PROFESSIONALISM

By: Clyde Albarico Cadapan

Abroad, Filipinos are stereotypically categorized as hardworking and punctual

workers that are willing to love their job so much. Ironically, in the Philippines, we
know each other as dishonorable for always being late and lazy in the workplace.
There is even a thing we call Filipino Time referring to that even if the
appointment is on an earlier time of the day, all parties will purposely arrive at a
later time as if there was a mutual understanding between them.
Time is a thing that each one of us must give importance to. Understanding
the importance of time is one of the best ways to achieve the top level of
professionalism may it be at work or at everyday normal living. As a government
employee, this is the thing that I comply, comprehend, and maintain. Appreciating
the importance of time is the fundamental of professionalism.
Aside from time, there are a lot of things to learn and achieve in order for a
person to establish him or herself as a real professional. There are standards that
someone must obtained in order to be called a professional. You can be a
professional by title; doctor, engineer, teacher, etc. And you can fully be
professional if you can act like one.
Professionalism is measured not only by the educational attainment but also
on the interaction of one not only to his or her co-professional but to all the people
around. In my case as a one of the front line officers, I practice professionalism by
attending to the clients needs without showing any stress and staying enthusiastic
about helping them. I also keep my workplace clean. Moreover, I give all of the help
I can give. I am trying to get rid of the social mentality that government employees
are snobbish and unprofessional to the public.