GK Sagip Congress

"GK Walang Iwanan! Una sa serbisyo, huli sa benepisyo."

08.23.08

it was a long day for me and kuya don. but it was all worth it. nabuhay ang passion ko sa GK. the SAGIP congress was somehow a reminder to me. it gave me the chance to ask myself, "kamusta na ang service mo sa GK?" unfortunately, medyo natigil ako sa GK because i concentrated on my responsibilities in our chapter. plus the fact that i'm still studying, tapos may tutorial pa. so medyo hectic talaga ang sched. pero yun nga, if you have passion for something, you'll find time to include it in your already busy and full schedule. at eto nga, bukas, balik-SAGIP na ako! wohoo! ang saya! ^_^ nakakatuwa pa kasi pinost ko as status message sa YM na miss ko na yung mga bata. tapos i received an IM from kuya don which says, "you will no longer miss them. sagip profiling on sunday." astig diba! ang bilis ng sagot ni God. hay. makikita ko na uli mga kapatid ko. grabe, tagal ko talaga silang hindi nakasama. i hope they still know me. it really gladdens my heart every time i hear them call my name. i miss them shouting, "ate aiza". hay. can't wait to see them. *excited*

anyway, share ko muna yung mga napag-usapan during the congress.

kuya mari oquinena, in his opening message, said, "always improve yourself. never stop becoming the best that you can be so that you can give the best of who you are and the best of what you have... may children be blessed because of heroes like you."

i was touched by his message, at medyo napahiya rin ako kasi wala pa talaga akong nagagawa masyado. pero dahil din sa message na yun, lalo akong na-inspire to serve, especially sa GK.

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the congress itself...

Topic 1: Safeguarding the Rights of Children
Speaker: Ate Tintin, SFC Makati Chapter

*UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- most widely ratified convention
- signed and ratified by 192 countries, including the Philippines
- global instrument for realizing children's rights

*Children's rights are human rights.
- universal & indivisible
- equal and non-discriminating
- participation & inclusion (human dignity is not an individual, exclusive, and isolated sense; it is a part of our common humanity.)
- accountability & rule of law

*Anatomy of a Right:
- right to what? (claim)
- of who? (claim holder)
- against whom? (duty bearers)

*The rights of a child can be classified into four broad categories: survival, development, protection, and participation.

*No child should be left out!

*Our Roles:
- protect, respect, fulfill/provide, facilitate

*For more info, visit: http://www.unicef.org
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Topic 2: Violence Against Children
Speaker: Ms. Evangeline Lawas, DSWD

*Violence, as defined by R.A. 9262
- refers to any act or series of acts committed by any person that is likely to result in physical, sexual, and/or psychological harm or suffering
- includes threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty

*Forms of Violence Against Children
a. physical violence - includes all sorts of bodily and physical harm
b. sexual abuse

*We should help not just the victim, but the offender as well. Know them - where they came from, their past experiences, etc.

Note: Children who weren't able to recover from abuse are future abusers. So it is important for abused children to be healed physically, and more importantly, emotionally.

*It is also important for parents to be their children's first teachers: Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Teach good things to children, and they will do good things. (Of course there are other influences that could affect a child's behavior, but his learnings from home would still have the greatest effect on his character.)

*A very good quote: "Teach people only their rights, you gain CHAOS. Teach people their responsibilities, you gain REVIVAL." - George Washington
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Topic 3: Sharing the Legacy of Selfless Service
Speaker: Kuya Kinson Asibushi, Miriam College (i'm not sure if i spelled his name correctly. sorry kuya, kung mali.)

Basically, he just presented the social services offered at Miriam. I noted down the striking words I found in his presentation.

*Take the path of servanthood.

*Agents of Change: truth, justice, peace, integration of creation

*See. Judge. Act.

*Stand Out. Make a difference. Be a volunteer.

**The background music in his presentation had an equally important message. I posted it on the Videos section of this site. It's from one of my fave bands, Goo Goo Dolls!**
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Topic 4: The Creation of "The Caring Jesus GK Elementary School"
Speaker: Kuya Dino Pineda

Three things:

1. Sa GK, walang iwanan. Sa GK, lahat ay bayani!

2. Rebel! (definition: to reject accepted conventions of behaviour) Go against the flow! Be the change. Be the light.
1 Timothy 6:18-19. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

3. Commitment! "Ang mamatay ng dahil Sa'yo!"

~To live is to serve. To serve is to live. Less for self. More for others.~