4th Batch Under the Grandfather's Clause & REAL CONCERNS

Thanks to the PGCA website we have a copy of the 4th batch of oath takers under the Grandfather's Clause. I had wanted to see this in a more official manner - in the newspapers since there are many who may not have access to the internet. Besides, official documents like this needs publication to have official effect. Maybe the internet is now an official site for that. Kahit nga text ginagamit na, internet pa. One of those in the list had already taken the oath at the PRC, personally called by the PRB and complete with Official Receipt for the oath-taking fee of P1,500.00. I hope that this time, unlike my time in September 28, 2008, AN OFFICIAL RECEIPT WILL BE GIVEN in order to account for the millions that have been received.

Let me share a real concern brought by a comment in a previous blog entry. Here it is:

father bern the list of the latest batch of guidance counselors were posted on Feb.20,2008. Many of us submitted our documents last December and January, 2008, may we know when the names of these guidance counselors be published, I know that many of us are anxiously waiting for the result because we have been given a deadline by the schools until the last week of March to have our license and if we don't the license by that time we were told to look for another job. I hope that people from the PRB will hear our plea regarding this matter thank you very much Father Bern God Bless and more power to you.

My response:

I actually got the same message by text. I just had to tell the inquirer that there will be another set of resolutions because there are supposed to be about 400 to take their oath this coming March 1. AND IF YOU DID NOT MAKE IT, ASK FOR AN EXPLANATION!!! You paid them, so ask for the right service! Wouldn't it be better if the PRB motu proprio ANNOUNCE in the press that there is still a 5th batch. We are already in the age of professionalism, and what we have is all hush-hush parang tsismis. Kaya nga I refrain to mention anything here which I have no document. This blog is never for undocumented matters in order to ensure no libelous content.

Many have received that text message which did not contain that ever essential information that the receiver was one of those in the list who will take the Oath as GC. Just imagine this: there were applicants who've been asking me to help inquire with the PRC whether they passed the GF Clause (hindi po girlfriend ha? but Grandfather as in LOLO at hindi LOLA - bakit kaya? and why not LOLA's Clause na lang kaya? Haha. Di pwede kasi magiging GM Clause na yun sa English hehe). When I managed to enter the busy lines of PRC, (02) 314-0018, Ms. Let Marcelo asked me for the date of application of the name being verified. I did, got the dates; and when I again succeeded to enter that number (bwenas ko no? Thanks God), I was promised after having given her the names that I will receive a call. I have not received any call po after that conversation! Nakulitan siguro However, one of those who texted me to help inquire about their names asked if indeed her name was included, kasi the message simply mentioned the date of the oath taking, anong susuutin, magkano ang babayaran, and good the name of the sender PRC - GC was listed at the end of the message. So I asked that person to text back and ask KASAMA HO BA AKO DIYAN? Anyway, mabuti at may naka-download na sa internet, so ayun, eto ngayon. Iba talaga ang paborito no? But that favoritism will have to be documented properly and without blemish.

It's EDSA celebrations today until the Feb. 25, and how I pray that the concerns of those who applied for licensure under the GF Clause and who might be laid-off because of having no license, will be attended. Dapat lang kasi the law has to be implemented. IPCAP will grant an award if this matter will be attended to because this involves the bread and butter of many of our colleagues, as well as the integrity of the profession called Guidance and Counseling.

In fact, let me place here a concern which may be bugging and even discouraging some of our licensed Guidance Counselors. If this is your case, let us look into this because we deserve something better:

hi Fr. Bernie. i want to thank you for always updating us and sending us your words of inspiration. kudos to all of you in the ipcap who are really going extra mile and beyond in order to lead us all licensed gc's. i just feel like writing to you at this moment to share to you my sentiment which i think is the same for some gc like me. alam ko po aware din kyo how all of us really exerted efforts in order to comply with the law.but now wats up? i think its so unfair dhil ang dami pa ring practicing counselor without the license. ano naman po ang reward ng mga nagcomply? wala. we are still equal to them. wala po bang ngipin ang RA ntin? bkit ganun? sino po ba ang dpat magpush sa board? di rin naman nasusunod ang nklagay sa btas. akala ko noong una, tlagang imomonitor nila lahat ng universities at colleges na hindi nagcocomply. 2004 pa ang law, 2009 na ngayon, wala pa ring pagbabago. sana po may magawa ang ipcap tungkol dito. like in my case, in our school i am only an assistant counselor to my counselor boss na wala namang license at di pa nga rin nag aaral ng MA Guidance. i have no right din na humingi ng salary increase dhil masasagasaan ko daw siya. ako po khit talagang kapos ang budget sinikap kong mag aral at magka license because of the promise of a better future for gc's. kung alam ko lang na pareho lang din, sana di na ako nag license pa. pasensya na po kyo, gusto ko lang magrelease ng sentiment. hope to hear from you soon. thanx po.

As a Counselor, licensed at that, I heard feelings of desperation, even a sense of surrender, disappointment, yet hope that as one has advocated a system of rewards and encouragement via one's actual practice in life, what has been said in the law will be implemented. I told the emailer:

Let us remember that the hands of the law can be quite long. Aabutan at aabutan din ng kamay ng batas ang counselor boss mo na walang lisensya. Start counting his/her days. The directives from the DepEd as well as Civil Service have already been given out. Malinaw na sa Civil Service document which we were shown in the IPCAP Convention in Dumaguete na kailangan sa public school counselors should be licensed rather than simply 9 units. The law is higher than any of these agency directives. No one is above the law, di ba? In the private school setting mas ganon. So, ... ihanda mo na sarili mo kasi mas mataas na ang tingin at expectation ng mga tao sa iyo. K? Remember that there will always be a reward for those who do good. And for those who exert authority in the wrong manner may katapat din sila. Darating din ang araw nila. And presto, better be ready when that time comes because you will be one of those for promotion consideration.

Let me put in here my priestly word:

The Gospel today speaks about evils that can't be taken away that easy. And as Jesus said, these are the kinds of evil that will only be taken away BY PRAYER, where God bestows Wisdom on His Friends. God bless