation was. I was also certain they had deliberately hidden details from us, and the real problems were bigger than what we knew. When you called me to serve, my question was: If I am unable to solve these problems quickly, how long will it take before my bosses lose their patience, and instead direct all their anger at me? One of those who convinced me to run was Alex Lacson. He said: To simply put an end to all the abuse would suffice. To stop the hemorrhaging would be enough. Let us listen to him: Translated transcript of Testimonial of Alex Lacson In 2008, our country was ranked by the World Bank as one of the most corrupt in the world. Our self-confidence and morale as a people was very low. At the time, many of my friends and I were looking for a good man, not just a good politician to be our president in 2010. Then, President Cory passed away, and Senator Noynoy spoke at her funeral. That is when we truly saw him. My friends encouraged me to lead the public call to urge Senator Noynoy to run for president. My friends and I went to the house of Senator Noynoy in Times Street. We brought a yellow drum and we encouraged the public to write letters. Within 24 hours there was an outpouring of public support for Senator Noynoy to run for public office. I did not expect him to be superman and solve all our problems in the country; we expected him only to begin reform. Mr. President, thank you for heeding the call of the people in 2010, and thank you, too, for respecting my beliefs, even as we disagreed on a number of issues. Mr. President, continue to lead our country on the right path. [Applause] From the start, we already knew that corruption was the root of all our peoples suffering. Thus, our battlecry: where there is no corruption, there will be no poverty. Tremendous perseverance, courage, political will, and  faith in God and in our fellowmen were needed in order to breathe life into this ideal. Of course, the masterminds of the old system were not meek lambs, willing to see the end of their opportunity to take advantage of others. They used, and continue to use, their influence and wealth to fight our agenda of change. They also used their power to prepare life preservers for when the time of judgment came. The Ombudsman who should have been appointed to guard against corruption allegedly played blind to all the scandals of the past administration. She was impeached in the House of Representatives, and resigned from her post before she could be tried in the Senate. The Chief Justice who seemed to have a bias for the one who appointed him, was proven to have hidden we alth and properties not disclosed in his SALN. He was impeached in the House and convicted in the Senate. To replace them, we appointed men and women with integrity and independent minds. The new Ombudsman: Conchita Carpio-Morales. The new Chief Justice: Ma. Lourdes Sereno. Now, she has sufficient time to implement reform in the Judiciary. [Applause] Even in other agencies, we appointed honest and fearless leaders. We immediately placed Chairperson Grace Pulido-Tan in the COA. In the Executive, we likewise appointed uncompromising persons: Commissioner Kim Henares in the BIR and Secretary Leila de Lima [applause] in the Department of Justice. They did not back down from any challenge in fulfilling their mandates. To all of you, I give my heartfelt thanks. Whether in the top, middle, or bottom of the bureaucracy, so many have been suspended, removed from their positions, made accountable through cases filed against them, or even imprisoned. If there is anyone who still doubts that justice is blind in the Philippines, it would be best if they turned their attention to the three senators currently detained, or to a former president still under hospital arrest. There are some who say we should move on. Personally, I believe in what George Santayana said: Those who forget the mistakes of the past are condemned to repeat it. Just take a look at the actions of those who have wronged us. They will first work to ensure we forget what they have done. After this, they will say, Have pity on us. They already took advantage of us; now they are trying to take advantage of the Filipinos innate penchant for forgiveness, in order to escape accountability. The next step: they will find a way to return to power. Isnt that their master plan-so that they can continue to take advantage of  us? I learned from my parents, from the church, and from the processes of our laws: Whatever reconciliation must come from the confession and repentance of those who have committed wrong. Can you remember an instance in which anyone said, Im sorry I stole from you and abused you; I am ready to change? For my part: We can only move on once justice has been attained. [Applause] We continued to reform our institutions, in order to refocus them towards their true mandates. For example: Government Owned and Controlled Corporations. Appointees to GOCCs swore to safeguard our peoples money. The sad fact is, even when the GOCCs were mired in debt, they showered themselves with benefits and incentives left and right. If we liken their institutions to cattle, theyd just as soon butcher the cow for meat, even as they milk it. This is why in the past administration, dividends collected over nine and a half years only amounted to P84.18 billion. Under our administration: the number of GOCCs has already been reduced by shutting down those deemed irrelevant, and yet because of improved management: the dividends we have collected in the five years we have been in office have now reached P131.86 billion. [Applause] It isnt unlikely that, before we step down from office, we will be able to double the dividends collected by our predecessor who had much more time to accumulate these funds. [Applause] This is the same commitment we have shown in the BIR, which is the biggest revenue-generating agency of the government. When we stepped in, the highest collection on record was in 2008, at P778.6 billion. We surpassed this by leaps and bounds. In 2012, the BIR collected P1.06 trillion-the first time in our history we have breached the 1 trillion mark for collections. [Applause] Last year, the number went up to P1.3 trillion; this 2015, we will collect up to P1.5 trillion. [Applause] We only needed five years to match, surpass, and almost double our predecessors record high-and we did this without imposing new taxes, as promised, apart from Sin Tax Reform. [Applause] How did we do this? It was simple. I believe that Commissioner Kim Henares is a kind person, but those against whom she filed cases might have a different opinion. Commissioner Kim Henares spared no tax evader. [Applause] 380 cases have already been filed against those who attempted to evade taxes. She also made the system for tax payment more efficient, and made clear to everyone their civic duty to contribute to the development of our country. For the National Budget: under the previous administration, the  budget was always reenacted, whether partially or fully. In 2007, for example, it was almost April when the General Appropriations Act (GAA) was approved. It was already worrying that projects that had been completed received funding once more. Even worse: Even the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, including salaries, were included in this reenacted budget. What this means: funds were allotted again for salaries-even if all had already received what was due them for the first three months of 2007. I wonder: Where did the excess funds that were allotted and requested for go? What we have proven: if the Executive proposes a reasonable budget, the dialogue with the members of Congress will go smoothly. The faster the GAA is passed, the quicker services will reach our countrymen, and the sooner will we be able to alleviate their suffering. The message was clear: We are serious about change; the playing field is level. The result: Confidence in our economy. When we began, I did not think that we would immediately win back the global communitys confidence in the Philippines. I only thought of fixing the crooked system to prevent our people from sinking deeper into poverty. Let me ask you: Did it ever occur to you that we would continue rising in global competitiveness rankings, and that we would be recognized for the speed with which our economy has grown? In fact, the Philippines is now being called Asias Rising Tiger, Asias Rising Star, and Asias Bright Spot. [Applause] Now, for the first time in history, we are unanimously deemed investment grade by the most prominent credit rating agencies. This is a signal to businessmen that it is worthwhile to invest in the Philippines. The risks of doing business here have decreased. Now, with lower interest rates and more flexible debt payment schedules, more investors are finding it attractive to bet on the Philippines. Through the institution and expansion of businesses, commerce becomes more lively, competition strengthens, and even more opportunities are created. All this has been a direct result of reforms we made along the Straight Path. [Applause] Just look: back in 2010, net foreign direct investment i n our country was at $1.07 billion. In 2014, net foreign direct investments reached $6.2 billion. [Applause] This is the highest ever recorded in our entire history. The numbers for domestic investments are likewise impressive; now, Filipinos are betting on their fellow Filipinos. Let us compare: from the time this was first measured back in 2003 until 2010, the  amount of approved domestic investments totaled just P1.24 trillion. Under our watch, from the third quarter of 2010 until the end of 2014, the amount invested by our countrymen in the market reached P2.09 trillion. [Applause] In manufacturing: I admit, during my first year in office, one of the things furthest from my mind was the idea that we could reinvigorate this sector. The industry faced many challenges: electricity, for one, was both expensive and unreliable. It was also no small feat to establish facilities here, because of the large investment involved in buying machines and training employees. This is why, back then, we had to import even low-tech electric fans. Thanks to the reforms that have restored confidence in our nation, manufacturing growth has accelerated-from 3 percent annually between 2001 and 2009, to 8 percent from 2010 to 2014. [Applause] It is clear: The Filipino can compete. In the past, our only selling point was low wages. Now, investors are bringing to our country factories that produce hi-tech equipment: from aircraft components, electric tricycles, printers, and other digital media products, to high-quality medical devices like aortic catheters and devices for in vitro diagnostics and hemodialysis treatment. Let us listen to a businessman who will tell us of the new business climate in the Philippines: Translated transcript of Testimonial of Peter Perfecto, Makati Business Club One of the most important things this administration has accomplished was reversing the corruption trends of the previous administration. Without the rule of law, the advantage went to corporations that were complicit with the systemic bribery and a faulty tax system. President Aquino has walked the talk. He has delivered on his promises. They arrested the former president, the three senators, and ousted a Chief Justice who were all once thought to be untouchable. The strong message has been sent. Because of the rule of law and the commitment to good governance this administration has made, our foreign direct investments rose from P2 billion to P6.2 billion. We have made a huge leap forward: jumping 33 places in the rankings set by the world Economic Forum; and according to them, this is a result of this administrations anti-corruption agenda-all because of the changes that this government has enacted. It is the responsibility of each Filipino to learn from these recent achievements and ensure that we continue moving forward with the coming administration. [Applause] We all know that the primary measure of economic improvement for the common Filipino is the creation of jobs. Let us look at what weve achieved in this area. Every year, around 80,000 new entrants join our labor force. Now, consider the fact that there are reports of overseas Filipinos returning home. In 2011, our Department of Foreign Affairs reported that there were around 9.51 million overseas Filipinos. Based on the latest estimates in December 2014, that number went down to 9.07 million. It is reasonable to say that a good number of the estimated 400,000 Filipinos represented by that decrease came home and were able to find work. [Applause] Despite the fact that there are new entrants, returnees, and previously unemployed Filipinos, our unemployment rate still dropped to 6.8 percent last year. This is the lowest recorded in a decade. [Applause] Let me be clear: We created permanent jobs; we did not hire an abundance of street sweepers during the period the labor survey was condu cted, just to boost results. Together with creating real jobs, we are also fostering a good relationship between labor and management throughout the country. Let us compare. In the nine and a half years of the previous administration, the number of strikes that occurred were 199, or roughly 21 strikes for each year. In our five years in office, the total strikes were only 15. [Applause] In fact, in 2013, there was only a single strike recorded in the country. This is the lowest recorded in the history of DOLE. [Applause] It is because of this that we are truly impressed with Secretary Linda Baldoz and our labor and management sector. [Applause] To Sec. Linda: you are not only efficient; you are also very positive which makes you the type of colleague who is a pleasure to work with. That is why you are considered the Pastor of the Cabinet. Thank you, very much, for all your efforts, Linda. [Applause] The transformation has indeed been vast. Before, the signs we would always see proclaimed, No Vacancy, didnt they? Today, announcements that say, For Immediate Hiring are scattered everywhere; you need only open a newspaper to see classified ads from many companies who are hiring. Some of them have even been getting creative with incentives. Theres this one company that says: just come in for an interview and your breakfast is on them. Once youre hired, theyll cover your treat to friends and family to celebrate your new job. Some businessmen have even mentioned to me that they are  finding it difficult to hire accountants. I remember when I was younger, a lot of people were taking up BS Commerce, Major in Accountancy. When I visited Bicol University, I mentioned this to their president. I had to ask: Am I correct in the knowledge that your university has an accountancy program? Their reply: Yes, but even we are having trouble filling our accounting department. Why? Their president said that their students, even in their t hird year of college, are already being recruited by accounting and auditing firms. [Applause] This is happening precisely because we have worked to address what is called the job-skills mismatch. In the past, so many of our countrymen were saying that they had no jobs, even when there were so many unfilled positions listed in the PhilJob-Net website. The simple reason: the skillset of our countrymen did not match what the market needed. The solution to this was also simple: Talk to prospective employers and ask them what skills are demanded by the positions they are opening. Now, it is in these skills that we train Filipinos, so that they can maximize opportunities. The principle behind our strategy of governance: instead of giving our countrymen fish, we will teach them how to fish. We are ensuring that the progress we have made and the opportunities that have been created can be maximized by our fellowmen. We cannot wait for the benefits of growth to trickle down to the poorest Filipinos; we cannot leave it to chance, or hope for the best. Our commitment: Inclusive growth. The agenda: assistance, knowledge, skills training, and health, to ensure that no one is left behind. One of our mechanisms: the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. We have vastly expanded the scope of this program. Now, more than 4.4 million households are feeling the benefits of this program. [Applause] This is extremely far from the 786,523 households covered by the program when we entered office. This year, 333,673 graduated from high school; they are part of the first batch of beneficiaries under the expanded Pantawid Pamilya. 13,469 of these youth graduated with honors and a variety of awards. [Applause] In fact, the two beneficiaries I met were accepted into Civil Engineering, a quota course in the University of the Philippines. All of these beneficiaries will gain important knowledge; instead of entering menial jobs once they graduate, it is almost certain that they will find jobs that will pay them a decent salary. Their income tax alone will repay the states investment, and we will be able to continue the cycle of  empowering those in need. The brighter future that awaits the honor students the program assisted is just an added bonus. Let us listen to one of those assisted by Pantawid Pamilya. Translated transcript of Testimonial of Alyannah, CCT beneficiary I work much harder now. I knew the trials my family faced because of poverty. When we were enrolled in the Conditional Cash Transfer program, I saw that people wanted to help us. I knew they wanted nothing in return-but, for me, the only way I could repay their kindness was through my studies. The money we get from the government was never wasted. We were able to finance all of my school expenses. I was so happy when I got into my dream school, the University of the Philippines. The CCT program gave me a chance to get a good education, which helped me finish high school; and now Im on my way to college. I know this program is on the receiving end of a lot of criticism, but I want to tell President Benigno Aquino that they need only to look at me-at us. We are proof that the money set aside by the government for this program is not a dole-out. The money goes towards a worthy pursuit, which I know one day will help uplif t the entire country. [Applause] Under Pantawid Pamilya, in exchange for assistance, the primary focus of beneficiaries must be the education of their children. This has already borne early fruit: according to studies conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, in 2008, there were 2.9 million out-of-school children in the country. The years passed and our population grew, but in 2013, only 1.2 million out-of-school children remained. Let me emphasize the difference: 1.7 million. [Applause] Its as if we filled around 42,500 empty classrooms with students. Of course, apart from the Pantawid Pamilya, the Alternative Learning System also helped to ensure that even indigenous peoples and street children are not left behind. And yet, there are still some who ask: Where are the results of Pantawid Pamilya? Our answer: Oh come on. They seem to think that Pantawid Pamilya is like a magic tablet that, once taken by a child in kindergarten, turns that child into a college graduate after only a few hours. [La ughter and applause] Perhaps, they did not have enough time to study during their time; let us help them count: K to 12 lasts 13 years, while my term only lasts for six. Now we see  whos trying to deceive us. There are even some who had the guts to raise an outcry and shout: There are leakages in Pantawid Pamilya. Then we discovered they used data from 2009, just to have something to criticize. Let me remind them: I became President halfway through 2010; perhaps you should be asking another president to explain the alleged leakage. [Applause] I guarantee that, when the time comes that the beneficiaries of this program are contributing to the economy, those who are criticizing it today will be falling over themselves to proclaim that they are the father or mother of the expanded Pantawid Pamilya. Now, in the sector of education: we are making sure that the deficits of the past are erased and the needs of the present are addressed, even as we prepare for the future. In just our first two years in office, we were able to close the backlogs we inherited of 61.7 million textbooks and 2.5 million school chairs. In 2013, the backlog of 66,800 classrooms was finally eliminated and the backlog of 145,827 teachers was likewise addressed, with the help of our LGU partners. [Applause] According to the estimates of DepEd, from 2010 up to 2017, the total amount of new students: 4.7 million. This is because of the increase of enrollees and the implementation of the K to 12 program. In order to meet this vast increase, we need to add an estimated 118,000 classrooms to what we already have. 33,608 of these have already been constructed. This year, we are slated to construct more than 41,000 more. Funds for the remaining 43,000 classrooms have already been included in the proposed 2016 budget that we will pass tomorrow, which we hope you will approve. [Applause] The number of teachers we will need are estimated at 130,000. In 2014, we have already hired 29,444. This year, the total number of teachers we target to hire: 39,000. The remaining 60,000 positions will be covered in the proposed 2016 budget, which we hope you will approve as well. [Applause] According to Bro. Armin, the sum total of the classrooms our administration has constructed and the teachers we have hired exceeds the cumulative total of classrooms built and teachers hired in the past twenty years before we came into office. We have already turned over 73.9 million textbooks that will be followed by an addition 88.7 million this year. In 2015 as well, 1.6 million school seats were delivered to schools, and we will add another 1.6 million before the en d of the year. After eliminating the existing backlog in classrooms, we constructed or continue to construct 33,621 classrooms, while  allotting funds for the construction of 41,728 more. For teachers: 39,000 are already being hired by DepEd for this school year alone. Tomorrow, we will submit the budget for 2016; included in it are funds for an additional 103.2 million textbooks, 4.4 million school seats, 43,000 classrooms, and 60,000 new teaching positions. Everyone can see: we will not leave further sources of headaches for those who will succeed us. [Applause] Let me be clear: We implemented K to 12 because it is not practical to cram learning in a 10-year basic education cycle. May I remind you, that we are one of the three countries left in the world with a 10-year basic education cycle. The credentials of our countrymen working overseas are already being questioned; there are also some who have been demoted because our diplomas are supposedly not proof of sufficient knowledge. If the past educational system can be likened to a mango induced to ripen under artificial circumstances; now, we are ensuring that the abilities of our students are fully developed, so that they can take hold of their futures. Let us listen to a story that is proof of this: Translated transcript of Testimonial of Rezia Joy Jianoran My father has been a jeepney driver all my life. When I was in my second year of high school, my mom suffered a stroke. I didnt ask, but I knew that they couldnt afford to send me to college. Instead of dropping out of school, I decided to continue my studies under the K to 12 program. My chosen track of specialization was the Drafting Technology course. Part of the K to 12 program is the career immersion. I was assigned to CLP Metal, a metal fabrication company. I was tasked to design machines. This machine was designed to de-hair pigs. Once a pig is processed, after several seconds, it comes out without any hair. A machine like this can only be bought abroad. Because of the design by CLP, were able to adjust to the budget restrictions of our customers. Im extremely proud because when you think about it: how many 19-year olds can say they have designed a machine? Im proud that Im a K to 12 graduate because I can now support my family. And Im learning while Im earning. [Applause] Should these graduates choose to go into tech-voc, the programs we enhanced are already waiting for them. 7.8 million have already graduated from the  different courses of the Technical Vocational Education and Training overseen by TESDA. Under the Training for Work Scholarship Program alone, the number of graduates have already reached 821,962. Perhaps you are wondering: what is their situation today? According to studies, 71.9 percent of graduates were able to find employment right away, compared to the 28.5 percent recorded before. There are even some industries breaking records: for example, the employment rate for the entire semiconductors and electronics industry has already reached 91.26 percent-just a little more, and well be at 100 percent. [Applause] Secretary Joel Villanueva told us before of an OFW forced to return home; she thought there was no hope to improve her lot in life. Then, she studied hilot wellness massage in TESDA; now, her spa already has 4 branches. In my last SONA, I also told you of a PWD who was once a barker; he is now an escalation supervisor in a BPO. [Applause] A success story from the Sari-sari Store Training and Access to Resources Program, or STAR: there was a sari-sari store owner who used to earn 800 pesos a day; now, her daily earnings have reached 4,000 pesos. If you sum everything up, her earnings are more or less equivalent to my salary, even if we do not experience the same type of stress. [Laughter] How did this happen? She was trained in bookkeeping, inventory management, accounting, and other disciplines. Whats extremely impressive: the STAR program even teaches students how to ensure that their profits are maximized. Let us listen to one of those who benefited from TESDAs program: Translated transcript of Testimonial of Ma. Theresa Tomaro, TESDA Star Program trainee My husband and I were both unemployed when we started training with the STAR program. We were taught how to manage and grow a business. When we started our sari-sari store, it was made out of bamboo. Now, its walls are made of concrete. This not only helps us, but also our children. We are able to give them good lives. Ive been able to sell a lot of things. My income has doubled since then. Id like to thank Secretary Joel Villanueva because of their program, I was able to have the opportunity to show my ability to run my own business. [Applause] Now, on the sector of health. To many Filipinos, falling ill poses a serious challenge to the fulfillment of their dreams. Families climbing the ladder of progress, return back to zero once they are struck by illness. Not only  are their savings emptied, they also fall deep into debt. When we came into office, only 47 million Filipinos were beneficiaries of PhilHealth. We have almost doubled this number: just this past June, PhilHealth coverage has reached 89.4 million Filipinos. [Applause] The transformation we wrought: Before, during elections, new PhilHealth beneficiaries seemed to sprout up like mushrooms. Instead of the basis for membership being the interest of Filipinos, it became manipulated to serve the electoral candidates interest. Now, we have corrected that system. There is more good news in the sector of health. In 2012, we announced: If your family is part of the lowest quintile, or the poorest 20 percent of our population, and you are seeking treatment in public hospitals, then we guarantee that you will not have to pay a single centavo. Beginning in 2014, this has expanded to cover the next quintile of our society. This means that for the poorest 40 percent of the population, treatment in public hospitals is free. This is the care that some have called inefficient and uncaring. The only thing I have to say to them, as Aiza Seguerra said back in the day: I thank you, bow. [Applause] Now, let us hear some of the results of the improved PhilHealth program: Translated transcript of Testimonial of Danilo Espiritu, PhilHealth beneficiary I was diagnosed with quadruple clogs in the coronary area. We didnt know how we could afford the operation. The first hospital we went to said the operation would cost 300,000 pesos. At [the Philippine General Hospital], it would cost 700,000 pesos. At UST hospital, they said it was 800,000 pesos. But when one of the doctors learned that my wife was covered by PhilHealth, he said our case qualified under the Z-Package, and we could push through with the operation. We just stood up then and went to fix the paperwork, and I was provided the opportunity to extend my life. The service I got at the hospital was comparable to that received by a private hospital patient. I wasnt considered a charity case. I was a full-fledged paying patient, and PhilHealth paid for my operation. To be honest, I didnt pay for anything. The little money that we did save, we were able to use for the post-operation expenses. Im thankful for PhilHealth and our government for implementing these kinds of projects, which genuinely help people in need. ____________________ Translated transcript of Testimonial of Governor Lilia Pineda Sin Tax should have been implemented earlier; its the answer to our goal of providing universal healthcare. It was a big help to the province of Pampanga: in the past, the Capitol spent over 400 million pesos a year in health aid. But when the Sin Tax Law was implemented, those who needed healthcare were covered by PhilHealth. We are truly grateful to President Aquino because the project provided a huge relief for Pampanga. The money saved was used to fund other important projects. The proceeds of the Sin Tax also went towards the construction of a birthing station, hospital renovations, and the construction of health centers. Were so thankful to the President for caring for the poor who suffer sickness. [Applause] Let us again return to the story of the past five years. We went after the corrupt and we cleaned the systems, which redounded to confidence in our markets. Businesses came into the country, opportunities expanded, all while we empowered Filipinos to gain decent employment. They patronized these businesses, which, having recognized that the playing field is level, know they can profit without having to resort to illegal activities. They then expand their operations, and employ even more people. This is a cycle: justice, trust, economic growth, the creation of opportunities, progress. Boss, this is the very spirit of, Where there is no corruption, there is no poverty. [Applause] And we did not just achieve change. The transformation we are experiencing today has already exceeded the expectations we had in the beginning. The Cadastral Survey, which was started in 1913, has been completed by us. It took almost a century for those who came before us to complete 46 percent of this survey. The more than half left to be done, we finished in just five years in government. This Cadastral Survey identifies the boundaries of the land covered by each city, municipality, and province in the Philippines. In ARMM, for example, it was as if the land gave birth to more land: according to the maps, there are only 1.2 million hectares belonging to the region, but if we were to add up all the lands being claimed, they would reach a total of 3.7 million hectares. Now, because we have fixed the land record system through the Cadastral Survey, no new land will be birthed in ARMM. In 2011, we conducted an inventory of sitios, and we identified those that were still without electricity. Through the Sitio  Electrification Program, we were able to bring light to 25,257 communities identified through this inventory. On top of this, because of the use of solar energy and other technology, even far-flung and isolated areas that would be difficult to connect to the grid already have electricity. Now, around 93 percent of sitios in the Philippines have already been energized; the DOE has guaranteed that, before we step down from office, all the rest of the sitios from the 2011 tally will have electricity. [Applause] Now, let us watch a farmer who has benefited from our Sitio Electrification Program. Translated transcript It was difficult when we didnt have electricity; you just had to bear with it. We could only power our homes with fuel sources. We first got electricity this July, and we were so happy when switched on the lights here at home for the very first time. We can now watch movie tapes or listen to good music. The children are now able to study at night. Im even able to work at night because now I can charge my spotlight during the day, and because Im more productive, I earn more. Our lives have changed for the better now that we finally have access to electricity. Were able to be more efficient-an example would be our weaving. With sewing machines, we can create more beautiful designs, which we can sell at a better price. Food processing needs equipment, which runs on electricity. Students can use the Internet for research. Electricity has brought good things to Bauko. Congratulations to our President for making Bauko a better place to live in. [Applause] In the sector of aviation, there has also been a steady stream of good news: in 2013, the International Civil Aviation Organization lifted the significant safety concerns it had imposed on our country back in 2009. In the same year, the European Union allowed our flag carrier to resume its flights to Europe. The following year saw another local carrier receiving approval from the European Union, while the US Federal Aviation Administration upgraded us to Category 1, from the Category 2 downgrade we had received in 2008. Because of these developments, incoming and outgoing flights are increasing, and it is also becoming easier for tourists to fly around the Philippines. Even better news: just this June, the EU Air Safety  Committee removed its ban on all our air carriers-the first time that it has lifted its ban on the entire civil aviation sector of a country. Now, all our airlines will be able to fly directly to the United Kingdom, Italy, and other countries part of the EU. In seafaring: in 2006, the European Maritime Safety Agency or EMSA was already questioning our compliance to the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. Because of this, there was a threat that the EU would no longer recognize our maritime education certificates. If we did not act, there would have been the chance that an estimated 80,000 Filipino seafarers working on European boats would be out of jobs. MARINA and the DOTC went to work quickly in order to match our maritime education certificates to global standards. To this day, the EU continues to recognize our certifications. Come EMSAs next audit, which will begin in October, MARINA guarantees: We will definitely pass. [Applause] To Sec. Jun Abaya: May you not waver in your resolve, even when it seems that some have forgotten all that you have done for our sailors, ICAOs lifting of the significant safety concerns it had imposed on our sector, the European Unions lifting of the ban on our airplanes, and the Federal Aviation [Administration] upgrading us to Category 1. It was also you who banned boats from setting out to see during typhoons, which helped to keep passengers away from danger. It is now rare for us to receive news about ships sinking during typhoons. All of these achievements have seemingly been cast aside, because of the complicated challenges in the public transport sector. The biggest example of this is the MRT. Few mention that we have partners from the private sector in this endeavor, who remember their entitlements, but seem to have forgotten their obligations. This partner of ours is supposed to be in charge of maintenance. In 2008, there should have been a general overhaul of the MRT, but upon DOTCs inspection, only token cosmetic changes were undertaken. This lack of care practically guaranteed the breakdown of our trains. Is it not in the interest of all companies to make sure that they get their moneys worth from their investment? Yet, they allowed the situation to deteriorate, to the point where, at very short notice, they just passed the job of improving the MRT onto us. When we made moves to undertake improvements, suddenly, they wanted to take back the responsibility of maintenance. However, their proposal was significantly more expensive than  hours. This would, of course, translate to added expense and aggravation for our people. We did not agree to this, and began the process of obtaining new train coaches. But because the MRTC was adamant, they were able to obtain a TRO on the procurement. That is why the MRT situation has come to this. Sec. Jun: You, I, and the entire population of Metro Manila are not pleased with what is happening. The private sector relegated their responsibility to us; when we made moves to provide a solution, they blocked us. It is clear that our agenda and that of the MRTC will never meet. Now, we are taking steps to buy out the corporation. Once this is fixed, the state will be the sole decisionmaker. While we are undertaking this process, we are already implementing immediate maintenance work. Bigger, more long-term solutions are also set to arrive. Next month, we can expect the delivery of the prototype for new coaches; once this passes scrutiny, beginning in January, three coaches will be delivered every month until our order of 48 coaches has been completed. The process to obtain new rails is underway, together with the upgrading of the signaling and automatic fare collecting systems; all this, we expect to be completed before we step down from office. The power supply of our trains will be upgraded before the end of 2016. There are 12 escalators that will be fixed before the end of the year, while the procurement for the rehabilitation of 34 more escalators and 32 elevators is ongoing. Let me remind everyone: When it comes to these matters, we cannot take shortcuts in the processes; we do not want our measures to be hampered by lawsuits left and right. There are some who say that I wear blinders, when it comes to those who have long been my companions on the Straight Path. Me? I see the good things, but I also see the bad. Am I the one with blinders? Or is it those who insist on seeing only the bad things? On our Armed Forces: Back in November 2010, tensions arose once more between North and South Korea; there were fears that war would break out in the peninsula. We needed a plan to evacuate the 46,000 Filipinos in South Korea, as well as the eight Filipinos in North Korea. When I asked the AFP about the assets we could use in an evacuation, they said that the Air Force has a lone C-130. The shortest duration for a round trip? 10 hours. The capacity: around 100 people. I made some calculations: We needed to move 46,000 Filipinos away from conflict, which meant that, under the most ideal conditions, we would need 460 round trips, which would take 4,600 hours each. This is equivalent  to 200 days of travel. No one can count on an old C-130 to cope with such heavy usage. If we deployed ships, each could carry 1,000 people at a time, but we would be lucky if each round trip could be completed within 10 days. Should further conflict break out, there was the chance that the entire situation would have been over by the time we evacuated of our people. We took immediate action to address these limitations. Now, from one functional C-130, we now have three at our disposal, and we are planning to acquire two more. There are others to accompany them: The first of three C-295 medium lift transports has arrived, with the other two arriving within the year. We also expect the delivery of two more light lift transports before the end of 2015. [Applause] If we ever encounter another spate of problems like what happened in 2013, we are going to need more assets. When Yolanda struck, our docks were destroyed, and our ability to deliver aid was hampered. In s uch situations, landing craft utilities are invaluable because of their ability to dock on any shore. Now, we have increased the number of our landing craft utilities from four to ten. There is the BRP Tagbanua. By next week, two Landing Craft Heavy will arrive from Australia; the turnover of these vessels was very generous: they even came with spare parts and generators. We plan on buying three more; once all the paperwork has been put in order, the processes to procure them will begin. These vessels will reduce our dependence on the kindness of other nations; we will be able to accelerate delivery to different parts of the Philippines, and more promptly send aid, supplies, and other heavy equipment such as bulldozers, which are needed for clearing and relief operations. [Applause] To better watch over our territory, we have also acquired 12 FA-50 fighters to replace our F5 fighter jets that were retired in 2005. The first two units will arrive in December, and the rest of the deliveries will be completed by 2017. We have also acquired war ships such as the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and the Ramon Alcaraz, seven of 13 AW-109 helicopters, six of eight Bell-412 helicopters, 617 troop carrier trucks, and 50,629 assault rifles. Our target is to obtain two more frigates, six Close Air Support Aircrafts, 142 armored personnel carriers, and other new items such as 49,135 units of force protection equipment, 2,884 grenade launchers, and an additional 23,622 assault rifles. [Applause] In total, we have completed 56 projects for modernization, and I have approved 30 more. Compare this to the 45 projects completed by the three  administrations that came before us combined. Let us listen to one of our servicemen from the Air Force: Translated transcript of Testimonial of Jun Perry, member of the Philippine Air Force For the record, Sir, our Air Force now has actual force. There was a joke or stigma back then that the Air Force was all air and no force. Ive only recently joined the Philippine Air Force, but I spent four years in the Philippine Military Academy, where we learned of the value of air power and air defense. During those four years, we found that the Philippine Air Force was losing its strength. But luckily the long wait is over. In December of 2012, President Aquino signed RA 10349. Now, the Philippine Air Force is receiving adequate advancement. It boosts morale. Ive heard confirmation from our Army classmates themselves. One of them even said: Mistah, when I heard the sound of the chopper taking flight, I was so inspired. This is a dream that has slowly, but surely turned into a reality. [Applause] As for our police, for the first time in our history, each of our policemen has his or her own firearm. Furthermore, to improve the capacity of our police force to shoot, scoot, and communicate, we have distributed 302 patrol jeeps, which are only part of the 2,523 that we have procured. We have also distributed 179 of 577 new utility vehicles, as well as 12,399 handheld radios. We are likewise procuring 30,136 long firearms, 3,328 investigative kits, and another 16,867 radios. Let us listen to some of our policemen, who talk about how these efforts have helped them in their work: Translated transcript of Testimonial of Melvin Velasquez When I entered the police service in 2003, I was issued a .38 revolver. Sometimes some of the criminals we encountered were equipped with high-powered weapons. The .38 revolver paled in comparison to the ones used by criminals. In fact, I had to buy my own gun. It is difficult for us law enforcers when we encounter situations where we really have to risk our lives. It was a big change when all policemen were finally given their own guns. We know that we can depend on the firearms issued by the government to us. Those of us in the service dream of owning our own house and lot; it was only during this administration that such a dream was realized. As a  low-ranking law enforcer, I really feel the reforms instituted by our President-one of which is the value accorded to the national police. The only way we can possibly repay all these good things is by fulfilling our duties in the correct and right way-even if it means sacrificing my life.

Essay --

Sam Culleton March 9, 2014 Research paper Jesse Owens was a very important man. He was amazing at track and went to the Olympics. He was the best in college. Even though his childhood was not really good. Jesse Owens was born on September 12 1913. He was born in Oakville, Alabama and was born with the name James. Jesse had nine siblings. His family was very poor. They were all sharecroppers which means they were owned by white people but got little money. Even the kids and to help do the job. Every Winter Jesse would get pneumonia and had to work through it. Also every year he would get a big bump. One time it got so big his mom had to get a knife and cut it off. When Jesse was nine hid father found out that the landlord was cheating them out of their money. So once they had enough money, they moved to Ohio. His father found better work there and so did a lot of his family members. Jesse had trouble in school there. On his first day, his teacher asked him what his name was and he said his nickname which was J.C. but with his southern accent it sounded like he said Jesse. That name stuck with him for the rest of his life. When Jesse was in the fifth grade, the track teacher there saw him running and asked him to join the track team. Though with all the jobs Jesse had he could not do track in the afternoon so his coach made him get there before school so he could practice track. /jesse set Junior high records in the high jump with a 6 foot jump and he set another one in the broad jump with 22 feet 11 inches and 3/4. In high school, Jesse won all his major track events. He set records in the 100 meter dash with 9.4 seconds which also tied the world record. Also in high school he set two world records. He ran the 220 yard dash i... ...rld record in the 100 yard dash and won the 220 low hurdles all in under forty five minutes. In the Olympics he competed in the 100 meter dash, long jump, 220 meter dash and the 400 meter dash. In the Olympics he got four gold medals. Jesse Owens was a very important man. He set world records in high school, the Big Ten Conference Championships, and he won four gold medals in the Olympics. He also set records that stood for twenty five years. He impacted athletes by showing no matter what you have went through as a child sand no matter how bad of a life you had you can still do great things that you will be remembered for. He impacted racism by showing no matter what race you are you can still do amazing things, face racism and compete in the Olympics just like white people. He also showed that if you work hard enough and dream big good things will happen for you.

Firefly: Malaysia Airlines and Airline Industry Essay

2.0 Background to the organization Firefly is the wholly-owned subsidiary by the Malaysia Airline System Berhad (MAS). Firefly is launched on April 3rd 2007 as well as it is the Malaysia’s first community airline that operated under FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd. the Malaysia’s first community airline also known as a new Malaysian no-frills airline. The name of Firefly is come from the characteristics of agility, brilliance, charm, and fun. Firefly offers a full service point-to-point carrier. The head office of Firefly is located at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Selangor. The first flight of the Firefly was from Subang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport to Penang International Airport, on the 2nd April 2007. Besides Airline of Air Asia Berhad, Firefly is another low-cost airliner. It mean that Firefly has the separate management compare with MAS even though it is wholly-owned subsidiary by MAS. Firefly is operated in two hubs that are located at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang, Selangor and Penang International Airport. Penang is the second big hub after the Kuala Lumpur. The aim of the Firefly is to bring communities closer by overcoming geographical constraints, link the world to the communities we serve, and contribute to the economy of the communities by bringing trade and tourism. Firefly not only wants to bring together the community in Malaysia but also for travelers to visit both of our neighboring countries and throughout the region. Become the Malaysia’s first community airline, Firefly most emphasis on the safety and comfort it its flying experience. However, Firefly try their best to provide the best service to their customers such as getting their customers to the destination in the shorter time, cost effective and make flying Firefly as a fun. 3.0 Situation analysis Positive or negative of general environment in the airline industry will significant affect the growth of the Firefly Airline. In order to growth the position and hit the target of Firefly, it is important to understand the current situation of external factor that can influence the Firefly Airline. 3.1General Environment 3.1.1 Political Fully Deregulation of the airline since December 2008 allow the member state to fly across other’s territory, make fuelling stop as well as pick up the passenger in order to complete their journey to reach their destination. This deregulation brings the benefit such as enhance the customer’s choice and increase the competition. For most time, the political stability and government decision will directly affect the direction and decision of the company. For example, the Malaysian government policy to support and develop the Low Cost Travel sector (Bernama 2006) was good news well for Firefly because Firefly applied the strategies of low cost carrier. Another example is Firefly took over the service rural air service in year 2007 announced by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy (The star 2007). Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy announced that the rural air service was the responsibility of the government and they will continue to subsidies the cost for the operation of the rural air service to maintain the low-fare structure. Apart from that, On the 24 March 2010, the state government of Perak signed a contract for strategies collaboration with Firefly to promote tourism and foreign investment in their state. The decision of the state government brings good news to Firefly. Though this collaboration, Firefly can enhance their reputation and increase their profit. Ps: if too much words, can delete it or add to opportunity. 3.1.2 Economic [pic] Firure1: Traffic Update for Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) Member Airlines Source: AAPA (2010). From the figure 1, we can clearly see that the increase 10.7% in the passengers by November 2010 compared with November 2009. The main reason for the increase in passengers is Asia Pacific carrier had successfully in economic downturn. However, carriers need to carefully in the global recovery economic in develop market as well as the threat of high oil price or government increase the taxes. Due to the global recovery economic, Firefly planed to increase 3 new planes as the demand of travel. However, Firefly will be caution in the fuel cost since it steadily rising. 3.1.3 Socio cultural As a lower travel carrier, Firefly position itself at the middle class airline. Hence, we can see that Firefly always focus on four community that are The Holiday Goers community, the â€Å"Balik Kampung† Community, The â€Å"Indonesia Workers† community, and The Business Community. The Holiday Goers community is convenient to the tourists or Malaysians who like to visit the Langkawi, Phuket, Koh Samui. Firefly provides an attractive price for the tourists to encourage them flight on Firefly. For the â€Å"Balik Kampung† Community and the â€Å"Indonesia Workers† community, there have the same purpose. It allow the worker who work on other state or country as well as for those who want visit their relatives at hometown to reach their destination easily at a reasonable price. In addition, Firefly connect with major cities such as Johor Bahru, Penang, Alor Setar and Subang enable the executive travel their business trip convenient. 3.1.4 Technological  The aircraft of Firefly is the product that combined with the advanced technology. The aircraft named ATR 72-500 not only fuel efficiency, but also for the noise friendly. It compliant with noise regulations and have a large margin with regard to Chapter IV (ICAO) noise regulations effective 1st January 2006. ATR operate at relatively low altitude, leaving the ozone layer unaffected and barely contributing to pollution of the upper atmosphere such as features of low fuel burn and gaseous emissions. It also supports the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol as it is an opportunity to contribute to the prosperity of developing countries through the transfer of cleaner and greener technologies. Besides this, the 72-seat aircraft will be equipped with the â€Å"Elegance† cabin, Light Emitting Diode (LED) as well as the newest technological innovations in passenger comfort, communications and navigation tools. 3.2 Industry condition [pic] The Porter’s five force model is major affected in the airline industry due to the airline industry become the major and important industry in our world. Though the five forces of Porter, we can clearly understand the industry condition. The five forces include rivalry among existing competitors, threat of new entrants, threats of substitution products or services, bargaining power of supplier and bargaining power of buyer. 3.2.1 Rivalry among existing competitors  Rivalry among existing competitors mean that the competition between the existing competitors in an industry. Normally, this type of competition earn a low returns because the cost of competition are quite high. The competitors exist in the airline industry is high. Except the Firefly owned by MAS, there also have Air Asia, Berjaya Air, Layang-Layang Aerospace, Sabah Air and Hornbill Skyways which is a helicopter service that operates in the rural area of Sarawak. In order to boosts its market share, all competitors will try their best to offer different type of services, cut-fare and other benefit to grab the more and more customers from their competitor. This type of competition will result the overall slow market growth rate. 3.2.2 Threat of new entrants Threat of new entrants refers to the threat of new competitors to enter the exits market. If the new entrants can enter the market easily, that means the barriers to entry are low. Whereas if the new entrants difficult to enter the market, the barriers of entry are high. In the airline industry, the market is nearly saturated with the existing airline such as MAS, Air Asia, and Firefly and so on. The new entrants will face a lot of barriers if they want enter the market. One of the barriers is cost of entry. Airline industry is expensive industry. The cost of technology, buying or leasing aircraft and manpower are high. Another barrier is the brand name of existing market. For the most time, customers will loyalty to the brand that they preferred 3.2.3 Threat of substitute product A threat of substitute product is stated that the availability of another product that customers can purchases to replace for existing product. Airline industry considers highly risk in threats of substitute product. Customers would change their choice to another airline company if that company provides the lower price than others. The competitions between the airline industries enable all competitors to come out the better services, promotion and lower price. 3.2.4 Bargaining power of suppliers  Bargaining power of suppliers is the ability to setting the price. Normally the suppliers are power if there are not so many substitute supplier and suppliers more control and concentrated. The main suppliers in the Airline Industry are Boeing and Airbus. Therefore, airline industry isn’t any cutthroat competition due to the limited of suppliers. In other words, Airline Company less opportunity for the bargaining in industry and it can be threats of industry. 3.2.5 Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of buyers refer to the ability of the customers to setting the price. In Airline industry, bargaining power of customers are high because the highly competitive.

The Difference Between Globalization and Regionalism

Ironically, as society drifts towards globalization, regionalism also seems to take place in almost every corner of the globe. In fact, most countries in the world, on all continents, are members of regional trade agreements through either customs unions, free trade areas, or other preferential arrangements. Over 200 regional trade agreements (RTAs) exists and have been notified to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and over 150 of those agreements are in force. Most of these agreements have been concluded in the past ten years and cover mainly trades in goods or services, or a combination of both. To further complicate the issue of RTAs, many countries are members of several agreements; oftentimes these multiple agreements have differing rules. Europe seems to be taking the lead in regards to RTAs with sixty percent of the notified RTAs in force at the end of 2000 whereas developing countries only account for about fifteen percent of the total RTAs in 2000. The question that arises is whether the growth of regional groups helps or hinders the development of multilateral trading systems. Many countries are trying to balance between global and regional trade organizations. To understand the relative advantages of regional versus global organizations you must consider why international organizations are created. According to Yale University†s Bruce Russett, some organizations have single or multiple purposes, however, according to Russett, all international trade organizations have these purposes or functions. First, to secure peace among their members; second, to provide for external security vis-a-vis other states; third, to carry out a variety of economic-related tasks, such as development, managing or promoting interdependence; fourth, to address problems of environmental protection, and lastly, to secure human rights. These purposes or functions are normally carried out by a wide range of international organizations, including international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs). Many scholars feel that the United Nations serves three distinct purposes, security against violence, economic security, and to promote human rights. It is the second purpose of the UN, economic security, which ties into regional and global economic organizations. The UNs economic security is, no doubt, a global and not a regional solution. It is the Bretton Woods institutions of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the WTO along with the UN Development Program that the UN uses to rebuild economies and develop poor and underdeveloped countries. These institutions have been concerned with promoting economic interdependence, reducing poverty, and stimulating economic development. Because of these functions, these global institutions have underpinned economic interdependence and have become major advocates for the spread of free markets. The problem is that as the UN and these aforementioned organizations propagate free trade and globalization, many regions feel they are losing there autonomy and are looking towards more regional agreements, hence the move towards regionalism in the 1990s. There are two basic schools of thought in regards to the relationship between multilateral (globalization) and regional trading arrangements. According to Bhagwati and Panagariya, those who advocate the total reliance on the multilateral economic process express three main concerns against regional economics. These reasons are: First, regional agreements divert trade by creating preferential treatment for member countries vis-a-vis nonmembers, the term for this used by anti regionalism critics is preferential trade agreements (PTAs). Second, critics argue that countries may lose interest in the multilateral system when they engage actively in regional initiatives; they feel that regionalism will stall and even threaten global trading. Third, regional trading agreements may contribute to political and even military clashes among nations, this though is the extreme. Still and all, contemporary critics of regionalism do worry that extensive and regional ties may lead to conflicts that range beyond economics to broader areas of international relations. The champions of regionalism address and counter each one of the aforementioned issues. C. Fred Bergsten nicely sums up the points that counter the critics of regionalism. Bergsten lists these three opposite views on the issues presented by the critics of regionalism: First, regional arrangements promote freer trade and multilateralism in at least two areas, trade creation has generally exceeded trade diversion and regionalism contribute to both internal and international dynamics that enhance rather than reduce the prospects for global liberalization. Second, regionalism oftentimes has important demonstration effects; that is to say, that regional initiatives can accustom officials, governments, and nations to the liberalization process and increase the probability that they will subsequently move on to similar multilateral actions. Lastly, regionalism has had positive rather then negative political effects; the European Union (EU), because of economic interdependence, is unlikely to see any serious conflicts between the member states. As the last two paragraphs show, it is impossible to decisively resolve the regionalism versus multilateralism issue. Most analysis of free trade agreements (FTAs) conclude that trade creation has dominated trade diversion but that conclusion is not without foolproof results and the future cannot guarantee that regional arrangements will have similarly benign results. However, most economic scholars agree that regional and global liberalization have proceeded together and have tended to reinforce each other; the US would be a good example of this, the US has continued to provide global leadership for multilateral liberalization while simultaneously pursuing it†s regional initiatives. In the end, the evidence suggests that the interactions have been largely positive but this conclusion is based on judgmental rather then definitive results. The only irrefutable conclusion is that the interrelationship between regionalism and globalism depends on the management of the process by the key countries involved. If those countries seek constructive synergism between regionalism and globalism, then the historical record shows that that synergism can be achieved. If those countries wish to pursue either regionalism or globalism at the expense of the other, then the outcome could be different. What has evolved is a term called â€Å"open regionalism,† open regionalism represents an effort to resolve one of the central problems of global trade policies; how to achieve compatibility between the explosion of regional trading agreements erupting around the world and the global trading system as embodied in the WTO. The â€Å"open regionalism† concept seeks to assure that regional agreements will in practice be building blocks for further global liberalization rather then stumbling blocks that deter progress. â€Å"Open regionalism† has been adopted by the three largest economies in the world, the United States (US), Japan, and China, when those economies established an international trade organization, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). According to Bergsten, APEC is the largest regional trade organization in the world and is potentially the most far-reaching trade agreement in history, therefore, APEC is a major factor in the world trading system and its embrace of â€Å"open regionalism† has propelled this concept into the global marketplace. The concept of â€Å"open regionalism† represents an effort to achieve the best of regionalism and globalism, the benefits of regional liberalization, of which even the critics acknowledge, without jeopardizing the continued vitality of the multilateral system. Proponents of open regionalism view it as a device through which regionalism can be employed to accelerate the progress towards global liberalization and rule making. Ross Garnaut gives five possible definitions of â€Å"open regionalism† and these can be implemented simultaneously as well as independently, the five definitions that Garnaut gives are: One, â€Å"open regionalism† has open membership in the regional arrangement. Any country that indicates a credible willingness to accept the rules of the institution would be invited to join. Second, the most favored nation (MFN) treatment concept would be utilized; trade liberalization would be extended unconditionally to all of the members† trading partners. Third, conditional MFNs would be instituted to counter the unconditional MFNs mentioned in the second definition. Outsiders would accept offers from regional trade organizations in order to avoid being discriminated against by countries that account for half the world†s economy. Fourth, regional organizations will continue reducing their barriers on a global basis while pursuing their regional goals. Continuing the practice of unilateral liberalization and multilateral negotiations in the WTO would do this; both approaches avoid creating a new discrimination and could be viewed as faithful renditions of â€Å"open regionalism. † Finally, trade facilitation through non-tariff and non-border reforms. Such initiatives would be narrowly focused, though still valuable in enhancing trade, such as customs harmonization and mutual recognition of product standards. Economic regionalism and globalism can co-exist, in fact, as can be seen with the US, a state can practice both and flourish. Most countries will accept the idea of â€Å"open regionalism† and will want to promote liberalization in both their region and globally, â€Å"open regionalism† allows those states to do this. These countries must indicate publicly both their regional liberalization program and their willingness to extend that liberalization to all members of global organizations, such as the WTO, on a reciprocal basis. Such a strategy is feasible, as noted earlier, over sixty percent of world trade already takes place within regional arrangements that have either achieved free trade, are getting close to that position, or have committed to do so. The advantage of overcoming current preferential discrimination offered to MFNs would be enticing enough to convince most countries to take the additional step of freeing trade with all partners rather then a selected few while still maintaining regional ties, this is exactly what â€Å"open regionalism† does.

Compound Definition in Chemistry

Compound Definition in Chemistry The word compound has several definitions. In the field of chemistry, compound refers to a chemical compound. Compound Definition A compound is a chemical species that is formed when two or more atoms join together chemically, with covalent or ionic bonds. Compounds may be categorized according to the type of chemical bonds holding the atoms together: Molecules are held together by covalent bonds.Ionic compounds are held together by ionic bonds.Intermetallic compounds are held together by metallic bonds.Complexes are often held together by coordinate covalent bonds. Note that some compounds contain a mixture of ionic and covalent bonds. Also note, a few scientists do not consider pure elemental metals to be compounds (metallic bonds). Examples of Compounds Examples of compounds include table salt or sodium chloride (NaCl, an ionic compound), sucrose (a molecule), nitrogen gas (N2, a covalent molecule), a sample of copper (intermetallic), and water (H2O, a covalent molecule). Examples of chemical species not considered compounds include the hydrogen ion H and the noble gas elements (e.g., argon, neon, helium), which do not readily form chemical bonds. Writing  Compound Formulas By convention, when atoms form a compound, its formula lists the atom(s) acting as a cation first, followed by the atom(s) acting as the anion. This means sometimes an atom may be first or last in a formula. For example, in carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon (C) acts as a cation. In silicon carbide (SiC), carbon acts as the anion. Compound Versus Molecule Sometimes a compound is called a  molecule. Usually, the two terms are synonymous. Some scientists make a distinction between the types of bonds in molecules (covalent) and compounds (ionic).

The eNotes Blog National Book Critics Circle Award FinalistsAnnounced

National Book Critics Circle Award FinalistsAnnounced This past Saturday, the finalists for the National Book Critics Circle Awards were announced.   Among the finalists are   Johnathan Franzen for Freedom   and Siddhartha Mukharjee for The Emperor of  All Maladies. Along with the Pulitzer Prize (2010 winner, Tinkers by Paul Harding) and the Man Booker  Prize (2010 winner, The Finkler Question by Harold Jacobson), the NBCC Award is among the most coveted of literary prizes. The first NBCC award was given in 1974 at the historic Algonquin Hotel in New York City, where literatures illuminati  gathered in the 1920s. The goal of the NBCC is to extend that intimate conversation of the Round Table into a national conversation. There are six categories for which the prize is awarded: autobiography, biography, criticism, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The winners are selected by critics, of course. There is an additional award called the Balakian which honors working critics. Here is a full list of 2010s finalist nominees: Fiction: A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (Knopf) Freedom by Jonathan Franzen (FSG) To the End of the Land by David Grossman (Knopf) Comedy in a Minor Key by Hans Keilson (FSG) Skippy Dies by Paul Murray (Faber   Faber) Nonfiction: Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick (Random House) Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne (Scribner) Apollo’s Angels by Jennifer Homans (Random House) The Emporer of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee (Scribner) The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson (Random House) Autobiography: Half A Life by Darin Strauss (McSweeneys) Just Kids by Patti Smith (Ecco) Crossing Mandelbaum Gate by Kai Bird (Scribner) Autobiography of An Execution by David Dow (Hachette) Hitch-22 by Christopher Hitchens (Twelve) Hiroshima in the Morning by Rahna  Reiko  Rizzuto (Feminist Press) Biography: How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne in One Questions and Twenty Attempts at An Answer by Sarah Bakewell (Other Press) The Secret Lives of Somerset Maugham: A Biography by Selina Hastings Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History by Yuente Huang The Killing of Crazy Horse by Thomas Powers Simon Wiesenthal: The Life and Legends by Tom Segev Criticism: The Posessed by Elif  Batuman (FSG) The Professor and Other Writings by Terry Castle (HarperCollins) Lyric Poetry and Modern Politics: Russia, Poland, and the West by Clare Cavanagh (Yale) The Cruel Radience: Photography and  Political Violence by Susan Linfield (Univ. of Chicago) Vanishing Point by Ander Monson (Graywolf) Poetry: One With Others by C.D. Wright (Copper Canyon) Nox by Anne Carson (New Directions) The Eternal City by Kathleen Graber (Princeton) Lighthead by Terrance Hayes (Penguin) The Best of It by Kay Ryan (Grove)

Wuthering Heights Questions for Study and Discussion

'Wuthering Heights' Questions for Study and Discussion Wuthering Heights is one of the greatest works by Emily Bronte. Here are a few questions for study and discussion. Questions for Study and Discussion What is important about the title? AnswerWhat are the conflicts in Wuthering Heights? AnswerHow does Emily Bronte reveal character in Wuthering Heights?What are some themes in the story? How do they relate to the plot and characters?What are some symbols in​ Wuthering Heights? How do they relate to the plot and characters?Are the characters consistent in their actions? Which of the characters are fully developed? How? Why?Do you find the characters likable? Are the characters persons you would want to meet?Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why?What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?How does the novel relate to feminist literature?How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else?What is the role of women in Wuthering Heights? How are mothers represented? What about single/independent women?What elements of the story, plot, characterization, etc. are the most controversial? Why do you think the book was banned? Do you believe the book should remain banned? This novel has been compared to the Twilight series. Do you agree? Why? Why not?Compare A Rose for Emily, by William Faulkner, with this novel. How do the characters cope with rejection?Would you recommend this novel to a friend?

Composer from Baroque to the Classical period Essay

Composer from Baroque to the Classical period - Essay Example Bach was a violin and harpsichord virtuoso. His main style was of polyphonic texture whereby, the chords progressions directed the music’s motion, which made him a master of the fugue. Bach’s music was very baroque, a term adapted as a connotation for extravagant, excess, and emotionally expressive music. Therefore, his music was full of emotion and featured a basso continuo. Bach composed a total 1128 works for voice, orchestra, organ, keyboard, chamber, and canon. Bach also composed works that were either fragmented, spurious doubtful, or lost. Sebastian Bach composed for the organ, the harpsichord, the clavichord, and the violin. He lived in Germany. Bach’s cooperation with royalty was fuelled by his devotion to write Christian music, as evidenced by his compositions in his time at the Lutheran church. There were no direct political motives to write what he did. Bach’s influence on the Classical era is not profound. Although the classical musicians adop ted a new style of writing music, Mozart took interest in Sebastian Bach’s polyphonic tones in his Jupiter composition. Bach’s death in 1950 marked the end of the Baroque era and the beginning of the Classical period. Making him the most influential composer from the Baroque era to the Classical era. The Baroque period of music is a period that encouraged self-expression, formation of counterpoints, certain degrees of ornamentation and open forms. The period is known for its inconsistency; although the music in this era shares the same genre.

Case analysis Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Analysis - Case Study Example The customer loyalty gained by this company emanates from the trust bestowed upon its good intentions and commitment to sharing the music experience with the community both locally and beyond. Although sharing a similar financial history, the companys principal competitors include the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra both of which have operated at deficits in the past. San Francisco Symphony has a high corporate strategy that appreciates its current position, its future aspirations and aims at defining the means of getting to its destination. Under its business strategy, the symphony can be said to have a good long-term plan on how to achieve its strategic objectives by the year 2018. In terms of its human resources, the company takes pride in the rich experience of its director, president and board members as a reliable, functional strategy for both its planning, development and marketing needs. The symphonys superior music experience in terms of recording and performance make up its strengths (Hall & Taylor, 2014). However, the consistent deficits and periodic poor financial performance is a weakness that must be improved to make the companyâ⠂¬â„¢s future brighter. Considering the customer base, and its good leadership, the Symphony has an open opportunity for growth. However, competition and the unionization of the music industry are major threats. An analysis of the competitiveness of the company, the ethical issues that arise in its operations, its financial status and the overall framework shall be made with the aim of establishing its actual position. The competitive analysis will adopt the Porters Five Forces analysis and the VRIO framework. The unstable financial stability of the company marked by consistent deficits will be deeply analysed. The study will endeavour to make recommendations that can improve the company in both its corporate, business and functional strategies. Through its

Interpersonal Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Interpersonal Communication - Essay Example There are some ways through which this conflict can be stated as good. For instance, this conflict shall influence all team members to be focused on group work. On the other hand, it would also be beneficial in individual context since team members shall be more responsible.Different individuals do not perceive things in same manner. I might consider things from completely different perspective which is not aligned with viewpoint of other team members. This can also be one of the reasons behind identified interpersonal conflict.There was prolonged conflict because I believed that there was no fault of mine. I did not communicate with my team member appropriately to determine the reasons behind such behavior. I kept on arguing in that situation where understanding was essential between both of us.I did possess a set of realistic goals in this scenario. We all were putting in our efforts so that we succeed in our career path. The only objective of mine in this argument was to make him realize that apart from expertise, professionalism is a key criterion to achieve set performance standards.I was to certain extent trying to win this conflict because my team member was reluctant to accept his fault. The disagreement continued because I could not trust his unrealistic excuses for not attending group presentation on time.Conflict resolution can be considered as a critical phenomenon. This is simply because it is difficult to predict behavior of an individual with whom one has entered into a conflict.

NYC Department of Education Teachers of Speech Improvement Essay - 1

NYC Department of Education Teachers of Speech Improvement - Essay Example The first learning strategy that needs to be implemented is to incorporate the utilization of the auditory process itself. Some children are prone to be weak in attention and memory that leads to speech impairment. Teachers can help with students to assist them in slowing their rate of speech which focuses on enunciation. In addition, factors such as visual cues can further dramatically increase focus and memory. Moreover the utilization of eye contact can also be embedded at this strategy. Eye contact is an absolutely necessary element that has many benefits. First and foremost is the fact that a steady eye contact induces confidence for the student who is presenting. Eye contact also enables the student to acknowledge the body language of the audience, which may assist the student in modifying their speech. Maintaining a steady eye contact enables the student to better understand the environment they are in. The second learning strategy that is an absolute must is the utilization of group sessions in which students will engaged in a collaborative learning effort. This unique strategy will enhance dialogue amongst students, stimulating conversation and collaborative learning. Although this strategy might be underestimated, conducive research shows that that student who are likely to be involved in conversations are more likely to enhance their linguistic skills. The third learning strategy that is extremely essential is focusing on the syntax of the vocabulary. Using expressive language goals for children will induce focus on vocabulary development. It will give the children a boost of confidence. Helping children with syntax goals comprises of developing phrases and sentences. In addition, it can also focus around isolationing sounds and words with the emphasis on enunciation. Speech therapists can facilitate the process with repeating syllabuses that can help reduce cluttering. This

How does each sculpture convey the idea of love which one do you Essay

How does each sculpture convey the idea of love which one do you believe conveys this idea more effectively Why - Essay Example Indiana’s sculpture is placed in the open space, whereas Rodin’s sculpture is displayed in the Musà ©e Rodin, which means Rodin Museum. The Kiss is one of Rodin’s greatest works. The sculptor is famed for other great works with the most popular being the Thinker. One of the key aspects of Rodin’s work is his focus on human behavior. For instance, the thinker represents an individual who is thinking deeply, whereas the Kiss represents a couple that is kissing. Rodin’s work, The Kiss, portrays one form of love, which is romance or spousal love (Elsen 78). However, it ignores all other forms of love, such as friendship, parental love and godly or spiritual love. The Kiss, however, is a sculpture that directly hints love to the audience. In fact, when people view the sculpture, they are more likely to think in the terms of love as opposed to that of sex. As such, the sculpture also represents love articulately. On the contrary, Indiana’s sculpture, Love, is rather different. For most people, the sculpture is just a collection of letters that form the word Love. As such, its representation of love can only be viewed in terms of its spelling. Regardless, the sculpture addresses a general form of love, which are placed on a street, in New York City. Arguably, the chanting of the letter O is used as a strategy to account for the negative space that would be left had the sculptor placed it in the original space. Although the sculpture is a representative of a general love, it lacks the physical representation. The Kiss represents a form of love, or just a basic concept of love, as previously described. However, the sculpture is so well shaped, almost perfect in texture, depicting genuine in love. Regardless, the sculpture hints love at the sight of it. Limiting the concept of love to a mere marital standing point is one of the major flaws made by the author. On the contrary, Indiana’s vague representation of love conveys the idea of love better. Its

Differences in Setting Up a Business in China vs India Research Paper

Differences in Setting Up a Business in China vs India - Research Paper Example A major difference between China and India lies within the political systems of the two countries, with China having the Communist Party system while India having a democratic system. This provides India with numerous comparative advantages over China (Nobrega, 2008). In spite of the laziness of the courts in India, the legal system protects the property rights whereas intellectual property rights are frequently violated in China and business is done primarily through interpersonal networking; a concept known as guanxi (Adams, 2007). In terms of the political systems, China is following market reforms economically which encourages business models that are capitalist-based and allows more free trade than India. India, on the other hand, has a system of commerce that was based upon the Soviet model until the 1980s, and has ever since, reforming to follow China in terms of freedom of trade and establishment of the capitalist-based business models (Runckel, 2007). China and India have co mparable trade barriers and reduced tariffs. However, China is more liberal for the international companies than India. China has removed restrictions on the retail trade and is modernizing the sector with huge investments whereas, in India, international companies find greater restrictions. For example, a US corporation can have just one director to establish its business in China whereas for it to establish a business in India, a minimum of two directors are required (inchincloser.com, 2010).

How does each sculpture convey the idea of love which one do you Essay

How does each sculpture convey the idea of love which one do you believe conveys this idea more effectively Why - Essay Example Indiana’s sculpture is placed in the open space, whereas Rodin’s sculpture is displayed in the Musà ©e Rodin, which means Rodin Museum. The Kiss is one of Rodin’s greatest works. The sculptor is famed for other great works with the most popular being the Thinker. One of the key aspects of Rodin’s work is his focus on human behavior. For instance, the thinker represents an individual who is thinking deeply, whereas the Kiss represents a couple that is kissing. Rodin’s work, The Kiss, portrays one form of love, which is romance or spousal love (Elsen 78). However, it ignores all other forms of love, such as friendship, parental love and godly or spiritual love. The Kiss, however, is a sculpture that directly hints love to the audience. In fact, when people view the sculpture, they are more likely to think in the terms of love as opposed to that of sex. As such, the sculpture also represents love articulately. On the contrary, Indiana’s sculpture, Love, is rather different. For most people, the sculpture is just a collection of letters that form the word Love. As such, its representation of love can only be viewed in terms of its spelling. Regardless, the sculpture addresses a general form of love, which are placed on a street, in New York City. Arguably, the chanting of the letter O is used as a strategy to account for the negative space that would be left had the sculptor placed it in the original space. Although the sculpture is a representative of a general love, it lacks the physical representation. The Kiss represents a form of love, or just a basic concept of love, as previously described. However, the sculpture is so well shaped, almost perfect in texture, depicting genuine in love. Regardless, the sculpture hints love at the sight of it. Limiting the concept of love to a mere marital standing point is one of the major flaws made by the author. On the contrary, Indiana’s vague representation of love conveys the idea of love better. Its

HRM in Context Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

HRM in Context - Essay Example Employee relationship management (ERM) has over the years emerged as one of the vital constituents of HRM which signifies to managing and establishing the inter-relationship between the varied employees in an organisation. These relationships can occur between the employer and employees and amid employees belonging to a particular level in an organisation. In this context, employment relationship is determined as the lawful association between employees and employers. This association prevails when an individual executes a particular work service or work within certain specified condition in response for remuneration. Employment relationship facilitates to establish the reciprocal obligations along with rights in between the employee and employee. This relationship largely facilitates workers to derive access to their fundamental benefits as well as rights related to their employment (International Labour Organization, 2011). In this regard, it is observed that within the periphery o f employment relationship, HRM’s responsibility is to ensure that the employees are always efficient, effective and productive. A few of the employment relationships facets include drafting the best procedure for the recruitment and selection process, preparing job classification inculcating motivation, training and development for the betterment of the employees and organisation, scaling a payment status, performance appraisal along with ensuring sustained guidance to the staff. In relation to the context of motivation, it is observed that employees generally work to fulfil its psychological needs, but they also need to take care of their relationship with the superiors or the employers, which forms one of the crux elements of employment relationships in the contemporary scenario (Budd & Bhave, 2006). With these considerations, the essay intends to discuss the antecedents and functions belonging to contemporary HRM in facilitating organisations to manage employment relations hips. Theories on Employment Relationship Management The notion of employment relationships is broadening day-by-day and has become a key factor to ensure that both employees and employers are contented with each other in terms of prevailing work process conditions. The approach of employment relationships actually has been developed from various subjects including economics, sociology, psychology, political science and history. It constitutes certain levels namely international, national, industry, organisational or corporate, workplace and individual (Rasmussen & Lamm, 2002). Within the aspect of employment relationships, the notion of hard and soft HRM needs to be specified. Hard HRM significantly incorporates elements within the aspect of employment relations focusing emphasis on workers’ compliance and quantitative output of the organisation. Similarly, soft HRM is a more long-standing and strategic perspective which supports flexibility, quality, performance, recognitio n, negotiation and rights in terms of employment rel

Psychotherapy via Bellow in Seize the Day Essay -- Seize the Day Essay

Psychotherapy via Bellow in Seize the Day  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   The ending of Seize the Day is ironic and revealing about the theme of the entire novella.   When Tommy Wilhelm inadvertently attends a funeral for a stranger, he begins to sob uncontrollably at the sight of the unknown corpse.   It is a painful reminder of his own mortality and a cathartic release of emotion he has been building up over the downward spiraling course of his life.   However, it is ironic because Tommy is the only one at the funeral who is expressing such emotion and it makes others in attendance believe he must have been very close to the deceased to be so devastated.   In other words, no one is crying for the dead man, not even Tommy, but Tommy is crying for himself.   This is not only irony but serves to underscore the entire theme of the novel-laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and you cry alone.   Instead of seizing the day and living in the here-and-now, Tommy is torn by anxiety over the future and regret over the past.   Because of this, he believes he is in need of some kind of favor, or break, or sympathy.   However, he comes to realize that, like the tears we often shed for ourselves, pity is often a personal exercise of self and seldom forthcoming from others.   He recognizes this because he learns that from the perspective of others, he is the only one to blame for his repeated mistakes and his repeated failures.   As he muses at one point when in need of sympathy, "And why, Wilhelm further asked, should he or anybody else pity me; or why should I be pitied sooner than another fellow?   It is my childish mind that thinks people are ready to give it just because you need it" (Bellow   93).   Tommy considers himself a failure because he has taken to heart... ...isis helps him to accept the discomforts that come with being free and fully alive, and, as the novella ends, we can only hope from that moment on Tommy will begin to seize the day each day in the present as he strives to make something of himself in the here-and-now for the future, his own and others.      WORKS   CITED Bellow, S.   Seize The Day.   (9th printing).   New York, The Viking Press, 1968. Christy, M.   Bellow's pleasure in imaginary states.   Boston Globe Online. http://www.boston.com/globe/search/stories/nobel/1989/1989e.html, Nov. 15, 1989:   1-4. Stein, H. T. and Edwards, M. E.   Classical Adlerian theory and practice.   http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/hstein/theoprac.htm,   Aug. 21, 1998:   1-19. Stevenson, D. B.   Freud's division of the mind. http://landow.stg.brown.edu/HTatBrown/freud/Division_of_Mind.html,   Oct. 4, 1999:   1-2.