Team Work

Yesterday’s 84th Commencement Exercises of  Central Philippine University marked the 10th year of the revival of  our Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program. It was in 2002 when we reactivated the program,  a couple of years after I finished my Master of Social Work from  the University of  the Philippines- Diliman. An adventurous attempt, considering the odds, with a  simple goal i.e. to have even just  one graduate. By this, we can  convince the  apathetic targets including those who shifted to other courses  that we mean business this time.

The goal was achieved   during  the University’s historic Centennial Year in 2005. Since then, we have produced 10 graduates including  this year’s biggest figure, so far. There are four of them who made it. But this is not the sole reason  that  makes the event very significant.  It is also because of the circumstances surrounding their graduation.

The author, flanked by Kareen Jay (L) and Carol Kay (R).
At extreme right is Carol's husband, Eleazar Blando

Of the four,  two are faculty of our Department of Social Work, CPU. They have been close to me being  my students during their undergraduate years;  colleagues when they joined the teaching force of the Department; partners in volunteerism and development endeavors.  As such, I have known their commitment and dedication in work.  In fact, their masteral studies was part of the Vision-Mission-Goal we formulated  during my stint as Department Head.  Unfortunately, when I left my position to serve as  director of the University Outreach Center, there was a lag  in their  studies. For whatever reasons,  their enthusiasm were seemingly quenched.

It was only when, by another circumstance,  I was appointed as officer-in-charge of the Department for  a year effective August last year that their studies were given a boost. Renewing  our relationship, we  committed to resume the interrupted partnership and  development agenda for the Department including their MSSW degree. Thereafter, I served as their thesis adviser  struggling with them  through thick and thin until they were conferred  with their hard earned degree yesterday.

The other two are personnel  of the Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus.  The bonding we have may not be comparable to the previous ones. Yet, it is also interesting and equally significant.  Adverse circumstances did not hinder their desire to finish studies according to their schedule. Even my serious sickness and subsequent health limitation could not withstand their earnestness  to complete the course.

The photographer may not know it,
but her shots represent the process
we have experienced as a team.
From gloom to bright, happy graduates
 deserve their smiles.
 Photo below (L-R) Kareen Jay Diesto,
Sr. Aubrey Casimiro,
Araceli Tondo, the author,
and Carol Kay Cortuna- Blando  

I can  still recall instances when we held  reportorial sessions at home because of my limited mobility. We used  the University  gazebo because  I could not make it to  the 3rd floor of the building  where the office and classrooms of  Graduate School are located. There was even a time we had classes under the acacia tree  near the Department of Social Work office which used to be  an alternate venue for classes. However,  with the change of management,  I  no longer had  access to the department during weekends. Instead, I was at the mercy  of part time faculty with review classes at the adjacent room who were fortunate than I was at that time to have a duplicate  key.

But  tougher  times  were just waiting ahead. These happened  during their thesis writing stage. I was designated as thesis adviser for  them both. Aware of my health limitation, we tried to organize  their respective  schedule, with emphasis on  team work,  to avoid overlapping that would put unnecessary pressures on us both.  Despite this, however, unavoidable  circumstances  forced  us to  face the challenge we wanted to escape.

The  devastating flash floods in Cagayan de Oro, triggered  by Tropical Storm Sendong  scrapped   the scheduled December leave of Sr. Aubrey Casimiro, DC for data gathering and processing. The pressing need compelled her to volunteer there  for about a month. Such situation, however,  was just a spark of   tougher times encountered by other advisees that made our schedule scramble.  Like the storm, they brought dark clouds that could have marred the glimmer of hope to finish, had it not been for the team work we have established. A lesson from the flight of  geese we learned in our classes.

(To be continued)

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.