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February 03, 2012

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“Batang Kalabaw”

I felt mixed emotions after watching the film, “Batang Kalabaw” by Kay Taruc. There was grief because of what the children are facing through their everyday lives; they don’t even get enough money to buy the right food. There was anger to the illegal loggers because they are the ones destroying our nature. There was also antagonism to the parents of the children because they let their children work so hard. They are not doing their job as their parents. There was also a feeling of bitterness because of how cruel the world is. There are really a lot of rich people and yet they don’t even matter on sharing what they have. I felt also guilty because I’m here seated comfortably with a perfect light to see what I am doing, almost all that I need to survive can be found at our house, I have a enough “baon” for school every day and yet there are children suffering elsewhere trying their very best though their best was always not enough.

There is a lot of children’s right that has been violated; the right of the children to proper education. They should be in school and learning. The right of the children to play and have fun though they play at times, they should play more than work more. The right of the children to go to church and pray was also violated. It is their right to know who the creator of everything is. The right of the children to eat healthy foods and the right of the children not to work were also dishonored. They may at least have chores at home but to work for their livelihood is unacceptable. Another is the right of the children to express them. The children have no rights to do so in the documentary because they have no other choice. They have to do something to live. There are really a lot of rights that are not given to the children from the film and I don’t think that children there are not aware that they have rights.

Numerous responsibilities by the elderlies are expected to be given to the children. First of all to the parents of the child; it is their responsible to always look out of their kids. As a parent, it is their duty to give them their basic needs like food, shelter, clothing and water. They should not let their children work because they are just kids and there are a lot more for them to be offered. They must be sent to school or even get knowledge through home schooling. As a young individual, it is their right to know things that they must understand. Even just simply writing or reading.

As a Thomasian NSTP student, I can create a child friendly society by being an example to my fellow Thomasians on how to treat the young generations nicely. It is by starting to be a good model to my friends and family then to the school and also outside the school. I will be as nice as possible to the daily children that I meet every day. The street children are sometimes rude but they still don’t deserve on being hit or yelled at by anyone. They may not be guided well by their parents so it’s our responsibility to not be impolite to them especially that we are the ones being taught in a good school. We should be patient enough to control ourselves and if we can tell them in a nice why on what the problem is, everything will turn out to be fine. For example when I was riding in a jeepney one time, there were children asking for money that are hanging (“nakasabit”} behind the jeep. Then there was a lady that will ride the jeep. All of a sudden, a boy who is asking for money touched her butt. The lady was surprised and told that boy nicely that what he did was wrong. The boy just laughed but it was a big deal to me. Children should be taught by their parents on the right manners. I’m not saying that all children are like that but if their parents cannot afford to teach them correctly then someone should do it. After all, they are the future generations. What would our future be if there would be rude people everywhere?

It is important to protect and respect the rights of the children because they are human beings. We are all equal and all people deserve to be treated with respect no matter how cruel he or she is. The children are still young and they should be guided appropriately in order that there would be no traumatic experience that might change their view for the future. For example, a guy that was not guided by his parents properly, until today that he is Fourth Year College, he suffers in thinking that he is useless and the way he looks at himself is very down. As a child, there is an effect in their psychological pattern that might affect their world view. It is very important to let them feel that they are special and that they are to be given a proper attention. Sometimes children don’t ask too much, they only want to be taken care of by their parents. Just like Sheean, the girl who has a mom that suffers in a mental illness, her mom doesn’t sleep at their home every night that made her depressed because her younger brother always cries without his mommy. Just a simple appearance from their mother is a very big deal for their family. Every time her mom is around, it only shows that she still cares for her children.

As an NSTP student, it is our responsibility to be knowledgeable about the issue. This issue about child violation is quite delicate because this truly happens especially to families that has a problematic parents. It is not the children that have a problem but it is the parents. Sometimes there are children that already have a psychological problem from the very start. So the best that their parents can do is to be more attached to them. They should be loved more because they need to know and feel that they are special. As an NSTP student, I am quite knowledgeable of the matter that can be enough to spread the word to the community. Different social networking sites are a very powerful tool that can quickly spread the word. In our century today, the world is more open to equity that makes it easier for the word to be spread. In simply joining field works for the NSTP is also a very good way to support the anti-violation acts. By making aware to the children their rights, they will be able to know and understand that they deserve something really important.

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February 03, 2012

NSTP field works

Part I

i. Since last semester, I have joined and participated in all activities that the NSTP prepared for us. The very first significant activity was our lesson for first aid. We have learned it during our discussion in the UST high school building. We were asked also to do the proper way on how to carry the injured person. Most of our first semester was spent online. We had our first field work in Bataan. We painted the schools and taught the children there. Then our nest field work was our visitation to the children in Caloocan. We have thought their rights as a kid then our last field work was when we went to the museums with the children from Caloocan.I also participated in the Run for Ilog Pasig.

ii. Our first field work was during our first semester with a partnership to a school in Bataan. UST constructed the school and the NSTP students are the one helping improve the facilities and environment. Our second field work was on our second semester in Camarin, Caloocan. We taught the children there and it was a partner community with the CTHM because every year the Travel Management and HRM students visit those places. Then our visit to the National museums and The Museong Pambata (with the Caloocan student) was just a week after we went to Caloocan. Then the Run for Ilog Pasig was on November 20, 2011.

iii. There were a lot of people involved in the activities/ event; Firstly, the NSTP students, the facilitators/ instructors of the NSTP, then the community from a school in Bataan and the teachers and parents of the children from Camarin Caloocan. There were a lot of people involved in the RUN for Ilog Pasig, numerous students from different schools and universities, artists, and etc.

iv. The goals of each event of course must bring goodness if not in the community/ environment, to us. The goal of our fieldwork in Bataan is to help the students have a better learning facility in order for them to have a better learning experience. After painting the walls of a classroom, I realized how wonderful it would be for the children to study in a decent room. It would be a more likely to be at for the kids especially that they are still young. In having a colorful environment, a colorful life could also be possible. Another goal is for the children to know and be able to practice their rights. Not just by teaching them about their rights but also performing and making their rights possible. The Run for Ilog Pasig’s goal is to make the community aware of our environment. By joining the said event through the run can give cleanliness to the river for the future generations to also make use of it in a good manner.

Part II

1. The short term goals of the projects are to give proper learning environment to the children in Bataan and to teach to the children in Caloocan their rights. The long term goal for the school in Bataan is to provide education to the children. Through the classrooms that have set up for them, they would be able to use it as their second home to study for the whole one school year. The long term goal for the children in Caloocan is to instill in their minds the importance of knowing their rights. Through going to the museums, we have just gave them their right to proper education which must be a guide for them to always remember that their rights should be practiced.

2. Yes, there were certainly a lot of key points that help me become more productive. I have learned to be able to give more to others than to myself. After giving a lot of effort and time in our first field work, I have realized how important time is. If we don’t get to finish our project, every plan would be ruined so we made sure to always get our feet and hands dirty right away to also get our tasks done quickly. Though we worked fast, we made sure that it was with quality. As a Thomasian, it is our duty to always give our work with high quality. Since then I always took care and see to it that there is really something. It doesn’t really matter if we get tired; we knew that the students deserve a classroom. That was the least that we could do. We didn’t brought enough food for the children because we were not informed, luckily I and my friends brought bread and Nutella, which was the least that we could do and work really hard for them.

3. I had used a specific skill by being a good example to my friends. I have shown to the children the proper way of throwing the trashes and until now I still practice on showing to my friends the importance of doing such. In handling kids, I have learned to be more patient and at this point of time, I have also used it in dealing with my everyday experience. I have come to realize that in order to surpass the challenges that come on our way, patience is a very important ingredient to help us survive. Another skill is to always be prepared for the kids. In being prepared, it only shows that we respect the community that we respect the community that we are about to help. In simply bringing the Manila paper/ cartolina and pens for the children is a very big deal because they will use nothing. Just like today, I see to it that I always prepare my things before going to school because once I forgot something; it might cost me a lot. Sometimes I even get a mini heart attack whenever I forgot something.

4. I have met Angel, a grade 6 student from Caloocan. She made a very strong impression to me because she was my child to take care of for the day during our visit at the museums. At first she was really shy though she remembered my name since the last time that we visited their community. As the time passed by, her true colors started to show. She became very excited that led me to playing and running with her. We run all over the Quadri Park to TYK. I perfectly understand that I have to be patient enough to play with her because I wanted to make her happy. Of course I made sure that she’s always safe. Until then, I realized that it was really tiring. Then when it was time for us to teach the children of their rights, I was so stunned on how smart she was. She actually memorized everything in an instant. She was really talented. Every time I asked her questions about her rights, she was always able to answer. I knew that she memorized it already by heart. She has a sister that is also included in our trip. I saw how happy she was and it was priceless. I saw through her eyed and smiles how little things can make her so pleased. I understood that living in their situation is not easy especially that she hangs out with her family seldom.

5. It somehow affected my world view because I knew that she is not the only person in the Philippines that has same story with hers, especially here in the Philippines. There are actually a lot of children suffering in the same situation even in other countries. The common problem of underprivileged people in our country is the lack of money to provide nutritious foods for their children. Sometimes parents don’t even bother on knowing what foods are mostly important for their children’s health. It pains me that some children are working hard yet their parents are carelessly selling drugs and doing possible and impossible vices. From the film that we had watched in the bus on our way to Caloocan, my world view rapidly worsen. There are really a lot of privileged persons in our century. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer. I just hope that one day God will be good enough to take care of the underprivileged especially to the children because there are a lot more to offer to them. People just have to work hard enough and let God do the rest.

6. It was effective when we taught the children on how to give value to their rights. They remembered almost everything. During the whole time that we had with the kids, they had always kept it in mind. We also pointed out to them that their rights also have limits. For me, the Run for Ilog Pasig is the effective at the same time ineffective. Yes, it has made us run for the cleanliness of Pasig but I bet that most of the students came only there just to jog or hang out with friends. I still don’t think that all of the students understood the importance of what they just did. I think that a lesson is still needed for the community. Such event is quite significant since our environment must be given more attention.

7. Yes, I think that the target beneficiaries were educated, somehow enlightened, empowered and inspired because the moment I was captivated their smiles, I knew that they are happy. Though we cannot give too much of what they are expecting, I knew that we all did our best. We would not have come if we were only to lose their faith to us. We’ve done everything to try to make every community contented. We don’t only aim for contentment but more on satisfaction.

There is a lot of awareness already imposed about the national concerns especially in schools that are very vocal. Students for other schools even conduct rallies just to fight for what they believe in. But for me as a Thomasian, I would educate others in a manner that would be silent but powerful. Blog sites are such a very powerful tool now a days and I think that that could influence others. It is only enough to give proper knowledge to the people then it is up to them already on how they would want to respond to such issues.

8. One of the most difficult tasks for me was when we were painting the high ceilings. It was really tough to exert power while reaching so high with your head up. It was like watching a very long fireworks show while trying to reach it with great force. It was challenging because we are not used in doing such work. That was the moment that I have realized how respectable painters are. They are really doing a puzzling job yet some are of them are paid below the average. Though it was exhausting, it was also satisfying at the same time because after seeing what we just have done, my happiness was beyond expectation. I was really gratified with the outcome of all our sacrifices. Now that I have paintings all over my one maong pants, I’m still proud to wear it because people just don’t know how hard we’ve worked just to get a school painted.

9. I have to say that I have used my values in a manner that is more than what I expected. It was a chance of a lifetime to help the community and I made sure to give extra effort in building a harmonious relationship towards others. When I was with Angel (my buddy from Caloocan), I have treated her just like my little sister. Though it was challenging to take care of her, I always made sure that I will never hurt her. I will not allow myself to do anything or say something that is mean or bad. I have always looked out for her and whenever she gets out of my site, I immediately look everywhere just to find her.

10. Honestly, there are really a lot of lessons and insights to keep. I will never forget how heart-warming the feeling is to help others. Meeting children like in Caloocan was truly a privilege to me. I have never met kids that were so outgoing and that trusts instantly people that visits them. It has proven to me that Filipinos are not only hospitable in the Tourism and Hotel and Restaurant Management but also in normal homes. I think that nowhere else in the world can I found the friendliest people with just a minute of bonding can give such joy and comfort. That feeling made me forget for a while all the stress and problems that we are going through.

11. Yes, I believe that the NSTP did a great job in doing so. I can manifest in a lot of ways. I have become inspired to giving more devotion to the needy. Sometimes in giving to those “beggar does not even matter if giving them money is a way for the government to earn money. For me, giving food would be a much preferred action. Sometimes, I bring extra biscuit in my bag just to be ready if any beggar asks for money. At least I know that he/she will eat than buy the coins for drugs or other else. Another realization that I have in mind is that I will really work hard for my future because I know that in acquiring much knowledge and experience would help me grow in life. Once I have become successful, I can surely help the needy especially the children, the sick and the elderly.

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January 08, 2012

Disability

I have found a lot of meaning of disability in the internet but I have chosen some that I think are the best for its meaning. It is stated that disability is a condition or function judged to be significantly impaired relative to the usual standard of an individual or group. The term is used to refer to individual functioning, including physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, intellectual impairment mental illness, and various types of chronic disease. The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the term “disability” applies to any individuals who have a physical or mental impairment that significantly affects their ability to perform normal daily activities. This definition is purposely broad and somewhat vague in order to encompass both resounding disabilities that significantly limit one’s potential to care for himself and minor disabilities that may interfere with certain activities or cause the individual substantial discomfort.

For the Philippines’ statistics for the disabled persons using the internet, I have found out that there are an estimated 7.5 million Filipinos with disabilities in 2000 based on the World Health Organization’s assumption that 10% of every country’s population has some form of disability. In 2004, the Filipinos with disabilities would reach about 8.3 million. Past attempts to include persons with disabilities in national census surveys have not been successful for many reasons, including the refusal of families to declare that they have members with disabilities. The 1990 census of population and housing indicated that there were about 755,000 persons with disabilities, only 1% of the country’s population based on the same census. A national registration conducted by the Department of Health in 1997 showed that there were 469,707 persons with disabilities. This figure was not officially recognized. The persistent armed conflicts and bombing incidents in the southern part of the country are expected to increase the number of persons with disabilities. There are no any recent statics that can be found in the internet.

I was certainly pleased and astonished with the attention given to the disabled people. I think that human rights are well implemented with all of the articles given by the law for the disabled persons. One of the laws they gave me a great impact is the RA 7277 – Magna Carta for Disabled Persons. It is an act providing for the rehabilitation, self-development and self-reliance of disabled persons and their integration into the mainstream of society and for other purposes. Here are some rights and privileges of disabled persons: equal opportunity for employment, access to quality education, National Health Program, Auxiliary Social Services, Telecommunications, Accessibility ( barrier-free environment) and Political and civil rights. Another is the Batas Pambansa Blg. 344 or Accessibility Law. It is an act to enhance the mobility of the disabled persons by requiring certain buildings, institutions, establishments and public utilities to install facilities and other devices. Then, there’s the Republic Act 6759 or White Cane Act. It is an act declaring August one of each year as White Cane safety day for the Philippines and for other purposes. One of its sections is declared to be the policy of the State to promote and protect the physical, moral, and social well-being of all handicapped persons, such as the blind, and to undertake studies on specific causes of high percentage of blind people in the Philippines. Next is the 121. Convention No. 159 provides for vocational rehabilitation measures for all categories of disabled persons and for promotion of employment opportunities and equal treatment of disabled men and women. The Convention also requires that member countries, when formulating and implementing policies, should consult organizations of disabled persons. And last, The Proclamation No. 125. It is proclaiming the Nationwide observance in the Philippines of the Asian and Pacific decade of disabled persons. The government recognizes the persons with disabilities have the same rights as other people to take their proper place in society.

Truly there are a lot of laws stating the rights of the disabled persons but in reality there are in fact a few that are really being given enough attention. Honestly, I don’t really know if there are enough jobs being offered for the disabled. There are really a few only. Automatically, companies would always discriminate having a disabled person. The government should give more consideration in creating jobs for the unfortunate. Especially to those who have really nothing. They’re already having a hard time of taking care of their selves and worst, they having a harder time in sustaining their needs. I think that there are also insufficient funds to help them. I suggest that the government should also put extra effort on correctly distributing funds. Articles in the laws have already been stated and I hope that it would also be more evidently seen to the public that there is really a support for the disabled.

I have watched the first video (http://www.ted.com/talks/aimee_mullins_the_opportunity_of_adversity.html), and from the very start of the video, I surely learned a lot. People used to call disabled people in terms that are shockingly offensive. We don’t have the right to judge them in that way because we are just lucky that we don’t have any bad condition. People are too judgmental that they forgot to look at their own selves. Instead of helping the needy, what they do is step on them and make the disabled feel useless. It is kind of weird to think that the language of people has not caught up to the changes in our society. There are a lot of technologies already that help the disabled to still do things that a normal individual could do. There are already social networking sites that help them define themselves. Technology has proven that anyone is incapable of offering something rare, with power and the human capability’s greatest asset is to adapt. According to Charles Darwin’s concept of evolution, it is not the strongest or the most intelligent specie that allowed man to survive, but it is the man who is the most adaptable to change. The true meaning of disability is a crushed spirit, a spirit that has been crushed, doesn’t have hope, it doesn’t see beauty and no longer has a childlike curiosity and no longer have the ability to imagine. If instead we can boast our human spirit, to keep hope, to see beauty in themselves and others, to be curious and imaginative, then we’re truly then we are using our power well. If a spirit has those qualities, then we are able to create new qualities and new ways of being.

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December 25, 2011

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