The Values of Pre-registration or EARLY BIRD

This week the CHED and the DepEd endorsements are expected to be released this week. I shall immediately have them blogged here, as well as email to those who have requested for them, particularly the Pre-Registered or Early Birds. I understand how essential these documents are for those who would like to attend Conventions such as the IPCAP National Convention in Cebu. In fact, these documents facilitate the Pre-registration of the participants.

Value #1: EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE FATTEST WORM, di ba?

Pre-registrations are very essential to us organizers because knowing the number of pre-registrants helps us in preparing the materials needed, the food and seat reservations, and the Official Receipts (the FAT WORMS) for the participants. Since I entered this profession as a student, I have attended Conventions, and I could mostly hear complaints about lacking hand-outs, kits, food, seats, and PROVISIONAL RECEIPTS. See the "thin worms"? We will thus have to adopt a FIRST-REGISTERED FIRST SERVED basis in this Pre-Registration process. I will email you myself your number as soon as you shall have Pre-Registered. You are EARLY BIRD NUMBER NUMBER...

By the way, the PROVISIONAL RECEIPT is one indicator of a problematic or sickly condition of an organization. Legitimate organizations are obliged by the law to issue BIR-stamped Official receipts and not simply PROVISIONAL RECEIPTS. When given a provisional receipt, and especially when there is a "promise" that an official receipt will be given, it is normal to be paranoid about these "promises" which remind us about many of our politicians. If the Official Receipt (O.R.) is not released on the day itself, haay naku, asahan mo na that TOMORROW = FOREVER. Baka sa langit mo na matanggap yon. May papel pa kaya don? While Onsite registration works when there are very few participants, this practice delays the event when there are more onsite than pre-registrants. Hence, PRE-REGISTER agad to hasten the process of registration before the Convention.

Value #2: PRE-REGISTRATION advocates for HEALTHY and CLEAN LIVING

When you pre-register, you keep yourself free from the temptation of corruption. What do I mean by this? Alam mo naman tayo, pag may pera nagagamit sa kung anu-anong
pangangailangan. Kaya when the time comes, ayun nagastos na. O malay mo, kamalasan ang isinabog ng kung sino at naholdap ka, na-snatch ang amount na yan, ayun, malas talaga. Sayang di ka tuloy naka-attend. Mangungutang ka na ngayon hehe if you really want to attend. Haay, namroblema ka pa, disturbed during the event how you will pay your creditor back! So, PAY IT TO THE BANK NOW AS PRE-REGISTRATION.

Value # 3: PRE-REGISTRATION IS A SIGN OF FAITH AND TRUST

There are people who lack faith, entertaining in their minds na baka di matuloy ang event. Well, I'd like to believe that even if that should happen, the group will definitely suffer in the next time they hold another event. Wala na credibility, in short. Better to close shop, and learn from that grave mistake.

Meron nga kaming participants sa UE who attended the IPCAP Convention last November 2008. Nagbayad na sila ng napakataas na pre-registration sa another organization only to be told NO MORE SEATS. Talagang SRO ang event nila, kaya lang wala na talaga. The problems I would think will compound: how to refund that kasi nakasaad na that is non-refundable but transferable. As an organization of PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, IPCAP will ensure this will NEVER HAPPEN. Pre-registration will have a difficulty being accepted as a value if that ever happens to us. Kaya ngayon pa lang, tutok na kami sa mga pre-registrants, ensure your reservation is communicated to you and that you can immediately claim your kits and seats and O.R. You will be at peace in your seats, totally focused on the theme, and emerge enriched, enlivened and empowered in your practice.

At IPCAP, we have prepared a full kit for each participant, and each of those who have participated will tell you that the materials we gave them were ready when they came. If ever handouts were missing, they were emailed the powerpoint presentations of the resource persons. That's what those directories are for, so we can make up for whatever was imperfect.

Just a word regarding these powerpoints: make sure that if you intend to use them, acknowledge where it came from. In research, an ethical value inculcated in us is RESPECT and JUSTICE: give credit where credit is due. Guidance Counselors and anybody for that purpose missing this point only show the level of their ethical responsibility, which in itself boils back to one's sense of maturity. Let it not be said of us, God forbid!

There were those who called me up regarding HOW TO PRE-REGISTER. Here are simple steps for that:

1. Go to any branch of the designated bank account in the invitation letter. Make sure you deposit your registration fee to the right Bank Account and Name. Also indicate the branch of the Account Name (ours is at E.Rodriguez Sr. Blvd, Quezon City). Upon receipt of the deposit slip, write your name on it and the date in case you miss where it was indicated by the bank, and the branch of the designated bank where you deposited your participation fees for validation purposes.

2. Accomplish the Pre-Registration Form with the required information, and email back to berngu721@gmail.com as attachment. Label your pre-registration form document with your name. That should be sufficient information for us who will immediately ready your kits. I print those forms for easy access and filing.

3. If you have a scanner, scan the deposit slip and attach in your email to berngu721@gmail.com. I print and send it to the Treasurer for verification, and Official Receipt issuance.

4. Whether you have scanned your deposit slip or not, BRING YOUR DEPOSIT SLIPS when you come to claim your prepared kits and handouts. You will then be issued the Official Receipt. The deposit slip will be given back to you.

The upcoming IPCAP Convention participation fee for EARLY BIRDS (Pre-registrants) is P2,000.00 only. Onsite registration is P500.00 more. Save your P500.00 for your pasalubong or other lakwatsa needs in Cebu by PRE-REGISTERING.

Remember that IPCAP is an organization of REGISTERED and LICENSED GUIDANCE COUNSELORS (that's what PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS is all about in the IPCAP). So, membership is currently reserved for those with PRC ID or License to practice Guidance and Counseling in the Philippines. Hence, if you are one, have a license already, welcome. Your membership fee will go a long way for the good of the profession and this organization that will ensure we live professional, ethical and progressive lives, advocating for the development of the profession and particularly its licensed practitioners. Membership fee is only P500. I can email you that Application Form for IPCAP membership.

If you have any concern about this matter, just call (02) 711-1320 or 21 (two numbers you can choose). In case I am out, call or text either of my mobile numbers 0919-6236605 (for SMART subscribers) or 0927-3842739 (for GLOBE subscribers). Of course, emails are welcome.

See you then in Cebu. God bless