Entry #1 - Initial Impressions

I decided to take COSORES this term, because I enjoyed my ENVISOC class last term.  ENVISOC opened my eyes to the various social and environmental problems that businesses contribute to.  At the same time, I had fun from the activities where we could freely display our creativity.  I was expecting that COSORES would allow me to do the same.  Although after the first three meetings, I think that this course will be more professional and structured, similar to the master lectures in ENVISOC.  I can’t help but compare the two courses due to my perceived similarities of them, but I think that I am slowly starting to see the difference between the two.  ENVISOC was focused more on the environment, but COSORES is focused more on companies. 

Both courses still tackle the social and ethical issues, as well as the repercussions of taking action.  These are the types of courses I enjoy, because I think myself to be a very logical person.  It is easy to say that we must do good and give back to the community, but the reality is that this is difficult for profit driven companies to do.  I am hoping this course will continue to teach me how companies can give back to the community.

We have already discussed that we should become a “good corporate citizen”.  This made me reminisce about how I dreamt of becoming a very rich and successful businessman when I grew up.  I always thought that the decision that makes money is the best decision, including unethical actions.  The Lasallian culture and the courses I have taken have made me think otherwise.  There is a way to become successful while giving back to society.

While I have learned about Human Nature and similar companies, which help the environment and the community, I always remember this video I have seen a few times:

Courtesy of Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b7F7dRonsQ

It is a feature on the restaurant, Binalot.  The owner of Binalot, Mr. Rommel Juan, is a Lasallian and not an “A+ student” as he would say.  I have had the privilege of hearing his inspirational story quite a few times through BMS activities.  His story of perseverance and his resourcefulness of turning a disaster into both a profit opportunity and a chance to help others always motivates me to find or put up a business like that.  His story gives me hope that you don’t have to excel in everything in order to be successful, you just have to be passionate and love what you do.  Someday, maybe I will be able to do something of that magnitude, but until then, I will soak up all the knowledge I can from COSORES.