MARCH is marchin’ forward…

At the Laura Vicuna Foundation!  Forward, onward, frontward… this has always been the mandate and mission we dare to live and impart to our educating communities.  Despite all the hassles and bustles of life we move forward in HOPE! 

LVF though a non- government organization observes and advocates significant celebrations that our nation upholds. March as Women’s Month spurred us ever to do advocacy as we celebrated the International Women’s Day. A selected few of our girls joined the 2021 GIRL-CHILD WEEK – 2021 Girl-Child Week Webinar on the “Key Issues Affecting Girls during the Covid-19 Pandemic”which was spear-headed by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) in which we are an active member.  Sr. Marivic Sta. Ana, FMA, LVF’s Managing director and PASWI (Phil. Association of Social Workers, Inc.) Manila, Vice President committed herself tirelessly to be of service to the association, sharing her expertise and time as a resource speaker particularly on spirituality this month on the virtual trainer’s training on Mental Health Care Intervention for Social workers & Community Responders of Pandemic & Complex Emergencies and in animating the weekly PASWI Circle of Prayers Online together with Sr. Rosalia Panganiban, FMA, also a Social Worker and the whole community. The National Church’s big event of the 500 years of Christianity Eucharistic Celebration presided by His Holiness Pope Francis was also participated at by the LVF. And of course this March too, our girls took the UST Angelicum REAP exams and most of them moved forward to a Year School new level.  Last but the most important event was our LVF Community Gratitude Day for Sr. Marivic Sta. Ana our community animator exquisitely done with much love and gratitude in our hearts!

So let’s go marchin’ this March!

CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, THE LVF WAY! 

In celebration of the International Women’s Day, March 8, LVF’s women-partners & grassroot leaders distributed one hundred twenty (120) packs of Selecta milk and Ube puto to LVF’s Child Protection Communities in Hillcrest & Judge Jimenez. Mr. Ryan Azucena, LVF Social Worker, gave an input to the kids. LVF is grateful to Mrs. Marie Concepcion-Young who sponsored the Selecta Milk and to Mrs. Michelle Concepcion-Reyes for donating the Ube Puto! Truly, the grateful smile that beamed on the faces of the children who received the goods fuelled LVF’s motivation to continue in serving with love and compassion.

LVF JOINS THE MASS FOR 500 YEARS OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE PHILIPPINES! 

March 14. LVF joins the Holy Mass commemorating the 500 years Anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines presided by the Holy Father himself, Pope Francis! In his homily, the Pope said Filipinos received the joy of the Gospel half a millennia ago, “and this joy is evident in your people.” He said the Gospel message of God’s closeness must be constantly proclaimed to others, so that none might perish (https://www.vaticannews.va/).As Filipino Catholics, we are challenged never to be afraid in proclaiming the Gospel, to serve and to love. It is our sacred duty to expand the gift of faith that each one of us received. May we be gifted to give.

LVF CELEBRATES THE 500 YEARS OF CHRISTIANITY: GIFTED TO GIVE! 

March 15. In celebration of the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines, LVF, together with its parent-leaders, distributed one hundred ten (110) packs of Selecta milk & Skimmed milk to its Child Protection Clinic in Pinagkaisahan and Culiat. The kids were so happy to receive the milk! LVF is ever grateful for its sponsors who ceaselessly extend their support and share the same on LVF’s endeavors. We, all, are called to share the gift of faith and translate it into action

2021 GIRL-CHILD WEEK

March 26. LVF joined the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) in the 2021 Girl-Child Week Webinar on the “Key Issues Affecting Girls during the Covid-19 Pandemic.”Proclamation No. 759 declares that every fourth week of March of every year shall be observed as a Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week. LVF Child representatives Hannah Babes Yap and Tricia Nadine Velasquez joined and participated during the said webinar. In this session, the girls learned that a child spends 116 minutes or almost two(2) hours online per day and that more and more children are exposed to risk and become vulnerable especially those children who are exposed online. They were also given some tips on how to keep themselves on cyberspace. It is very much important to have a parent or guardian who supervises the online activities of children.

LVF CHILD REPRESENTATIVES JOINS PEER SUPPORT WEBINAR 

March 27. To have a healthy supporting environment and support system in this time of Pandemic is very crucial. Mental health should be taken cared of as much as we take good care of our physical health. With all the stressful events in the country, it is important that as individuals, we possess the basics of becoming an ally and support to someone who needs it. LVF Child representative Edralyn and Khaye joined and actively participated in the webinar, organized by Trimex Colleges, on Peer Support with the theme “Building Up from the Inside Out: Providing Peer Support in the New Normal.” The girls learned a lot from the webinar. As Edralyn wrote “We need to have a trustful relationship with people especially with those who share their personal problems with us. We need to be understanding towards those who experience difficulty at present. We must pull each other up whenever one is feeling down.”Khaye added “that it is paramount to give your full attention to a person who shares his or her experiences with you.And observe confidentiality at all times.” LVF expresses its thanks to Ms. Emy Caramay-India, Trimex Colleges Program Chair of Social Work Program, for inviting LVF to this webinar.

PASWI VIRTUAL TRAINER’s TRAINING: SPIRITUALITY & SOLIDARITY 

March 05. The Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. (PASWI) had invited Sr. Ma. Victoria P. Sta. Ana, FMA, LVF’s Managing Director,as speaker during the virtual trainer’s training on “Mental Health Care Intervention for Social workers & Community Responders of Pandemic & Complex Emergencies”to 400 participants.  She talked on “Strengthening Spirituality & Solidarity of every Filipino Social Worker in this Pandemic.” As policy-makers, direct service providers, it is important to go back to the ‘basic’: To anchor oneself on Spirituality regardless of the religious denomination.

LVC Girls moved up in their YS Levels (UST Angelicum REAP) 

March 15 and 16 were again days of exams for our girls under the UST Angelicum REAP Program.  Their perseverance and hard work paid off as most of them moved a level up.  

Desiree – YS 10 – YS 11
Lyka – YS 8 – YS 9
Shane – YS 8 – YS 9
Josephine – YS 8 – YS 9
Crizzalyn – YS 7 – YS 8
Remilyn – YS 7 – YS 8 

And two new comers had their entrance exams namely Victoria and Mayriel respectively. We are just thankful that these girls have the zest and drive to study and give priority to education. They have come to realize that one of the keystones to a renewed life is education. And so the Sisters and Staff are very much willing to accompany them in this tedious journey of becoming!

LVF GRATITUDE DAY 2020:  HEARTS THAT GIVE THANKS!

“Hearts That Give Thanks” was the theme of our 2021 Community Gratitude Day for Sr. Marivic P. Sta. Ana, FMA, our community animator. As ever, the whole community, from the youngest to the oldest took responsibilities and executed them the best way possible as our contribution in this meaningful community event.  We had a novena of prayers and thanks for each other, capping it with the whole day celebration of Gratitude for Sr. Vic.  Our staff who lived with us at the lower level of the building prepared the venue (LVF Hall- Ground floor) with their festive creativity; they too performed a heart- warming song entitled “In This Moment” as expression of their thanks to Sr. Vic.  The girls, unstoppable as ever performed the well-known dance-song “This is Me” of the Greatest Showman as proof of how Sr. Marivic accompanied them to discover and embrace who they are.  We played KAHOOT! The well- loved quiz bee online game as our way of knowing deeply our community animator. Most significantly was the celebration of the Holy Mass as one educating community, all were fervent in prayer, thanking our Good Lord for the gift of each other, the community and our beloved Sr. Marivic. We were also grateful to Rev. Fr. Favie Faldas SDB, Rector of Don Bosco Makati, for coming here in the Center to celebrate with us and give Jesus – tangibly to us through the Eucharist. The last act was the Playlet organized by the girls themselves; this was the first attempt to do script etc. Tricia Nadine Velasquez, 16, with the guidance of the Sisters, made the script, and Ms. Rosea Marie Monsay, one of our Social Workers directed it. We were so proud that we made it! Sr. Marivic, in her Good Night Talk thanked all of us for the hard work we had placed in making our gratitude Day possible. She highlighted the importance of giving one’s best not so much to the perfection of the finish product that brought about hurts and division, but the love and care for each other’s work. So really typical of Sr. Marivic, a kind hearted, witty, loving and caring community animator after the heart of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello! Thank you Sr. Vic! We love you.

LVF PALAWAN SHARES YES AHA TO SYM FIL-PNG PROVINCE

YES AHA stands for YOUTH EMPOWERMENT THROUGH SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND HEALTH ADVOCACY 
Laura Vicuna Center Palawan shared about Urban Gardening, Soil Media/Growing Media Preparation, Land Preparation and Care and Maintenance of the plants to the Students of Mary Help of Christians Schools all over the Philippines and Papua New Guinea Province, through a video presentation and social media platform. It was facilitated by the Laura Vicuna Foundation Palawan Learners. The purpose of this video presentation is to show to the students and youth in the city or urban areas that they can do gardening and produce their own healthy food and to take care of the environment, our common home.

YES AHA KICKS OFF

Laura Vicuna Center celebrated the “YES AHA KICK OFF 2021 Batch 2” last March 20, 2021. The main objective of the program was to show and to educate the youth to engage and love farming and take good care of the environment for the next generation of the society. The said event has the following activities: Plot Making, Ecobricks Making Contest, Quiz Bee, Zumba Competition, and the Search for MR. & MS. YES AHA 2021.  The most exciting part of the pageant was when the contestants showed their art and creativity on making their own costume by the use of recyclable materials and natural agricultural waste like coconut husk, bamboos,  leaves, vines and other materials. This event also taught the young generation how to manage waste materials, increase their love for mother  the nature and to encourage them to engage into organic agriculture and show their love for our Mother Earth.

POPE MASS – 500 YEARS OF FAITH

LVF Palawan community joined the entire Filipino nation during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided by the Holy Father Pope Francis at the Vatican. It was a very touching encounter and each one of us felt grateful and blessed for having witnessed this 500 years of our Christian faith. It is also an invitation to proclaim Jesus and our Catholic faith to the ends of the earth. We are all gifted to give, share what we have and what we can through our daily living of our faith.   

STAFF LENTEN RECOLLECTION

Sr. Aleth guided the staff during their Lenten Recollection at Panarest Farm. It was a whole day of quieting moment, listening, reflecting and sharing on God’s movements in their individual life. The staff were grateful for the experience of prayer and the moment of togetherness that in spite the pandemic, this recollection is one great pause to strengthen their spiritual life and be nourished by the love and presence of God.