A Visit to Brgy. Barangka's Barangay Hall

To see more of how social workers positively impact communities, we delved into one of our local barangays to see what issues are being addressed and what issues still need to be addressed in their localities, the dynamics of their service, and how social workers or anyone in the social work field move to make sure anyone in the area is given the aid they need - whatever it may be.

Though we made an appointment to interview the Barangay Captain, it seemed to be that he needed to do urgent matters when we arrived at the barangay hall which was why we ended up interviewing two kagawad's instead. Sir Boyet Mascarina and Sir Ronnie Tiburcio accommodated us with such hospitality that they even let us sit on the table meant to be sat on by the board of people in the barangay hall and we commenced with our interview.

 Of course, we started with the most important question which was "what kind of social services does the local government unit in Barangka usually give?". The two barangay officials then said that most of the people in need of any social service usually go to the barangay hall first, and they give out quick solutions such as conducting feeding programs, helping in the processing of financial aid, distributing medicines, assisting them in legal cases, and giving of relief goods especially if there are any cases of destruction due to calamities or natural disasters. This was also the number one issue that they faced usually, which was music to our ears because at least their barangay seems to be doing good. 

As a follow up, we asked whether there were any instances where social workers get to collaborate with them in the local government unit's activities, and we were pleased to know that Brgy. Barangka usually coordinates with DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) when they need extra help for special cases or even their daily operations. 

For special cases, they contact the social worker when the case is deemed to be serious or if they feel like they are not qualified enough to provide help. For instance, an old man was disowned by his family. Since they can't make him stay permanently in their center forever, they filed a case to DSWD. However, for some reason, his case was sent back to them. They explained that it was confusing, but they will continue to work on it. 

 

For their daily activities, since social workers could also help in the feeding programs, supplies dissemination and the like, it was implied that they really played a vital role in making the community a better place. This was very significant because while they were explaining, you could tell that they had utmost respect for the people they usually coordinate with. They acknowledged that these were registered social workers that were working with them and not just anyone, which touched us because it meant that even the government treats social workers as professionals. 

Additionally, the importance of human relationships and being able to collaborate with other professionals as stated by our previous lessons were really visible. Apart from DSWD, they also coordinate with public and private health centers and law enforcement to ensure that they keep on serving the public amply through their programs.

 Apart from providing people with financial aid,medicine, and food, the other programs of both the barangay officials and the social workers that work with them reveal their "enabler" roles because of their implemented programs such as the "Youth Task Force" wherein they encourage children to engage in sports activities to tap their potentials and encourage them to devote their time into more productive activities, lessening the risk for them to get involved in juvenile delinquency.

 Another program that struck us because of its promotion for a sense of equality among the community was the exchange-gift program that they hold every Christmas time wherein people they give out gifts to children from the barangay. 

Lastly, they had was the street dance competition that they were very proud of because you could really see the excitement of the people as they watched all the groups performed. Funny enough, once the competition ended, a lot of those who watched went home. The kagawads said that no one really cared about who won, it was the feeling of enjoyment which they valued. Truly, these two activities truly show how even activities like this better the quality of people's lives.

By the end of our interview, we even asked how we could help as simple members of the community and the kagawads said that simply just doing your part like not littering, not being a threat to the safety of the community, and even "paglinis sa tapat ng bahay mo" would make a great difference. 

 In conclusion, we found out that the set of skills and competencies of social workers can be applied to the barangay officials and their programs because their projects exhibit elements that we could relate to being a social worker such as striving for equality, social justice, and providing people with the sense of self-worth and dignity as well as giving them the right to participate in programs intended for the community. We also realized that virtually anyone can practice social care, and that without the collaboration of several professions, we would not be able to enjoy a non-chaotic community that we live in.

 REFERENCES

https://goo.gl/images/yRRhWM

SOCIAL WORK: A PROFESSION WITH A MISSION

The Real Deal About Social Work

In this day and age, a lot of problems plague our society. From poverty, injustice, and inequality, it is inevitable to think that maybe there is no hope. However, we are very fortunate because there are real-life superheroes who aid us in trying to solve these problems. And we are here to tell you about the extraordinary people who continuously help make our world a better place one step at a time. But, who exactly are they?

Of course, they are none other than social workers!

  But what exactly is social work? According to the International Federation of Social Workers, it is a "practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people." In other words, it is an actual career that aims to help people realize their own potentials and help improve their quality of life by either being completely hands-on in their daily routines or helping with the administrative aspect of implementing activities.

What It Takes To Be  A Social Worker

Even if a good number of people want to pursue social work, some have their doubts because there is a common stereotype that being a social worker is not a real profession or that there are not much rewards in the profession. Contrary to that stereotype, being a social worker is actually as professional as any career can get. In fact, according to Republic Act No. 4373. entitled "An Act to Regulate the Practice of Social Work and the Operation of Social Work Agencies in the Philippines", to become a registered  social worker, one must pass a  written examination given by the Board and must comply with these requirements as stated in the act:

(a)    He or she is a citizen of the Philippines;

(b)    He or she is at least twenty-one years of age;

(c)    He or she is in good health and is of good moral character;

(d)    He or she has received a diploma as holder of a bachelor's degree in social work from an institution, college or university duly accredited and legally constituted; and

(e)    He or she has completed a minimum period of one thousand case hours of practical training in an established social work agency under the direct supervision of a fully trained and qualified social worker.

Social Work Is Multi-Faceted

 Contrary to popular belief, they don't all have the same tasks to accomplish and places to be assigned. Some of them may be assigned to hospitals, schools, community centers, mental health institutions, and even corrections because the way they operate is a case-to-case basis. In fact, some social workers work in a micro or one-to-one environment, where their field of expertise is practiced on individual clients.  Some in mezzo environments where they deal with families and small communities, and some in macro environments where they mainly take care of matters in the large scale. Due to this, you might as well consider social workers as actors in a play because they have so many roles to play in their job. Below are the said roles:

1. Educator

Though some social workers become literal teachers in the name of social work, majority of all social workers become educators when they make their clients aware of which steps to take, how to handle certain problems, and inform them of their rights as citizens of this country. For instance, if a child that is being abused by his stepfather afraid to speak up because she feels as if she is powerless against her father, the social worker can inform her and her family that she can legally go to certain agencies of the government for help as it is her right as a human being to ask for justice.

2. Advocates

As a social worker seeing truly what happens behind closed doors in every marginalized community, one tends to start advocating for the same advocacies some of their clients are supporting. For example, the Children's Cancer Foundation continues to speak up for children with cancer and continues to lobby with politicians to promulgate medical laws that are of help to cancer patients.

3. Administrators

Since social workers are known to be very hands-on and interactive when it comes to their day-to-day sessions with their clients, another side to their job is becoming organizers as they take care of the administrative tasks such as preparing all the materials for a certain activity, arranging the chronological order of events for the day, and even collaborating with several volunteers to further increase the meaningfulness of their programs.

4. Facilitators

Usually our idea of social workers, they also become facilitators where they become the "hosts" of a certain event, guiding the clients and spearheading the flow of the program. Usually, they are the ones that answer all the queries of the participants and caters to the organizational aspect of their programs.

5. Brokers

As they simply cannot intervene with special cases and cases in general, they become the people who refer people to other professionals to treat them the way they need to be treated. This usually happens in case management, where the social worker gauges what kind of professional is most suited to operate with the case. Some professionals potentially referred by a social worker are lawyers, psychologists, guidance counselors, and even public law enforcement employees.

It's all about the core values.

Now that we have explored what one needs to do to and which roles to play in order to become a social worker, it is imperative to realize that the field of social work celebrates the joy of helping and the spirit of sharing sustainable means of living for the benefit of marginalized communities. With that being said, the following are some basic core values that continue to permeate this profession and inspire the social workers to continue doing what they are doing:

1. Service

Being a social worker means putting the needs of others above your own. The main point of involving yourself with social work means addressing social problems and expecting nothing in return. You let the reward of a job well done and a life fixed give you happiness the monetary assistance lacks. Especially here in the Philippines, social work isn't seen as seriously as other professions and that can be grueling on one's life. However, the joy of being able to help and contribute to the well-being of others is what makes it worthwhile.

2. Social Justice

Social work is a call for people to involve themselves in a positive social change. In this world, there is a lot of diversity (education, race, sexuality, and social status are among others). With this diversity comes oppression because of the misunderstanding that some people are more privileged than others. This is a direct contrast to the belief of social workers that everyone is equal and deserving of rights, thus the strive for social justice. Furthermore, this emphasizes the attitude of a social worker to be accepting of people and have no prejudice against those who are different from them. For example, if a social worker is very religious and conservative and their client turns out to be transgender, they must be able to look past that and accept who they are because it is their duty to make sure that people who aren't able to stand up for themselves are represented properly.

2. Competence

Social workers naturally aim to increase their skills and knowledge and put their newfound learning into practice. They gather the experiences they have in different cases to help them become wiser and more capable individuals. In fact, whenever they pursue an action plan, they are always required to base their actions for social or societal theories that backs up their proposed plan of action. This can be done through updating themselves in recent studies or trends in the social work community. Maybe they may even continue their studies and take up a masteral or doctorate degree.

3. Integrity

In all that they do, social workers practice honesty and responsibility. Their actions must reflect the ethical principles and standards not only of the organization that they represent, but also that of their own accord. It has to be a personal sense of integrity since whatever happens to their clients is on them. Sadly, there are cases of unethical standards being done by other social workers such as sexual relations or failure to be responsible leading to extremities such as clients even killing themselves. That is why the value of integrity is to be taken very seriously.

4. Critical Thinking

In situations that take a toll on you, even physically in some cases, your mind must always be sharp and objective. A social worker is subjected to different kinds of people and situations at any given time. They must be able to think clearly and select the best course of action. There may be times that their schedule is packed. Meeting after meeting with different clients, but they must remain sharp and continue giving their services to the best of their ability.

5. Empowerment

Perhaps the most important value to uphold in social work is the value of giving empowerment to individuals. Mentioned before was the state of oppression and how social workers should fight for social justice. In relation to that, it is important to go against oppression because of the dignity and worth of every single person. This is something all of us have the right to possess and we must go against those who discriminate others who think they are beneath them for all are equal human beings. To illustrate, social workers help the discriminated feel not only a sense of belonging in society, but also the feeling of importance and worth.

6. Research

In general, social workers must be able to conduct research effectively. Studies, especially that tackling the state of life people are going through, help in the competence discussed before. It is in these researches that social workers may determine what to do for certain cases or monitor change after projects they facilitated. So not only do social workers gain knowledge, but contribute to it. In this sense, the profession is very much give and take. It also shows just how collaborative it is and how much connections are valued.

7. Time Management

The life of a social worker is usually blessed with case after case. Along with this blessing to be able to help though sometimes  brings the idea of being sent to different areas over long periods of time. You must be prepared to be separated from your loved ones at long lengths of time. Apart from that, when you are around you must be able to manage between your cases and balance out your personal life. In some cases, your personal life may be sacrificed when emergencies regarding the client arises.

8. Relationships

Social work focuses heavily on human interaction. So you must be ready to build RELATIONSHIPS with people, highlighting the focus on earning the person’s trust as well. Besides the clients, social workers must be able to build relationships with their fellow social workers or other professionals as well. Taking their clients into consideration as well, and learning the art of emotional detachment to avoid complications is also a must. This is because you never know where a case may lead and seeking help from others or even referring your client to these professionals will occasionally be what is needed in the situation. One profession that social workers are closely linked with is counseling. When there seems to be a more mental health concern behind the client's case, clearly the social worker is less qualified and should not attempt to diagnose the client if they do not have any legitimate background on counseling and psychology.

9. Crisis Intervention

Last but not least, social workers must be aware about how to execute the solution to the problem they have observed or of what is presented to them by the case of their client. I think I can say that crisis intervention is one of the most important skill you should possess since what you specifically do for the problem is the very heart of being a social worker. For example, if the problem of a client has something to do with substance abuse then how you guide them through their rehabilitation, every choice you make, is essential for them to achieve their goal of getting better and improving their lifestyle. The same goes for every client, every person you will encounter no matter who they are and how big or small their case is.

Seeing Is Believing

Social workers often said that the best benefits that they get from their job is the light feeling of knowing that you helped other people. We never fully understood what it truly meant until we saw it for ourselves. Thanks to several community involvement programs spearheaded by our school, our batch mates got a closer look at the rays of light social workers are shedding to people in need whenever they share their social services to them. Below are the three institutions that we have visited as a batch:

St. Camillus Medhaven

St. Camillus Medhaven is an elderly home where grandfathers and grandmothers are left by their children who can no longer or won’t support them. The sad reality is that there are families that don’t have the capability to care for their grandparents. Some of the elderly are there by choice because they don’t want to be a burden to their children. However, there are some that have been abandoned. They speak of their children who are wealthy yet they are there in a simple elderly home, forgotten. There is no animosity but you can sense the sadness in the atmosphere. Social workers help these elderly by providing them service and giving them the care they do not receive from their family members. Sometimes even helping them stabilize their health, and even help them in their daily activities such as changing their clothes or even feeding them. After hearing the accounts of the elderly, it warmed our hearts that even if they would sometimes feel as if they are neglected, the social workers exert their efforts to make the elderly's remaining days in this world happy by organizing various recreational activities that the elderly find enjoyable and entertaining.

Marikina Youth Home

The average age range of the youth who are brought here are from 16 to 20 years old. We were told that most of them were there because of cases of stealing or drug use. Some of them were caught and others were turned in by their own parents. They were under-aged when they committed their crime and some have spent years in the center as a form of punishment and rehabilitation. It is the social workers that help them sort out their life and help them see themselves as people with worth. Although there are a few with tendencies still linked to delinquency, most of them have changed and would like to do better in their lives once they are out of the center. In this particular trip, we are very amazed by how social workers can still maximize their understanding and patience even when some teenagers sometimes disrespect them. Even with this, they continue to attempt and guide them in the right way, showing exactly how dedicated and kindhearted social workers in nature are.

St. Maria de Mattias Community Center

Young girls (from 5 to 9 years old) who have experienced poverty or abuse go to this center for food and tutorial services. It is the social worker that helps them in going through their personal problems while they work with teachers who help tutor the girls. What was primarily showcased here is the flexibility of the social worker. Not only does he help the girls but he also manages their food, the donations, and even has interactions with the parents in order to teach them more about responsibility. According to the girls, they have really experienced a positive change in their lives, both academically and personally. They no longer feel like they are lower than their peers and recognize their own value as people. This experience is the closest to our hearts, since we ourselves heard how much love and care the people there, especially the resident social worker Sir Jonathan, are being showered to the kids. As he was briefing us about what they do around the center, one cannot deny the utmost passion that he has for his career. His enthusiasm even while explaining the struggles that he experiences is so admirable to us that we concluded that social work really is not a joke. Even if we came there as observers, we genuinely felt the sense of family and mutual respect displayed by both the social workers and their clients.

You can do something!

It's not over yet! Of course, our resident social workers are doing their best to make the world a good place to live in. However, we also have a role that we can play in this story! 

As most of these institutions heavily rely on the goodness of other people's hearts through voluntary giving monetary or material donations, if you are interested to help these amazing organizations continue to improve other people's lives, below are the contact numbers and addresses of the said institutions:

1. Marikina Youth Home

• Children In Conflict with the Law (CICL) Bldg. Bgy. Sta. Elena, Marikina City

• (02) 369-4132

2. St. Maria de Mattias Center

• #112 Ipil St. Marikina Heights, Marikina City, Metro Manila

• (02) 264 - 0372

3. St. Camillus Midhaven

• #29 SE Apitong, Marikina, 1810 Metro Manila

• (02) 948-4456

REFERENCES
http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno4373.html#.Wf8LEVuCze1
http://ifsw.org/policies/definition-of-social-work/
https://www.google.com.ph/search?biw=1242&bih=558&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=lhL_WcWoBJHDkwWwjYLQCg&q=teaching+icon&oq=teaching+icon&gs_l=psy-ab.3...0.0.1.872.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1..64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.2Ggdz77d-Q4#imgrc=-EpfWg__hbksVM:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?biw=1242&bih=558&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=tBL_WevGOI22kwXV5rmoBw&q=SOCIAL+JUSTICE+icon&oq=SOCIAL+JUSTICE+icon&gs_l=psy-ab.3...1427036.1428753.0.1428914.15.8.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..15.0.0....0.rQvzowzV-QU#imgrc=QmHlKdQZ5MGWkM

Being a HUMSS student is far from easy. Days that begin and end with readings, oral reports, debates, and don't get me started on the endless writing exercises. There are days when we just want to throw all our readings in the air like we just don't care.  Despite this though, admittedly, HUMSS students know in their heart of hearts that they love what they do and this is their passion. So here are 11 fulfilling things that all HUMSS students know too well.

1. That fulfilling ctrl+s maneuver 

Oh, yes, you know the one. That satisfying sound of your fingers gently touching the control and s key on the keyboard, signalling the end of your paper-writing perils.Whether it be a technical report, reaction paper, or an analysis, this maneuver, when done, could always be executed with a gleeful "bes finally!" and ending the moment with a silent reflection - realizing that what you have just produced made you socially aware and made you a better writer. Also, you're now ready to get the best set of zzz's you've had in weeks.

2. When you find out most of the week's session is allocated for film viewing

Though you know for a fact that a reaction paper assignment is in order after watching the film, you still get excited about watching motion pictures. Whether it tackles the economic downfall of a great nation or the struggles of an American man becoming the victim of outsourcing, it still excites you because you finally see the importance of social science disciplines such as linguistics, economics, and making the right choices with the help of political science.

3. When you finally know ALL the sides of the story during History

In the inevitable discussion of historical events, you tend to find out interesting trivia about personalities and groups of people. Like, you never knew Hitler adopted a vegetarian lifestyle later in his life because of his resentment towards animal cruelty, nor have you heard of the Mayans sacrificing people to their gods by painting them blue and ripping the victim's still beating heart out of their bodies. Although in-depth discussions about history raise endless amounts of questions and give almost every person trust issues, these tiny discoveries make History class always a refreshing experience.

4. When you finally recite and argue like a pro

Adios to the days when you stuttered and had difficulty in expressing yourself clearly. Due to the endless opportunities to speak up in every HUMSS subject, plus additional knowledge thanks to linguistics' strong link with proper communication, you're now a pro at giving your opinion and insight in almost any subject matter. Thanks, HUMSS. 

5. When you find out your field trip is to go to the SENATE 

Some say it's geeky to be fangirling over the possibility of seeing a senate hearing in action, but for someone who only reads their names and see their faces in newspaper headlines and the evening news, meeting these public officials and seeing them execute their job in person is somewhat like seeing Ryan Gosling act on set for us HUMSS students!

6. When you finally apply economics in your daily life

Though you still have to stop yourself from buying that unnecessary shirt or overly expensive planer, you now know the difference between a want and a need. Applying the concepts of Economics, you are now more able to handle the world of finances -  equipped with knowledge of taxes, supply and demand, and consumer rights. 

7. When your hands have a life of their own in Creative Writing

 You're not quite sure what took over you, but all of a sudden thoughts are flowing out of you like a leaking fountain pen. Time stops, and it's just you and your poem, or short story, or creative essay. It doesn't usually happen, but when it does, you get a taste of what it's like to be part of the human experience. After, you think to yourself, "the world isn't so black and white after all". And also, quite possibly, "Dami mong feels, girl. Chill."

8. When you can finally use the laws to your advantage

Nothing feels better than defending your stance with the help of laws. A taxi driver quarreling with you in public? Hit 'em with the "I have my rights" card and, if you're truly in the right, it's always you at the end with the last laugh. Though in all seriousness, we all know that our collected knowledge of different laws help us to become not only an aware citizen, but also a wise person when faced with uncomfortable situations.

9. When you use Psychology to boost your self-esteem

Now that we've been introduced to Psychology - the science that aims to find out why people act and think like they do, it's such a rewarding feeling to be able to apply these same methods and several researches on self-help to help you build a strong mental attitude. Soon enough, we aren't only helping ourselves, we also start helping other people to flourish.

10. When you find out that the Social Sciences don't disappoint the economy 

According to a social science project by Patrick Dunleavy of the LSE Public Policy Group, the estimated amount of money generated by the social sciences industry in the UK is 2.7 billion pounds. Yes. That much. Who says you can't make a living out of the social science industry? Even a discussion paper written by Vincent Smith in 1998 suggested that social science research, just like the physical sciences "provides new knowledge that can alter the economic welfare of households". What more can you ask for?

11. That feeling when you know you're in the right strand

 

Even if there are days when you doubt whether you still want to participate in our strand's activities or school in general, at the end of the day, you know that HUMSS is your ticket to being a psychologist, anthropologist, lawyer, politician, demographer, anthropologist, or whatever you want to be. You know that you love this strand and it, undoubtedly, makes you happy. Thank you, HUMSS.