Social Work

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.