The SOS Calbayog STEP-UP Project

Stop Trafficking and Exploitation of People Through Unlimited Potential

A Joint Effort of:
SOS Children’s Village Calbayog, Microsoft Unlimited Potential and Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc.

August 29, 2009. STEP-UP Program Launching at the Helmut Kutin Social Hall in Brgy. Dagum. In photo are (l-r) Mr. Vicente Alan Abadesco of Visayan Forum, Carmen Punong Baraggay Amy Cabral, CSWDO Head Betty Jane Arnejo, SOS Calbayog Children's Village Director Mario Victor Baang and Fr. Dennis Espiritu.


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Stop Trafficking and Exploitation of People through Unlimited Potential (Step-UP) is a partnership project of SOS Children’s Village Calbayog and the Microsoft Philippines under its Unlimited Potential program with the Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc. (VFFI), a non-government organization that works for the welfare of marginalized migrants like domestic workers and trafficked women and children. The project aims to prepare, empower and reintegrate survivors of human trafficking through Information Technology training. It will also give them other options in life and opportunities for better employment. Coupled with psychosocial services and life skills training, the IT training will serve as therapy for them to regain their sense of human dignity while staying in the shelters.

Step-UP is both a preventive and a protective response to human trafficking. It provides technological skills to vulnerable youth and adults through community-based organizations around the Philippines, thereby preventing them from being exploited.

Goals of the Project, 3rd Phase Implementation:
To continue the preparation of women and youth from vulnerable populations and victims of human trafficking for the job market by providing Information Technology (IT) knowledge, life skills and micro-enterprise development trainings.

To continue the prevention of incidents of human trafficking in the areas we operate in by educating them on trafficking and by giving them IT, life skills and micro-enterprise development trainings that can give them other opportunities; and

To build the capacities of new NGO partners in the Philippines in planning and operating sustainable community-based Technology Learning Centers (CTLCs), build the same capacities of existing NGO partners that are already running CTLCs to enhance their LANs (?) and operate sustainable CTLCs, and ensure a multiplier-effect.

Goal of SOS Children’s Village Calbayog:
To provide holistic activities that will mold the youth into disciplined, smart and energetic individuals and leaders appreciative of God’s goodness.

Objective of SOS Family Strengthening Program:
We support the community to respond effectively to the situation of vulnerable children and their families.

VFFI and SOS CALBAYOG agree to work hand in hand in providing vulnerable communities and victims of human trafficking with Information Technology (I.T.)/computer skills training through Microsoft Unlimited Potential program and Life Skills training to help them get better jobs.

Criteria for Students/Trainees:

• Out-of-School Youth or anybody who is a survivor of trafficking
• At least fifteen (15) years old
• Willing to study IT and Life Skills for job employment

CURRICULUM CONTENT

Part 1. Introduction

• Module 1
  · Orientation STEP-UP Project, SOS, VFFI and Microsoft Unlimited
• Module 2
  · RA 9208
• Module 3
  · Importance of Education

Part 2. Life Skills Training

• Module 1
  · Self management and Coping
  *Personality Enhancement and Human Sexuality
• Module 2
  · Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Module 3
  · Critical Thinking and Decision Making
• Module 4
  · Action Planning

Part 3. IT Training

• Module 1
  · Computer Courses
  ü Introduction to Computer
  ü Computer Fundamentals
  ü Word Processing
  ü Spreadsheet
  ü Power Point Presentation
  ü Database
• Module 2
  · Additional Advanced Courses
  ü Digital Media
  ü Internet (World Wide Web)
  ü Photo Editing

Part 4. OJT

• On The Job Training
  ü 4 working days or 28 working hours

Part 5. Assessment

• Final Examination

Duration of Training Course
(2 months)

Class Schedule:

Monday – Saturday
8:30a.m. – 12:00 noon
1:00 - 3:30p.m.
2 sessions per week for every group

For more information call or visit:

SOS Children’s Village Calbayog
Brgy. Dagum Calbayog City
6710 Western Samar
Phone: +63 (55) 209-1170 / 533-9801
Telefax: +63 (55) 209-3798
Email: http://ph.mc769.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=calbayog@sosphilippines.org
http://www.sosphilippines.org/

in memoriam Fr. Bernabe Sison

Today we remember Fr. Bobby. It has been six years since he received the gift of eternal life.

Happy Birthday mommy Sabel!

Mrs. Isabel Gomez - Hernandez will turn 103 years old today. Happy Birthday!

(November 15, 2007) Mommy Sabel greeting Nick (Robinson) after his wedding at the Manila Cathedral. Looking on are Vic (Ladrero-Ricafort) and Evelyn (Hernandez-Priestly).

Happy Birthday mama!

my mom, Victoria Ladrero - Ricafort will turn a year older today. Happy Birthday!

Manila Concerts of the CKC-Jose Gomez Orchestra

The CKC - Jose Gomez Orchestra is off to Manila for a series of concerts.

Originally scheduled last October, it was postponed due to typhoon Ondoy. From the original three, the orchestra will have five engagements to be highlighted by a performance at the Manila Cathedral. The said performance will be among the activities of Pondong Pinoy. The orchestra will be performing upon the invitation of Manila Archbishop, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.

Here's the schedule of concerts:

Sanctuario de San Antonio
(Forbes Park)
December 7, 2009

Mall of Asia (Atrium)
December 8, 2009

Saint Anthony Shrine
(Manrique Street, Sampaloc, Manila)
December 9, 2009

Santuario De San Pedro Bautista Church
(San Pedro Bautista Street, San Francisco Del Monte, Quezon City)
December 10, 2009

Paco Catholic School's Jaime Cardinal Sin Auditorium
December 11, 2009

All engagements are set at 7:30 in the evening.

Proceeds of the concerts will be for the scholarship of the orchestra members and for the procurement of additional instruments.

For other details / inquiries, please contact Arthur at: +63 915-215-6548

Happy Anniversary Nick and Darling!

Nicholas Steven Alexander and Pheona Camille (Ladrero) Robinson will celebrate their 2nd wedding anniversary today. Congratulations and Best wishes!

(links to my previous posts: video, pictures)

Happy Birthday Jehan!

Ms. Jehan Pilar Uyloan will turn a year older today. Happy Birthday!

Images from Alay Lakad 2009

Here are some more pictures taken during last Saturday's Alay Lakad. The annual walk-for-a-cause is an activity aimed at raising funds for the livelihood skills training of the out-of-school youth of Calbayog.

For the second time, the event was held within the city proper. It started at 4:30 am with a hataw bayan (exercise) in front of the City Hall. At 5:00 am, the participants walked around the city before proceeding to the Calbayog City Sports Center grounds for a mass and a short program.

Some PNP officers as they led the hataw bayan.

some of the young Alay Lakad participants

Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino participating in the hataw bayan.

Mass presider Fr. Tony Rosales, ofm looks on as lector Joan Maslog do the first reading.

WESADEF's Ma. Emma Elardo leading the offertory procession.

Boy Baldormaro, Marcy Cordova and Gloria Arioja.

Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino and Dr. Socorro Bohol

Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Mr. Virgilio Tomnob

Some SOS youth doing their presentation

some SOS Calbayog wards on hand for the Alay Lakad program.

Cokaliong Shipping Lines all set to serve Calbayog

The streamers are out announcing the soon-to-commence Cebu-Calbayog (Manguino-o) service of Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Inc.

The maiden Cebu-Calbayog voyage of M/V Dinagat Princess will leave Cebu on Monday, November 16, 2009; and will arrive at the Manguino-o port on Tuesday, November 17, 2009.

The shipping company will offer Cebu - Calbayog trips on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. It will leave Cebu at 7:00 pm and will arrive in Calbayog (Manguino-o) at 5:00 am.

Calbayog - Cebu trips will be on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 7:00 pm.

For my previous posts on Cokaliong Shipping, please check these: link1, link2.

For inquiries:
Cebu Main Office: (+63 32) 232-72-11 to 18
Calbayog Manguino-o Agency Office: (+63 927) 799-53-52

Cokaliong Shipping Calbayog Ticketing Office is located at Bugallon Street, Calbayog City (in front of the Rural Bank of Calbayog)

break anay: Pinoy makes it as one of 10 finalists in 2009 CNN Hero of the Year

Efren Peñaflorida made it as one of the Top Ten in the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year.

. . . he was bullied by gangs in high school in the Philippines.
. . . now his Dynamic Teen Company offers an alternative to gangs through education.
. . . since 1997, some 10,000 members have taught more than 1,500 children in slums. Read more.

To vote for Efren, please check this link.

Happy Birthday Risa!

Ms. Risa Bernardo Suan will turn a year older today. Happy Birthday!

my Chinese School "reunion"

This happened almost two months ago, September 13, 2009 to be exact. I was with my former classmates and schoolmates from the Calbayog Community School (formerly the Calbayog Chinese School) for some sort of a reunion at the Kamayan sa Carayman. Over native food and bottled tea we recalled the good old days together with our teachers Mrs. Aleta Serva-Camilon and Mrs. Mansueta Lacaba-Mercurio. Well, we also dicsussed our ever increasing waistlines and a good number of health concerns (now, that's being not-so-young!)

The group decided that a grand reunion of all CCS alumni and students (read: bisan wara mag-graduate sa CCS) be held in one or two year's time. We were joking that we had refer to it as a reunion, not a homecoming 'coz we no longer have a home to go back to (so to speak), as we all know the school closed down sometime in the early 1980s.

In case "you are one of us" (hmm, sounds like a dialogue from a commercial) PLEASE do drop us a line. You may email me or leave a message in the chatbox or the guest book of this blog.

In the meantime, let me give you some pictures taken during that "reunion".

That's me with some batchmates and our teachers. Mrs. Aleta Serva-Camilon, Mrs. Mansueta Lacaba - Mercurio, Nelida Jusayan and Gerry Irigon. At the back are (l-r) Marvin Uy, Joseph Chan, Allan Labian, Rene Manahon and Tomas Tan.

Mrs. Mercurio with Dr. Net-net Irigon and Engr. Joseph Chan. (Sorry about the 'angle', it seems like the photographer was more interested on the food than on his or her classmates and teacher)

Marivic Laruda, Nelida Jusayan, me, Adelfa Labian-Dabuet, Gwendolyn Tan, Allan Labian and Johnny Laruda.

(front) Arlene Mancol, Loreta Trinidad-Cuizon and Adelfa Dabuet. (back) Jennifer Calman, Maritess Verdeflor, Rhea Ricafort, Junjun Chan, Allan Arejola, Homer Ortega, Roy Bañocia and Emmanuel Tan.

Marvin Uy with Rene Manahon, Johnny Laruda, Joseph Chan, Marlon Tan and Allan Labian.

what do you think?

Noynoy Aquino's "Hindi Ka Nag-iisa" video is out. So, what do you think? Or If I may use a line said by a doctor (not medical, if I may add) in Calbayog, What is your think?

Your YouTube URL

remember KAL 007?

Do you still remember the tragedy that was Korean Airlines flight 007? The incident saw a heated exchange of words between President Ronald Reagan and President Mikhail Gorbachev. It was widely reported and it was considered as "one of the darkest chapters in cold war history".

A good number of young Calbayognons may not be aware of it, two of our fellow Calbayognons figured in that tragedy: Mr. Joseph E. Chan and Mr. Amado E. Chan.

Yesterday I managed to take some pix of the tombstones of the victims of the infamous incident. With the family's permission, I am featuring these in my blog. In a way to remind us how the senseless cold war between the superpowers (the U.S. and the then U.S.S.R.) could take a toll on innocent civilians like the Chan brothers.

Check these links:

wikipedia

The New American

rescue 007

conspiracy theories

kalag-kalag

Kalag-kalag na liwat. The cemeteries of Calbayog have been spruced up in time for tomorrow's observance of All Souls' Day. I'm wondering why folks in other parts of the country visit their dear departed on November 1, the day reserved for the saints.

Anyway, I was at the Calbayog Catholic cemetery this afternoon, you know to escape tomorrow's crowd and not to mention the heat. I thought I would like to share with you some pictures which I managed to take. Let's say to make you miss your old hometown, or for you to smile.

These are many things that one will see in the Calbayog Catholic Cemetery, the tombs for one are many. The structure which always manage to catch my attention is this archway (I hope I am using the right term) leading to the chapel. It's made of brick and coral stone; and on top of it is carved a seal with the images of a skull and bones and the numbers 1885. I suppose that's the year the cemetery was (or at least the archway) was put in place. (You may also check this link)

Stalls are in now place in front of the cemetery. They sell everything from foodstuff, drinks and what have you. I think i saw at least three stalls with videoke machines. Even the local branch of a popular fastfood has one stall. And yes, there was a pink coffin on display, thanks to the promotion of the Calbayog branch of a pre-need company.

Oh yes, there are also signs in the cemetery, the one on top is obviously for the drivers whose vehicles will surely clog the highway tomorrow. And how about the sign below?

Meanwhile in one of the private cemeteries, it's a fiesta complete with bandrettas and yes, decors which welcome everyone to Halloween land.

Now this is the sign that is most welcome. There are Police Officers and Barangay Tanods stationed in the four cemeteries.

Back to the stuff for sale at the stalls. They sell everything from candles . . .

. . . to cotton candies.