There were
various activities that I have attended. These include meetings, field
exposures and meeting different people. Participatory Rapid
Assessment/Appraisal, PORAS, Tribal Assembly and MITA meeting are major
activities that I’ve been during my training.
Activity: Participatory Rapid Assessment/Appraisal (PRA) Workshop
Date: February 16-27, 2015
Venue: Brgy. Banglasan and
Brgy. Camansi, Montevista, Comval Province
 |
PRA Workshop with the Brgy. Council, and
Health Practitioners of Camansi, Montevista, Comval |
We conducted
PRA Workshop in two barangays for two consecutive days. The activity was organized
for health assessments. The activity was attended by the council and health
practitioners (BNS, BHW’s, CHT, Midwife) in the barangay. The activity was
delivered by the team that have opened the minds of the participants of all the
concerns and issues in health. The two day activity was successfully conducted
and delivered in two barangays.
There were
problems that I encountered during the PRA workshop. Since it was my first time
to speak in front of people I got scared – Stage fright in other words. Though
it is normal to get nervous whenever we speak in front of people I said to myself that I will get used to it.
Problems in the road and other factors are things
that I encountered during the
two days of workshop.
There are
things that I learned during my training and that opened my horizon into a new
perspective. A two day activity has introduced me into challenges (roads, mode
of transportation and the culture) in reaching communities. The activity also
enhanced my communication skills and interpersonal skills because I have met
people and shared ideas. Therefore, this activity have opened my mind into what
really the kind of work that I am into.
Activity: Peoples Organization Rating Assessment, Tribal Assembly and
MITA Meeting
Date: February 18-20, 2014
Venue: ABC Hall and Brgy.
Gymnasium, Brgy. San Jose, Montevista, Comval Province
My experience
was heating up as the day passed by. The planned activities were presented to
us and a new experience has to come. The Peoples Organization Rating Assessment
(PORAS) was conducted by the team. The activity was organized to assess the
present status of the organization for future developments. The activity was
attended by the IP leaders of the Municipality (Cheiftain, IPMR). PORAS tool
was presented by the team. The participants answered questions and raised
concerns. During the discussion there were long due issues were discussed that
consumed much time. It was a whole day activity. Present during the activity
was the Project Manager of the IP-MNCHN (Mila Chavez) who helped the team in
emphasizing the main purpose of the PORAS. This gave some IP leaders the
opportunity to invite us to observe in their Tribal Assembly specifically in
Brgy. San Jose.
The next day
before the Tribal Assembly we accompanied one of the CO's to follow up the
attendance of the conducted PRA in Brgy. Lebanon. We went to the place with a 3
kilometre ride from poblacion area. This activity served as the exposure for
the OJT. Upon reaching the place the council was conducting the regular
session. We observed for a short time while we were waiting for the attendance.
Right after the completion of the documents, we then went back to poblacion
area to prepare for the Tribal Assembly.
The weather
was not good that afternoon. Together with the team leader we observed the
assembly as they plan for the upcoming barangay fiesta celebration. The meeting
discussed matters on the membership, tribal marriage and upcoming participation
of the IP in the barangay activities. We were task to observe the deliberation
of the meeting to determine the gaps and other facilitating factors. The
activity was successfully conducted though there were things that are not
cleared.
On the next
day we were task to observe the Monthly meeting of the Montevista Integrated
Tribal Association (MITA) for us to determine what are ways on how they conduct
meetings. The prime purpose of the said observation was to assess them. The
participants were there and normally some members came late. The meeting started with the preliminaries and then followed by the normal way of
conducting a meeting. The whole duration was quite bad because the entire
member cannot really do the right way. The procedure applied in the meeting was
informal. Moreover, the presider wasn’t so effective in organizing the flow of
discussion. The rules (if there’s any) was suspended because of the invited
visitors from PAMULAHAN and 25
th IB Batalion (Lt. Col. Michele
Anayron, Jr.) that gave their insights about agriculture and war concerns,
respectively.
Those three
activities were three major activities that have helped me in understanding the
real context of the IP-MNCH project. However there were problems that have made
positive effect to me. Both PORAS and MITA are activities that need to have
skill of synthesizing the idea. The difficulty in extracting the ideas in
arguments and discussions was really there. Understanding well and setting
yourself in focus became hindering factors.
I have
learned that these groups of people really need assessment and assistance.
Understanding them was one of the most powerful tools in dealing IP’s because
they are not oriented with the trends in organization. I also realized that the
project (IP-MNCHN) is essential in enhancing the and empowering the IP
Communities to gain access to health and other benefits that government is
providing. Those activities enlightened my mind.
Reflection
For almost a week in the field
for the first time, there were things that I cherished most and those were the
experience of being with the people in the community and being with the team
mates. I appreciate how these people shared not only the learning of the
project but the learning of how life works as well. My knowledge about health
was enhanced and especially in dealing with the Indigenous community.
I learned the importance of
the CO’s in delivering the services (technical) because these people are the
front liner of the institute. I am really looking forward to seeing myself one
day as an effective and efficient staff of the institution as an epitome of
what really social work is. A week of experience taught me to value commitment
and responsibility, on how focus on my goals and on how to manage my time
wisely.
Every Project presented the
accomplishments and other highlights for the month of March. IMPACT, as a new
project, delivered the project Orientation while the AMCCAP, on its gradual
phase out reported the general accomplishments and stressed out the big impact
that the project bring to the community. The activity resulted to the
identification of plans and targets per Key Results Area which is vital to the
entire operation of the IPHC. The people-centered approach was emphasized in
the activity. Community Organizers and OJT’s embarked additional knowledge to
take extra effort in the field.
