SET
A
ANSWERS TO
SUNSTAR FEATURE INTERVIEW
1.
Tell us a little
about yourself. Your families, background, hobbies, weird talents, favorite subject, etc. Feel free to
really share.
Family
Life
It was 2:55 A.M. when
a 5-gram, handsome, innocent boy came out from the cave of ignorance and began
to see the light on February 10, 1987. This baby was full of hope that he will
explore this vast universe and triumph in his existence. This cute baby was me.
I was nourished with love and was carefully nurtured by my parents, Mr.
Alexander Moreno Baltazar and Mrs. Elizabeth Gorgonio-Baltazar. I was given full
attention by my parents who dreamed that I will grow smart, virtuous, and to be
of service to others. My parents wants me to live an exemplary life that is why
they named me Stephen Alexeus in honor of the first martyr Saint Stephen and
Saint Alexeus. I had one brother named Seasun Anthony who unfortunately died two
days after birth. This was God’s plan so the family had to accept it
wholeheartedly. At present, our family lives a happy life. My father works as an
Oiler Seaman. My mother is a teacher and English subject coordinator of the
Franciscan College of the Immaculate Conception (F.C.I.C) situated in A.
Bonifacio Street, Baybay, Leyte. On the other hand, I just graduated Bachelor of
Science in Accountancy from the University of San Carlos. In spite of my
parents’ distance, we still live happily by keeping in touch thru communication
gadgets like cell phones. Our distance makes our hearts grow
fonder.
Student
Life
I spent my elementary
education and formation in a Catholic Franciscan school; the Franciscan College
of the Immaculate Conception (FCIC). I graduated Salutatorian and received the
Philippine Jaycees Leadership Award for being the Student Body Organization
President.
Because of my dream to
know life better and to be of help to others, I enrolled high school at the
Leyte State University Laboratory High School (LSULHS); now Visayas State
University Laboratory High School. There I was exposed to what student life is!
I learned how to sustain life by knowing the “whats” and “hows” of Agriculture,
which is the science and art of cultivating the soil for plant production and
raising of livestock. With the knowledge my mentors in LSULHS had imbibed to my
mind, I was able to skillfully apply them successfully by planting rice, corn,
vegetables and raising chickens. During High School, I did not only excel in
Academics but I also handled multiple responsibilities. I was an officer and
leader of various school, church, and community organizations. I was an SK
Councilor, a sacristan and trainer of our parish, and an active student leader
in LSULHS. I graduated Salutatorian
and received 12 special awards for academic and leadership excellence during the
Commencement Exercises.
With my further quest
for truth and excellence, I enrolled BS Accountancy in the University of San
Carlos. During college, I had to be away from Leyte and move to Cebu. It was
hard to adjust at first that’s why my first year in college was focused only on
academics and church activities. Although my priority during my first years in
the university was academics, I also involved myself in extra-curricular and
co-curricular organizations. I also joined and won the USC-SSC Carolinian
Freshman of the Year 2005. This recognition propelled me to share my time and
apply my leadership talents and skills to serve
others.
It was during my
sophomore years that I shifted a bit from academics to extra-curricular
involvement. I founded the Integrated Samar and Leyte Association of Students
(ISLAS-USC). ISLAS on its ten months of existence in the university was awarded
as one of The Outstanding Campus Students Organizations of USC for Academic Year
2005-2006.
Third year was a tough
but memorable year. I was President of 3 Extra-Curricular Organizations namely;
Integrated Samar and Leyte Association of Students (ISLAS-USC), Alyansa sa mga
Bisaya nga nia sa Sugbo (ABS-USC), and Movement of United Students Towards
Better Environment (MUSTBE-USC). Moreover, I was the Division 3 Chairman of the
USC Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (USC-JPIA), a co-curricular
organization of Accountancy students. Third year was also the time when I fell in
love with my bestfriend, courted her for a year, and received rejection from her
for 13 times or more. Ouch! Oh! I had to fight for my academic standing as
well. It was hard to juggle all those but I made it to fourth year alive with a
plaque as one of USC’s The Outstanding Leader. Yehey!
Fourth year was the
peak of my career as a student leader. I was the President of our big
co-curricular organization; the USC Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants.
This was also the year when I served as founding president of the USC College of
Commerce Collegiate Student Council. I was also Executive Vice-President of 4
Extra-Curricular Organizations namely; Integrated Samar and Leyte Association of
Students (ISLAS-USC), Alyansa sa mga Bisaya nga nia sa Sugbo (ABS-USC), Movement
of United Students Towards Better Environment (MUSTBE-USC), and Student for
Progress Organization (SPO-USC). I was also a Board of Director of STUDENT POWER
PARTY (SPP), a political party in USC. Aside from my organizations, I had 8
major subjects in my Academic Curriculum as well. The saddest part, my grandma,
passed away this year. In spite of what happened, Stephen stood still, received
the National Federation JPIA The Most Outstanding JPIAn Award, and welcomed
fifth year with a smile.
Fifth year for my
Academics part was a bit light at first but very heavy during the Second
semester review sessions. For my organizations, I was elected Councilor of the
USC Supreme Student Council, a Board of Director and Head Mentor of the Student
Power Party (SPP), and was Vice-President of 4 Extra-Curricular
organizations.
Finally, I graduated
Cum Laude with Citation as The Outstanding Graduate and with 3 Special Awards
last March 20, 2009 Hurray!
Talents and
Skills
God gave me a lot of
gifts and blessings which include my talents and skills. Well, I know how to
sing a little (hehe) and I love ballroom dancing. My forte is public speaking. I love to
deliver speeches, oratorical pieces, and love poems. I like to write Balak
pieces or Cebuano love poems and speeches for different occasions. Although I
was never been in a Theater Guild, I love to be an actor on stage and portray
the role of a contra-bida.
Skills? Ahmm, I’m
computer literate. I do have good written and oral communication skills. I am
detail oriented, organized, and highly trustworthy. I have good analytical
skills. I guess I’m also gifted with good teambuilding and managerial
skills.
Hobbies, Likes, and
Field of Interests
As a student leader, I
love to read a lot of books and magazines especially about politics, religion,
and current events. I do mentor younger student leaders on how to lead and
manage their school organizations. I do check on them even up to now so as to
facilitate their growth as good youth leaders. I love to establish student
organizations with different advocacies. I also like to attend social functions
and gatherings.
As a Catholic
Christian, I attend to religious functions and events like prayer meetings,
parish activities, and youth camps. I like doing community outreach activities
like tutorials, catechism, feeding, organizing parties for the underprivileged
kids, community clean up, and many more.
As a family member, I
take pleasure in attending family reunions and gatherings. Visiting my grannies
and relatives especially during fiestas and other special occasions is also one
thing I like to do. I also love to trace our family history and make the family
tree.
As a teenager, I take
delight in eating delicious foods (Food Trip), strolling and shopping in the
malls, relaxing in coffee shops(Love Bo’s Cofi),
watching comedy and teen movies, hanging out in restobars and videoke spots ,
and travelling in different places.
I’m also a cell phone
and internet addict. Woah! I love texting my close
pals and surfing the net. I’m a Facebook, Friendster, Multiply et al
addict.
I love photography. I like taking
pictures. I do collect lots of pics.
My fields of interests
are politics, religion, current events, geography, history, tourism,
entrepreneurship, and accountancy.
2.
What does being
included in the TOSP mean to you?
Before the Awarding Day, I prayed to
the Lord. I told him that if ever He will give me this award, it means a
responsibility to serve as a good model for the youth, to be an inspiration for
student leaders especially those who come from the far flung provinces to dream
and excel in their fields, and to be of service to our fellowmen especially the
underprivileged and the marginalized. Indeed, that is the true meaning of the
award when it was given to me on that big day.
Being included in
the Top Ten is such a great honor and responsibility. It takes a lifetime to
prove ones worth.
Being
outstanding is not just about making it to the Top Ten. It is about the golden
friendship that I have built with my fellow TOSPians and the lives that I have
touched through the activities and projects that I do be it big or
small.
3. What do you
consider your greatest goal in life? One that is achievable, and one that’s a
dream. How close are you to achieving those?
My Wildest
Dream
To reach the
unreachable star and dream the impossible dream…
I
dare to dream the dream I dare to dream!!!
I
am a person who has a great ambition. I do not dream for myself alone, but for
my family and for our country as well.
Twenty
years from now I see myself as a successful CPA Lawyer happily married to my
beautiful wife and living with my healthy children. By that time I will be operating my own
business and establishing a foundation for the children, the youth, the
underprivileged, the marginalized, and the less fortunate members of our
society.
Thirty
to forty years from now, I hope to be the next President of our Republic or if
not a Senator or a Congressman of the Fifth District of
Leyte.
My Achievable
Goals
To be a CPA Lawyer, have a happy family, operate my own business, and have a small foundation are achievable goals for me. How close? I’m not that close but rest assured I will do my utmost to accomplish those goals.
4. Who, what
inspires you to live your life the way you are living it right
now?
My
Inspiration
The teachings taught by my
parents at home, the learning I had in the Catholic
Christian school where I
spent most of my education, the doctrines I learned from the church and from the
Holy Bible, my exposure to the rural community and my experiences in life
especially my failures greatly motivated and influenced me to where I am
now.
The reasons of my
inspiration would have not been possible if not for my Lord Jesus Christ and the
people who rallied behind me. That includes my parents, my relatives, my
personal mentors, and my trusted friends. These persons played an important role
in contributing to the values and principles that I apply in my day-to-day
life.
First and
foremost, I am inspired by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My relationship
with God is a fountain of refreshment and inspiration to face the daily
challenges of life. Without God, I am nothing.
Next are my parents, Mrs.
Elizabeth Gorgonio-Baltazar and Mr. Alexander Moreno Baltazar. I believe that
the home is the basic unit of society and is the first training ground of a
child. The principles and values taught by my parents like honesty,
perseverance, respect, hard work, diligence, and humility molded me into the
person that I am now. The good training and discipline of my mother when I was a
child greatly contributes to the responsible, dedicated and God-fearing Stephen
of today. My mother is simply the best!!!
Third, are my relatives and
loved ones. These are the people who help, support and encourage me. I am so
grateful to them especially my cousin Daisy Gorgonio Cachuela for all the things
they do for me be it big or small.
Fourth are my personal
mentors. My personal mentors include significant persons in authority and my
teachers and administrators in school whom later on I have established good
relationship with thus calling them my personal mentors in life. My mentors like
Madam Ma. Luisa Cane has instilled in me not only the lessons of the subjects
that I enrolled but as well as the good values and principles in life that have
motivated me to be a good student leader and to achieve greater heights. My
other personal mentors include Mrs. Nimfa Alo, Ms. Mary Ann Badal, Rev. Fr. Mark
Mathias SVD, Mr. Manuel Gorgonio, Dr. Charity Tecson, Dr. Alicia Villar, Mrs.
Marissa Baldecir CPA, Mr. Benjamin Escolano Jr. CPA, Mrs. Filomena Lim-Gatillo,
and AYLC Congress Director Mr. Simon Mossesgeld.
Last in the list are my
close friends. These are the good people whom I hang up with. Chatting long
conversations. Going out to have fun and enjoyment. Sharing opinions and
secrets. The aforementioned are just a few things that I and my close friends
do. Simple yet they also influence me a lot.
Summing up, God, my family,
relatives, personal mentors, and close friends greatly
influenced and inspired me
to be who I am now.
5. Any words for
the youth of the
The YOUTH
are the hope of the Fatherland.
Youth LEADERS are the Hope of the
YOUTH.
Thus YOUTH LEADERS are the HOPE of the
FATHERLAND.
In spite of all the problems and
crisis that the country is facing nowadays, I believe that there is a beacon of
light for this nation. As long as there are Filipinos who love and value this
country, as long as there are Filipino youths who believe in democracy, then
there is hope for a better Philippines!!!
As a youth leader, I encourage all
the Filipino youth to take an active role in nation building. Let us be
proactive team players for a better Philippines. Let us be vigilant of what is
happening in our country. Let us do something now; be it big or small. Let us
live a good life, study hard, be good models, divert our youthful energies in
productive undertakings, and initiate activities and projects for the school,
church, and community. Let us change our bad habits and divert them into
productive ones.
Let us practice our good Filipino
values, be proud that we are Filipinos, and love our country, the Philippines.
Let us register in 2009 and vote in 2010. Let us be careful in choosing whom to
vote. Vote for leaders who are grounded on good moral values and who have good
platforms for the country. The aforementioned are just a few; there are lot more
to do for this country.
My fellow young Filipinos; whatever we do today will determine what will happen tomorrow. Act now! A better Philippines starts with me; with you; and with all of us!
All the best,
STEPHEN ALEXEUS GORGONIO
BALTAZAR
Graduate, Bachelor of Science in
Accountancy
University of San
Carlos
Awardee, Ten Outstanding Students of
the Philippines for Region VII
Awardee, Ten Outstanding Students of
the Philippines
0927-391-2523
0922-260-0897