Counseling Seminars for 2008

I have received emails inquiring about Counseling seminars, and here is my reply them. There were inquiries as well about PGCA claiming as APO. I feel obliged to share what I know so that no one, gets to feel being cheated, particularly Guidance Counselors. Membership in any organization should be based on the truth, documented and validated. Please read along:

Today and tomorrow, Sept 4 & 5, 2008 PACERS or the Philippine Association for Counselor Education, Research & Supervision is in Cebu holding its Midyear Workshops, echoing what we have given in Manila last February 2008 the theme and workshops "Nurturing a Research Culture in the Counseling Profession." The Career Development Association of the Philippines or CDAP is currently holding until tomorrow as well its own National Convention with the theme "Empowering the Filipino to take ownership of the future," surely a Career-oriented theme.

On Saturday, Sept. 6, the Philippine Association for Christian Counseling (PACC) headed by Cesar Cong, current IPCAP Treasurer will be having its seminars for Counselors. For more information, please contact him at this number: (02) 750-8044. Hope someone in there can tell you where else he can be contacted in case he will be out. However, he can be reached through his cell number 0917-6078427.

On Oct. 22-24, 2008 PGCA will be holding its Midyear Workshops in Cagayan de Oro with the theme "Upholding Accountability in the Counseling Profession." You may call them at (02) 455-5108. PGCA claims to be the Accredited Professional Organization (APO) for Guidance and Counseling. However, the President in her reply email to me (see my blog earlier) has not categorically responded to my query whether they have a CERTIFICATE OF ACCREDITATION FROM THE PRC as an APO, WHEN it was granted, and FOR HOW LONG. They have published in their website the PRC Resolution #292 dated Aug. 08, 2005, but have yet to get their Accreditation certificate. Meanwhile, the Rules and Regulations (RR) of RA 9258 or the Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004 promulgated sometime in September 2007 has identified PGCA as INTERIM APO only, while an APO or accredited profession organization consisting of registered and licensed guidance counselors is specified in the same RR. It seems then that the RR may have already superseded, repealed or amended (Section 32) that PRC resolution.

On the same dates in October, the PAPSHP or Philippine Association of Psycho-Social Helping Professionals based in PNU or Philippine Normal University will be holding its events as well. Maybe this one can be of help to you since you're in the teaching profession and my perception is that this group may have teachers as immediate beneficiaries of their events. Besides, Dr. Barrera has been announcing before a PATECF event. Please call Dr. Nena Barrera about these at this number (02) 400-1186 during office hours.

There will be others in the offing, and I shall be blogging about these matters as soon as I get information about them. God bless