Laro ng Lahi - Vol. 01 (December 2022)

“Volunteers and Partners in Sustainable Nation Building.”

On Losing & On Losing & Finding Our Finding Our Voice Voice

WORDS | Reiza S. Dejito

I grew up in an academic family, where getting good grades was not enough You always have to be on top of the class to get noticed Winning was my default, and so I grew up extremely competitive and was working smoothly towards my dreams

Until one day, one of my aunt’s friends told me that I try too hard For those born in the ‘70s, trying hard has a negative connotation. We were taught to follow and not question, to only conform and comply with societal norms. For everyone else, I was trying too hard And I was ashamed

One of my favorite authors Brene Brown said, “Shame is an unspoken epidemic, the secret behind many forms of broken behavior ” True enough, because of shame, I silenced myself, clipped my wings, and retreated into my cocoon

When I finished school and got a job, I questioned myself whenever I got promoted. Why me? I am not that good. There are others who are more competent and worthier of promotion. All I knew was that I was never good enough

When I conjured up visions of success, it’s not my face I saw It was my mother’s It was my teacher’s It was my colleague’s It was the face of my aunt’s friend. I forgot about my hard work, my determination, my grit. For years, I fought so hard to find myself and my voice again but not without support systems that constantly validated me

Fast forward to the present, I recently spent a weekend morning with our former Agency Youth Council leaders I was asked to share an inspirational message, but instead, I was the one who got inspired.

These are kids who, like me, were silenced by societal norms and expectations These are kids who only knew chaos, abuse, self-depreciation, and low self-esteem not only because of their socio-economic status but more so because of how others treated them and what was said to and of them You see, this is how to create negative perceptions, you say something condescending to someone over and over, and that is what they will become

In the nineties, Japanese scientist Masaru Emoto proved that thoughts and intentions affect physical matter He conducted an experiment where he would label water on petri dishes, negative and positive emotions One would be labeled “beautiful” and one “ugly ” Another would be labeled “peacemaker” and the other “troublemaker.” Dr. Emoto showed that water droplets labeled with positive words before being frozen formed beautiful symmetrical shapes while those labeled negative were blurry and asymmetrical The human body is composed of 75% water, so what impact do your words and intentions have on your body? How do your words affect others?

Before joining CI, the youth leaders I spoke with felt invisible and voiceless, trapped inside cages of imposter syndrome. It was a weekend of protest of the dark past and celebration of a brighter future I have always known that CI is doing a great job in the communities, but it was only that weekend that I learned the most important thing that CI has given them That is hope, the courage to dream big, and the chance to change their destiny because of how we treated them, how we spoke to them, and what we spoke of them. By using the right words, we gave an otherwise impressionable and vulnerable youth the voice and ability to pursue visibility, participation, and empowerment

And did you know that in 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day? It is to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship

youth leader shared,

As one

“I have found my voice at CI, so now I am helping others find theirs.”

Let us continue opening doors for our youth to speak and be heard. Our work is not in vain.

CIM Accounting Workforce in a Nutshell

WORDS | Patricia Czarina T. Honrales

CIM's AMAZING Accounting Team

“INVITING POSITIVE MINDSET”, are the words to live by from the CIM Accounting Team Shifting from a seemingly transactional to a relational approach, the Accounting Department continues to pursue its innovative and personalized staff service on a daily basis with their 5-day workweek schedule at the office even in the midst of the pandemic.

The day-to-day activities of CIM Accounting staff deal with a lot of paper works and accounting technicalities, but as Ate Ela said, “ our everyday work may look serious and boring, but it’s not ” Aside from just being identified as the department concerned with payroll and check releases for program implementations and other work-related concerns, their daily work also revolves around payment of government dues, conducting tele-audit, processing financial transactions, and many more

The Department’s main role is to “check and balance” and safeguard assets. This group is team-oriented, accomplished multi-taskers, and willing to learn They also conduct learning sessions within the team, headed by Sir Gelo, regarding Excel and SunSystems training for additional upskilling of each CI staff

The Accounting Team would also like to share their accomplishments and highlights for this month:

approval of a 3-year salary plan composed individual letters to staff regarding merit increases meeting with Ms. Liz Orellana regarding the Accounting’s vision, mission, and innovations

Despite the hectic schedules, the Team still finds a way to take a breather by having a “food trip” every afternoon, and even going to Lander’s for retail therapy!

Ma’am Bolet, the hardworking Accounting Lead, also wishes the entire CIM staff to keep an open mind when approaching the Accounting Department They are also open to any feedback, questions, and suggestions on how to better support the work in the field and in the Central Office.

Here’s a tip! Feel free to drop by the Accounting Office to have a little chit-chat with the entire team and see for yourself how surprisingly fun the Department is!

Child Safeguarding in the Digital Age

(Gadget Distribution and Child Safeguarding)

Children International has recently distributed more than a hundred units of tablets to selected sponsored youth as part of their initiative to support their education. These gadgets are made available by sponsors who made a generous donation for the cause.

As a child born in the 90s, I am fortunate to experience both the analog and digital eras. Gadgets continued to develop over time. Television sets became thinner, computers became more compact and portable, and handheld phones became smaller and more efficient. Who would have thought that gadgets will soon become an extension of ourselves? I am fortunate to be able to use a computer at a young age Back in high school, while most of my classmates are very eager to own a cellphone, I, on the other hand, indulge in exploring Microsoft Office tools as they were the major function of computers back then. Mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and other gadgets nowadays helps make our lives easier. The difference depends on the preference of the user These gadgets became a powerful tool to access information at our fingertips Downside is, it is equally harmful if we are not able to keep up with the developments and parental controls.

The Covid-19 pandemic is different from previously known pandemics because, despite lockdowns, countries are still able to continue their daily lives through the use of technology. Distance learning was made possible through online classes, but most parents are unprepared in protecting their children when using gadgets, especially since children nowadays are very savvy in accessing even unsecured sites at a very young age

In order to protect our children, Children International Inc, (Manila) has conducted a child safeguarding seminar for gadget recipients distributed from donations received by the Agency Children were asked to attend along with their parents to empower both parties on the responsible use of the gadgets that they are receiving. The seminar was conducted by the Sponsorship Relations Department in partnership with the Child Safeguarding Unit and Programs Department to conduct the assessment of youth recipients, and processing has been made to ensure that the recipients were able to engage in discussions concerning cyberbullying, online violence, and information security among others.

There are over a hundred gadgets distributed with two sessions conducted in the morning and in the afternoon Facilitators used the ORID (Objective, Reflective, Interpretive, Decisional) method to identify perceptions and emotional responses of youth and parents, their judgment during the discussion, and identify their values in understanding the scenarios presented While instances of sexual assault and bullying emerged during the discussion, a Child Protection Facilitator, Ariane Pearl Hugo, RSW is on standby to process these incidents

Overall, children and parents were equipped with information such as proper use of gadgets, use of parental controls, parent supervision, data protection and privacy, and responsible internet usage before they were able to receive their gadgets.

WORDS | Angelo Nino Cacho

Mr. Ermelito Daroy, Talent Growth Manager, said that the beautification was made in relation to the office sharing concept He also added that the enhancement of the office was in preparation for the Regional Conference held in Manila, Philippines, together with Directors from Zambia and India with their Regional Director, Elizabeth Orellana.

The concept of beautification plays a very important role in building a safe space and a more inclusive environment CIM staff enjoy this new office setup Meetings, gatherings, and sharing of stories are being held now in this place The beautification of the central office was one of the big changes that happened this year.

Kudos also to the CI-sponsored children led by Mr. Ammiel Alano, Field Officer doing the artworks such as paintings and souvenirs. The beautification served as an avenue for showcasing the talents of everyone in the agency

Children International Manila made its promise to have a safe environment through its premise beautification.

WORDS |

Christian Lean Calano

Joining Efforts to Support CI Youth Employment

WORDS | Greggy S. Bautista

Youth growing to be self-reliant and productive members of society this is what we hope to achieve at CI Manila However, this is not an easy feat Supporting the healthy and holistic development of our CI children and youth does not only require CI but also the entire community at their side. As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child”. Partnerships with community stakeholders and organizations are a cornerstone for the achievement of our goals, and this is exactly what we are doing through our employability program

Last August, the CI Manila launched the “Amazon Web Service” (AWS) Cloud Training, through the YouthWorks PH project of the Philippine Business for Education (PBED). The project targets to increase the marketability of our youth through in-depth training. Fifteen (15) CareerUP participants, who just graduated from their post-secondary schooling (with backgrounds in information technology and business administration) are currently undergoing the three-month training

After which, they will be engaged in “ onthe-job” training at a partner company. This OJT component improves the likelihood of trainees being employed by the company later on. On the side, one-on-one virtual mentoring and coaching sessions are being facilitated by our colleagues in PBED Our partnership with PBED sustains CI’s previous effort through our post-secondary scholarship and employability program

We may have only supported 15 individuals, for now, but the impact of our work will ripple throughout their families and communities. Our partnership with PBED is yet another illustration that through collaboration, we can achieve more and we may achieve better. We hope to continue to live our mission to bring people together to produce independent young people, who are willing to give back to their communities.

SR

Team Midyear Assembly-Commemorating Filipino Roots

The CIM SR Team in their Filipiniana costumes and heart-warming smiles! (face masks were removed for photo taking purposes)

As the SR Team started gearing towards the digitalization of SR activities since the pandemic started, they are still continuing to create and nurture an innovative learning environment to be able to accomplish the deliverables and tasks in a more efficient way. Mr. Angelo Nino Cacho and Mr. Oliver Palallos from SR Department took the lead in the said DigiCorr Training which turned out to be a very fruitful one since the Field Staff were all hands-on in exploring and navigating the software. The SR Team was also able to brainstorm and think of ways to move forward with the recent technological advancements that the SR Team is already adapting, specifically in the digitalization of letters.

At the latter part of the day, the YRC Hall turned into a Filipino festive mood as the SR Team flaunted their Filipiniana costumes The three Best Dressed winners are as follows: Ms Estrella Fernandez, Mr Jeffrey Mark Santos, and Ms. Rochell Cabillo. There were also games wherein the staff had to guess the meaning of some Tagalog words that are not commonly used which really put them at their wit’s end!

The program also included the midyear reporting of each team, sharing their challenges and best practices during the first half of the year, including some suggestions for improvement in the current processes in the SR activities that they are implementing.

The ever-dedicated SR Manager, Ms. Michelle Baldemoro, also shared the Global Results for CI Manila SR Department, which were basically all in green, meaning the SR Team had hit the target or even more than that, which is really a call for a celebration! She also extended the appreciation message from the CI Global Leaders which made everyone put into heart the CI value of Owning the Impact

As the agency slowly transitions into the new operational model, the CI Manila SR Team is confident that whatever inevitable change may come, the team is always ready to take on the challenge, exceeding expectations when it comes to working and continuing to serve our beneficiaries with their whole hearts.

WORDS | Patricia Czarina T. Honrales

Children International Manila (CIM) aims to enable the youth to realize their potential and transform lives through project management in partnership with Project Management Institute Education Foundation (PMIEF)

Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world's leading not-for-profit professional membership association. Founded in 1990, PMIEF cultivates long-term relationships with non-profits across the globe to help them integrate project management into youth programs and to build capacity in project management

For this year ' s PMIEF project, led by Ammiel Alano, Project Lead & Project Manager, Ms. Edelyn Jedy Molina, as project mentor, along with 20 former sponsored youth, established CIM Guidelines on Internal & External Youth Engagements (Community Center Ambassadors & Children International Ambassadors)

CIM PMIEF Project aims to (1) remodel structured internal and external ambassadors for internal and external engagements and (2) create new and comprehensive guidelines on the communication process and protocols for youth engagements from selection to evaluation

The final output created called "Orientation of PMIEF Show and Tell 2022" was presented to CIM Staff and Project Steering Committee together with the mentorship from CIKC.

CI Manila CI Manila CI Manila Project 2022 Project 2022 Project 2022

According to Ammiel, the project will significantly impact our sponsored populations, especially the pool of youth leaders and aspiring young leaders from each community center dreaming to represent the empowerment advocacies of CIM in the years to come

Through this project, CI Staff & future youth leaders or representatives as well as potential community partners can refer to this project to further improve, innovate, and localize approaches in empowerment advocacy.

Back in 2020, Children International partnered with the PMIEF to integrate Project Management essentials into youth programming at CI to equip youth with foundational skills for community service projects.

WORDS | Shaira Angelica Mari C. Garna

CI Manila Volunteers Gear Up for Change and Role in Sustainable Nation Building

WORDS | Oliver R. Palallos

“Every social service, human service, and health care agency, together with many community organizations, came into being because of volunteers people who saw a need, had an idea how to meet that need, and cared enough to want to make a difference. Volunteering takes time, skill and work; new ideas and programs take time to develop and depend on the cooperation, energy, and excitement of many people. Volunteers are the heart, the strength, and the power of our towns.”

(Imagine A World Without Volunteers, Curt Clark – 2010)

CI MANILA Volunteer Area Leaders (VALs) congregated at Noah’s Park Hotel in Sitio Rodriguez, in the province of Rizal on August 24, 25, and 26, 2022 The participation came from all Volunteers from nine (9) community centers. In the time after the series of lockdowns and restrictions

CI Manila Volunteers stand to shine this day and in the forthcoming Showing their undying and invaluable support as “Volunteers and Partners in Sustainable Nation Building.”

This initiative is part of the organization’s campaign to intensify the awareness, information, education, and communication in our organization by engaging our volunteers in all the communities we are serving, where our sponsored families, children, and youth thrive This activity is aligned with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the speakers/facilitators in this three-day session highlight the UN SDGs bringing to the communities we are doing the work, involving each volunteer empowering, engaging, and inspiring everyone on how we can contribute by doing small initiatives and contributions that we have and when carried out as a group of CI Manila – together we can help to reach the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and create lasting impact

“Without volunteer, we’d be a nation without a soul.” -Rosalynn Carter

CI Manila Volunteers Gear Up for Change and Role in Sustainable Nation Building

Day one was participated by all volunteers from community centers 3, 6, and, 7 composed of 105 participants with their community center coordinators and SR Field Officers headed by Ma. Veronica Alvarez and Gina Ubaldo. On day two, participants are volunteers from community centers 5, 8, and 9 with their community centers coordinators and SR Field Officers headed by Jeffry Mark Santos and Arnie Lacson; while day 3 gathers all volunteers from community centers 1, 2 and 4 with their community center coordinators and SR Field Officers headed by Rochelle Cabillo and Ellen Tomulac. Each day session is divided into two parts; the morning is a lecture and the noon session is a mini team building Day one and day two was facilitated by SR Manager, Mitch Baldemoro and day three facilitator was RV Santos (SR Coordinator) and Oliver Palallos (SR Assistant) and the support of the entire SR team from planning, venue set up, programs, medics, and logistics namely: Charlyn Manlapaz, Pops Formales-Ang, Stefany Kaye Pecaoco, Kristoffer Jon Balallo, Angelo Nino Cacho, Delia Urbano and Oboy Valdopena (Agency Driver)

“Getting Through Life’s Challenges”

The Philippines has been in a constant battle against undernourishment A study by the World Bank found that there was little improvement in the rampant undernourishment that children in the country are experiencing They also discovered that the country ranked among the worst-performing countries in child stunting prevalence and stunted children. Hunger also rose in the country due to the pandemic because of the extreme measures undertaken to contain the spread of the virus SWS reported that a significant number of families experienced hunger in the past 30 days.

Among the challenges brought about by the pandemic were the changes made in the educational experience of the students Transitioning to distance learning made it hard for students to learn, and for some, even access education because of the lack of devices, materials, or conducive learning environments These changes also took a toll on their mental health which made it challenging for students to learn.

was forced to take drastic measures to reduce their daily food cost by lowering their food intake They were also forced to depend on government handouts and familial support provided by their kind-hearted cousins

Due to the nationwide cancellation of face-to-face classes, Ethel, along with her siblings, was forced to shift to a modular method of learning. According to her, their learning experience through this method was much harder, and she would prefer having face-to-face classes instead Fortunately, Children International Manila provided her with a mobile phone, which enabled her to join online classes It was not the same as the face-to-face experience pre-pandemic but it is an upgrade over the self-paced modular learning

Ethel Ruth is an 18-year-old student from Calumpit, Bulacan. She is a timid person, that prefers to hang out with friends whenever she is free from academic activities and household chores. Currently, she is living with her husband’s family, along with her son, Ezekiel.

Before the pandemic, Ethel was an ordinary student. She goes to school in the morning and works in a food stall inside a university during her free time Her father juggles three jobs as a construction worker, fisherman, and tricycle driver, while her mother focuses on running their day-today household operations.

When the pandemic hit, most of the labororiented work was put to a halt, and her father, their main breadwinner, was left with little to no means in providing for his family With this, her mother

Along with undernourishment and access to education, the rate of teenage pregnancy also increased in the country which was caused by the lack of counseling/family planning services and sex education. Ethel was one of the 102,000 adolescents that gave birth during the pandemic Luckily, Ethel was able to continue her studies despite her pregnancy through the help of her family. They made sure that Ethel would have enough time to devote to her studies, along with raising her child Ethel’s access to the internet also gave her the opportunity to join the programs offered by the Agency. She was able to finish the Aflatoun program this year, and she was awarded a 1000peso seed capital, which she used to jumpstart selling garments online

Despite these trying times, Ethel continues to hold on to her dream of finishing her studies, and she is very thankful to the agency because of all the support she received which made their life during this pandemic a little better

WORDS | Shaira Angelica Mari C. Garna and Cristina DS. Adriano

Shaira Angelica Mari C Garna, PFO (Left), Ethel Ruth Pelagio, Sponsored Beneficiaries (Middle), Ezekiel (son of Ethel Ruth), Ma Isabelle Garcia, Mother of Beneficiaries (Middle) and Cristina DS Adriano, PFO (Left)

CIPI FWM

Children International Philippines Inc (CIPI) in partnership with Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM) holds training for its partners including other civil society groups and local government units (LGUs) in Isabela Province on August 2-5, 2022.

The 4-day training focused on reviewing, discussing, and sharing the journey of implementing the whole process of the Gift of Mobility Program amidst the pandemic Participants also got to taste the local culture in the province through a day tour offered by the local government

Aside from the implementation, here are the important notes that were discussed in the training:

• Verbalize understanding and discuss the Gift of Mobility Program’s standards, practices, and its application to the organization’s realities.

• Identify, share and list good practices applicable in one ’ s location or area.

• Identify and discuss good practices, weaknesses, and challenges in preparation of reports, recipient’s profile, and capturing good photos.

• Identify and discuss good practices, weaknesses, and challenges in preparation of reports, recipient’s profile, and capturing good photos

• Present and adapt the Child Safeguarding Policy in all aspects of the Gift of the Mobility program

• Formulate and present an implementation/communication plan integrating training input.

A total of 68 participants (54 attending face-to-face while 131 joined virtually) from 28 organizations joined the training. Lastly, 1,050 wheelchairs were distributed to individuals, hospitals, and clinics!

Peralta

UN CALENDAR

For a moment, imagine yourself graduating from high school Maybe you ’ re going off for a college degree, starting a family at an early age, or joining the workforce You have no idea how to buy a house, present yourself for an interview, or how much money you should be saving every week. Let alone doing the laundry, managing your groceries, or running a household. Reality is that most of us are very eager to try and provide for our families or support ourselves for college education without any idea about the real world Sure, our parents taught us a few things, but it won’t really matter until five years later, when you ’ re a grown as adult trying to make ends meet

The Department of Education aims to address this issue by introducing the K to 12 program back in 2013 The program offers a decongested 12-year program that gives students sufficient time to master skills and absorb basic competencies and prepare them for employment, entrepreneurship, mid-level skills development, and higher education upon graduation It also accelerates mutual recognition of Filipino graduates and professionals in other countries. The end goal of this program is to be able to produce employable senior high school graduates equipped with skills needed to either become part of the workforce, allowed to apply for certifications accredited globally, or start their own businesses after graduation. Specialized courses were introduced not only to produce skilled graduates, but are also employable in the global market

Since the K to 12 program was signed into law, there have been several petitions from parents, teachers, and youth groups among others claiming the program will aggravate the financial situations of Filipino Families, which may also result to more children dropping out of school While the educational development aims well, Filipino parents are ill-equipped to support this initiative

On a study made by Kabataan Party List, senior high school students will need as much as PHP 200,000 to cover the cost of additional two years of education. Computing food and transportation of students with allowances ranging from PHP 100.00 to PHP 200 00 within 200 school days, families will need to produce about PHP 40,000 each year on allowances alone

The cost of school supplies, uniforms, school fees, and other essentials are still excluded Also, at the start of the program, most of the courses are being offered in private schools simply because they have the facilities to accommodate the program.

The current system of education was greatly affected by the onset of Covid 19. As more students are forced to attend online classes, not all families could cope with the need for gadgets and internet accessibility In a study conducted by the US Agency for International Development in 2021, the number of out-of-school youth increased from 16.9% in January 2020 to 25 2% in a span of three months These out-of-school youth are forced to join the workforce in their bid to support their family’s needs but are unprepared and unfit for the changes.

Out-of-school youth are some of the most vulnerable and marginalized children in the society They are less likely to read or write, do basic math, and are cutoff from the safety net that formal education provides This situation was also affecting other parts of the world Countries such as South Africa has around 250,000 out-of-school youth in March, which tripled within a span of one year.

A business-led education advocacy group expressed support for the administration’s push for providing learners with the proper skills training to enter the workforce. In a statement, Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) said it is optimistic that the government would double down on equipping the youth with the proper skills to become productive members of society PBEd has been at the forefront in pushing for broader privatesector participation in the education and training of young workers

UNCALENDAR

But despite the length of the implementation of the K to 12 program, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the youth unemployment rate, or those between 15 to 24 years old, were at 15.9 percent in July 2021. This is a significant number considering most of this group are out-of-school youth or graduates of the K to 12 program

Is the educational system enough to build a stronger economy? Are we teaching the proper skills to prepare our youth for adulthood? This is why high schools and development organizations need to better prepare teenagers on technical and real life skills. If we had learned these skills when we were young, our lives would have been different.

WORDS | Angelo Nino Cacho

The Secret Ingredient of Success!

To many CI Manila staff, Richard Reyes is known as Kuya Ricky, but for his 5 9k YouTube subscribers they simply call him “Papa Ricks”. Kuya Ricky a self-confessed “food vlogger” is making a space in the vast YouTube algorithm by featuring healthy Filipino cuisines.

According to Papa Ricks, his channel began way back in 2019 It all started when he prepared for lunch all the necessary ingredients for his own version of Adobong Tokwa He started filming his own take on the said viand and uploaded it on his channel. After three months, without expecting anything, he revisited the video and noticed that it gained a lot of traction. That was the time when he decided to regularly upload video content exhibiting his talent and skills in cooking

His passion for cooking helped him succeed. Today, the contents on his channel are not limited to his cooking but also feature joyful moments in his everyday encounters. This is how Papa Ricks savors the little things; those that truly matter!

Papa Ricks, YOU ARE A ROCKSTAR!

Talk, Coffee, Change.

Every month, CI Manila Agency Director Reiza Dejito hosts ‘Talk & Coffee with AD’ where staff attends virtual meetings to talk about relevant topics nowadays.

This July 2022, our very own Raymond Ciriaco, CI Inc. Board of Trustees Chairman led the talk with the importance of change as individuals and as part of an organization.

According to Ciriaco, a lot of changes happened, especially in the past two years when we were all affected by the global pandemic He also noted the three constants in life – change, timeless principles, and choice.

Liz Orellana, Asia-Africa Regional Director, also joined the talk and shared her personal experiences on sudden life changes and how it affected her

And while change is also inevitable, Children International introduces us to its transformation agenda under the Phase III of the Mission Possible Roadmap (MPR) - Invest for Growth. The 2022 goals under this phase are mission delivery priorities and transformation priorities where both focus on investing in children and youth, engaging supporters, enabling people to do the work, revitalizing the Child-Sponsor System, building the Graduate Product, and lastly, investing in our people

Recently, DE&I or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion vision was introduced to Children International It started with discussions, and a follow-up survey to identify the current DE&I practices

Through these initiatives, we continue to embrace change as we rework our goals and set out to achieve them

Moreover, we asked some CI Manila staff on their reflections from the recent Talk and Coffee:

“After Sir Ray's talk, the words "choice" and "acceptance" caught me. In today's ever-changing world, we must accept that organizational change is necessary for organizations to develop and prosper. It can be challenging, but thanks to Sir Ray for presenting us with several approaches for successfully navigating these transitions. And as people in the organization, change starts with us through establishing a culture.”

- Shaulyn Jannine Marquez, PFO

“Change is the only constant in life. We should always be open for change since growth can only happen if we embrace it.” – Axel Lei Orosa, PFO

“Through the talk, I am convinced that change is inevitable. It is everywhere. It could be positive or negative. Sometimes people tend to be reactive or resistant about change but it is part of our lives. It is something we cannot deny. Without it, life is boring. Remember that change is the only permanent thing in this world.”

- Joselito Didal, OPD Manager

WORDS | Cheska Peralta

CI Manila Nutrition Month Concludes in Face to Face Celebration

WORDS | Alvin D. Perez

After two years of implementing activities virtually because of pandemic lockdowns, Children International has its first face-to-face Nutrition Month Celebration last July 29, 2022, at the Central Office.

However, he added that personally seeing the participants created a more meaningful feeling on the work that the team is doing

H e a l t h

With the theme “New Normal Na Nutrisyon, Sama-Samang Gawan ng Solusyon!”, the Nutrition Team intends to strengthen nutrition interventions and camaraderie for nutrition improvement as the country shift towards living with the COVID-19 virus. This has been the culminating activity of the Nutrition Education Program of CI in line with the celebration of Nutrition Month.

Over 50 sponsored children together with their caregivers from Community Center 1 attended the face-to-face culminating activity with their prepared costumes Other participants across community centers also watched the online telecast as they were also part of the activity

The Nutrition Team shared that it was a wonderful experience for them to have a faceto-face activity again after two years of implementing activities online.

Mr Rual Noble, one of the Health Program Field Officers, shared that there have been many challenges in the preparation of the activity as they also adjusted themselves from online preparation to face-to-face implementation.

Mr Patrick Elven Bañaco, also a Health Program Field Officer, added that face-to-face engagement is better than online set-up of implementation “Face-to-face activities give you that feeling of warmth because you can see how the person responds to you through non-verbal cues It is really a more fun, engaging, and exciting experience which is evident from how they performed in the games and how they prepared for their costumes ” he stated.

The Costume Party

One of the highlights of the activity was the Costume Parade where participants flaunted their prepared nutrition costumes in a fashion show way

Ms Angelu Noorine Recato, one of the members of the Health Team, shared that the costume party has been a way for the parents, caregivers, and sponsored children to highlight their creativity for the Nutrition Month Celebration.

20 of the participants received consolation prizes. Meanwhile, the grand winner, whose costume was made of monggo beans as beads, received a hygiene kit and other prizes The parent of the winner shared that the costume was several days to make.

Ms Liz Orellana, CI Regional Director for Asia/Africa, and Ms. Reiza Dejito, CI Manila Agency Director, visited the activity and were also judges in the said costume party

CI Manila Nutrition Month Concludes in Face to Face Celebration

During the program, there was a cooking demonstration as well from two parents who volunteered to creatively cook Manna Rice in different ways with the available ingredients in the prepared pantry

The Cooking Demo

In the end, the culminating activity was fun based on the reaction of the participants The teams expressed that they are looking forward that the pandemic will end soon so they could do more face-to-face activities

“Prior to the pandemic, we also do cooking demos for caregivers and fun nutrition activities for children. It has been two years! We really missed doing this We were able to demonstrate cooking two menus from manna rice and I really admire the two caregivers, Ate Rose and Ate Edmil, who were able to pull off even when they were not informed ahead of time. It was impromptu yet they were able to demonstrate well, which is a testament that we are also learning from them We are all learning from one another.” Bañaco added.

Ms Princess Ana Marie Balgos, RND, Nutrition Team Leader and Community Nutritionist of Unilever Philippines (Knorr Nutri Sarap Program), who is the guest speaker also shared her expertise and knowledge about nutrition The program activity also included video presentations on healthy diet, how the participants can make their own food through planting and other knowledge about health.

The Health Team has initially done face-to-face consultations at least once a week in the community centers. As the pandemic eases, we might be expecting more face-to-face implementation of activities to better address the health needs of the beneficiaries that we serve

“The Greatest Wealth is Health”

WORDS | Cheska Peralta

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines ‘health’ as a state of “complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” Being healthy, in their view, excludes having any disease.

The theme calls for strengthened nutrition as the country shifts towards living and thriving with the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Nutrition Council (NNC) states that the term “ new normal” was adapted to signify a transition to a better normal while bringing the positive impacts of the pandemic to become more resilient and to prevent future pandemics.

In celebration of Nutrition Month in July, the Laro ng Lahi features stories of how nutrition plays an important role in maintaining a healthy state whether physical or mental According to Achieve Medical, a center based in the West Coast of USA, “Good nutrition and a healthy diet are essential for promoting brain health, improved gastroenterological function, and physical and mental health Poor nutrition and lack of physical activity can significantly affect physical and psychological health and put you at high risk of developing a lifethreatening illness.”

As CI Manila highlights this issue, we need to adapt to the “new normal”.

Hence, for this month’s issue, we share stories, advocacies and importance of nutrition from Children International. One of our highlights from this month was the successful celebration of Nutrition Month, hosted by the Nutrition Team rockstars after a two-year long lockdown caused by pandemic. The theme for this year ’ s celebration was “New normal na nutrisyon, sama-samang gawan ng solusyon!”

Bring to life the celebration filled with fun as we feature the Nutrition Month celebration that happens in our Youth Resource Center after a long lockdown We are slowly returning operations in our community centers, making sure everyone takes part in helping our communities We also introduce various changes as we move forward to the new phase. With the constant changes in our lives, we must remember that a nourished body and mind are equipped to handle life’s challenges. Staying healthy means to properly deliver our programs to our sponsored families Indeed, advocating that the greatest wealth we could have is our health

Children International Manila staff joined the first Town Hall Meeting, an upgraded form of the conventional general assembly, at the Central Office on July 26. The Key Management Staff introduced the CIM Strategic Plan and New Operational Model for the next three years, and more.

Members of the key staff laid out to the body various changes following the transition to a new model next year Starting big with the 3-Year Plan Pillars, the corresponding Specific Objectives (SOs), updates on the Compensation Philosophy, and the new Organizational Model. Amidst all the overwhelming departure to the current setup, the management guaranteed that CI’s commitment to accomplish its mission and vision remains at the heart of its operation The floor was also opened for staff to raise concerns which the present members of the key staff swiftly answered

Acknowledging the approaching transformation in the agency, the activities prepared centered on the theme “Embracing Change and Inclusivity.” Ms. Riyan Portugez of the YMP Learning & Development Solutions led the discussion on the said subject. CI staff were game to share their reflections at the session shortly after the talk

Up a notch

Despite all the recent developments in communication maximizing technology, which allowed individuals to connect anywhere in the globe, CIM demonstrated that community unity remains unbeatable in fostering understanding, commitment, and sharing, according to Mr. Emil Daroy of Talent Growth.

CIM holds first Town Hall CIM holds first Town Hall CIM holds first Town Hall Meeting; Unveils 3-year Plan Meeting; Unveils 3-year Plan Meeting; Unveils 3-year Plan

WORDS | Christian Tandoy

Upon entry to the venue, participants were asked to sit at the tables depending on the color they picked following the registration Ms Jen Tesaluna of CSU expressed her appreciation to this kind of setup that encouraged attendees to interact with other CIM Staff beyond their respective teams.

“The committee delivered well despite their busy schedule and a brief time to prepare the event,” Ms Jen added CIM staff graced the in-person event rocking their “flashy & comfy” ensembles The committee, headed by Mr Oliver Palallos, encouraged participants to wear loud and striking colored attire while noting the importance of coziness bearing up to the long day of assembly.

The working group behind the successful event was composed of representatives from selected teams The committee was co-chaired by Ms Marj De Guzman of Talent Growth. The body also included: Ms. Julia Orcullo, Ms. Jeka Velasco, Mr. Ronan Diokno, Mr. Glen Gonzales, Mr. Melvin Salvatierra, Ms Stef Pecaoco, and Mr Bob Santos

Mr. Daroy, in his post on CI Connect commended the ad hoc committee stating, they ultimately “served its objectives.”

The revamped general assembly also gathered CI graduates and alumni of Sining para sa Kabataang Artista ng Teatro (SIKAT) for a moving performance Mr Ammiel Alano organized the staging of the performances. Alano noted that per CIM tradition, newly employed CIM staff share their talents to introduce themselves. This year, the youth were also given the same spotlight. He mentioned that the gathering signaled a comeback for our sponsored youth to showcase their talent and creativity Performances from CI staff also made the event even more delightful Mr Kim Javier gave an impassioned rendition of the OPM classic ‘Kahit Kailan’. While Mr. Greggy Bautista and Ms. Loryanne Deloria, wowed the crowd with their impromptu act belting foreign hits.

Capping the Town Hall was the staff-voted WOW Awards honoring remarkable participants of the assembly Mr Oliver Palallos, Ms Nec Alvarez, and Ms. Gina Ubaldo received special awards for their exemplary service.

Superstar of the Month Superstar of the Month Superstar of the Month

PM is Key: What is Sir Ryan’s Take on Health and Nutrition?

WORDS | Greggy S. Bautista

It has been more than two and half months since we welcomed Sir Ryan to the CIM Family months which have been fruitful and highly instructive. He likes the fact that every member of staff he met has been helpful and supportive. To him, the CIM community is cheerful as he observed how everybody smiles and are good friends with each other, especially during assemblies. He also likes that everyone respects differences in personality traits. For him, diversity in CI is not some academic theory but a way of life, and he hopes this will not change

As we celebrate Nutrition Month this July, we get to know Sir Ryan deeper and highlight his take on health and nutrition.

Sir Ryan started his journey in the nonprofit sector as a physical therapist. Many years ago, Handicap International in Mindanao needed a physical therapist to implement its wheelchair project for war victims. Although he did not know how NGOs work at the time, he was perfect for the job assembling ‘appropriate’ wheelchairs and teaching participants how to use them.

But later, he realized that this was not enough; he also learned to help children with disability access school and participate in social activities He also worked to assist older people with disabilities in their livelihood. Then, he later learned the ins and outs of development work project cycle, budget planning, partnerships, and setting things up. Who could have guessed that working as physiotherapist would lead to a flourishing career path in non-profit?

“I realized I liked development because it demanded a lot from me. I remember being asked in a forum one time about what makes a good development worker, and I answered you have to be a masochist I was not totally joking.” , he mentioned.

S u p e r s t a r o f t h e M o n t h

When asked about health and nutrition, Sir Ryan regards them as “of supreme importance”. As a Christian, he regards the physical body as a gift, so it is important that it is being nourished well. To him, health and nutrition are instruments so you can remain well and fit to serve others “It’s no good being well-nourished and fit for purely selfish reasons ” , he remarked Want to know how Sir Ryan stays healthy? He shares the following: He takes no sugar in his coffee and drinks four liters of water every day. He also eats an apple and an orange in the morning before breakfast, and walks for an hour, three times a week. He avoids liquor and cigarettes He prays and makes sure to have at least 6 hours of deep sleep every night Finally, he tries to keep his sense of humor even (or especially) during the most stressful occasions.

When asked to give some advice for CIM staff on how to stay healthy, he commented, “Oh, they already know, so I will just share a quote by Mark Twain which is probably cynical but makes a good practical point: “The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.”

Likewise, nutrition is an important component towards the overall health of our children and youth. Nutrition is more than just about physical stomach is more li than one who has nutrition, indeed, holistic developme Sir Ryan talks abou

“ Without proper nutrition, children will not be able to discover their innate talents and abilities, harness them, and live life to the fullest as members of the human community. We cannot have a vision of bringing people together to combat poverty while ignoring malnutrition. As long as there is one malnourished child, CI has a job to do, because malnutrition is poverty and injustice.”

Sir Ryan hopes that CI Manila will be able to help more children who are truly needy and deserving. He hopes that we can revisit our criteria for child recruitment, broaden and deepen it, and be able to identify more malnourished children to support through CI programs He emphasizes the value of listening to our participants to keep our work relevant to their needs Considering the country’s state on malnutrition and food insecurity, we, as an agency, have a duty to contribute and work with communities to address these issues. As stewards of the organization, Sir Ryan reminds us: “ Children International is a very generous organization The support given to needy students is more than I have ever witnessed in my previous NGOs It is an honor to be entrusted with such a responsibility to serve as a channel of benefit and resources for the poor My hope is that all of us in CIM will

PFO

PFO

Sinectch itey Sinectch itey na isa sa mga na isa sa mga Social Butterflies ng CI na love Social Butterflies ng CI na love na love ng lahat. Isang ka PFO na love ng lahat. Isang ka PFO laging may laman bumanat at laging may laman bumanat at humirit. Mahal na mahal rin humirit. Mahal na mahal rin niya ang BTS kahit naka-break niya ang BTS kahit naka-break sila ngayon at mahilig rin sa sila ngayon at mahilig rin sa aanime. nime.

Key Staff

Key Staff

Sinetch itey Sinetch itey na key staff na na key staff na inaalmusal, tanghalian at inaalmusal, tanghalian at hapunan ang due date dahil hapunan ang due date dahil sa nature ng trabaho ng sa nature ng trabaho ng department niya. Pero grace department niya. Pero grace under pressure pa rin as under pressure pa rin as always at laban lang sa iba’t- always at laban lang sa iba’tibang activities ng CI ibang activities ng CI