As a Concerned Bystander, I not only watch the passage of the stream of life, thanks to the mass media coverage of broadcast and print, but I’m sometimes drawn along, if I do not go with it, even in memories of times past.
When classes in public schools in the country opened last Tuesday, the influx of pupils and students was overwhelming in places that were spared by recent calamities, or slightly damaged and aided by local and outside efforts at rehabilitation in the aftermath. The increase in student enrollees this year was mainly due to transferees from calamity-hit areas and those from private schools that have raised their fees.
There were now the aggravated problems on lack of safe classrooms, school supplies and even teachers plagued by the need for higher salaries. And the current implementation of the new K-12 curriculum and multi-lingual education as well as the proposal for a 3-day school week in certain places.
As a former school teacher when “School days (were) dear old golden school days of (the 3 Rs) Readin’, Ritin’ and ‘Rithmetic,” so I could now appreciate all and even more of what modern parents, educators and government are doing for our children today.
On the cultural side, in the past month of May, there was the beautiful Gabii sa Kabilin, the Flores de Mayo, and the Santacruzan.
In environmental concerns, care of still remaining age-old and indigenous trees, continue to be of public and governmental concern. Environmentalist lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos of the Philippine Earth Justice Center has brought to public attention the need to implement interagency partnership per Memo Circular 98-01, of the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources and of the Interior and Local Government.
And more on trees and the environment, June declared the Month of the Environment, now further highlights the importance and further protection of mangroves, currently threatened by modern building and reclamation projects.
As for the weather, with many of us suffering from the most unusual current heat, the recent bursts of rain in certain areas of the country hopefully presages the rainy season predicted by the state’s weather bureau to come in the later weeks of June.
In the shifting developments in current events, we learn that some technical weather people in government have resigned for better paid jobs abroad. Sad and regrettable for the country.
More on current events, the pork barrel scam that erupted in media reports involving elected and government people in high places who until now “remain untouched,” continues to be current, with shifting loyalties and accusations involving Janet Napoles, Benhur Luy and other news breakers in revelations of scandals. And the revelation of more of “taped-baby” scandals.
The latest (and later) Commission on Appointments approvals? Abangan for more developments.
For more positive developments with civic groups I am involved in, our Cebu United Radio and TV, Inc meeting last Sunday took up more on our fund-raising developments for the benefit of our needy members.
A most lively, interesting and interested networking forum of our Zonta Club of Cebu-1 (Z-1) with the Vicente Gullas Memorial Hospital (VGMH) group and a large multi-sectoral group, was held on Violence Against Women at the VGMH Crisis Intervention and Referral Center. Z-1Mila Espina hosted the forum on the project presented by Z-1 project director Beverly Dayanan.
The forum involved a large community gathering, including representatives of government and private organizations involved in the subject, particularly barangay captains and Philippine National Police involved in safety and security; social organizations for temporary shelter and livelihood; medical and mental institutions led by VGMH specialists; and legal, spiritual, and press and broadcast media representatives. They gave an overview of the various services they offer.
The forum discussed the several causes of violence against women and children, and the procedures regarding the problems presented but not seen through.
Among others, our Legal Alternatives for Women, Inc offered help in referring victims to the people, groups and organizations that can help them. In this connection, Z-1 Letty Canoy proposed the creation of a directory of agencies and people that may be consulted.
Also proposed were the use and help of mass and social media, as well as consulting other community centers and venues. The forum thus brought out the need for networking with all types of channels and other technical devices which we hoped to get assistance with from our resource panelists. In this case, we plan to create a flow chart at the VAW Center.
Z-1 host Mila Espina and Z-1 president Lucille Colina concluded with Zonta-1 looking forward to connecting us Zonta -1 members with victims as to where they can get help from the resource panelists we invited and involved in this significant forum.
In closing, on a personal note, do include in your prayers for those dearly departed, the soul of my sister-in-law Milagros “Millie” Babiera Ombos of Moalboal town, Cebu, who passed away last May 8th in Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur where she and husband were visiting, because that was where her parents and family had lived before the war. May Milagros’ soul rest in peace. Until next week, then, as always, may God, continue to keep and bless us all!
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