by mir321

August 2021 News

Flippin’ Through AUGUST 

Come to think of it, we really just flipped through the month of August.  Indeed it was an August rush. Despite the Pandemic, time flies here @LVF; it’s as if it’s just a snap of a finger. For us Salesians it is a very good sign that our young people were kept busy and productive this month.  We cannot but be thankful that we never run out of our creative juices to help them advance, develop and be empowered. This August we rejoice because of the following: 

  • LVF National Youth Congress Against Child Labour
  • National Children’s Month (NCM) Aug. 16-20, 2021 – Virtual Children’s Brainstorming Sessions  by the Council for the Welfare of Children(CWC)
  • Voter’s Education and Big Heart Foundation Film Review
  • LVF GIRLS RECEIVED FIRST DOSE OF VACCINE!       
  • LVF MANAGING DIRECTOR AS PASWI’s CIRCLE OF PRAYER COORDINATOR
  • LVF Sunday Catechesis continue to effect change in the lives our CPC communities
  • LVF’s Advocacy Serye

LVF National Youth Congress Against Child Labour

(Philippines). On 27 August 2021, the LVF 2021 Virtual National Youth Congress against child labor was held and organized by the Laura Vicuna Foundation of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and lay professionals /collaborators to address the needs and problems of the youth, in St. Mary D. Mazzarello Province (FIL). The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2021 as the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour.

The youth congress was attended by over 757 children and youth belonging to the communities of the Laura Vicuna Foundation like Gen. Trias Cavite; Napindan Taguig; Marikina; Culiat; Judge Jimenez; Hillcrest; Botocan; Brgy Pinagkaisahan, Bacood, Provincial House in Sta. Mesa and some schools in the National Capital Region, Cebu Province, Iloilo, Samar and the Negros Occidental.

Sr. Maria Victoria P. Sta. Ana, FMA, LVF Managing Director opened the Congress telling the children/youth that God has a beautiful plan for each of them that they have to discover and realize. However, poverty has driven many of the participants. to work in hazardous environment.  Child labor is a very rampant issue in the Philippines. Children are compelled to work in conditions that are exploitative and damaging to their health and to their mental and physical development just to attain the family’s basic needs. Sr Maria Victoria told the participants that we have come together in this Congress to think on what we can do to solve the problems of child labor in our communities.

LVF Young Advocates 17 year old Hannah Yap and 18 year old Desiree Ligutan and young Social Worker Mr. Ryan Azucena facilitated the Congress proceedings. It was an interactive discussion between the children and youth participants and advocates as they talked about the definition of a child, the 4 categories of the rights of a child, the difference between child work and child labor, the legal framework the  different kinds of hazardous child labor and at the same time breaking the taboos and myths about the Filipino values on the issue where the advocates gave concrete examples depicting child laborers situations in various hazardous workplaces.

Sr. Runita Borja, FMA General Councilor for Youth Pastoral addressed the participants that each of us has a role to play. God has gifted each of us with talents, education and work which each has to develop to the full not only for their personal well-being nor for their families but these talents are meant to be shared for the general good of their communities and the country at large.

As LVF’s contribution to the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour, the paricipants came up on how together they can help reduce or eliminate child labor. Parents should be responsible to able to supply the needs of their growing kids esp food and education so that they will not go to work while they are still young. In case one witnesses a child laborer he should ask help from the barangay and report it immediately to the Department of Labor and Employment so as to help him. Stop corruption. Parents should be given additional means to earn a living. In conclusion, 17 year old Fernanda Brana of Victorias City, Negros Occ suggested that strengthening and increasing the awareness of the parents & children on children’s rights as well as the harmful effects of hazardous labor for children, would greatly help in lowering the cases of child labor in addition to varied programs which aim to promote child-labor free country.

LVF SOLIDARITYSERYE

For the month of August, LVF was able to distribute 1, 560 packs of 1 kilo rice; 5, 260 foodpacks (baked brownies and bread with juices); and 730 giftpacks of school supplies to its nine (9) Child Protection Communities! All of these were made possible with the help of Mrs. Marie C. Young who sponsored the brownies mix, juices & bread; to Ms. Ana Ami who also shared her blessings through LVF by sponsoring hundreds of food packs for the community. Truly, we are interconnected individuals who are doing its vital roles in pursuing a more humane society.

LVF CHILD ADVOCATES PARTICIPATES IN THE VIRTUAL CHILDREN’S BRAINSTORMING SESSIONS (CBS)

Aug. 16-20, 2021.The Laura Vicuna Foundation, as a member of the Council for the Welfare of Children, was invited to join in the Virtual Children’s Brainstorming Sessions in relation to the upcoming National Children’s Month (NCM) 2021 on November which will focus on children’s rights in the new normal. Ms. Hannah and Ms. Vicky actively participated in the said activity. Both shared their insights and perceptions about the issues faced by children in their households and the community at large. This four-day activity paved way for them to ardently share their ideas in helping plan the program for the NCM activities.

Vicky has this as her takeaway after the session, “Responsibilidad ng bawat tao, lalong-lalo na ng mga magulang, na protektahan ang kanilang mga anak laban sa online sexual exploitation, ilayo ang kanilang mga anak sa anumang uri ng kapahamakan o karahasan. Ako ay nagagalak na maging participant ng Children’s Brainstorming Session (CBS) dahil ito ay nagpapakita sa pagkilala sa kakayahan ng mga kabataan na gumawa ng mga national child-focused activities na naglalayong mapakinggan ang problemang kinakaharap ng mga bata ayon sa kanilang pananaw.”

[Every person has the responsibility, especially the parents, to protect their children from online sexual exploitation and from any kind of abuse and violence. I am grateful to be a participant in the Children’s Brainstorming Session (CBS) for it showed its acknowledgment of children’s capacity to design national child-focused activities which aimed to listen and tackle issues that children face in their perspective.]

LVF GIRLS RECEIVED FIRST DOSE OF VACCINE

“Masaya, nakakatakot,  pero alam naman namin na ito ay upang mapapanatili ang kaligtasan at pagpapatibay ng sarili laban sa sakit lalong-lalo na sa coronavirus.” said Ed’s, a resident of LVF community and a recipient of Moderna vaccine. LVF is grateful for its Barangay Captain, Hon. Graziella Saab for facilitating the vaccination of the girls and for Quezon City for providing the booster shots to its constituents.

LVC Girls observed Buwan ng Wika

A nation’s language undoubtedly plays an essential role in the country’s development and posterity.  Here at the Laura Vicuna Center the Sisters and Staff carefully prepared with the girls the observance/celebration of the Buwan ng Wika; hailing our National Language – Filipino in the various engaging activities done.  The theme was “Wikang Filipino sa Panahon ng Pandemya”.  We had the following initiatives:

  • Sabayang Bigkas
  • Bugtong Bugtungan
  • Paligsahan sa Deklamasyon
  • Talakayan ukol sa Tema
  • Pilipinong Sayaw at tugtugin 

Sr. Candy Carmen Balverde, FMA, tapped her expert friends Mr. and Mrs. Ellen and Josue Pineda to teach the girls the folkdance SUBLI and guitar and ukulele respectively.  Both where so happy and eager to help us in our apostolate to the girls, in fact they are continuing their tutorials to the girls.  Sr. Analyn Guerrero, FMA, on the other hand, spear headed the TALAKAYAN on the theme, she gave an input and asked the girls to do the graphic organizer on the relevance of the Filipino language in the time of the Pandemic done in small groups.  The activity truly helped them to analyze and become critical thinkers.  The PALISAHAN SA DEKLAMASYON improved their self-confidence and creativity, we invited friends – teachers from both the public and private schools as judges that made the girls more excited and eager to present well their declamation pieces.  And since most of them came from the public schools, they presented well the SABAYANG BIGKAS, evoking love for our Filipino language as well as enriched patriotism. It was indeed an educative, creative undertaking for all.  We are more than thankful that our Lord never fails to inspire us in whatever would help the young develop and improve.

LVC GIRLS VOTER’S EDUCATION

Last August 20, 2021 the Ramon Magsaysay, Cubao organized an exclusive streaming of “Si Juan Tamad, ang Diyablo at ang Limang Milyong Boto” a musical play by The Phil. Educational Theater Association (PETA), a Voter’s Education activity for young people especially for the first time voters. It was coupled with a Talk Back Session( /ˈtɔːk.bæk/ [ C ] a discussion of a play or movie after it has been performed, between people who made it or performed in it and people who watched it).  Sr. Candy Carmen, FMA, on the other hand followed it up with a Pagsusuri ng Pelikula, an aid to help our girls express more their thoughts and ideas as well as clarify vague concepts or issues found in the musical play. ‘The beauty of Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo at ang Limang Milyong Boto is found in the message of the story and how it enlightens voters and youths like me to be aware and take part on making one of the biggest decisions our country has to make. It gives us the enthusiasm and strength to never surrender in fighting one of the obvious social ills of our country.’ – Anonymous

We are more than hopeful that our girls will practice what they have learned in this innovative voter’s education.

Another highlight this month of August was the Film Review on GOYO, ang batang Heneral conducted by the Big Heart Foundation. The group found it relevant to discuss this film to the girls first, because it is Buwan ng Wika, second, because Goyo was a youth like them with much immaturity, yet was able to offer his life for the country; saved, he clearly demonstrated valor and patriotism. We marvel at the dedication and support this caring group of professionals are extending to us. We consider them mission partners by LVF in the formation and education of our girls. They never miss out connecting with us and sharing whatever resources they have, we are grateful to them for their dedication and love.   

LVF MANAGING DIRECTOR AS PASWI’s CIRCLE OF PRAYER COORDINATOR

The Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc Circle of Prayer (COP) is expanding its reach each week! Headed by Dir. Eva Ponce de Leon and Sr. Ma. Victoria P. Sta. Ana, FMA-COP Coordinator,this Wednesday prayer session has reached Palawan, Misamis Occidental, and Cagayan Chapter as co-hosts.