BREAD OF HOPE

It’s three a.m. at  the Holy Trinity Home for Children. While every one is still in deep sleep, Sister Perpetua Osio gets out of bed. She offers a prayer of thanks for another day to serve the Lord and the faithful, especially the children taking shelter in the orphanage. Then, wearing her habit, she goes to the kitchen and with the assistance of Randy and Mema, teenagers who grew up in the orphanage, she prepares the dough  to be baked and sold in their bakery.  She does this every day.

“We need to do the baking early so people could see that our breads are already available in the morning and they will be enticed to buy. If we display the breads late, most likely, they won’t be sold,” said Sr. Osio, a nun for already 13 years. Some of their best selling products are the cheesebread and the asado bun.

The bakery, named after the orphanage, has been in operation for several months. It was established through the assistance of the Rotary Club of Pag-asa, RI District 3780 which remains to be one of the organizations that support the orphanage over the years. The club donated an oven and other baking tools as well as provided free training. The bakery’s earnings are being used to support the needs of the more than 40 indigent children housed at the orphanage located at Fairview, Quezon City.   Sr. Osio admits that, at first, she was not able to focus on operating the bakery due to field missions. But this time, she’s really geared up for baking jobs.

The Holy Trinity Home for Children was established in January 1993 by Mother Elena O. Suico, founder of the Trinitarian Handmaids of the Divine Word, with her great desire to help destitute children attain a better future. The charitable institution also provides education and livelihood training to the beneficiaries.

The ongoing livelihood project of the Rotary Club of Pag-asa involves the conduct of free training for a three-year-baking course, in partnership with the Philippine Society of Baking,  being held at the Fairview campus of Gateways Institute of Science and Technology, where the project’s main proponent, past club president  Joe Montenegro, serves as director.  It is open to individuals who are above 18 years of age and have the desire to learn how to bake.  So far, the project has around 200 beneficiaries and more are signing up.

Montenegro, an electronics and computer engineer, shares that helping people in their livelihood is close to his heart.“When I see people who are in need, I could not hinder myself to help them because I see my former self in them. I came from a poor family in Surigao and I worked as a house helper, driver, car wash boy to support my education in order for me to achieve my dream of having my own school. Now that I achieved that, I would like to share my blessings to them,” he said.

Last October, under the leadership of Club President Marilou Lapuz, the club will provide training on making breads and pastries that could be baked in small ovens to make the course relevant to more viable livelihood for the trainees, as well as accommodate more students. Sr. Osio has already expressed her interest to join the upcoming session so she could add more variety to Holy Trinity Bakery’s products that sustain the children at the orphanage.

When asked if she has a secret ingredient or a ritual in making her breads flavorsome, she answered,  “There is no miracle. We just make the breads with love.“ -Photos by: Carmen Dela Cerna

(Published in Philippine Rotary magazine October 2015 issue)

QUALITY EDUCATION ON WHEELS

Rotarians with students of Torres High School in Tondo, Manila

Proficiency in the language used as means of instruction is very essential in the facility of learning. In the Philippines English is commonly the medium in teaching core subjects such as mathematics and sciences, that non-mastery of the language greatly hampers comprehension, and ultimately quality education.

Gab Enriquez is among the myriad of Philippine public school students who struggle with the English language. He considers his lack of skills as a millstone around his neck that weighs down his class performance and diminishes his self-esteem. “I’m not really good in English because at home our family does not use the English language when we communicate with each other. There were times when my classmates laugh at me during class recitation because of my poor grammar,” shares the 15-year old Grade 9 student from Araullo High School. Inadequate English proficiency not only casts an adverse impact on  the students’ capability to assimilate knowledge  in but also puts them at a disadvantage in global communications.

Inside the mobile classroom

The limited English proficiency of students like Gab, most likely, is a result of absence of proper learning tools and facilities, such as speech and writing laboratories, prevalent in government-run elementary and secondary schools. Acknowledging the need to address this problem, the Rotary club of Manila 101  initiated a service project called Education In Motion that aims to complement  learning tools and facilities in public schools to upgrade quality of education, and assist them meet the challenges of the K to 12 Basic Education Program that started in 2011. The new 13-year basic education curriculum calls for mastery of concepts and skills, development of lifelong learners, as well as  preparation for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship.

According to RC Manila 101 President Majella T. Villaroman, Education in Motion intends not only to help facilitate learning among students , but also, in the long term, develop communities. “Education is the key to improving the lives of the students and in return they can contribute back to their communities and alleviate poverty,” she states.

The program, which was launched in Rotary Year 2014-2015, offers a mobile classroom equipped with multimedia learning tools such as internet, computers, and television. These facilities are acquired through a Global Grant worth US $75,000 secured with the efforts of Dr. Caridad Icaciano Santos and RC Manila 101 Charter President Tess Tumangan in partnership with the Rotary Club of Sarasota, Florida as well as with the support of RI District 2820 (Japan) and  the Department of Education-Manila City Schools Division.

Students sharing  their i-Ready lessons
with RC Sarasota President Vicente Medina

Education in Motion uses i-Ready, an online diagnostic and instruction tool for English and mathematics developed by Curriculum Associates, a US-based education company. The i-Ready tool, recipient of the Tech& Learning 2013 Awards of Excellence, provides an engaging  and visually appealing approach to learning and allows teachers to monitor each student’s performance in real time to identify if he/she is ready to advance to the next level or needs further remedial interventions.  “It’s a two-part program. It has a diagnostic part where each child gets to be assessed in his/her individual weaknesses and the remediation part wherein the deficiencies of the student are being addressed so he/she can improve in that area and advance in the lessons,”  Andrew de Jesus, chair, RC Manila 101 Basic Education and Literacy Service Project Committee, explains. Aside from the mobile classroom, the club also installed licensed  i-Ready software in the computer laboratories of the participating secondary schools for the students’ online English lessons.

De Jesus further emphasized that Education in Motion is intended to enhance the students’ comprehension skills so they can learn effectively. “Comprehension is important. In fact, solving a mathematics problem requires 80 percent comprehension and 20 percent actual solving. One has to understand the problem and the process to take before resorting to solution. That is why around the world language comprehension and mathematics are the two basic subjects that are being prioritized,” says the club officer.

Dr. Caridad Icaciano with students of Araullo High School

Last August, RI District 6960 Past Governor Richard Rehmeyer, RC Sarasota President Vicente Medina, and Dr. Santos visited the schools participating in the Education in Motion program.  The Sarasota Rotarians were impressed with the outcome of the project where 80 percent of the students advanced in their English skills just a year after program implementation. President Medina,  a Spanish by birth, shared his knowledge that in language teaching it is essential that contemporary communications technology must be incorporated in order to capture and sustain the interest of the student. “This is a multifaceted method of learning where more interaction, more media, and more technology have to play a role. Kids now are more tech-savvy than we were when we were growing up. We have to adapt with these changes and modify our methods to make teaching more lively and tuned in to their interests,” asserts Club President Medina.

Gab’s school was among the six high schools in Manila selected by DepEd to participate in the Education in Motion program. The other schools were Mariano Marcos Memorial High School, Jose Abad Santos High School, Manuel A. Roxas High School, Esteban E. Torres High School and Corazon Aquino High School.

RC Manila 101 President Majella Villaroman

Amazingly, Gab was among the students who have enhanced English proficiency through the program. He confides that not only were his English skills boosted but his self-esteem as well.  According to his English teacher Adeline Tejada, Gab and his classmates have become more confident to speak, write and engage in discussions in English. The students also turned more eager to pursue college education and land a good job.

One of the student-participants, Jasmine Mendoza, 14, a Grade 9 student of Torres High School, thanked the Rotarians when they visited  her school for the excellent educational experience through the i-Ready program, wherein they learned and had fun at the same time from its interactive content and good quality graphics .“i-Ready is a very interesting experience. I don’t feel pressured. In the traditional setting, sometimes I get shy to ask teachers questions regarding the lesson, while i-Ready makes you understand more at the right pace. You can even repeat the lesson until you master it. The approach of i-Ready is very relevant to us,” she says.

Jasmine’s English teacher, Lady Chris Caati-Leonardo, lauded the Education in Motion’s efficiency in making the millennial students learn the English language better.  “I think it’s a good thing that we can combine the traditional approach and the new approach wherein the kids use their 21^st century skills.”

Villaroman and Medina take a selfie
 with students of Araullo High School

The success of the service program motivated Villaroman and her club members to sustain Education in Motion and broaden its service.  In fact, her club is currently working on another program which will partner with Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies to help address the high unemployment rate in the country. Termed as the Bridge program, it is in line with Education in Motion and will enable the students  acquire greater chances of landing jobs in the BPO sector which is one of the largest industries in the country at present that generate gainful employment.

“We believe that this program will be very meaningful. We as citizens are accountable for our future and it makes me want to make sure that the program moves forward. I think if we are able to bring together all players to make this happen, we can make each school better and our lives in the future,” declares Villaroman.

 (Published in September 2015 issue of the Philippine Rotary; Photos by Carmen Dela Cerna)

Diabetes Facts and Myths

Health experts consider diabetes a “growing global epidemic” as the number of people contracting the disease continues to rise.  Based on a 2014 report by the World Health Organization (WHO),  the global prevalence of diabetes was estimated to be nine percent among adults aged 18 years above.  In 2012, diabetes  was directly accounted for an estimated 1.5 million deaths, more than 80 percent of which  occurred in low and middle income countries. The WHO projects that diabetes will be the 7^th leading cause of death worldwide by 2030.

The number of Filipino diabetics also continues to rise.  The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology considers the country as “one of the world’s emerging diabetes hotspots.” The group states  that there were 3.4 million reported diabetes cases in the country in 2010, representing a prevalence rate of 7.7 percent. The WHO predicts that by 2030  the prevalence rate will rise to 8.9 percent, equivalent to 6.16 million cases. 

Diabetes is a serious chronic disease caused by the inability of the  pancreas to produce enough insulin (Type 1 diabetes) or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces (Type 2 diabetes) that leads to increased concentration of glucose in the blood or hyperglycemia that could result to complications like nerve damage, stroke, heart and blood vessel disease, kidney failure, blindness and amputation of limbs in the long run.

To further understand  and discern the misconceptions from truths about the life-threatening  disease, Philippine Rotary consulted Diabetologist Dr. Nick  Villatuya, founder of the Diabetes Education Assistance and Research Foundation Philippines and Past President of Philippine Diabetes Association-Pasig Chapter.  The diabetes expert was  a past president of the Rotary Club of Alabang. 

Diabetes can be cured.    

MYTH

Dr. Nick Villatuya

Some people believe and claim that diabetes can be cured. But Dr. Villatuya, who has been treating diabetic patients for more than two decades, chucks out that belief, citing the statement of  Dr. Elliott Proctor Joslin, the first doctor in the United States to specialize in diabetes and founder of Joslin Diabetes Center, “Once a diabetic, always a diabetic.”  “Though there are available medications such as tablets and insulin injections to help patients control the disease, I do not believe that a cure will come in the near future.  Prevention can be done,  but to reverse it once contracted, we do not have the capability,” he said.

Despite the fact that diabetes is a life-long disease, Dr. Villatuya emphasizes that diabetics, with proper health care, can live a long and productive life. “Diabetes should not shorten a person’s life since it can be controlled.”

Eating too much sugar can lead to diabetes.

MYTH

Diabetes is a genetic disorder. If  it does not run in the family, one has almost zero chance of developing it even if one has a sweet tooth. “If you are not predisposed to diabetes, no matter how much sugar you take, you will not be a diabetic. You may become fat, but you will not become diabetic because of the sugar itself,” said Dr. Villatuya.   “According to one author,  ’Genetics loads the cannon, but the environment fires it.’  You could be genetically predisposed but if you are not overweight and do not eat too much unhealthy food, you will not develop diabetes. However, if you have that in your system and once you get it, there is no turning back,” he said.

However, the diabetologist stated that though an individual does not have a history of diabetes in his/her  family, he/she could get the disease if his/her pancreas gets damaged through injury or inflammation  known as pancreatitis.

Dr. Villatuya also noted that obese individuals have a higher risk of developing the disease because the excessive fats in their body cause insulin resistance.

Older people have a higher risk of developing diabetes. 

MYTH

The elderly may notice a rise in their blood sugar levels through a blood test, but that does not necessarily mean they have diabetes. “Those who are in the age of 60 and above have higher blood sugar elevations compared to people of younger  age generally due to inactivity and development of excess fat. But that may not be categorized under diabetes.  The more precise statement is that seniors have a higher risk of developing ‘glucose intolerance,’”  Dr. Villatuya advised.

Diabetes affects sexual performance. 

FACT

Someone who has been diabetic for a long time most likely suffers from diabetic neuropathy which is damage of the body’s nerves due to high blood sugar. It also affects the nerves that are involved in sexual performance. Dr. Villatuya also added that there are  other factors such as psychological problems and medications for other illnesses that can negatively affect the libido.

Diabetics should avoid engaging in exercises

MYTH

Diabetes should not halt patients from participating in physical activities according to Dr. Villatuya.  “Diabetics  can live normal lives. They can participate in physical activities, unless they have complications from neuropathy.  They should exercise because one way to decrease insulin resistance is through physical activity. “ He recommends joint-friendly exercises such as walking, swimming and aerobics.

Women with diabetes should not get pregnant.  

MYTH

Diabetic women can still give birth to a healthy baby, but there are risks. “They can be pregnant but they should receive excellent care and treatment,” said Dr. Villatuya. “She has to control her sugar level  to protect her baby and doctors must see to it that the medication will not  affect the baby inside the womb of the mother.  That is why the type of medication given to the mother is in the form of injectables instead of tablets.” 

Dr. Villatuya also explained that a pregnant woman who never had diabetes before can have  high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, a condition called gestational diabetes. Experts believe that this is caused by the hormones from  the placenta which supports the development of the baby,  and that makes the mother’s body less responsive to insulin.This makes the pancreas to work double time in secreting more insulin and if it can’t keep up with the increased insulin demand, blood glucose levels become too high, which can harm the health of the mother and her baby.

Diabetics have low resistance against diseases 

FACT

Diabetes, if not controlled, could weaken the body’s immune system. “If the blood sugar of a diabetic is not controlled, he/she may be prone to illnesses like infections in the wounds, tuberculosis, eye disease (retina), kidney diseases, neuropathy and heart disease.”

He added that according to the  American Heart Association, recent findings stated and concluded that having diabetes is equivalent to having a coronary heart disease. “Diabetes damages the body’s system and makes blood vessels get clogged easily. That is why diabetics should really be watchful of their health.”

HEART TO HEART

Dr. Adolfo Bellosillo

For many years, we have heard and read several  information on keeping the heart in good condition. Health conscious friends and relatives have shared those tips in small talks or via the social media  where everyone is free to publish information, verified or not.  To help us discern fact from myth on heart care, Philippine Rotary held a discussion with Dr. Adolfo Bellosillo, a cardiologist at the Makati Medical Center and founding president of the Foundation for Lay Education on Heart Diseases that disseminates public information on prevention of cardiac ailments.

 You need to exercise at least an hour daily to keep the heart healthy.

MYTH

“Not necessarily,” says Dr.Bellosillo, considering that there are people whose hectic schedules won’t allow them to hit the gym daily. On the other hand,  Dr. Bellosillo says this should not be an excuse to ditch exercise or live a sedentary lifestyle which makes one prone to stroke and heart attack. To maintain a healthy heart, he recommends allotting 30 minutes , three times a week at least, for exercise.

The heart expert also suggests exercises that  1) involve  alternate contraction and relaxation of the body’s big muscles such as legs and arms; 2) increase heart rate at a desired level; and  3)something one could do regularly  like running and dancing.

However, Dr.Bellosillo cautions that there are some forms of exercise that could be harmful, especially if one has a heart problem. “We do not recommend exercises that will put muscles in a prolonged contraction like chinning bar and water skiing because these increase blood pressure,” he says. 

Men are more prone to heart disease than women.

MYTH

“Actually, the risk is almost the same in both genders depending  on the kind of heart disease,” the good doctor emphasizes.  He further elucidates that  during the early years, the risk of atherosclerotic heart disease, the build-up of plaques in the blood vessels that lead to stroke and heart attack, is higher in men than in women. However,  when women reach the age of menopause, the incidence of heart attack becomes almost equal with men and, worse, when women have a heart attack, it is more fatal. “The reason for this is, probably, because women are protected during their childbearing years by their hormones,” Dr. Bellosillo, who have served as resource speaker  in several health symposiums in the country and across the globe,  explains.

Margarine is better than butter

MYTH

Dr. Bellosillo observes many people accept  as  true gospel  that margarine is a healthier choice than butter, because margarine  is made from vegetable oils and higher in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats (“good” fats) in comparison to butter which is made from animal fat which contains cholesterol and high levels of saturated fat.  However, he warns that  there are some margarines that contain trans fat that, like saturated fat, increases blood cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease. In addition, trans fat lowers high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol levels.  Thus, Dr. Bellosillo cautions not to consume much of margarine.

Aspirin can help lower risk of heart attack.

FACT 

The heart expert points out that heart attack is usually triggered when platelets in the blood suddenly aggregate which blocks blood flow.  He says, studies have shown that aspirin diminishes  the tendency of platelets to aggregate, therefore it helps lower the risk of heart attack. Though, Dr. Bellosillo advises about the proper intake of aspirin. “While I strongly advocate that almost all heart medications should be taken on an empty stomach for better absorption, however, aspirin should not be taken before a meal because it has an irritating effect to the stomach and one can develop gastritis.” He advises that it is best to take the said drug late in the evening because it will help prevent platelet aggregation which happens at 4 a.m.

 Eat only fat-free foods to protect your heart.

MYTH

This is a misconception, the cardiologist expounds, that drive some people to become too much conscious of their fat intake, prefering to eat fat-free food products only. “One needs fats for other purposes in the body. It helps in the integrity of the membrane of cells. The body also needs it in the production of hormones and other chemicals. Cholesterol can be harmful only if it is in excess,” says Dr. Bellosillo.

 Red wine is good for the heart.

MYTH

“On  certain occasions where liquor is being served, preferably, one  should go for red wine but should not make it a practice to have wine regularly because it has negative effects on other organs like the liver,” Dr. Bellosillo recommends. Compared to white wine, he says,  red wine contains more antioxidants that protect cholesterol from oxidation. On the other hand, the downside is that alcohol has harmful effects on other organs of the body.

Hypertension can be cured.

MYTH 

According to Dr.  Bellosillo many people have  misapprehension  that hypertension is curable, but the fact is that it is a lifetime disease. “There are no medications and surgical procedures that can cure hypertension that is why one with this condition needs  regular intake of medicines to be protected from persistently elevated blood pressure.”

Sex can keep the heart healthy.

MYTH: 

People like to hear that sex is good for the heart, but the wisdom of the heart specialist claims that, actually, it depends on how one does it.  For Dr. Bellosillo sex can be considered as a work out, and  most likely, If one is physically active during sexual intercourse, there are health benefits . However, he cautions that sexual activity is not as good as aerobics or jogging. “There are  qualifications for a physical activity to have a good effect on the heart. First, it must use the big muscles in alternate contraction and relaxation. Second, it must be done regularly.  Lastly,  it must raise one’s heart rate to a desired level for 30 minutes. “ Based on research, the good doctor clarifies that the desired heart rate during sexual intercourse is only reached during orgasm. “Can orgasm last for half an hour? Based on that argument, sex  is not a good form of exercise to keep the heart healthy,” says  the veteran cardiologist.

Dr. Bellosillo further advises that having sex in the morning can be dangerous for individuals who suffer from hypertension and coronary heart disease due to the phenomenon called Circadian Variation. “If one has a coronary heart disease or hypertension, moments that will make one’s  heart beat fast and hard must be avoided because the heart will require more oxygen which will not easily pass through. Studies have shown that in the mere process of waking up in the morning, one’s adrenal glands are already being stimulated to secrete hormones called adrenaline and nor-adrenaline. These hormones are notorious for making one’s heart beat faster and harder, so how much more if one  exercises or engages in sexual intercourse,” he says. However, he prescribes to  those who can’t really resist, to take their medication  beforehand.

 It is ok to consume fast foods as long as you exercise.

MYTH

The heart specialist reveals that fast foods, like hotdog, hamburger and French fries, usually contain a lot of saturated fats, such that even if one does  exercise but  eats too much of these kinds of food, one’s cholesterol level will still go up. “Whatever the beneficial effect of exercise on one’s body is nullified by excessive intake of saturated fats which are present in fast foods,” explains Dr. Bellosillo.  He advises that it is important to know one’s risk factors and work on them.

Dr. Bellosillo and me

(Published in Philippine Rotary magazine May 2015 issue; photos by: Carmen Dela Cerna)

THE CHALLENGE OF INCLUSIVE GROWTH

The Philippines continues to impress the world with its outstanding economic performance. But do the poor benefit from it?

The Philippine economy is in bloom. In terms of gross domestic product (GDP), the basis of measuring a country’s total economic performance, the Philippines recorded an average growth rate of 6.3 percent from 2010 to 2013 to become the second fastest growing economy in Asia, next to China.  In 2014, the Philippines posted an annual GDP of 6.3 percent, mostly driven by the sectors of services, agriculture, manufacturing and construction. Indeed, the Philippines has transformed from the “Sick Man of Asia” to the region’s tiger economy, an outstanding accomplishment that the current administration takes pride in.

However, in spite of the impressive numbers, a huge portion of the population have yet to feel the positive impact of the economic progress.  According to a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations in the last quarter of 2014, fifty-two percent (52%) of Filipino families (about 11.4 million households) perceive themselves as poor.  The study even noted that 2014, despite the slight improvement, was the worst in eight years in terms of self-rated poverty. Furthermore, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that poverty incidence among Filipinos was at 25.8 percent in the first semester of 2014, up from 24.6 percent in the same period in 2013.

In the rural areas, the economic boost is barely felt by farmers like Eduardo Manango who operates a mango farm in Isabela. He complains that earnings went down, most probably also due to the attendant unpredictable weather pattern that negatively affects his yield. He added that farmers, especially the small ones, really experience difficulty in earning money beyond the harvest season.  “The income is only seasonal. This setting forces poor farmers to avail loans just to meet the needs of their farms and families. But this usually sinks them into debt,” said the 57 year old farmer.

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV believes that if the poverty rate in the country remains high despite the lofty economic growth figures, the Philippines can’t claim brimming economic success. “No one can deny that our growth is there, but the problem is that this is not an inclusive growth. Our economy is growing in leaps and bounds, but it is not getting where it needs to be,” he said. 

As elucidated by the World Bank, as it defined inclusive growth, “the pace and pattern of growth, which are interlinked and must be addressed together. Rapid pace of growth is unquestionably necessary for substantial poverty reduction, but for this growth to be sustainable in the long run, it should be broad-based across sectors, and inclusive of the large part of a country’s labor force. This definition implies a direct link between the macro and micro determinants of growth.”

Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, stated that the Philippine Government could bring the positive impact of the country’s economic growth to the poor communities and rural areas by encouraging them to get into business. “If we want to push for inclusive growth, we need to be able to energize the communities through real markets, through real businesses,” the legislator from Tarlac stated. However, he emphasized that providing livelihood training to people is not sufficient. The government should also help micro, small  and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sell their products properly by linking the communities with the markets.

To help the country realize inclusive growth, Aquino authored the Go Negosyo Act enacted by the Congress in 2014. The law seeks to speed-up the business registration process and boosts support for MSMEs. It also mandates every local government unit in the country to set up a Negosyo Center, under the supervision of the Department of Trade and Industry, where small business, farmers, producers and cooperatives could tap financial assistance and training. Negosyo Centers can also help MSMEs in developing marketing strategies.

Aquino cited the business partnership between Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), the largest food service company in the Philippines, and the KALASAG Farmers Producers Cooperative in Nueva Ecija as one of the best examples of the positive impact of linking communities and markets. JFC tapped the local farmers to supply up to 80 percent of onions requirements of their restaurant chain of more than 1,200 stores nationwide. Though Jollibee does not necessarily buy the onions at a higher price, the regularity of their business tie-up provided a stable source of income for around 200-300 farmers of KALASAG that eventually got them out of poverty. They were able to send their children to school, purchase motorcycles and improved their home structures. One of the onion growers who benefited from this eight-year project is Randy Dizon, 34, of Brgy. San Agustin. Dizon earned PhP150,000 from the 360 bags of onions harvested in 2010, as reported by the Alay sa Kaunlaran Inc. The success of the business partnership has improved not only the farmers’ lifestyle but also their self-esteem. “They now think of themselves as entrepreneurs, as business people, and that mindset is important to drive people out of poverty,” said Aquino.

To further help MSMEs, the Senator filed The Fair Competition Bill  which aims to prevent big companies from monopolizing the market to give a fair chance to MSMEs’ businesses to prosper. “If a large company, because of its market dominance, is edging an MSME out, the latter can file a complaint and the former can be fined and in some cases, may even be criminally charged. It is a powerful bill,” said Aquino. As of this writing, The Fair Competition Bill is on its third reading in the Senate,  while awaiting its passage in the House of Representatives.

For Senator Aquino, attaining inclusive growth is more of a moral imperative than an economic challenge wherein the government needs to work hand in hand with the private sector to bring down poverty rate and enabling the underprivileged enjoy benefits of economic growth. “It’s a huge thing that the market, as represented by the private sector, is engaged in getting our country out of poverty,” he expressed.

In the same light, the youngest senator believes that service organizations like Rotary, through its diverse membership composed of businessmen and professionals dedicated to service, could play a crucial role in promoting inclusive growth in the country.  He encourages Rotarian businessmen to engage their companies in providing long-term livelihood support to poor communities. “You don’t have to be a top 100 company like Jollibee or Nestle. You can actually look at your own company’s activities and identify which of these could be venues for community services.”

 Art by: Carmen Dela Cerna

Published in: April 2014 Philippine Rotary magazine 

BIRTHING BLUES

Photo courtesy of  www.ph.undp.org

The Philippine Government faces greater challenges in meeting some of its UN Millenium Development Goals (MDG) as the deadline draws near. One of these targets is to lower maternal morality rate (MMR) to 52 per 100,000 live births by 2015. The latest statistics indicate that instead of dropping, MMR jumped from 162 in 2008 to 221 in 2011. And the Department of Health (DOH) knows this only too well.   

According to Dr. Diego Danila (national program manager of DOH’s Maternal, Newbord, Child Health and Nutrition Task Force) reducing MMR is indeed a tough task because it is such a complex issue. It requires the national government and the local government units (LGU) to work hand in hand and address the issue more efficiently.

Still, various programs are unceasingly conducted by the DOH to improve health services for mothers and their babies, especially those who belong to the poor communities. “It may be difficult but the efforts of the government are continuous. The indicators show positive signs in some areas like facility-based delivery going up both in public and private [health units],” said Danila.

The doctor identified the top five factors that contribute to the rise of MMR in the country: non-belief in pre-natal care because some mothers were able to give birth successfully even without it; far distrance of health centers; poverty; lack of moneu to buy pre-natal vitamins; and teenage pregnancy  (which are usually not being reported as this is still a taboo in the Filipino society).

One of the initial steps taken by the DOH to lower down MMR and encourage mothers to seek professional care during pregnancy and delivery was the passage of the “No Home Birthing Policy” during the administraiton of then-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Presiden Benigno Aquino III retained the said policy and updated it to maternal, new-born, child health and nutrition (MNCHN) stragegy.

But the policy faced opposition from various officials and organizations. They argued that banning home birthing is not the right solution for the rising toll of maternal deaths in the country for it would just make birth-giving more difficult for poor mothers, especially those who dwell in remote areas where health facilities are scarce.

Danila clarified that there is no law that prohibits mothers to give birth in their homes if they want to. “What we have is an advocacy, a recommendation which you can either follow or not,” he said.

Their message to mothers, however, is that if there is an available health facility near them, make use of that. “We’re increasing the number of facilities and trained doctors, nurses, and midwives; plus we enroll you to Phil Health (a health card), “ Danila added.

He also said that if mothers really want to have their delivery at home because they think they’re safe there, they could. “However, we can tell you that studies sow that it is safer for mothers to give birth in a health facility than in her house. Doctors, equipment, and medicines are available in a facility,” the health official stated.

BRIGHT SIGNS

Despite the criticisms, the DOH pursues the strategy together with programs aimed at improving and bulding more birthing facilities. It also targets the training of more health personnel in basic as well as comprehensive emergency obstetric and new-born care.

As of the latest DOH data, there are 1,598 basic emergency obstetric and new-born care facilities in the country and 270 comprehensive ones. Danila is positive that thes programs are encouraging a number of mothers to give birth in birthing facilities.

Interview with Dr. Danila of the DOH

The latest stats of the DOH indicated improvement in maternal and child health care in the country. Antenatal care coverage has increased from 77.8 percent in 2008 to 78 percent in 2011, closer to the 2015 target of 85 percent. The study also indicated that 73 percent of mothers received assistance from health professionals compared to 62 percent in 2008.

Frequency of postnatal care received by mothers within the first week of delivery also boosted to 84 percent, almost hitting the 2015 target of 85 percent, while the frequence of postnatal care received by new-borns wthin first week of delivery registered at 86 percent.

The campaign has also reached indigenous communities that observe tribal birth-giving rituals and preger delivery by trraditional birth attendant (TBA) or hilot, and normally rejecting the modern and scientific way of delivery. Danila cited the case of the Mangyan tribe in the mountains of Mindoro. Traditionally, when a mother is about to give birth, all the members of the tribe gets involved—making the situation too crowded for a common birthing facility space to handle.

This custom is one of the reasons why mothers of the tribe did not want to deliver in a birthing facilty. To address the issue, the DOH and LGU build a huge hut near their community to serve as a bithing center. The hut is equipped with facilities and medical professionals, and is spacious enough to accomodate the accompanying tribesmen. “We respect their ways,” Danila said.

Dr. Danila admits that hitting the MDG by 2015 is a hard nut to crack but he is optimistic that the Philippines’ maternal and child health will eventually improve further. But that would also depend on the political will of the local government units. “In public health, you have to understand all stakeholders. If you don’t, the beneficiaries will suffer. A lot of governors, LGU executives in the country are not callous about health care; they just don’t understand it. So you need to expalin it to them. The bottleneck also occurs with municipal doctors who do not know how to advocate. Some of them are not active in pushing [health] advocacies,” he said.

(Article originally published in Philippine Rotary magazine December 2013

Photo: Carmen Dela Cerna)

LISTEN TO THEIR STORY

Rotary PID scholars: (standing) Hanna Olivares,
Charles Munoz, Marjobelle Estrologo;
(sitting) JV Cielos, Kirvy Tejada, Daryl Pilotin

It’s a bright Monday morning. Elementary and high school students line up at the school grounds for the flag-raising ceremony. A young lady goes in front to conduct and leads the singing of the National Anthem while the Philippine Flag is being slowly raised on the flagpole. With right hand on chest, every pupil sings “Lupang Hinirang” with energy. This may look like a regular flag ceremony but it is not—because this kids singing in unison actually have hearing and speech problems.

They are students of the Philippine Institute for the Deaf (PID), a school founded in 1988 by the late Dr. Sergia G. Esguerra, considered as the “Mother of Special Education in the Philippines”, and her daughter Julie, an outstanding special education and speech correction teacher.

PID teaches persons with speech and auditory problems to speak and communicate like individuals with normal hearing. The system that the institution is called oral education—a training on how each sound is produced through mouth and tongue positioning, drawing of speech profile, feeling the vibration of vocal and nasal muscles, transcribing visually hard words, and hand analogy of mouth movements. It includes endless speech drills and constant feedback on how to master the everyday language through one-on-one speech therapy classes with the help of powerful hearing aids. PID also conducts auditory training activities that teach the students how to interpret, master, and respond to what they hear in their environment.

Hanna shows a sample
 of her artwork compiled
in her sketchpad

According to the World Health Organization, 360 million people (5.3 percent of the world’s population) suffer from disabling hearing loss. Thirty-two million (nine percent)  of them are children.  The report also indicated that the prevalence of hearing loss in both adults and children is greatest in the regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Asia Pacific, which includes the Philippines.

For 15 years, the Rotary Club of Makati has been helping PID with scholarships as well as donations of learning facilities, like computers, through the initiative of Cesar Campos, past club president.

Evelyn S. Cataga, PID assistant director and marketing manager, acknowledges these significant contributions of Rotary for their continued operation. There are a number of students who belong to poor families that could not afford the high cost of special education in the said institution and the school only receives minimal assistance from the government.

This is why the management, faculty, and scholars of PID are indeed grateful that Rotary is always there to hear their plea and help them.

Training Techniques

Jasmine Concepcion
and PID Acting Principal
Maricris Ibayan

Aside from the speech therapy and classes, PID teaches its students academic subjects according to the K+12  curriculum of the Department of Education in a more simplified approach.

Maricris P. Ibayan, curriculum planer and acting principal, said the institution emphasizes on helping the students live normal lives by building their confidence, an essential factor in developing their speaking skills, and to be comfortable in interacting with other individuals.

Ibayan added that they also stress upon the parents that speech development practices should not only be done in school to further the child’s progress. “We always remind the parents to constantly work out their children’s speech and confidence even at home so they won’t be discriminated against. Persons with normal hearing get harassed or bullied, how much more those who have hearing problems? So we advise them to give their child more experience and exposure to boost  their self esteem,” Ibayan said.

Whenever the PID faculty sees a potential talent in a student, they assist him to develop it. Like they are doing to grade eight student Jasmine Concepcion, 15, the girl who led the singing of the National Anthem earlier. 

Students do some exercise

Jasmine expressed her passion for music despite her congenital hearing impairment. It is really difficult for her to hear sounds. So to cope, she relies mostly on lip-reading or sign language in communicating without hearing aid. And yet, she aspires to be a music artist someday like her idol, Taylor Swift.

According to Cataga, PID is training Jasmine to further improve her talent, with the hope that someone from the music industry would notice her and help the young lady live her dream.

Normal Lives

Jasmine’s case is not a frist for PID. A former student, Denisse Lincuando, turn out to be the first deaf ballerina of Ballet Manila, the company of prima ballerina Liza Macuja-Elizalde.  (Check her
 amazing ballet performance in the video below)

Aside from Lincuando, there are other PID alumni who are now professionals and entrepreneurs, proving that they could succeed in life like normal people.

Lisa Madeja lecturing her pupils

Another alumna the institute is proud of is Lisa Madeja, 29, who now teaches math, languages, speech, reading, writing, music, arts, and physical education to kindergarten pupils at the PID.

Madeja, deaf since birth, is a graduate of computer technology and early childhood development and education at Miriam College. She shares that her hard working parents and former instructors at the PID inspired her to persevere in reaching her goals, a trait she wishes for her pupils as well.

For more information about PID and how you can help their students, please visit their website: www.pidmanila.com.

(Photos by: Carmen Dela Serna)

Originally published in Philippine Rotary magazine, December 2014

SERVICE BEHIND BARS

In the late 2014 the controversy in the New Bilibid Prision, the Philippines maximum security prison, was among the top stories in the news. The Department of Justice discovered that some high profile, rich inmates were getting special treatment behind bars and imprisoned drug lords still operate their dirty business behind bars.

When I heard this news, it reminded me of one extraordinary experience I had in 2014 when I covered a story about a Rotarian doctor who conducts free medical services to diabetic inmates in  Bilibid. I and our photographer had the opportunity to enter the New Bilibid Prison and talk to some prisoners there. Words could not describe the feeling I had when I was there-- in the midst of convicted criminals. The emotion was a mix of fear, excitement, and sympathy.  I was also surprised to see that, contrary to the images projected in the movies, Bilibid  is actually a community, like a barangay of prisoners where they could roam around and hang out. They have stores, basketball court, tennis court, restaurants. No wonder why some inmates wouldn't want to get out of that place!

 Here's my story published in the July 2014 issue of Philippine Rotary magazine:

SERVICE BEHIND BARS

Dr. Nick Villatuya

Norman Talibot, 77, has been incarcerated in the compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) for 35 years, serving a life sentence. Though restricted within the high, barbed wired concrete walls of the country’s maximum security prison, Talibot still looks forward to waking up every day to serve his fellow inmates who are afflicted with diabetes. Behind bars, he has found a new meaning in life as amember of the BuCor Inmates Diabetes Association (BIDA), a group of NBP prisoners who are trained to educate and assist prisoners with diabetes.  

BIDA was organized by Dr. Melanie Duran, resident diabetologist at NBP Hospital, in 2006. It treats around 300 inmates with diabetes, a lifelong and costly condition that could result into serious complications like heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage, stroke, amputation of limbs, and blindess. Every day the members of BIDA, including Talibot, monitor diabetic prisoners confined in the prison hospital ward, most of whom are already in their late years and had already been abandoned by their families. BIDA also conducts checkups and give lectures about the disease.

In 2012, BIDA partnered with the Rotary Club of Alabang to strengthen their efforts toward this initiative. Led by Dr. Nick Villatuya, a diabetologist and RY 2013-2014 club president. RC Alabang is also spearheading a signature service program on diabetes awareness as well as supports BIDA’s initiatives by providing medicines, insulin, and medical equipment. Villatuya also conducts medical services for diabetic inmates every week.

BIDA members checking up diabetic inmates

Villatuya, founder of Diabetes Education Assistance and Research Foundation Philippines that assists underprivileged diabetic patients, says that the service program in the NBP is one that is close to his heart, despite of the high risk involved. Weekly, he is exposed to 13,000 convicted criminals belonging to 13 rival prison gangs. “There are things that I gain from the prisoners that are greater t what I receive than the ones I provide them. These are knowledge, experience, insights, stories, and even care. The risk is outweighed by what I receive, which can never be stolen from me. Material riches fade away, but these things that make you wiser in understanding your fellowmen is irreplacable,” said Villatuya, who also works as a medical consultant at the Alabang Diabetes Clinic in Muntinlupa City.

Dr. Villatuya checks up a patient in the ward

The World Diabetes Fouation recognized BIDA for its notable effort during the 2012 Global Diabetes Walk. In this activity, 1,000 inmates from different gangs joined the walk within the NBP compound. The gangs set aside their differences and formed a big blue circle, showing their unity in the fight against diabetes. The individuals who witnessed the scene described it as “a rare moment of civility” as members of notorious prison gangs peacefully gathered in one place.

Inmates from different prison gangs in the New Bilibid Prison show their unity in the fight
against diabetes during the 2012 Global Diabetes Walk (Photo courtesy of Dr. Duran)

Such a feat is among the priceless rewards that inspire BIDA and RC Alabang to continue their service behind bars—proving that “Service Above Self” knows no boundaries and trancends through the high concrete walls of a maximum security prison. “It is very rewarding. Service to fellowmen does not choose places. Even inside or outside a prisons or in the church, if there’s someone who needs help, we will be there,” Villatuya said.

(Photos by: Carmen Dela Cerna)