THE GRANDFATHER'S CLAUSE

In here is printed the Grandfather's Clause stipulated in RA9258. I got this from our PRBGC Chair herself Dr. Gabriel who was with Dr. Luz Guzman during our IPCAP meeting where we finally signed the IPCAP Constitution today September 10, 2007 at Christ the King Seminary.

REGISTRATION WITHOUT EXAMINATION

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING

(R.A. No. 9258)

I. QUALIFICATIONS:

a. Had been a doctoral or a Masteral degree holder in Guidance and Counseling with at least three (3) years of teaching experience in Guidance and Counseling courses and/or full time counseling practice for the same period;

b. Had passed at least eighteen (18) units of Masteral level core courses in Guidance and Counseling such as Counseling Theories, Tools and Techniques, Organization and Administration of Guidance Services, Psychological Tests and Measurements, Group Process/Group Facilitating and Career Guidance; and have at least seven (7) years of experience in counseling work; and

c. Had completed academic requirements for a master's degree in Guidance and Counseling and had five (5) years experience as full-time Guidance Counselor/part time Guidance Counselor with officially designated teaching load in Guidance and Counseling.

II. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS:

1. Original and photocopy of Birth Certificate (NSO)

2. Original and photocopy of Marriage Contract (NSO)

3. Photocopies of Diploma and Transcript of Records (BS, MS, PhD)

4. Original NBI Clearance (private employee)

5. 3 certifications of Good Moral Character (brgy captain, church employer/dean)

6. Original Ombudsman Clearance and NBI Clearance (government employee)

7. Certificate of active membership and Good Moral Character from (APO) to be issued by the President and two (2) other officers

8. Certificate of Experience (PRC Form 104)

9. Certificate of Employment/Service Record

10. Residence Certificate

11. Passport size picture with nametag (2 pcs.)

12. Application fee: P900.00

Filing Period: Setpember 20, 2007 - January 26, 2009

Qualifications should have been obtained on or before March 2, 2004.

STEPS IN FILING APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION WITHOUT EXAMINATION at PRC:

1. Fill up application form together with required documents for pre-evaluation to the Office of the Asst. Secretary (3rd Floor Main Bldg.) at the PRC Central office and Regional Offices processing counters.

2. Go to the Legal Division (2nd floor Main Bldg) for notarization.

3. Go to the Cashier for payment of fees. (Ground Floor Main Bldg) Window 1 to 4

4. Go to the Customer Service Center for metered documentary stamp.

5. Submit duly accomplished application forms to the Office of the Asst. Secretary.

6. After three (3) months, verufy status of application at Tel. No. (02) 735-1533

This is all for now. Keep posted. Please pass this to our colleagues. God bless

RA 9258 Rules & Regulations Published!

Monday afternoon, September 3, I got a text from Dr. Llanes (current PGCA President) informing me about the publication of the Rules and Regulations (RR) of the Guidance & Counseling Act of 2004 (RA9258). We did not have the newspaper where it was published so I personally went to Cubao to get my copy. I was lucky to get the last copy in the newstand. At first I felt cheated after not finding it in any of the pages. But Ms. Belen Mandin had texted me earlier that she had read it, so I called her to inquire where it was.

Yes, The Rules & Regulations of RA 9258 has been published today September 4, 2007 in the Manila Standard Today newspaper. The material can be found in page B5 Business Section. I pored through it immediately and felt happy. However, I felt sad to read that some portions/lines of Section 14 paragraph b had been missed out. So I alerted Dr. Llanes about it. After I got back to the seminary, I texted one of the Board members about the matter. I also called PRC and alerted them about it. Atty. Almelor assured me that they will check their records to validatae my observation, and if so, something should be done. This afternoon Dr. Guzman texted me back the following information: Manila Standard will publish an erratum on the matter on SEPT 6, 2007. Hope the misssed out portion will be clarified then because of its importance. Get your copy, or already tell your newsboy to reserve a copy for you. I hope to get my copy in Davao.

The implication of this publication is this: 15 days after the publication, i.e., starting Sept. 5, thoe among us who would like to apply for the Grandfather's Clause (license without examination) may already start the application process at PRC. This means that by Sept. 20, 2007 PRC will be accepting applications for the Grandfather's Clause licenses for Guidance & Counseling. Dr. Guzman told me that we need to ready our documentary requirements so they can process our application starting then. Please read the pertinent portions in the RR to get the idea.

In the meantime, I will be leaving for Davao tomorrow together with the PACERS Board for our Midyear Workshop which will be held at Grand Men Seng Hotel. I shall be back on Sept 8 in the afternoon. I shall read the material again (RR) and write here in this blog what the required documents are needed to be prepared for those applying for the licensure (Grandfather's & examinations). In this way those who may not have gotten their copies of Manila Standard Today Sept. 4, 2007 may also have an idea about the official contents of the RR. Now we need no longer panic because the publication of the document makes this whole thing really official and binding.

I checked with the website of Manila Standard Today just half an hour ago. Unfortunately, they don't seem to include such essential documents in their website. I wrote an email to them requesting if they can have it plublished online so we can read it ourselves, i.e., those who may not have had the chance to get their Sept. 4 copy. Let's pray they grant our request. The moment it happens I shall immediately blog it here, linking their site in here. You may also want to give them the same request. Just go to www.manilastandardtoday.com and in their Contact Us page, write your email.

Let's pray that the Guidance & Counseling profession grow and develop in our land so we may become more integrated as persons through the service of our colleagues. Remember that the Lord Jesus Himself was a Counselor. God bless

CHED MEMORANDUM released

I just came from CHED this afternoon, and finally, here is the CHED Memo many participants have been requesting. Please download it from here. And you may also share this with other colleagues you may know have also need of it. Have a great time and see you at Grand Men Seng, Davao. It's barely 10 days from now. God bless

Latest on the IPCAP

Here are two pictures from our latest meeting on the IPCAP here in the seminary last August 15, 2007. Only 8 came as typhoon Egay released its heavy rains that flooded the streets leading to the seminary. These were taken from my powerful Nokia 6630 celphone too.
Dr. Rose Llanes, current PGCA President stands at the center. She is our current IPCAP President. The guy in orange is yours truly, IPCAP Secretary. Our Treasurer is Mr. Cesar S. Cong, the one sitted in front of me. Our Auditor is Dr. Alda Perlita Polestico, sitted at the opposite side of the table beside Dr. Llanes. The rest of the committed Counselors are (sitted at left side: Dr. Carmencita Salonga [in front of Cesar], and Dr. Linda Bubod [at my back, beside Dr. Llanes]; sitted in front of Dr. Polestico are Myrna Serranilla and James Tan of CEFAM. They're organizing the Philippine Association of Pastoral and Family Counseling (PAPFC). They're Pastoral and Family Counseling masters graduates of CEFAM based at Ateneo de Manila University.

At your service standing from left to right: Cesar Cong, Fr. Bernardo R. Collera, SVD, Dr. Carmencita Salonga, Dr. Linda Bubod, Dr. Rosa Maria Llanes, Dr. Alda Perlita Polestico, Mrs. Myrna Serranilla, and Mr. James Tan. Our Vice-President [current PACERS Chairperson] Dr. Julian Montano couldn't make it due to the heavy rains and flooding, and he had yet to drive from his nest in Tagaytay. Missed you, Julian. Better missed than trapped in the waters of Egay in the streets of Buendia or EDSA!!!

We wrote a Congratulatory message for our two new PRC Commissioners Honorable Nilo Rosas and Ruth Rana-Padilla. Dr. Llanes was tasked to present it to them when she goes to PRC. We are at the moment finalizing the final copy of the IPCAP Constitution, have IPCAP registered wirth SEC and shall be applying for accreditation with PRC to become the Accredited Professional Association (APO) of Guidance and Counseling as stipulated in RA9258 or the Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004. When we shall have been accredited as APO, I shall post here that document which should contain our Accreditation data, including our Accreditation #. We are also in the process of choosing the IPCAP logo and letterhead for official communications. If you wish to submit a logo for the association, you may email it to me so we can deliberate on it in our next meeting: AUG 27, 2007, 2PM downwards. It's a free day, so we have sufficient time to complete everything, from signing the Constitutions, to finalizing our incorporation papers, and the historical picture taking.

Yes, we're awaiting the publication of the Rules and Regulations of RA9258. Keep posted. God bless

Philippine Journal of Counseling Psychology

This is the last of the two volumes of the Philippine Journal of Counseling Psychology which I promised I'd blog in here. Please read along.

Philipine Journal of Counseling Psychology Vol. 4 February 2001
It costs only P100.00.


Table of Contents of the Philipine Journal of Counseling Psychology Vol. 4 November 2001

PJCP has volumes 3 (November 2000), and 5 (February 2003) which sold like hotcakes - we only have 1 copy of volume 5 left for our files, while there is only one copy of volume 3 available for disposal. I shall blog these two later as I still have to take pictures of these said volumes. In case you might want to order them, especially Vol. 5, do let us know so we can make a decision about reprinting them. Okey? God bless

Philippine Journal of Counseling Psychology

Here are the other volumes available for your purchasing needs. The account you can use for purchasing is in the last picture. There are two more volumes I will place in the next blog. Happy reading. Hope this can help you now. God bless

Philipine Journal of Counseling Psychology Vol. 7 February 2005. It costs only P200.00.

Table of Contents of the Philipine Journal of Counseling Psychology Vol. 7 February 2005

Philipine Journal of Counseling Psychology Vol. 6 February 2004. It costs only P180.00.

Table of Contents of the Philipine Journal of Counseling Psychology Vol. 6 February 2004

You may check this document and using either of the bank accounts mentioned in there, you can deposit your payment in there, and then text me or fax your deposit slip to the contact numbers mentioned in this document too. So you may not worry about courier charges, you may add P80.00 for LBC. The next day, you'll have your PJCP. For international orders, I shall scout for the courier and the manner of payment so we can serve you too. The price will remain the same. It is the price for the freight that will have to make a difference. Okey?

Philippine Journal of Counseling Psychology

I got a text message inquiring about available volumes of our Philippine Journal of Counseling Psychology, and since the stocks are here with me in the seminary, let me place them here for your knowledge in case you may want to purchase them. Thanks to my celphone. I took these pictures below using my Nokia 6630. Bet you, aren't they clear enough?

I have here the cover of the volumes and their Table of Contents. Hope these can help you in your decision to purchase. Of course, PACERS membership entitles you a copy of these journals (I can send you the application form by email); otherwise, you may also request your school library to purchase a copy so many others can access the scientific literature inside.

I thought about advertising these via internet. But let me see what needs to be done before going into it. However, in case you may want to order them, just text me at 0919-6236605 (SMART), or 0927-3842739 (GLOBE). You may also inquire through my email address: berngu721@gmail.com

This is the latest volume of the Philippine Journal of Counseling Psychology (Vol 9, No. 1 February 2007). It was launched during our Annual Convention at the Bayview Park Hotel in front of the US Embassy along Roxas Blvd. It costs P250.00 only.

This is the Table of Contents of PJCP Vol 9 No 1 February 2007.

Philippine Journal of Counseling Psychology (Vol 8, No. 1 February 2006). It costs P220.00 only.

This is the Table of Contents of PJCP Vol 8 No 1 February 2006.

Philippine Journal of Counseling Psychology (Vol 7, No. 1 February 2005). It costs P200.00 only.


I shall be putting the other available volumes of the PJCP in my next blogs. It looks like this one could only accommodate 5 pictures. Kerep reading. God bless

PGCA Events

I got word about the following events, but since the invitation letters were in a form not possible for attaching here, I almost forgot about them. But thanks to Dr. Perlie Polestico, the information was relayed again. Here it is:

1. PGCA National Summit on Guidance & Counseling Currilum
September 13-14, 2007
Silliman University

2. PGCA Midyear Workshop '07
October 24-26, 2007
Holiday Plaza, Cebu City

For reservation, contact Dr. Rose Llanes ( rosellanes29@yahoo.com) or Ms. Malou Chavez (mchavez@mc.edu.ph or (02) 435-9240 loc. 246).

All the best then. God bless

New PRC Commissioners Appointed!!!

This is very fresh news and has very important implications for Counseling in the Philippines. Dr. Rosa Ma. Llanes, current President of PGCA (Philippine Guidance & Counseling Association) as well as IPCAP (Integrated Professional Counselors Association of the Philippines)President has just texted me that the President (GMA) has appointed two Commissioners for the Professional Regulation Commission or PRC. The two are: Drs. Ruth Rana-Padilla, and Nilo Rosas. The name of the second appointee sounds familiar - wasn't he with DepEd?

This news has important implications to our profession of Counseling in the Philippines. Right now, the Rules & Regulations of RA9258 are already in the PRC Chair's (Dr. Rosero) table for signing. This RR needs the signature of the new Commissioners, after which it will see print in the Gazette and newspaper of national circulation. As soon as this RR gets signed, I shall be announcing it here because 15 days after publication, this RR will be implemented. The first implication is the Grandfather's Clause. Definitely, it will be implemented immediately. Hence those who are applying for the licensure sans the licensure exams as stipulated in RA9258 Article III Section 14 should ready their requirements. These shall be mentioned in the published RR. Please read it when it gets published for proper guidance. I shall announce it here when it sees print, especially in the newspapers.

PGCA will then start issuing certificates of active membership, as well as good moral character which are required in our application to the PRBGC or Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance and Counseling. I hope those who apply for the Grandfather's Clause will be granted so that we can practice Counseling sans legal hindrances. Also, I hope that those who will be taking the first Board exams in Guidance & Counseling will be prepared and pass the exams too. When it will be scheduled should also be mentioned in the published RR.

Wow! Wasn't this what we have been waiting for? All the best. May the Good Lord, our Counselor be with us in these days of frenzy. We've been into it last summer, so I bet we all know how to be more calm this time. Take care. God bless

DepEd Advisory Available Online

I got word tonight via email (thanks Jun Reyes) that the Advisory of the Department of Education (DepEd) for our PACERS Midyear Workshop in Davao is now available online. Please go to this site: http://www.deped.gov.ph/deped.asp?i=A to download your copy. The Advisory is No. 7 s 2007 MIDYEAR WORKSHOP OF THE PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION FOR COUNSELOR EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND SUPERVISION (PACERS).

We are still waiting for the release of the CHED Memorandum for the event. As soon as we have it, we shall announce it here. PACERS shall also ready a copy of the DepEd Advisory for you upon request during the Midyear event in Davao. Please pass this message to our colleagues. See you there. God bless

RA9258 posted in anther internet site

One Monday afternoon while in DLSU, I checked my email, and a Filipino PhD in Arizona contacted me about developments in our field of Counseling here in the Philippines. He mentioned that it was through this blog that he got information. I corresponded, and today he wrote that he downloaded RA9258 in http://www.vanguardofcounsellors.org/home . You may actually click it yourself and see that our law is there for others outside the country to read. Thanks Art for this service. Maybe this will be an opportunity for us to have contacts with Counseling as an international profession. Happy reading (well you should have read it yourself already). Just to let us know our law is read internationally. God bless

Philippine Journal of Counseling Psychology

Yes, if you would like to purchase our Philippine Journal of Counseling Psychology, do email me your requests so we can set aside a copy for you. If registered members haven't received their respective copies yet, do let me know so we can do the same for you. We launched a volume last 2007 Annual Convention. I shall post the available volumes for your purchasing needs. God bless

Complete Davao 2007 Midyear Workshop Invitation

Our Executive Secretary Dr. Leo Capeding was so kind he had the invitation letter and the second page, plus the Pre-Registration Form scanned, thereby making them downloadable here. All you do is to just click the said documents and you will be given a readable version which you can download as well as print for yourself. Here they are:

1. Cover letter:

2. Page two:3. Pre-Registration Form

Please feel free to pass this site to our fellow Counselors. God bless

Midyear 2007 Pre-Registration Form & Schedule

Hi Colleagues,
I was sent the Pre-registrration Form and the Program Schedule. In case you need these two pages, do email me and I'll download them for you. My email is berngu721@gmail.com

Yan na muna. Do share the site so others can download the Invite published before this. See you in Davao on Sept. 6-7, 2007. God bless

PACERS Midyear Workshops Invitation Letter

Yesterday July 6, 2007, the letter of the PACERS Chair was released, and for our purposes, here at the left is the said letter. Just put your mouse over it and click it. You will be shown a window where the letter can be read well.

If you have any questions, needs, you can email me at berngu721@gmail.com The Pre-Registration forms are already ready and if needed, I shall find a way to have it published here so you can download it and have it printed for yourself.

See you then this coming Sept. 6-7 in Davao. The Workshops are all for you. God bless

Curriculum Forum #2

I received an invitation to a Curriculum Forum, but since it comes in a format not downloadable here, let me copy it for you:

June 25, 2007

Dear Colleagues,

This is to invite you to attend the Curriculum Forum at the Southville International School and Colleges, 1281 Tropical Avenue corner Luxembourg Street, BF International, Las Pinas City.

The sessions will be held at the Multi-Purpose Hall (MPH) 4th Floor College Building on July 9, 2007 at 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. The main objective of this forum is to standardize the curriculum and syllabi of the masters and doctoral degrees in counseling. Please bring with you a copy of your curriculum, syllabi and other related materials. The registration fee is PhP1000. You may pay at PNB Current Account No. 00-275-830563-8 and fax the deposit slip to 931-0280.

For further inquiry, you may contact Ms. Janice Albano, PGCA secretary at 931-0280 or Ms. Belen Mandin at 820-8702 local 135 or 0917-9224183 or Ms Len at 820-8714.

Anticipating your participation in this historical event.

Very truly yours,

Sgd. Dr. Rosa Maria I. Llanes

President, Philippines Guidance and Counseling Association, Inc.

Sgd. Dr. Rhodelia L. Gabriel

Chair, Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance & Counseling

HELP University College, Malaysia needs help

One of my colleagues, Dr. Susan Estanislao emailed me this article from Dr. Joal Reyes who's currently in Kuala Lumpur who asked her to have the following matter posted in our PACERS website. I thought it may also reach other people, hence, I had it posted here. Hope many can have access to this opportunity, and in the process lead towards the Reciprocity accords between Malaysia and the Philippines in the near future. Remember RA9258's provision on Reciprocity? See Article IV Section 29 of the Guidance & Counseling Act of 2004 in my Feb 28, 2007 blog here. God bless

HELP University College invites you to apply to theVisiting Lecturer Program.

The Visiting Lecturer Program is offered to provide scholars in the field of counseling/counseling psychology with an opportunity to lecture in the Masters in Counseling program and the undergraduate programs in Psychology of the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences at HELP University College, Malaysia. Opportunities to conduct research and provide counseling services may also be arranged.
Eligibility of Applicants:
- Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology or related field.
- MA in Counseling Psychology degree holders may apply as long as they have accumulated at least 5 years of teaching experience in the graduate level.
- Experience in teaching MA level courses in counseling.
- Experience in teaching undergraduate courses in psychology.
- Experience in the delivery of counseling services and supervision of counselor trainees.

Honorarium:
This will be decided upon consideration of the applicant’s credentials.

Assistance:
International airfare (round trip between Kuala Lumpur and the country where lecturer resides)

Duration of the program:
One year to two years.

Requirements:
Please send your application letter and curriculum vitae to:

Dr. Goh Chee Leong
Dean, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences
HELP University College
BZ-2 Pusat Bandar Damansara
50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Applications may be sent through e-mail. Please send e-mail to: gohcl@help.edu.my

Deadline and Selection Process:
Letter of interest must be submitted no later than July 30, 2007.
Processing of applications by the selection committee (evaluation of CVs and interviews) will start August 1.

Successful applicants will be notified by the first week of September.

PACERS Activities for Year 2007-2008

I had this blogged after our PACERS 2007 Planning Workshop in Tala, Rizal, Laguna. I want to put it here again so as to keep us always in sync with what is coming.

The PACERS Midyear Workshops (at least 4) will be held in Davao City on September 6-7, 2007. The site might be Hotel Minseng (I hope my spelling is correct). The invitation letter is already on its final stage before we release it for everyone. You shall definitely be sent, and it shall be blogged here for everyone to read. Let us know where and how we can send you the invite.

The PACERS 32nd Annual Convention next year is scheduled on Feb. 20-22, 2008. We will still deliberate on the site and the theme. We usually start at 11AM for registration and have the Opening in the afternoon of the 1st day (Feb.20), and it will last until Friday afternoon, capped by the workshops on the third day. We are still to deliberate on the theme, and the site. We shall immediately inform you once we have laid down the theme and then the site. Keep updated.

If you have suggested themes and workshop topics, please feel free to suggest so we can prepare them for you. My email addresses you can write to are: berngu721@yahoo.com & berngu721@gmail.com .

We have monthly Board meetings every 4th Friday of the month. You may submit your applications for membership on the first week of the month so we can evaluate and deliberate on them the monthly meeting. We should find it fast to contact you after the decision shall have been made on your application. It's our joy to be of service to you and the profession.

And lastly, please pray for our Counselors. Many of them may be adversely affected by RA9258 especially since some may not have the requirements for the Board exams, the passing of which allows them the right to practice Counseling. I got word that some of them may be out for some drastic efforts that may only sabotage their own interests, a boomerang of sorts, if that were a more apt image. I really suggest we simply comply by every requirement at this stage of the professionalization of Counseling, and then correct ourselves and our practice including the law as we move ahead. Stalling it at this stage may no longer be appropriate. I'd like to believe that every effort has been done to disseminate the necessary information for everyone.

God bless us all. Take care

New PGCA Board Elected!

In a phone conversation with PGCA President Dr. Rosa Maria Llanes this morning, she mentioned the possibility of announcing here in my blog the following PGCA-elected Board Members who elected among themselves to their new positions yesterday June 8, 2007:

President : Dr. Rosa Maria I. Llanes
Vice-President : Dr. Imelda Virginia G. Villar
Secretary : Ms. Maria Lourdes L. Chavez, M.A.
Treasurer : Dr. Lucy Bance
Business Manager : Dr. Carmencita H. Salonga
Auditor : Dr. Alexa P. Abrenica
P.R.O. : Dr. Alda Perlita S. Polestico

Members of the Board:
Dr. Benedicta O. Lascano
Sr. Dr. Alegria Z. Avellaneda, SPS
Dr. Ligaya S. De Guzman
Dr. Leticia Peñano-Ho

I wish for this new Board to work as hard as they used to, primarily for the professionalization of Guidance & Counseling in the Philippines. In my previous blog, I wrote about those who came for IPCAP last March 17, 2007 and the request that the current and newly-elected President be given by the PGCA a chance to serve again since she seems to be the best for the process we're all into now. Thanks for heeding that request (if ever you did). I think PGCA did because the whole Board ran again and won! Congratulations! You can rest assured that I shall keep you all in my Masses, especially now that I am too a member of the PGCA, even if only an Affiliate. God bless your efforts. If I may quote St. Peter (1 Ptr 3:13, 7 [New Jerusalem Bible, 1985]) here: "No one can hurt you if you are determined to do only what is right; and blessed are you if you have to suffer for being upright...And if it is by the will of God that you should suffer, it is better to suffer for doing what is right than for doing wrong." All the best then.

CDAP Learning Session

Here is an event CDAP wants to make prior to the Annual Convention Workshop in Sept. Just click on the image and it will be enlarged so everyone can read it. You may share the blog to others who may want to grow as Counselors primarily in the area of Career Counseling & Development. It's a pleasure to serve our fellow Counselors. God bless