The customs industry professionals are one of the broad professions in dealing with international or national trade facilitation, supply chain, logistics, tariffs, customs duties, and border safety and protection. The Bureau of Customs is one of the government agencies known to be the second (2nd) largest revenue collecting agency after the Bureau of Internal Revenue (Commission on Audit, 2020). Knowing that this agency contributes to the national treasury due to the massive amount of finances in every transaction, the reputation of every public and private agency related to the customs industry was somehow tarnished. Furthermore, some customs professionals practicing in the field of the sector may find them hard to embrace and adopt these ethical standards. Some may disregard the moral principles in their life and workplace just for sustainability. This dilemma faced by the customs professionals may either contribute to making it suitable or wreck the system.

As the Guest Lecturer, Mr. Rommel Momo tackled the overall topic that corresponds to the Professionalism & Ethical Standards. First, he introduced the concept of a certain image of a tree with roots. He further explained his main topic for the seminar and discussed the presented photo. This was one of the best examples of a simple framework to convey Professionalism and the Ethical Standards. The trunk, leaves and branches represent a person's behavior that relates to professionalism. At the same time, the roots are considered the morals & character, considered as the main foundation of a person's ethical standards. Next thing he showed an image of the tree rings. With this, the image shown contained symbolism as this represents growth. The same goes for trees; humans also attain their own growth. Growth is also a resemblance and one of the factors in terms of having a character formation. Establishing one’s character through formation is a thorough process that starts from within, OURSELF. This partakes as this may contribute or influence to the setting or belonging like in school, it may get from interactions, of what we read and learned. The formation is a process as this is a step-by-step development as this attains for growth. Developing your own unique character style is one approach of being yourself, embracing the foundations of bringing the value of these ethical standards.

Mr. Momo proceeded to discuss further the area of ethical standards in the workplace. This classifies herein the character of a person that corresponds to three (3) narrative questions. First, what is right?—this giving this question showed about the principle of a person, and this is the widely accepted ideals of what were the right thing or what is truly right or correct. Next question, what is good?—this question explained concerning a person's values that start from the core. This also in connection with moral values in every person that each individual must possess. Lastly, the question—what is worthwhile? It answers the question as this will further define the purpose and the mission statement. Another topic that Mr. Momo elaborated on in the second part of the topic which is professionalism. This classifies the behavior of a person. According to Peter Drucker, there are five (5) important questions in order to address one’s professionalism in the workplace. This was estimated around six (6) months intervals of answering these questions that clearly manifests of embracing the professionalism. The first thing is the question, what are my strengths?—this answers the things of what was the contribution of one’s self in every organization or any area of belonging that truly inspires, motivates, or the things that we may find it easy to do. Knowing one by one and listing these aspects was the thing to consider as this was the asset and leverage in every organization or institution you’ve been working with. Next question, How do I perform?—This answers the area and kind of work environment preferences that suits you. These work capabilities relate to learning while working on how to deal with and consume information. Working capabilities were one aspect of having a significant contribution to the workplace. Another question, what are the values?—These are the sense of values that a person must enhance in line with the principle of the core as a guiding action process for transformation. Identifying attributed enormous moral values living within one’s self gives an idea of being on the right track. Where do I belong?—this was one of the hardest things to answer for each individual as the course of the path in, every person had an extensive discovery of belongingness. Knowing the kind of environment and reinforcing the passion and strengths may attain its peak of success in life. Lastly, what is my contribution?—these are the skills, talents, ideas, or fields of interest that could help the organization's success where you prefer to work later in life.

After the comprehensive discussion of these topics, the seminar ended with life learning lessons and questions that may be tricky to answer as each person's life was longing for more discovery of existence.