people in manila

september 23, 2008 at 10:00 p.m. that's the time and date when i was in manila, and i said to myself, oh my God this is manila, so many people in and out in mrt, lrt, jeep, bus etc. many street children and beggar asking for money, some of them of the children and the beggar get food in the garbage especially early in the morning around 6:00 a.m. i live in pasay city, the barangay captain is very very active especially segragated solid waste management and the youth too but even the captain want here barangay clean but there are people taken for granted the rules especially segragation in every house, i know not only in pasay did that, the captain try to convince the people who lived in their barangay and have a general assembly to make the barangay clean and green but still there are people who are hard headed but im happy because some of the people learn how to segragate their waste.

Success Story

A Plain housewife, Now a Barangay Captain

Barangay Daan-Secante is the inhabited in the 11 barangays of Tudela with 460 estimated populations. a bonafide resident in this barangay in the person of Melca Lativo, 41 years old, married with three children was challenged by her barangay folks to get a seat in October 2007 barangay poll.

Melca became a Plan member in 1999 with his youngest son Joseph as the sponsored child, becoming a member in the organization at the start was just an ordinary routine for her to attend meetings and comply the requirements that the organization has asked from her, however, in the long run it eventually breaks the chain that tied her from the household chores since her marriage in 1986, with her Plan membership, she discovers many changes and improvements in her personality.

When her family joined Plan, it was in its full swing of program interventions and implementations of ladderized trainings to equip a person with necessary life skills and knowledge in dealing and facing life's challenges in different perspectives without the fear of being left in the corner not knowing what to do.

" I was really blessed with many life's experiences with Plan's programs and intervention in my community" she confessed." Plan really makes magic in my entire personality because i was able to break my shell and come out to the open to becomea community volunteer". she finally said.

Ever since Tudela became a Plan covered municipality, people in the communicaty were provided with trainings in leadership skills/capability building/team building, bookkeeping, family, gender awareness, managing community projects, barangay planning, project proposal making, implementation, evaluating, monitoring, and still more trainings and workshops to enhance one's capacity in equipping a member in an organization. Melca was more than lucky to have been able to actively participate in almost all the above activities. Her family members too are actively participating Plan initiated endeavors.

Since her unending participation in the organization, people started to notice her leadership skills and potentials. she was observed to have possessed the bearing of a good leader. she is an active project leader in community managed projects. In school, she was elected PTCA President. Other community members easily rely on her when it comes to accompanying their children as chaperone in whatever Plan sponsored activities for the children in Tudela. Stakeholders in the community is used to notice her presence in almost Plan initiated programs. Plan sponsored children are likewise used to have her company because they feel the assurance that everything will be taken care of.

In 2001, she ran for the race of Barangay Councilors. She was second among the other seven elected councilors. however, her post her from becoming a community volunteer. She manages her time so as not to make her appointments both Plan and other extra work in the barangay be in conflict.

What more could she ask for? she has proven her worth not only as a wife but also an active community volunteer. if people ask her about what she gets from becoming a Plan member she just proudly narrates everything good she earns from becoming one. For her, what she becomes today and even what she will be in the future, is because of the life skills and knowledge from the series of trainings, seminars and exposures she has been into for many times.

she completely a different person, as she compares herself from what she has used to. One time she proudly claimed that she can negotiate people from all walks of life from her barangay folks and even up to the high ranking officials in and outside her community just to establish linkage and networking with Plan-related activities.

The recently conducted barangay poll has made her totally a barangay leader. Just as the majority of her barangay folks believe in her leadership skills, electing her as the barangay captain will make her a responsible leader in her community.

She finally uttered her last words saying" I cannot believe myself that i have come this far."

Gender Sensitivity Seminar

it was friday morning the day that i have to attend the seminar on gender sensitivity because i will be the one to documented the details or minutes what they discuss for, the participants are mother and the children. the seminar start at 8:48 in the morning the principal will be the one of the facilitator when the seminar starts the children and the mother very serious to listen what the principal do,the principal ask the participants what is the expectation about the seminar, they already knew the rationale of the activity, when the children write the expectation in the bond paper, i observe the and read what the expectation of the children, and i was so shock whats the expectation of the children: its like this; why the girl get pregnant? why there are half girl and half boy? why the the boy will be the one to find a work for the family? why the girl give birth to the children..then the second part of the activity is the human rights and the principles of the women 1, is the universality, Non-discrimination and equality, attention to vulnerable groups, equity indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness, accountability, people participation, empowerment, good governance, interdependence of the judiciary, legislative capacity, and transparency.. all in all 13 human rights and principle. after the discussion of the first topic, its time to take our lunch it is free lunch budget, for 130 persons, i enjoy eating because my son is there together on me, im so happy that everytime i have work my son is very cute, handsome and very kind, very intelligent,his the one i get strenght with my work and have inspiration everyday i live for..anyway when i was in the next barangay that day again,the same topic. but the end of the session when i was waiting for the motorcycle for my land transporation i have to decide to go with the participants walking going to their home, i try to walk waiting for the motorcycle, its very nice to walk going home its 5 kilometers from Mc Arthur elementary school going to my place where i live at..its so wonderfull, i know it is very far for me but all i have to do is to sing and not think that very far with my house, theres no bad people every barangay i walk for, the people is very nice and kind, until i found out that im at home..that is that very nice place and nice time i ever had..my son is one of the best thing happens in my life, and his my inspiration..

CiERT ( CAMOTES ISLAND EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM

May 15, 2008 thats the name of our team in Camotes, its a 5 days training about WASAR ( Water Search and Rescue, at the day the training started at 9 am, i never expect that im one of the participants in WASAR but for me its a challenge to pursue and continue the training eventhough i have a doubt myself if i can swim 1 mile, trapeller, scuba diving because of my height and weight, the trainor trained us the basic and the techniques how to do it in simple ways..first aid,mouth to mouth resucitation, life saving techniques, how to drive the rubber boat, they give also the basic life support management of water-related emergencies, incident command system and mobilization procedures,responsding flood and landslides incidents, rescue boat operation, introduction to ropes and lines. when the training is start i said to myself oh my God i think the trainor is very strict because the trainor comes from the Philippine Coast Guard, CEvSar, 5O5. they lecture in the first day but in the second day we went to the ocean and teach us how to swim, turtle float, jellyfish float, prone float,back float, prone glide and prone glide kick. kinds of stroke: free style, breast stroke, slide stroke and back stroke, many techniques the trainor give us, i know that those training is very help us when theres a person need help, i dont know if i can survive when the trainor said okay tomorrow we have to swim 1 mile, i said to myself can i swim that far? its a 1 kilometer and a half? but all i have to do is focus and positive thinking, then its a challenge for me..someday somehow i can used it when theres a person need help..even if tired after the 1 mile swim i really enjoy that day because my crush is there supporting us, i feel secured at that moment, but when the day of training is end i feel sad because back to normal, well its okay mission accomplished...we have communication, many friends again..

in our life theres a challenge that we have to face it what the circumtances happen..think positive always and we have to pursue our goals so that we get the ambition in life.. in every problems theres a solution.. i hope that when you read this you learn too..

Camotes Island

Camotes Island is situated in Central Visayas, in the Philippines. It is a part of the province of Cebu in Region VII. Camotes Islands is located east of Cebu and west of Leyte . Camotes Island is made up of three main sub-islands and divided into four municipalities. This four capital towns are Pilar, Poro, San Francisco and Tudela. In every town they had traditions fiesta like in San Francisco Soli-Soli festival, Poro Tagbu Festival, Tudela Tag-anito Festival and in Pilar Pamugsay Festival. They have also Food and Entertainment Green Lake, Santiago Bay Garden Resort, Mangodlong Resort, Green lake, Puertobello Bay Resort, Sea Breeze in San Francisco, Camotes offers a variety of delicious food. COOLTRAX in libertad poro, My Little Island Hotel in Esperanza. The people in camotes are warm, caring, hospitable. Numerous families are more than glad to play host to tourist and visitors through their “ Home-stay” program. Granada Pension house, Capao Pension House and Reusora Pension rent air conditioned. Economy in camotes island Agriculture predominates with copra as top grosser as well as rice, corn, vegetables, fruits, root crops and some varieties of fish. Other small enterprises are livestock, poultry, pottery, hollow blocks-making, furniture, and soap-making.

Autobiography

1. Ang lider adbokeyt ay isang taong may:

a.1 katangian na mamuno bilang isang lider ngunit mapagkumbaba at marunong makibagay sa ibat-ibang antas ng lipunan, matapang ngunit di madaling magalit, matakutin ngunit may tapang harapin ang mga balakid sa mga karapatang pambata o ano mang pinagkait sa karapatang pangtao, at higit sa lahat siya maunawain at may takot sa panginoon.

a.2 Kakayanang mamagitan o mamahala sa mga usapin o mga problema at talakayin (issues) na nangyari sa lipunan na kinabibilangan o nakapalibot sa kanya. kayang harapinn at gampanan ang katunkulan at tungkulin bilang mamayanan na may pagkalinga sa bata.

a.3 May plano at pangarap para sa lipunan upang matutugunan at malaman ang kahinatnan ng lhata na malasakit sa ginagampanang tungkulin patungo saisang CHILD FRIENDLY BARANGYA at paano mapapanatili ito hanggang pagiging CHILD FRIENDLY COMMUNITY.

2. Kailan ka naging lider adbokeyt ng pamamahalang may pagkalinga sa mga bata?

Marami ang dahilan at nagtulak sa akin na gawin ang nararapat at mag-umpisa ng mga hakbangin sa aktibong pakikilahok at pagbubulontaryo sa mga programa ng aming pamahalaang local at mga sangay nito..nakuha ko ring mag-volunteer bilang Children Organizer sa mga bata in 11 barangays kung saan naroroon ang mga bata to protect them with the abuser. i was a documenter in 4 municipalities of camotes island like: Little Fish Warden, Solid Waste Management, Geographic Information System, Intergrated Watershed Management, Capability Training, Inosukan Joint Project for 3 towns, naging Grassroot Learner din ako sa amin barangay, facilitator sa MCA/BCA activities, Anti-drug Awareness Campaign, Children's Month Celebration, Healthy life Style, Leadership Formation, Researcher sa Violence Against Child, and Children in Need Special Protection Survey.

3. What is the ( value) sa pagiging lider adbokeyt ng pamahalaang may pagkalinga sa mga bata?

Sa ngayon napapansin ng mga mamayan na may pagbabago ang aming barangay dahil na rin sa pakikilahok ng mga nasasangkutan. Sa pakikilahok at pagiging adbokeyt ng mamayan at komunidad ay unti-unting may pagbabago ang anyo at takbo ng aming barangay patungo sa ikakaunlad nito at makamit ang isang pamahalaang may pagkalinga sa mga bata.

4. Ano ang pinakamahalaga mong nakamit bilang isang lider adbokeyt ng pamahalaang may pagkalinga sa mga bata?

Ang pagkilala sa mga nagawa ko sa buong municipyo sa aking mga proyekto na siya ring nagbigay sa aking sarili ng karangalan at isang tagumpay bilang ordinaryong mamamayan na may hangarin na maiangat ang antas sa moralidad at paghihirap at mapagaan ang mga gawaing pang araw-araw ng mga kabataan. Na kahit may katagalan ang pagalaw nito ngunit napapansin ko ang palatandaan na sa likod ng mga balakid o mga political issues may liwanag na nasisilip sa likod ng mga pagsisikap.

Umaasa

composed: Mariquez Saplad


Nang Makilala Kita
Akala ko ay ikaw na
Minahal kita ng buong-buo
Kahit ako'y hindi sigurado sayo
Hanggang sa malaman ko
Na totoo pala, ang hinala ko

Chorus:

Kahit alam ko na
Patuloy pa ring umaasa
Na hindi tayo magkakahiwalay
Kahit malayo ka
Patuloy pa ring umaasa
Ingatan mong pag-ibig kung tunay

Kung ako'y mawawalay
wa'g ka sanang malumbay
kahit ako'y nasa ibang kamay
Ingatan mong pag-ibig kung tunay

participation

participation is one of the best talents for me, because you can participate in good ways, like participating your talents in school, participating through dancing, singing, and more.. here in our place when i was in elementary school, some of my classmates did not participate during activities because their parents won't allow because of some reason's with them, but when i enter in higschool i just noticed again of the same reason, but when the NGO came in our place to help through financial support and then told them that participating is one of the criteria in honor students.those students who are not participating in any activities even their grade is in top 1 in final rating they would be in top 2 because of no participating. so the teacher encourage them to participate in any activities in school or in town areas..then now the children are very participative, cooperative in our barangays not for our barangays but for the 4 towns of cebu province. they develop their talents,skills now..were so gratefull that the NGO help us through this.

rights of the child

there are four basic rights of the child survival,protection, development and participation. in survival includes the right to be born and have a nationality for me it is one of the most problems and critical of the girl who get pregnant some girls dont want her to give birth of child due to lack of financial, afraid of commitment of child, take a risk when the child is born..when i was work in Non-Goverment Organization (NGO) the first time i know is to protect the child in any another ways. i found out that in camotes area 10% possibility girls/mother do a abortion,how much more all over the provinces or philippines? i just want to help those people not in financial problems but in some advices, i dont know why it happen this in our area because through the health office, MSWDO they give advices to the mother not only to the mother but also to the student,but the questioned is who doing the abortion? is it the mother or the child at the age of 17 below?some do the abortion is a child early pregnancy thats my opinion because i just noticed and research in our town that possibility is in the early child pregnancy. maybe the curiousity of the child doing sex with his boyfriend. the NGO covered in 4 towns of cebu province they help through community focus on children needs. they help through encourage to show their talents, skills, encourage also to go back to school, livelihood projects,participation of any activities and development of their skills and abilities..

real life

I'm Mariquez Saplad 23 years of age, when i was 6 years old my father leave us but we have to face the trials and errors that come in our life i know that mom could hardly recover it i try to convince her to face the hindrances is our life and have to move on, and finally she has, then i decided to myself that i will work at the same time study at the age of 10 years old, so this is it. when i work so many hindrances that come in my life,after six years in elementary i said wow i can fullfill my ambition in life, then starting to highschool.when it comes in highschool life you know so many activities thats the thing i really shy for my talents.hehehehe..but i noticed that i have to show to my talents and skills and they found out that i have a potetial ability to learn and to do things in positive ways, the organization who help on me..but before that i join the seminar for children about leaderships, after a month I'm the one choose to be representative in every municipality in Tudela and the venue is in Manila those times are 2 opportunity that waiting for me but i have to decide that only one that i had to grab for " studying in college" as a working student in the house of a teacher who work in Cebu Normal, i said to myself "thanks Lord that your always in my side now i start my new life..but i was wrong i did not continue study in Cebu Normal because of a personal reason on myself, i know God knows why He not want to continue work in the teacher's house because of the stupid son of her. 3 times that i thought i can study in college in cebu city until i decided to back in Camotes Island where i lived for. I'm so happy that someone who want me to study in college it is a friend of mine who endorse me, my friend work in NGO she has a friend willing to study but we have an agreement that only tuition fees he would pay for and i grab it. In the name of NGO they helped me alot,I Study in Mt. Moriah College, my allowance as a child Volunteer, and at the same time children organizer I'm very happy because so many children's needs my help to encourage them to show their talents and skills, to know the 4 basic Rights of the Child especially the Responsibilities of them. even if very hard to do like in how to manage my time in school as children organizer. but no one can tell us what happened next...i want to have an inspiration in life yes my first inspiration is my mom, but i need especial inspiration that someone understand me, care for in special way, but i was wrong to fall in love with the guy, its been hurt to face it but i have to because of my baby inside and the NGO i work for. I just want to feel them that I'm okay what happen to me to realize them that i have born my baby instead of aborting. because my baby doesn't know what happen in the earth but his the one where i can get my strength in life,all your problems he will erase them when i saw him smiling of me, talking with me especially when he hugs me.