Highlights of the Activities January – March 2010

Organizational and Staff Activities:

STAFF EVALUATION & PLANNING

The staff held their program evaluation and

planning last 7 January 2010 at the office. They assessed and evaluated the last six-month activities of 2009 and finalized the first six-month plan of activities of 2010.

STAFF REST AND RECREATION The staff spent their rest and recreational

activity at Bagac Bay, Bagac Bataan last 12 February 2010. They were full of excitement and anticipation because it was their first time to travel to Bataan. They had the time of their life enjoying the sun, swimming in the beach, and frolicking in the sand. They prepared their meals and snacks with gusto. At sundown, they went home feeling happy and relaxed. They were one in saying, “sana maulit muli!”

MERLY’S EVALUATION AS A PROBATIONARY STAFF

Last 5 February 2010, Niday Mayor, Executive Director, and Noemi evaluated the

performance of Merly Ladrillo as a probationary staff. They presented their evaluation and recommendation to the Board’s Executive Committee (ExeCom)

composed of Atty. Leo Battad, Doris Romero and Niera Valladarez. After deliberating on the evaluation, the ExeCom approved the staff’s recommendation to grant Merly a regular status. CONGRATULATIONS MERLY!!!

Above photo: The staff is engrossed in finalizing the SDC’s six-month plan of activities during the evaluation and planning session.

Left photo: Niday & Noemi are busy unpacking their lunch of Filipino Bistek, longanisa, sinigang na baboy, tocino and steamed fish. Wow Sarap!

Right photo: View of the Bagac beach. Bonding time. “Kwentuhan” with Ate Marivic, Nanay from Bagac who joined them in exploring the wonders of Bataan.

Reality Situation:

The working street child works from 6 to 16 hours, often in a combination of “occupations”.

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Programs and Services

VALUES FORMATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAM (VFEP)

Day and night street visits Merly and Noemi, the SDC staff, did street

visits in SDC’s areas of concern: Kamuning-EDSA, Delta-Quezon Avenue, Mindanao Avenue corner North Ave. Around three children were found in every area of concern, mostly beggars and street vendors selling rugs and sampaguita flowers.

The staff also visited at night the same

areas of concern, including Philcoa, Quezon City, to monitor the increase in number of street children working or roaming at night. They have observed that a greater number of street children are visible during night time. About ten (10) children in every area of concern were found working on the street at night time. They do the same activities – begging and selling sampaguita flowers or rugs.

Home visits The staff also made several home visits to

about four (4) street children from Mindanao Ave. The purpose of the visits was to familiarize themselves with the place where the children live and to get to know their parents. The home visits are undertaken to build a partnership with the parents with the end of helping the children cope up better with family life and studies.

Individual Counseling Individual counseling was given to five

street children found in Mindanao Ave. The focus of sharing was on the dangers of street life and the importance of education. Likewise, counseling sessions were given to two couples concerning their street children. While preparing the readiness of the families for possible reunification, the referral of their children for temporary shelter was discussed with them.

Coordination with Barangay Officials Noemi and Merly visited Barangay Pag-asa,

Quezon City, one of SDC’s areas of concern, in order to introduce the organization to the barangay officials. The SDC hopes to partner with them on SDC’s programs for the advancement of child’s right and welfare.

FAMILY AND CHILDREN INTEGRATION PROGRAM

(FCIP)

Parents’ Meetings Last 21 January 2010, fourteen (14) parents

attended the meeting/consultation and evaluation

of SDC programs and activities, held at Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City. As part of their leadership training, the participants were grouped into two and were tasked to report to the whole group about their learning and insights from the SDC activities that they participated in last 2009.

Another meeting was held on 18 February

2010, at Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City with sixteen (16) parents in attendance. The meeting was held to introduce the SDC’s Tobacco Control Project, funded by the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA). Niday challenged the parents to actively participate in the upcoming Orientation on Tobacco Control.

Community Visits The SDC staff conducted several community

visits to Calbayog and Welfareville, Mandaluyong City in order to check on the family situation of SDC child-beneficiaries, and to strengthen the partnership with the parents and child-beneficiaries, ensuring their active involvement in SDC activities.

Multi-Gender Youth (MGY) Meeting Last 30 January 2010, ten (10) children from

Welfareville and Calbayog attended the group’s first meeting for 2010, held at Our Lady of Fatima parish in Mandaluyong City. They assessed and evaluated the last year’s activities, the lessons learned, and discussed their 2010 expectations and plans. They were grouped into three, with each group sharing the output of their discussion. The group sharing was a useful exercise in developing the children’s confidence in public speaking. Most of them learned to relate with others. Like any child, most look forward to meeting new friends this year.

Left photo: (L-R) Jeric (in black t-shirt, writing on the manila paper), Jomar, Alexis, Jojie and Charlie during their group discussion.

Right photo: Joan Saljob, youth from Welfareville, shares her group’s learning and new insights, as well as their expectations for 2010.

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Basketball Try-out Two (2) basketball try-out games for the

MGY from Welfareville and Calbayog Street were held last 13 March 2010 and 28 March 2010 at Block 38A, Welfareville, Mandaluyong City. About 11 youth participated in the try outs in preparation for the incoming athletics on 22 May 2010. They were grouped into two, Team A and Team B. Before the games, Noemi discussed the objective of the activity and emphasized the spirit of camaraderie, hard work, excellence and sportsmanship. At first the youth were very reticent to each other, but they increasing became friendly as the games progressed. The teams gave their best to win. Hep, Hep, Hurray!

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Tobacco Control Project: Parents’ Orientation Last 27 February 2010, twenty three (23)

parents, fifteen (15) MGY, and two (2) girl children attended the orientation on Tobacco Control Orientation at the Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Before the start of the orientation, however, gifts were raffled off by Niday. The participants had a grand time during the raffle even if others did not win. Niday facilitated the Project orientation, focusing on “access restriction to minors,” under the theme “Save the Children, Save the Future.” All the parents showed great interest and gave their commitment to support the Tobacco Control Project.

Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) Visit Last 8 March 2010, five (5) of SDC’s active

parent-beneficiaries from Welfareville, Mandaluyong City visited Remalyn Dela Cruz, an inmate at the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in the same city. Remalyn, who was charged for parricide for killing her husband, is a Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) client of Atty. Battad, a member of the SDC Board of Trustees. Sharing her ordeal as a victim of domestic violence, Remalyn told the mothers how she tries to strengthen herself and keeps the faith amidst all the challenges she face while awaiting the final court verdict.

Women’s Month Celebration In celebration of Women’s Month,

seventeen (17) parents from Welfareville, Mandaluyong City watched a free film showing of the critically acclaimed movie titled, “Kubrador” starring Gina Pareño at UP Film Institute 11 last March 2010. The film showed the resilience and inner strength of a woman who, as a “jueteng collector,” was the sole breadwinner of the family. Despite the family problems and challenges she faced as wife, parent, sole breadwinner, she still had the time to help in her community’s problems and concerns. The parents were inspired by the woman’s life story, especially because they were able to relate to her experiences.

After the film showing, Atty. Battad

facilitated the parents’ sharing about women’s rights and the problem of multiple burden and domestic violence. To cap the occasion, Niday distributed choco milk (Enervon PH) to each of the parents and pre-school mylac milk for the young mothers’ 4-6 years old children. They were very thankful to SDC’s celebration, and to UNILAB, the product sponsor.

1st

photo: The 17 excited parents as they wait in line before the film showing. 2

nd photo: Atty. Battad,

standing, as she processed the parents reflections on women’s varied roles right after the film showing. 3

rd photo: The gleeful parents

and the SDC staff after the film show. The parents, with their milk products, gamely pose and wear their best smile.

Left Photo: Niday Mayor as she discusses the objective of the Tobacco Control Project, as well as the ill-effects of tobacco smoking on everyone, especially the children.

Right photo: Niday gives a calendar to a raffle winner, Nanay Juliet Lao, as the others look with hope that they will be the next raffle winner.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

PANINIGARILYO Akda ni JD Agapito

Nakapagtatakang di maunawaan. Paninigarilyo’y di dapat simulan.

At kung nakaranas dapat ay tigilan. Walang maidudulot kundi kasamaan.

Ito ay dahilan ng sakit na kanser. Sakit din sa puso at iba pang klase.

Dahil ang panganib ay mas lumalaki. Nikotinang sangkap siyang dumadale.

Isa pang masama’y amoy ng hininga. Malayo ka pa lang simoy di maganda.

Kahit magsepilyo o maligo ka pa. Amoy ng sigarilyo ay nakadikit na.

Maging perang laan para sa pagkain. Kung nagsisigarilyo‘y gutom titiisin.

Di ba naiisip ulcer ang aabutin. O iba pang sakit kung iyong iisipin.

Batid nga ba ito ng nakararami? O ang kabataan’y bulag nga o bingi. Di nila makitang talagang possible. Ang buhay na nila’y maigsi sa dati.

Kaya’t sana nama’y inyo ng isumpa. Itong sigarilyong salot nga sa lupa. Sinusunog nito ang pera at baga.

Dahil may adiksyong dikit na sadya.

Dahil ang biktima’y lalong dumarami. Kailangan pa bang sadyang makumbinsi.

Paninigarilyo ay hindi mabuti. Baka mahuli na ang inyong pagsisisi.

Hello!!! I am Therese Aragon, youngest daughter of Atty. Jun Aragon, one of the members of the SDC Board of Trustees. I love arts and below are my art works. I hope you like them! Happy Valentine’s Day! Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

Maricar

January 13

Love February 21

Niday

March 23

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