HURRY! PACERS Annual Convention

After the earthquake that struck Taiwan last Christmas holidays 2006, this is the first time I succeeded to access this site. Hence, after having made it here now, am taking this opportunity to invite every Counselor available to our PACERS Annual Convention on Feb. 21-23, 2007 at the Bayview Park Hotel which is located in front of the US Embassy in Roxas Blvd., Manila. Allow me to print here for you the letter of invitation of Dr. Julian Montano, PACERS current Chairperson:

Dear Colleague in Counseling,

Relationships “make or break” a group, organization, school, team, squadron, etc. Relationships significantly contribute to the formation of an individual’s self-esteem. Relationships are undeniably one of the major root causes of the problems shared to us in counseling. And whether relationships play support roles or aggravating functions, clear pictures of their dynamics certainly shed light for comprehensive problem conceptualizations most certainly leading to effective treatment plans. We, therefore, must look into the intricacies of relationships!

The Philippine Association for Counselor Education, Research and Supervision (PACERS) wants to do that in its Annual Convention-Workshop on February 21 - 23, 2006 at the Bayview Park Hotel located in 1118 Roxas Blvd. corner United Nations Avenue, Manila. As we venture into the theme: “Relationships at Risk: Issues and Interventions,” we will hear experts relate their studies and accumulated experiences, the theories and approaches they have utilized, and their conclusions and recommendations on working out the intricacies of the relationship issue.

The keynote address will present a multi-disciplinary analysis of “Relationships” as an intrinsic part and primary motivating factor of life. In the three (3) panel discussions that will follow, we will then focus on “Relationships” as a counseling issue at home, in the corporate world and at school. Counselors, therapists and practitioners will share, based on their own wealth of professional experiences, the critical aspects to consider in working on relationship issues. On the last day, the focus will be on learning techniques and the accompanying skills in dealing with relationship issues.

As an integral part of our Convention, Interactive Poster and Concurrent Paper presentations of research works by both academicians and students (undergraduate, masteral and doctoral) from a number of universities throughout the Philippines will be made during the afternoon program of the 2nd day, Feb. 22, 2007. We really wish you could join us. Please refer to the attachments for the registration and program details. The program promises an invigorating and learning experience as we share and grow together both as persons and professionals. After all, aren’t counselors experts in relationships?

Sincerely,

Sgd. Julian Ramos Montano, Ph.D.
Chairperson

As regards the second page mentioned, this is the content:

CONTACT US For other inquiries, you may email me at julmont3@yahoo.com or call Dr. Susan Estanislao or Ms. Liza Suarez at (02) 536-0226. Please address your communication to Dr. Susan A. Estanislao, Office of Counseling and Career Services, Room 304, SPS Building, De La Salle University-Manila, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila, 1004; Telephone no. (02) 536-0226 or Telefax (02) 536-0253. The CHED and DepEd memoranda will be available upon request. Please share this information with other interested parties. REGISTRATION The registration fee (non-refundable but transferable) which covers participation in the convention and 2 workshops, a kit, souvenir program, hand-outs, a certificate of participation, 2 lunches, and 5 snacks is as follows:
On or Before Feb. 6, 2007 On site
PACERS members PhP 3,000 PhP3,800
PACERS non-members PhP 3,500 PhP 4,000

We encourage early bird registrations. Payments may be made through a check payable to PACERS or a cash deposit to any branch of UCPB (Acct # 120-001664-9) or BPI Family Savings Bank (Acct # 6081-0441-96). Please fax the check/deposit slip and the Reply Slip to Dr. Susan Estanislao or Ms. Liza Suarez at (02) 536-0253.

Tentative Program
Day One – February 21 Wednesday
AM 11:00 – 01:00 Registration
PM 01:00 – 02:15 Opening Program
Keynote Address by Dr. Florentino Timbreza
02:15 – 02:30 Snack
02:30 – 04:00 Panel Discussion 1: Relationships at Home: Issues &
Interventions - Marital/Couple; Parent- Child; Siblings-
Extended Family Members
04:00 - 05:00 Business Meeting

Day Two – February 22 Thursday
AM O8:30 – 10:00 Panel Discussion 2: Relationships in the Corporate
World: Risk Factors and Interventions - Employer-
Employee; Peers-Colleagues; Employee-Stakeholders
10:00 – 10:30 Snack
10:30 – 11:40 Panel Discussion 3: Relationships in the School
Organizations: Risk Factors & Interventions - Teacher-
Student; Organization Adviser-Officers & Members;
Administration-Personnel
11:40 – 12:00 Presentation of Candidates for Elections
12:00 – 01:15 Lunch
Elections (for the new PACERS Board 2007-2008)
PM 01:15 – 02:15 Interactive Poster Presentations
02:15 – 02:30 Snack
02:30 – 05:00 Concurrent Paper Presentations

Day Three – February 23 Friday
Workshops will be four hours long and will be repeated in the PM session. Participants can then join two workshops.
Schedule of Workshops:
AM session: 08:00 am to 12:00 noon; PM session: 01:00 pm to 05:00
Lunch and snacks will be served in workshop rooms.

Workshop Themes & Facilitators:
Workshop A : Marital and Family Counseling:
Resolving Conflicts at Home
by Dr. Lucille Montes

Workshop B : Counseling in the Workplace:
Enhancing Wellness Among Employees
by Ms. Daisy Sanchez (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas)

Workshop C : School Counseling:
Intervention for Parental Verbal Abuse Victims:
Practical Guidelines for Student Counselors
by Dr. Flora Calleja

(Note: Certificates of Attendance shall be given after the Workshops.)

ACCOMMODATIONS
Participants who wish to stay at the Bayview Park Hotel may contact the hotel directly at tel. (02) 526-1555 loc. 1728 or Fax (02) 521-1285 and 522-3040.

Thus far page two of the invite. Page three of the invite is the pre-registration form. We can have this invitation letter sent you the fastest way possible. Just contact us. You may also contact me through my cell phone: 0919-6236605, and 0927-3842739. You may contact me too even after 9PM until 10:30 PM at this landline assigned to me here in the seminary: (02) 412-1211. Hurry!

As regards paper and poster presentations, we shall be having a panel on the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) experience some of our counselors have done in Bicol with the victims of the catastrophic typhoon Reming. Dr. Barbie Wong-Fernandez led that group last Jan. 3-5, 2007. In view of the Convention theme, special focus shall be on how relationships played a big role in the lives of the victims, as well as among counselors. Dr. Barbie Wong, our PACERS Board Adviser is a veteran of volunteerism during critical incidents like these, including the Cherry Hill incident in Antipolo, the Bulacan event where the boat carrying an Image of Our Blessed Mother capsized during their town fiesta. If Dr. Ruffy Ramos, one of our current PACERS Board members) will be freed from the psychosocial rehabilitation demands in the Bicol area, his experience should add more flavor as an in-charge of the said rehabilitation efforts there of his kababayans.

As for myself, I shall be presenting a paper on one of the newest theory-based assessment measure Measures of Psychosocial Development using a preliminary sample in the Philippines.

Hope to see you there at the Convention. God bless