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Ulat ni AJ Villar Pinangunahan ng mga opisyal ng Samahan ng mga (Persons with Disabilities) PWD ng San Antonio ang kauna-unahang “Kalinga ng Puso para sa mga Kapansanang Intelektuwal”. Ginanap ito noong Pebero 26, 2021, ika-10:30 nang umaga sa barangay … Continue reading
by Emanuelle Dominique Mendoza and Neil Arwin Mercado
Over a hundred senior citizens from various barangays benefitted from the free medical check-up, aerobic exercise sessions, and pampering during the Los Baños week-long celebration of the Filipino Elderly Week. Themed “Ang Nakatatanda ay Yaman, Katuwang sa Pag-unlad ng Bayan, Pangalagaan Kanilang Kapakanan” October 29 in Los Baños Municipal Covered Court.
According to Baby Escobin of the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA), the idea of celebrating the Filipino Elderly Week for the first time in Los Baños is in line with Presidential Decree 470 Series of 1994 when the first week of October was declared as Linggo ng Katandaang Filipino or Filipino Elderly Week. OSCA sought to recognize the importance and value of the elderly in the community. The office also started meeting with each barangay’s Senior Citizen Association (SCA) head to identify the needs of the elders in each community.
Dr. Alvin Isidoro, the municipal health officer, led the free consultation and medical check for the Los Baños elderly during the concluding activity of the Los Baños Filipino Elderly Week celebrations. (Photo courtesy of the Municipal Health Office)
The free medical check-up was facilitated by the Municipal Health Office (MHO) headed by Dr. Alvin Isidoro. Free medications and vitamins were also given to the Los Baños elderly. According to Erlinda Darvin, one of the participants from Brgy. Timugan, she was pleased to join the event because she is really excited about the idea of the Los Baños honoring the elders in their community. She added that, even at the age of 77, she received vitamins and cough medicines from the medical mission since she does not have any lifestyle-related diseases.
The medical mission also served as an opportunity for the Los Baños elderly from different barangays to build new friendship. “Masaya ako kasi marami akong nakita, marami akong nakasalamuha (I am happy because I was able to see and mingle with many people)” says Beatriz Cruz.
The medical mission concluded the weeklong celebration of the Filipino Elderly Week in Los Baños. Other activities included the following the:
“Masaya ako kasi nakikilala nila [ng mga tao], at hindi lang kilala kasi nbibigyan din nila ng panahon ang mga matatanda (I am happy because people get to know and eventually give time to the elders),” Beatriz Cruz said when asked about how she feels about the celebration of Elderly Week.Erlinda Darvin shared that “Ngayon lang nangyari yan dito sa Los Baños yun. Natutuwa kaming lahat, kaming mga matatanda.”
Through the coordination among the barangay SCAs, the list of activities in the four-day celebration of the importance of the elders was finalized. OSCA partnered with the local government unit of Los Baños, which provided the venue and food for the activity. Other partners for the elderly week celebration included the UPLB DHK, MHO, and IRRI.
Dr. Federico Cruz, the OSCA director, shared that they were overwhelmed with the turnout of elderly participants as over 150 people gathered to join the flag raising ceremony and the inauguration of the elderly week celebration.
Most of the senior citizens who joined the program were from Brgy. Timugan with 33 elders, Brgy. Lalakay with 21 elders, and 19 elders from Brgy. Bagong Silang. The big turnout of participants was credited to the combined efforts of OSCA and the barangay SCAs. OSCA and the barangay heads meet every first Thursday of the month to orient the heads on the dissemination of information about the event. Beatriz Cruz, vice-president of Senior Citizen’s Association of Timugan (SeCAT) explained that in their barangay, she paid a visit to every senior citizen’s residence to distribute printed letters regarding the activity.
by Camille Anne Mendizabal, Emmanuelle Dominique Mendoza, and Neil Arwin Mercado
On September 17, the Autism Society of the Philippines (ASP) – Laguna Chapter and the local government of Los Baños inaugurated the Los Baños Community Center for Therapy Intervention and Support Services (LBCC-TISS) in Brgy. Timugan as part of the activities for Banamos Festival.
Georgia Lovell, the executive director of the Direct Aid program (DAP) and Los Baños Mayor Caesar Perez during the ceremonial turnover of the community center to the local government during the inauguration.
The construction of the LBCC-TISS was funded by the Direct Aid Program (DAP) of the Australian government after the approval of ASP’s proposal for putting up a community center for therapy and intervention programs for their scholars. ASP coordinated with the local government unit of Los Baños in the refurbishment of the old Department old Social Welfare and Development and Sangguniang Bayan offices to be used as a community center.
LBCC-TISS will provide services such as medical and occupational therapy and other medical intervention for children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, down syndrome, multiple disabilities especially those diagnosed with autism, and the like. This not only serves as an intervention center, but also as a training ground for parents of these children to help them be their child’s own teachers at home.
According to Ma. Ana Del Valle of ASP, the center will serve as the hub and therapy center for family members and children dealing with disabilities. The LBCC-TISS is the fifth center built by ASP in Laguna. Other centers are located in includes the Paete, Liliw, and Calamba.
Before the LBCC-TISS was established, the programs conducted by ASP, such as the Sensory Motor Activities (SMA) for children ages 6-12 every Saturday, were held at the Los Baños Central Elementary School covered court. On the other hand, ASP’s early stimulation programs for children with ages five and below were formerly conducted in the play area of the Municipal Health Office. With the opening of the LBCC-TISS, the ASP activities can now be held in the LBTC-TISS, which is tailored to address their scholars’ needs.
Nina Jeanette Ilagan-Talag at Lenie Bonapos
Ipinagdiwang ng Los Baños Federation of Persons with Disabilities (LBFPWD), Inc. ang National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week na may temang “Talento at Paninindigan, Pasaporte sa Kaunlaran” mula ika-4 hanggang ika-8 ng Agosto.
Layunin ng isang linggong pagdiriwang na maipamalas ang kapasidad at kakayanan ng mga mamamayan ng Los Baños na may kapansanan sa pamamagitan ng iba’t-ibang gawain. Ito ay upang maipakita din na sila ay mahalagang parte ng lipunan at may pantay na karapatan. Gayundin, ang gawain ay upang maitaas ang morale ng mga may kapansanan.
Ilan sa isinagawang aktibidades bilang paggunita sa NDPR week ang mga sumusunod:
Ang pagsasagawa ng livelihood training partikular sa paggawa ng antibacterial soap na dapat ay isinagawa noong Agosto 7 ay nalipat sa ika-30 ng Agosto, 2014.
Para sa impormasyon at katanungan patungkol sa LBFPWD, maaaring makipag-ugnayan kay Jeanette Ilagan-Talag, kasalukuyang pangulo, sa numeronga 0936-347-1973. Maaari ding bumisita sa kanilang tanggapan sa PWD Office, Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) na nasa lumang munisipyo ng Los Baños at hanapin si Lorelie Liwanag (0915-584-8844).
By Ladylove May Baurile and Gretzel Lantican
Los Baños, Laguna- The Los Baños municipal government in partnership with the Autism Society of the Philippines (ASP) Laguna Chapter held today “The Los Baños Community Center for Therapy, Intervention & Support Services” to show support to children with autism.
Ambassador Christopher Thornly was welcomed by the attendees of the seminar as he arrived at the Los Baños Municipal Hall (photo by GLantican).
Some of the highlights of the event included the arrival of the Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Christopher Thornly, performances of the autistic children and gift-giving by the organizers.
“We really know how much you put into this. This is really why I am here today… to give superior honest support and to perhaps give keen start, to help you out a little bit, to do all the wonderful work that you’re doing because I know… when we’re in it together it’s so much easier”, said Ambassador Thornly.
Sixty participants attended the event wherein twenty of them will be selected to attend the four-day seminar funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.
Sixty participants attended the event organized by the municipality of Los Baños and Autism Society of the Philippines (photo by LMBaurile).
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa ASP kasi ‘yung anak ko na four years old alam ko kakaiba pero sabi ko na lang aalagaan ko na lang kasi walang pera kaya nagpapasalamat ako na meron daw mag-iisponsor (I am thankful for ASP because I know that my four-year old child is special but I just said that I will just take care of him since we don’t have money so I am thankful that there will be sponsors),” said Mrs. Diyo, mother of an autistic child.
The said seminar will be divided into four portions namely “Understanding My Child’s Disability”, “How to Increase my Child’s Compliance”, “Break-out Sessions by Nature of Disability” and “Behavioral Disability.”
“Children with autism can have better outcomes… Our partnership with the embassy of Canada brings new hope to the families and children with autism in Los Baños, the project that was only a dream many years ago is now a reality,” shared Rizalina Cansanay, president of ASP Laguna Chapter.
Gilbert Malinaw, one of the top notchers of the ALS Program, delivers his speech.
by Rose Jeanette L. Agustin and Kimberly M. Afundar
They once looked at him with judgment and scrutiny, but now they look up at him as if he was a different person.
It was all like a dream to Gilbert, a 21 year-old detainee in Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Los Baños, Laguna. But as he marched towards the stage during the commencement exercise of the Alternative Learning System-Literacy Reform Program (ALS-LRP) Los Baños last September 5, he knew that dreams do come true; and that hindrances, like being a 2-year detainee, won’t stop him in fulfilling his dreams.
Gilbert, from Brgy. Batong Malake, Los Baños is just one of the many learners of ALS. This program prioritizes Out-of-School Youths (OSYs) and adults, drop-outs, persons with disabilities and less fortunate people who live below poverty line coming from disadvantaged and underserved communities. Gilbert was one of those who got side tracked by his peers and by the false pleasure from vices. With that, he dropped out from high school and was accused for drug pushing.
“Sinayang ko yung sustentong binibigay sa’kin ng mga nagpapaaral sa akin Akala nila nag-aaral ako pero nasa barkada [ko] lang ako. (I wasted all the money that was given to me. They thought I’m in school, but the truth is, I’m wit my peers),” he said.
The beginning of hope
Gilbert and his other inmates were informed about ALS-LRP which is a non-formal education program. This program offers its graduates a diploma that provides them opportunities to enroll college or other training programs and into better paying jobs. He thought that this would be a great opportunity for him to gain one of the most important things he had lost – education.
With the program, he then realized that there were still a lot of things he didn’t know. ALS-LRP helped him become more knowledgeable about mathematical problems and most of all, essay writing.
People who made him push through
The encouragement from his second family played a very important role for Gilbert. When Gilbert got jailed, his biological parents despised him and stopped recognizing him as their son. However, his aunts and uncles kept him and made the effort of getting him out. They paid his private lawyer and visited him regularly. The help given to him made him more determined to return the kindness of his second parents and win back the trust of his family.
More than his family, the people from ALS-LRP motivated him as well. Municipal Councilor Lourdes Principe, who established the program, encourages him and other inmates to continue as well. Councilor Principe admits that what she saw in the learners of ALS-LRP is somehow parallel with her own life.
As one of those who were less fortunate in life, Councilor Principe and her mom used to sell samalamig (juice drinks), bibingka and other kakanin (rice cakes) in the markets in order to support their family and continue her studies.
“Kung meron kang dream sa buhay mo, you will achieve it. Basta determined ka sa education, walang imposible. (If have a dream in your life, you will achieve it. As long as you are determined to pursue your education, nothing is impossible),” Councilor Principe said.
According to her, the other goal of ALS-LRP – which is to accommodate not just smart students but even those who are drop-outs and “pasang-awa’s” – is also pretty much in line with her advocacies.
ALS-LRP’s Advocacies and activities
One of the advocacies of the program is to make education accessible to everyone no matter what status they have in life. The learners need not to be smart or knowledgeable. As long as they are basically literate, they are qualified to be part of the program.
In ALS-LRP, the learning session which is called Learning Support Delivery System (LSDS) focuses on essay writing and reading comprehension. Learners are also equipped with skills in English communication, problem solving and critical thinking. These are preparations for the Accreditation and Equivalency Test (A&E) since an ALS learner will only graduate if he will be able to pass the said exam.
The students will take their A&E test after 800 hours of LSDS. For Gilbert and 8 other inmates, their A&E exam happened on October 23, last year. After the exam, they had to wait for four months to know if they passed or not.
When the results came, Gilbert was pleasantly surprised on the results of his exam. He was one of the passers of the exam but more than that – he was actually one of the topnotchers nationwide.
“Natawa pa nga sa’kin yung mga kakosa ko kasi nagtatatalon ako sa tuwa. Sumasayaw-sayaw pa ako. Agad kong tinawagan yung pamilya ko. Na-feel ko na yun na yung simula ng pagbabago ng lahat. (My inmates even found me funny when I jumped and even danced for joy. I immediately called and my family to tell them the news. I had the feeling that it things would change from then on),” he said.
Los Baños’ Mayor Anthony Genuino congratulates Gilbert Malinaw for being one of the topnotchers in the Alternative Learning System program
The turning point
Gilbert is now one of the successful learners who graduated from ALS-LRP. Since the establishment of the program in Los Baños in January 2009, it was able to accommodate more than 200 learners. From 18 graduates in each year of 2010 and 2011, it had increased to 32 graduates this year. Today ALS-LRP has expanded, not only with the number of graduates but also with their learning centers. From a single center in Gabaldon, other centers were established Bayog, Lalakay and of course, in BJMP, with plans of further expanding in other areas in Los Baños.
During the commencement exercises of ALS-LRP, Gilbert and eight other inmates were given five hours of freedom to attend and celebrate it as well. Municipal officials, BJMP inspectors, ALS-LRP facilitators and of course, their respective families witnessed this important event in their life.
Being a topnotcher, Gilbert was given the privilege to speak in front to deliver a speech. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he proudly delivered his speech. He thanked everyone who helped him with his journey and gave his deepest gratitude to the program, ALS-LRP.
The diploma for Gilbert did not only provide him open doors, but it also restored broken relationships and made him win back the trust from his parents. He promised himself that he will take care of this blessing forever. The chapter in his life where he became a learner in ALS, graduated from it and received his diploma became a milestone in his seemingly hopeless situation.
“It was all thanks to ALS-LRP and all the people behind it,” he said.
A step for a future
ALS-LRP always wanted its graduates to use their diplomas for good. The program hopes that they will use it to enter college and pursue education to the fullest. However, given the graduates’ status in life, they rather get employed. This is why as much as possible the program wants to provide scholarship grants to its graduates. According to councilor Principe, negotiations are still underway
For Gilbert, he plans to take up a computer-based course with his diploma. He promised himself that he would work on it seriously so he’d be able to graduate and have a college degree. Because more than graduating, he would want to give back to his parents.
Gilbert now knows in the importance of education. He now believes that, education is the only key for the future.
“Kung wala ang susi na to, di ka makakapunta sa road to success. Hanggang pinto ka lang. (Without education, you will not be able to enter the door which will lead to the road of success.),” Gilbert said.
He had experienced the hardships brought about by slacking in his studies but more than that, he had seen the consequences brought by the lack of it. Gilbert proved that by being persistent and hardworking, one will truly achieve one’s ambitions in life.
Living a life behind bars, Gilbert may still be deprived of liberty but this would never be the case o his hopes for the future. His plans may also be on hold by bars in his prison cell, but there is one thing that he is sure of, that with his patience and perseverance, his dream and aspirations will be fulfilled soon.