As part of integrating global perspectives into class discussions, students in Organizational Communication under the Master in School Management (MSM) engaged with alumni of the University based abroad in a Virtual Panel Discussion on June 25, 2021 using the Google Meet learning platform.
Through this class initiative, students gained valuable insights from the expertise of Drs. Stephen Rey Ligasan, Reynaldo Segumpan, and Leonardo Sotaridona on Organizational Communication based on their exposures in organizations abroad as they shared their actual experiences on how they were able to penetrate organizations abroad and how they survived all these years.
According to Dr. Ricky G. Abaleña III, tutor for Organizational Communication Class, “just how organizations in other countries do things their way, is an interesting learning input for my students as we try to look at and entertain diverse and applied perspectives in learning.” He added that, “such collaborative arrangement with the University’s alumni abroad, brings global perspectives for the benefit of our Filipino school leaders and future leaders, since my students are mostly school managers and owners. It is also my way of promoting diversity and internationalization of education.”
The two-hour session gave time for the resource persons to presents their insights based on their actual experiences and the students later on asked questions. Dr. Ligasan shared thoughts about his experience in the hospitality industry in Canada, Dr. Sotaridona as a psychometrician of a US-based book publishing company, and Dr. Segumpan as a University professor in Oman.
Dr. Ligasan shared that in Canada, organizations are highly structured and they follow set of rules and guidelines. People they hire have to attend serious orientations and everything is emphasized from there, such as work duties and expected outputs. He also shared that for Canadians, work and life should be balanced and that life in Canada is not just work,work, work. And these things are part of the things that are strictly communicated in organizations or even outside.
Talking about their experiences on racism and discrimination, Dr. Ligasan mentioned that such experiences are very common in Canada, however, “our employers have sensitivity committees who would always emphasize that racism is an offense and you’ll get fired when it’s reported.” He also added that “the important thing about this matter is you can communicate this to the manager or even the board of directors as long as it’s something objective, you can discuss with your immediate supervisor, and everything should be grounded on facts or proofs.”
The reason why some people have racist actions against Filipinos working abroad is that, ” they’re inferior and think that you are taking away their jobs from them, but what can I do? I’m performing better,” Dr. Ligasan also said.
For his part part, Dr. Sotaridona shared that he experienced communication in the US as more of transactional and less personal as most of the communication are about work. He said that “in the U.S. it also very diverse the way they treat you, they take it partly as the way you wanted to be treated.” For example, he said that, “when you don’t respond to a certain email consistently on weekends you are trying to say “you have to respect my time” but if you do respond, it will happen over and over again. Somehow, the way you behave or communicate also reflects on the way you want them to treat you.” He added that the weapon against bullying in the workplace or outside is “knowing your rights. It is an important response, as people are afraid when they know that you are certain where you stand.”
In the Middle East, such as in Oman specifically, according to Dr. Segumpan, “everything must be done in a discreet manner. We are not supposed to display certain emotions or actions in public”. When in the Philippines “beso” is commonly done, in the Middle East you’ll rarely or never find someone doing that. In the case of locals they’re not allowed to do it or else they may go to jail. We can express happiness and appreciation in various ways, but cannot overdo it in public,” he shared.
Dr. Segumpan, also said that “appreciations are shown to employees or colleagues through posting accomplishments on social media to recognize the efforts of the members. When meeting a colleague in hallways, if you know the person you can raise your hand, if not you just walk pass each other unless one initiates a discussion. Non locals are allowed talk outside after work but not to the extent of catching anyone’s attention”.
“Acceptance is based on how you mingle with them, an advantage of Filipinos because we are flexible and friendly,” says Dr. Segumpan answering the question, “How do they accept you as a Filipino?” Regardless of what race you belong, adjusting and adapting to the environment you’re in to survive is important, he also said.
Drs. Ligasan and Segumpan aside from being alumni of the University were former professors here before they ventured abroad. Dr. Sotaridona, meanwhile, is an alumnus of the graduate school and was a professor at ISAT U.
Students of the class shared their takeaways from the talk. Dr. Rosvia Bagaforo, faculty of the College of Dentistry of the University said, “I have been exposed to the paradigm shifts of Filipino professionals in other countries I visited, thus, I hear the same the plights and stories. What I like about our speakers were their honesty in their struggles as migrant workers seeking their right places in the work force. From one of the speakers (Dr. Leonardo Sotaridona), ‘People are afraid because they are uncertain. So you have to know your rights.”
Nerlan Catipunan, faculty of St. Paul University-Iloilo, shared, “Drs. Stephen, Leonard and Reynald gave us a wider perspective in an organization that culture will never be a hindrance nor an obstruction. It was clear that understanding one’s own culture can be the best way in order to have a clear vision, mission and goal that a specific individual can achieve.”
This is the second in a series of alumni engagements experienced by the students in Organizational Communication Class. In the first week of the month, Ms. Jennifer B. Pfister
who works as an Admissions Counselor of Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah, was the Resource Person on Organizational, Culture, Change, and Communication.
–Ivy Pepito/CILPI