Social Workers: Today's Heroes*

Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog

Our beloved social workers, active partners from social work sector, dynamic officers and members of the Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. (PASWI)-Iloilo Chapter, fellow public servants, friends, ladies and gentlemen.

I am glad that you have gathered today to celebrate and share the significance of social work. This noble endeavor is truly commendable as we work together for the promotion of people’s welfare especially for the underprivileged.

Your theme "Responding to the Changing Times: Together, We develop the Agenda in Social Work and Social Development" is certainly timely and significant in the light of pressing issues and concerns affecting the masses relative to the improvement of their living condition.

Indeed, social workers are today’s heroes who carry the great task and responsibility in responding to the basic social needs of the underprivileged.With this wonderful and meaningful celebration, I am certain that you will be able to accomplish smoothly and fruitfully the objectives and goals of caring, extending a helping hand and touching the lives of those in need.

Participants listen to the Welcome Remarks of the chairman of
 Steering Committee for the celebration

It is very pleasing that more and more Ilonggos are enthusiastic and very dedicated to social work in our common effort to help provide basic social services and uplift the plight of the less fortunate.

Rest assured that the City Government will always extend full support to social work initiatives to address the needs of our underprivileged constituents.

So let’s work together for the successful implementation of social work programs for us to achieve our shared goal to cultivate a vibrant, peaceful and progressive community for all.

Again, and in behalf of the people of Iloilo City, I warmly commend all of you for actively participating in this worthwhile undertaking. Thank you and a pleasant morning.
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*Excerpts of the message of Hon. Jed Patrick E. Mabilog, Iloilo City Mayor, during the Opening Program of the 8th Social Work Week in Iloilo held at the City's Freedom Grandstand on June 13, 2012. The message was delivered by Ding Co, Executive Assistant for Tourism, as the mayor was on official trip to  Canada on same date.

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)