LifeisWonderful=D

Last January 22 and 29, 2012, we had our fieldwork this second sem. We went to FC Del Rosario Elementary School in Samal, Bataan under the component of LTS. However, the persons involved in the activity are those kids who studies in the said school. We were there to teach and educate them on subjects such as English and Math. The goal of the activity is to train the students on how to deal with people specifically to those who are less fortunate and to enhance their skills in leadership. In addition, the goal of NSTP is to harness the potentials of the youth/studentry to contribute to nation building.

The “short-term” goal of the activity is to educate the children in the day of our fieldwork. I know that they acquired knowledge for what we had taught them. However, the “long-term” goal is likewise educating them because it takes time to successfully have bacteria of ideas. Moreover, I was able to apply the learning on my first fieldwork last sem and the key learning points that time. Hence, I became productive on the second fieldwork. Indeed, during our first fieldwork, I just observed the place and worked with people. In the second fieldwork, it was the time that I made myself more productive due to what I observed. I already had an idea on what would I do.

I used my social skills in order to establish a harmonious relationship with our participants and as well as being congenial to the children. Furthermore,  I have three learners. All of them wanted to learn. They just varied in the level of interests or listening to their tutor. There was this kid that I had a great impression because he easily got the concepts that I taught. I believe that he has a brilliant mind so I advised him to study hard before we left the place. The experience affected my worldview because I thought that the people from far places specifically those from mountains are snobbish people. But when I interacted with them, I was wrong. They are so nice and friendly with us.

However, I did something to be effective in the community. I performed all the tasks given to me and by being a role model to others especially the kids who were around us. There was a time that I felt so hungry and suddenly, a kid came to me and said that she hadn’t taken some food to eat. It was lunch time. I became compassionate so I gave the food that I brought before I went to school. It made me smile because with my simple help to others, I already served God.

I believe that all the target beneficiaries were educated, enlightened, empowered and/or inspired with the activity that was done because they were eager to learn something new and we share our thoughts after the activity so as to inspire them. Moreover, I would be able to educate other people by means of establishing a group that aims for literacy. By that, we can go to other places especially those who need literacy skills. We would be able to teach the people there through one by one tutorial. We would be teaching the basics in English, Math and Science. And as the discussion goes further, we would teach them in advanced.

Regarding my work, the most satisfying parts were checking for the available materials, assessing the participants, knowing the children in the community and discussed something informative. I felt so productive during my fieldworks. I did not only help those people but likewise myself because I discovered that I can do something good for my fellowmen. Therefore, the values expressed were great. I know that I also made an impact with those people we gathered. And that makes our activity successful. Despite the hot weather, we left a remarkable experience with them.

I will forever give importance to education since it is the most substantial in life because it is where an individual can manifest himself/herself in diverse ways and the value of service to others. Those are the lessons or insights that I will keep in my heart.

Lastly, I became a better individual because I learned how to educate and serve other people. I can manifest those learnings through actions without any hesitation if someone needs my help.

END

  After watching the video, I really felt empathy for what I had seen. It seems that most of the rights were taken away from those children.  Indeed, they should feel their being as a child by means of playing, studying or having a simple life. But from what was being shown in the video, they were not. Those children preferred to work by means of carrying a wood going to a certain place that takes more than an hour to be passed or submitted to the person responsible for collecting them. However, when the woods were bruised or had some dirt, it would be rejected and the child who carried that wood would not have any benefit at all. And that what makes the effort of those children being wasted.  Moreover,  the violated rights could be easily seen in the video; a right to study and a right to be free from any labor (being a child). Those are the rights that were being violated because evidently, most of their time were spent working in order to provide their needs. And having that work also violated one of their rights. As a child, they should not be working but enjoy their life. In short, they have the right to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation, and from exploitative labour practices. 

Nevertheless, my responsibilities toward children are; to be a role model as their eldest brother by means of showing good attitudes or manners or etiquette, through teaching and imparting my knowledge, correct them if they did a mistake by means of reminding that it is wrong and etc.

As a Thomasian NSTP Student, I can create a child friendly society by means of creating a group or party that aims for the following:

 Every child should:

• • be part of a loving family group
• • have enough healthy food to eat
• • have access to clean water, adequate sanitation and a sustainable environment
• • have a comfortable healthy home
• • have opportunities for quality education
• • have time and opportunities to play and for recreation every day
• • have access to adequate health and medical care
• • have respect and dignity
• • be an active participant in decision-making about their own lives
• • would live in a community that puts their needs and rights first
• • be safe and be given special protection in times of trouble 

We will invite all the parents because they are involved in creating a child-friendly society and likewise we will encourage the government to participate.

Furthermore, it  is important to protect and respect the rights of children because those are fundamental freedoms and the inherent rights of all human beings below the age of 18 that apply to every child, legal guardian’s race, color, sex, creed or other status.

The essence of those rights are equality of opportunity. Girls should be given the same opportunities as boys. All children should have the same rights and should be given the same opportunity to enjoy an adequate standard of living.

Lastly, as a Thomasian NSTP student I can deter violation/abuse on children through some examples; if something happened to a child, I would tell his/her parents, teacher or guardian immediately so that it would not happen anymore or if I saw someone beating a child I will get help from the police, social services department or through a child abuse hotline if I really suspect there is a problem.

I searched on the internet about the meaning of “disability” and these are the results:

According from Wikipedia, the term “disability” means: A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.

And World Health Organization defines it as: an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. An impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while a participation restriction is a problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations. Thus disability is a complex phenomenon, reflecting an interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability

For me, there are no correct terms to address a person with disability as long as we treat them right. They deserve to be respected because they are likewise the highest form of creature created by God. Though they lack something in their being, it doesn’t mean we should be harsh on communicating/treating them. However, the current statistics and facts of Persons With Disability in the Philippines comprises the following:

PWDs as victim

There are 57 PWD alleged victims of human rights violations who sought the assistance of the Commission for the period 1987 – July 2006 on complaints of alleged human rights violations. A great proportion of victims are female: 70% or 40 of the 57 victims. There are about 11 or 27.5% representing male PWD victims (the rest were unspecified if female or male). Records show that, of the 57 victims, 8 were specified as child- victims (17.5%) while 4 complaints can be said to involve children with disabilities since the complaint involved a case of RA 7610 or ‘ Child Abuse’. However, under domestic law, specifically RA 7610 entitled ‘Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act’, Persons with Disabilities may technically be defined as children. Article I Section 3 defines children as ‘Persons below eighteen (18) years of age or those over but unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition’. If we were to characterize the Commission’s existing databank of complaints involving PWDs, it can be said that there is an apparent general sensitivity to the situation of PWDs. Primarily because it can be derived from the PERPETRATOR and VICTIM fields of the system. Keywords which indicate general sensitivity to PWDs, either as victims or perpetrators, include words such as:

‘Disabled’ -  9 out of 57

‘Handicapped’ -  1 out of 57

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 Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines:  Operations Review, Five year Performance Trends (2002-2006) 11 There is also an effort to identify the kind of disability with the indication of the following keywords:

‘Mentally - retarded’

‘Minor-Insane’

‘Mental Patient’

‘Epileptic’

‘Deaf Mute’

‘Physically Disabled’

‘Special Child’

‘Retarded’

‘Disabled Blind’

Most PWD victims who sought the Commission’s assistance have indicated mental and/or

developmental disabilities:

‘Retarded or Mentally Retarded - 30 out of 57

‘Special Child’ and ‘Minor Retarded’ - 12 out of 57

The rest have physical disabilities:

‘Deaf Mute’ -  6 out of 57

‘Blind’ -  7 out of 57

‘Epileptic’ -  1 out of 57

Who victimizes PWDs? A total of 56 perpetrators/suspects were logged.

‘Civilians’ topped the list at 25 out of 56 or 44.65%. Categories which may fall under the

‘civilian’ label are as follows:

‘father’ -  2 out of 56 or 3.6%

‘neighbor’ -  2 out of 56 or 3.6%

‘security guard’ -  2 out of 56 or 3.6%

‘faith healer’ -  1 out of 56 or1.8%

‘farmer’ -  1

‘student’ -  1

‘vendor’ -  1

‘Tadtad’ (a vigilante group) -  1

About 25% or 14 of the 56 are law enforcement officers/public officials. The rest did not specify the Perpetrator/Suspect Category: 4 out of 56 or 7.1

SOURCE: http://www.chr.gov.ph/MAIN%20PAGES/about%20hr/advisories/pdf_files/FINAL%20fullPWDreport.pdf

As I searched the laws that protect the rights of PWD’s, I saw many of it and chose some of those:

Republic Act No. 7277 -AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE REHABILITATION, SELF-DEVELOPMENT AND SELF-RELIANCE OF DISABLED PERSON AND THEIR INTEGRATION INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF SOCIETY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3562 - AN ACT TO PROMOTE THE EDUCATION OF THE BLIND IN THE PHILIPIPINES

Republic Act No. 5250 - AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TEN-YEAR TRAINING PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS OF SPECIAL AND EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN IN THE PHILIPPINES AND AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS THEREOF. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1179 - AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROMOTION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION OF THE BLIND AND OTHER HANDICAPPED PERSONS AND THEIR RETURN TO CIVIL EMPLOYMENT.

SOURCE: http://www.ncda.gov.ph/disability-laws/republic-acts/

Moreover, my comments/opinions with regards to the laws that should be given focus and importance are the REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3562 and REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1179. According from my observation through television and personal experiences, some disabled persons are not able to have education due to exemptions in the institution they are applying for. In short, there is discrimination. Most academe qualify individuals who only have normal being. How about those disabled persons who want to achieve something in their life? Well, that is the exemption of the world now. As for the government, they should be responsible for this problem. Indeed, there are some academe who practices the right treatment for disabled but most of them are not. Some labor institution do not easily hire persons with strange appearance due to their false insights that they cannot work functionally because of their disabled parts. They should bear in mind that the person who lacks something is the ones who are skillful. Government should take more action for the implementation of RA NO. 1179. Nevertheless, my concrete actions to create a change is to make a campaign regarding this matter so that people will be persuaded and join me to take an action for the disabled people.

Regarding the video that I watched, it is really helpful to everyone who is in the field study or not because it features the behavior of a person and how to cure it (e.g autism). I found out that autism is not an illness but only having a hidden brain seizure in the part of disabled person. It gave me information a lot and likewise to anyone who will be watching the video because there are already ways to cure it by knowing the waves of the person, particularly the brain waves. By that, defects can be easily known or detected.

SOURCE: http://www.ted.com/talks/aditi_shankardass_a_second_opinion_on_learning_disorders.html

Lastly, it is important to protect the rights of Persons With Disability (PWD) because of many reasons like: Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons; Non-discrimination; Full and effective participation and inclusion in society; Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity; Equality of opportunity; Accessibility; Equality between men and women; Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities. Without the laws enacted and implemented by the government, PWD’s would have no rights and protection in the world they are living. Hence, with the absence of those, their life would become miserable.

SOURCE:http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/disabilities-convention.htm