Fab Feb
As the year just opened, possibilities abound in February. Aside from being the very popular Month of Hearts, February is an exceptional month composed only of 28 days plus the so-called ‘leap year’ which made it really extraordinary and fabulous. February is a month of love and hope which brings magic and joy.
Here at LVF February was made special with its ingenious formative events and activities.
- LVF AT THE NATIONAL CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND AWARENESS WEEK (NCSAAW) KICK-OFF CEREMONY CWC NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
- KABATAAN at EPPR: LVF’s COMMEMORATION OF THE 36TH EDSA PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION
- PASWI CIRCLE OF PRAYER 1st ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!
- FUELING YOUNG PEOPLE’S CURIOSITY: PAGPUKAW SA MGA KABATAAN (Encounter with Miriam College students)
- SEMINAR ON PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOR
- LVF QC AT THE 2022 TVET FORUM!
- PEACE PRAYER FOR UKRAINE AND RUSSIA
- LVF SOLIDARITYSERYE
- ONLINE KATEKISMO
LVF PALAWAN
- SYNODALITY Serye
- YES-AHA 2022
With God’s grace, we have committed ourselves to continue to learn, advance and innovate our services to the people entrusted to our care and guidance. Our strong resolution to remain united and to journey together made us progress steadily and effectively deliver our services with dedication and love. This is our trademark! This is our benchmark! This is what makes us extraordinary.
LVF AT THE NCSAAW KICK-OFF CEREMONY, CWC NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
The Laura Vicuña Foundation (LVF) was invited by the Council for the Welfare of Children to attend the kick-off celebration of the National Child Sexual Abuse and Awareness Week (NCSAAW) on February 7, 2022 via zoom. LVF was represented by Ms. Mercedes A. Juncia. This is in observance of Proclamation No. 731 series of 1996 which is declaring the second week of February every year as National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation. In addition to that, LVF attended the first regular meeting of the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) – National Steering Committee. LVF has been active partner of CWC on child’s rights advocacy for almost 25 years.
KABATAAN at EPPR (EDSA PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION) :
LVF’s COMMEMORATION OF THE 36TH EDSA PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION
Feb. 25, 2022: It has been 36 years now and we never fail to commemorate the EDSA People Power Revolution. The LVF Community organized an open dialogue- discussion as to WHAT, WHEN, WHERE and HOW EPPR came about. Distinguished personalities where invited: Rev. Fr. Jose Favie Faldas, SDB (Rector of Don Bosco Makati) Sr. Tess Saludares, FMA (Campus Ministry Coordinator of Jose Rizal University) and Mrs. Carla Juncia, RSW of LVF and CSAV professor. Each of them shared their experiences and knowledge during the People Power Revolt. It was a trip down memory lane, an unboxing of the Philippine’s most abject history! For the girls, it was a moment of self-edification, of enhancing their knowledge on EPPR. It became also an afternoon of ‘no holds barred’ intergenerational encounter, an AHA moment for most of the participants. It challenged the young to be critical thinkers in this time of confusion and this Usapang EDSA was an opportunity for them to ask questions about what really happened during that time and clarifying ambiguous information that they had read on the internet and heard from other people. “Napakarami ko pong learning. Nalaman ko kung paano sumiklab ang People Power Revolution.” said Edralyn.
PASWI CIRCLE OF PRAYER 1st ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
“Ang bilis ng panahon! Isang taon na tayo!” (How time flies! We’re a year old now!) The Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc (PASWI) Wednesday habit coined as Circle of Prayer (COP) celebrated their 1st Year Anniversary on Feb. 16, 2022! The COP was conceptualized by PASWI’s Executive Director Eva Ponce de Leon who tapped Sr. Ma. Victoria P. Sta. Ana, FMA (LVF Managing Director) to be its Coordinator. On February of 2020, the COP piloted! This virtual community started with barely 30 participants joining via zoom and as time went by, more and more Social Workers started to engage themselves reaching up to 100 participants in zoom and some were joining via facebook live. Different PASWI chapters from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao hosted and led the prayer sessions! This Wednesday prayer habit had become each one’s sacred space where they expressed the goodness and miracles that the Divine Spirit, no matter their faith persuasion was, had done in their lives.
FUELING YOUNG PEOPLE’S CURIOSITY: PAGPUKAW SA MGA KABATAAN (Encounter with Miriam College students)
Feb. 17. The LVF was invited by the Miriam College High School (MCHS) as one of the resource speakers during their webinar entitled “Wonder: Fuel Your Curiosity”. Sr. Candy Carmen Balverde, FMA, represented LVF and discussed LVF’s various activities, programs & services that were spearheaded by the girl advocates in the home. This event sought to encourage volunteerism among their students.
SEMINAR ON PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOR
Learning on how to protect oneself from abuse and possible danger is an advantage. The Protective Behavior Session is a preventive measure which equips the participants in identifying Safe, Unsafe, & Confusing Touches on their body parts through the Gingerbread Man activity which focuses on the right to feeling safe at all times by acknowledging early warning signs to protect themselves from accidents, abuses. The second part of the session says that there is nothing shameful that we can’t tell the person we trust about it and how to, whom to, where to report cases of abuses.
LVF QC AT THE 2022 TVET FORUM.
LVF Quezon City was invited by TESDA Quezon City District Office to the 2022 TVET Forum via zoom last Feb. 2, 2022 and the Program Registration Orientation for TVI Applicants, Feb. 17, 2022 respectively, for the TESDA circular 107 Omnibus Guidelines in depth study, discussion and implementation. As LVF QC TVI is on its way to accreditation, we were so grateful for the recognition of TESDA QC of our ‘new’ mission among the young people of Quezon City. Sr. Analyn Guerrero, FMA, and Ms. Felina Narvadez attended both fora.
PEACE PRAYER FOR UKRAINE AND RUSSIA
The LVF Sisters, girls and staff lit the candles and offered a prayer for the intention to end the war in Ukraine and Russia and for a peaceful 2022 elections. Included in the intention was for the victims of Martial Law and for those who were present in the EDSA People Power. We believe that when people rain the heavens with their prayers, God will listen and answer their prayers.
Online Katekismo
This February, LVF’s virtual catechesis had reached 1, 510 children, youth & parents from its Child Protection Communities in Brgy. Pinagkaisahan, Cavite, PH-Sta. Mesa, Bacood, Botocan, Judge Jimenez, Hillcrest, Culiat! Sr. Teresita Mislang, FMA, continuously facilitated the spiritual, moral formation in the community. In detailed and with practical application, she discussed with them the 10 Commandments. This virtual weekly catechesis is a growing community. People are coming and getting closer to Him, restoring their spiritual nourishment because “man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
LVF SOLIDARITY SERYE
The LVF Educating Community prepared and distributed bread, coffee, baked puto, noodles, safeguard soap, shampoo, toys, and clothes to its CPC areas. The warm smiles on the faces of children as they received the gifts were invaluable! It was our greatest consolation.
FMA 150TH ANNIVERSARY MONTHLY EDUCATING COMMUNITY ENCOUNTER: THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF SALESIAN EDUCATIVE LOVING KINDNESS
Feb. 27. In celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sr. Candy Carmen Balverde, FMA had an encounter with LVF’s 10 CPC Communities on “The Transformative Power of Salesian Educative Loving Kindness!” Sr. Candy talked about the journey of St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello with the young people and how they were transformed, how they found God as He became the center of their lives. With it being said, the importance of a responsible adult presence in the lives of children is crucial. Mr. Clarence Ranz shared “sa pamamagitan ng pag akay sa mga kabataan na may matutunan sila tungkol sa ating Panginoon. Lahat naman tayo ay may karapatan, ngunit mas maigi ng may mag-aakay sa kanila sa tamang landas. “(By leading the youth, they will learn about God. All of us have rights and duties. But it is far better that they have someone that would guide them.)
PROVINCIAL EDUCATING COMMUNITY FIRST GRATITUTDE DAY FOR SR. TERESITA PADRON, FMA
Salamat Sr. Tita! Lubos kang Especial dala mo’y Galak at Inspirasyong Tunay! #LEGIT was the theme of the celebration. It was held last February 19, 2022 in the afternoon via zoom: all 17 FIL-PNG communities were eager and excited as each community prepared special performances for Sr. Tita. The games rocked the house as the celebration was dominated by young people, but even the ‘young once’ had a real online-wonderful time! As for our part, the LVF Educating Community energetically danced “All We Need is Love”, it was a very festive and heartfelt performance rendered as our thanks to Sr. Tita. The celebration was concluded with the celebration of the Holy Mass with the Provincial, Rev. Fr. Gerardo Martin, SDB. Sr. Tita thanked the whole Provincial Educating Community and urged us to stay united especially in this time of history and let this unity be our evangelical witness to the world wounded by division and discrimination. All left the zoom-meet happy and revitalized to move forward with joy! #LEGIT.
PALAWAN SYNODALITY Serye
LVF Palawan continued their SYNODALITY Serye this month of February. The destruction brought about by typhoon Odette was still very much evident and felt as families continued to rebuild their lives.
February 8. The community of Laura Vicuña Foundation – Palawan went to Bgy. Langogan to reach out to the victims of the typhoon, especially in areas with broken houses, roads, and other infrastructures. People had no means of livelihood, especially in those areas where little help was available from the outside. We had heard their unbelievable stories that we also experienced from the blow of the storm, but they had accepted the hard realities of such disaster with faith and strength of spirit.
(https://www.facebook.com/lauravicuna.palawan)
FEB. 24: LVC Palawan distributed 130 pcs. of galvanized sheets, rice, mung beans, dried fish, and eggs to 13 identified families from Langogan. The Center was very happy to be an instrument of service to these people who had been affected by the typhoon. Thank you very much to all our Benefactors who continuously and whole heartedly extended material assistance. Nevertheless, they also need emotional and spiritual upliftment. We must help them in all aspects .
FEB. 12: The Learners had the opportunity to convey their feelings in many ways. These activities aimed to express their emotions and hopes that are beneficial to them because when they failed to do so, their brains could often go into the fight-or-flight state.
YES-AHA 2022
Feb. 25. The Laura Vicuna Center Palawan opened a new season of the YES-AHA program (Youth Empowerment through Sustainable Agriculture and Health Advocacy) because we believe in the capacity of the young to be protagonists in this field. We also trust their great sense of commitment, that they will accomplish what they have started. Our young people painstakingly tilled the land, planted the seeds, cultivated and nourished the soil and therefore harvested joyfully its copious yield.
Feb. 28. Sr. Catherine T. Urgello, FMA Farm Administrator, together with our staff had a meeting with Sr. Ailyn Cayanan, FMA from Mindoro community whom we consider our ‘big farm sister’. The latter came to share her experiences in agriculture to enhance our plantation skills. The encounter led our Center to intensify its farm development program zeroing in at providing quality and up-to-date training to all the farmers. Hurray to networking and outsourcing.
Laura Vicuña Foundation, Inc. 