The NBI Clearance Part II

After the Payment Counter, I saw this sign leading to a staircase going up the next floor.

Picture #1: Sign for Steps 2-4

These ladies are on their way down, but I climbed it and another one like it before I came down to take a picture of it. Thanks to the ladies (was one of them a counselor?) who unwittingly posed as they made their way down.

Picture # 2: The Stairs

There was another one sign I saw after Steps 2 - 4. It also led to another stairs one has to ascend. You see the sponsor? Thanks Chow King.

Picture # 3

As one reaches the level for Steps 5 - 6, one sees this sign on the wall: Picture # 4. ne has to go to the right where one will find Step 5 for Fingerprinting.

Picture # 4: Sign upon arriving at Level 5

Picture # 5 below shows the Finger Printing Section. See the tables? There is supposed to be a person assigned to each and one has to cue in for one's turn to have all 5 fingers inked for printing. In every box on the table where one will have one's finger printed, there was a sign which read: "Ink remover P2, only for those who want." I prepared my P2, but ended up using my handkerchief to wipe off the ink on all my fingers, both hands: first my thumb, then each of the fingers, then all four fingers and again the thumb. The same process was done with my left hand. All these finger prints were made on the application form.

Picture # 5: Finger Printing

There are two more steps. Please see next blog. Have a nice day! God bless

The NBI Clearance: For Licensure Purpose

One of the requirements to get the Professional License in Guidance and Counseling is the NBI Clearance. It is an official document which states that the applicant has no legal encumbrances. Good professional Guidance Counselors should not be liable for any misdemenour - or misterdemenour - if you wish. And while I was waiting for my turn in the many cues I had to line up, the thought of taking puctures and having this experience blogged came up. Hence, as I recount below, you will see the pictures. I thought about those who might want to have an orientation to the place, hence the use of this present blog. Enjoy the trip with me.



So, yesterday, April 9, I went to the NBI in the afternoon. In the morning, shortly before lunch, since I was scheduled to get some materials outside, I decided to put all these "outings" in one trip. I called up the NBI and got information that the best time to go is between 3PM-4 every Thursday and Friday. I asked the lady at the telephone if she could help me see if someone else has my name (in which case document release will take time). Believe you me! There were 11 Bernardo Collera in their list. She mentioned 1 from Benguet, 1 from Laguna, and then here in Manila. But when I told her where I was born and my middle name, I was the only one. Thank God.! That meant my doucment would be released immediately.
So I went to the Carriedo NBI Clearance Center. I could have gone to the Quezon City Hall as well, but since my trip was convenient via LRT, I decided to go there instead. The NBI Clearance Center is found not in the Isetann Shopping Center. In fact, in my telephone call to the NBI, I got the impression that the NBI was in one of the floors there. But, the NBI Clearance Center stands in the opposite diagonal side of the Isetann Shopping Center.



From LRT 2, I walked towards the LRT 1 D. Jose Station where I took the train towards Baclaran. I think the Carriedo Station comes right after D. Jose on the way to Central Station. I walked back to Isetann Shopping Center where I asked the guard where the NBI Clearance Center is. He showed me with his hand where it was - AYUN - and there I went where I saw the big sign NBI Clearance Center .



I realized that I was walking through a labyrinth of shopping stalls - a tiangge environment, but complete with signs: NBI This Way. I just followed the signs until I reached the stairs. Was it the 3rd or 4th floor where I saw a big board which showed the flow one has to go to get the clearance? From there, I went forward to the counter to pay the entry fee of P20, and I got a pink slip as proof of payment. Then I saw a cue to the spot where I got the Application Form after I showed my pink slip. This is the spot I am mentioning here. Picture #1:

Picture #1: Get Application Form Spot

Here in Picture #2 below is Step 1: Payment Counter. While cueing up for my turn, I filled in the data required in the form given in Picture #1. I paid P115 only. An Official Receipt was given. There at this payment counter is posted Step 2. I shall be posting the Directions for Steps 2 - 4 in my next blog since this blog entry only allows 5 pics at most. Steps 2-4 are in the next floor.

Picture # 2: Payment Counter

In Picture # 3 below, I had to cue so that the lady there could place a bar code on my application form, sticking the pink slip in there together. She asked for an ID, and I showed my Driver's License. Then off I went to Step 3 which was just in front of Step 2.

Picture # 3: Data Check

At Step 3, Picture # 4 below, there was a lady who typed in (encoding) the data I provided in my application form. She clarified my address if it was right, and after that, off to Step 4.

Picture # 4: Quick Search

Everyone loves this next step. When one's turn comes, just stand in front of the webcam, look at it and then the computer photographer asked for my application form where she stamped something. The O.R. was not needed to be shown.

Please check the next blog for the next steps. I'd like to post it together with the other pics. K? Please don't get the impression that I left the place after this Step. Haha.

God bless.

IPCAP Updates 2008

Some people have been asking me about what's up with the IPCAP, i.e., the Integrated Professional Counselors' Association of the Philippines, and why we've not been meeting lately. Truth is, we met only once since the Christmas 2007 holidays, and the next weeks caught us bitten by the BUSY bug and other "skirmishes." But right now, the application papers of IPCAP are at the SEC. Rest assured, IPCAP shall meet as soon as the SEC Registration is ready. Let's pray that we can be registered sooner to serve out the role IPCAP is given under RA9258.

IPCAP does pose a crisis for most counseling-related organizations. For one, most of the licensed counselors (Grandfathered and board exam passers) may only want to join IPCAP as this is stipulated in the Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004, thereby effectively reducing the membership in these counseling-related organizations. These organizations however may still serve out its purpose as it gets accreditation in its specialty field. Hence, it is a challenge for PGCA, PACERS, PACC, CDAP, GCP, PAPSHP, and newly-organized FPCAP and other organizations to look inwards and find its specialty to offer our Counselors. While IPCAP can itself hold its own activities within the purview of its role, other counseling-related organizations may still hold their events as well. With IPCAP granting them accreditation, these organizations shall then promote Counseling specializations, in the way the medical practitioners have their own.

Indeed, a crisis can be both a threat and an opportunity. All the best then. God bless

DR. NAOMI RUIZ WRITES 30

Dr. Naomi Ruiz, one of the past PACERS officers (was she Chair during the 1996 PACERS Annual Convention held at the Robinson's Galleria?), and PGPA (now PGCA) Founding member died lat Saturday, March 15, 2008 at the Philippine Heart Center. Her remains are at the Loyola Memorial Park Chapel 1 in Marikina. She will be buried on Holy Thursday morning, March 20, 2008.

At about 6:30PM yesterday, March 17, outgoing President Fr. Bernardo R. Collera, SVD officiated a Mass for her and her family at Chapel 1 in Marikina's Loyola Memorial Park. Present were some of the PACERS Board Officers including current Chair Dr. Julian Montano, and Vice-Chair Susan Estanislao, current President-elect Dr. Leo Capeding. Lifetime PACERS members and past PACERS Board Officers Drs. Rose Clemena, Carmen Pabiton and Benny Lascano were also there to condole with the family that has generously shared us Dr. Ruiz. Yes, current CDAP President Dr. Concepcion of the Ateneo de Manila University was also with us at the Mass.


Dr. Julian Montano thanked the family during a shared homily at the Mass. He remembered Dr. Naomi as being the Chair of the Department who welcomed him when he entered DLSU way back 1996. He particularly cherishes Dr. Naomi's solemn countenance of giving each person who comes to her for even only a few minutes that personal touch of a Counselor. Dr. Rose Clemena also gave an interesting history of their relationship, and her experiences with Dr. Nao. Dr. Rose recounted that when she was about to become the Dean of the College of Education in DLSU way back 1992, she invited Dr. Nao who was retiring then from the Ateneo de Manila to Chair the Counseling & Educational Psychology Department (CEPD). Dr. Nao immediately obliged, and silently took on her new work with such unique manners. Dr. Rose remembered Dr. Nao as the "swinging grandma" because she was fun at the dance floor. Whenever the two went for shopping, Dr. Nao usually needed someone to help her carry the bags containing personalized gifts for each and everyone in her family, husband, children and grandchildren, as well as colleagues and even companions at the Office.

For my part, I shared that Dr. Naomi Ruiz was also the Chair in 1995 when I entered DLSU. She would later become my Counseling Techniques I professor who introduced me the idea of a Counseling Philosophy, a requirement in the course that was to be followed up in Counseling Techniques II under Dr. Rose. Then she again became my Family Therapy and Counseling Consultation (courses of subjects she taught me in class) professor. I specially remember her for sharing her own personal experience of Divine Providence. She once told us in class that whenever she had a child, she had a promotion in her job, God as if telling her that each child was not simply hers and her husband's but also God's own. If not for Dr. Ruiz, I would not have been able to complete my six generation Genogram or Family Tree. This latter requirement costed me an INC after the term I was in her class, because I needed a longer time to complete that Family Tree that gave me the chance to know my own family. She was also the one who invited me to join PACERS during its 1996 Annual Convention held at the Robinson's Galleria in Ortigas, Pasig. The theme then was Megatrends in Counseling.

Thanks indeed, Dr. Naomi Ruiz. When you reach heaven and see the Father, tell her to bless us everyday, and pray for us in all that we do.

Half an hour after the Mass, Dr. Susie Eala, current PACERS Corporate Secretary arrived straight from San Pablo, Laguna. Then, current PGCA Board Officers arrived, including Dr. Rose Llanes, current President, Malou Chavez, current PGCA Secretary, and Dr. Perlie Polestico. Dr. Abiva and her husband and son also arrived. A second Mass was offered at some minutes past 8PM.

Dr. Naomi Ruiz is survived by her husband Boy, and her seven children and over a dozen granchildren and one greatgrandchild. Let's pray for her eternal repose, and most especially for her family who are in their grieving moments now, particularly her own beloved husband, Engr. Boy Ruiz.

Thank you indeed, Dr. Naomi Ruiz. You have made me look at Counseling as a profession worth my life and time and being as you showed me how it is to be a good one. God bless you and your family. Pray for us.

On the first Board Exams for Guidance Counselors

A a graduate of Master of Arts in Education major in Guidance and Counseling from a state university contacted me by email. The person was planning to take the 1st licensure examination for guidance counselor here in our country. The problem is that the person doesn't know the exact date of filing for examination and final date of examination. So the email contained the request to "please send me the exact information so that I can save time and energy."

I gave the person the PRC landline (02) 3140018 so the person could do the contacting. Just the other day, I got an email with a response from Dr. Llanes, current PGCA President. Here it is:

"See web pgca.org.ph for updates. Filing April 15 and exam Aug 21-22. Convention will be on May 14-16 at Century Park Hotel, please reserve early and pass.

Dr. Llanes

I hope this information can help us in our journey towards the full professionalization of Counseling in the Philippines.

God bless

FPCAP - What's this?

On March 14, 2008 I shall be speaking before a small band of Counselors who're into something the Catholic Church is very passionate about. They have been and continue to be with us at IPCAP or Integrated Professional Counselors Association of the Philippines (IPCAP), Inc. representing the area of Family and Pastoral Counseling. I have read a letter by the PRB Chair allowing them to apply for the Grandfather's Clause. Hence, they have submitted their papers for SEC registration and in due time shall announce the formal opening of the organization that I believe hopes to promote the area of their expertise for the good of our families here in the Philippines. The group is called Family and Pastoral Counseling Association of the Philippines or FPCAP.

It is surely high time for such an organization to come up because we need to sustain this "trade" which we have been into these many years. Thanks to RA 9258, Counselors who practice in this area can be acknowledged. The field is so full of promises in terms of growing in understanding about the family and pastoral situation in the Philippines. I pray the group succeeds in its vision and mission so that we can grow as a people and as a nation, and most of all as a Christian Catholic community living in families that are mentally healthy and supportive of each other, either as couples or as parent-child or among siblings.

I shall keep this matter posted here in the coming days, and particularly my "talk" there. Stay tuned! God bless

Providing Counseling & Other Psychological Services

I'd like to articulate here my current practice of providing psychological services, and the procedural matters that may not be simply neglected lest conflicts ensue and ethics be infringed. I hope that Counseling and other fields' practitioners who read this blog may compare notes with me, or share their ideas as well. Only rocks don't change. I mean this is a way for me to keep improving wherever that is possible while there is still the chance. Email me at berngu721@gmail.com your ideas, opinions, and even criticisms. Thanks in advance.

Psychological Services & Credentials Necessary in Professional Practice
By psychological services is meant those activities wherein my training and expertise are required. Among them include: Counseling, Assessment, Consultation, Psychotherapy, including Group Process. In all of these, I have had sufficient course training from my classes in DLSU (De La Salle University). I might be accused of doing so without a Ph.D., which should hopefully come in due time. Nevertheless, I have had two years of supervised Psychological Assessment work in a respected Psychological Clinic along EDSA (Dayan's Psychological Clinic). I have done my Tests and Measurements as well as Individual, Personality, and Cognitive Assessment subjects in DLSU, the practicum requirements, as well as ongoing supervision while I was working in the said clinic. There I administered the psychological measures, did the interviews myself, scored and interpreted the tests and wrote the integration report. I have had the chance to have those reports given in feedback required of my training and practice. Most of all, the reports I wrote, while I may not have signed them myself, were presented before the courts of law here in the country, particularly when those reports were required in connection with marital annulment and even child custody cases. My current practice in Sarnelli Center for Street Children of providing psychological services similar to what I did in Dayan's Psychological Clinic attests to my continued updating of my practice. It is said that he who sings well prays twice, and that if you want to learn (better, my addition), teach. Hence, by continuing the practice I have continuing learning in the area. I even bought for my ongoing development needs the book Comprehensive Handbook of Psychological Assessment Vol. 2 Personality Assessment edited by Mark Hilsenroth & Daniel L. Segal, with Michael Hersen as Editor in Chief (2004), published in New Jersey by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Since I finished my course work, I have bought books in other areas. Updating is really necessary to continue being relevant and better informed for a more confident practice. I make sure that I have read them at least once during the year. And I am thankful that I have been allowed to teach the Introduction to Psychology and Developmental Psychology subjects here in the seminary (Christ the King Seminary, Quezon City). These have afforded me the chance to promote to the students the idea that encountering psychological problems in oneself and seeking for help via Counseling may be better than not knowing about one's problems, and even not asking for help when one has discovered them oneself, an indicator of serious psychological disorder.

As to my other credentials, these are all extant in my Transcript of Records.

Practice of Psychological Services Provision
I also do Guidance and Counseling work, as well as individual and group consultation. Together with my assistant, Rex Kho, and with some student counselors (I've had two PhD students and one still taking her M.A. units, on supervision required in their course otherwise known as practicum) we have come up with a written program for the seminarians. The student-counselor who finalized the report still has to submit that to me.

Integrity of Psychological Measures
When I started the work way back 2001, among the things I ensured was the integrity of the psychological assessment measures. Before one can use psychological measures, academic and supervised training are required. Tests are never for the purpose other than they were meant to be. Hence, test providers stringently required me my transcript of records as well as certificate of recommendation by my assessment supervisors. For me to be accredited, I had to keep in mind the ethics and principles involved in the use of the materials. Contrary to most practices that I know, I only used the originals, earned the money for procuring them, and keeping a financial status of the office in order that when we needed to get the answer sheets or add more test booklets, I was sure of getting the needed amount, sans the bureaucratic obstacles of the institution, as well as infringing on the copyright laws of the land and of the authors/publishers.

Local Norming & Test Validation
For the past three years since I started, I took upon myself the task of ensuring we were following a local norm because some of the tests were of foreign norms. I had the findings reported in a faculty and formators forum so everyone gets to understand the why of the selection process. This year, I have conducted a validation work on one personality test in order to check whether its results can be used in lieu of some assessment measures which may have become bastardized by some groups. (I wrote about this in an earlier blog, about a certain congregation which practiced on one test using the xeroxed copy of a test given at a training for such types of personnel. The results showed unbelievable scores even the National Hero Jose Rizal wouldn't have managed, much less even the best person who's come and taken the test. It was good that I had another Form of the said test, and immediately was able to prove correct my hunch borne out of practice). The study is still ongoing and is about to undergo a statistical treatment in order to show the relationship between the two. In this way, we can be informed as to whether such a test can be reliable in lieu of the bastardized material. I shall have the results published here when we shall have finished. Yes, the participants have been informed about the conduct of the test, hence the feedback they can demand from the office for their purposes.

Group Activities
We have also been able to conduct two group activities, courtesy of the student-counselor who needed to do so. For my part, I acknowledge that I still have to do so, but due to the load of work, I have yet to provide one. But it should by now be clear that the Guidance Office has done and can do even more. But I would like to ensure that the said activities have sound foundation, that is, based on expressed needs of the clientele and not as an a priori process. I mean by the latter as activities which only the Office sees fit. We may actually do so, but participation will be affected because these said activities may not be important, what a waste of badly needed resources and time! I can say this from having participated in a professional organization (PACERS) whose participation at Conventions and midyear workshops have seen increases because we seriously considered the particiapnts' needs. We reaped abundantly, and so did the participants. I would not like to be accused later of "imposing" the Counseling profession on the clients. This profession is one that advocates for a more free being. The more free an individual is, which can be had by becoming more informed, the more mature his behavior because there is agency borne out of freedom and informed choice rather than simple passivity.

Counseling Services & its Promotion, & Confidentiality
As regards Counseling, we make ourselves available for the seminarians. In fact, to promote Counseling, I have deviced a modicum for that. Seminarians, I have observed through the years, seem to have the "normal" male socialization of doing things on their own and seeking help only when the problem has become really unbearable or really problematic. Besides, there seems a negative opinion about going for Counseling or having gone through psychological assessment. Others think that doing so implies being problematic. But my training has taught me to counter this maladaptive thought, hence the steps we take to ensure client agency. I further believe that the clerics may become one of the best promoters of the Counseling profession especially when we shall have known its value because we have gone through it ourselves. Hence, after administering the test, we ready the results and announce that they can come and get it. In the feedback session, I make it clear to them that formators may need it, hence, they can submit a copy of the report to them but submit back to the office (for filing purposes) the copy which contains the seminarian's signature, the interpreter's signature, my signature and the formator's signature. In this way, I shall have kept the confidentiality clause required by the practice. We in the office have seen that there were seminarians who did not give their formators a copy of the report for reasons discussed in the Counseling session. Among these included the fear seminarians have about formators using the results of the test against them. I have always kept the philosophy that findings in the psychological tests may be best used for the development of the individual, and not against one's development. But if the formator does decide that the test results can be a good guide for the formation of the seminarian, he is basically free to do so. But at least, I shall have done my part of letting the seminarian know the results of the test(s) so that he himself may not have any difficulty deciphering the reason for expulsion as a formation strategy. I know of certain guys who have themselves opted to leave because they saw the wisdom of the test findings. The goal I want to see in the formation process is this: "Happy seminarians who know who they are, what they have, both strengths and weaknesses, so that they can have an informed decision about their choice to continue or not." In short, I would like to help them "own" their formation, rather than simply "float" or "coast along" the formation process, something which is so easy to do as has been observed in the past. In this way, we reduce unnecessary fear in the seminarian, as well as let the formators know how to respect their seminarians because of the information. Hence, only when the seminarian is sent for psychological assessment am I obliged to report (or send) directly a copy to the referring party. But even then, I make it clear to the seminarian that he too will have a copy of the report his formator gets. But for clients sent for Counseling, the only report I give to the referring party is a certification which says "such referred client has come on these dates for the said referred purposes." I cannot divulge the Counseling issues, much less volunteer them, and even the Counseling outcome. I leave it to the seminarian-client to inform the referring party the said data. This is my understanding of the confidentiality required in Counseling practice. This is the ethics that I keep in my professional practice, both for those inside the seminary, as well as outsiders who walk in or have been referred. This is the kind of Counseling I was trained in. Let it be understood as well that the Counselor always ensures the welfare of the client. Hence, only when clients are in the following cases - sexual aggression such as abuse and rape, and suicide - is the Counselor obliged to make the confidential circle wider, but always informing the client about the Counselor's commitment to the client's welfare evident in this obligation. By widening the circle of confidentiality is meant the Counselor's right or even obligation to do steps that may ensure that the client does not: get sexually offended again, or succeed in the suicide ideation or direction.

Counselor-Administration Conflict
I am right now being accused of not doing my job of assessing the seminarians the way I did before. Yes, I did not test them to see their current cognitive functioning. But I am using their previous data for the study I mentioned above. If ever psychological reports (like the ones ready for the seminarian to get) were not given to the formators, it was because the seminarians did not come for their feedback. But if the seminarians agree, and I need to first consult them since the contract is between them and the office, the ready reports are ready for release pending request. I know that this problem is not unique to my practice. It is a common experience for other counselors to have also had conflicts with school administrators because the latter may not really understand what counselors do. Hence this write-up.

The Requirement for A Psychological Referral
Other than the purposes the Guidance Office sees fit in doing testing, a referral is usually required for such test administration. In the referral letter should contain the following - the reason for referral - as this usually directs the Office about which measure to administer. Psychological assessment can be consulted so that anyone who may not have sufficient data for a clearer understanding about a phenomenon in a client my find a more reliable opinion. I'd prefer to know when the report is expected. This saves the office from useless expenses incurred in cases when clients do not want to continue with their formation anyway and the feedback won't be that easy to provide as the person may not be accessible. The Guidance Office doesn't volunteer psychological information. Only upon referral are we to supply the information based on the required psychological opinion. The seminarian-client, even lay-clients should not be made "psychological guinea pigs," something which has been done some decades ago (in my case, we were tested without telling us the results, and some of my classmates were simply asked to leave, and the reason was that they failed the psychological exams). I know of some who left quite bitterly and would have wanted to be helped which the psychological test results could have provided, at least by way of a written report, a psychoeducational strategy which can befurther looked into. There is a prevailing impression that psychological assessment can be quite intrusive, i.ei, psychological assessment is viewed as knowing things even the person himself may be quite unaware of. Privacy is something so essential for every person, and it is important that psychological practitioners remember this. Informed consent is thus an essential component in the process.

When the formator sends in the seminarian for psychological assessment, he is actually consulting the psychological practitioner for its opinion on the referral issue. The formator has the task of ensuring as much information for a clear decision. But I would like to ensure that the psychological assessment process be also used in respect for the client's need to know the results, hence the provision of a copy of the feedback report to the client. Of course, it is also fine for the client being free not to get their report and only let their formator have it. However, it is for our interest in the Guidance Office that we know the client's position, hence the feedbacking, and this information given them even prior to the assessment.

On past practices
I remember that at the beginning of my practice here in the seminary, I have provided the results of the tests to formators, with a copy provided the seminarians as well. It was done because the formator requested it - verbally at least. In fact, before I made the psychological report for the Postulants, I inquired from Bro. Eugene Orog, SVD the reason for such a referral. And I have particularly informed the formators that if they have any difficulty in giving the feedback, they may always feel free to send the seminarian back to me so we can help. I also made it clear to the seminarians that if they want to have the feedback, or maybe a better one (in case of dissatisfaction with the written report), they may always come to the Office for such purpose. There were those who did, and there were those who came because there was no explanation done in the feedback, and still some who wanted to have their copy (because the formator did not give them). This is understandable because there are times when some formators may not know about psychological testing and its findings, and much more feel inadequate about sharing the report with the seminarian. Hence our willingness to assist in the formation process. It can even be possible that the psychological report becomes a file only for filing purposes. I would not want to do this type of work. There are other jobs to be done than this.

Intake and Exit Interviews
I opined in my report last year at the Formators' Meeting that Intake as well as Exit Interviews would be good occasions for data gathering about seminarian attrition. But with the work load I have, I admit not having done the former. The latter I may yet do, but that is if I have time. Other than the Guidance Office tasks and projects I already have, I also moderate students' theses, undergraduate as well as graduate theses and even serve in their defenses.

Institutional Requirement
Besides, I have yet to hear the go-signal of the institution for such activities to be integrated into the schedule. I have gathered materials so that we can systematize the information gathered, and maybe use them for future profiling. Other institutions that I know strongly require the Intake and Exit Interviews as written in their policy: No Exit Interview, no release of credentials (TOR). This institutional policy saves the Guidance Office from the impression of "lording over" the students the services it can provide if it does so on its own. Besides, no Counselor will do so without institutional sanctions. The practice of DLSU has shown that students have been helped through the Office for Counseling and Career Services. Hence the provision of competent Counselors for its students' Counseling needs.

Nurturing a Research Culture in Counseling Practice
Yes, in response to the PACERS 32nd Annual Convention theme, one's site for professional practice can provide opportunities for research so that new information can be provided. We need to keep the ethics while we do this as well as the time and chances for that. I hope by this blog, information can be disseminated, informing those who surround the Psychological practice, either as an active practitioner, client in need of its services. In this way, the Counselors' need to be given as well the space for their own ongoing education is afforded. I remember in Dr. Emmy Liwag's talk, most counselors have sources of information about research other than journals. Among them is the internet. I raised the idea about blogging. This may be the realization of that.

Thank you for reading this material. It was worth the time and effort to enunciate whatever I have been doing that has given me life and courage to continue in this field amidst the storms and misunderstanding that come with the human situation we're all in. God bless

New PACERS Board

On February 21, 2008, elections for the new PACERS Board were held starting at 12 noon during the Convention. After four members have been elected, the old (outgoing) Board together with the newly elected ones came together and elected among themselves those who were to serve the positions in the new Board. Election among themselves took place before supper of the second night at the Bayview Park Hotel, site of the Annual Convention.

Herein is the list of the Board for this year 2008-2009:

Chair - Dr. Julian Montano
Vice-Chair - Dr. Susan Estanislao
Corporate Secretary - Dr. Susie Eala
Executive Council:
President - Dr. Leo Capeding
Vice-President - Dr. Christine Saldivar
Secretary - Dr. Benny Lascano
Treasurer - Ms. Liza Suarez
Auditor - Dr. Ruffy Ramos III
Member - Fr. Francisco Bustamante, SJ

The outgoing President Fr. Bernardo R. Collera, SVD served as Chair of the COMELEC. You are sure it was done transparently, even if the culture around the country seems different. He has served out the term limits set by the PACERS Constitutions, which is "two years per term but not more than two terms." He has served as Board Member while on the 1st year of his 1st term. On the 2nd year of the 1st term, he was elected Vice-President. Then, after he was reelected for another term of two years, he served all of these two years as President.

Here are some of the pictures during the election process:

Serious huh? Of course we do. It's our commitment and passion for the organization, and the profession at large. PACERS has been known for this in the past 32 years of its life.

The Chair is not talking about who next to elect. We keep our candidates to ourselves, and release them when the time for writing the names of our candidates comes. It was indeed fun.

We talk about other things as well but not the next person for which position. The votes on the ballots say it all. My back shows I wrote all the proceedings.

Dr. Ramos watches with controlled excitement at the voting process. He has cast his vote already while everyone was still discerning and writing the name of the next candidate.

Absent during the elections were Drs. Susie Eala and Leo Capeding. Dr. Eala had another meeting to attend to while Dr. Capeding had classes in DLSU. Their votes were consulted though, and contributed to the ones submitted during this process.

Thank God there's a new Board. Now I can rest in peace. God bless all their efforts. But if I get new data from the new Board, it would be my pleasure to post them here. In the first place, it was my membership in the PACERS Board that became the inspiration for me to open this Blog, so that I could share the "goings on" of the Board. My gratitude to everyone. I shall surely miss you. But who knows? I might be back. God bless

Some Pictures at the Annual Convention 2008

These are Drs. Julian Montano, current PACERS Chair (seated) and Ruffy Ramos III (standing) in all smiles. The turnout of this Convention was simply good, about 170+ attended! Thanks God!


That's yours truly delivering my prepared Welcome Address (you can read its full text in the next blog). I am wearing my 5-gallon Texas cowboy hat!
Pa-effect ba!

These are the Mavericks 2007-2008 PACERS Board. From the left: Dr. Julian Montano (Chair), Dr. Susana Estanislao (Vice-Chair), Dr. Susie Eala(Corporate Secretary), myself (President, Executive Council), Fr. Eku Bustamante, SJ (Vice-President), Dr. Leo Capeding (Executive Secretary), Liza Suarez (Treasurer), Dr. Ruffy Ramos (Auditor), and Dr. Benny Lascano (Member). Aren't they wonderful! Thanks, dear colleagues!

The room was packed! Coffee overflowing, the panels were intellectually stimulating, the presentations interesting, all challenging us to be active researchers as we practice Counseling in our respective fields.

h the rites of gratitude! This is me thanking our dear colleague Dr. Barbie Wong-Fernandez after the 1st panel discussion with the 10th volume of the Philippine Journal of Counseling Psychology and some other token. Thanks indeed, dear colleagues! Seated are Drs. (all Emy's coincidentally) Liwag of Ateneo, and Villar of St. Scholastica! Scientist-practitioners all!!! Muchas gracias. Dr. Liwag opened her presentation with the statement: Adam and Eve were the first scientist-practitioners! Later Dr. Villar said that our clients are to be aforded through our Counseling the freedom of choice and improvement of well-being! Dr. Barbie gave a nicely laid-out Q&A format of her presentation which proved to be very enlightening.

32nd PACERS Annual Convention Welcome Address

I'd like to record and share here the Welcome Address I delivered last February 20, 2008 during our 32nd PACERS Annual Convention at the Bayview Park Hotel right in front of the US Embassy along Roxas Boulevard, the same place we had for our Annual Convention last year. The event is on its third day now.

Here is my Welcome Address:

As late as last night, I received text messages and calls inquiring as to whether our Convention were to proceed or not as scheduled. I replied to them, saying that even if the former President Cory ralllies in the streets, or the present President starts to descend the stairs of Malacañan (kahit pa magpa-rally si Cory o bumaba si GMA sa mga hagdanan ng Malacañan, tuloy na tuloy tayo!) we shall proceed as scheduled. After all, our Convention happens only once a year. The car I drove coming here was seen by the valet parking man t have been emitting smoke - I will attend to it later - but onward we will with this Convention.

The hearts of each one of us in the PACERS Board are all full of joy to see you today and in the next two days. We have done our best and hope we can serve you.

We have readied for you the Convention kit. We have the Program which shows us the flow of this Convention. This is one Convention wherein whatever transpires will be documented. For those at the back farther from the front, we are setting up a screen which you can look at to keep you from stretching your necks and eyes.

We have three panel discussions to help us capture what we at PACERS want to advocate: “Nurturing a Research Culture in the Counseling Practice,” our theme for this year’s Annual Convention. It is when we practice Counseling from a scientist-practitioner perspective that we can see the need for research. I remember Dr. Villar, in one of the classes I studied under her, mentioning the phenomenon on “symptom substitution” which further stirred my interest in Counseling while keeping a critical mind which Research helped clarify and substantiate in my understanding. Ethics is an essential component in doing research. What we deal with are not simply problems; we are persons dealing with other persons. Hence, the dignity of the human client, whether an individual, or group or institution, requires respect which is enshrined in the ethics of our practice and research. Since we live in a post-modern world, we need to be constantly updated; hence trends and issues in research will be tackled as well.

Regularly, for the past 5 years that I know, we have always been blessed with poster and paper presentors. To help us choose which topic to go or listen to or see, we have readied an Abstract handout, something which we have been having since last year. We have compiled for you and our posterity this document which you can read again and again and maybe inspire you as you tread the road as a scientist-practitioner doing research as you practice Counseling. Urie Bronfenbrenner is the spirit behind these presentations so that all can be updated and up-to-date in our practice.

We have three Workshops on the third day. They are all meant for updating and introduction into the Research business. You may choose to attend either: Qualitative Research Designs, Doing Action Research, or Conceptualizing your Research. As you can see, these workshops have been organized with you in mind, according to the needs of your current level of education on this area of our profession.

We shall be giving the certificates of participation, attendance or appearance on the third day in the afternoon. If you need them earlier, please let us know so we can address your need. Since the secret of successful and up to date practice is Evaluations, we have prepared two sets of Evaluations – for the Convention and for the Workshops. Do let us know what you liked about them, and what you think we still need to grow in our next Conventions.

By all means, partake of our celebration of Counseling. Try to get to know each other better. Let us ally with each other, learn from and grow with each other. It is the Counselor who should understand better our fellow Counselors.

“Thank You” is not enough for your coming. Especially for our resource persons, I have included you in my Masses since last Sunday (para fresh pa ang Blessings!). Indeed it is our pride and joy to hold this Annual Convention, the 32nd since PACERS was born.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Welcome to our 32nd PACERS Annual Convention 2008! Mabuhay! God bless!

DepEd Advisory For 2008 Convention Available Online

This is to let everyone who might want to get their own copy of the DepEd advisory which we are to provide during the 2008 PACERS 32nd Annual Convention which is ongoing, now on its 3rd day. The said advisory can be found in the following site: http://www.deped.gov.ph/cpanel/uploads/issuanceImg/DA%20No.%20259,%20s.%202007.pdf. I shall link it too in case this site can't be clicked, k? Happy participation in our seminar-workshop on Research. God bless

http://http://www.deped.gov.ph/cpanel/uploads/issuanceImg/DA%20No.%20259,%20s.%202007.pdf

PACERS Annual Convention for 2008

After a month in America, I would like to announce that the Philippine Association for Counselor Education, Research & Supervision (PACERS) will hold its Annual Convention on February 20-22, 2008. Herein is the invitation letter of our Chair Dr. Julian Montano:

November 28, 2007

Dear Colleague,

With the advent of our licensure, the utmost quality of counseling service is demanded of us! Gone are the days when all—adequately prepared or not—can do counseling, free from any liability. As licensed professionals, we are accountable to our clients and answerable to the law. Whenever necessary, we have to be able to defend the how and the why of the services we render. Indeed, this is an enormous challenge!
In response to this challenge, the Philippine Association for Counselor Education, Research and Supervision (PACERS) endeavors into one of the major pillars of a certified professional practice: the discipline of Research.
The 2008 PACERS Annual Convention theme entitled “Nurturing a Research Culture in the Counseling Practice” gathers leading academicians and practitioners of counseling psychology and other disciplines to share with us their professional experiences and expertise in adhering to the most recommended standard of practice: the Scientist/Practitioner Model. The rationale, significance, methodology, ethical concerns, and techniques of research will be discussed. The objectives of the convention are not only to understand the importance of research-based practice but also to learn how to do research and possibly publish your work.

The Annual Convention will be held on February 20 - 22, 2008 at the Bayview Park Hotel located in front of the U.S. Embassy at 1118 Roxas Blvd. corner United Nations Avenue, Manila.

Let us not recognize the discipline of research by lip service because it is essential for the excellence of our practice. Please join us and take an active role in ensuring that the counseling profession in the Philippines prospers into one of the most effective and client-centered profession in our country. Our journey has only started and big challenges are ahead of us, but if we work together, we are assured of success.

Please refer to the attachments for the registration and program details.
Sincerely yours,

(Sgd.)Julian Ramos Montano, Ph.D.Chairman

Here is a Tentative Program of the Event for your consultation needs:

TENTATIVE PROGRAM

Day One – February 20 Wednesday
AM 11:00 – 01:00 Registration
PM 01:00 – 03:00 Opening Program and Keynote Address
03:00 – 03:30 Snack
03:30 – 05:00 Panel Discussion 1: Application of the Scientist-Practitioner Model

Day Two – February 21 Thursday
AM 08:00 – 10:00 Panel Discussion 2: Ethics in Counseling Research
10:00 – 10:30 Snack
10:30 – 12:30 Panel Discussion 3: Research Trends
PM 12:30 – 01:30 Lunch
01:30 – 02:00 Presentation of Candidates for Elections Elections
*AM11:40 – 02:30 Interactive Poster Presentations
PM 02:30 – 03:00 Snack
03:00 – 05:00 Concurrent Paper Presentations

Day Three – February 22 Friday
Workshops are scheduled from 08:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Lunch and snacks will be served in workshop rooms

Workshop Themes:
Workshop A : Action Research
Workshop B : Qualitative Research
Workshop C : Research Conceptualization

ACCOMMODATIONS:

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

There are other places to stay like the Asilo De San Vicente De Paul of the DC nuns which is located along the route from Nagtahan and quite affordable. You may contact the place as soon as you need to using this number: 02-523-3829.

If there is anything we can be of help, and for more inquires, please don't hesitate to call the specified numbers above or my cellphones 0919-623-6605 or 0927-384-2739, or email me at berngu721@yahoo.com, or berngu721@gmail.com

You may press the Links portion at the right side of this blog - to get to our PACERS website, or click this site: http://www.geocities.com/pacersinc/index3.html

See you then. Take care and God bless

JUST WHAT WAS THAT SCAM LETTER?

For those who have no idea about the letter that was made by the scammer in my gmail account, I am printing here so that they can see how it looks really like the ones so sadly spreading in the internet. Note how an adaptation was made from those we have read before (money asked for in the email using my gmail account was $3,150); my name was really used [see the signature below, which made other people think it was mine.]Here it is:

----- Original Message ----From: Bernie Gu <berngu721@gmail.com>
To: aguask@dlsu.edu.ph
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 11:01:35 PM
Subject: PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT

How are you doing today? I am sorry i didn't informyou about my traveling to Africa for a program called"Empowering Youth to Fight Racism, HIV/AIDS, Povertyand Lack of Education,and also child abuse the program is taking place in three major countries in Africawhich is Ghana , South Africa and Nigeria . It hasbeen a very sad and bad moment for me, the presentcondition that i found myself is very hard for me toexplain.

I am really stranded in Nigeria because I leftt mylittle bag in the Taxi where my money, passport,documents and other valuable things were kept on myway to the Hotel i am staying, I am facing a hard time here because i have no money on me. I am now owning ahotel bill of $ 1550 and they wanted me to pay thebill soon else they will have to seize my bag and handme over to the Hotel Management., I need this help from you urgently to help me back home, I need you tohelp me with the hotel bill and i will also need $1600to feed and help myself back home so please can youhelp me with a sum of $3150 to sort out my problems here? I need this help so much and on time because iam in a terrible and tight situation here, I don'teven have money to feed myself for a day which means ihad been starving so please understand how urgent i needed your help.

I am sending you this e-mail from the city Library andI only have 30 min, I will appreciate what so ever youcan afford to send me for now and I promise to payback your money as soon as i return home so please let me know on time so that i can forward you the detailsyou need to transfer the money through Money Gram orWestern Union. Thanks

-- Fr. Bernard, SVD

Huuh! Talaga naman!

Some PICS in the US

I am blogging in here some pics of my stay here in the US, particularly since the time my email address was used by the scammer. Kakahiya talaga siya.


It was on this day of my Ordination Anniversary as a priest this year 2007 Dec. 16 when I naively gave away my gmail account password. Look at me happily posing with Rodel and Charisse, both DWU Senior HS Batch 81 batchmates.



I was able to attend the prayer service for Judge Serrano who died a few days before this moment I posed with my fellow Warays in California.


How can I miss Vegas? Las Vegas!!! I didn't owe the hotel anything because my friend booked us all in. Thanks to God and my friend indeed.

We were on the staircase instead of on the escalator so we could pose well.

Hope these will suffice for the moment. Hanggang sa muli! God bless and take care

Some PICS in the US.

Replies to the Scammer and the Scammer's replies

I'd like to post here the running conversation between the scammer and those who were written to. I feel very grateful for their support and encouragement, much more for the fact that they didn't give in to the scam's lure. At least I can say from this experience that there are people who care, and not easily swayed. There are 43 that I was able to copy. I did not write the dates of the conversation but the exchange between the scammer and those written to was between 18 December and 25. I was able to get back my email on Dec. 25 midnight here (half of Dec. 25 was finished in the Philippines since the US is a few hours late.) Besides, I decided to change my password only on the 26th since it was still celebrative mood. This should be a case to study so we can understand the wiles of the seducer scammer. In my next blog, I shall place the pics I have from my trip while still here in the US, just to show the scammer that s/he is a fake!!!!!!!!

The first five (5) below are the latest emails to me after I recovered my gmail account. The conversation between the scammer and those written to starts on the 6th.

1. Hello Father Have a blessed Christmas to you and your family. Father hindi kasi ako naniwala sa letter na ikaw yon kasi alam kong marami kang kaibigan na sobrang close para hingi-an nag tulong. I also tried to search scam letters and i found the same content sa net kaya na confirm ko na your email add mo ginamit na. I emailed Frater Feil about it kasi sa kanyang blog ko nakita ang name mo. Thank GOD you are safe and not in trouble. May God bless you more with many more good friends, good health, strength and preseverance to carry your mission. i remain your friend
Louella

2. sabi ko na nga e. i emailed the guy in tagalog and he stopped. jane, cesar and joy were asking about it. we will have a pacc meeting tomorrow so i will let them read your lates mail na galing sa yo. and of course, we will eat the chocolates you will bring home. ipcap meeting is moved to jan. 12, 2pm coz manang rosa arrives jan 8. see you soon. Haapy new year!!
Linda

3. Wow that was quite a story. ANother friend of mine from Perth Australia experienced the same..it was I think through her gmail too. these Nigerian scams are getting bolder and better in their hacking. Thanks for the warning too. Do I have your permission to copy your post and post in my Multiply blog that more people maybe warned?
Always: Edzz, Paul and kiddos

4. Padre,Thanks be to God a hindi totoo. Nag-alala kaya kami lalo na ako dahil nawala ang pambili mo ng pasalubong sa akin (joke ha ha ha). Anyway grabe alaga ang scam na yon. Musta ang pasko mo?nagkita ba kayo ni azell? Abou us, were been busy atending parties and invitations with the sarnelli kids. Nakakapagod bu full filling naman Sige, enjoy ka pa dyan

5. hi fr.glad to hear from you. scam naman talaga yun.ano siya? sinuswerte? basic rule - no one shouldever ask for your password and never give yourpassword. kahit na mukhang legitimate ung paghinging password. it's a good thing this had nothingto do with bank accounts.

6. Fr. Bernard
im so sorry, i just arrived from laguna, just read your message, so how are you now? pls update me of your condition and ill try to help you. Merry Christmas po!
(mayaman ka yata? Thanks ha? God bless - mine na 'to)

7. hi father,
just saw this email now...
how r u ?
have you received any help na?

8. fr bernard already knows what you are doing. please stop cause you are causing too much problem to all of his friends that had received your message. they already know about the scam you are sending to them. just restore all details back. (Tapang mo 'day! Sige, ipagpatuloy mo ang laban ni Gabriela!!!)

9. Dear Fr Bernie
Just got to Pennsylvania yesterday afternoon and leaving for Maryland tomorrow. Am on a limited budget as am under the care of my daughter and my cousin. So sorry that I can help you at this time. Hope you get out of that mess soonest. That's an expensive lesson for you. Hope others can assist you. Hoping Santa Claus can rescue you soonest.

10. Fr. Bernie
I am so sorry I don't have that much money, I can't help you when it comes to monitary things I only live daily by faith. I suggest you try to ask help from your Order. Maybe they can help you through their connections.

11. father, i really would like to help you with your problem. but still do not have yet my allowans dis month. but dont you worry, as soon as i reciv it, maybe i could send you some. and i will pray for you. just take good care of your self.

12. Fr. Bernard,
Is this true? Can't believe it. How can I be sure that this is authentic,will you please site some instances. Hope to hear from you soon.

13. Fr. ihope makatulong po ako.. anu puh b ung ibang details?

14. oh... father! i just thought you were only kidding. But as I went through the lines, oh my God, I can feel you out there. Terrible! Father, what can I only do is prayer. By now, I am taking the way to find my fare trip back to the seminary. Father I'm sorry. I have nothing here in my pocket. I'll pray that Superior General will hear your unlucky times out there. Hope you'll be back as early as possible. Worry not. Mama Mary Loves us.

15. Father, I can see how big your problem is, if only I can send you something, I'll definitely would... I am very sorry, coz' I dont even have enough money to bring myself home...I really wish I could help you out there... Maybe I'll think of other ways to help you..May be I can tell some priest here about your situation there..I am still in the seminary, coz' my parents did not send me yet my fair home..I'll offer my prayers for your safety tonight...I'll also tell the others, maybe they can offer you a little help..I'll also tell some priest here...Take good care of your things next time...hope you'll be out there soon. At least we know God will provide...Take care and hope to see you next year.

16. Dear Father,
It is very sad about what happened to you but I do not have the money to help you. while I 'am replying to yo, I' am using my last twenty pesos. I 'am very sorry. I hope that you could somehow get through this mess. but if there are other things I can do to help you please say it to me. I think I will have the money in Christmas. Take care father.

17. Fr. Bern, SVD
i can only help thru prayers...pls accept my prayers...(Thanks a lot for those prayers. They helped a lot so I could get back my email address and this blog and the other...)

18. HACKER!!!
Somebody had better inform Fr. Bernie about this...(Wow, shocked ako talaga. Nagkaroon ako ng tagapagtanggol, someone who's willing to fight for me. Thanks a lot ulit, and God bless)

19. Father, do you want us to inform the sommunity here in CKMS?where can we contact you?

20. this is a scam, aint it?well, you can't fool me...(i didn't fool you sir, someone did it without telling me while s/he had my email in the days between Dec. 16-23?)

21. Hi father, Greetings! I read the email. Hpwever, it was addressed to another person it came to me. Is that so you are in trouble still? Where are you now and how are you managing? God bless!

22. Hey You Algerian Criminal,
You make your country's reputation bad & known as such around the world. You're busted: you are not Father Bernard, a priest. You're the devil online preying on people and you even stole the email of a holy man, you evil. (Thanks Chuck.)

23. Father Bernard, I do not know if this is part of our previous psychology class last semester. I find it difficult to believe in the situation where you are in now. But I don't mind if this is true or not, still I am willing to help you in your situation. However, not in your financial problem, perhaps I could help you in a way of sending your letter to your congregation and in my prayer. This is all I can do Father Bernard, be brave father, have faith, and don't loss hope. (Opo kamahalan. Salamat po. God bless)

24. Padre, i is only now ha i open my email grabe busy and besides nasa ospital ang nanay ko. i would suggets to email bro. joel para sya mag sabi kay fr. joey. (Naloko kaya talaga ito siya ano? Grabe talaga kayo, scammer. Whoever you are, God bless you still!!!)

25. Dear Father,
I sent your message to Dr. Villar and Ms. de Chavez. Did they reply to you?
Are you really Fr. Bernie? Will I inform also Christ the King Seminary ? I am confuse if you are telling the truth. If you are telling the truth I can only sent through Western Union php 1,000. only on 26th. I am also short of money especially now. (Ma'am, you can keep that P1K until I see you again. I would love your Christmas gift. Di naman napapanis yan e. Hehe God bless)

26. merry christmas po father... may you find joy, peace and serenity this christmas season.. have a blessed christmas.... take care always,,,, we miss you (me din...thanks. God bless)

27. hi father,
just saw this email now...
how r u ?
have you received any help na? (Basta hindi utang ha? Di ko ugali yan no? God bless)

28. Dear Fr. Gu,
I tried to contact fratier Fiel about this matter already. Please hold on and do not worry, somebody from SVD will help you. Please indicate which hotel you are in right now and how can your fellow SVDs contact you easily. If you may please send to us your address right now. The hotel you are in and contact numbers of where to find you. How will money be sent to you? I also do not know where to find such big amount you are needing that is why i tried to ask the help of SVDs.
im praying for you (Gracias senyorita at di ka nagpaloko, pero malapit na po talaga. Remember not to be charmed by the seduction of this scammer, whoever s/he is...)

The scammer replied with this letter:

Thank you so much for your response and i am very much greatful for your concern. well i still have a little problem rigth here,which is due to the absence of my ID and some other things in my bag. i will be unable to pick the money at the bank. but i have spoken with my hotel manager concerning the issue of the transfer he did advice to help me in which he later agreed to use his ID and help me get the money. but i gave him a condition that the question and ans of the transaction will be arranged by me. so now i only have the ? and ans. and below is the wire info HOTEL TOURIST PARK HOTELNAME DAVID BENSONADDRESS 65 CATHOLIC MISSION STREET CITY MUSHIN.STATE LAGOS.TEXT QUESTION TO WHOMANSWER FATHER BERNAND please note that after the tranaction you will have to send me the 10 digits MTCN tracking number and the name you used for the transaction. Thank you and God bless. i will be wating to read from you please do it as early as possible and i will pay you back as soon as i get back home.

29. o sige paki ulit ng address, wala ka naman ibinigay kung saan ko ipapadala. ingat!

30. hi bro,
just wondering if you are really in africa? by the way, we are moving the ipcap meeting to jan. 12, saturday, 2pm down at your place. hope it's ok with you. Merry Christmas!
linda (Sorry di kita nasagot agad kasi nasa scammer pa ang email ko when you replied to him/her. Pero, ngayong nandito na ulit, sige, will reserve pagdating ko jan. God bless)

The scammer replied:

thank you so much Linda for your response and i am very much greatful.please kindly asssist me on the issue of my situation here.but to be sincere it's legitimate. you doubt me ?

Linda replied to that scammer:
that's because there are many victims of hoax messages these days. paano ka napadpad diyan? the last time i talked to you, you did not mention africa. sabi mo sa US ka lang with family and then attend a seminar still in the US. how could i not doubt you? pakitext nga, please. if this is not a hoax, i would receive a text or call from you. fr. bernie knows my cell phone number. by the way you are writing, fr. bernie always ends with a note i am very familiar with. :) this note did not end that way. linda (O di nabuking ka rin! say mo? Good observation, Linda. You're really a counselor, keen observer of hermeneutical matters!!! 3 Cheers! God bless)

31. father did you go to any cngration or phil embassy? (Patay, Naloko na - my response na here in this blog!)

32. Hi Bernand!
Just opened my email. Hope the Society will act on your request immediately. How can we send the amount you need? Give us the details how to do it.
How are you now?
In the meantime, rest assured of our prayers for you. God bless.

The scammer replied:

Thank you so much for your response and i am very much greatful for your concern. well i still have a little problem rigth here,which is due to the absence of my ID and some other things in my bag. i will be unable to pick the money at the bank. but i have spoken with my hotel manager concerning the issue of the transfer he did advice to help me in which he later agreed to use his ID and help me get the money. but i gave him a condition that the question and ans of the transaction will be arranged by me. so now i only have the ? and ans. and below is the wire info
NAME DAVID BENSON
ADDRESS KINGS DAVE HOTEL
65 CATHOLIC MISSION STREET
CITY MUSHIN.
STATE LAGOS.
TEXT QUESTION TO WHOM
ANSWER FR. BERNAND. SVD
please note that after the tranaction you will have to send me the 10 digits MTCN tracking number and the name you used for the transaction. Thank you and God bless. i will be wating to read from you please do it as early as possible and i will pay you back as soon as i get back home.

33. BELOW IS A LETTER, I GUESS, CIRCULATING AROUND. I RECEIVED ONE, CUT AND PASTED HERE. AYOS ITO HA! RESTI (The scammer must have blushed with shame! Good for him!)

34. here crazy guy. one day you'll get caught with this scam and maybe you'll trully be sent to gana and look like one of them and really starve like them you fool!!!!!! ashhh shit!!!!!!! damn u!!!!!! scammer!!!!! get scared because you're fooling a priest and that is one big mistake. u better stop this because I warned u !!!!! get ready to be in jail. I work for western union and I can get a hold of the transactions going thru in his name or emails fool!!!! (There goes my own sis! Thanks a lot for fighting for me. God bless)

Initially, she replied with this:
hoy!!!! keep watch!!! this stupid person is using your email. . . . . stupid asssss!!!! I'll call u tommorow.!!!

She did call me and told me about what was happening. She scolded me for giving my password out. Lesson for life talaga.

35. i was disturbed by the letter and was supposed to report it to our formators.one of my friends told be to verify if its is true. i asked noman if he received same letter and he said yes.i google the title of the program written in the letter and found out that it was a scam. (Wise guy you are. Good investigator. Keep it up!)

36. dear fr bernard,
i received an email coming from your email add. i justwant to confirm if you sent this message. i do hopeyou're ok.

The scammer replied:
Dear Haidee,
Thank you for your reply and i am very much greatful,well the email was sent by me.it's just that it's not every body i informed while going.but please try andhelp me out of it.waiting to read from you soonest.

37. From my yahoo account I wrote the guy myself:
Hi there!I have been trying to access my gmail account, but after I gave away my password (am truly sorry for doing so!!!) to whoever asked for it last Sunday in the name of gmail, I have not been successful. PLEASE, RESTORE MY ACCOUNT. I need to access that account since my students' requirements (these are reflections about our classes) are all in there! Please be considerate. I know you have been sending letters to people in my contact address in there, and am sorry that they have not been responding to you because they know me very well. I am not into what you have just been doing - EXTORTING money! If you don't, then you just have to deal with God about what you are doing. I am therefore giving you up to the Most High Who can avenge for me. God bless and take care. Hope you can reconsider what you have been doing. It's not yet too late. (See, natakot siguro kasi parang na-exorcise siya. Thanks God talaga, and of course to the Google Team.)

38. Good morning Fr. Bernie (sorry i don't know if it is morning in US)
i just opened your email (through research method 1 mailing list), thattold us that you are in Nigeria and was robbed there. i am afraid someone has use your mail account to sent this email toevery body in your contacts.

39. This is a scam.This was exposed in The Manila Standard Today column of Austero.Do not take the bite.

40. SVD-AFRICA Contact Info:
Society of the Divine Word, PO Box 209, Francistown, Botswanatel. (00267) 241-63-90; 724-066-44, fax (00267) 240-36-96
United Nations Nigeria Country Office, Abuja, Nigeria
For further information, please contact:
The Resident Coordinator?s OfficeAnthony Ngororano
Email: anthony.ngororano@undp.org
MAILING ADDRESS:United Nations HousePlot 617/618, Diplomatic Zone,Central Area District,P.M.B. 2851, Garki,Abuja, Nigeria.
EMERGENCY SERVICES American citizens needing emergency services after hours, on weekends or onholidays, can contact the following numbers and ask for the duty officer:Abuja: 0803-408-6000 (cell phone)Lagos: (234)-1-2610195 or (234)-1-2611414 (Mabubuking talaga siya if the scammer did that!)

41. ay, ano ang nangyari father?
I do not have such big amount of money. Do you want me to inform at least the DFA about your situation. So they can do something Father. I can send youP10,000 that is 200 US dollars only. It's 12 in the morning here right now.

The scammer replied:
Thank you so much for your response and i am very much greatful for your concern. and also sorry for not responding to your mail which is due to lack of access to the net and also trying to sort things about my p/port well i still have a little problem rigth here,which is due to the absence of my ID and some other things in my bag. i will be unable to pick the money at the bank. but i have spoken with my hotel manager concerning the issue of the transfer he did advice to help me in which he later agreed to use his ID and help me get the money. but i gave him a condition that the question and ans of the transaction will be arranged by me. so now i only have the ? and ans. and below is the wire info
NAME DAVID BENSON
ADDRESS KINGS DAVE HOTEL
65 CATHOLIC MISSION STREET
CITY MUSHIN.
STATE LAGOS.
TEXT QUESTION TO WHOM
ANSWER FR. BERNAND. SVD (See? Nabuking ka din! I AM NOT FR. BERNAND!!! Scammer!!!

42. Hi to all,
It's better to inform Fr. Bernard directly about this, preferrably not through email to confirm if this is true or not. For the mean time we should'nt be bothered. Goodnight and have a nice sleep.

The person who wrote in #42 was part of a running email conversation which started with this:
Hi All,
What do you make of this? Shouldn't the SVD be informed ASAP?

One answered:
hi andy,
i also received this same email andi informed fr collera that it seems thatour email addresses have been compromised.
ano siya, masaya? sinuswerte?
a lot of this type of scam originate fromnigeria. what, they expect us to part witha couple of thousand dollars? in the firstplace, i don't have that kind of dough.second, i will give him my credit cardnumber?
sira talaga ito.
fr collera,paki pray over na lang this guy.
regards,ernie

43. hi fr. collera,
look at this. i received it in mymail box and it appears that youremail address and mine have beencompromised. i'm really amazed howpeople can really try all sorts of methods to deceive others.
anyway, hope all is well with youand have a nice christmas out there.

GIVE ME A BREAK SCAMMER

I am posting here an account of what happened to me in relation to an internet scam so that others may know and learn something about. I emailed this already to those who replied to the scam letter (I saw them when I got full control of my email again, and THANKS anyway to whoever s/he was for not erasing the emails in the inbox). Happy reading! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Dear Everyone who was written to (by i don't know who - the scammer) last Dec. 18,

Peace be with you!

First I'd like to greet you Merry Christmas! I was at Holy Hills, Wisconsin this morning and concelebrated at the 1130(?) AM Mass. At the communion time, one guy said "Father, tagalugin nyo po kasi ang tagal ko nang wala sa Pilipinas. Namimiss ko na ang Pilipinas." It gave me the inspiration to ask the main celebrant (I forgot his name, he's a Carmelite priest though) to give me the chance to greet everyone in Tagalog, and Chinese before everyone leaves the place. I did, and realized that indeed we may be far away from home and feel so lonesome, but the birth of Christ on Christmas day has made me realize He is family to us and wherever we are, we are home! May you be with those whom you love and love you this Christmas! Christ does love you, and wants you to feel at home!

Secondly, allow me to apologize for the inconvenience of that scam you received. Please read this account so I can have myself cleared:

1. On Dec. 16, 2007, that was a Sunday here in the US, I was at a classmate's house in Carlsbad, California. I remember having checked on my emails in the morning before Mass. In my gmail account, I read one which wrote (am copying here what I actually received for purposes of pedagogy):

Dear Account User
This Email is from Gmail Customer Care and we are sending it to every Gmail Email User Accounts Owner for safety. we are having congestions due to the anonymous registration of Gmail accounts so we are shutting down some Gmail accounts and your account was among those to be deleted.We are sending you this email to so that you can verify and let us know if you still want to use this account.If you are still interested please confirm your account by filling the space below.Your User name,password,date of birth and your country information would be needed to verify your account. Due to the congestion in all Gmail users and removal of all unused Gmail Accounts, Gmail would be shutting down all unused Accounts, You will have to confirm your E-mail by filling out your Login Information below after clicking the reply button, or your account will be suspended within 24 hours for security reasons.
Username: ..............................
Password: ................................
Date of Birth: ............................
Country Or Territory: ................
After following the instructions in the sheet, your account will not be interrupted and will continue as normal. Thanks for your attention to this request. We apologize for any inconveniences. Warning!!! Account owner that refuses to update his/her account after two weeks of receiving this warning will lose his or her account permanently.

I might have been shocked and scared, as I naively replied:

Okey, I am putting in here whatever data you have required. I don't understand why you have chosen mine when it has been very good and I hope I haven't done anything to disturb your system. Please check below the information. I hope I can continue availing your services. I just don't understand what made you choose mine and give me the impression that mine is "unused." I have very essential communications going on through this my gmail account. I expect your respecting my privacy and confidentiality of these informations.Thanks & God bless

Yes, I gave away my password!!!!!!! which I never did before in my life!!!!!

2. By the 18th of Dec., I was on the car my friend drove to Burbank, the place where I had to take my flight back to San Francisco. Azell Banoza, our former Social Worker at Sarnelli in Baclaran (she's on a training at north Carolina) rang me up, and asked a question which I thought I never heard her ask. She told me she had received a letter saying I was in Nigeria, and that I needed money… (you must have read it yourself already). Immediately, I remembered what I did last Dec. 16; so to race with time and whoever did it, I asked her to go into my gmail account, and change my password. In five minutes, when she called me back, I realized the email was no longer under my control. I felt like I gave someone the key to my house and when in, s/he locked me out in the cold. As soon as I reached my niece's place that evening, I checked my emails, and discovered that my yahoo account was untouched, and in there was the letter Azel received from my gmail account! I couldn't enter my gmail account as the password was already changed!! Whew!!! How I wanted to call the police!!! I called up Fr. Noel to cancel my previous schedule with him because I wanted to solve this problem. I knew I was getting into a mess which might have become bigger had I left it unsettled. Fr. Laput gave me the idea to email abuse@gmail.com and report the incident about my gmail account. Here's what I wrote them (this is still in my yahoo inbox):

To the person in charge of G-mail accounts,

Peace!I am Fr. Bernard Collera, SVD. I have received an email yesterday Dec. 18, from my gmail account berngu721@gmail.com and would like to report the abuse that's going on with this account. Friends have told me about this too, that it has been soliciting money, the amount of $3150 which i am purportedly to pay back when I go home. My classmate has told me to email your address so what's going on stops. I have actually written back to that account and pleaded that it be given back to me because the emails of my students are all in there. Please help me on this. I was stupid to reply and give away my password last Sunday, Dec. 16 to an email which purported that gmail was closing and that if i didn't reply my account would be closed. Sorry, but i admit that was clearly stupid (sorry for the word) on my part to have so naively given away my password. What's more disconcerting is the fact that I can't anymore access my two blogspot accounts, namely counpsychphil.blogspot.com and reflectscriptures.blogspot.com. Hence, whatever should be done so I can have those back would be the best. Please please assist. God bless

You may reply to me here since I can no longer access my gmail account. Thanks a lot. Take care
Bernard Collera

In a few minutes, the Google Team responded and gave me options. I sent them two more letters after following their directions, until I got to the site which asked for my Verification Number (which gmail sent to my secondary address upon opening my gmail account way back 2006). I gave as much information as I could, and even the right for them to "storm" into my account if only I could have my email back. 3. To keep this long story short, on Christmas eve, last night, while at our family Christmas party here in the US, when I checked my emails, The Google Team sent me this message:

Hello,

We have completed our investigation and we are re-enabling your access to this account. The account settings have been restored to the first name, last name, and secondary email address that you provided. We sincerely apologize for what you have experienced in this regard and appreciate your cooperation and understanding. To reactivate this account:…

I did as directed, and PRESTO!!! I GOT BACK MY GMAIL ACCOUNT!!!

I went through everyone's replies to that scam letter, and for all your concern, thanks a lot. You have to produce me evidence that you sent that guy money because he said he was me…if you want me to pay up. Sa totoo lang, sana wala akong dapat harapin! Chocolate lang ang maibibigay ko for you as pasalubong! Whew!!! Thanks The Google Team for all your efforts. May the Lord bless you!

Pasensya na po talaga sa lahat ng idinulot na kaba ng scam na yon. Takot ko lang talagang lumaki ang mga bayarin pag-uwi ko sa Pilipinas sa January 2008! HAhaha. Di ko po ugaling di magsabi patungkol sa aking pagpunta sa isang malayong lugar (formation output kaya ito?!); at mas lalong di ko ugaling manghiram lalo na ng pera (wala kasi akong pambayad!!!: seminary and family training output!). May this account let everyone who reads about it know

(1) what NOT TO DO and
(2) what TO DO when into what I went through. God is really GOOD! All the time! God bless--

Fr. Bernard, SVD

It's about 19:30 AM here as I publish this blog. This document has been first blogged in my other blog so that others get to understand what had happened to me (in case they might be interested). It's about 1145 PM Dec. 26 in the Philippines, so tamang tama gets nyo na to. God bless again and take care. See you January 4, 2008.