Dakila

Para sa makabayang rebolusyonaryo,

maligayang kaarawan Gat. Andres Bonifacio!

Tick Tack Boom

Tick. I am lost with time. Tack. I don't know what to write so I am just buying time.

Boom. Spare me please.

Tick, tack, boom!

G(r)o(w)ing UP

Last night, I had a golden opportunity to watch a full length movie at home since BFF (starring Sharon Cuneta and Ai-Ai delas Alas) -- an animated movie that is. I was up until past 1am watching UP, a Disney creation released I guess two months ago in the Philippines.

I seldom watch TV or movies at home. I am lucky if I gets home in time for the 7pm news. Don't ask why.

The UP movie caught me up. I liked the silent scenes in the beginning, just interpreting the scenes as you see. Got the message clear -- from adventure to friendship and to growing a family. I was moved by the idea that wanting to grow a family stopped at two. However, I was even more moved to the commitment that the two "adventurers" hold to each other. One's promise is a promise, no matter what. Even if a person grows old.

Searching for the "Paradise Falls" is like searching for one's dreams and aspirations. Experiences, triumphs and failures, learning and relationships are codified in the "Adventure Book." Along the way, there are little and big things that will either make or break one's adventure. The book is the guiding principle of where you are at in terms of reaching for your dreams.

UP is an inspiring movie both for young and old, believers and adventurers, hope seekers and friend keepers. Reaching for what it seems the impossible transcends what others may see as unimaginable. A house transported by balloons to the wilds of South America is a manifestation of one's true love and commitment to a promise. This wild adventure created a wilder adventure, blossoming a deep affection and friendship to others that one barely knew.

No [man] is an island so to speak. A boy, a dog and a bird, no matter what their capacities are, are those "little things" that will matter most in the end.

I felt like crying because of the sentimentality of the movie but ended up feeling good. Knowing that letting go of something will lead up to something fresh -- a relationship that can be nurtured for the better.

Growing up is a fine thing. Sometimes we tend to speed things up because we want to achieve our goals fast. We need to breathe, reflect and move back, and move forward again.

UP amazingly lifted my spirit to believe more.

Thanks UP for giving me a well deserved good night sleep. #

Youth Take Action against Poverty and Climate Change

Poor(er) under climate change: Youth-nity against poverty

In the Philippines, climate change has only been the concern of environmentalists—until recently when the floods that the typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng caused established it as a public concern which demands urgent action.

Matters of consequence

Discussed more than decades ago, climate change has always been overlooked due to the world’s attempts at tackling “matters of consequence.” But upon seeing the consequences of such neglect, most if not all the leaders of the world have acknowledged climate change as an alarming fact and have moved to address it.

Where rapid industrialization and unrelenting overdevelopment were the game, sustainable development is placed—attempting at a better, more advanced way of life with utmost consideration of its environmental impact.

Climate change worsens poverty

While climate change favours none, its effects exacerbate the already difficult life of the poor. The recent floods in the Philippines pulled many Filipinos below the poverty line while making those already poor poorer. One family in Marikina lost a successful grocery store to the flood—with it their comfortable way of living. Meanwhile a family in Tumana, subsisting on the meagre wages of the breadwinners who work as shoemakers now rely on relief goods for survival.

“The recent typhoons brought the country down to its knees, devastated and hopeless, questioning the government’s capacity to respond to the crisis. It was also enraging to know that behind the massive flooding is the government’s alleged neglect on putting the people’s safety first before releasing water from Ipo, Anggat and San Roque Dams,” explained Richard Candano, KKK Vice Chairperson and Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) – Philippines campaigner.

The recent events caused by climate change prod us to take action. While attending to the victims of the floods, we must also tackle the long-term goal of minimizing the effect of climate change on the public, with bias to the fragile state of the poor.

We must call on government to formulate plans of action continuously maintaining public awareness about climate change by incorporating environmental awareness in the educational curriculum, immediately mitigating the impact of climate change on the poor by establishing social safety nets, and ultimately addressing the phenomenon of climate change through sustainable environmental policies.

Youth take action

Cognizant of the role of youth in propagating public awareness on climate change and how it affects poverty, anti-poverty youth group Kabataan Kontra Kahirapan (KKK, Youth Against Poverty) pioneered a photo exhibit depicting poverty and climate change shown at Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School in Quezon City. A day before the United Nations’ International Day against Poverty, the group also spearheaded a forum about the fight against poverty and the pursuit for climate.

Kabataan Kontra Kahirapan advocates for the attainment of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and is a part of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) - Philippine’s Stand Up Take Action! End Poverty Now! which is a contribution to UN Millennium Campaign’s Stand United, Fight Poverty campaign.

After discussing the role of the young on the mentioned advocacies, more than 3,500 high school students were also sworn to individually contribute to the eradication of poverty and the effects of climate change while collectively urging government to address the same.

Huge banners bearing the messages “Kahirapan Wakasan (End Poverty Now!), Education for All, and Climate Justice!” were dropped from the third floor of the school building to highlight the core advocacies of KKK in the campaign.

Youth take the lead

“We want the world to know that the youth are aware of what is happening and are willing to accept the challenge in improving the lives of many people, especially the poor and the marginalized,” Kabataan Konta Kahirapan National Chairperson Claudine Claridad shared.

“Is this time of worsening crises on poverty and climate change, we call on the current and future governments to shape up its priorities and policies before it’s too late. We urge the government to live up to its promises in putting the welfare of the Filipino people first, responding to climate issues as well,” continued Claridad.

“We enjoin all young Filipinos to take a lead in this crusade: our lifetime commitment to make a world liveable not only for us but for the next generations as well,” Claridad concluded. #

Tulung-tulong para sa mga biktima ni Ondoy

Para sa mga gustong tumulong sa mga nabiktima ng bagyong Ondoy, pakidala ang inyong donasyon sa Kabataan Kontra Kahirapan (KKK) Headquarters sa 55-P Kamias Rd., Quezon City mula bukas hanggang Biyernes (Oktubre 2) ng umaga (9am) para maisama sa Relief Operation sa Marikina City.

Makipag-ugnayan kay Nadja Ginete sa cellphone number 0920-802-0736 o tel. no. 794-1732.

Maraming salamat po!

Ondoy Aftermath

I myself have seen the aftermath of Ondoy. Yesterday, I walked along with others in Marcos Highway (After Marikina bridge) to Imelda Avenue so that I could reach in time Kim Rogado and her Lolo in Karangalan Village, Cainta. Luck struck me several times:

1. I forgot to bring my umbrella, it did not rain;
2. I couldn't withdraw money from ATM, my less than a hundred pesos in my pocket got me far enough;
3. When I reached the village gate, I caught the rescue rubber boat just in time, apparently the last trip before it malfunctioned;
4. Kim and her Lolo were safely rescued thanks to kapitbahays for the shelter;
5. On our walk along Marcos Highway in front of Sta Lucia mall, we have chanced up at a canteen where we had our breakfast (rice an porkchop!) -- no long lines of people!

Miracles happen in so many ways. I thank the Filipino people for extending their helping hands in this time of adversity. We enjoin others to do the same.

I also thank KKK members who helped in cleaning up the ASPBAE office in Anonas. The organization is here to extend support especially to members residing in Marikina and Cainta.

Thanks Kim for sharing your typhoon story in your blogspot. Stay safe everyone.

Change(d)

In my regular reading at home, I came across to one of my oldest books way back in college -- The Politics of Education by Paulo Freire, 1985 edition, first published in 1921.

The green book as I code it, like the orange book for Social Welfare and Social Work by Thelma Lee-Mendoza, was--at that time of reflection--the perfect read for my continuing engagement as a development/social worker.

Let me share with you the highlights of some of the chapters that I have read:

Chapter 2: Adult Literacy: The Ingenuous and the Critical Visions

"By relying on words that transmit an ideology of accommodation, such literacy work reinforces the 'culture of silence' that dominates most people. This kind of literacy can never be an instrument for transforming the real word." This is in the context of the type of education that we have, sugar-coating reality, practically painting a rosy picture of the world through textbooks, ignorant of the deeper meaning of the learner's existence in his or her space.

Hence: "Learning to read and write cannot be done as something parallel or nearly parallel to the illiterates' reality. The learning process demands an understanding of the deeper meaning of the word."

As Freire put it, the learner and educator should establish a dual relationship that will enable both parties to express and acquire critical thinking and learning, transcending the boundaries of the literal meaning of the words.

But what does critical thinking means? I agree with Freire in his quotation of a peasant's response to this: The peasant said that it is "thinking correctly, seeing reality as it is."

This led me to the next chapter, indeed a reinforcement of my alma mater's strong mandate (yes, I say it is a mandate) on social workers crucial role in social transformation.

Chapter 3: The Social Worker's Role in the Process of Change

Freire's articulation on the chapter theme began by reflecting (out of the box) on the true meaning of the words/phrase: (1) social worker and (2) in the process of change.

He said: "If a social worker chooses reactionary options, his or her methodology and work will be oriented toward blocking change. Rather than perceiving the social worker's task as one by which, through a critical, common effort, reality unveils itself to him or her and to those with whom he or she works, she or he will be preoccupied by mythicizing reality. Instead of developing opportunities fro problem-posing to challenge him or her and the men and women with whom the he or she should be communicating, his or her tendency will be to favor welfare-syndrome solutions.

This type of social worker as Freire described "is motivated to assist in the 'normalization' of the 'established order,' which serves the power of the elite's interests."

Freire's sharp characterization of a type of a social worker which he made almost a century ago, still applies today especially in the times of global financial crisis. Progressive social workers have continued creating discourses in redefining the meaning of social work, and how the profession will play its role in responding to the realities and calls of the time.

I remember in a class discussion when I was still an undergraduate BS Social Work student in UP Diliman, Prof. Malou Alcid challenged us by asking: "What is social work for you?" My response was something like this: "It is a profession by which the worker engages and empowers individuals, groups and communities not only to respond to their own issues and problems but also to become active players in social transformation."

Indeed, a social worker needs to surpass the traditional role she or he played during the colonial and post war era that is more of charity and dole-outs. It is the call of the times that a social worker, especially the young, step up by means of taking the lead role in creating a critical mass that will challenge the status quo. While it is true that a rumbling stomach of a beggar, a bruised face of a battered woman, and a devastated innocence of a prostituted child need to be attended first, it is our duty and moral responsibility to go beyond by raising their understanding of the interplay of social structures and dynamics in their everyday lives.

We need social workers that will fight for the rights of the people against poverty, injustices and oppression. We need more voice and muscle that will pressure the present regime to surrender to the demands of the people. We don't need charity workers. What we need are social workers.

It was at this point that I again realized why in my third year as a BS Statistics student in UP that I finally decided to follow my heart and shifted to a course where I truly belonged. I may have abandoned my dream of getting a fair chance of becoming rich (well that was my belief), but I truly believe that I still had become richer, day by day. Wealth that is not earned through money but with the constant yearning to serve the country and its people -- a social worker at its finest.

In this time of political, social and cultural crises, I urge all especially my fellow social workers to immediately respond to the calls of the time. There is no other time but now. There is no I but we.

We must not allow business as usual. ##

8 September 2009
International Literacy Day