Some distinctions of Ilonggo Social Workers

Aside from the pioneering work and national awards of Ilonggo social workers, social work schools in Western Visayas have produced board topnotchers. Record from the Department of Social Work, Central Philippine University shows the following achievers, corresponding their rank and year of examination: Ana Maria Veria (3rd placer), 1972; Erlinda Baldeviso (5th),1975; Rosie Adayon-Dimamay (4th)and Estela Alayon (7th ), 1978; Nema Andong-Villan (7th),1979; Romeo Guanzon (7th), 1982; Sr. Trinidad Edullan (5th),1984; Hope Hervilla (2nd ), 1987; Raul Bunda ( 18th ), 1989; Sr. Lerma Pangantihon (14th ),1990; Ernesto Arellano (7th),1993; Cherrylyn Calinawagan ( 9th ),1994; Rosalina Lorque ( 8th) and Elizabeth Cubillos (10th ), 1995;Jinkee Gargarita (18th ),1998; and Sheen Faminialan (10th ),2010. Melea Cianel Pabiona-Ellorin, 1st placer in 2001 from Lourdes College in Cagayan, took her first three years of Social Work from Central Philippine University.

From the archive of the Philippine Association of Social Workers-Iloilo, a graduate from the University of Negros Occidental- Recoletos (UNO-R), Bacolod City also tops the board. Rose Sharon Z. Treyes (UNO-R) placed 5th place in the Social Work Board Examination in 2000. Recently another graduate of UNO-R in the person of Richelle Herebias Verdeprado placed 2nd in the June 2011 Social Work Board Examinations. Two schools in Iloilo City, Central Philippine University and Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, have a 100% passing rate for respective new graduates (Readers of this blog from other schools of social work in Western Visayas are invited to update of record with respective board topnotchers)

Related to Social Work Board Examination, it was through the initiative of the Philippine Association of Social Workers (PASWI) - Iloilo that the Board Examination for Social Workers has been also administered in Iloilo City since 1999. This is a record-breaking achievement of the local chapter in the history of social work in Iloilo/Western Visayas. Prior to this, board exams were held only in Manila and later in Cebu for the Visayas region.

PASWI-Iloilo holds the distinction of being the first local chapter to spearhead the Regional Assembly starting in 1998. In fact, it serves as forerunner to the clustering of regions when the PASWI National ratified the constitutional amendment for the biennial convention. There are other significant achievements of Ilonggo social workers and for that matter even in the national scene, that are not properly documented. The series of blogs on this topic is a good start. Hopefully, others will follow suit.

PASWI- Iloilo also played a significant role in networking of the non-government organizations (NGO) and people’s organizations (PO) in Iloilo. In 2000, the initiative of the chapter’s president in spearheading the move to declare the first week of December as NGO-PO Week in the Province of Iloilo gained ground. It resulted to the institutionalization of the celebration by virtue of provincial and city ordinances to recognize the role of NGOs and POs in nation building. Subsequently, the annual celebration has given birth to the organization of the network to spearhead the observance of the ordinance. The Iloilo Coalition of Non-government Organization and People's Organizations (ICON) serves as a symbol of unity among NGOs and POs in the City and Province of Iloilo. Starting as a loose coalition of NGOs and POs accredited by the Province of Iloilo, it has become a rallying point of other NGOs, POs and sectoral members of the civil society organizations.

These are some of the distinctions of Ilonggo Social Workers. No wonder their local chapter holds the distinction of the first chapter to be elevated in the Hall of Fame for garnering the best chapter award in 1995, 1998, and 1999-2000.

Social Work Week celebrations: Keeping up with the Tradition

The previous blog highlights the role of social workers from Western Visayas in the national celebration of the Social Work Week in the Philippines every June 13-19. Likewise, it mentions the tradition set by Ilonggo social workers in the history of the social work profession. Started by Josefa Jara Martinez, the first and foremost among Filipino social work pioneer, more contributions have been done. Martinez was joined by Carmen Montinola-Luz and Felicidad A. De Silva in the list of seven pioneers that formed the first association of social workers in the Philippines, the Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. (PASWI). The social worker-senator who authored the RA 4373, Dr. Maria Kalaw- Katigbak, reportedly traced her roots from Molo, Iloilo City. Since then, social workers in Western Visayas follow the tradition of leadership and excellence.

While the list is still incomplete, this is a good start of historical record to remind the succeeding generations of our tradition. This may even encourage social workers from other regions to trace the historical contributions of respective pioneers.In 2000, history seems to repeat itself when three members of the elected PASWI National Board came from Western Visayas, namely: Atty. Dolores Nalumen, Sr. Sandra Alejo and the blog’s author. Atty. Nalumen was even elected as president. After our term, another three followed, namely: Mr. Rubin Magno, Miss Mary June Quanico and Sr. Enriqueta L. Legaste. They were succeeded by Prof. Feli Sustento, Mrs. Lulu Magbanua and Mrs. Lucita Villanueva.

The tradition of excellence is manifested in the initial list of national awardees from social workers in Western Visayas. The fate of Josefa Jara Martinez was duplicated by Sr. Teresa Mabasa in 2000 when she was awarded as Outstanding Professional in the Field of Social Work by the Professional Regulation Commission. Sr. Mabasa served as first president of PASWI-Iloilo. Five Ilonggos are recipients of the PASWI Ten Outstanding Social Workers in the Philippines Award, namely Mr. Victor Salmon in 1998; Mrs. Herminigilda Duarte in 2000; yours truly in 2004; Mrs. Adela Talamor in 2008; and Mrs. Nina Joy Tanada, in 2010. Mr. Lazaro Petinglay was adjudged as the 2001 Most Outstanding DSWD Rehabilitation Workers in the Philippines by the Department of Justice while Dr. Neneth Pador was awarded Outstanding Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer in 2008 by the Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Phil., Inc. (ALSWDOPI).

Other national awardees from the region are Prof. Irene Ortigas, finalist for the Bayaning Pilipino- National Level in 1999 having garnered the Regional Award for Individual Category. Prof. Ortigas is the pioneer of the Department of Social Work, Central Philippine University. Her successor head of the Department, Prof. Ruth C. Corvera was also adjudged Top 5 Finalists in the Ramon Aboitiz Award for Exemplary Individual during the 2nd RAFI Triennial Awards for the Visayas and Mindanao in 2002.

(to be continued)

Social Work Week celebrations: Finding the ruby, gold is not far behind

The annual celebration of the social work week in the Philippines stemmed from the Ruby Anniversary of the Social Work Law in June 19, 2005. With the paradigm shift on policy advocacy, as a challenge during the National Convention of two major social work organizations, a series of joint meetings and regional consultations of social workers in Western Visayas were held in Iloilo City. Participants exhaustively looked for ways and means in pooling resources to deliberately and systematically promote the Social Work profession and its significant role in effecting social transformation.

In the process, we found out that 2005 is the 40th year of the Social Work Law. Otherwise known as Republic Act 4373, the law was passed on June 19, 1965. However, it was noticed that the significance of the date of the passage of the Social Work Law had not been officially observed unlike other social welfare legislations which were passed even later. So, we thought of making the occasion a good opportunity to unite in promoting our profession.

With such discovery, we were very excited to think of activities to maximize the celebration. We thought of coming up with a resolution requesting then Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to declare June 13-19 as Social Work Week in Western Visayas, as it would be within our area of work. It gained strong support from other social work-led organizations and alliances in the region, as well as government officials and NGO leaders in the Regional Development Council. However, the Regional Development Council, which endorsed our resolution, opted for the national declaration as the Social Work Law is national in scope. Hence, the declaration should benefit other provinces in various regions.

Getting the clue from people in the authority, we informed both the national board of Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. (PASWI) and National Association of Social Work Education, Inc. (NASWEI) of this discovery and subsequent move to solicit support either thru endorsement of the resolution or making a national resolution related to the regional resolution. While it failed to get the declaration from the Philippine President for some technicalities, the PASWI National called for the celebration nationwide. In Western Visayas, we succeeded in our advocacy as all provinces and major cities have institutionalized the celebration by respective resolutions/ordinances. Since then, while the degree and focus vary the event has been celebrated every year.

Later, in our research, we realized that our initiative is just a continuation of the tradition of the contribution of Ilonggo social workers in the history of the profession.

The first and foremost among Filipino social work pioneer is an Ilongga- Josefa Jara Martinez. Martinez was the first executive secretary of the Associated Charities, considered to be the forerunner of social work in the Philippines. She was also the founder and first director of the first school of social work in the Philippines, now known as Philippine School of Social Work which was affiliated with the Philippine Women's University. In 1978, she was awarded as Social Worker of the Year Award by the Professional Regulations Commissions.

Martinez was among the 7 pioneers that formed the first association of social workers in the Philippines. Joining her were two Ilongga social workers, namely: Carmen Montinola-Luz and Felicidad A. De Silva from Capiz. It was reported that the social worker-senator who authored the RA 4373 Dr. Maria Kalaw- Katigbak reportedly traces her roots from Molo, Iloilo City.

(to be continued)

Social Work as a Profession

It’s Social Work Week in the Philippines. The celebration commemorates the anniversary of the Republic Act 4373, otherwise known as the Social Work Law. The passage of the Social Work Law on June 19, 1965 has regulated the practice of social work and the operation of social welfare agencies in the Philippines. Subsequently, it has created a new interest in social work and in the field of social welfare. Incidentally, the date falls on the birthday of the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

While the celebration is national in scope as endorsed by the association of professional social workers, the dynamism is more felt in Iloilo and the whole Western Visayas where the annual celebration has been institutionalized by virtue of provincial resolutions/ordinances. This year’s theme is Social Workers Responding to the Challenges of the Time. The choice has been inspired by the theme for World Social Work Day on March 15, 2011 - “Social Work voices responding to global crisises: Together we develop the Agenda!“

The celebration is a good opportunity to blog about social work. Contrary to perennial misconception, social work is a profession. While it started from charitable act, the welfare activities have emerged and joined the noble professions in the world. As a start of this series of blogs on the subject, I am presenting in toto the international definition of social work as adopted by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) in Montréal, Canada, July 2000

DEFINITION*

The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.

COMMENTARY

Social work in its various forms addresses the multiple, complex transactions between people and their environments. Its mission is to enable all people to develop their full potential, enrich their lives, and prevent dysfunction. Professional social work is focused on problem solving and change. As such, social workers are change agents in society and in the lives of the individuals, families and communities they serve. Social work is an interrelated system of values, theory and practice.

VALUES

Social work grew out of humanitarian and democratic ideals, and its values are based on respect for the equality, worth, and dignity of all people. Since its beginnings over a century ago, social work practice has focused on meeting human needs and developing human potential. Human rights and social justice serve as the motivation and justification for social work action. In solidarity with those who are dis-advantaged, the profession strives to alleviate poverty and to liberate vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social inclusion. Social work values are embodied in the profession’s national and international codes of ethics.

THEORY

Social work bases its methodology on a systematic body of evidence-based knowledge derived from research and practice evaluation, including local and indigenous knowledge specific to its context. It recognises the complexity of interactions between human beings and their environment, and the capacity of people both to be affected by and to alter the multiple influences upon them including bio-psychosocial factors. The social work profession draws on theories of human development and behaviour and social systems to analyse complex situations and to facilitate individual, organisational, social and cultural changes.

PRACTICE

Social work addresses the barriers, inequities and injustices that exist in society. It responds to crises and emergencies as well as to everyday personal and social problems. Social work utilises a variety of skills, techniques, and activities consistent with its holistic focus on persons and their environments.

Social work interventions range from primarily person-focused psychosocial processes to involvement in social policy, planning and development. These include counselling, clinical social work, group work, social pedagogical work, and family treatment and therapy as well as efforts to help people obtain services and resources in the community.

Interventions also include agency administration, community organisation and engaging in social and political action to impact social policy and economic development. The holistic focus of social work is universal, but the priorities of social work practice will vary from country to country and from time to time depending on cultural, historical, and socio-economic conditions.

* This international definition of the social work profession replaces the IFSW definition adopted in 1982. It is understood that social work in the 21st century is dynamic and evolving, and therefore no definition should be regarded as exhaustive.