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 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.

The EDSA mystery remains unspoiled

This is the last of the series of reflections during the 25th Anniversary of the historic EDSA Revolution in the Philippines on February 25, 2011. Still relevant as the Christendom celebrates Lent.

The spirit of EDSA lives on. Its cathartic power continues to provide relief and refreshes hope. The over arching and encompassing spirit cannot and will never be domesticated. Its mystery remains unspoiled, not completely unfold.

Twenty five years after, the mystery of EDSA has not been fully unfold. Analysts from various socio-political persuasions attempted to explain the event. Some had to come up with new concepts as EDSA Revolution departed from any of the standard categories. While new testimonies from living participants came out every year, they just shed light to understand the pattern of events and contributing factors. But the mystery still remains.

EDSA bloodless Revolution defied logic. For how can you explain this phenomenon: “When guns and tanks of a dictator melted before the flowers held out by priests and nuns, by millionaires’ sons and squatters’ daughters, by ordinary men and women and by young and old alike; when… a new day was ushered in by ordinary Filipino common tao who rose to heroic heights that won the admiration of the whole world…” The quoted description was that of Jorge Lorredo, Jr. in his article “Four Days that changed History” published in Bulletin Today exactly 25 years ago, as cited by Douglas J. Elwood in his book, Philippine Revolution.

Incidentally, I saw the book few days ago before the 25th EDSA Anniversary while cleaning my shelve. It was given as graduation gift from the College of Theology, Central Philippine University in March 1990. I was supposed to graduate in 1984 when the call to respond to the needs of times compelled me to join the Filipino people’s struggle against dictatorship. My political conversion took place while doing pastoral ministry to political detainees in Camp Delgado. Raised up in seemingly apolitical environment, my primary motivation was to witness for Christ. Ironically, I found myself converted to their commitment, dedication, courage and strong resolve in the service of people. Thereafter, commenced my fulltime solidarity work with the Filipino masses until the mystery of EDSA Revolution.

“The hand of God was there…” was the explanation of the late Dr. Quintin Doromal, former PCCG commissioner & president of Siliman University. Quoted by his friend Douglas Elwood in the book, Doromal, an Ilonggo leader, was a witness to the event, having joined his old friend Fidel Ramos at Camp Crame and stayed there with him throughout those critical anxious hours. Indeed, God acts through people, as surely as he speaks through people, and that he uses the sometimes complex interconnection of human forces to serve his larger purposes.

Relating the mystery of EDSA to our Lenten reflections, St. Paul in his epistle aptly describes the life of Jesus: "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:5-8 NIV)

EDSA Revolution: A shift in my direction

I have never shared this experience in public to keep the mystery of my past involvement in pre EDSA struggles in the local scene. Likewise, to protect the bond we had established especially during those trying moments after the EDSA euphoria and political enmity resumed once more in the Cory government.

As part of my commitment to the “learn- from- life” ministry, I am doing my share in the learning process. Hope the younger generation including my children will value the contribution of church people in solidarity with the struggling masses. Three decades are more than enough to hoard the riches of experiences and valuable lessons of the past.

Yes, Protestant Christians, or should I say Baptists, were participants in the struggle, too. Some of our youth and pastors who dared to brave the “darkest nights” were gone without seeing the dawn. Their contribution was never documented, neither appreciated by the Baptist community. Others continue to live with the stigma of the haunting past.

Unlike others, we were not there in EDSA to experience the birth pangs of restored democracy and jubilation in winning the battle. But we were with the group of peasants, workers, student activists holed in Sta. Teresita Church, Iloilo City for some days. At that time, there was a stalemate in constant clashes between rallyists and government troops. Cornered, the former found refuge in the church and started to appeal for help from middle forces. I was among those who responded, representing the church sector. Bringing blankets, food contributed by seminarians, pastors, church members, and some CPU students and faculty, I was not able to leave the place due to security risks brought about by heightened tension. There, we served as negotiators, peace keepers, counselors, planners for the ecumenical services and prayers, advocates to get more support to sustain the needs.

My political conversion took place some years earlier while doing pastoral ministry to political detainees in Camp Delgado. Raised up in seemingly apolitical environment, my primary motivation was to witness for Christ. I remembered even entertaining a wild dream at that time to serve as chaplain of the NPA, if that was the will of God. Ironically, I found myself converted to their commitment, dedication, courage and strong resolve in the service of people. I felt humbled to think that these people who were not so much concerned about their faith in God or the lack of it have this kind of love to the least of Christ’s brothers and sisters. Unlike us we who confessed and professed to be followers of Christ but failed to put such faith into practice.

Thereafter, I became interested in studying Philippine realities, attending symposium, forum on human rights, joining prayer rallies, organizing seminarians and pastors. At times, I enrolled part-time in the seminary to have more time doing volunteer work in church-related organizations. In 1984, with only one semester left before graduation, I decided to work full time doing solidarity work during the intensification of the people’s struggle.

After the historic EDSA '86, I decided to go back to the seminary to resume my studies. It was then that I realized the price I had to pay. For technical reason my return to the seminary was disallowed. Upon our dean’s advise, I shifted to social work and return to the seminary upon compliance of the requirements. My first year was sort of a test on how to survive the isolation from Christian community because of past experiences and the trauma attached to my involvement. With the help of my family and my beloved and the support of significant people, I finished my BSSW degree and employed in the University. As such, I was able to complete my B.Th degree. Gradually, I recovered from the isolation and was given more opportunities including masteral study at UP Diliman. It was also within those period that a major split and bloody rift among former comrades began to intensify. Having no group to choose, I tried to find other means to continue my commitment to serve the people. Hence, the shift in my direction.