 The 3rd Year implementation of the Respect Education Program (REP) has been met with excitement and happiness as Pasali Philippines simultaneously launched the program in July 2015 in 33 schools: nine (9) elementary schools and three (3) secondary schools in General Santos City; four (4) elementary schools in Sarangani Province; and seventeen (17) schools in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat. The activity was participated by teachers headed by their principal, some of the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU), parents, students of REP beneficiaries from grades 4 to 10 and Pasali staffs who work together to make the program more meaningful and really a tool in building peace between and among the IPs, Moro and Christians. Warm accommodation and support for Pasali Respect Education Program were expressed by the schools administration and the children were observed to behave in a way they should despite the heat of the sun. The launching started with the introduction of Respect Education program and Pasali staffs were also given the opportunity to introduce themselves. The mode of implementation this year will be a one-day Respect workshop in which all five (5) respect modules will be distributed into series of monthly workshops: “Getting to Know” for the month of July, “I am..” in August, “Welcome to my world” in September, “We are Mindanao” in December and for the month of January will be the “Show Respect” workshop. The first respect workshop focused on the expression of respect, peace, love and unity by creating an open and friendly learning environment. The program gained acknowledgement and appreciation from the teachers and saying that Respect Education complements with the peace education of the Department of Education.
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Cordaid conducted its 3rd Financial Monitoring (FM) for one of its partner, the Pasali Philippines Foundation Inc. last July 17, 2015 thru Ms. Jacqueline Villar, Cordaid Financial Consultant in the Philippines in which Pasali attained a significant result of 93% or 123 out of 132 action points to be fully implemented. The Administration and Finance Unit, took seriously the result of the second FMS follow up and helped ensure the compliance of the full implementation of the Financial Management Implementation Plan including those that needs top management support. The Financial Monitoring is Cordaid’s way of helping its partners in its project implementation, governance & financial system and evaluate areas for improvement through regular trainings and assessment.
Last year, Catholic Relief Services – USCBB conducted a Standard Sub-recipient Assessment Summary where Pasali Philippines Foundation, Inc. attained a significant result of 97%.  Pasali personnel from Admin, Finance, Program and MEDU department with Sadia Mahmud-Marshall (at the center). As one of the nominees to participate in the 2015 Impact Awards of Stars Foundation, Pasali Philippines underwent an assessment last July 10 – 13, 2015 by Sadia Mahmud-Marshall, an independent consultant working on behalf of Stars Foundation. The visit included staff interviews, organizational assessment and visits to project areas.
Stars Foundation, based in United Kingdom, recognises and rewards effective, well-managed local organisations improving the lives of children in the countries with the highest rates of under-five mortality through their Stars Impact Awards programmes. Their package of support includes flexible funding and non-financial support, to allow organisations to direct resources where they need it most - to respond to changing realities on the ground, invest in the future, or simply keep the lights on. Throughout the Awards selection process, applicants will be selected on the following assessment criteria: (1.) Delivery of programmes and impact on the lives of disadvantaged children, (2) Strategy and Leadership, (3) Effective finance and administration, (4) Stakeholder involvement and accountability and (5) Human resource management. As a whole, the Stars Foundation judges on the positive impact on the lives of disadvantaged children and the excellent management practices. In Pasali, the Stars Foundation looked into various interventions both in General Santos City and Palimbang Municipality service areas specially in the interventions to children. Pasali proudly highlighted one of its flagship program, the Respect Education program – a child motivational learning program, also an effective peace building activity for children that is now being adopted in 72 public schools, with 262 teachers and 7,105 children participating. One winner for each country in Asia will be chosen; the result will be announced this October 2015.  Participants during Teachers’ Training on Respect and PREPARE Program, in Lake Sebu Extending far and wide this year’s Respect Education Program (REP), Pasali Philippines Foundation, Inc. together with Mindanao Convergence of NGOs for Social Protection (MinCoNSP) and Respect Education Foundation-Netherlands, in partnership with Department of Education-Region XII and with funding support from Cordaid, strongly started with a 2-week Teachers’ Training on the various respect principles and methodologies. A total of more than 300 teachers, school head coming from 72 schools across regions XI and XII and ARMM came for the event held last April 20 to 25 at Lake Eco Resort Lake Sebu, South Cotabato and April 27 to May 1, 2015 at London Beach Resort, Barangay Bawing, General Santos City. Week 1 Training with REF Netherlands: Teachers’ Training on Respect + (Respect and PREPARE Program) The Respect + Training was an integrate approach of the Respect Education program and Prepare Trauma program that aims to improve the quality of education by creating a learning environment where every child feels safe, accepted and able to fully develop himself/herself with a special focus on trauma counseling. The 5-days training which was participated by 100 teachers who are working at schools situated in conflict areas, was an opportunity for them to determine how to approach and manage traumatized children in the classroom. Synergizing the concepts of Adaptive Learning, theory on Multiple Intelligences and Cooperative Learning approach, the teachers were capacitated with techniques and strategies that will provide an environment where the children can maximize more their potentials and promoting a climate of respect through a productive and meaningful classroom climate. The sessions further allowed the teachers to explore more about their emotions and experiences which will help them analyze how to react professionally on certain behaviors and emotions that can take over the class. At the end, the participant found practical ways to professionalize their teaching skills in dealing with disturbing behaviors caused by trauma thus positively deal with and meet the needs of the children.
 Main speakers, Femke van der Ster and Dolf Hautvast Week 2 Training: TOT of Experienced Teachers and Facilitators and Teachers’ Training on Respect Education of New Teachers The experience was a two part activity compose of two batches, the first batch, compose of 37 teachers, being the Training of Trainer’s or TOT held from the 27th to the 29th of April and catered to those experienced REP teacher advisers from the previous years of implementations. These two batches met on the 29th to welcome the arrival of the new set of teachers to be added for the next round of REP. The second batch, starting on the 29th up to May 1, undergone various activities to be able to internalize and understand the foundation of Respect Education. Not only did the teacher participants learn the 3 main methodologies of REP, which were: the Multiple Intelligences, Adaptive Learning, and Cooperative Learning, they were also able to understand how these methods can be used and applied in their daily teachings. The workshops were very hands-on, challenging the teachers to think critically and bring out ideas and solutions that are actually within them lodging and waiting to be brought out into the open. Activities like speed-dating, group dynamics, the various think-tank sessions, shadow characters, expert tables and many more brought together teachers from different schools who were previously strangers to each other to mingle, brainstorm and exchange positive opinions inclusive of the topics highlighted. Social issues like a sulky and unresponsive students where thoughtfully analysed. Teachers showed that they already had the capacity to think out of these situations and create possible Do’s and Don’ts applicable for this. Teachers were even able to experience simulations of the workshops conducted to the students. Like the children they were able to afterwards share their own outputs of their Symbols of Respect, Shadow Theater and Puppet Show, and I am Poem. Leading these 2-week trainings were Dolf Hautvast, Senior Education Consultant, Femke van der Ster, Head of Education, both from the Respect Education Foundation in The Netherlands, and Dr. Rogier van‘t Rood, International Consultant on Educational Improvements, who shared his expertise on managing the traumatized child in the classroom. They were instrumental for the realization of what a facilitator of knowledge act towards the children. Their inputs circulated on how a child behaves in the classroom, the possible cause of the behavior. They were able to share their own experiences and reflections that taught them that every child is special and uniquely intelligent, and that a child learns best in his or her individual pace. They persuaded the teachers that a student can think, talk and learn without being forced into it if you just begin to understand the child. It is a united activity to broadcast the ideals of REP for the betterment of the children. Not only does it aims to inculcate positivity towards the child it also identifies the need for the teachers who are the facilitators of knowledge to and from the students to make use of the chance in the best way possible. It is a hope that all the teachers who have attended the teachers’ training will plant and cultivate that seed of knowledge to the group of children he or she will meet this next school year and propagate a garden filled with the blooms of self-expression and respect.
 Aiming to give credit and appreciation to students, teachers and the community, who have given their valued participation and support to the endeavor of strengthening tri-people children’s access to quality education through a culture of peace, Pasali Philippines together with Cordaid and Respect Education Foundation crafted the culmination day. For this school year, 2014 to 2015, the Respect Education Program or REP held two culmination day events. First in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat and the second in General Santos City. The latter of the two, which fell on the 16th day of February, included 9 schools, two (2) from the division of Sarangani Province and seven (7) from General Santos City. The venue, KCC Convention and Events Center, came to life as more than a thousand participants composed of students, teachers, school heads, various guests and representatives from both public and private sectors and Pasali Staffs attended the event. But the glory of the day was not in the guests, nor in the huge venue, it was in its the capacity to let the children speak in front and advocate themselves, showing that a child is also aware of social issues and has the ability to speak and understand it. Roxan Kapawan, a student of Upper Labay National High School gave her own thematic speech. Promoting the need and want of her fellow Bla’an and other IP communities to be respected the way they are. She also believes that respect is the way to peace, if only each person takes its meaning to heart.
A number of children from different schools also gave their presentation of poems they were able to pen for one of the REP’s workshop; ‘I Am Poem’. They were expressions of their personalities and were a showcase of a child’s talent to create something whimsical but meaningful. Aside from speeches and poems there were messages of response from students and teachers, each one expressing their appreciation of how educating about respect has taught them and for the better. Sir Stephen Leornas of Bawing Elementary School even testified that through “the trainings I have went through … made me confident to share my hidden talents, skills and expertise”. Gracing the event, Dr. Allan G. Farnazo, Regional Director for DepEd XII, shared his own thoughts on Respect. He began by saying that DepEd is the only department in the country where you can see almost all children, it is also in this department where you can find the different challenges that each children faced, and in his own words he said “…ang mga batang hindi natuto at hindi maturuan ng maayos dahil may mga personal na hamon na hinaharap. At isa dyan ang respeto sa sarili na dapat matanggap ng bawat mamayang Pilipino…” Seizing the moment the director gave his advices to the crowd at hand saying that the challenge to a child with self-respect is to learn how to respect his fellow human, even encouraging children from far flung areas to strive for success. After the day’s activity each school begun to line up and file out of the venue. Pasali staffs also stationed at the door to greet each child going out with a high five and a wave. Smiles were thrown from each side with the children themselves calling out names of their “kuya” and “ate”. Some said thanks; others expressed a hope for the same activity next year and almost every child you ask was certain he or she was going to miss the staffs and the program they have all came to know through the past years. It is after all for the best of the children, a journey to peace through respect, values formation and education by the country’s next generation.  Pasali TCDP staff with some of the REP children of Palimbang Setting up two Culmination Days for the year 2015, Pasali Philippines started the first round in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat with four participating elementary schools, including the host school, last February 12. The event was held at the gymnasium of Milbuk Central Elementary School with attendants including students, teachers and school heads, DepEd personnels, Marine Corps, LGU representatives and Pasali Staffs, numbering to almost six hundred. It was a program both to commemorate students, teachers and the community for their participation and support, and to bring a happy ending to another fruitful year of Respect Education Program (REP). Early that morning vans have been busy going to and fro picking up students from their respective schools; Palimbang Central, Kanipaan and Usman Emban, to Milbuk. It was a fun start for the program with students arriving together, their vehicles lined up and them marching to the venue wearing proud smiles and this year’s REP tee shirts. The event then begun with the opening of the two Masters-of-Ceremonies, Norsheena and Myrt, both Grade VI students of Milbuk Central, calling each school to stand and give their respective yells. Then a doxology and the singing of the national anthem lead by selected students of Kanipaan followed. The program manager Jayne Isha Christine Boholst welcomed and acknowledged the attendants of the day, put in plain words the objectives of Pasali for helping tri-people children, enlightened everyone of the occasion’s theme and she even continued to say that today the children were the main characters. Then the students of Milbuk performed their dance version of the song “Purihin mo ang Pilinas”, it was then followed by an audio and visual presentation (AVP) of the whole year’s REP activities.
“Ang batang may respeto, kapuri-puri at iniidolo” was the slogan of Julhaimen Condo, a Grade IV student of Kanipaan, thought up like countless other students for the Respect Day, not knowing this simple but meaningful message would be chosen as the best and used as a medium to convey the finale of REP 2015. And who better to give the thematic message than the child that envisioned the theme. In his short but direct speech, Julhaimen phrased his masterpiece to mean that “…ang isang bata na may respeto sa kanyang kapwa, ay maaaring hahangaan at tutularan ng iba pang mga bata o tao.” (…a child who respects his fellow human, maybe admired and emulated by other children or people.) After a colorful Muslim dance number presented by Kanipaan students, snacks were distributed accompanied by games and an entertaining dance given by Jollibee and Hetti with their crew. The children at the sight of Jollibee instantly stood from their seats, jumped up and down yelling for him to come near them. For some students it would become one of the day’s highlights, especially those who have never seen the mascot before. It was an unexpected bonus. “Di po matatawarang pagpapasalamat ang gusto naming ipahatid sa pagbigigay sa amin ng pagkakataon na maging parte sa programa, sa willingnesss ninyo na turuan kami, at sa karagdagang kaalaman na ibinigay ninyo. Maraming salamat po!” (There are no amount of gratitude we want to express for giving us the chance to become part of this program, with your willingness to teach us, and for the additional knowledge that you gave us. Thank you very much!) This was the response of the Respect Club President of Kolong-kolong Elementary School. With the same sentiments from other Respect Club presidents of each schools, also thank Pasali and the Respect Education Program. Aside from thanksgiving, it is also their way of expressing their thoughts and ideas especially with what they want to achieve for their respective clubs. They were able to relate to how they were changed and what they have learned from the project. This is also the vision of Pasali for the children, after all it was an event for the children and by the children. In the words of Von Gregie, Respect Club President of Kanipaann “Natuto po kaming maging magalang sa aming kapwa.” (We learned how to respect our fellow humans.) Then it was followed by the giving of certificates to each student honoring his and her participation in the program. And as with the students, the teachers gave their own responses and messages in summing up the whole year. There were the usual appreciation and gratitude for everything that REP has given; there were expectations for the future for a similar project. But most importantly the teachers themselves were able to testify of the growth and outcome of the program towards the students’ values and attitudes, changes that might just be the beginning of a better and peaceful future for each child.
Kiponget Elementary School: Before (Left Picture), Present (Right Picture) Once dubbed as the ‘flooding school’ of Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, Kiponget Primary School has finally transferred to its new site last February 13, 2015 with a turn-over ceremony of its newest and first building on-site given by Pasali Philippines Foundation Inc. and its partner Cordaid. There were students, parents, teachers, religious and political leaders, DepEd Representatives and Pasali Staffs present in the activity. The building was an answer to the needs of the tri-people children to strengthen access to quality education through an enhanced learning environment.
“Pasalamat na naisip nyu bigyan yung Kiponget, dati ‘floating classroom’ ngayun ‘elevated classroom’ na” (Thank you for giving this new school building to Kiponget, which was once a ‘floating classroom’ and now is an ‘elevated classroom’), says, Ma’am Pudjia Acob, Al Haj, the Division Satellite Supervisor, in a funny manner as she delivered her acceptance message of the building that Pasali turns over to DepEd and Kiponget Primary School. This school with less than two hundred students, from Kindergarten to Grade V, has before gone through the challenge of conducting classes amidst poor and inadequate buildings and the constant chance of seawater invading the school. Now, with a new school site of one hectare and away from the sea, donated by the barangay captain, new doors are opening for this once struggling school. It was a very fruitful day with the local government unit, its barangay counterpart and DepEd Representatives having all plans laid down for the future of Kiponget Primary and its new site. Mr. Amil Pangansayan, SB member and committee chair said they will not stop with just a single building but with more rooms to come. The barangay captain, Hon. Baingan Kamad committed to donate a C.R. for the school and mentioned a plan to place a ‘purok’ (wooden waiting shed) outside and since the site is beside the national high way they shall place sign boards and warning signs for the safety of the students. Also the plan for the inclusion of Grade VI for the next school year was discussed. After the ceremony a signing of an agreement between parties involved was done in the presence of the community. “Salamat sa pagpili sa amin kahit mahirap at malayo kami.” (Thank you for choosing us even though our school is far and hard to reach.) Sir Ian Elisan, teacher-in-charge of Kiponget Primary School said in his closing remarks. “Gusto naming ipakita na may ginagawa kami, may gagawin kami, gusto naming ipakita na may pagbabago” (We want to show that we are doing something, that we will do something, we want to show change), he added. The teachers are now being able to conceptualize school development and beautification that was sorely lacking before. Chances are now opening up for them and their excitement is palpable. It all begun with a plan, then its materialization with a complete building and everything followed. Things were slowly falling into place for Kiponget Primary School. To widen tri-people children’s access to quality education through an enhanced learning environment, Pasali turns-over the newly-completed multipurpose building project to Kanipaan Elementary School at Kanipaan, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat on November 5, 2014.
The Turn-Over Ceremonies was attended by Pasali Staffs and representatives from LGU and DepEd, school administration and Parents Teachers Association (PTA) with the students, parents and teachers of the school. Kanipaan ES is the only primary school in the afore-mentioned barangay admitting a number of tri-people school children which is more than the capacity of the school facilities. Pupils are not just from within the said barangay but also from various neighboring communities like Napnapon, Barrio Mangga, Barongis. The multipurpose building was built to provide two (2) classrooms for classes that carry-out instruction only in an open space covered area of the school due to growing number of enrollees this academic year. Having been able to witness the scenario, Pasali came-up with the initiative to source out donation/s for the construction of a multipurpose building that can cater the number of lacking classrooms. The project was supported and funded by Cordaid and building construction started last July and was finally completed on end of September 2014. The teaching force headed by Mrs. Noraida Pangansayan, District Planning Officer, encouraged the school stakeholders to maintain and take good care of the building. The Sangguniang Bayan was represented by Hon. Mariam Kanda, Committee Chair on Social services and Hon. Amil Pangansayan, Committee Chair on Education, whose words also thanked Pasali for the building and rendered encouragement for the community to make use of this gift in the most positive ways. Representing DepEd Region XII, Mr. Agney Taruc, Coordinator for Peace and Other Innovations, gave a message which was centered on the importance and practicality of K-12, especially in the use of the mother tongue. He explained that K-12 is a spiral progression, a step-by-step process in which the child is stimulated to learn and think using those that are easily seen around him. He cited that for instance, fisheries and agriculture are areas of industry that are found in the community of Palimbang. In connection with K-12, he explains, that senior high schools in Palimbang which offers these two courses should create a MOA with existing industries and businesses in the municipality so that when the child graduates he is able to find a job. This shows that K-12 creates globally competitive individuals that according to Mr. Taruc, they are those who are ready for life, business livelihood and the whole world. Summing-up the messages of various school stakeholders, everyone envisions this Pasali project to light a metaphor in achieving the dreams and aspirations of tri-people children through access to quality education for the emergence of competence and competitiveness in joining the world which is now called a GLOBAL VILLAGE. Filming IP children in Mindanao. Cordaid- Kinderstem & JSF crew visit Pasali communities.11/12/2014 To raise funds for the promotion of children projects in Mindanao, a film crew from The Netherlands (NL) visited General Santos City last July 29 to August 9, 2014 to document children in various beneficiary communities of Pasali Philippines Foundation, Inc.
The team is composed of Members from CORDAID Kinderstem, Pasali’s funding agency for the Tri-People Children Development Program (TCDP), and the Junior Song Festival (JSF),a popular children competition in NL. With the filming crew were Anna Alicia, a dancer and TV personality, and Kim Regasa, a Filipino-Dutch singer who recently won second place in the JSF Finals 2013. The filming activity focused on capturing the daily scenarios and challenges that in and out-of-school children are facing particularly in IP communities like the Badjao Village in Barangay Bawing, and the B’laan residential areas in Barangay San Jose and Upper Labay. The crew documented lives of the children who walk long distances to reach school everyday and others who miss classes, because they have to work for a living. Anna visited Bawing and Upper Labay to interact with communities, learn and perform their traditional dances. Kim, on the other hand, immersed with the school children in San Jose and Bawing and rendered song performances as well. The said documentary made by the film crew was broadcasted in NL on September, 2014. Complementary to Department of Education’s (DepEd) program on Brigada Eskwela, Pasali Philippines Foundation distributes school supplies to 1,591 tri-people children from 20 elementary and secondary beneficiary schools in General Santos City, Sarangani Province and Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat on June, 2014.
Fore adjoining the goal to strengthen tri-children to quality education especially to Moro and IP’s, Pasali has been extending its support to identified children belonging to less-abled families since 2007 by giving out assorted school supplies. The NGO also cooperates in the schools’ clean-up drive during opening of classes in part of the Brigada Eskwela. The beneficiary schools with corresponding number of children beneficiaries were listed below: General Santos City 1. NASA Elementary School- 113 2. Banisil Elementary School- 150 3. Bawing Central Elementary School- 100 4. San Jose Elementary School- 100 5. Tinagacan Elementary School- 50 6. Labangal National High School- 50 7. Upper Labay National High School- 100 Subtotal- 663 Sarangani Province 1. Malandag Central Elementary School- 50 2. Oliverio Elementary School- 50 Subtotal- 100 Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat 1. Palimbang Central Elementary School- 99 2. Doña Catalina Elementary School- 50 3. Dionisio Cagadoc Elementary School- 50 4. Milbuk Central Elementary School- 10 5. Usman Emban Elementary School- 96 6. Kraan Elementary School- 50 7. Kiponget Elementary School- 50 8. Maguid Elementary School- 50 9. Biao Elementary School- 133 10. Barongis Elementary School- 50 11. Kanipaan Elementary School- 100 Subtotal- 808 GRAND TOTAL- 1591 Moreover, with the help of Pasali-organized Consortium for Children’s Rights and Development which was organized in 2009 with the composition of Barangay Councils of Fatima, San Jose, and Tambler, Police Station #07 of Philippine National Police, Fleur Pharmacy, and people’s organization like the Bushido and Radio Kabalikat Communication, the campaign for “Tulong Nyo, Kinabukasan Ko”(Your Help, My Future) was strengthened more and gained much support from different sponsoring stakeholders, partner NGO’s, and concerned private individuals who selflessly shared their resources to the indigent children. Devising this kind of humble initiatives, Pasali was recently privileged to receive grant from CAFAmerica through Cargill Philippines Inc. especially in extending supports to the communities where it operates. Furthermore, this project was jointly launched with the Brigada Eskwela with the parents around to witness and to be encouraged to participate and cooperate in the schools’ clean-up drive as the classes start this Academic year 2014-2015. |
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