Activities on the second week of Summer Learning Experience 2016 (June 25- July 2)

Monday, June 25, 2016

              (cultural singers/band entertaining the audience with their song number)

The interns attended the Prospects of Peace: peace forum, representing WRCV together with Maam Julie Ann, one of the staff of the said NGO. 

I learned that the grassroots organizations from different barangays and sitios in Cebu are participative in forums that address the concerns of their respective areas. Nevermind the distance, nevermind the exerted energy and time. They were able to utilize their capability and responsibility as leaders, representatives and members of their own organizations through simply participating in the said forum for change. What change do we want? What change do our fellow farmers, fisherfolks, youth, LGBT, men and women want?

      (Partipants posting their #DearDigong hopes for the coming new administration)

The activity made me more aware of the WRCV and GABRIELA’S concerns with regards to the welfare and rights of women and children. These problems more likely will be presented to Digong for him to start making the change that his administration claims for the good of the country; through policies and other programs and projects that could alleviate them from these crises and problems. Aside from educating the members of the NGOs that had attended, this activity also helped the community in ways their problems and needs are being addressed therefore, under the administration of Digong, he will try to manage and find ways to accommodate them all. 

Tuesday, June 26, 2016

(Maam Noemi, discussing the agenda to the NALUSIMA Org. members)

                     (Members of the organization, pays attention to the discussion)

During this day, I was assigned to have an area visit in Northern Cebu. I slept well during the trip but was also vigilant about the almost 4 hours of travel in that unfamiliar place in Northern Cebu. I learned about the NALUSIMA organization since maam Noemi, representing WRCV, conducted a meeting in the said sitio. The meeting was about the following agenda below:

a)      NALUSIMA Org

b)      Communal Garden

c)      Committees

    i.  Health

    ii. Livelihood

    iii.VAWC/Disaster

d)     Others

         i. Visitor coming 

Several officers in the organization were inactive, therefore were replaced with more active members. I learned the many uses of the communal garden such as household consumption, and or to be sold in the markets as their livelihood. 

                              (NALUSIMA's newly planted communal garden)

The committees for health, livelihood and VAWC were also reviewed including the preparations for the arrival of the visitor. The activity had given me the chance to observe an organization meeting with more than 30 members, with enough trainings and backbone to support it and its members. The members are living a simple life with all the sight of nature and little houses and gardens. The true impact of my presence to this kind of activity made me appreciate the essence of an organization in a small far-flung town. They are at least participative and eager to find ways for their betterment. 

The meeting updated the status of their own organization into a more active one since their officers were replaced thus, each committee will be more monitored by these leaders. Their communal garden will be prioritized more and their sitio will be more exposed to visitors that would extend help to start livelihood projects and opportunities for the families. The anti-VAWC campaign will also continue, as well as the monitoring of the health of the people in the community. 

June 27, 2016

The next day, maam Noemi and I went to check the tulunghaan or “day care” in Paypay. My task was  to interview an LGU official and residents from Paypay who do not send any children or relative to the tulunghaan. 

We arrived at 10 AM in the tulunghaan. The class usually starts at 8:30 and ends at lunch or before that.We were able to observe the children having lessons, playing and singing. It was said that children with ages 3 and above enroll in the tulunghaan to learn the basic lessons before they transfer in the big schools in Mayjo. They learn dealing with their peers, discipline, motor skills, association with other kids and in academics. At the end of their free healthy meals, their class has ended and joyfully bid us goodbye. Maam Noemi then conducted a short meeting with the teachers and staff about the plans of renovating the classroom. They were planning to put up walls (plywood and 2"x2" strips of wood) to build an appropriate learning environment for the children. As much as possible, they want to be resourceful and obliged to maximize the use of spare materials they have.

 (Maam Noemi, conducting a meeting with the teachers in the tulunghaan sa Paypay)

I interviewed two women living near the tulunghaan with no children to send in this day care center. 

Maam Herminia Punay, 78, lives near the tulunghaan and believes that the tulunghaan was indeed a great help for the children and their parents. According to her, since the location of the tulunghaan is near the households, children need not to travel far to Mayjo. Working and busy parents can also leave their children in the tulunghaan and and the kids are guaranteed safe. Free meals are also given to kids, proving only that they are being taken good care of by their teachers.

(Maam Herminia Punay, 78)

Another interviewee, several houses away from the tulunghaan was Maam Jasmine Malimit, 38. She believes that the tulunghaan is also beneficial since it’s a good preparation for children before they step into kindergarten school. Since kids are being trained at a young age, they develop no difficulty in adjusting when they finally transfer in the big schools in Mayjo. She also added that the NGOs responsible for this are indeed a big help in the community.

                                       (with Maam Jasmine Malimit, 38)

Before my day ended, we went to councilor Rosalie Mascada’s residence to interview her with regards to the tulunghaan as well. According to councilor Mascada, the tulunghaan benefited the parents through:

a.    The less effort and time exerted to send their children to school

b.   NAKASAMA trainings and seminars make effective teachers.

c.    Made every parent participative through the guidance they give their kids and their cooperation during co-curricular activities.

On the other hand, it benefitted the children through:

•      The formation of their value
•      Gradual growth and development
•      Access to academic learning (colors, shapes, numbers, comprehension, arts, logic)
•      Improved motor skills
•      Free healthy meals every class.

According to councilor Mascada, several follow ups will be done in order to fully improve the classroom of the tulunghaan sa Paypay.

(With councilor Rosalie Mascada)

The activity taught me about how projects in small sitios are benefitting its constituents. I learned the essence of day care centers, not only as a general knowledge, but how its mechanism works in a sitio in Northern Cebu. It was built because it makes life and work easier in Paypay. The impact of the tulunghaan to the community is over-all beneficial to both the parents and children. It is a successful project in a rural zone, and with its continuous development through the help of NGOs like the WRCV, learning will be more suitable and much safer. 

June 30, 2016

                                         (Preparations before the prayer rally)

                                (Arrival of the rally in the Fuente Osmena Circle)

The interns joined the prayer rally/parade after Rodrigo Duterte’s inauguration. I may be a UP student, but I don’t usually join rallies inside and outside of our school because of the principles I believe in. Instead of pulling down an elected official, pointing out his flaws and shouting and burning banners in the midst of the rally, the people during the prayer rally hoped for a better administration under President Duterte. 

We had experienced a peaceful and quiet walk. With their banners and sign boards, they wrote #DearDigong to address their needs and demands. Priests were also present to lead the mass, and organization leaders were there to represent the prayers their good offices and organizations extended. Diverse people were there like religious groups, drivers, farmers, business men, fisherfolks, men, women, the youth, children, students and cultural artists. 

(Bagong Alyansang Makabayan leader representing their organization)

          (13 doves were released by the priests and the organizations' representatives)

We were also entertained by a group of cultural singers that filled the whole afternoon with inspirational music. Activist leaders have consolidated all the change that all these organizations seek for. GABRIELA sought for more job opportunities, free housing for relocation, and better hospitals with better facilities, free medicines and free services, livelihood projects, lower prices in the market and an additional curriculum in schools that empower respect for the LGBT community.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan consolidated all demands with these 15:

1)   Territorial Integrity

2)   Respect and Democracy

3)   Sovereignty in economy

4)   Industrialization for the economy

5)   Reform for land (Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill)

6)   Increase minimum wage

7)   No to K-12

8)   End corruption

9)   Allocate more budget to other sectors such as health than the military.

10)     Empower education and culture

11)     Respect LGBT community

12)     Maximize natural resources in a more necessary and  responsible way

13)     Defend the rights of our national minorities

14)     Continue the peaceful negotiations with the MILF and others.

    15) Independence from the US

The activity enlightened me about all the issues and struggles that the diverse communities suffer into. People live in different environments that needed attention and help. These groups are active enough and have inspired me that movements like this can actually move a mountain. Cooperation and determination is the key for the change we needed. The impact of this in the community is very simple: awareness and action. Those who did not know, knew. Those who are members, led. Indeed, change is coming and we hope for a better leadership, a better country under the administration of our 16^th president, Rodrigo Roa Duterte. 

July 2, 2016

It was one busy and exciting day for the staff and the interns. I enjoyed the "habal-habal" ride and the sight of high mountains and nature. From the city to the grassroots again! We went to visit Brgy. Quanos, Minghanilla to document about women's weaving livelihood with which the Women's Resource Center of Visayas, Inc. has inputted help and care. Brgy. Quanos has its own WRCV officers and their president, maam Liza Madolara welcomed us for an interview and a preview with how basket-weaving, their primary source of livelihood is made. 

(Interview with Maam Liza Madolara in her residence)

According to maam Liza, the WRCV has helped them with their lives in Brgy. Quanos. Aside from their basket-weaving livelihood, the WRCV has also contributed help to build their foot bridge so that they may have a decent and safe way of crossing the river from their homes to the street. Trainings were also held in their barangay such as soap making, leadership training and education for voters. The anti-VAWC movement is also being campaigned and continuosly being met in the barangay under WRCV. Maam Liza's daughter who graduated Cum Laude was also a full scholar of GABRIELA.

After the interview, we went to observe how they weave their baskets. It was said that their baskets are being exported by numerous clients that reserve orders from their barangay. According to them, the price of a plate size basket (with no handle) is 7 pesos each and is being sold more than this amount in the market. Unfortunately, our labor sector in the grassroots are not being given extra credit and they see it as unfair. They hope though that under the new administration, they may be able to have higher income and justifiable wages. Below are pictures of the transition of "walis ting ting sticks" into beautiful, hand crafted baskets. 

(Finished plate size basket)

The interns tried to make their own baskets too.

(A picture with the WRCV officials and the interns)

The day wasn't done yet! After this, we went to visit the other WRCV members with their recyclable weaving livelihoods in Tungkop. We were tasked to observe and have a look at their products that are to be showcased in the fair trade which date will soon be announced. Their resourcefulness has allowed them to create artistic, simple and beautiful ideas that later became their livelihood.

      (Recycled plastic wrappers made into earrings and keychains sold for 35 pesos and 25 pesos)

(Recycled plastic wrappers woven into handbags, wallets of different sizes and coaster/glass covers)

On Monday July 4, 2016, we will be conducting an interview in Minglanilla about their livelihood in weaving recyclable materials, and how WRCV helped to reactivate their women's organization in their barangay.