For questions or clarifications, please contact [email protected]or 09053217729 Candidate¶s Platforms Kim M. Cabanig President ___________________________________________________________________ BALIKLAYA AY 2011-2012: I have always believed that if one aspires for a change, you have to be the change that you want to see. I believe that Baliklaya is not only an organization that fights for change, but ratherit is the change. This is the reason why I am Baliklaya and it is the very same reason why I am aspiring to be next school year¶s president. For the next school year, if elected, I wish to establish a more ³extrovert´ and a more systematic Baliklaya. Along with such goal, I would also like to improve and create a variety of opportunities forcommunity involvement, friendship and personal growth for every member of the organization. The following are some of the proposed actions I wish to pursue and implement next school year for a bigger and better Baliklaya: 1. More Baliklaya member involvement. The organization not only needs more active participation from its current members but it also needs the involvement of new freshmen and sophomore members as well. The f ollowing are proposed remedies for more participation from the members: Since Baliklaya does not have an org. room, we can create projects such ³tambay´ week(s) or sports fest which will enable the members to know the other members and also create a more comfortable and enjoyable org. atmosphere as well. People would be more encouraged to participate and be more involved in org. activities when they are familiar or acquainted with the other members. Provide membership incentives such as group tutorials/ review sessions (eg. Acc.10 and Law 21) and ³Member of the Month´ features. In directly addressing the need for more freshmen and sophomore members, we can tap into other departments (such as the Social Anthropology Department, Theology Department, History Department, Psychology Department) and ev en InTact facilitators to help promote Baliklaya. Professors and facilitators (and if possible, the students¶ parents) could be invited to the organization¶s prison-based projects. Doing such will give these potential ³Baliklaya promoters´ firsthand experience as of what Baliklaya is all about and possibly help encourage members of the Ateneo community to support the organization¶s cause. Scheduling Bilibid-based projects on different days (not Sunday) which are more fitting for the majority of the members. i. This will a lso address the issue on the last-minutes can cellations of attendance for Bilibid-based projects that incurs high transportation cost. 2. Exploring otherpossible partner communities. Since there are a number of members who cannot join Bilibid-based projects due to some conflicts with their schedule and/or the distance of the area, we can also expand our prison services to other partner communities such as to the juvenile delinquent rehabilitation center within the Metro Manila.
I have always believed that if one aspires for a change, you have to be the change that you wantto see. I believe that Baliklaya is not only an organization that fights for change, but rather it is thechange. This is the reason why I am Baliklaya and it is the very same reason why I am aspiring to be nextschool year¶s president.
For the next school year, if elected, I wish to establish a more ³extrovert´ and a more systematic
Baliklaya. Along with such goal, I would also like to improve and create a variety of opportunities for community involvement, friendship and personal growth for every member of the organization.
The following are some of the proposed actions I wish to pursue and implement next school year for abigger and better Baliklaya:
1. More Baliklaya member involvement.The organization not only needs more active participationfrom its current members but it also needs the involvement of new freshmen and sophomoremembers as well. The following are proposed remedies for more participation from the members:
Since Baliklaya does not have an org. room, we can create projects such ³tambay´week(s) or sports fest which will enable the members to know the other members andalso create a more comfortable and enjoyable org. atmosphere as well. People would bemore encouraged to participate and be more involved in org. activities when they are
familiar or acquainted with the other members. Provide membership incentives such as group tutorials/ review sessions (eg. Acc.10 and
Law 21) and ³Member of the Month´ features. In directly addressing the need for more freshmen and sophomore members, we can tap
into other departments (such as the Social Anthropology Department, TheologyDepartment, History Department, Psychology Department) and even InTact facilitators tohelp promote Baliklaya. Professors and facilitators (and if possible, the students¶ parents)could be invited to the organization¶s prison-based projects. Doing such will give thesepotential ³Baliklaya promoters´ firsthand experience as of what Baliklaya is all about andpossibly help encourage members of the Ateneo community to support the organization¶scause.
Scheduling Bilibid-based projects on different days (not Sunday) which are more fittingfor the majority of the members.
i. This will also address the issue on the last-minutes cancellations of attendancefor Bilibid-based projects that incurs high transportation cost.2. Exploring other possible partner communities.
Since there are a number of members who cannot join Bilibid-based projects due tosome conflicts with their schedule and/or the distance of the area, we can also expandour prison services to other partner communities such as to the juvenile delinquentrehabilitation center within the Metro Manila.
With other prison partner communities that are closer (shorter travel time) to Ateneo,members will have more opportunities to join prison-based projects due to the moreflexible schedule. The trips can be arranged on weekdays or after their classes.)
We can expand and redesign our existing projects such as the Livelihood Program andSeminar Workshops to be more fitting for other sets of prisoners such as the juveniledelinquents or the women inmates.
We can also extend prison-service projects to other rehabilitation centers such asWomen's Correctional Institute in Muntilupa.
3. Improved membership formation. Processing session right after every prison-based trips or projects. More information seminars (PJPS and Binhi ng Pag-asa, Ex-inmates)
4. Improving external communications.
To avoid conflicts and cancellation of Bilibid-based projects or with other partner communities, an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) should be arranged betweenBaliklaya and BuCor at the begging of the school year.
To avoid misunderstandings, there should only be one point person (c/o Logistics) whoshould keep constant communication and to coordinate with the BuCor. Another pointperson should also be in-charge of transportation matters for any outside campusactivities to again avoid any miscommunication.
5. A more systematic and centralized information dissemination (internal and external)
Produce a more updated website. The website will not just feature upcoming events andpromotional materials but it will also feature updates on current ³hot´ issues such asVizconde Massacre Case and feature articles related to the organization¶s cause or newsabout what is happening in the organization itself.
6. More advocacy campaigns. Continuation of the monthly online newsletters: project updates and feature an ³inmate of
the month´ and their story to draw the members¶ interest and for them to get to know theinmates on a deeper level.
Baliklaya shirts or testimonial shirts (walking billboards about the organization¶s thrust) Continue the petition to bring the inmates here within the Ateneo campus for a concert.
7. Improving project management. Project managers will be encouraged to join the EB meetings for updates as well as
undergo and weekly EB screening (before the project itself) for more inputs, feedbacks
and full-force support. Project managers will be given leadership and project management seminars at the
beginning of the year to equip them with the ³how¶s´ and ³what¶s´ and also provide themwith the necessary information and materials that they will need.
8. Formalizing meetings (set-up should be in an enclosed classroom) and implementation of ground rules.
9. Establishing Baliklaya as a separate and independent organization. Continue developing tie-ups with other Ateneo organization. Diversifying its members (The goal should be to attract other students from SOH, SOSS
In the past 3 years of my college life, Baliklaya has been a great part of the whole package thatcollege has presented before me. As I near my final year in college and in the organization, I want to stepup and take things further with my participation in Baliklaya by running as your next Baliklaya President.
My plans for the organization revolve around this particular phrase that has been going on mymind these past few days:
³W ork to empower the members and make the operations of the organization moresustainable. Think about accreditation later.´
Baliklaya will be celebrating its 3rd
year as an independent organization next school year. After going through 2 years on its own feet, there are still some concerns regarding its sustainability as anorganization.
These concerns are what I aim to address and overcome given a year of handling projects and ateam of people dedicated to the cause of rehabilitating prisoners who want to make a difference in their lives while still inside prison.
The following are the concrete actions I plan to carry out if elected as president for the comingschool year:
ProfessionalizingEB and ExeCom Meetings
y Baliklaya has the disadvantage of not having an org room to conduct its meetings, interviews, etc.
y Most of the time, EB meetings are held without having the complete set of officers deciding onmatters and discussing projects
y EB officers tend to get distracted easily when meetings are held in ³not so private´ venues
y My proposed solution for this is to communicate to the officers the importance of taking on a moreprofessional approach when conducting our regular meetings to effectively decide on matters andfollow agenda
y Also, with the help of the Logistics Director, I would like to reserve rooms/venues that will makemeetings more private and encourage officers to go through agenda in a more systematic way
Centralizing Information Dissemination
y Baliklaya has numerous yahoo groups wherein all our information, updates and importantdocuments pass through.
y Having these many accounts can get confusing at times with members and officers not knowingwhich accounts to use or turn to for necessary documents.
y With the help of the Human Resources Department, the creation of a more centralizedinformation dissemination system can help communication of important information flow more
effectivelyEstablish A Stronger Relationship With Selected Prison Communities
y The Bureau of Corrections has been the partner of Baliklaya in all of its Bilibid-based projects.
y Problems still arise in carrying out these projects because of miscommunications betweenBaliklaya, BuCor and other personnel in Bilibid.
y Long before the school year starts, I plan to hold a meeting with the Baliklaya officers and BuCor to straighten things out about the processes of hosting projects and events directly related to the
inmates. This will be followed up by consultations and called for meetings with said officers inorder to continue the evolving relationship between the two partners
y Officers directly concerned with this action, aside from the President, are the VP for SCI, LogisticsDirector, Secretary-General and the Executive Vice President.
Investing On A Transport Vehicle or Scheme for Out-of-school Projects
y Transportation has always been a big problem thrown around in the organization
y A big portion of our funds for one project go to the rental of jeepneys that sometimes poseproblems for the members because of various reasons (ex. Breakdowns, expensive,uncomfortable)
y Investing on a good transport vehicle or transport scheme can be good for the organization in thelong run
y This can help in reducing costs for the organization, increase efficiency in out-of-school projectsby taking out the previous hassles brought to us by past transport problems
y Officers directly involved in this project will be the VP for Fundraising and Treasurer Increasing The Number of Partner Prison Communities
y One problem that Baliklaya faces with its prison-based projects is the distance of the venue fromAteneo.
y Many students are discouraged from joining such activities because of this especially Freshmenand Sophomore members who have very hectic schedules
y Increasing the number of partner prison communities can aid in getting more members to joinprison-based activities and actually interact with the inmates if the venues for them were closer.
y This can also increase the no. of visits within the year that would give more options for membersto join in.
y Departments directly involved would be the Office of the President, Advocacy Department andthe SCI Department
Effective Project Management
y The success of Baliklaya as an organization relies heavily on the success of its projectscollectively
y Effective project management should be carried out in order for the operations of the organizationto flow smoothly through the help of the officers and its members
y My proposal for this is to reevaluate the Project Management Seminar, Project Manager Kits andSelection Process for Project Managers and Core Team Members with the help of all the officers
y Through this evaluation, we can revise these and find ways to make the preparation, executionand evaluation of projects more effective
³Branding´ Baliklaya
y Baliklaya has long been associated with Ateneo Lex as its former flagship program
y Coming from such a relationship with the other organization, Baliklaya still has issues about itsindependence and how it should be marketed to the Ateneo community
y Building and clearly defining the identity of the organization is a big step in making Baliklaya¶soperations closer to its goals. Having such an identity that members can identify with and addressto can also be treated as a push for them towards concretizing their ideas for the improvement of the organization in supporting its cause
y The ³branding´ of Baliklaya , which would be in line with its mission and vision, will be somethingthat I want to discuss with and define through the help of all the EB members
y The image or ³branding´ of Baliklaya is what I want to be carried out in the coming years to helpfuture members and officers identify with the cause and operations of the organization
With all of these in mind, I plan to work on forming a Baliklaya that can stand on its own feet as anindependent organization that carries out sustainable operations in advocating our cause of and providingservices in aiding inmates in their efforts to rehabilitation.
Effective ± I want to be a leader that can transcend lives by inspiring them with my dedication to my
craft. I believe that a leader is truly successful when he is able to influence others. As an EVP, I want tobe a leader that listens to his constituents and at the same time, cares for their needs and welfare. I wantto be hands on in assisting project managers in their works and finally, I want to be always there for thePresident to guide him with all the decision making in the organization. I want to establish a ³homey´feeling in the organization because I believe good things nurture in a good environment.
Visionary ± Yes, I am a dreamer. I envision a Baliklaya that is founded on values of prison advocacy
and prison service. I envision an organization with members that know what they are doing and why theyare doing that. This year, I plan to tap the Philosophy department and coordinate with them our ³kapihan´sessions. I would also like to have Bilibid trips cored on educating the members of the history, ins andouts of the Bilibid and the life in the prison. I envision a Baliklaya that is helping one another to achieve acommon goal. Through coordination and cooperation, hopefully a ³homey´ environment can beestablished so that the members of the organization can grow. Finally, I envision Baliklaya to the bestorganization in the Ateneo and this can be best achieved by an accreditation at the end of the year if wedo not get it this year yet. Also it is theology that to love is to extend one self with the will to enlarge one¶sspirituality. With these things in mind, I plan to love.
Productive ± I want everyone to have a purpose in the organization so that they do not feel left out and
besides, there is no room for waste of talent in Baliklaya since we are an organization with a small
population. I want to spearhead personally a mentoring program wherein future leaders can be trained for the positions that would be vacated next year. But before that, I would like to train the project heads sothat they could execute their project as well. Extensive and comprehensive project management would begiven to these chosen project managers so that the outcome of their project would be desirable. Finally, Iwant an Executive Board that is coordinating, uniting and working together. We should walk the talk. Weshould serve exemplars to our constituents. Monthly consultations would be done so that feed back onone another for the improvement of the person and the organization as a whole could be achieved. Also,monthly consultation with the members should be implemented this year so that they have a voice or sayon the decision making in the organization.
Once I set my eyes on the goal, I do my best to achieve it. I want to leave a legacy I want. I wantto breakaway. I want to leave my own foot steps in the orange grounds.
Do yourself a favor, have a bestfriend.
I am John Albert M. BoniFacio- Ang Best Friend ng Bayan
My platform is basically founded on the concept of streamlining how Baliklaya delivers its prisonservice and advocacy to the inmates and other stakeholders. I believe that Baliklaya already haseverything it needs to effectively push through with all its projects. At the beginning and over the course of the year, the organization may attract a lesser number of applicants for membership and is limited in itsfundraising efforts compared to a full-fledged organization. Making better use of limited resources,however, will allow us to meet the coming school year and its many challenges.
Platform² This shall be my P.A.C.T. as your SY 2011-2012 Baliklaya Finance Officer.
1. Proper Resource Generation and Allocation
y Hand in hand with the VP for Fundraising, the Finance Office will definitely be sure to safeguardthe precious money Fundraising Department earns for the organization. I shall ensure that thefunds go into the appropriate accounts, and that they shall only be utilized for feasible fundraisingprojects, as well as SCI/Advocacy projects that really need funding. I shall impose upon theproject managers (and the various VP¶s to remind them) a request system, in which they shalldetail the reasons for which they need funds, the approximate amount, and very specific andreasonable projected expenses at least two (2) weeks before the said event, to have enough time
to go through their requests and decide on their soundness. This applies to all disbursementsystems as well- even if the generosity of the PM, VP or any concerned individual is to becommended in shelling out the needed money for the project from their own pockets, the FinanceOffice shall strictly impose a no-disbursement policy without filling out the request form by theprescribed date. This means then that the unauthorized money shall be borne at the individual¶sown risk for failure to adhere to Finance Office Regulations
y I also plan to form a Budgeting Committee composed of the Finance Officer, his/her AVP/s, andseveral other members of the Executive Committee to appropriately allocate all pre-existing fundsbetween the departments, typhoon (meaning unforeseen) expenses, savings, and etc. at the startof the year. This is to maintain or better yet, improve the current state of our coffers, and makesure that we have a general guideline to guide us throughout the school year
2. Accountability
In line with my request system, I hope to make people more accountable for the money that theyshall ask from the Finance Office, especially for non-fundraising projects. They need to be made aware of the fact that Baliklaya is a start-up organization, and while she¶s trying her best to keep her fundsrelatively healthy, and as such needs all the help she can get from responsible, cautious and practicalmembers. They need to be accountable for the money even before they attempt to request the saidfunds from the Finance Office, and more so after they spend it for their various projects. I likewise hope tomake the members of the Executive Committee especially aware that their dedication to the organizationdoes not only fall within the confines of their respective departments, but also remember that the FinanceOffice is one sector that keeps things running, and as such, deserves as much taking care of as youwould any other project.
3. Continuous Auditing
More to do with post-project finances, I plan to establish an Auditing System through which justlike any real-life company, the project managers¶ expense accounts and summaries shall undergothorough auditing, just to make sure that no funds were mishandled or misappropriated. Receipts andother supporting documentation detailing where and how the funds were used will be required from theproject managers, and failure to submit such documents to the Office shall be met with a demerit. Thisdemerit shall be significant in determining the leniency of the Office in granting project funds to the sameproject manager in the future, and should he or she continue to carelessly disregard its regulations, theOffice shall likewise frown upon the Department to which this project manager belongs to, and take thisinto account the next time any other project manager from the same Department asks for funding. In
other words, failure to submit proper documentation for auditing, failure to be present when called for questioning and other similar matters pertaining to auditing a project¶s expenses shall incur a demerit onpossibly both the project manager and the department in which he or she belongs to, severely restrainingtheir chances of getting their desired budgeting should this charade continue.
4. Transparency
Finally, transparency shall be effected out within and beyond the Finance Office. I shall makesure that income statements, summaries of profits and losses, and other financial statements shall be ateveryone¶s disposal, even for the regular members. All they need to do is to ask me for them, and I shallgladly furbish them with a copy. The executive board and executive committee on the other hand mayexpect a regular update regarding the state of Baliklaya¶s coffers, just to keep everyone abreast of thelatest financial woes (or joys). It¶s a minor detail, but for transparency to occur, there is likewise the needfor organizing and filing away every single piece of documentation for easy referencing and handling, thusall these files are to be kept in one (1) sturdy box in the home of the Finance Officer for easy sorting, andfor easy distribution should anyone desire it.
When it comes to raising money for an organization, there will always be risks like little member involvement, losses in the fundraising events, and poor communication between two parties. With thesein mind, I intend to tap three problems of Baliklaya --- (1) Member participation, (2) Advocacy andpromotions in Ateneo, and (3) Streamline communication.
Member ParticipationOne of the problems of Baliklaya is member involvement. Most are active in the organization at the startof the year but the number of active members decrease as the year comes to an end. With this, funfundraising events like parties, bazaars and sales will be done next year. These will not only allow
members to partake in the events of Baliklaya but will also advertise the organization to the whole Ateneocommunity especially to the first and second years students.
Advocacy and promotionsOne thing Baliklaya needs is to promote itself to the whole Ateneo community. The fundraising projectsmust not only raise money but also increase awareness of the advocacy of the organization which isprisoner rights. The events must showcase how Baliklaya has helped the inmates through the differentprojects of the Social Concerns and Involvement Department.
Streamline CommunicationOne thing that is very important is proper communication. Whether it is through email, Facebook or textmessages, the key to success lies in effective communication. Together with the Director for HumanResources and the Secretary-General, the events should be made known to the members of the
organization at least a month before the event to allow them to free their time and make room for Baliklaya.
With these three things in mind, the fundraisers should be a success with all the support from notjust the members, but from the Ateneo community as well.
y To facilitate an online group that showcase Baliklaya activities and events to better notify studentsand affiliates with past and current events of the organization.
y To enable Ateneo community to better familiarize with what Baliklaya is and what it is for.
I am Martin Arciaga, Third Year Management student, applying for the Director of Advertisingposition for Balilaya¶s 2011 Executive Board. I joined the organization this AY 2010-2011 and actively tiedwith its Department of Advertising and several projects both Bilibid and school-based. I headed oneBilibid-based project (Livelihood Program) and made contributions in the advertising of some projects like³Pasko sa Bilibid´ and Baliklaya Livelihood Program. For the next line up of Baliklaya leaders, I amexpressing my intentions to be part of the 2011 EB as head of the Advertising Department with myplatforms focused on member contribution, effective promotions, and reliable production anddissemination of advertising materials and campaigns.
Member Contribution and Reliable Production & Dissemination of Advertising Materials
For the past year of being part of the Department of Advertising, I have noticed that member
contribution is one of its major problems. The year started with a good turnout of members in itsDepartment GA, where everyone signed up to head promotions of projects for the academic year. Theyear has passed and the projects were done but only a few people contributed in working for theadvertisements as the original plan did not take effect or at least, properly implemented.
Plan-based designation and execution of workload . For my plans, nothing will change in thesign-up process. Members will sign up as promo heads for their chosen projects, 2 members will beassigned for each. As the head, I will personally oversee if the designations are properly employed.Communications is a crucial aspect for implementation of the plan so to strictly adhere with it, I will keepcontact info of my members and keep track whether they are meeting the demands or not. For mycontingency plan, my AVP or I will take charge in extreme cases where the designated person does notcomply with the requirements 2 weeks prior the release of the advertisement. Members who have signedup as promo heads will be automatically recognized as part of Baliklaya¶s creative staff. Dissemination will
be initiated by the promo heads themselves, and to be assisted by the managers of the respectiveprojects.
Effective Promotions
Baliklaya has minimal problems in its advertisements when it comes to design. I just noticed thatsome of its promo materials do not adhere with the assumed personality of the organization. In marketing,it is important that what you say, do and express should always be in line with your product/ service¶simage and position in the market. We are an organization known for the novelty of our advocacy so it isjust right and perfect to always stick with our message in the Ateneo community. With that I consider thefollowing as sincere and effective promotional materials that do promote our image as a prison serviceorganization:
I know that the organization is set to ³break stereotypes´ the reason why it is understandable to somehowskew the target audience from the traditional ³prison´ theme. I am not saying that every time we releaseads, we should always impose our message of helping the inmates. Still, I know that aesthetics is onecriterion of advertising. But then, I am envisioning a Department of Advertising who lives the message of the org, a department educated to communicate effectively and meaningfully and not just to create artthat is appreciated only in its cover.
In line with these visions of revolutionizing design concepts of Baliklaya¶s Advertising Department, I ampositive that future members of the department can be trained to do effective promotions. These will bepossible via mentorship/ training within the department¶s creative pool. WE are a small organization andthe best way to step up as a group is to bring the best out of the talents and skills of our members.
Advertising is not about making fancy art to catch eyes; it is all about art that catches fire- the fire to drivepeople into action and desire. Yeah!
Tentative Plans for Baliklaya Human Resources Department 2011-2012
[1] BLOCK OR YEAR REPRESENTATIVE Encourage leadership and activeness within the organizationDelegate a representative per course, or per year. They will be in charge of making sure the message iswell disseminated²and to ensure to others that events will be very enjoyable. This will also aid in a moreorganized notification of attendance.
[2] CONCRETE DELIBERATION RULES A very strict and tangible manner in deliberating members; a proper minimum for retaining and evictingmembers from the organization, maybe a more tangible gingerbread man.
[3] SUBSTANTIAL RULE FOR TANGIBLE RATIONALE A different means in deliberating JTA or those in the exchange programs. Or those who is alsomaintaining a position in other organization. There should be a concrete line that should dictateretainment or evition.
[4] BALIKLAYA TOP 10 Noting those who step up from the crowd and giving them proportionate acknowledgement or evenreward to promulgate more activeness within others and to make it to certainty that those who step up willbe encouraged more to keep their efforts up.
[5] BALIKLAYA DINNER OR OUTINGS These 'bonding' trips will promote closer relationship within each member in the organization.There should be more Baliklaya not-Bilibid based trips so that the bond within each member would bestrengthened and the feel of the organization as a family flourish.
