The Los Baños Group (LBG), Incorporated will hold a “Takbo ng Bayan para sa Kabataan” on May 18, 4 am at the UP Los Baños Baker Hall.

According to Randolph Tolentino, the activity head and one of the prime movers of the LBG Inc., the fun run aimed to gather funds for high school scholarships. Tolentino explained that LBG Inc. members have observed that several elementary students are not able to pursue high school because of financial constraints. The organization will be coordinating with the Los Baños National High School and Los Baños Community National High School in identifying deserving students for the scholarship.

LBG Inc. is a volunteer organization focused on doing community service, cleaning programs, relief operations, medical missions, among others. The organization was registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission in January 2013 and is a recognized civil society organization as well as a member of the Municipal Development Board.

The organization currently has 30 active members. LBG Inc. membership is granted to individuals who have taken part in three organization activities. Organization IDs will then be issued. LBG Inc. does not require any membership fee.

Registration fee is PhP 200 for the 2K, 5K, and 10K categories. Participants may register at the:

• Gender and Development (GAD) Office of the New Municipal Bldg. during office hours; 
• Leo’s Photo along Lopez Avenue from 9 am – 6 pm;
• Timog Greens and Grill at Brgy. Timugan along the National Highway from 1 pm – 11 pm;
• Red Gloves Boxing Gym at Junction from 8 am –  5 pm; and 
• UPLB Baker Hall from 4-6 pm daily until May 17.

For inquiries, contact Randolph Tolentino at 0917 3783057.

by Joy Dianne J. Gumatay

CALAUAN, LAGUNA – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), in cooperation with the local government units (LGUs), Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), and Municipal Health Office (MHO) of Calauan, Laguna, conducted an orientation seminar for local indigent beneficiaries on May 6, 8, and 9 in Calauan Central Elementary School.

Dr. Jing Refrea delivered a short lecture about the health benefits entitled to PhilHealth members. She emphasized maternal benefits and services of PhilHealth such as free checkups, maternal care, and vaccination among others. (Photo by JDJGumatay)

The seminar titled “Kick-off PhilHealth Orientation to PhilHealth Members” benefited 3,780 local indigent beneficiaries from 18 barangays in Calauan, Laguna. With the help of barangay social workers (BSWs) and community midwives, local indigent beneficiaries are informed that their premium membership this year will be sponsored by PhilHealth. Thus, they are requested to attend one session in the three-day long PhilHealth orientation seminar to be aware of the benefits and services offered by the national health insurance corporation.

“Karamihan kasi alam nila na PhilHealth members sila, kaso hindi nila alam yung mga benepisyo na pwedeng ibigay ng pagiging PhilHealth member (Most of them are aware that they are PhilHealth members, but they are unaware of the benefits that they can get from being one),” said Dr. Jelidora “Jing” Refrea, the rural health physician and officer-in-charge of the  Calauan municipal health office.

The PhilHealth members were divided into six batches, with about 630 participants for every batch, to accommodate them in the orientation venue. Moreover, beneficiaries also received their updated data records and were informed on how to avail themselves of PhilHealth benefits and services through PhilHealth regional officers and representatives.

The first seminar was conducted in May 6 from 6:00 – 11:00 am, followed by an afternoon session from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. The same schedule is followed on the succeeding two orientation sessions.

This orientation seminar is the second sponsored seminar of PhilHealth in the community. The first one was conducted earlier last year. This effort for local indigents of Calauan, Laguna is part of the “Alaga Ka Para Sa Maayos Na Buhay or ALAGA KA program” of PhilHealth and the Department of Health (DoH).

ni Joyce Marie S. Maloles kasama ang mga ulat ni James M. Gabrido at Lembert B. Tandang

Ginanap ang pangatlong bahagi ng pagsasanay sa organic vegetable production ng Gender and Development (GAD) Office ng Los Baños at ng Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) noong Abril 30 sa PAMANA Center sa Brgy. Putho-Tuntungin.

Tulong-tulong ang mga kalahok mula sa mga barangay ng Maahas, Timugan, Bagong Silang, Lalakay, at Putho-Tuntungin sa paghahanda ng mga sangkap para sa organikong pestisidyo bilang bahagi ng pagsasanay sa organic vegetable production (Larawang kuha ni LBTandang).

Nakilahok sa pagsasanay ang humigit kumulang 40 na katao mula sa mga barangay ng Maahas, Timugan, Bagong Silang, Lalakay, at Putho-Tuntungin. Tinalakay ang paggawa ng organikong pataba gamit ang manure tea, kompost, binurong katas ng halaman, lactic acid bacteria serum, at green manure; paggawa ng organikong pestisidyo; at ang organikong pagbibinhi ng gulay. Si Celeria S. Rodolfo ng UP Los Baños Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) at mga kasamahan sa proyekto ang mga nagsilbing punong tagapagsanay.

Ayon kay Lucas Dela Cueva, pangulo ng Maahas Senior Citizens’ Association at isa ring kalahok, bukod sa pagkakaroon ng pagkain na walang masamang kemikal, maari din nila itong pagkakitaan.

Dagdag pa niya, maliban sa magkakaroon sila ng karagdagang kita ay mapapabuti pa ang kanilang kalusugan dahil sa organic na ani. Plano ni Dela Cueva na magpatawag ng pulong sa mga magsasaka ng Brgy. Maahas para ituro ang mga natutunan nila sa pagsasanay. Sa ganitong paraan, mas mabilis na mapalalaganap ang organic farming sa kanilang lugar aniya. Nag-uwi rin ang mga nakilahok sa pagsasanay ng mga organic spray para masubukan sa kanilang pananim.

Ang naunang dalawang bahagi ng pagsasanay ay ginanap noong Abril 15-16 at Abril 23 at 25 sa munisipyo ng Los Baños.

Ang mga pagsasanay na ito ay bahagi ng programang Enhancing Gender-Sensitive Sustainable Agriculture and Aquatic Science and Technology (S&T)-based Livelihood Enterprises in Los Baños ng PCAARRD at ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Los Baños.

Tinatayang nasa 125 na residente o nasa 25 pamilya sa bawat barangay ang matutulungan ng kabuuang programa sa pamamagitan ng pagsulong ng sustainable gender-sensitive livelihood projects sa tulong ng iba’t-ibang ahensyang bahagi ng Los Baños Science Community.

Source: Re-anne Santos-Remo

by Monica Mirjana Cruz

From March up to June 2014, the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) will be sponsoring a series of livelihood trainings for residents of Los Baños.

With the theme Kasanayan, Kabuhayan, Kaunlaran, the trainings aim to equip Los Baños residents with skills that they can use to earn income. Conducted annually, the series of trainings are primarily intended for mothers, out-of-school youth, persons with disability (PWD), and senior citizens. Resource persons are from the Livelihood and Technological Resources Center (LTRC) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

On April 24 and 25, the training on paper products for PWDs and senior citizens will be held.

Meanwhile, other upcoming trainings, which will be conducted in barangays, are as follows:

• Shoe- and slipper-making (5 days)
• Solar energy (2 days)
• Crocheting (5 days)
• Fashion accessories-making (2 days)
• Corporate giveaway and novelty items (5 days)
• Giveaways from dried leaves and grass (3 days)
• Bamboo crafts (5 days)
• Small wood works (5 days)
• Livestock and poultry products (2 days) in partnership with the Animal and Dairy Sciences Cluster of the College of Agriculture at UP Los Baños
• Stuffed toy-making (5 days)

Gliceria, the Los Baños PESO officer, explained that barangay officials will be tasked to scout for potential participants of these trainings in their area.

According to Gliceria Trinidad, head of PESO, the abovementioned trainings will be conducted in barangays to ensure higher participation rates. Although the trainings have intended participants, individuals who are interested may also attend.

Aside from these livelihood trainings, PESO also provides Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-accredited skills trainings, employment facilitation and referral, local recruitment, and job fairs.

Trinidad said that people who continue to participate in their programs inspire them to do better in their work. She added that Los Baños residents should not hesitate to seek help from PESO because there are several job opportunities that they could provide and their office is more than willing to help them.

For inquiries about the trainings and other PESO programs, you may contact their office at (049) 536-5976.

ni Kathleen Mae Idnani at Easter Paz Issa Paulmanal kasama ang mga ulat  at larawan mula kay Ruth Anne Ruelos

Mga lapis, crayola, at pambura, kwentong pambata, at masasayang kanta – ito ang mga binabalikan ng mga bata sa eskwela. Ngunit hindi magiging kumpleto ang silid-aralan kung wala ang magiting na guro na siyang gagabay sa kanilang pag-alam sa mga bagay-bagay.

Teacher Ayleen kung siya ay tawagin. Isa siya sa mga day care workers ng Los Baños. Higit 12 taon na mula nang magsimulang maglaan ng panahon sa pagtuturo sa mga maliliit na bata si Ginang Ayleen Palanginan. Walong taon na ang nakalipas mula nang siya ay mapunta sa Brgy. Anos at magsilbi bilang guro ng mga bata. Nagkaroon na rin siya ng pagkakataong maibahagi ang kanyang kaalaman sa mga bata sa Brgy. Bambang at Brgy. Putho-Tuntungin.

Hindi man nagtapos sa kursong Education si Teacher Ayleen, hindi naman ito naging hadlang upang magampanan niya ang kanyang tungkulin bilang guro. Sa halip, ang kurso niyang BA Communication Arts ay nakatulong rin sa kanya upang mas maging epektibong gabay sa mga batang kanyang tinuturuan. Bagamat nahirapan siya sa mga unang araw ng kanyang pagtuturo, agad rin naman niyang natutunan kung paano makisalamuha sa mga bata at maging sa mga magulang.

Hindi tulad ng ibang day care workers, si Teacher Ayleen ay nagtuturo sa apat na klase. Araw-araw niyang nakakasalamuha ang higit isang daang mag-aaral mula sa Makiling Subdivision at Brgy. Anos. Sa dami ng kanyang tinuturuan, hindi maiiwasang magkaroon ng problema sa loob ng silid-aralan. Isa na dito ang pakikisama sa mga batang may Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at autism. Hindi kasi hiwalay ang mga batang may ADHD at autism sa ibang mga mag-aaral. Bilang tugon sa hamong ito, ang mga day care workers ay sumailalim sa mga pagsasanay kung paano ang tamang pakikipagsalamuha sa mga may ADHD at autism.

Upang mapanatili ang atensyon ng mga bata sa pag-aaral, gumagamit si Teacher Ayleen ng mga makukulay na visual aids at iba pang kagamitan sa pagtuturo. Paminsan-minsan naman ay gumagamit siya ng ilang mga educational videos na kanyang pinapanood sa mga mag-aaral upang mas mapadali ang pagbahagi ng ilang kaalaman sa kanyang mga mag-aaral.

Nabanggit ni Teacher Ayleen na katuwang ng day care centers ang lokal na pamahalaan upang mas mapaayos at mapaganda ang kalidad ng edukasyon na kanilang ibinabahagi sa mga bata. Dahil hindi naman obligadong magbayad ang mga magulang para sa pag-aaral ng kanilang mga anak, tanging tulong lamang mula sa ilan sa kanila at sa barangay ang pinagkukunan para sa ilang mga pangangailangan ng day care center.

Maituturing na isang volunteer work ang pagiging isang day care worker. Hindi biro ang trabaho at oras na kailangang ilaan ngunit hindi naman kalakihan ang natatanggap na allowance. Kung susumahin, tumatanggap lamang siya ng P 1,360 sa isang buwan. Bukod dito ay nakakatanggap din sila ng subsidy mula sa pamahalaang probinsyal ng Laguna. Mayroong inilalaan ang pamahalaang panlalawigan ng Laguna na P1,500 minsan sa tatlong buwan para sa mga day care worker tulad ni Teacher Ayleen. Maliit kung tutuusin ngunit nabanggit ni Teacher Ayleen na sapat na para sa kanya ang kanyang natatanggap. Ito ay sa dahilang itinuturing niyang tulong sa mga mamayan ng Brgy. Anos ang kanyang serbisyo.

Hangga’t may mga gurong katulad ni Teacher Ayleen na handang magbigay serbisyo, tiyak na magiging kumpleto ang karanasan ng mga batang nais matuto sa apat na sulok ng silid-aralan.