#OurEdsa: 30 Years of the People Power Revolution in the Philippines

The 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution
Photo credits www.kapitankokak.blogspot.com 

I remember EDSA very well since it happened the day before my 9th birthday. As Tora-Toras flew over our house in Makati, I remember feeling uneasy and fearful of what would happen next. Admittedly a daddy's girl, I began looking for my father. My mother said he just left for EDSA with my uncle, heeding the call of Cardinal Sin to gather there and present a show of force to clamor for peace and stop the impending violence of soldiers sent by Malacañang, armed with guns and live ammunition. What is more, we heard that big military tanks are also heading their way towards EDSA. But then it happened. The People Power Revolution disarmed the government. Peace prevailed. Edsa was born. I was so happy to see my daddy home. I told him he should have brought me with him and carried me on his shoulders. He said it was not safe that's why he didn't tell me. The following day, my birthday, a newspaper headline read, "Marcos flees." The dictatorship has ended.

Even if the years that followed proved to be both promising and frustrating, I continue to revel in the fact that I come from a people who knew what it was to live through a dictatorship and come out of it advocating peace, in spite of the wounds it has inflicted on so many people, and on so many families. When I passed the UPCAT and formed part of the group called, "Mga Iskolar ng Bayan," I became more sensitive about the values that go with patriotism. Yes, I joined rallies and was happy doing it. I was happy going to Mendiola to support a cause I believe was worth defending. I felt indebted to all our fellow Filipinos who sacrificed their lives for us to enjoy the freedom we have now. And I felt obliged to defend this very same freedom when a seeming dictatorship threatens to wrest it from us again.

With my UP Cebu mentee, Korina

I am a volunteer mentor to a 2nd year Political Science major in UP Cebu, Korina. I want her to know the values of fortitude and loyalty which EDSA has imbibed in me. The fortitude to defend the truth and the loyalty to uphold it. Along with this, I must add the courage to rectify our mistakes and begin again. I advised Korina to take her studies seriously, and while doing so, never to neglect going out of herself to be of service to others --- all the time.

With the UP education I continue to cherish, and with the UP education my mentee continues to have, I wish that somehow, in some way, the idealism I still have will ignite in her a willing response to be that Iskolar ng Bayan our country can truly be proud of. In spite of everything, I still believe that the Filipino is truly worth dying for.

After 1986, I am happy to celebrate my birthday side by side with EDSA's. It has its own perks, you know, like spending a good, long weekend this year.  

Note: This is my official entry to Philippine Daily Inquirer's #OurEdsa Essay + Selfie Contest, 30 Years of EDSA.

Organic Farming Technology: A Unique Response to Poverty Alleviation in the Visayas and Mindanao

Ms. Daisy Duran of Duran Farm, San Ildefonso, Bulacan

Social Entrepreneurship is one untapped giant of a topic that Development Communication practitioners must seriously look into. A country like ours, which continues to struggle against poverty, needs a well-designed plan of action to make our people, specifically those in agricultural farming, to work on becoming creators of wealth more than just being recipients of it.

The government, through the Department of Agriculture, has had several attempts in the past to empower our Filipino farmers to become entrepreneurs --- and to become successful ones at that. We must take pride in discovering that among us, there are outstanding individuals who have weathered a lot of storms so they can rise above the difficulties that go with innovation and action along the lines of creating wealth, i.e. putting up a business and helping their neighbors get employment, earn their keep, and support their families.

Social entrepreneurs are individuals with innovative solutions to society's most pressing social problems. They are ambitious and persistent, willing to tackle major social issues and offer new ideas for wide-scale change.

Two organic farms in the country quietly but effectively strive to promote resilience among farmers who eke out a living from organic farming. One is found in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, initiated by Ms. Daisy Duran, and the other one is found in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, put up by Mr. Ramon Uy, Sr.

Mr. Ramon Uy, Sr. with Ms. Chit Juan
Photo credits: www.manilaspeak.com : Turning Waste Into Money

I hope to soon come up with a study that will compose and present a descriptive narrative that looks into the successful stories of the above-mentioned Filipino role models of entrepreneurship which have evolved into "social entrepreneurship." Both social entrepreneurship role models have made a big social impact, indeed a big difference, i.e. economically and culturally, in their respective communities. The study I plan to pursue will also attempt to deliver at least three (3) concrete ways by which Development Communication Educators and Practitioners in the country can systematically work on to lead, encourage and spread the inspiring word about the power of social entrepreneurship in the respective provinces they happen to be.

The Canonization of St. Josemaria Escriva: Another October 6 Celebration

Today is the anniversary of St. Josemaria Escriva's canonization. Every time there's a big feast day, we always turn to prayer as our Founder taught us. Prayers of thanksgiving for the many undeserved favors and graces granted to us. Prayers of petition for what we need materially and spiritually. Prayers of contrition for what we have committed which hurt Our Lord and the ones around us. Prayers for our own conversion and transformation, because we want to merit to stay with God forever in heaven.

With the deep spiritual life of St. Josemaria, he managed to transmit to us the love of God in more ways than one. I highlight here the kind of fraternity and family spirit he wants everyone to live --- full of warmth, affection, service and attention to what others need. We may have come from different families and backgrounds, but as we all share one baptism in Christ, we belong to one big supernatural family, the Church.

Our Father was a happy man --- always cheerful --- according to his successor, Blessed Alvaro del Portillo. He was always happy because he lived like a child before God always. While it is true that we are plagued with our own wretchedness, imperfections and sins, St. Josemaria taught us to have confidence! Because for a Christian, a son or daughter of God, we can always rise from our miseries provided we are contrite and humble --- that we struggle to rid ourselves of pride which is the main obstacle we must battle against if we want to grow closer to God. Pride is our enemy because it is the devil's nature to be proud. And the enemy of our soul wants us to be proud so as not to let the light and strength of grace from God enter our soul. Each time we fall into sin, after a good examination of conscience, we are taught to go running to confession and show our wounds. For the Lord comes to heal us --- always, if we allow Him.

Today, as we celebrate the canonization of this holy man, may we resolve to live as true children of God, always happy and optimistic because, even with our miseries, we are assured of true joy and peace as long as we are contrite and humble of heart. What is more, along with this, we enjoy the freedom that the children of God possess --- free to love all mankind and free to direct ourselves on the path of righteousness.

For more information about Opus Dei and St. Josemaria Escriva, please visit: www.opusdei.org and http://josemariaescriva.info/   

Braving the Heat and the Cold in West and Central Java, Indonesia

Arriving at Villa Deogratias, Lembang, Bandung, Indonesia

As early as July this year, eight ladies who frequent our study center here in Cebu have already booked themselves to fly from here to Manila to Jakarta and to Lembang, Bandung in the province of West Java, Indonesia, to attend a yearly activity. I never expected  that I'd be joining them since I only received word that I'd be making this trip, too, in early August!

We were delighted to travel together, but not without any hitches, that is. I could well chronicle here the difficulties we all went through together. But more than that, what stands out are the positive events that unfolded during our trip. 

I was with the following participants from the Philippines: Beth L., Joy B., Nenette M., Jenny C., Rorie S., Evita L., Girlie R., Chi-Chi R., Iris B., Maricar L., Angelyn L., Gold V., Tina E., Miho P. . From Jakarta: Bea Z., Nancy T., Ivy T., Maricel P., Marivic T.,  Riza J., Lucia H., Lusyanti H., Geline B., Septiana, Suyi, Katiana, Tina, Erna, and Colette. I am so grateful to Christine for facilitating our trip via regular coordination through email and Viber. Thanks to Pak Udin, Pak Imam, Pak Deni who helped us with the transportation and hotel stay.

It was such a good experience to travel and meet and talk to the locals. Plus eat their kind of food, too! What's more, I never thought I'd be learning Bahasa quite fast. Maybe I was just so receptive so as not to get lost and for me to be able to know my way around. During our visit to Plaza Indonesia in Central Jakarta, I made sure to buy a post card for my parents. And thanks to Nenette, we found the post office (Filateli) where I happily sent the post card bound for Canada! I thought it was a good and creative way to remember the trip and share it with my loved ones.

The Gereja Katedral in Central Jakarta

If given another chance next year, I think I will be glad to go back to Indonesia and learn Bahasa more and better. We all look like Indonesians anyway, and can live as one more person among the locals --- be it in Surabaya, where we now have a center, or in Jakarta, where we hope to soon have one. 

Even with the delayed flight schedules, this trip is still worth it! I can only look back and be grateful. As they say in Bahasa, "Terima kasih!"

The 1st National Quality TVET Forum in Cebu City

With Ma'am Paulette and Sir Steve

The JCentre Convention Hall in Mandaue City, Cebu was jampacked with local and foreign delegates who participated in TESDA Region VII's 1st National Quality TVET Forum last September 9, 2015, Wednesday, an activity which ran from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. There were more than 500 people who filled the hall: technical-vocational program professionals, practitioners from the academe and students from several universities and colleges here in Cebu. There were special guest participants from Southeast Asia, from countries like Malaysia, India, and China, who shared with us their best practices in advancing tech-voc education through accreditation. TESDA Director General Sec. Joel J. Villanueva also graced the whole day event.

PSEFI-SKILLS was privileged to have an information booth which showcased the different training programs the school is offering. Several delegates and representatives of other educational foundations graced our table to inquire about how they can partner with us and how we can widen our reach to help more out-of-school youth and adults and less privileged women not just here in Cebu but all over the Philippines. I am grateful to attend this forum together with Ma’am Paulette D. Liu, our COO, Dr. Maritess H. Requina, our Executive Director, Dr. Bryant C. Acar, our Academic Director, Engr. Steve Y. Banzon, our Technical Training Director and Ms. Rhea Cedeño, our school Registrar.

It was good to be introduced to the rigor of having one’s foundation be accredited and recognized by professional institutions in the country. Striving for excellence has been stressed in this forum. It is no wonder that establishments espousing any advocacy which have committed themselves to quality performance in all their training programs will be recognized highly in the long run. We hope that this forum drove home the point that everyone i.e. all major stakeholders in the academe and in business, has a hand in making sure that complying with accreditation requirements is done conscientiously. It is worthwhile to go through difficulties for the sake of advancing all our educational programs.

With all the best practices we have heard, it is now a challenge for us to apply all the lessons learned in this forum. As our Malaysian speaker said, we must not get tired of always asking deeply about the what, why and how of things as we engage ourselves in our respective advocacies. 

PSEFI-SKILLS Promoted at RPN's DYKC Cebu

Primary Structures Educational Foundation's technical and vocational training and assessment center, SKILLS, was fortunate to have been promoted live last week at RPN's DYKC, 675 KHz of the AM band. With a wide range of listeners in Central and Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and in the Bicol region, the radio program dubbed as, "Tinubdan sa Kalamboan," (Spring of Success), ran from 1-3 pm. I was happy to represent our foundation and inform the public about our various training programs for the construction and hospitality industries.

We would like to thank Engr. Berty Neil M. Lerios, for making the radio interview possible. Thanks also to Mr. Jefferson Cal and Mr. Rey Ramos, the 2 broadcasters who helped me through the 2-hour interview, especially so since I am not yet well-versed in Cebuano. 

We hope that all those who listened and showed interest in our training programs will translate their plans into action as this will redound to the improvement of their lives. We believe that with technical know-how, good attitude and an employment break, those who take the chance to be trained in SKILLS will, in no time, become successful in the career they have chosen, the runway which they will use to make their dreams take off from poverty.

TESDA Region VII Scholarship: Trainers Methodology I

With some of my classmates in Trainers Methodology I

Primary Structures Educational Foundation, Inc. (PSEFI), under the trade name, School of Knowledge for Industrial Labor, Leadership and Service (SKILLS), was awarded 291 scholarship slots by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Region VII this year, all pegged for the course known as, "Trainers Methodology 1 (TM I)." This is a course open to all NC II holders i.e. technical-vocational courses in various trades, and for would-be trainers in other courses that are not dependent on any Training Regulation i.e. English as a Second Language course offerings, etc.

Reviewing for the Trainers Methodology I Assessment Exam

           The scholars of the program come from some academic institutions here in Cebu City, and from at least 2 tech-voc institutes offering construction-related courses. Twelve (12) of us enrolled in the course, the 3rd batch of the TM 1 scholarship for this year. Those who manage to get a National Certificate of the Trainers Methodology course will be eligible to teach technical-vocational courses in their respective schools and could even be accredited TESDA trainers not just here in the Philippines but abroad. 

The Institutional Assessment Examination will be scheduled as soon as our portfolios have been approved and checked by TESDA representatives here in Region VII. 

Thank you to TESDA for the generous TM 1 scholarship. We continue to look for more teachers who can avail of the TM 1 scholarship before the year ends.