IPCAP Membership Application Form

Herein is the Integrated Professional Counselors Association of the Philippines Application Form. You may download it and then print, send to me using the address we have with the requirements mentioned below your signature. You may also deposit your membership fee at the stated Bank and account number. Please feel free to text 0919-6236605 (SMART subscribers), or 0927-3842739 (GLOBE subscribers) or email me berngu721@gmail.com

The next blog will be the pictures taken during the Oath Taking of the 3rd Batch together with the Board passers. We at IPCAP have decided to make this blog the official site for information on IPCAP matters. We should move to another website when we shall have had achieved our goals. Happy viewing.

Helping the Helping Professionals: Overcoming Compassion Fatigue: An Invite

Dr. Susan Estanislao, current PACERS Vice-Chair forwarded this email to many in her email address book. And I am blogging this in case you might want to attend it.

Thank you for this invitation. I'll forward it to our colleagues in the profession! God bless and best wishes! Sue

---From: Gian Carlo Coyco [mailto:jont_g@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wed 9/24/2008 10:02 PM
To: estanislaos(Estanislao,Susan A)
Subject: An invitation

Hello ma'am. I am one of the participants who attended the PACERS convention last year.Thank you very much for giving me updates thru email and other messages. I appreciate them.

Ma'am, I was thinking if I could seek assistance from you. Our class (PNU Graduate School-Guidance and Counseling) will conduct a seminar-workshop as part of our requirements in a subject. The theme will be "Helping the Helping Professionals: Overcoming Compassion Fatigue". We have invited Dr. Violeta Villaroman-Bautista as our resource speaker. It will be held at the Palm Plaza Hotel in Manila (Pedro Gil St. cor Adriatico St.) on October 4, from 8:00-5:00. Seminar fee is One Thousand Pesos (P1,000) inclusive of snacks, lunch, and seminar kit.

Please help us disseminate the information or you might have students who are interested about the topic. For more information, I can be reached thru my cell number 0917-871-5278. Thank you very much ma'am.

I hope we can also invite you one time to be our resource speaker in future seminars and I hope to see you again when I will have a chance to attend a convention hosted by PACERS.

Respectfully yours,
Mr. Gian Carlo D. Coyco

Ateneo de Zamboanga Invitation: 4th Regional Conference on Counseling (Region IX)

The following is an invitation requested to be blogged here for others to read. Unfortunately, after I received it and had intended to blog it, our internet server here developed problems beyond my control, hence its posting only now. My regrets. I can only download the text here but not the document itself complete with its seal and beautiful logo and heading. If anyone wants to have a copy of it, email me at berngu721@gmail.com and I shall forward you the said invite. I hope Tisay will forward me a jpeg format of this invite so I can have it uploaded here and everyone may download upon reading this blog.

Anyway, here it is. Happy Reading!

Dear Colleagues in the Counseling Profession,

In answer to the call of the crises and difficulties of our time, the College Guidance and Counseling Office of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University is holding the 4th REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON COUNSELING. This affair aims to facilitate the development of counselor competencies in our region and other nearby cities and provinces, to better equip counselors in aiding and serving their own client.

We are holding this activity on October 13 and 14, 2008, at the Carlos Dominguez Conference Hall (CDCH), in the Ateneo de Zamboanga University. The theme for this year’s Regional Conference on Counseling is “The Professional Counselor Venturing into the Frontiers of Student Psychological Well-Being.” Registration starts at 8:00 AM on the first day.

During this 2-day gathering, the participants will be accorded the opportunity to have a critical discussion on Best Practices on School Counseling Programs and Services. This Round Table Conference will discuss the program development on specific areas such as: Student Group Guidance Program, Peer Counseling, Academic Intervention, Psychological Testing, and Career and Placement Program.

The conference will also feature two plenary speakers who will speak and lecture on the topics Evidence-Based School Counseling Program and Counseling as the Core Service in School Counseling Program. In addition, there will be continuing professional education workshops that aim to develop the competencies of professional counselors in the areas of school counseling programs. The workshops are the following: Dealing with Shyness in Students, Family Systems in Counseling, and Using Creative Approaches in Counseling.

The conference fee will be PhP 1,800.00; it is non-refundable but transferable to another person. This will cover resource materials, program, certificate of participation, lunch and snacks for the two day affair. Attached to this letter is the memorandum from Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the tertiary schools and Department of Education (DepEd) for the primary and secondary schools as proof of their endorsement of this professional gathering.

You might even want to come a day or two earlier, to go around Zamboanga City to experience the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival 2008, which commemorates the Feast Day of the Lady of Pillar on October 12, 2008.

We hope to see you in the 4th Regional Conference on Counseling, as we rise to the challenge of the frontiers in our counseling profession.

MUCHISIMAS GRACIAS!


Respectfully yours,

Estesa Xaris C Que-Legaspi, MA
Director
College Guidance and Counseling Office

I got word that Estesa (Teeza or Tisay in her email to me)

The Registration Process

I thought of blogging this for those who have not yet registered for the oath-taking. I went there about 8:30AM, and I finished before 10AM. Bilis ha? Maybe the secret was GO EARLY! Expect an EDSA Revolution there: super dami ng tao talaga! Be friendly in order to keep the process worth your efforts.

Here are the steps:

1. Go to the 3rd floor where you submitted your application papers for the Grandfather's Clause. Present your claim stub. The person in there shall give you the Oath of a Professional Form (Panunumpa ng Propesyonal). Fill it up. Yes, bring a PASTE along for your ID - the 2x2 picture is to be placed on the box in the Oath of a Professional Form.

2. Go to the second floor for notarization. Tell the guard you're going for notarization. P50 yan. Don't ask for a receipt. They don't give any. Yes, ready your cedula in case they ask for it.

3. Get metered stamp: 2 of P21 = P42. That was Window J where I got it. I think that was about 15 minutes cueing time. I got word that the Maritime Profession in the 4th floor of the Old Building has the metered stamps. However, this morning, there was none. So I went to Window J in the first floor.

4. Cashier: pay P1,050: P600 + P450.

5. Window 28 for registration: you will fill up the log file where you will put in your 1x1 ID, right thumb mark, and of course signature. Remember the year you graduated from your school, and of course the name of the school where you graduated.

6. Your small brown envelope is where you will put 1 2x2 ID picture, and the metered stamp receipt. Write your name in the upper left corner of the envelope, like the return address in an envelope when you write a letter to someone special or not so special.

7. After that, go to the Nipa Hut near the exit. Pay P1,500 for the Oath taking Ticket. If you have a guest with you, add P1,000. Don't forget to claim your stub.

Haay salamat. I was given #505. I think that will be the license number I will get because I filled up the 505th slot in the log sheet.

Okey. All the best and see you at the oath taking. Email me (berngu721@gmail.com) for an IPCAP application. The IPCAP membership form is P500 only. God bless and take care

LIST OF NEW GUIDANCE COUNSELORS 3rd Batch ni Lolo

While this may be a little delayed, for those who have yet to see their names for the 3rd batch of Guidance Counselors to take their oath under the Grandfather's (or Lolo's) Clause of R.A. 9258, here is the list. There were those who texted me their not being able to see their names in the newspaper. Remember that PRC mentioned having had sent the Resolution for Manila Bulletin publication supposedly on Sept 9. Finally however, Manila Bulletin finally had this list published only last Saturday Sept. 13. The news can be found on page 6, while the list is on B14. So, for those who haven't seen the list in the papers, or had difficulty downloading the pdf file, here is the list. Let me know if I typed wrong your name. I just copied to the best of my ability the Manila Bulletin-provided list. Congratulations.

OPERATION ACCURACY

Before anything else, I did close comparison between the Manila Bulletin's and my copy of that list here. So far, this copy here seems faithful to that of Manila Bulletin. Meanwhile, I also compared the Manila Bulletin's, my copy here and the pdf format of the PRC Resolution uploaded in the PGCA website. Guess what? Here are my observations:

1. That pdf format of the PRC Resolution in the PGCA website appears to lack accurate alphabetical arrangement. There are 394 in the pdf list, while the Manila Bulletin and my copy here lists only 393. Why is this so? See #2.

2. I noticed that the name ALCAZAR, Esperanza Magsino appeared twice, in # 11 and 26. Likewise, the name CARVAJAL, Pepita Tabilon appears twice, in #s 82 and 87 in the pdf format. That's the reason for the higher number in the pdf file than the Manila Bulletin's.

3. The name GUTIERREZ, Rowena Espiritu does not appear in that PGCA pdf format of the PRC Resolution. The Manila Bulletin lists her name. So I listed her name. Now we have the reason why there are actually only 393 in the Manila Bulletin list which I copied in here.

I bet the best way to resolve this is to bring along the Manila Bulletin copy, go to PRC and double check. And, before I forget, I got a text message saying that there were names found in the list but did not apply for the Lolo's Clause Batch 3 nor took the exam. I have yet to verify about this matter. Hmmm. Fishy ba? Baka human error lang. Okay!!

Anyway, happy reading!

LIST OF NEW GUIDANCE COUNSELORS

1. ABELLA, Clemente Jr. Abella
2. ABELLANEDA, Ferdinand Sumagang
3. ABRENICA, Alexa Priela
4. ACABAL, Editha Manuales
5. ADIL, Jimmy Jr. Villarta
6. ADORABLE, Gorgonia Baduria
7. ADRIATICO, Eden Tajon
8. AGUILA, Ma. Celia Villareal
9. AGUILA, Sancha Bernasol
10. AGUIRRE, Flora Seredilla
11. AISPORNA, Lucena Bunag
12. ALCAZAR, Esperanza Magsino
13. ALEDIA, Jose Royce Palma
14. ALILI, Violeta Salapan
15. ALMERINO, Jana Gloria Fin
16. ALVEZ, Ann Clara Pimentel
17. ALZATE, Edna Pastias
18. AMANCIO, Gloria Tayco
19. AMIK, Ofelia Tinapunan
20. ANGAT, Solbenette Cecilia Abuel
21. ANUNCIADO, Merly Venturillo
22. ARAMBURO, Rosemarie Naval
23. ARCILLA, Agrifina Acuzar
24. ARCILLA, Renato Paras
25. ARELLANO, Ofelia Ramos
26. ARENAS, Rita Bugay
27. ARGUELLES, Haidee Lynn Ramos
28. ARGUELLES, Virgilio Cainap
29. ARICHETA, Eunice Ramos
30. ASENDIDO, Juliana Pedraza
31. ATIENZA, Sylvia Castillo
32. ATINAJA, Ma. Regina De Leon
33. AUJERO, Fe Poticano
34. AUJERO, Romela Redil
35. AVILA, Eva Marie Cabudol
36. AZARCON, Dolores Rentoy
37. BADAJOS, Emma Tuliao
38. BALCOS, Jocelyn Javate
39. BANAAG, Mary Natividad Barrion
40. BANAYO, Marietta Buenafe
41. BANDELARIA, Marietta Pascual
42. BARDOQUILLO, Nena Ferrer
43. BASAS, Jean Umayam
44. BASCO, Remedios Valerio
45. BAUTISTA, Florencia Viñalon
46. BAUTISTA, Michelle Catanyag
47. BAUTISTA, Norina Cruz
48. BAUTISTA, Salvador Tawat
49. BAYUGO, Ann Reshier Galvez
50. BERAÑA, Sonia Martinez
51. BERNAL, Zoraida Fernandez
52. BERNARDO, Arlene Peña
53. BERNARDO, Michelle Stephanie Tiongson
54. BIACO, Cherry Ann Teodosio
55. BOBADILLA, Angelita Morga
56. BOLOTAOLO, Rowena Azores
57. BONIFACIO-BALENDO, Mary Liza Madera
58. BUKAS, Socorro Ong
59. BUOT, Eleanor Yap
60. BUSTOS, Irene Gaspar
61. CABANIAL, Teresita Rentoy
62. CABRERA, Joey Abad
63. CADWISING, Alicia Albano
64. CAGUIOA, Reynaldo Sudario
65. CAMACHO, Barbara Perez
66. CAMACHO, Judito Paglingayen
67. CAMACHO, Macaria Pelotos
68. CAMACHO, Shareal Joy Losbañes
69. CAMARSE, Manuel Garcia
70. CANLAS, Elsie Manalang
71. CANLAS, Reynaldo Nuelito Quiman
72. CANTADA, Glessie Anadilla
73. CAPILI, Danilo Martin
74. CARBAJOSA, Riza Tamparong
75. CARBALLO, Eleanor Ramos
76. CARDIÑO, Ma. Clarissa Hemedes
77. CARLOS, Alona Manlapaz
78. CARMONA, Imelda Castillano
79. CARRANZA, Saturnino Cachero
80. CARREON, Judith Cabilin
81. CARVAJAL, Pepita Tabilon
82. CASTELLANO, Mercedes Apungan
83. CASTRO, Genevere Tolibas
84. CASTRO, Maria Salvacion Andrada
85. CASTRONUEVO, Eva Angeles
86. CATADA, Deogracias Yu
87. CATMUNAN, Valentina Robles
88. CELIS, Maria Consuelo Sayno
89. CERVANTES, Almira Ebron
90. CHAVEZ, Maria Lourdes Lapa
91. CHIO, Mayra Joy Villanueva
92. CHIO, Melodia Maquiling
93. CHUA, Ruena Aldovino
94. CO, Anna Liza Te
95. COLLERA, Bernardo Risos (At your service)
96. CONSISTA, Juliet Donasco
97. CONTRERAS, Victoria Alegria
98. CORONEL, Maria Irma Camarillo
99. CORPUZ, Niño Briones
100. CORTEZ, Mary Ann Daoang
101. CRISTAL, Joy Lanon
102. CRUZ, Percival San Agustin
103. CRUZADO, Geraldyne Prieto
104. CUDIAMAT, Ponciano Malabanan
105. CULANGO, May Flerida Martinez
106. CUMIGAD, Neil Reyes
107. CURAZA, Lydia Josefina Rosales
108. DAVID, Elvira Calilung
109. DE GRACIA, Rosenda Agustin
110. DE GUIA, Herminia Cabadin
111. DE GUZMAN, Elaine Ilagan
112. DE GUZMAN, Ma. Pilar Macatangay
113. DE GUZMAN, Remedios Anrio
114. DE JESUS, Filomena Esteban
115. DE LEON, Maria Aurora Guzman
116. DE VERA, Rosalina Tamondong
117. DEL CASTILLO, Maria Lyra Tabian
118. DEL MUNDO, Sandrita Barot
119. DEL ROSARIO, Maria Cecilia Benoza
120. DE LA CRUZ, Susan Marie Roque
121. DELA ROSA, Leonita Daog
122. DELGADO, Maria Luisa Perez-Rubio
123. DELOS REYES, Rolando II Cabute
124. DELOS SANTOS, Ponciano Pablo
125. DELOS SANTOS, Rosalia Velasco
126. DEMDAM, Ma. Elena Carezo
127. DEREZ, Rafaelito Nieto
128. DESCALLAR, Marilou Yugo
129. DIDELES, Milagros Divinagracia
130. DIESTA, Maria Socorro Almeda
131. DIMAILIG, Romulo Jr. Manabat
132. DIOKNO, Olivia Luna
133. DIZER, Maria Elena San Juan
134. DIZON, Gracia Celso
135. DOLOR, Janett Aguiero
136. DOMPOR, Karen Pamela Varquez
137. DOTADO, Lualhati Imperio
138. DUMPA, Thais Noval
139. EALA, Maria Socorro Clarita Macasaet
140. ERMITAÑO, Betty Catedral
141. ESCARAN, Lucy Rubi
142. ESPERO, Catherine Ortiz
143. ESPINO, Lucia Corpuz
144. ESPINOSA, Monica Pelayo
145. ESPIRITU, Alicia Cruz
146. ESPIRITU, Fabiola Jimenez
147. ESTANISLAO, Susana Almeda
148. ESTRELLADO, Alicia Fuentes
149. ESTRELLADO, Juan Raymundo Aquino
150. EVANGELISTA, Angienette Canlas
151. FABELLA, Armando Tome
152. FAJARDO, Noemi Villafuerte
153. FAMISAN, Evelyn de la Rosa
154. FARMA, Cynthia Penalba
155. FELIX, Nicetas Tantiongco
156. FERIDO, Cresencia Sotelo
157. FERNANDEZ, Anna Abadilla
158. FERRER, Charito Bolatin
159. FERRIOL, Pamela Magsico
160. FIGUEROA, Alicia Muleta
161. FLORES, Venus Lagahit
162. FRANCISCO, Rita Addug
163. FRANI, Edita Bautista
164. FRESNILLO, Lucia Abrea
165. GABASA, Corazon Paras
166. GADIANA, Leny Gutierrez
167. GALANG, Mary Jane Adrias
168. GALANG, Restituto Obando
169. GALLEMIT, Judelyn Jamarolin
170. GAMBOA, Nanette Reyes
171. GARCIA, John Addy Sapalo
172. GARCIA, Maria Victoria Senador
173. GARINGO, Anna Michelle Salongcay
174. GAZMEN, Nancy Menecio
175. GESMUNDO, Eleonora Vita
176. GOMEZ, Marie Grace Avelino
177. GUEVARRA, Sheila Marie Mallari
178. GUMABAY, Claribeth Nepomuceno
179. GUTIERREZ, Rowena Espiritu
180. GUTIERREZ, Teresita Mortel
181. HERMO, Loida Salle
182. HERNANDEZ, Belinda Mira
183. HERNANDEZ, Fe Pelilia Vergara
184. HERNANDEZ, Jayson Samson
185. HINAYAN, Milagros Degabi
186. HIQUIAL, Ofelia Nambayan
187. HORMILLOSA, Harriet Hautea
188. HUVALLA, Corazon Dela Cruz
189. IBASCO, Maria Dolores Mendoza
190. IGNACIO, Maria Socorro Azarias
191. IGOY, Judy Imelda Lagonilla
192. IGOY, Rex Iturralde
193. IMAGE, Elnora Bravante
194. INOCENCIO, Onofre Jr. Gregorio
195. JABERINA, Marian Camitan
196. JACOT, Joerene Loyzaga
197. JALANDONI, Nove Dorde
198. JANEO, Juvy Tubongbanua
199. JAVA, Margen Araneala
200. JEGONIA, Joey Marie Fabe
201. JIMENEZ, Adelaida Niverba
202. JOSOL, Gloria de la Merced
203. JOVEDA, Asuncion Balunan
204. JOVELLANOS, Marinez Corpus
205. JURISPRUDENCIA, Jerry Jolito
206. KABAMALAN, Cirio Sabio
207. LABIAO, Elaine Naval
208. LACSE, Lynnie Gallo
209. LAGMAY, Juanita Badua
210. LAMBINO, Norma Pasaoa
211. LAO, Elson Tan
212. LARA, Helen Rosas
213. LAUENGCO, Catherine Villamor
214. LEGISNIANA, Selfa Cobilla
215. LEJOS, Luzviminda Gonzales
216. LESACA, Efrenina delos Reyes
217. LETARGO, Maria Carmina Ramajo
218. LINGAT, Lilibelle Mendoza
219. LIPATA, Othellie de Ocampo
220. LO, Teofila Lourdes Leyson
221. LOPEZ, Jomelyn Gomez
222. LOTO, Teresita Anchorez
223. LUMIQUED, Arsenio Aquino
224. MAAÑO, Ferdinand Ilarina
225. MACAPAGAL, Amelia Zabala
226. MACROHON, Estrellita Yañez
227. MAGALLON, Susan Aquino
228. MAGBUHOS, Maria Susana Sanchez
229. MAKILING, Roseline Velasquez
230. MALIGA, Leona Maulingan
231. MALLARE, Alexander Ortiz
232. MAMAUAG, Michael Alain Jutba
233. MANAG, Mary Donna Claire Gutierrez
234. MANALIGOD, Maria Paz Consolacion Agcaoili
235. MANALO, Imelda Isiderio
236. MANDIN, Avelina Leopoldo
237. MANESE, Sheryll Ann Fetalco
238. MANIA, Edwin Edilberto Nagayo
239. MAQUIRAN, Ma. Leonora Quintos
240. MARBELLA, Rhia Geronia
241. MARCELINO, Ophelia Cruz
242. MARCELO, Ma. Elena Cruz
243. MARILLA, Viola Dizon
244. MARTIN, Ann Margaret Toledo
245. MARTINEZ, Juana Rosa Flores
246. MATEO, Maria Teresita dela Cruz
247. MATIAS, Merrie Carolyne dela Merced
248. MC DIVITH, Patrick Royo
249. MEDEZ, Ma. Rebecca dela
250. MEJIA, Mellany Punu
251. MELO, Carmiluz Carlos
252. MENDOZA, Catherine Guzman
253. MENDOZA, Sonia Sison
254. MERCADO, Riza Liwag
255. MERENCIANO, Regina Manahan
256. MINA, May Cuecaco
257. MIRANDA, Angelina Sangalang
258. MONDANO, Susan Chua
259. MONTERONA, Marlene Mallo
260. MORADA, Ninfa Llorera
261. MORALES, Flordeliz Tolentino
262. MORENO, Maribelle Lasala
263. MORTEJO, Jesselyn Cezar
264. MUNGCAL, Cherry Lou Singson
265. MUNSAYAC, Irene Salonga
266. MUSÑGI, Ruth Ann Loyola
267. MUSTAPHA, Leonila Cauan
268. NABUS, Gloria Cal
269. NACIONAL, Loida Ricafrente
270. NACUA, Raquel Masocol
271. NALUPA, Lucita Narciso
272. NALUZ, Elena Gonzales
273. NAPIT, Felisa Cabildo
274. NARAG, Mary Jane Buwagan
275. NGO, Myrlinda Rose Abad
276. NISAY, Susan Servera
277. NOBLE, Nanette Villaverde
278. OBIEN, Alegria Abellon
279. ODON, Emerita Sumadang
280. OLPOC, Raquel Cementina
281. ONDOY, Roehl Umali
282. ORDILLANO, Rio Bingabing
283. ORENSE, Charity Pablo
284. ORTILLA, Suzana Selena Salomon
285. PADILLA, Angelita Ancheta
286. PADOR, Maria Aurelia Estela Legaspi
287. PAREÑAS, Cecilia Nimuan
288. PASCASIO, Catherine Soriben
289. PASCUAL, Geraldeen Bautista
290. PELAYO, Florinda Paula Villanueva
291. PEÑANO, Editha Abastillas
292. PEREZ, Madora Samaco
293. PEREZ, Ralph Ferraris
294. PO, Fernando Tan
295. PONCE, Fricana Cornes
296. POSADAS, Flordeliza Corcuera
297. PULUTAN, Gracia Sarmiento
298. PUNZALAN, Emilie Peralejo
299. QUESADA, Carmen Sunico
300. QUITA, Christine Cestina
301. RAFOLS, Mary Ann Tupas
302. RAGASA, Ester Miraña
303. RAGUAL, Remedios Mendoza
304. RAMOS, Avelina Conde
305. RAMOS, Catherine Villanueva
306. RAMOS, Chloe Socorro Kilayco
307. RAYCO, Carolina Uno
308. RAYCO, Domingo Jr. Roa
309. RAYOS, Nancy Catacutan
310. REGENCIA, Cecilia Taga-oc
311. REGENTE, Maria Jinky Montoya
312. RELENTE, Miguelito Angustia
313. RENTINO, Ester Asilo
314. REPARADO, Leah Cruza
315. REYES, Maria Olivia Senson
316. ROCES, Elizabeth dela Cruz
317. RODRIGUEZ, Jovie Comia
318. RODRIGUEZ, Liezel Damian
319. ROMUALDO, Zita Terre
320. RONQUILLO, Ma. Teresa Elisterio
321. ROQUE, Sharon de Guzman
322. ROSALES, Eulalia Rosales
323. ROSARIO, Rodel Rapanut
324. ROXAS, Esmeralda Abad
325. RUIZ, Michelle Ann Reyes
326. SALADO, Jaime Abenio
327. SALAZAR, Neda June Daguro
328. SALONGA, Carmencita Hilario
329. SAN DIEGO, Raquel de Guzman
330. SANCHEZ, Christina Sarmiento
331. SANCHEZ, Myrna Joyce Ondoy
332. SANTIAGO, Phoebe Fantilaga
333. SANTOS, Milagros Aquino
334. SAUL, Romelyn Copon
335. SEMIRA, Norma Pansoy
336. SENAJONON, Nerissa Valdez
337. SENO, Wilma Cabante
338. SEPNIO, Neyrezza Sahisa
339. SERANILLA, Myrna Sorreta
340. SHAO, Rosa Ching
341. SHARMA, Dinghy Kristine Baraero
342. SIA, Emmanuel Gerardo Masilungan
343. SIASON, Archibald Sanchez
344. SIGLOS, Maurita Claridad
345. SILVA, B’julah Quiocson
346. SILVA, Rommel Paul Tagayon
347. SINGSON, Renato Cañas
348. SISCAR, Gorgonia Laguardia
349. SISON, Johanna Marie de Ocampo
350. SOBONG, Florosa Bautista
351. SOCRATES, Nita Jagmis
352. SOLEDAD, Elizabeth Abne
353. SOLIVEN, Noemi Cabang
354. SUAREZ, Eliza Miole
355. SUBA, Elizabeth Sinogaya
356. SUDARIO, Teresa Capotoy
357. TABILE, Gloria Ramos
358. TACDORO, Arnie Ernesta Malasa
359. TAFALLA, Fe Villanueva
360. TAJEDA, Olivia De Luna
361. TALUSAN, Danilo Baldazo
362. TAN, Judy Go
363. TAN, Maria Roberta Lucero
364. TAN, Vincent Lagura
365. TEVES, Lizza Pineda
366. TIAMSON, Maria Luisa Sigua
367. TOLIBAS, Adelaida Razon
368. TORRES, Merle Canlas
369. TUAZON, Elsa Callorina
370. TUGUINAY, Julie Eday
371. TUMANGDAY, Charlotte Almario
372. UBALDE, Dino Talento
373. UMALI, Erlene Castillo
374. UY, Leticia Villocero
375. VALDERAMA, Ma. Josefina Colmenares
376. VALENCIA, Lorely Anne Ferrer
377. VALENCIA, Maria Cecilia Mercedes Fabrero
378. VALMONTE, Amy Cerezo
379. VELASCO, Domingo Jr. Caliboso
380. VERGARA, Jocelyn Amponin
381. VILLADARES, Jerome Fabricante
382. VILLALON, Arvin Manuel dela Rosa
383. VILLANUEVA, Maria Christina Galera
384. VILLAR, Imelda Virginia Garde
385. VILLASOR, Ramon Eduardo Gustilo
386. WONG, Barbara Lee
387. YAP, Richmond Satur
388. YOTO, Ma. Elena Merza
389. YOUNG RICARDO, Angelita Campoy
390. YTING, Ida Mercado
391. YU, Jeanette Ong
392. ZAIDE, Lucila Alcantara
393. ZANTUA, Julse Villanueva
NOTHING FOLLOWS…

PRC Resolution on 3rd Batch of Grandfather's Clause to be published here

I have been receiving text messages about the PRC Resolution regarding the 3rd batch for Oath Taking under the Grandfather's Clause of RA No. 9258. It was published last Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008 in the Manila Bulletin page 6, and the list on page B14. Some of us may have lost patience due to the delay of the publication. There appear to be difficulties downloading the Resolution with a pdf format. Hence, for those who cannot purchase the newspaper (it's in the libraries I believe), please wait for the list in this blog. Hope by the end of this day, it shall be uploaded for easy reading.

Yes, registration at the PRC or its satellite offices in the provinces have begun last Sept. 12, 2008. The following are the requirements:

1. Duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propersyonal (Archie texted me that he got his PERRC or Permanent Examination and Registration Record Card, and the Panunumpa ng Propesyonal Form from the PRC satellite office in Zamboanga, so PRC Manila should have that too.)
2. current Community Tax Certificate (cedula),
3. old receipt of application fee (was that P900? yes, it is!)
4. 2 pcs passport size picture (colored with white background and complete name tag)
5. 1 pc 1x1 picture (colored with white background and complete name tag)
6. 2 sets of metered documentary stamps (PRC has this too),
7. 1 short brown envelope with name and profession
8. Initial Registration Fee of P600
9. Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2008-2011

I also got a text message mentioning the amount of P1,500 for the oath-taking fee at the Manila Hotel on Sept. 28, 2008 at 1:30PM. The tickets to that affair shall be released starting today, as Let Marcelo of PRC has told me over the phone. Let's see the Word Alive again.

Yes, please spare 1 copy of your 2 X 2 passport size and 1 x 1 pictures for IPCAP membership which IPCAP requires for the application form and ID. IPCAP Membership Fee is pegged at P500. For more information, please email berngu721@gmail.com or text me (for SMART subscribers 0919-6236605; for GLOBE subscribers 0927-3842739). The IPCAP Board of trustees has decided last Friday Sept. 12 that this blog counpsychphil.blogspot.com shall be the official information center for IPCAP announcements. Please keep posted and share with other colleagues, particularly the REGISTERED and LICENSED GUIDANCE COUNSELORS. Thank you, Good day and God bless

The PRC Response to IPCAP's Letter On Board Exam Qualifications

Let me post here an email many among us would have written. Here is the said email (whose sender I am keeping confidential muna.)

Greetings!

When I learned that there were some college grads who were able to take the licensure for the counselors I felt cheated. I checked from the website of PGCA and it was posted there that one has to have an M.A. degree to be able to qualify for the licensure exam.

"First Licensure Exams August 21 & 22, 2008
Minimum Qualification: Graduate of MA/MS in Guidance and Counseling"

I copy pasted it from their website http://pgca.org.ph/newsnandevents.html#20080606

Since there were some who were able to take the test without the said requirement maybe I would also be qualified to participate in the next licensure exam.

May I know when will be the next licensure exam? I hope you can enlighten me ( Even my classmates are confused) about the licensure requirements

In Christ,

My response

Peace!
Thanks for your reply. Right now, we at IPCAP are working to help clarify this chaos. I shall personally inform you through my blog developments in this matter. You must have read in my previous blogs our IPCAP letter clarifying with the PRB the PRC requirements. Until now, PRC has not given us any reply which PRB OIC Dr. Rosales has written about.

In the meantime, let's compare notes through email, and let's not be afraid. We are all in search of clarity and TRUTH! PGCA is silent about these things.

Take care and God bless

The PRC Reply Letter:

The highlight in this blog is the PRC response letter to our IPCAP letter last August 13, 2008. At this point, let us understand that IPCAP intends to file a clarificatory letter to finalize what really should be the requirements. We shall blog the matter as well when the letter shall have been formulated and sent to the PRbGC and PRC. Happy reading.

Here is the 2-page PRC reply letter which I transcribed (I have difficulty downloading the picture of this said letter) addressed to PRB GC OIC Dr. Lily Rosales. Here it is:

August 19, 2008

DR. LILY R. ROSALES
OIC-Board of Guidance of Guidance & Counseling

Dear Madam:

This refers to the letter of Fr. Bernardo R. Collera, SVD, et al. regarding your educational requirement for the first licensure examination for guidance counselors.

Sec. 13 of Rep. Act No. 9258 (Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004) provides as follows:

“Qualifications for Examination. – In order to qualify for the
Examination, an applicant must, at the time of filing the application, be:

(a) a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines or a foreigner
whose country has reciprocity with the Philippines
in the practice of Guidance and Counseling;

xxx xxx xxx

(c) holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Guidance and
Counseling or in other allied disciplines and a
Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling from
an institution in the Philippines or abroad recognized
and accredited by the CHED.”

This provision is subject to 2 interpretations.

On the one hand, it may mean that a bachelor’s degree in Guidance and Counseling and a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling are both needed to be qualified for the examination because of the word “and” after the first requirement.

On the other hand, it may also mean that the requirement of a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling will only be needed by those who are holders of a bachelor’s degree in allied discipline because the word “and” comes immediately after the phrase “in other allied disciplines’.

I firmly believe that the second interpretation is the sound one. (In the letter, this sentence was underlined, and since I have difficulty doing that here in this blog system, I emboldened it instead.)

Firstly, there is the word “or” between the phrase ‘bachelor’s degree in guidance and counseling’ and the phrase ‘bachelor’s degree in other allied disciplines’. By this, there will be 2 distinct sets of graduates---one, bachelor in guidance and counseling, and two, bachelor in allied discipline.

Considering that the word “and” is near the phrase ‘bachelor in allied discipline’ then it follows that the requirement of a master’s degree in guidance and counseling will refer to it.

This is logical because the examination is about guidance and counseling. These graduates of allied disciplines may not have taken all the subjects given in a bachelor’s degree in guidance and counseling. Hence a master’s degree in guidance and counseling is needed by them to complete their knowledge of guidance and counseling.

Secondly, a closer look at the requirements for registration as guidance counselor without examination will show that a master’s degree in guidance and counseling is not a requirement by those who have practiced guidance and counseling for 5 and 7 years. (See Sec. 14 of RA 9258)

This is because the licensure examination will take the place of the master’s degree in guidance and counseling for those who are simple graduates of the bachelor’s degree in guidance and counseling.

Lastly, the Honorable Board must take judicial notice of Commission Resolution No. 2005-306 dated December 15, 2005.

In that Resolution the interpretation of who, between the employees of government and private individuals, need to have a baccalaureate degree to be appointed as room watchers and supervisors in licensure examinations.

Because the words “and/or” between these 2 phrases, the Commission adopted the second interpretation wherein the words “baccalaureate degree” will refer to private individuals and not to government employees.

For your information and guidance.

Very truly yours,


Sgd. DIOSDADO ANSELMO Q. LALUSIS
OIC, Licensure Office

GOOD NEWS For All Licensed Counselors

Yes, as in plural GOOD NEWS - madami ba! Today, Sept. 13, 2008, (contrary to the above date that it's Sept. 12, 2008 (American time kasi ang time nitong blogspot e), just as the text to Archie the other day which I copied in an earlier blog said, Manila Bulletin has on page 6 the news about the PRC Board Resolution for the 3rd batch of oath takers as Guidance Counselors under the Grandfather's Clause of R.A. 9258. The list can be found on page B14. Surprisingly, if you read the news item, you'll find that PRC must have sent it for publication on Sept. 11 because it says, filing for registration starts "tomorrow Sept. 12, 2008." So there you go, indeed WORD ALIVE! Congratulations to our people at PRC. We need to keep this a habit: walking the talking! Now the spirit of corruption is shivering, but will fight back. We need to be vigilant, with the blessings and the Spirit of the Good Lord and Good Counselor.

Secondly, IPCAP had its first Board of Trustees meeting at the RGS Convent yesterday. Our savings bank account under the name of the present Treasurer we have approved to be named IPCAP. Hence, we can now start depositing our membership fees and other funds there. The official number shall be announced more formally in the following weeks after we have approved our information brochure or IPCAP flyer. We have also approved our official IPCAP Application Form for Membership which the Board of Trustees started to sign immediately after they paid the membership Fee of P500. Yes, we got two applicants already yesterday, and we are now open to all LICENSED AND REGISTERED GUIDANCE COUNSELORS only to apply for membership so we can go full throttle to make this organization ONE that serves the needs and development of the profession and the REGISTERED AND LICENSED COUNSELOR. It is one that shall embody our ideals and hopefully empower each registered member rather than keep the Board an island with its secrets all their own (it's called "executive privilege"), as currently observed in many organizations. We are doing these in keeping with the law, that is R.A. 9258. So, welcome to IPCAP licensed Guidance Counselors!
For more information, you may email me at berngu721@gmail.com or text me at these numbers: For SMART subscribers 0919-6236605, or for GLOBE subscribers 0927-3842739. If you are a SUN subscriber, do text our Vice-President Dr. Julian R. Montano at 0922-8990130. We shall write more about this in the coming blogs.

Thirdly, in our Board Resolution to grant either the elected President or Vice-president, and the Treasurer to transact with the Bank as stipulated in the Secretary's certificate to the Bank, we have specified that "any action by these authorized persons to transact with the Bank shall require a Board Resolution signed by a majority of the Board of Trustees" (Resolution # 2008-001). This is made to protect IPCAP and its officers now and in the future from acts inimical to the Association and its membership and direction. Alam mo na? We would not want to be keeping the secrets of others haha, and then end up being accused of conniving with them. So, we shall be doing all we can to keep evil from seeping in. Let's all come together for each others' good and the integrity of the Guidance and Counseling profession in the Philippines.

And of course, IPCAP finally received from Dr. Lily Rosqueta-Rosales, current PRBGC OIC the response from the PRC Licensure Office to our letter clarifying the acceptance of College Graduates to take the Board exam contrary to what we have been conditioned to believe, namely that a Masters in Guidance Counseling is a sine qua non. I shall be transcribing that response and then blog it (including a picture of that 2-page-reply) for public information and reaction. Yes, IPCAP will follow up on that until we shall have a more firm direction. Para di tayo maloko no? So please follow up on this matter here, and yes, sharing this blog with others is encouraged as it is profoundly thanked.

Guidance Counselors are people with integrity. They walk the talk. God bless

Another COUNTDOWN

Yes, I called up PRC last Monday, Sept. 08, and got the results: the Resolution on the 3rd batch of Grandfathered oath-takers. I called up again requesting for a copy of the said PRC Resolution so that we can see the list ourselves, like we saw the list of Board Passers, and yes the one of the 2nd batch. I was told that it shall be uploaded into the PRC website and published in the Manila Bulletin tomorrow, i.e., Sept. 9, 2008. After the conversation, I actually received a text message about being upset that the information on a Manila Bulletin publication of the said list was supposed to be on Sept. 8, 2008, and that it wasn't there! Ano ba talaga kuya?! Anyway, we are usually patient and grant them the benefit of the doubt, so I did check Sept. 8's, 9's, and even yesterday's. Wala pa rin KUYA! Wala sa classified ads; wala sa showbiz page. Wala sa tabi-tabi; wala sa obituary! Ano ba talaga!!!

Anyway, the latest (today's) is this: "Wait nyo po sa newspaper and website ng prc hanggang Saturday." This is from Archie who texted his contact in PRC. Basta sabi mo ba, okey! And here is one Archie sent me: "Those who qualified for the Grandfa Clause can go to PRC satellite Ofc in their respective places to apply for the registration or they also have the option to apply directly at PRC Manila." He must have received it from PRC mismo.

Some people find this process a little irritating. In fact, anyone can hear the word "makulit ka" said at the sides. I wouldn't mind being told that. But I bet everyone wants to see "THE WORD ALIVE," meaning "you do as you say." When you say it's tomorrow, it's tomorrow. Not next time, not some time in the near or far or will never come future. We are already in the time of professionals, meaning we go by standards in behavior. O lulusot na naman, saying "e Philippine time yan e." Ah ganon? How many hours are there in a day? 24 di ba? Or are we saying we have now a longer-than-24-hour days in the Philippines? Matagal na po!!! We grant rooms for errors since we hold the saying "To err is human and to forgive is divine." But let's remember that we cannot abuse mercy by not reforming. Restitution is an apt word for whatever this may all amount to.

So, now we have a clear example of a defense mechanism called PROJECTION: the discomfort one feels about one's inability to do/live as one has said is projected to the other in the word and accusation "makulit ka!" So, let's not be afraid to follow up, especially when we have already given a day or two lapse to give the other the benefit of the doubt. In this way, we can remove corruption and inefficiency in our systems, first as individuals, then as peers, family, community and the nation. Then we can stand up tall before anyone because we do as we say. Today's papers say that the Philippines has slipped into the 140th position out of 181 countries to invest in. This deeply ingrained behavior might be the cause of that rating. Why not do a study about this? Oo nga no?

MERON BA O WALA?
Sa kabilang dako, in line with being true to the one's word, I am really wondering why until now Dr. Villar and her PGCA Board has not answered my first question by way of email or text: WHAT IS THE ACCREDITATION NUMBER OF PGCA AS APO? WHEN WAS IT RELEASED? FOR HOW LONG IS THE DURATION? When I say Accreditation Number, I mean the PGCA has paid dues to PRC for this accreditation number. This is required in PRC Resolution 178 Series of 2004. Dr. Llanes as President of PGCA has done that last year or early this year, but has not been allowed to pay due to PGCA's documentary flaws! And yet, the title "Accredited Professional Association by the Professional Regulation Commission" remains in any of their invites and hopefully not, official documents. Perhaps in reply to my query, the PGCA website instead uploaded last week PRC Resolution # 292 Series of 2005, signed on Aug. 8, 2005, published in the Gazette on Oct. 31, 2005 and date of effectivity to start on Nov. 16, 2005. This is the context of the 3-year period for the APO. Without the said number, without PRC giving them an Official Receipt about this payment to be APO for the Guidance & Counseling profession, PGCA SHOULD REFRAIN FROM USING THIS TITLE. It is a form of usurpation without basis, a misrepresentation in itself that shouldn't be done by any professional or person or organization for that matter. Remember, even in the Rules and Regulations, the PGCA is only identified as INTERIM APO or IAPO, a required organization during this process of licensing the Guidance Counselors. Doesn't this RR already supersede, repeal or amend previous actions of anyone (see Rule V Section 35 of the RR of RA 9258) particularly that PRC Resolution # 2005-292? Let's stay and act within limits or else, let's remember that misrepresentation of authority is a crime in our land. (Wait ha, I will search for that law so that at least everyone knows what this is all about.)

What is more problematic here is that those who will be taking their oaths might be REQUIRED to pay the PGCA membership dues. Until PGCA has that accreditation number, until PGCA shows proof of payment, PGCA is not the APO, and anyone will just be giving money away. Yaman mo 'tol, pautang nga! dami naming mahirap sa tabi!!! Payment to the APO should be given only after organization shall have shown the PRC O.R. and the said number. The PRBGC should be the first one to uphold the proper process here, and I hope the observation or perception of favoritism is avoided.

We have heard Dr. Bance's report during the Convention last May 2008 during the National Convention: the previous Treasurer has not turned over to her any Financial Report yet. May I ask if there has been one since then? I read in the PGCA website that Dr. Bance is now the Vice-president. Has there been a turn over? If there was none yet as of this writing, behold what precedents can do talaga! And we expect this to continue uncorrected from our APO-daw? God forbid!

What I said here may sound disturbing. I may be judged going OC, but if only we listen to what is deep inside us: trying to edge out corruption in our midst, trying to live as we say, then those need not be seen as ka-OC han, but as part of our communal efforts to reform ourselves. Remember we are counselors. The Christian message calls for conversion - for the better and not for the worst. Let's walk the talk!

College of St. Benilde Counseling Week Invitation

The following is an email inviting everyone to the De La Salle University-College of St. Benilde Counseling Week. Please read along.

Dear Fr. Bernard,

Once again, De La Salle College of St. Benilde is celebrating the Center for Counseling Week on Sept 23 to Sept 27, (2008). I remember that one time you were one of the presenters. In behalf of the center, I am inviting you and other fellow counselors who might want to celebrate with us. As of this email, we still lack one counselor for case presentation, someone from readers of your blog might be interested. I am sending you the letter we sent to NCR counselors; kindly post this invitation in your blog. Thanks again!
Myrna

September 8, 2008


Dear Counselors,

We annually celebrate the Center for Counseling Services Week or CCS Week, for this year it will be held on September 22 -26, 2008. As the College commemorates its 20th year, we at the Center espouse the theme “Inspiring the Youth”. One of the major activities of the CCS Week is the Counselors’ Professional Forum on September 25 to be held at Augusto Rosario Theater. We are happy to invite you for this whole day activity. The morning session has been conceived as a venue for counselors to share researches and/ or cases on diverse topics to fellow colleagues in the educational field. Following is the schedule for the morning activity.

Morning Session

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. – 8:45 p.m. Opening Prayer and Welcome Address
8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. First Paper Presentation: “Motives and Information Use on Self Evaluation, Goals Orientation and Academic Achievement Among College Students” - Ms. Rheena Babanto, RGC – Counselor DLS-CSB
9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Second Paper Presentation: “Adolescents’ Concepts of Paternal Nurturance: Definition, Instrumentation, and Application” - Dr. Domingo Rayco, Jr. Counseling Psychologist
9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. AM Snacks (snacks will be served)
10:00 a.m. – 10:30a.m. Third Paper Presentation (Presenter has yet to confirm)
10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Open Forum
11:15 a.m. - 11: 30 a.m. Awarding of Certificates of Attendance

LUNCH BREAK (can be bought in the college canteen)

The activity in the afternoon is a mini-workshop on “Conducting Action Research for Guidance and Counseling Programs”. The workshop aims to equip counselors with additional research skills which they can utilize to evaluate and improve guidance and counseling programs focusing on student based outcomes. Activities will be done through structured learning experiences. To maximize participation in this workshop, counselors are requested to bring a copy of the school’s current guidance and counseling program. Following is the schedule of the afternoon activity:

1:30p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Prayer (Community Singing)
Introduction of the Resource Speaker
1:45p.m – 3:00 p.m. Talk on Action Research: John Addy Garcia, PhD
Assistant Professor at the Counseling and Educational Psychology Department (CEPD) of the DLSU-Manila
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. PM Snacks (will be served)
3:15 p.m – 4:15 p.m Workshop
4: 15p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Open Forum
4:45p.m. – 5:00 p.m Awarding of Certificates of Attendance

Participation in the whole day forum and snacks in the morning and afternoon will be free of charge. Lunch can be bought from the college canteen or neighboring restaurants. We hope you can find time to join us in these worthwhile discussions. Kindly confirm your attendance to Jo Ann at numbers: 5267441 loc 129; telefax 5262117; mobile_________

Very truly yours,

Sgd. Myrna Valera, RGC., PhD
OIC- Center for Counseling Services

Noted by:

Sgd. Ms. Ma Socorro Bacay
Dean, Office of Student Affairs

PRC Resolution on 3rd Batch of Grandfather's Clause is SIGNED

Thanks to a counselor in Ateneo de Zamboanga, I got word that the PRC resolution regarding those who applied for the third batch of oath taking under RA 9258's Grandfather's Clause has been signed (Archie, thanks a lot talaga!). Yes, I had just called up the PRC, and according to Ms. Let Marcelo, indeed the much awaited Resolution has been signed. I checked for my name and it's there. Finally! Thanks God. Looks like this is a very good birthday gift I am getting from the Blessed Virgin Mary whose birthday we celebrate today. Thank you Mama Mary!

Now I can register with IPCAP! Those who made it can ready themselves to become IPCAP members. You are welcome as long as you have the license. We have the official receipts na po. IPCAP stands for the Integrated Professional Counselors Association of the Philippines (IPCAP), Inc., a duly SEC-registered professional organization that will work for the counseling profession and all licensed and registered Guidance Counselors. For inquiries, please email (berngu721@gmail.com) or text me at 0919-6236605 (for SMART subscribers) or 0927-3842739 (for GLOBE subscribers).

Accordingly, registration starts Wednesday September 10, 2008. Please bring along the claim slip with the Official Receipt for the payment we made at the application stage. I got this from the PRC website which pertains to what we will bring for registration:

"Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 2 pieces passport size picture (colored with white background and complete nametag), 1 piece 1” x 1” picture (colored with white background and complete nametag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps, and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession; and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2008-2011."

Ms. Marcelo has also informed me that as regards the ticket for the oath-taking, they will start releasing only on Sept. 15, 2008. The payment is P1,500 (mukhang may discrepancy ba from the one I blocked and copied from their website? Anyway, maybe it's better to have extra than to lack...) See you at the registration I shall register on Monday Sept. 15 so I do only 1 trip, and yes the Oath-taking. God bless

To check for yours, do call (02) 735-1533. If it's busy, you may inquire at (02) 314-0018. Please ask for Ms. let Marcelo.

Countdown

I called up PRC Thursday and Friday, Sept. 4 & 5 respectively, and the lady there told me that this week (starting the 8th September 2008), we are supposed to check their website or the newspapers (I found the list of those who passed the Board exams in the inquirer.net on Sept 1, whereas the results were published in Manila Bulletin Sept. 2, 2008) for the results of the 3rd batch of oath takers under the Grandfather's Clause. Let's keep each other informed. Email me or text na lang so we can immediately disseminate information. My email is berngu721@gmail.com, and you can text me at either SMART 0919-6236605, or GLOBE 0927-3842739.

Secondly, I am doing my own countdown about the letter we wrote the PRB, copy furnished the PRC which Dr. Rosales personally in a handwritten letter replied (both have been blogged earlier). We submitted the letter August 13, of course it was 2008; Dr. Rosales received it Aug. 15, also 2008 (thanks a lot talaga!) which happens to be the same day she wrote us her reply. I received the reply last Saturday Aug. 30 (bagal ng post no? email is best talaga haha). And as regards this letter, I am really surprised why PGCA is saying nothing about the matter. DI ba the invitation to the Midyear carried with it "APO" sila? Does anyone know and email me? It's our profession's integrity that is at stake here. Let's stand for each other's integrity. This is what accountability is about which we are all trained, sworn in and will guarantee to everyone, client and fellow Counselor alike. Let's know the truth. The more documented (as in resolutions and text messages, emails and blogs para malinaw), the better. God bless

Wanted: Counselor for College of St. Benilde 2nd CALL

This is in response to an email from Ms Myrna Valera:
Please update our job posting on your blog as screening of applicants is still ongoing. Salamat ulit....Myrna

The De La Salle-College of St. Benilde is in need of three (3) counselors with the following criteria:

College Counselor under the supervision of the CCS Director, the counselor performs individual/group counseling and interviews, and conducts/faciltitates group activities that help in the development of well-integrated and responsible individuals.

Applicants must:

* Be a master's degree holder in Guidance and Counseling and/or School Counseling
* Have at least three to five years of counseling experience; and
* Be a Registered Guidance Counselor in accordance with R.A 9258 (Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004)

Interested applicants may email their application letter and curriculum vitae to:

valeram@dls-csb.edu.ph Deadline for submission is on September 30, 2008.

This is interesting because if there was anyone who passed the Board Exam and has not yet finished one's Masters in Guidance Counseling, one may not have much chances of getting this position here. I hope the seriousness of this matter is getting clearer as the light gets brighter. Anyway, all the best. If anyone is luckier, do let me know by emailing me back. Share your good news. God bless

On 3rd Batch of Grandfather's Clause License Applicants

I received a text message inquiring about the 3rd batch of oath takers under the Grandfather's Clause of RA 9258. I called up the PRC yesterday at little after 4 in the afternoon. All I could get was the word that it has not yet been released. Those who applied for licensure under this arrangement were told that the said resolution would be released this week, 1st week of September, yes year 2008.

The PRC will be releasing a Board resolution which shall list those who've been given the license sans licensure examinations. One may inquire with PRC by calling (02) 314-0018. Please let me know when you get information about release of the much awaited resolution. The texter informed me that the resolution will be released next week, 2nd week of September, yes year 2008.

FPCAP Oath Taking

The Family and Pastoral Counseling Association of the Philippines (FPCAP) held the oath taking of its officers last Aug. 26, 2008. I was on retreat then, but am so happy to have been furnished copies of the pictures for blogging here. This is a budding organization (SEC-registered only in March 12, 2008) to give due honor and credit to as well as help develop those doing this ministry and profession in family, marital and pastoral-community counseling.

I was doubly happy to see Mr. Cesar Cong gracing the event (please see the pic). Mr. Cong is our current IPCAP Treasurer and President of the Philippine Association for Christian Counseling (PACC). His group is known for its strong pastoral counseling work. I met my brother in law's brother who is a pastor in Florida and a member of this organization of Christian Counselors doing Christian Counseling.

Hence, with the Ateneo de Manila alumni-led FPCAP, together with PACC, the area of family, marital and pastoral-community counseling should have its advocates. This would be an area for greater knowledge and understanding. The De La Salle University has a curriculum in Community Counseling under its Masters Program. Once they get their degrees, their professional license, and practice the profession, they can help make this field grow with their membership.

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

WHAT IF THERE WERE COLLEGE GRADS ONLY WHO TOOK THE BOARD EXAMS AND PASSED

As I was reading the list of successful Guidance and Counseling licensure examinees published in the Manila Bulletin today, Sept. 2, 2008, the following thoughts dawned on me: What if there were indeed college graduates only, i.e., without having masters degrees, and they passed, would the schools dare to announce this in public, celebrating their school's products? This could be one implication of the letter we filed with the PRB, concerning the seeming disparity between what has been promoted and enshrined in RA 9258, and the PRC qualifications list distributed throughout the country. Or, since the exam was primarily for those with masters, would those who were only college graduates have found the licensure exams difficult, thereby wasting their money spent in applying to take the Board? If there were college graduates who took the test and passed, (there were 84 out of 140 who took the exams), what was the percentage of those with Masters who passed? If admitting college graduates only to take the exams were a "trial" to validate the exams, where does this lead us to? Are there guinea pigs in our midst then? And, if many college graduates can pass exams for those who have masters, what does this mean for our educational process? Serious questions huh?!

I just hope this matter can be given due clarification the sooner the better because until things are not clear and the air of doubt blowing in our midst, there will be "milking cows" in our midst. I mean, college graduates who apply to take the Board exams only to end up failing because they may not have taken up the exam matters in their course training, thereby virtually set up to fall in the failure trap. This should not continue, and restitution is necessary if injustice has taken place. We continue to be vigilant so that the Guidance and Counseling profession doesn't end up the negative talk of the town.

It would then be essential that those who are in the know collate data so we can handle this with the PRC and the PRB. It's still too early for the problem, and it should then be easier to solve it. Please email me (berngu721@gmail.com) about this if you have any information that can help settle the matter. Thanks. We do this for the sake of our profession that gives us pride and dignity in our work.

Dr. Rosales' Reply to IPCAP Letter

After my annual retreat, I received last Saturday Aug. 30, 2008 the following reply letter personally handwritten by our current Officer In Charge (OIC) at the Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance and Counseling Dr. Lily Rosqueta-Rosales in response to the letter we submitted last Aug. 13. It was addressed to IPCAP. The letter has her home address at the top, and her name etched or printed before the date of the letter. Let me copy it here for everyone to read. We will follow up this matter at the PRC.

69 Mangyan
La Vista, Quezon City 1108
Philippines

Lily Rosqueta-Rosales, Ed.D

August 15, 2008

Dear Colleagues in Guidance,
Your letter of August 12, 2008 was given to me today August 15. After reading the letter and knowing your concer, I forwarded it to the offices concerned through channels, and for PRC to respond to your letter. I trust that you will receve PRC's answer very soon.
With all good wishes.

Sgd. Lily Rosqueta Roslaes
I-I-C
PRB Guidance and Counseling
PRC

1st Guidance and Counseling Board Exam Passers List Here (From Inquirer.net)

Just tonight before sleeping, I got a text message from a Counselor who passed the Board exams relaying to me that he made it. From the Inquirer.net come the following results. It is listed alphabetically in there, and I decided to copy here their names so we can see the total number of successful examinees. Congratulations to everyone. I have yet to see the list in the Inquirer newspaper.

Surprisingly, I couldn’t see the results in the PRC website yet. (On Sept. 8, the prc website has placed the results.) Herein now is the list which also appears in today's Sept. 2, 2008 edition of the Manila Bulletin, at the back page of its headline page.

TO FACILITATE viewing of the guidance counselor exam results, the results have been broken down into separate files organized alphabetically by the surnames of the successful examinees. Click on a letter below to view the corresponding file.

Roll of Successful Examinees in the
GUIDANCE COUNSELOR LICENSURE EXAMINATION
Held in AUGUST 2008
Released on SEPTEMBER 1, 2008

Seq. No. N a m e

1 ALDAY, MYRA PATRON
2 AQUI, ANNA CHRISTINA SANTOS
3 ATILLO, ANALENE NATIVIDAD
4 AWINGAN, WILMALYN ADAG
5 BABANTO, RHEENA ESTER BANTULA
6 BACOSA, LEAH SIOSON
7 BASAWIL, CECILE AGUILAN
8 BAUTISTA, ANGELIE DOLIGOSA
9 BAUTISTA, MARIA THERESA MERCADO
10 BELTRAN, FLORY CAYABYAB
11 BUENAFE, FINI JOY PALACIO
12 BUSTILLO, ANGELI BALDOVINO
13 CABACUNGAN, NERISSA GONZALES
14 CABARON, LYNMARIE THERESE ARANETA
15 CADANO, KRISTINE CEPE
16 CALLO, FRANCES RUTH LOURDES SESPERES
17 CANLAS, CHERRY LOU DUQUE
18 CARDENAS, MARIA TERESA TABUÑAR (FPCAP)
19 CARLOS, KRISTINA ROSE GUIAO
20 CHAN, CHERRY LO
21 CHUA, CLAUDINE SY
22 CIPRIANO, ADARNA MIRASOL
23 CORTEZ, MARIA DOROTHY ALONZO
24 CORTEZ, MARYROSE PICO
25 CUA, CYMBELINE CHAN
26 CUDEL, ANDREW DE LUNA
27 DAVID, ADONIS PACLEB
28 DE CASTRO, FRANCINE ROSE ASUNCION
29 DELA CRUZ, SHERILLYN DIZON
30 DIZON, MICHELLE MARIE CALIXTO
31 DIZON, STEPHANIE ROSE TOLENTINO
32 DOMENDEN, NHORLY URBIZTONDO
33 GAGNI, ELIZABETH MARFEL FORTES
34 GONZALEZ, MARIA MARGARITA CRISOSTOMO
35 HOGGANG, GERALDA PINOY-AN
36 IMBANG, LEI MARIE FENETE
37 JANAIRO, EFRAEM ABAD
38 JOSUE, MARY JOCELYN BALANGUE
39 JOVER, MURIEL MINERVA
40 KURZE, ANDREA ROBERTO (FPCAP)
41 LAWAS, RICKY REMETIO
42 LEGASPI, ESTESA XARIS QUE
43 LINGALING, ROSALIE OSALVO
44 LOPEZ, JOCELYN BUENAVENTURA
45 LUBONG, MARICEL VELASCO
46 MAURICIO, CANDY DELA CRUZ
47 MEDINA, FERDINAND LABIOS
48 MENDOZA, ANNIE TANCIOCO
49 MORES, ELMERANDO TAGUIBAO
50 NAVAL, JEANETTE VICTORIA ALBANO
51 NAVAREZ, JOEL CASTILLO
52 NAYVE, MARY ANNE LOPEZ
53 NGO, MYRLINDA ROSE ABAD
54 OAEL, IRENE CULAS
55 OCAMPO, MARICAR BERNARDO
56 OIDE, CONCHITA LICUANAN
57 PADSOYAN, REYNALYN TAYAWA
58 PAELANO, AARON MAGNO
59 PAJARILLAGA, FLERIDA SANTIAGUEL
60 PANTALEON, JAYMEE ABIGAIL KLINEFELTER
61 PAPAS, LOVELYN SISON
62 PARCASIO, AURORA PAULO
63 PAULO, MARY GRACE BLASICO
64 PIDLAOAN, KAREN CUSTODIO
65 PRE, JULIUS CUARESMA
66 QUEMI, MARIFEL PONCE
67 QUIAMNO, DIOSDADO JR BONDE
68 QUIBA, CAROLYN CRUZ (FPCAP)
69 QUIBA, MENDELSON POLANTE
70 QUINDOR, JUDYLYNN IGUBAN
71 RIMANDO, KAREN ORTIGUERO
72 ROGEL, ELNA MARTIN
73 ROSAL, MANOL TABLADA
74 SALDA, JESHANAH BASALONG
75 SARABIA, JOSELITO SAÑADA (FPCAP)
76 SINDOL, ANNIE EVE DAVID
77 STA ANA, OLIVER BALTAZAR
78 TIMBOL, MA NANETTE CRUZ
79 TOLEDO, CAROL MADLANGSAKAY
80 TRAGICO, GIFT DEL CARMEN
81 TRIGUERO, JANICE PUNZALAN
82 VILLAREAL, RITA LORENZO
83 VILLON, ALEXANDRA WANDA LOMOD
84 YAMZON, MAY DAVID
NOTHING FOLLOWS----------------------


Manila, Philippines
SEPTEMBER 1, 2008

For the Board Examinees

It might be a little late, but for the sake of those who might read this before they take the exams tomorrow, August 21, may I blog this which I wrote yesterday

Aug. 20, 2008

It’s Aug. 20, and it’s the eve of the first Board Exams in Guidance and Counseling in the Philippines. My thoughts and prayers are with the 1st batch of board examinees. I pray that from this batch will come those who will be “known” in the future, known for their counseling services and integrity and not for any corruption connected with their acts. I pray that they may not give up, but rather finish the exams right down to the last item on the last day, so that the chances for God to make miracles will be higher. I told my niece Princess this tip when she was crying on the phone, answering me as she packed her clothes and wanted out after the first day of difficult exams. “Look, you want to pass the test and get your license as a pharmacist?” “Of course, uncle, I labored hard in my studies.” she said. “Well, listen, if I were God, I will need to see your papers. If I don’t get to see your papers of the second day, tomorrow, how can I make a miracle for you? It’s not my cup of tea to bribe people or put the answers for you. The penmanship difference might be too obvious. Mabubuking tayo. Chances will be higher for you to pass if you take tomorrow’s exams; whereas, if you go home in a few moments and not take the exams tomorrow, you will NEVER pass!” This may have made my niece change her mind, she took the courage to take the exams the next day, and when the results were released a few days later, she even called me up to say her name appeared in the list of board passers. “Of course,” I told her. “God’s grace builds on nature. Congratulations!”

This may be a little anti-climactic, and I wouldn’t want to affirm the cramming strategies we did as students. But I got these tips which I shall identify as this blog entry proceeds:

1. Coverage:
In one of the meetings with the PRB, Dr. Luz Guzman (1st appointed to the Board of Guidance and Counseling) [thanks to Cesar Cong who provided this in our last IPCAP meeting Aug. 09, 2008 at RGS, Cubao] have supposedly given the following:
1st Day:
a) Counseling Theory & Techniques: 200 items, 3 hours
b) Group Process: 150 items, 2 hours

2nd day:
a) Career Guidance: 75 items, 1 hour
b) Psychological Testing, 2 hours
c) Administration & Supervision: 75 items, 1 hour

2. Some Words to go by:
a) Do not panic.
b) Sleep well tonight, wake up early tomorrow, have a nice refreshing bath; take a good breakfast, hear Mass if you have time before the exams; if not go and attend Mass in the afternoon after the exams. In short, pray and offer to the Lord all you will do so He will guide you, protect you and keep you from fear. His word for everyone everyday: “Do not be afraid.”
c) Bring no codigos. Cheating will only increase your guilt and anxiety.
d) Go early to the exam site (MLQU in Quiapo). You release a lot of anxiety by being there early and having found your site.
e) Always take a deep breath before every exam.
f) Answer easy items first and go back to difficult ones later. Don’t waste time on any 1 item. For essay items, give a rough outline of your answers which you intend to write on. You can always improve your answers when time is still available. Make sure you have answered most of the items. Remember the Culture Fair Tests of Intelligence Instructions? “You may guess; if you guess rightly, you get a point. If you guess wrongly, you lose no point.” And let me add: don’t just guess. Think and think well and rightly.
g) Always have presence of mind. Remember what we learned in our Counseling practice: every counselee is a new situation. So we always listen well to the client and the matters presented. I bet the same strategy may work for the exam items.
h) So, trust in all that you have done. And leave the rest to the Lord.

3. Do email me if this tip worked, particularly the exams per day. I pray that the exams will be given as tipped, i.e., the subjects to be tested and the items per exam per day. And of course, don’t forget to thank Him for His blessings.

And when you shall have passed, resolve that you will do your job to the best that you can for those He sends you in every field you practice Guidance and Counseling. Resolve to develop yourself too, because every counselor’s best investment is oneself. The more we know ourselves, the better our counseling approach shall be. The more we grow in confidence and competence, the more assured our counseling outcome: the development and empowerment of our counselees, which will definitely mean a more mentally happy person, relationships, family, neighborhood, service, and hopefully the larger society.

Correspondence with PGCA re APO

In fairness to everyone reading this blog, particularly to PGCA of which I am an Affiliate member, let me post the reply this morning of the current PGCA President Dr. Emy Villar to my email last night before I went to bed, portions of which I have integrated in my previous blog asking if PGCA's is indeed APO. I believe that it is best for everyone to be abreast with what's right rather than detour ourselves after finding out that we are not treading the road of integrity and justice.

First, my email, and then the reply, and then my reply and clarification. I hope things will become clear as we go along.

1. My email inquiring:
August 14, 2008
Dr. Villar,
Peace!
I checked the PGCA website as Dr. Salonga referred in relation to a text inquiry I received regarding his membership application. I'd like to congratulate the Membership Committe for posting the roster of PGCA Members.

Then I went into other matters in there. I was surprised that the invitation to the (2008) Midyear Workshop in CDO still bears the title that PGCA is APO. I sent the following message in the Contact Us portion:

May I request for the Certification Number of PGCA which the PRC granted it to be the APO. When was it awarded and for how long is the term? Yes, the Rules and Regulations of RA 9258 Rule I Section 3f specifies the PGCA to be interim APO. However, it still needs the PRC certificate of accreditation to be fully an IAPO as defined. Otherwise, without the PRC accreditation certificate, PGCA should refrain from using the title of APO. It is only a PO without PRC's accreditation certificate. The image of the child who lipsynched the song in the Opening Rites of the Beijing Olympics comes to mind in relation to this matter.

Secondly, one of the requirements for the Grandfather's Clause specifies the APO to provide the certificate of active membership by the President and two other officers. Without the Accreditation certificate, PGCA not being APO should not be obliged to do this. It certainly has done its role of submitting the list of nominees for the PRB being the organization that was responsible for having the law enacted in the first place. But that is never one of the qualifications for APO-hood. In fact, the PRC Resolution No. 178 Series of 2004 Rule 2 on Accreditation of Professional Organization and Issuance of Certificate of Accreditation in the paragraph after the list of requirements to be submitted which starts with "After having satisfactorily met the requirements for accreditation, ..." specifies further "However, if there is a provision in the professional regulatory law requiring accreditation or recognition of the national integrated organization of professionals by the professional regulaory board and the Professional Regulation Commission, the concerned professional regulatory board shall issue a Board Resolution subject to approval by the Commission, approving its petition for accreditation and directing the issuance of a certificate of Accreditation signed by the Chair and Members of the Board and the Chairperson of the Commission, upon payment of the prescribed accreditation fee."

I hope we do things right while we can undo what can still be undone rather than allow something wrong to continue. We're still at the beginning our professionalization. I understand that Dr. Llanes went to the PRC Standards and Inspection Division to process the certification only to find out that PGCA does not have any certificate of accreditation at all. Let us thus avert any untoward incident following this fact. It won't happen if PGCA is the legitimate APO. That I will respect with sincerity.

Thanks and hope the PGCA Board can really look into this matter rather than simply let things move the way they are at this time which is abrewing with questions. Thank you and God bless

I remain sincerely yours in the Guidance and Counseling Spirit


Fr. Bernardo R. Collera, SVD

2. Dr. Villar's reply
August 15, 2008
Dear Fr. Bernie,

I am presenting this e-mail you sent to the PGCA Board for consideration. However, let me explain a few things regarding developments in this area..

Whatever we are doing now with respect to considering the PGCA as the APO has been passed on to us by Dr. Llanes. We are just starting what she continued. Since she was our President who had alerted us all to the RA 9258 and its requirements, and since she was the one who was communicating with the PRC and PRB directly, we assumed that what she said and did were the right things to do. The PRB was also there in some of our meetings and did not protest anything.

In the IPCAP meeting, you questioned the PGCA requirements for active membershoip, especially the participation in at least two updating activities.The PRB is aware of all the PGCA requirements. We have been above board in our activities.

The PGCA Constitution says that active membership requires participation in activities. Considering that some of those who were applying for the Grandfather Clause had not updated themselves for so many years and do not know the currents in the field, we were afraid of malpractices being committed. (Many researches have shown that many Counselors don't know the different approaches in Counseling beyond the Rogerian approach). Although such participation may not always prevent malpractices, this is the best method seen, given the time frame.

Please note that active membership is required only for Grandfather Clause applicants.

The above are my initial thoughts.

The PGCA will attend to your comments further in its meeting on Monday.

Emy

3. My reply and clarification
Ma'am,
Thanks for your quick reply. I am one of the PGCA members, Affiliate nga lang if lang is a word for that haha, but I share this problem, and it hurts for me to realize now that this is where we are and yet allow these things to happen. Yes, things have been above board, but if it is not right, we still have the time to make the necessary changes before things go awry. Let us protect the Guidance and Counseling profession. I understand too that Dr. Llanes has consulted the Guidance and counseling-related organizations' representatives at IPCAP about this matter, and there were no objections because of the righteousness of the act. But the law is the law, and she herself admits that we really need to correct things before a proper Congressional probe were made. Now that IPCAP has been registered, I'd like to believe that everyone must do its part to make things work right this time for the profession, even at the behest of Dr. Rosales who is the prime supporter of PGCA, which is based on the fact that yes, it is the biggest, oldest, though at this time still unaccredited. Yes, it is acknowledged, and maybe that is what should be placed "ACKNOWLEDGED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION by the Professional Regulatry Board." APO pa rin, di ba? Atty. Almelor has told me last Friday Aug. 08, 2008 when I went there to inquire about their press releases on those to take the 1st Board Exam, that they have been waiting for PGCA's application for accreditation this long already. He is aware of the fact that he had disagreed with the PRB about annointing or appointing the PGCA to be the APO because of the provisions of RA9258 for an integrated national organization of registered and licensed Guidance Counselor. Dr. Llanes has already done what she should have done: convene the orgs to form the IPCAP. The IPCAP is already registered, and I hope we will do all we can to promote it than become a stumbling block to it. I remember what Dr. Julian Montano commented at our 1st IPCAP meeting last time to retort the fear that the counseling profession be represented by the "not knowns:" "quite an unprofessional comment because the law looks at ourselves as equals."

Let us keep these bad feelings off from our hearts by undoing that we can still undo and work within the boundaries of our legitimate existences. I myself feel bad when someone keeps me on the defensive position. And I will not wait until I shall have been corrected although yes, there may be times when I need that because I can be unconscious as well. But those I am conscious about, and if I am wrong, I have to correct myself first immediately. In this way I can serve my counseling clients without fear or psychological luggage like an Achiles heel hanging over me.

Thanks and God bless. I shall await for the response of PGCA. My best regards to the colleagues I love to be with

Fr. Bernard, SVD

Some clarification:
August 15, 2008
May I clarify this statement in my email immediately before this one now: "I understand too that Dr. Llanes has consulted the Guidance and counseling-related organizations' representatives at IPCAP about this matter, and there were no objections because of the righteousness of the act." These words refer to the same matter: of making applicants for the Grandfather's Clause get a certificate of Active Membership, and GMRC. But PGCA must do so within the bounds of the law. It has no monopoly over the idea of active membership. In fact, I voiced out the idea that other counseling-related organizations and even schools for that matter should be the ones to certify those who are really active, if the said applicant for the Grandfather's Clause is required that certificate. There is no APO yet, therefore that requirement should have been questioned right in the Board of PGCA. I don't mean to defend Rose. She knows very much my position, and would like that things be undone while we can still do it without any commotion whatsoever. Everyone is affected, but we need to stop whatever is negatively affecting us, shouldn't we? And start anew where we can still do so. Thanks again for your consideration. God bless

I may not be the right person to illumine everyone why PGCA has not managed to get the PRC-accreditation despite its being favored by the Board of Guidance and Counseling who are Founding Members of the organization. There seems to be a culture in our midst of entitling ourselves to an "executive privilege" which seems blamed in the current MILF-GRP MOA on AD, and even the Neri case, etc. This is what I have been saying before that an organization will die if there is a gap between Board and membership. There will be a gap when there is an attempt to cover certain things (I really want to be mistaken here!). May the PGCA please inform every paying member why it failed to meet the PRC requirements? What can we do to help? Have there been anomalies committed? What is this I heard about building funds unaccounted that makes the financial reports difficult to reconcile in the auditing process? What's up with the condo issue? Dr. Lucy Bance, in the May 2008 PGCA Annual Convention reported that there was no turnover from the previous Treasurer. Dr. Bance is right now the Vice-President. Has there been a turnover of her position to the new Treasurer? I am afraid for a future withdrawal of accounts by those no longer in the Board simply because they are the authorized signatories of the bank account. Please let it not happen again!

Let it not be said that we are blaming. Atty. Almelor at PRC, upon knowing that in the PRC Indorsement Letter for IPCAP was written not IPCAP but PGCA, felt so embarrassed. In an hour, the correction was made, including the signing of Sec. Rosero. During the process, he felt so profusely apologetic to me, and even wanted to blame someone. I told him, "Sir, blaming is not the name of the game now. Something is wrong, let us correct it!" When I got the corrected Indorsement Letter, the mistake just disappeared into thin air.

We all make mistakes, that is why sometimes we need to see a Counselor to help us undo them with courage and dignity. In the situation that we're all in, before a congressional probe were called, let us correct ourselves. Everyone involved needs to do one's part, with courage, humility and generosity. Only in this way do we keep ourselves afloat, alive, with dignity and full of life-giving energy serving those given to us to Guide and Counsel.

Ok ba? God bless and hope we can heal ourselves by our ways of repentance that amends what needs to be amended while we have the chance.

Faithful to our being psychologists, I wondered aloud why have these things happened? Why I'm doing this? Let me be honest: the IPCAP is registered now, and we all did it in response to the law. RA 9258 Article III Section 21 stipulates an integrated national organization of registered and licensed guidance counselors. The group that came together were representatives of the different counseling-related organizations led by then PGCA-President Dr. Rose Llanes. No one could question what PGCA went and had done because there was yet no registered IPCAP. It was just a discussion group poising itself to be registered. I agonized with the thought of those useless months when we have not managed to register with the SEC. Hence, when the clamor to proceed with the SEC registration jibed with my free time, we managed. In time, God willing and hopefully with everyone's good will, in view of the demands of our professional status, we are currently working for APO-hood, not at the expense of PGCA for she has done what she should, and truly everyone is greatful. Being a PGCA member myself, I will do what I should to help it survive this transition period. I told Dr. Llanes that the PGCA has a model of surviving the transition it had when PGPA had to be PGCA. It can do so at this time with courage and humility.

IS THE PGCA THE APO?

Last night, I opened the PGCA website. It has improved a lot since the last time I went to the site. Dr. Salonga directed me to go there after I forwarded her a text message from someone inquiring about his long-ago sent application for membership. I found his name in the list and jopyfully texted him about it. I also saw my name there. Thanks indeed.

Opening other portions, I chanced over the invitation to the Midyear in October 2008 at Cagayan de Oro. The stationary now carries the address of PGCA, and also the line which reads: "Accredited Professional Association by the Professional Regulation Commission." I went into their Contact Information and sent an email with this basic message:

May I request for the Certification Number of PGCA which the PRC granted it to be the APO. When was it awarded and for how long is the term?

Yes, the Rules and Regulations of RA 9258 Rule I Section 3f specifies the PGCA to be interim APO. However, it still needs the PRC certificate of accreditation to be fully an IAPO as defined. Otherwise, without the PRC accreditation certificate, PGCA should refrain from using the title of APO. It is only a PO (professional organization) without PRC's accreditation certificate, and only fulfilling half of its being an IAPO according to the Rules and Regulations. The IAPO is different from the APO which the Rules and Regulations of R.A. 9258 Rule I Section 3g Definition of Terms specifies distinctly as the "Registered and Accredited National Organization of Registered and Licensed Guidance Counselors... known as the ...(APO)."

The image of the child who lipsynched the song in the Opening Rites of the Beijing 2008 Olympics comes to mind in relation to this matter.

One of the requirements for all applicants for licensure under the Grandfather's Clause specifies the APO to provide the certificate of active membership by the President and two other officers. Without the Accreditation certificate, PGCA not being APO should not be obliging itself to do this. It certainly has done its role of submitting the list of nominees for the PRB being the organization that was responsible for having the law enacted in the first place. But that is never one of the qualifications for APO-hood. In fact, the PRC Resolution No. 178 Series of 2004 Rule 2 on Accreditation of Professional Organization and Issuance of Certificate of Accreditation in the paragraph after the list of requirements to be submitted to PRC, which starts with "After having satisfactorily met the requirements for accreditation, ..." further specifies "However, if there is a provision in the professional regulatory law requiring accreditation or recognition of the national integrated organization of professionals by the professional regulatory board and the Professional Regulation Commission, the concerned professional regulatory board shall issue a Board Resolution subject to approval by the Commission, approving its petition for accreditation and directing the issuance of a certificate of Accreditation signed by the Chair and Members of the Board and the Chairperson of the Commission, upon payment of the prescribed accreditation fee."

I hope we do things right while we can undo what can still be undone rather than allow something wrong to continue. We're still at the beginning our professionalization. I understand that Dr. Llanes went to the PRC Standards and Inspection Division to process the certification only to find out that PGCA does not have any certificate of accreditation at all. I hope the PGCA Board can really look into this matter rather than simply let things move the way they are at this time which is abrewing with questions. Or else, no one can have the moral integrity to send someone to the gallows a Guidance Counselor working without a license. There were supposed to be 2 who've been granted the registration via the Grandfather's Clause through anomalous documents(?) Anyone who has this information must inform the PRC about it, complete with documents and evidences lest this newborn babe called Guidance and Counseling be already marred with anomaly this early! Please! Not in the Guidance and Counseling profession!!!