LVF’S APREAL REELS

At LVF, reel goes beyond Facebook reels which help you build an audience by reaching those who follow you and extending your reach even to those not yet connected to you. A way for people to connect with other people and organizations in their life, to be entertained and informed and allow you to engage your audience through reactions and comments. APREAL Reels is our theme for this LVF April month’s issue. It means for LVF, a series of continuous real moments, events, activities conducted with and for the young people especially with the ongoing LVF went on a Roadtrip to Negros Occidental highlighting its #FollowYourDreams advocacies on the bicentenary celebration of Don Bosco’s dream of nine (9)!  The #FollowYourDreams sessions opened a culture of encounter, listening, and sharing among LVF youth leaders and their peers on the future they want to build. We are wrapped in a series of awe-mazing events with the interaction of our LVF-QC youth leaders to 1,845 children and youth of Negros Occidental, the Easter Season, and the rare occurrence of the total solar eclipse! Yes, a total solar eclipse visible to the naked eye! Did you know that in Philippine mythology, a “bakunawa” (sea serpent) consumed the sun after being attracted to it. Eclipses remind us that we are part of something bigger, that we are connected with something vast.

LVF’s Roadtrip #FollowYourDreams!

LVF MALIHAO, VICTORIAS CITY, NEG. OCC.

DEP-ED OCULAR VISIT FOR ABM STRAND PROGRAM OFFERING
ATINO GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2024 AND THE ELECTION AND INDUCTION OF OFFICERS
THANKSGIVING NOVENA
GRADE 12 PILGRIMAGE AND LAKBAY ARAL 2024
ST. LOUIE – DON BOSCO DUMAGUETE HANDING OF DONATIONS, GRADE 12 PARENTS

LVF CUBAO, QC

WORKSHOP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES PROGRAM AGAINST CHILD LABOR COMMUNICATION PLAN
FMA JAPANESE STUDENTS MEET OUR CPC CHILDREN IN CUBAO, QC
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATION & GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY

LVF MACARASCAS PALAWAN

AOP NC II GRADUATION!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
GRATITUDE DAY

LVF-QC WEEKLY ACTIVITIES

SUNDAY CATECHESIS
LVF SOLIDARITYSERYE!
PASWI-CIRCLE OF PRAYER: WEDNESDATE HABIT

LVF Roadtrip on #FollowYourDreams

LVF child advocates from LVF Quezon City accompanied by Sr. Phebe Lacse, FMA, Ms.Patricia Soquena, Ms. Samantha Levado and Ms Natalie Yap conducted #FollowYourDreams sessions reaching a total of one thousand eight hundred forty-nine (1, 845) students in the following schools in Negros Occidental:

March 21- Gil Lopez Elementary School (Sagay) = 150; April 2- Laura Vicuña Women Development And Training Center (Malihao)= 110; April 3 – Victorias National High School = 270 & St. Lucia High School in QC-76; April 4 – Victorias National High School = 248; April 5- Dr. Vicente F. Gustilo Memorial National High School (Cadiz)= 250; April 5- Caduha-an National High School = 150; April 12 – CSAV IS = 70; April 12 – Sicaba National High School= 178; April 17 – Manapla Senior High School = 200; April 19 – CSAV College = 108; April 22 – CNHS Aluyan Ext. Class & Aluyan Elem. School = 35 students.

The feedback showed that the participants liked the session mostly because they are their fellow young people talking with them. They wrote that the sessions were very engaging as it touched their core and lively. And most importantly, they shared that the session is:

“Nakakapagpamulat sa mga Kabataan [nandito] tungkol sa pangarap nila,” said Jamie. Buenvido, a Senior High School said that “Nahuhubog ang aking sariling pananaw sa posibling pangarap ko sa buhay.” And “Nagustuhan ko ang mga activity dahil mas napapaisip lalo kung anong course ang aking kukunin sa college” said one of participants and “Madami akong natutunan at madami akong natuklasan sa aking sarili” said the other. To Ara, it is a venue of “making a best version of oneself.”  

(“It makes us,  the Youth [here], aware of our deepest dream”, said Jamie. Buenvinido, a Senior High School said, “My own vision is being shaped into my possible dream in life” and, “I liked the activities because it made me think more about what course I would take in college” said one of the participants and “I learned a lot and discovered a lot about myself,” said another. To Ara, it is a venue of “making a best version of oneself.”

Indeed, this peer-to-peer session is an effective strategy in discovering God’s beautiful plan for them. “[The activity] defined their aspirations in life and provided a room for self-discovery. Also, it became an encouragement to each one, to believe in their abilities in building the lives they envision.” LVF Malihao

It was a heartwarming & meaningful encounter with the students in charting their life goals to achieve their dreams. This endeavor is in partnership with DepEd Negros Occidental, and DepEd-Cadiz.

LVF MALIHAO, VICTORIAS CITY, NEG. OCC.

DEP-ED OCULAR VISIT FOR ABM STRAND PROGRAM OFFERING
April 15. The Schools Division Superintendent, Ma’am Portia M. Mallorca PhD, CESO V, together with the Assistant Superintendent Sir Roger Z. Zocar, Phd, Gift Joy M. Verano, Medical Officer, Donnel P. Placer, EPS, LRMDS, and Regina N. Bonda, Senior Education Program Specialist visited the school as part of the Dep-Ed Ocular Visit for ABM Strand Program Offering. The visit aims to check the schools’ facilities to see whether it is capable to open an Accounting Business Management (ABM) course. Once the requirements are approved by the Division, this will be submitted to the Region, and we will wait for the ABM permit to operate.

ATINO GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2024 AND THE ELECTION AND INDUCTION OF OFFICERS

April 18. Sr. Ernielyn F. Deypalan, FMA, LVF Malihao Technical Directress, joined the ATINO (Association of Technical Institution of Negros Occidental) General Assembly 2024 and the Election and Induction of Officers held at Roy’s Hotel and Convention Center, Brgy. Pahanocoy, Bacolod City. ATINO is composed of Northern and Southern part of Negros wherein TESDA encourages every school to be part of the group as it serves as venue to address various issues and concerns of Training Centers. 

THANKSGIVING NOVENA

April 22-30. The LVF Malihao Educating Community held a Novena of Thanks to express their gratitude to the following: benefactors and partner companies, parents, Salesian Cooperators, students, past pupils, priests, oratorians, faculty, staff, and support personnel, and FMA Sisters. In nine (9) consecutive days, the school offered prayers of thanksgiving and asked blessings upon all these individuals and groups who have contributed to the success of the school. Also, they posted an electronic card to their official Facebook page to extend their heartfelt appreciation for their continuous financial support, active involvement, dedication, and commitment.

GRADE 12 PILGRIMAGE AND LAKBAY ARAL 2024

April 29. The grade 12 students, together with Sr. Victoria Octoso, FMA, Sr. Ernielyn F. Deypalan, FMA, Sir Rino N. Barrido, Sir Kenneth John P. Cornelio, Ms. Maybelle L. Capillanes, Ms. Ma. Victoria V. Seluce, had a meaningful experience during the Grade12 Pilgrimage and Lakbay-Aral 2024. The places they had visited were the St. James the Greater Church and Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto both located in Talisay City, Carmelite Monastery Bacolod, Queen of Peace Parish, Redemptorist – Bacolod City, Ayala Malls Capitol Central- Bacolod where they had their lunch, San Sebastian Cathedral – Bacolod, The Negros Museum, and lastly The Ruins in Talisay City. The students and the teachers are deeply grateful to the sponsors of the activity, especially to Sr. Victoria Octoso, FMA and the sisters who did everything to ensure that the educational trip was pushed-through.

ST. LOUIE – DON BOSCO DUMAGUETE HANDING OF DONATIONS, GRADE 12 PARENTS

April 20. The graduation and deployment/immersion requirements were discussed during the Grade 12 parents meeting facilitated by the Technical Directress, Sr. Ernielyn F. Deypalan, FMA, Academic Coordinator, Sir Rino N. Barrido, Industrial Coordinator, Ms. Ma. Socorro C. Bayles and Accounting Staff, Ms. Ma. Michaela M. Romero. In the afternoon, the St. Louie – Don Bosco Dumaguete headed by Rev. Fr. Julius Sanchez, SDB handed over their donation for the needs of LVWDTC- Malihao. The donation is a fruit of the monetary Lenten offerings of the students and educative pastoral community of the Salesian school. Fr. Julius made the six-hour drive and was accompanied by six staff members of the school’s Pastoral Team.

LVF CUBAO, QC

WORKSHOP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES PROGRAM AGAINST CHILD LABOR COMMUNICATION PLAN
April 3-5. As an organization that fights for the protection of children from abuse, exploitation, and trafficking, Laura Vicuna Foundation participated in the Workshop for the Development of the Philippines Program Against Child Labor Communication at B Hotel, Quezon City, representatives are from National Government Agencies, Local Government Units (LGUs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Formal and Informal Sectors around the Philippines. Meanwhile, LVF is represented by Social Worker Ms. Angie Mae Villaren. The Workshop is composed of three (3) sessions: Advocacy Vision & Problem Statement; Communications and Advocacy Strategy; and Timeline, Monitoring, and Evaluation. The Workshop aims to provide a strategic framework for the prevention and elimination of Child Labor in the Philippines. The participants were divided into four groups for group work to draft, brainstorm, and share relevant information, ideas, and thoughts in implementing the advocacy campaign for the child-labor-free Philippines. Also, one of the reasons why this Workshop for Communication Plan of Child Labor is to update the previous Communication Plan and apply possible recommendations and suggestions. “The workshop is somehow draining but an amazing experience for me, because I got to experience and witness how hard it is to draft the Communication Plan especially when we’re talking about children, we need to come up with ideas on what is best for children who are victims of Child Labor, and how this Communication Plan can impact to the eradication of Child Labor in the Philippines, and we did collaboration, insights, or ways on how to address the Child Labor”, LVF social worker,Ms. Angie Villaren, said. Participating agencies put all their efforts into making the Communication Plan for the Child Labor Advocacy Campaign and looking forward to the successful Communication Plan 2024-2028. May this event be a prompt for us to help and encourage each other to promote the safety and well-being of children who are vulnerable to child labor, abuse, exploitation, and trafficking. Together let us give survivors of child labor in the Philippines a resilient, transformed, and empowered lives together with their families and communities, towards holistic and sustainable development. 

FMA JAPANESE STUDENTS MEET OUR CPC CHILDREN IN CUBAO, QC

April 01. Fourteen (14) students and one lay teacher and a Sister from Salesian International School in Tokyo Japan had a meaningful encounter with our seventy (70) Children from our Child Protection Community (CPC) in Cubao, QC! They taught the children the origami-known as an art of paper folding in Japan. As a result, the children made hearts, birds, planes, flowers and more from folding a colored paper. The CPC- children performed a dance and a song number for the visitors while the Japanese students also showed their cultural dance for the LVF-children. There were beautiful and bright smiles, excited glees and chatter heard among them as they try to communicate and bridge the language barrier. This event may become one of the children’s core memories.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATION & GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY

April 21. Each year, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations invites us to reflect on the precious gift of the Lord’s call to each of us, as members of his faithful pilgrim people, to participate in his loving plan and to embody the beauty of the Gospel in different states of life (WDPV). The LVF Educating Community, Cubao, QC, together with the CPC children, prayed the Rosary for Vocations on All Continents made by Sr. Runita Borja, FMA and her team at the Youth Pastoral Sector in Rome. This is doubly meaningful as it is also the Good Shepherd Sunday.  

LVF MACARASCAS PALAWAN

AOP NC II GRADUATION!
April 11. LVF Macarascas Palawan’s twenty-five (25) trainees completed the 29-days training in Organic Agriculture Production (OAP) with National Certificate (NC) II under the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) Sponsored by Senator Pia S. Cayetano at Laura Vicuña Foundation Inc. Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. It began with an opening prayer led by Mrs. Maryel Alisna and was followed by the National Anthem conducted by Mrs. Ophelia Bonila.  Mr. Chilly Villano, Batch President, gave the opening message and introductory speech, followed by a message from the Barangay representative, Hon. Vivian Buruanga. Guests such as Mr. Fernando Magdayao, and Sr. Rosalia A. Panganiban, FMA, also delivered their congratulatory message. This was followed by the honoring of the graduates of Organic Agriculture Production NC II by Mr. Ronie Palma (Lead Trainer). The graduates presented their graduation song and thank you presentation. Laura Vicuña Palawan would like to thank everyone most especially the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). We feel privileged to be part of and be of service to our people through our TESDA-approved training on Organic Agriculture Production NC II. We are proud of you.

THANKS TO OUR COLLABORATORS

April 23. The community of Laura Vicuña Foundation Inc – Palawan expressed gratitude to their two volunteers, Ms. Rebecca Castillo, VIDES Volunteer (served for 3 years), Ms. Abigail Negrido, Volunteer Teacher for 3 months, and one staff member, Ms. Delia Valledor, RSW for 3 years and 7 months. Their contribution and dedication to the mission of the center created an impact to the lives of our beneficiaries, especially to our resident – learners. As part of expressing our gratitude, the community prepared a thank-you presentation for them. The learners had a presentation. Every learner’s sector and the Sisters expressed their thank you’s and messages to them. “We are so blest to have your presence here in the center. We pray that the Lord will bless you in your next journey.”-one of the learners said.  

GRATITUDE DAY

April 27. The community rejoiced and expressed gratitude to our Animator Sr. Rosalia A. Panganiban, FMA, for her dedication and self-giving for the mission, especially for being a mother in the center here in Palawan. As expression of gratitude, the community prepared a thank you presentation for her. The learners, past pupils, staff, and parents prepared a presentation and a thank you message for Sr. Rose. After the presentation, Sr. Rose gave her inspirational and motivational message to the community. Thank you so much, Sr. Rose, for your presence, understanding, kindness, and love for our community.

LVF-QC WEEKLY ACTIVITIES

SUNDAY CATECHESIS
Sr. Sarah Grace Robas, FMA, and Sr. Sheila Marie Ducot, FMA give catechesis in two child protection communities every week accompanied by the LVF Social Workers; Ms. Joy,  Ms Angie, Ms. Patricia, Ms. Jessa and Ms. Sai. In celebration of the Divine Mercy Sunday, Sr. Sarah, FMA with LVF Social Workers, Ms. Joy, Ms. Angie & Ms. Jessa conducted the Sunday Catechesis in Marikina, and Taguig. Sr. Sarah talked about the day’s Gospel, its foundation, and how it relates and applies to people’s daily lives.

LVF SOLIDARITYSERYE

LVF’s SolidaritySerye continue to give smile to kids and families as they receive giftpack of rice, pancake flour, & kettle korn after every Catechesis. During the Good Shepherd Sunday, we have shared bread from Purple Oven, gummies from Daniel & Helena Ong; rice cakes from Puto-Ube and pancit canton. We are very grateful to Breadtalk, Purple Oven, and Individuals who shared their blessings to our CPC Communities! God bless you all.

PASWI-CIRCLE OF PRAYER: WEDNESDATE HABIT

The Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. Circle of Prayer (PASWI-COP) is a Wednesdate Habit of the Social Workers all over the Philippines! Evey week, various chapter co-hosts and lead the group in prayer. Each prayer is a unique way of communicating and testifying God’s miracles and presence in their lives. Each prayer invites us to be closer and to strengthen our faith. Jesus is sending us out also to have peace with each other, to treat each other with same mercy and love that he has shown us. It’s a love that empowers us to love each other deeply and be at peace with each other. Loving each other and forgiving each other perhaps the most challenging aspect of our life as Christians. This month’s COP is co-hosted by Municipal Social Welfare Development Office (MSWDO)-Narra; MSWDO Palawan; PASWI National and LVF.