At-Risk and Abused Students: Identifying, Managing and Reporting

On March 9, 2013, a Seminar on At-Risk and Abused Students: Identifying, Managing and Reporting was conducted at Bicol University Graduate School under the Lifelong Learning Program. Diane Klewitz and myself, Kathryn Tedford, were the instigators and facilitators in cooperation with Dr. Nora Licup and Dr. Flor Jenkins.  As Peace Corps volunteers servicing the community of Albay, Philippines, Diane and I wanted to gather together a group of experts who could speak to the needs of children at risk.  I presented the May 2012 Deped Order 40 which outlined the Policy and Guidelines on Protecting Children in School from Abuse, Violence, Exploitation, Discrimination, Bullying and Other Forms of Abuse.  This is a tall order for teachers who live and serve in their own communities.  However, it is a legal document and one that requires all of the stake holders to participate in developing a Code of Conduct for the school and as such the community.
The second speaker was PCI Delia Porcel Jacob, PWCPO, APPO, a distinguished officer and a person who has served the women and children of the Philippines in their fight to combat abuse.  She spoke about bullying, delinquent youth and youth offenders.
Following Officer Jacobs was Attorney Maria Teresa A. Mahiwo, Prosecutor in the Hall of Justice in Legazpi City and a representative of Dios Mabalos.  This presentation was sensational.  It was a review of current legislation and the workings of the judicial system.  Prosecutor Mahiwo explained the difficulties in prosecuting individuals when the witness is a minor who has an emotional attachment to the perpetrator. From Simon of Cyrene, Children's rehabilitation and Development Foundation, INC. we had two speakers.  The first, Ms. Sarah Jane Ballingasa, addressed Basic Fundamental Rights of a Child. The second resource speaker, Ms. Mary Christine Cesara Daep, a social worker, who addressed the reality of children in conflict and the role that Dios Mabalos and Simon of Cyrene play in assisting children at risk.
Mediatrix V. Villanuueva, Board Chair for Simon of Cyrene and a Board Member at Dios Mabalos spoke of the Disater Response Role of Dios Mabalos, CARES for Children, Healing Program, Herbal Medicines and the plan to start school gardens.
Peace Corps volunteer Kathryn Riter explained the role of the Children Youth and Families Sector of the Peace Corps in the Legazpi Community.  She spoke about the YMCA and Project HOPE. Laurenia Mangum, a Peace Corps volunteer assigned to the DSWD Complex/RSCC (Reception Study Center for Children) and haven for women and girls, spoke of her role in advocating for children and their rights. She demonstrated the link between the regional government center for children and girls in Region 5, Bicol and the Department of Social Welfare as mandated by the Republic Act.
The question and answer session was lively and informative,  The seminar lasted from 8:30 until 1:15 with no break.  Snacks were served while the speakers continued to address the audience of students and interested parties. It was an amazing experience for all who attended.
Kathryn

Old Homes of Albay

Belay Cena Una

There are many old homes in the Albay area.  In Camalig and Daraga, the teak woodwork that is found on these architectural gems is stunning.  One of the homes, Loveria House is currently the site of Belay Cena Una Restaurant.  It is a 300 year old structure that was built in 1702 for Antonio Loveria of the Borromeo clan. It is one of five old homes that survived the war.  During the war, it housed Japanese officers and served as the headquarters of the Imperial army. The ground floor has polished stone flooring and the walls are made of lime. The current owners, Sheldon and Med Villanueva nee Vallej,o grew up in the neighborhood and are often found at their restaurant during Sunday Brunch.  They share their knowledge of the neighborhood and the history of Daraga, a place that they love.

Scouting in the Philippines

Scouting was introduced to the Philippines by an American named Lieutenant Sherman Kiser. in 1914.  Since then it has grown to be the largest youth organization in the country. Girls and boys advance through a series of levels until they reach Senior.  This level accepts all 13 to 17 year olds. At Impact Learning Center, the teachers are the leaders and they set aside school time during the year and on weekends to facilitate scouting events.

Engineer Abdon M. Balde Jr.

It is a beautiful January day in Daraga and I arrived at Our Lady of the Gate Church at 8 AM to participate in a Daraga School District Cultural event aimed at preparing teachers and staff for the Cagsawa Festival 2013.  That festival will run from February 1st until the 28th.  It is the 199th year since Mt. Mayon erupted and devastated the former Cagsawa church and the original site of the town of Daraga.  The Provincial Governor has called upon civic and community leaders to come forward and help plan a day to day celebration to commemorate  this event.  

The attendees were privileged to hear from a Pilipino  author and poet, Engineer Abdon M. Balde Jr. Mr. Balde worked as an engineer for 33 years and then when he retired in 2000, he began pursuing the writing craft.  He told me that he never dreamed that he would be as successful as he has become.  Awards and accolades from all over the world have been given to Mr. Balde.  From 1970 until 1999, his writing was in English.  Since that time he has returned to his Mother Tongue.  He writes in Tagolog and the Bicol Oasnon dialect. He did acknowledge that he will insert a Bicolano word from another dialect if it is a better fit then his own.  Mr. Balde resides in Manila but returns to Daraga every three weeks or so to explore the region and interview the older citizens, taping their stories and making notes of their vernacular.  Poetry, myths, humorous text are all part of his published repertoire.  Mr. Balde is also prominent in producing text for the primary grades in the Mother Tongue.  He is a proponent of preserving the traditional vernacular and has been frustrated by the loss of historical fact and stories because they were not written down and can no longer be remembered.  

Nipa Hut As A Classroom

Children in the Philippines attend school in a wide assortment of buildings and shelters.  There is a serious lack of facilities to house the students and teachers. One of the solutions is the nipa hut.  It is made of an East Indian palm and the result is sturdy, cool and well ventilated. In the heat of the Philippines, this type of building is well suited.  However, when the monsoon like rain comes or the typhoon winds, the nipa hut looses its suitability.  The children just don't come to school. You can also tell by the photographs that the desks are made of wood.  What you may not be able to discern is that the surface is so gouged and uneven that students cannot write on it without putting a table of notebook underneath.  The notebooks and bollpens (not a spelling error) are not provided by the school or school district but rather by the parents or by a charitable organization such as UNICEP. The comfort rooms or "crs" are also in short supply. Most of the male population uses any bush or wall that is available and the girls use the facilities on campus or just go home. Innovation, resolve, tenacity, fortitude all of these adjectives describe the educational system here in the Philippines.