The month of MAY is associated with the season of spring, colorful flowers, great FUN and FIESTAS! Yes FIESTAS, which are usually celebrations of religious holidays with various engaging activities for young and old. Here @ LVC, no pandemic could prevent us from ‘feasting’ this month of May. We kicked off with the FLORES DE MAYO, a popular religious festival in the Philippines honoring Mama Mary by the daily offering of prayers; especially the Holy Rosary and offering of flowers to her as a sign of the people’s love and devotion to her. We had our own version of our grand opening (May 1) of the month long celebration and a meaningful closing (May 31) ceremony to our beloved Mama Mary. We also celebrated the Religious Consecration Anniversaries of the Sisters but most importantly this year the 25th Anniversary of Sr. Analyn Guerrero, FMA. Our own girls Edralyn Abia and Khayerale Leal respectively echoed the Seminar Workshop on Peer Support conducted by Trimex Colleges, Social Work Department of Sta. Rosa, Laguna. A feature article in this E News is from Ms. Eunice Tessa Velasco of TUGON, Ateneo De Manila, TUGON Area Engagement Head on her personal experience with the Laura Vicuna Center girls.
FLORES DE MAYO
Here nothing is done without Mary! As a Salesian house indeed Mama Mary plays a significant role in our day to day living. The girls willingly initiated a month long ALAY – floral offering to Mary and the praying of the Holy Rosary. This year though, what was peculiar in the celebration is the ‘bit-by-bit’, ‘step-by-step’ completing the mosaic of Mother Mary coupled with the fervent recitation of the Holy Rosary to end the Pandemic, heal the sick and other various intentions entrusted to us by people who believe and rely on our prayers. Another heart-warming initiative for Flores De Mayo was the ‘secret angel’ – pick-a-name and pray for that person for the whole month; this really made the Flores de Mayo a significant one, offering daily prayers for each other and building each other up through prayer was the best gift we could give. Indeed, this month of May had fortified our souls, our love for Mary and our imitation of her virtues particularly her purity and selfless service to others.
Jessabelle 18, has this to say on her experience of the Flores De Mayo;
It has given me a chance to reflect on myself and recall my faith. Gluing beads on the silhouette of Mama Mary, day by day made me realize some things in my spiritual life here in LVC. It’s almost 3 years, since I have come here. And as I look through beyond myself, I can say that prayers have changed me than the old girl I know. “One without faith in herself that she’ll make it through is scared of going out of her comfort zone”; however, this perspective has changed because of the Sisters in charge of us. They’ve been our guide in our spiritual life. Just as what Sr. Vic said on her good night, “with God, If you believe everything is possible because you the counter logic of the word IMPOSSIBLE is that I’M POSSIBLE.
Through Mary to Jesus, our Mother Mary is surely happy to have led the girls closer to Jesus!
GEMS OF PASWI: A MOTHER’s DAY SPECIAL
Mother’s Day is an occasion especially dedicated to mothers, motherly figures and fathers who are mothers to their children. It is the time to celebrate the women who made great impact in our lives. On May 14, 2021, the Philippine Association of Social Workers’ Inc. (PASWI) held virtual Mother’s Day celebration– GEMS of PASWI: A TRIBUTE TO SOCIAL WORK MOTHERS! This initiative features mothers and motherly figures who are not only capable of managing their households, but are also excelling in their respective fields as social workers. In a six minute video, Sr. Aleth Evangelista, FMA described how exceptional Sr. Ma. Victoria P. Sta. Ana, FMA is. “She is a mother, a friend and a mentor not only to me but also to fellow social workers, to fellow religious sisters and most especially to many children and young people. ” Sr. Aleth added. She also commended Sr. Marivic of the incredible work she has done to the Laura Vicuna Foundation, winning various awards in the country and abroad. “Sr. Vic is a loving person with a generous heart who sets aside her own personal matters to give way to others, to listen and to be with and for others.” With all her love, she has become a mother to hundreds and thousands of children and young people!
LVF JOINS CHILDREN CONSULTATION: PHILIPPINES’ RESPONSE TO THE UNCRC LIST OF ISSUES
Two (2) of the LVF’s Child Advocates, Ms. Remilyn Olediana and Ms. Andrea Zaquita, actively participated in the Children Consultation conducted by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) on May 22 via Zoom. This consultation highlighted the Philippine’s Response to the UNCRC List of Issues. Their inputs were sought to give their views and opinions as to how children like them perceived the issues that affects them. Their sharing of valuable information and perceptions are substantial in the improvement of the laws and various efforts of the country towards the promotion of the culture of protection for children in the family, community, and country as a whole. This was joined by more than thirty (30) children from various organizations.
MY LV (LAURA VICUNA CENTER) EXPERIENCE
By: Ms. Eunice Tessa Velasco
TUGON Area Engagement Head
I’ve always believed that the core of TUGON Ateneo is their area engagement. It is spending time with the girls and babies in areas that the organization has partnered with that members are extensively fulfilling the advocacy of eradicating child sexual abuse and abandonment. Thus, I didn’t feel competent enough to lead and facilitate area engagements because being an Area Head, at first, felt like a huge responsibility for me. I felt I had this pressure to be in my best for the girls and to provide activities that would engage them and at the same time help them to develop themselves. I valued my performance too much.
However, meeting the girls in Laura Vicuña Center and spending so much of my time with them significantly changed my view on my ‘job’. It started to feel less like a responsibility and felt more like a fun time I could never pass up. I felt less nervous and more excited to spend time with the girls and laugh with them. I would always look forward to Saturdays where I would see them because they always have something up their sleeve that I find so interesting and they always know how to make me laugh in rapper style, as they would endearingly tease me. I had learned so much about who the Vicuñans are: beautiful, smart, genuine, strong and very optimistic about life. They inspired me so much to look at life the way they do: they look at it with light, excitement, and hope in their eyes. They always made an effort to learn and to ask questions.
The way they voice out their thoughts made me feel how authentic they are with themselves and this I adore about them. They do their best not to leave anyone behind so they always find ways to get everyone involved, an area goer or a fellow Vicuñan. I know that about them in just a number of sessions; how much more if I can get to spend more time with them for years? I love them so much and I still feel a little sad from time to time on how I can’t be able to see them in person at the moment and how I feel like my time as an Area Head of LVC is too short. Despite that, I know my time as an Area Head may be at its end but I still can spend my time with them as an Area Goer or as an Area Leader. I’m looking forward to spending more time with them as time goes by. I know their hearts, souls, and minds have so much to offer. They continue to give me new perspectives and outlooks on life that make me live my life better.
Life has been quite hard especially as a virus continues to plague our lives. This being so, it is such a bittersweet experience to find myself creating friendships in Laura Vicuña Center in the midst of a pandemic. My relationship with them make this whole global experience more tolerable. I know the girls will continue to inspire other people’s lives and will radiate the contagious enthusiastic energy like they do with me. Sometimes I feel hopelessness creep up on me when I feel like our advocacy is getting harder to fulfill. However, seeing the girls strong on their own and seeing their diverse, fun filled, and kind personalities pushes me forward to continue our struggle. TUGON ATENEO is one of the partners of Laura Vicuna Foundation in the formation of our LVC girls.
From TUGON’s Facebook Page
Each of us has a childhood we look fondly back to. However, we know of young people who have already been robbed of the kind of childhood that each person deserves. TUGON aims to share time, love and warmth with the babies and the girls of CRIBS Receiving Homes & CRIBS New Beginnings, Meritxell Babies & Girls, Concordia, ECPAT, Tahanan Sta. Lusia, and Laura Vicuna Center. Despite the adversities that tainted their early years of life, we help them remember that they are indeed children, so that in the future, they may be able to have childhood memories worth reminiscing. Through the areas in TUGON, we are given the ability to prevent adversities from tainting the early years of children, keeping memories happy and still worth reminiscing. With only the inner child, we transform and are transformed. As long as TUGON’s advocacy and mission lives in its members, these kids will move on with their lives knowing the real feeling of “home.”
We teach, we sing, we dance, we play…
We love to make kids happy!
HAPPY 25TH ANNIVERSARY SR. ANA!
The LVC family is full of joy in celebrating the anniversaries in the Religious life of our four Sisters especially Sr. Analyn Guerrero, FMA, who celebrates her 25th year as a Salesian Sister. Though the Holy Mass presided by His Excellency Bishop Broderick Pabillo, DD, was online, the girls, staff, Sr. Rosalia and Sr. Teresita fervently attended and prayed for Sr. Ana and her batch mates. It was a fitting example of faithfulness to one’s commitment and most particularly gratitude of God’s fidelity to man, choosing and sending him/her for a mission in the Church. It was a day of celebration and thanksgiving for the gift of Sr. Ana to the community, for her dedication, tireless self-giving and love for the young.
“Dear Sr. Ana, we love you, we are happy that Jesus called you to be a Salesian Sister and gave you the mission to take care of us ‘makukulit’ girls of LVC, thank you po for not giving up on us kahit po minsan nagiging ‘angry bird’ na po kayo sa tigas ng ulo namin. We appreciate your presence with us, your great desire to help us become very good girls; loving Jesus and Mama Mary and overcoming our fears and doubts to be successful someday. Take good care of your health Sr. Ana, We love you!
Laura Vicuña Foundation, Inc. 