Reflections on the PSN Photo Exhibit

(this poster courtesy of malou marquez)

Yes, we did it!  All the hard work paid off and i'm proud to say we managed to pull it off.  For the record, i never doubted we would not be able to do it despite all the hurdles we encountered.  The problems, the frustrations and the stress were all part of the journey when we signed up for it so i had my head in the right place.  And while i pulled out the photo i submitted prior to printing, i do not mind not having an entry in the photo exhibit.   I already learned a lot helping manage the details of the exhibit.

What everyone should be proud of is the fact that this wasn't just a so-so exhibit - we partnered with an international organization (check out Up With People) and with the well-recognized Rotary Club and i think we did well enough to be proud of our accomplishment.  PSN wasn't just text in the thank you's - we had our logo as PARTNERS and we were always mentioned in all of the mini-concerts they did around Manila.  Yes, WE - a relatively unknown organization managed to score such a well-recognized event.

I was chatting with the RCGM President last night and fighting off exhaustion to be socially active, i had the feeling he was satisfied with the outcome our our exhibit.  He mentioned that they (RCGM) are going to bring in UWP next year and said we should start to talk about it.  This one's not over yet and seems he trusts us already to help partner with the next. Yay for good impressions!

Despite the highs, what project isn't complete without the lows?  Definitely there were a lot of frustrations trying to work out this project.  Words are said and people get hurt.  Personally, i don't burden myself with grudges nor hate because there's enough of that going around the world.  People who feel they have not done their roles should just apologize and do better the next time.  That should be the end of it.  There are a lot of lessons to be learned from this event and it is a chance to reflect on who we are as a group and as individuals.  I hope everyone understands why words, strong as they are, had to be said.  We all just need to admit to our mistakes if we made one.

I remember while i was in Singapore following up and reminding people to start shooting pictures during the UWP arrival and i managed to catch AJ on YM.  He was checking to see what is happening and during our conversation, i sort of ranted about some of my frustrations.  He realized sort of that he had responsibilities to the project as well and i told him "If you want to make it up, go shoot and cover some of the UWP events!"  What do you know?  AJ's photos actually turned out to be one of the great pictures in the set.

There will be more opportunties for us (PSN) in the horizon and it will surely rests upon our shoulders whether we make something of it or squander it.

But just the same, congratulations to us!  We did it!  And even if things did not go along as planned, we learned a great deal during this photo exhibit.  The next one is going to be spectacular!