Happy Thanksgiving

In preparation for another class with a difficult task at hand on a final paper decided to complete the requirements for this class.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Batch 6: Free Write 2 – The Other Side of Paradise

There were many opportunities that I was able to tour some villages in order to collect information on one of my researches during internship. The methods for collecting data and information on a research project was interviewing sample population of elderlies on selected villages outside the capital. Although the research and interviews of the sample population were successful, however I was actually heartbroken with a new discovery.

 

Tongan people are living in paradise but the other side of paradise, people are living in poverty with little access to running water. I never realized that some people in my country live like this which was extremely despairing. I remembered visiting my paternal grandparents back in the eighties in a very far island called Hunga located in the Vava’u group of islands where families were poor. I didn’t realize that the main island of Tongatapu now there are some people who still live like this.

These people need my help and one day I would return to help. These pictures maybe disturbing to some, but I had to take these pictures to remind me that there are some people in Tonga who needs my help.

During my three and half months in Tonga there was this one particular man who really touched my life. He was the most amazing individual that I had ever met, and although his living condition was heartbreaking nevertheless he was always happy. I was touched that his Christian faith was extremely strong, his optimism was always spot on, and his positive attitudes were pretty remarkable. I actually visited him so many times after our first initial interview for my research project. The reasons why I kept visiting him was to get his permission without offending him to allow me to build him a house.

I had saved some money in the bank in Tonga for future emergencies. A very dear friend of mine who lives in San Francisco of whom I called for his help to help me with my project.

Here’s some pictures of before and after;

 The total amount for this project was USD$2500.00, with half of it from my dear friend who lives in San Francisco. My savings actually paid for labor and some of the materials. A high school mate of mine owns a quarry who donated the rocks, sand and bricks for this house. The whole project was done in two weeks and I was honored that I was allowed to make a difference. 

Batch 6: Career Services Write Up

In preparation for 2016 spring semester, I met Nicole Boryczka the graduate counsellor to finalize my education plan for the master’s program. I am finishing off my undergraduate’s degree this semester as well as starting courses for the master’s program under reservation. Officially next semester is the commencement of my graduate studies even though I was granted the opportunity to pick up graduate courses fall 2015.

We finalized the courses for 2016 with anticipation of graduating December 2016.

SPRING 2016	SUMMER 2016	FALL 2016
PAF 501 (3 units)	PAF 502 (3 units)	PAF 509 (3units)
PAF 505 (3 units)	PAF 504 (3 units)	PAF 506 (3 units)
PAF 507 (3 units)	PAF 541 (3 units) elective	PAF 540 (3 units) elective
PAF 508 (3 units)		PAF 573 (3 units) elective
PAF 574 (3 units) elective		PAF 591 (3 units) elective
TOTAL – 5 classes (15 units)	TOTAL – 3 classes (9 units)	TOTAL – 5 classes (15 units)

I will be doing the master’s program full time and I am optimistic that I can do it. During the meeting with Nicole, I asked her about the doctorate degree program here at ASU to further my studies. This year I decided that I would pursue my education all the way to the doctorate program. I was a bit disappointed though that I was informed that I must apply elsewhere for the doctorate program. If I remembered it correctly, the academic requirements for a teaching profession one must graduate from at least two colleges.

Ever since that meeting I had been tossing between three universities namely University of Arizona, University of Kansas and University of Indiana. I don’t really want to move out of Arizona though so I would hope that University of Arizona would accept me this time next year. The career services that Nicole and I worked on seemed feasible though extremely difficult but manageable. Wish me luck!

Batch 6: Organizational strengths and change

Tonga’s Ministry of Information is the newest addition to its governmental portfolios, and additionally combine with six other ministries under the portfolio of the Deputy Prime Minister. MEIDECC which is the Ministry of Meteorology, Environment, Information, Disaster, Energy, Communication and Climate Change, each has a department head. The information ministry is under the director of information with four staff members. Although the staff members of the information ministry are overworked and overloaded, however they all seem to be enjoying what they are doing, and are working with due diligence.

During my tenure as an intern, I actually observed a lot of times to see how each of them copes with the challenges and issues. They seem to be coping well and never once that I ever hear any complaints. This is the strongest strength that I encounter with this ministry and its staff. Their work belief “God, King and Country” is an excellent work ethic  

The information ministry can become the most powerful department in Tonga should it designs its policies and roadmap for Tonga’s information to be consolidated into one. There are many areas that can make a lot of changes to Tonga’s current information policy. Tonga’s population is very little and changes can be done effectively and efficiently. The current government is planning to shift everything to e-government which is a very good thing to do. Medical and dental records can be obtained online and that will eliminate a lot of paper work, filing and cabinets. It is more efficient by doing so. Tonga’s 103,000 people is a very small number, and I’m sure the current files in most ministries could be easily done in six months.  The information ministry will be able to spearhead changes in areas to develop and buildings to be built in order to house and preserve Tonga’s monuments and archives.

If I were in charge of a similar organizations I don’t think I will be able to change anything at all given Tonga’s resources, current financial challenges, and scarce resources. As previously mentioned Tonga survived on generosities of the United States, European countries, New Zealand, Australia and China. There were so many things that I think can be changed but they all depend on finance in order for me to make those changes, however I would write up grant proposals in these specific areas;

a)      Grants for desk top computers

·         currently staff members bring their own laptops to use

·         all files of the ministry are not safe – they are being risked if the employees’ laptops are misplaced

·         need to setup network and large computer filing systems

·         there are no computers at all in the office which puts a lot of work by the ministry at risks

·         the unsafe procedures of the current existing computer issues at the ministry, I will deal with immediately

b)      Staff support wages

·         increase budget to include staff wages in the next fiscal year budget

·         hire an additional four more support staff at minimum wages to support the current staff members and promote them to senior executives

·         write up a grant proposal to the Government of Japan who funds this kind of manpower support – where the additional support staff can assist the current staff to avoid burnt out and stress escalation that might lead to voluntary termination of employment

·         the four staff at the ministry are paid $15,000 a year which is about USD$7,500 and I will increase their salary as well hiring new staff and pay them good wages

·         I will establish an internet radio where revenue from this internet radio will be used for staff wages by selling advertising and radio programs to other governmental ministries

c)      Grant for scanners and manpower support

·         the need for consolidation of all files into e-files is necessary not just the information ministry but to provide assistance to other ministries such as ministry of health, ministry of justice, statistics departments and so forth

·         the scanners and the same manpower support who had been trained to do this can actually start with the information ministry then continue on to other governmental ministries as well

·         it will be more cost effective and more efficient if the same company from either New Zealand or Australia to do this with their own equipment and support staff paid by this grant

·         hire a company to look after all the e-files and governmental documents, perhaps ask the Government of India or Singapore for assistance

·         other countries are willing to help out Tonga and the Ministry of Information and I will jump at the opportunity for assistance with this initiative

d)      Large grant for renovation to an existing building

·         China funded 10 million dollars to build King George V Palace to house the Prime Minister’s office, Ministry of the Foreign Affairs and Trade

·         Grant is needed to renovate existing Prime Minister’s office to house Tonga’s New Museum and Archives

·         I will spearhead change to push this project through to completion, it is essential for Tonga to have a museum and a place to house archives and monuments

e)      Government initiation of free internet for the information ministry

·         There was a multi-million-dollar project to have fiber optics run from Fiji to Tonga

·         The government awarded the management and operation to Cable Tonga Ltd as one of the public enterprises of the government

·         I will fight to have a percentage of revenue from this fiber optics internet administration awarded to the information ministry to assist with its daily operations

·         I will also fight to have powerful internet sources for the information ministry to rely on for its governmental core functions on e-government where it is also free for the ministry

Batch 6: Free Write 1 – Once a Bully, Always a Bully

During my internship in Tonga I saw and witnessed high school rivalries taking it to the streets with physical fist fighting, bullying and physical abuse. To make the matters worse this was actually caused by church schools. Apparently every year during the rugby season these school fights had challenged not only police officers, ministry of police, school administrations but also the government. A lot of times students were hurt severely from this causing death and hospitalization due to injuries. 

I am so done with this so called Tongan culture and Tongan family respect. The abuse and bully had gone far too long. Do you really think that you can bully people and get away with it? The abuse whether physical or verbal will no longer be tolerated. I am going to spearhead advocating for change. Although it is going to be a very tough job campaigning for this type of behavior to stop nevertheless my passion to make a difference will supplant.

Do you really think that all your physical abuses in the past didn’t leave a trace? Do you really think that though it happened in the past that you are protected due to Tongan families’ forgiveness and also due to cultural influence? Let me say this, these criminal acts of physical cruelties don’t have that protection under the statute of limitations. Please dig deep down and try to remember dates when children were admitted to the hospital with physical injuries. Accessing medical records can be done if ordered by the court. Think about it Mr. Bully/Bullies! Please stop picking on innocent children in town because they attend a particular school, maybe it is time that the law picks on you.    

This is one of the extreme social issues in the Kingdom right now, and it is very disturbing indeed that this happens year after year. It should be stopped. Rugby sports shouldn’t be suspended or taken away from high schools because some of the students who excel in rugby are picked for international schools overseas under scholarships. A lot of people are pointing their fingers at parents to whom they believe should start the discipline. But then the corporal punishment still exists in Tonga from home which is controversial. There is need for government intervention there. I know advocating for change will be extremely difficult, but somehow I will find a find a way. 

Batch 5: Public Service and Public Governance Demonstration

Tonga’s Ministry of Information provides information for the people of Tonga locally and internationally. It promotes transparency and accountability of its operations, activities, policies and programs by providing information in many specific areas. The ministry thrives for excellence and pride itself with making information available and its cornerstone of good governance is providing universal access to information and greater public awareness.

The Ministry of Information public service provided for the people any necessary information required. Tonga is in a process of shifting to e-government which is the current services that the ministry is challenging itself with. Other governmental departments are all following suit spearheaded by this ministry as well as providing consultancy to the other ministries. It is the ministry’s hope that within the next two to three years, this migration can be finalized. The Government of Tonga’s information scattered throughout various departments such as the Palace Office, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Communication, and others and the Ministry of Information is slowly taking away bit by bit information from all these ministries and consolidating it to the ministry of information’s jurisdiction.

The Ministry of Information has specific areas that required specific policies in place since this is the newest and newly added ministry to the governmental portfolios. Areas in need of policy formulation of existing services are; internet, social media, television, newspaper, telephones, mobile phones, handheld devices, radio, tele-radio communication, yellow pages & white pages on phone book, archives, almanac, printed mediums, governmental departments’ information, words of mouth, traditional sources, outdoor billboards and myths and legends.

The discovery that the ministry is in need of public service policy was a concern during my tenure as an intern. The assistance provided by the ASU intern was delivering this ministry with an in-depth and comprehensive policy guideline called “A Better Informative Tonga”. The short term plan is formulating a better working policy for the ministry in order for the long term goal of migrating to e-government to provide all the necessary information for not only the people of Tonga but also to future stakeholders and investors who are looking into investing capital in Tonga. 

Batch 5: Free Write 3 – Hunger Games Trilogy

I am a big fan of Suzanne Collins trilogy books of Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. I have read these books cover to cover four times, and am about to read the third book Mockingjay one more time before the movies of Mockingjay 2 comes out November 20, 2015. I have the collection of these three books on hard cover all first edition.

Three of my nieces Alyzzah, Tina and Mafi are diehard fans of the books, the movies, DVD collections, and numerous t-shirts and other decals. They were the ones that got me hooked. Five years ago during a flight from San Francisco to Kona, Hawaii I saw each of my nieces with a soft pack of Hunger Games. I actually borrowed one of the Hunger Game books from one of my nieces to read in Hawaii one day. I got hooked then.

I purchased my first edition collection on the second book and the third book. Each time that I bought my books, I would buy three other books and mailed them to each of my nieces as early Christmas gifts. I also bought the DVD for my collections and each time that I did that, I would buy three more DVDs for each of my nieces. My nieces had treasured their book collections as well as their DVD collection. I am sure they are expecting me to buy them the DVD for Mockingjay Part 2. I think I will.

I am excited with anticipation for the last movie of The Hunger Games trilogy for November 20^th. I am taking my niece Mafi to see it, and my niece and I already planned a date for November 20^th. I already purchased two online tickets for my niece Alyzzah who lives in Portland, Oregon and two more for my other niece Tina who lives in Palo Alto, California. The four of us are going to Skype each other Thursday night, the night before the movie and probably Skype again on Saturday to discuss the outcome of the movie. The Hunger Games trilogy had made an impact on me and my three nieces.