Today marks my first blogging anniversary. Indeed, it does not seem so long, when I posted my first blog. This after consistent, should I say persistent, proddings from a pastor friend, Jonan Castillon, during our morning walks. At that time, I started to regain my strength by walking few meters everyday after months of bedridden. He encouraged me to blog as part of my healing process. His successful journey in on line niche was contagious that despite my skepticism, I entertained the idea. However, I did not know how to start. Thus, despite his hectic schedule, Pastor Jonan took time to tutor me hands on blogging. Thereafter, I experienced the gradual process of growth comparable to my healing process.
My first blog PADAYON: Our Life Journey serves as journal of my experiences to inspire readers to continue the commitment in service, no matter what. PADAYON is an Ilonggo term which means continue. In deeper sense, it connotes moving/going on (or never give up) despite adversaries or adversities. After a month or so, I realized his advicewas making sense. My interest in writing was revived. Rather than fretting over my limited mobility, I made use of my time in blogging. I poured out my thoughts and emotion into the blog and found relief.
With such inspiration, I opened another blog to ventilate my suppressed commitment to the service of the people towards development.My health condition had become oppressive. I was at the peak of service and leadership when the devastating illness forced me to rest. It was difficult for me to adjust, having been very active for the past decade. The overflowing energy for service found expression thru this blog that focuses on networking-for-holistic-development. Later, I changed the name Networking to Development Issues and Concerns to broaden its coverage.
With two blogs to maintain, my mind had been busy. Slowly, my focus was diverted. Instead of spending most of my time observing my seemingly deteriorating condition, I was obliged to give time to my blogs. My vulnerability to depression caused by the delay in healing process started to diminish.There was a paradigm shift in my mind and heart. The delay of complete healing became an opportunity to evaluate my life and faith. I have more time for self and family. More time to read the bible, pray, meditate, reflect, put faith into action in almost all aspects of life. All the wonderful things previously deprived of me due to very hectic schedule prior to ailment.
Such realization motivated me to create another blog with a focus on these experiences. Faith Journey serves as forum for life and faith experiences of people who have survived the test of times and circumstances. This is a venue for us to learn from one another and share so that others will also find inspiration in their faith journey.
Learning and enjoying the blogging world, I decided to maximize the beauty of web linkages and networking. Hence, another blog to provide an opportunity for others to share their resources. Dubbed Resource Sharing for Development, this blog is an attempt to widen my services to humanity through linkages and networking of developmental and service-oriented blogs and bloggers. It covers areas represented by the acronym SERVES: Social work, Education, Resource sharing, Volunteerism, and Spirituality.
However, the inspiration did not end there. Overwhelmed by the progress in ranking of blogs in both Alexa and Technorati, I decided to provide a convergence of all my blogs. Hence, I created a family blog i.e. Lariza. Website which received inspiring comment from my blog mentor. Much to my amazement, in a matter of less than a month, my Alexa rank had a dramatic improvement. From about 30, 000, 000, it ranked 2,000,000 overtaking my older blogs. It had even reached less than a million rank. But the trend reverted when I resumed my former position as head of the Department of Social Work.
Before the resumption of my hectic schedule, I succeeded to create two more blogs. Both are official web sites of the organizations my wife and I helped put up. NETSnews for an independent inter-denominational seminary based in Escalante City, Negros Occidental. The other one is ICON Network, official website of the Iloilo Coalition of NGOs and POs- a network of non-government organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs) in Iloilo.
The development in blogging and subsequent inspiration to me has been reflective in my health condition. While I have not mastered yet all the blogging technology, I feel contented to see the progress. Likewise, although I have not fully recovered as far as my health condition is concerned, I appreciate any progress big or small. Indeed, the therapeutic effect of blogging courtesy of Pastor Jonan B. Castillon.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Rekindling the flame
There was no other time in my life that I got excited about the MSSW program of the University than recently. That is, for the past 6 years. My appeal for an extension to the deadline for final defense, in behalf of my advisees, was granted. There are five of them who aim to graduate this second semester. Will any or all of them beat the deadline on February 29th.? Should all of them make it, it would be a wonderful experience- a fitting tribute to those who struggled with me in reviving the program. This incident has rekindled the flame in promoting the Master of Science in Social Work program of Central Philippine University.
The experience also makes me nostalgic. It doesn’t seem so long when I made the commitment to revive the program while taking up Master of Social Work at UP Diliman. There was no offering in CPU and other universities in Western Visayas, at that time. With no other alternative, I had to go through with hassles of adjustment in a new environment. Especially at the time of unstable political situation in the country. Not to mention the air pollution one had to contend with outside the Campus. My only consolation was that my sweetheart was also pursuing masteral studies in the adjacent Ateneo de Manila University.
True to my commitment, I worked hard for the revival of the program in 2002, a couple of years after my graduation. It was an adventurous attempt, considering the odds. On one hand, it was difficult task to convince the apathetic targets. Many had shifted to other masteral program due to the university’s failure to sustain the offering after many attempts of revival. On the other hand, there were only four of us who had MSW degree in Iloilo City at that time. One was on furlough shifting to other endeavors for a change, after decades of teaching social work. The other one was preoccupied with the new opening of BSSW program which she headed in another school.
However with the strong support of Dr. Fely David, Dean of Graduate Studies, we pursued the move. More so, when I had convinced Sr. Linda Belo, DC , chairperson of the Social Work in Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus at that time to assist me. But not without trade off. I had also to teach part time in their department because of the accreditation requirements. It was fortunate that I had a previous good working relationship with Sr. Belo. Being one of my panelists during the final defense in UP Diliman, she had assisted me in finalization of the paper. Under such condition, we set a simple goal - to produce even one graduate in 3 years time to convince the public that we really mean business this time.
Working in our favor was my involvement with National Association for Social Work Education, Inc. (NASWEI) and Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. (PASWI). Being the regional chair of both associations, I had a natural venue and support system for promoting the program. Soon, many enrolled and more faculty joined us. We even conducted extension classes in Bacolod City to accommodate the request of students in Negros Occidental. We held classes at Convention Baptist Bible College and Bacolod Christian Center, now Bacolod Christian College of Negros Occidental.
Our simple goal was achieved during the University’s historic Centennial Year in 2005. One of our MSSW pioneering students succeeded to complete the academic requirements and passed the final defense. Subsequently, Mrs. Lolita Camarig, municipal social welfare and development officer of Leganes had joined the commencement march of the Centennial graduates. Since then the University has produced six more graduates including four non- social workers who subsequently hurdled the board exam.
But organizational changes in the university and my personal involvement had changed the momentum. Due to the exigencies of service, I was designated as director of the University Outreach Center. Subsequently, involvement with the social work organizations was affected. Likewise, my election as national president of the Convention Baptist Ministers Association (CBMA) ushered another venue for service . Especially with the masteral program we initiated for pastors- Master of Socio Pastoral Ministries. It is a combination of MSSW and Master of Ministry. Hence, the MSSW program was gradually neglected. More so, that my successor in the Department was not as passionate with the masteral program. Making matters worse was my unexpected illness which constrained my activity.
It was only last year when the program was again given a push. With the leave of absence of the new appointed head, I was compelled to resume my post in the Department of Social Work in August 2011. As such, the MSSW was among the activities given importance because two of our younger faculty only lack thesis to finish the degree. Consequently, both passed the pre oral defense together with other candidates. Almost through with the data gathering stage, they are expected to beat the deadline for the extended final defense. With this development, the flame has been rekindled. Hence, the start of the promotion both of the MSSW and Bachelor of Science in Social Work programs of Central Philippine University. Recently, the Professional Regulation Commission has endorsed Social Work as among the viable courses in the Philippines. Social Work is also considered one of the five hot careers for 2012 in the United States.
The experience also makes me nostalgic. It doesn’t seem so long when I made the commitment to revive the program while taking up Master of Social Work at UP Diliman. There was no offering in CPU and other universities in Western Visayas, at that time. With no other alternative, I had to go through with hassles of adjustment in a new environment. Especially at the time of unstable political situation in the country. Not to mention the air pollution one had to contend with outside the Campus. My only consolation was that my sweetheart was also pursuing masteral studies in the adjacent Ateneo de Manila University.
True to my commitment, I worked hard for the revival of the program in 2002, a couple of years after my graduation. It was an adventurous attempt, considering the odds. On one hand, it was difficult task to convince the apathetic targets. Many had shifted to other masteral program due to the university’s failure to sustain the offering after many attempts of revival. On the other hand, there were only four of us who had MSW degree in Iloilo City at that time. One was on furlough shifting to other endeavors for a change, after decades of teaching social work. The other one was preoccupied with the new opening of BSSW program which she headed in another school.
However with the strong support of Dr. Fely David, Dean of Graduate Studies, we pursued the move. More so, when I had convinced Sr. Linda Belo, DC , chairperson of the Social Work in Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus at that time to assist me. But not without trade off. I had also to teach part time in their department because of the accreditation requirements. It was fortunate that I had a previous good working relationship with Sr. Belo. Being one of my panelists during the final defense in UP Diliman, she had assisted me in finalization of the paper. Under such condition, we set a simple goal - to produce even one graduate in 3 years time to convince the public that we really mean business this time.
Working in our favor was my involvement with National Association for Social Work Education, Inc. (NASWEI) and Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. (PASWI). Being the regional chair of both associations, I had a natural venue and support system for promoting the program. Soon, many enrolled and more faculty joined us. We even conducted extension classes in Bacolod City to accommodate the request of students in Negros Occidental. We held classes at Convention Baptist Bible College and Bacolod Christian Center, now Bacolod Christian College of Negros Occidental.
Our simple goal was achieved during the University’s historic Centennial Year in 2005. One of our MSSW pioneering students succeeded to complete the academic requirements and passed the final defense. Subsequently, Mrs. Lolita Camarig, municipal social welfare and development officer of Leganes had joined the commencement march of the Centennial graduates. Since then the University has produced six more graduates including four non- social workers who subsequently hurdled the board exam.
But organizational changes in the university and my personal involvement had changed the momentum. Due to the exigencies of service, I was designated as director of the University Outreach Center. Subsequently, involvement with the social work organizations was affected. Likewise, my election as national president of the Convention Baptist Ministers Association (CBMA) ushered another venue for service . Especially with the masteral program we initiated for pastors- Master of Socio Pastoral Ministries. It is a combination of MSSW and Master of Ministry. Hence, the MSSW program was gradually neglected. More so, that my successor in the Department was not as passionate with the masteral program. Making matters worse was my unexpected illness which constrained my activity.
It was only last year when the program was again given a push. With the leave of absence of the new appointed head, I was compelled to resume my post in the Department of Social Work in August 2011. As such, the MSSW was among the activities given importance because two of our younger faculty only lack thesis to finish the degree. Consequently, both passed the pre oral defense together with other candidates. Almost through with the data gathering stage, they are expected to beat the deadline for the extended final defense. With this development, the flame has been rekindled. Hence, the start of the promotion both of the MSSW and Bachelor of Science in Social Work programs of Central Philippine University. Recently, the Professional Regulation Commission has endorsed Social Work as among the viable courses in the Philippines. Social Work is also considered one of the five hot careers for 2012 in the United States.
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