One of the IPCAP Founders, Dr. Julian Montano sent me this invite which I think merits our attention and maybe, in case you may be interested, do contact them. It may not be strictly counseling-related, but surely workshops provide some guidance concerns. Health nowadays is one of our major concerns due to stress that often debilitates our functioning. So, to stay healthy, here is one option.
Come to the workshop that can change your life.
The Get HEALTHY, Stay BALANCED Workshop
on October 16 and 17, 2008
at Christian Development Center, Tagaytay City, Philippines
This workshop presents “The HALLELUJAH Diet & Lifestyle”: a lifestyle that can add years to your life, and life to your years. The most fundamental elements that contribute to health and well-being, and how to incorporate them in your life will be discussed. There will be various testimonials of people who have made the transformation from chronic and life-threatening sickness to vibrant health. Food preparation demos and sample meals of some delicious healthy diet recipes will be part of the workshop!
Our mission is to teach people about God’s natural laws for healing and health; show them how to attain and maintain optimal health while eliminating sickness and disease; and to influence them to adopt a healthier life; help them experience vibrant health by empowering the self healing body God created.
We encourage pre-registration so we can more accurately calculate the quantities of all ingredients needed for the food demos and hallelujah meals.
For inquiries, you may contact: Ms. Millet Buenafe: 0918 / 930-9690; 046 / 413-1419; cdcpcec@yahoo.com or Dr. Day T. Montano: 0917 / 551-4553; dltormo@yahoo.com
In case you would like to register in this event, do email me for the pre-registration form which I can immediately email you, or yes, the registration fee of Php 2,700.00 covers the workshop participation, hand-outs, 2 hallelujah lunches, a dinner and snacks. Overnight accommodation in the Christian Development Center cost an additional Php 300.00.
All the best ALLELUIA!
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Monday, October 06, 2008
Responses to the Matters at Hand & My responses
Allow me to share here what have been said about the blogs related to "Open Letter..." and "Text Brigade..." as well as my responses. They help clarify how others look at this matter. Happy reading.
1. Dear Fr. Bernie,
I am due to file my requirements soon to avail of the grandfather clause. Bakit nga ba hindi natin binigyan ng pansin yun APO accreditation ng PGCA. You have a very strong argument there. I wrote to ask permission to repost your blog on my multiply blog page?
Thank you for your prompt reply.
My reply:
Peace!
Thanks for your email. Yes, by all means, help us in letting everyone know the situation. It's high time all Guidance Counselors look into this matter because the PRBGC may have failed to do so (they're in their 70's, no blame for their age), and PGCA may have lorded things over everyone without the right basis. The generosity of the Grandfather's Clause may have been curtailed by the Grandmothers (di ba ganon din naman sa tunay na buhay? hehe). The Grandfather is written but it is the living Grandmothers who implement the testament hehe.
There is a text brigade going on and hope you read my blog again on that. I shall just polish it, and if it's alright with you, let me blog your request and your name will be kept confidential unless you yourself say so in your site. Your permission shall be sought when people want to know who wrote what? Hope that's fine with you.
By the way, what's your organizational affiliation - if you have one? IPCAP currently has RGC's from the following Guidance and Counseling-related organizations: PGCA, PACERS, PACC, GCC, FPCAP, CDAP, RGS, i.e., respectively: Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association, Philippine Association for Counselor Education, Research and Supervision, Philippine Association for Christian Counseling, Guidance Counseling Circle, Family and Pastoral Counselors Association of the Philippines, Career Development Association of the Philippines, and the Religious of the Good Shepherd (a congregation of nunns doing the community counseling, with particular specialty counseling for unwed mothers and premaritally impregnated women as their charism. I am a life member of PACERS and former President of the org until 2008 (two years). All the best and God bless
2. thanks for replying fast. thought your last name is gu. hehehe bern gu? i am affiliated with phil. assn of christian counselors where cesar cong and jane lee are colleagues. we were fellow pioneers of door of hope counseling resource center at medical plaza makati. uh -oh, i remember i have to renew my membership with pacc. well, i got my membership too with pgcs from their previous convention. kasi it was a "requirement" nga di ba to get one national convention from them, an accredited apo or so i thought. it's perfecty fine to blog my request in your page (sige, keep my name confidential).
shalom!
My response:
Please read my latest blog entry, and make sure you're healthy enough - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It challenges to action! God bless
3. hay. fr. berns, ako ay may ischemia. insignificant pa naman but nakakahigh blood yan text message na yan. i will post your open letter in my multiply links page and your subsequent links. i don't think this is a matter that we should just take lightly. it's obvious. pgca has to race to get APO hence the text brigade, because of the legal implications it entails. they certified the first two batches of counselors without the APO. nakakahiya. null and void yun di ba?
My response:
Hindi naman siguro. That would be too much. Magagalit na ang mga tao sa gawaing ganyan. Let us campaign for a more enlightened process kasi all these years things have been kept from the public eye. As members of this non-stock corporation, we have our obligation to monitor our officers. Especially now that we are in the age of professionalism. So di na me natatakot because this is the only way by which we can ensure that we have integrity. I've been told that the matters I blogged about this text brigade are public knowledge. The problem I have is that how come nothing has been done? (Or do the actions need public support and pressure to be effective? Or) Is this how apathetic our public is? And our government officials? I have always been of the belief that "evil thrives when good men do nothing." Di ba good ka? Let's do something. I have the evidences ... and I would not write about anything I only have nothing of. I don't like rumor mongering. And I still respect human dignity. Pero since nasimulan na, hala let's go until these matters are addressed to their resolution.
Thanks for your support. God bless
4. I forwarded your website to other counselors in Z... after reading your blog, I think I'll try for the Grandfather's Clause and get it done once and for all. I can't believe the PGCA made us think that they are the APO. I think we chose to believe it as well since we were all panicking to get our license we failed to stop and think...sandali lang recognized APO ba ang PGCA?...what were we thinking? We were too intent at getting our requirements ready...at least it's never too late...you wrote a very interesting and emotional blog. I'd be disappointed with the PGCA because they are claiming to be the APO...they all made us think that they are the recognized organization. I still have to read the rest of the blog in between classes. See you soon. Congratulats on your licensure oath taking. I'll work on mine this month.
My thoughts: Yes, PGCA was given the APO accreditation by PRC Resolution No. 292. The Board is legitimate. However, after the Board was appointed by GMA, the Board changed PGCA's nature as INTERIM APO which is different from the REAL APO, if the word REAL were to be invoked here. The problem came in when PGCA was not given the PRC Accreditation certificate and was not thereby allowed to pay the APO dues because of essential documentary flaws. Since it was given the PRC Resolution 292, PGCA should have used the time to correct these flaws, confronted itself and did some soul-searching. But what comes out is that it has acted out of some inordinate attachment for monetary gains and power-needs. The "right to ascendancy" appears to have enslaved them so that they failed to see more clearly the implications of their "service." If PGCA were to really seek the truth, it needs to see that it has bent itself too much, and maybe forcing itself to go beyond what it truly is capable. It may have transgressed its criteria for membership without consulting the whole body; it may have gone beyond bounds to accommodate for a long time what looks to be clearly deceit acted out of greed. In short, it failed to listen to what has been communicated to it. We are Counselors and we should be experts in listening well. We cannot allow ourselves to be shown that our ears have remained closed amidst the cries of truth and justice.
1. Dear Fr. Bernie,
I am due to file my requirements soon to avail of the grandfather clause. Bakit nga ba hindi natin binigyan ng pansin yun APO accreditation ng PGCA. You have a very strong argument there. I wrote to ask permission to repost your blog on my multiply blog page?
Thank you for your prompt reply.
My reply:
Peace!
Thanks for your email. Yes, by all means, help us in letting everyone know the situation. It's high time all Guidance Counselors look into this matter because the PRBGC may have failed to do so (they're in their 70's, no blame for their age), and PGCA may have lorded things over everyone without the right basis. The generosity of the Grandfather's Clause may have been curtailed by the Grandmothers (di ba ganon din naman sa tunay na buhay? hehe). The Grandfather is written but it is the living Grandmothers who implement the testament hehe.
There is a text brigade going on and hope you read my blog again on that. I shall just polish it, and if it's alright with you, let me blog your request and your name will be kept confidential unless you yourself say so in your site. Your permission shall be sought when people want to know who wrote what? Hope that's fine with you.
By the way, what's your organizational affiliation - if you have one? IPCAP currently has RGC's from the following Guidance and Counseling-related organizations: PGCA, PACERS, PACC, GCC, FPCAP, CDAP, RGS, i.e., respectively: Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association, Philippine Association for Counselor Education, Research and Supervision, Philippine Association for Christian Counseling, Guidance Counseling Circle, Family and Pastoral Counselors Association of the Philippines, Career Development Association of the Philippines, and the Religious of the Good Shepherd (a congregation of nunns doing the community counseling, with particular specialty counseling for unwed mothers and premaritally impregnated women as their charism. I am a life member of PACERS and former President of the org until 2008 (two years). All the best and God bless
2. thanks for replying fast. thought your last name is gu. hehehe bern gu? i am affiliated with phil. assn of christian counselors where cesar cong and jane lee are colleagues. we were fellow pioneers of door of hope counseling resource center at medical plaza makati. uh -oh, i remember i have to renew my membership with pacc. well, i got my membership too with pgcs from their previous convention. kasi it was a "requirement" nga di ba to get one national convention from them, an accredited apo or so i thought. it's perfecty fine to blog my request in your page (sige, keep my name confidential).
shalom!
My response:
Please read my latest blog entry, and make sure you're healthy enough - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It challenges to action! God bless
3. hay. fr. berns, ako ay may ischemia. insignificant pa naman but nakakahigh blood yan text message na yan. i will post your open letter in my multiply links page and your subsequent links. i don't think this is a matter that we should just take lightly. it's obvious. pgca has to race to get APO hence the text brigade, because of the legal implications it entails. they certified the first two batches of counselors without the APO. nakakahiya. null and void yun di ba?
My response:
Hindi naman siguro. That would be too much. Magagalit na ang mga tao sa gawaing ganyan. Let us campaign for a more enlightened process kasi all these years things have been kept from the public eye. As members of this non-stock corporation, we have our obligation to monitor our officers. Especially now that we are in the age of professionalism. So di na me natatakot because this is the only way by which we can ensure that we have integrity. I've been told that the matters I blogged about this text brigade are public knowledge. The problem I have is that how come nothing has been done? (Or do the actions need public support and pressure to be effective? Or) Is this how apathetic our public is? And our government officials? I have always been of the belief that "evil thrives when good men do nothing." Di ba good ka? Let's do something. I have the evidences ... and I would not write about anything I only have nothing of. I don't like rumor mongering. And I still respect human dignity. Pero since nasimulan na, hala let's go until these matters are addressed to their resolution.
Thanks for your support. God bless
4. I forwarded your website to other counselors in Z... after reading your blog, I think I'll try for the Grandfather's Clause and get it done once and for all. I can't believe the PGCA made us think that they are the APO. I think we chose to believe it as well since we were all panicking to get our license we failed to stop and think...sandali lang recognized APO ba ang PGCA?...what were we thinking? We were too intent at getting our requirements ready...at least it's never too late...you wrote a very interesting and emotional blog. I'd be disappointed with the PGCA because they are claiming to be the APO...they all made us think that they are the recognized organization. I still have to read the rest of the blog in between classes. See you soon. Congratulats on your licensure oath taking. I'll work on mine this month.
My thoughts: Yes, PGCA was given the APO accreditation by PRC Resolution No. 292. The Board is legitimate. However, after the Board was appointed by GMA, the Board changed PGCA's nature as INTERIM APO which is different from the REAL APO, if the word REAL were to be invoked here. The problem came in when PGCA was not given the PRC Accreditation certificate and was not thereby allowed to pay the APO dues because of essential documentary flaws. Since it was given the PRC Resolution 292, PGCA should have used the time to correct these flaws, confronted itself and did some soul-searching. But what comes out is that it has acted out of some inordinate attachment for monetary gains and power-needs. The "right to ascendancy" appears to have enslaved them so that they failed to see more clearly the implications of their "service." If PGCA were to really seek the truth, it needs to see that it has bent itself too much, and maybe forcing itself to go beyond what it truly is capable. It may have transgressed its criteria for membership without consulting the whole body; it may have gone beyond bounds to accommodate for a long time what looks to be clearly deceit acted out of greed. In short, it failed to listen to what has been communicated to it. We are Counselors and we should be experts in listening well. We cannot allow ourselves to be shown that our ears have remained closed amidst the cries of truth and justice.
New Features in this Blog
I would just like to thank those who've made it possible to know who, where and how many times this blog has been accessed. One of the IPCAP new members has taught me the trick: the use of the Live Traffic Monitor and the Hit Counter.
The Hit Counter sponsored by freelogs.com gives the number this site has been visited. Just for today, since this early morning when it was added, the Hit Counter (under "You are Visitor No.") I saw before blogging this entry was 177. I feel overwhelmed because it seems that this blog is serving the needs of these people in need of information, from the latest development about the profession in the Philippines, to the need for Counseling referral, to the list of new RGC's in the Philippines (Board Passers and Lolo's Clause licensees) and many more. So I feel thankful to the Lord for this technology which has become a resource of knowledge and refuge. Thanks talaga to you who helped me bring this technology into this site.
The Live Traffic Monitor sponsored by feedjit.com is even more informative about the data I would like to get regarding where the visitors come from and how many times this site has been visited as well as what particular blog entries have been visited for how so often. In this way, I get to infer what entries have been read most often. http://www.web-stat.com is one of the links to the Feedjit Live Traffic Map. Today's visitors came from UAE, Hongkong, Japan and the Philippines. While it doesn't give how many visited in terms of whole numbers, one gets a percentage reporting of the visitors in a certain area. I can see where the visitors from the Philippines are viewing this site. The map shows the province where the visitor comes from. And If I look closely, it should be possible to see the street where the visitor is reading this site. Can the satellite actually see the reader! Technological wonders indeed. Simply amazing!
Visitors from all over the world have been noted by the web statistics. Every one gets noted when was the last visit, how many visits have been done, when was the last time the visit was made, and how many are viewing this in one particular area. It says "2 visitors are stacked in this area." This really records the impact of this blog site at least in terms of readership. This world wide web stuff can really be very helpful.
So, welcome to this blog and enjoy it. If there is anything I can do for you, do contact me (Contact Information has the details). God bless and hope we continue to make Guidance and Counseling or Counseling Psychology something that can help even in the least way possible to the best way possible so that we all live in the light, empowered in the truth, and most of all strengthened in our dignity as beloved ones.
The Hit Counter sponsored by freelogs.com gives the number this site has been visited. Just for today, since this early morning when it was added, the Hit Counter (under "You are Visitor No.") I saw before blogging this entry was 177. I feel overwhelmed because it seems that this blog is serving the needs of these people in need of information, from the latest development about the profession in the Philippines, to the need for Counseling referral, to the list of new RGC's in the Philippines (Board Passers and Lolo's Clause licensees) and many more. So I feel thankful to the Lord for this technology which has become a resource of knowledge and refuge. Thanks talaga to you who helped me bring this technology into this site.
The Live Traffic Monitor sponsored by feedjit.com is even more informative about the data I would like to get regarding where the visitors come from and how many times this site has been visited as well as what particular blog entries have been visited for how so often. In this way, I get to infer what entries have been read most often. http://www.web-stat.com is one of the links to the Feedjit Live Traffic Map. Today's visitors came from UAE, Hongkong, Japan and the Philippines. While it doesn't give how many visited in terms of whole numbers, one gets a percentage reporting of the visitors in a certain area. I can see where the visitors from the Philippines are viewing this site. The map shows the province where the visitor comes from. And If I look closely, it should be possible to see the street where the visitor is reading this site. Can the satellite actually see the reader! Technological wonders indeed. Simply amazing!
Visitors from all over the world have been noted by the web statistics. Every one gets noted when was the last visit, how many visits have been done, when was the last time the visit was made, and how many are viewing this in one particular area. It says "2 visitors are stacked in this area." This really records the impact of this blog site at least in terms of readership. This world wide web stuff can really be very helpful.
So, welcome to this blog and enjoy it. If there is anything I can do for you, do contact me (Contact Information has the details). God bless and hope we continue to make Guidance and Counseling or Counseling Psychology something that can help even in the least way possible to the best way possible so that we all live in the light, empowered in the truth, and most of all strengthened in our dignity as beloved ones.
Text Brigade Going On
Have you received this text message? It reads: "IPCAP very actively campaigning for APO. Need you to have your friends and colleagues to write a letter to PRC Secretary Retired Justice Nicolas Lapena to endorse PGCA ASAP. Thanks"
This is the second time I was told about this text, the first one being last week (Monday or Tuesday?) and this latest was just yesterday, Sunday October 5, 2008 as I drove back from Tagaytay where I gave a marriage encounter weekend (hoy I am not [yet] married ha? aba, nag-eentertain pa pala? Haha pray for me to be faithful). The texter added in the text, saying:
"FATHER, I GOT THIS TEXT FROM A FRIEND. SHE SAID IT CAME FROM A PGCA OFFICER."
CAUTION:
Before you read the rest of this blog, please take note of the following:
1. The matter is strictly for mature and responsible adults only (di po 'to x-rated) because it can be very disturbing and calls for some appropriate action.
2. If you happen to belong to an organization either as member or officer, particularly any of the following: PGCA, PACERS, PACC, PAPSHP, GCC, CDAP, RGS, and FPCAP, please tell them your mind before your Presidents or anyone in your Boards dares to represent your take on the matters here without consulting you! I remember still clearly that in 2004, when PGMA was challenged to resign, the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) met at De La Salle, Greenhills and released a statement calling the President to resign. A certain religious community told its superior who attended the meeting that the said statement appeared to not reflect the sentiments of their community because when their community conducted a survey, majority of the members did not agree that GMA resigns. So be counted, and assert your right to be heard. Yes, talk about the text message you received and discuss with your friends and colleagues your ideas, in the light of the following matters.
Proceed!
Let it be clear that IPCAP has not petitioned the PRC to be accredited as the APO. So, the one (was that a PGCA Officer kamo?) who texted you has spread something that is not true. And just to remind that PGCA Officer who texted you, the IPCAP was endorsed to the SEC for registration by the PRC mismo or else IPCAP wouldn't have been certified by the SEC! IPCAP is a legitimate organization and what we at IPCAP are doing is to open the gates to ALL RGC's for membership and form this organization that shall embody what we truly are at this time that we are governed under the law, the Republic Act No. 9258 or the "Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004."
We are PGCA Members
In requiring all who have been given the license under the R.A. 9258's Grandfather's Clause (Sec. 14) to become a PGCA member, the Rules and Regulations of RA No. 9258 has made us all "captive" now in PGCA. How many RGC's are we now? Our latest count at the IPCAP is 885, including those 84 who have passed the first licensure exams last Aug. 21-22, 2008. Simple mathematics tells us that the PRBGC has licensed for three batches in one year's time only 801! What PGCA did is something that they should even account for: WHY DID THEY BRING US IN WITHOUT OUR CONSENT? Payment of dues was not within our consent because we were constrained to follow the law. But the interpretation of the law appears to be really questionable, and smacks of favoritism by the two members of the PRBGC who are PGCA members!
I have just talked with Dr. Luz Guzman, and have "ventilated" (she used this word to describe my manner of presenting the matter) the following:
The requirement for certificate of active membership and good moral character from (APO) to be issued by the President and two other officers - while a prerogative of the Board - may have effectively flushed out many who have not been able to attend conventions through the years (like the emailer I blogged about, remember?). I do remember that for the first batch, this was absolutely required!
What was required? To get a certificate of active membership, one ought to have had attended two PGCA events, one national and one local. By national refers to either a PGCA Convention (usually in May) or Midyear (Usually October therabouts), while the "local" referred to any PGCA Local Chapter-held event. Of course many complained and failed to meet this requirement because there are more practicing Guidance Counselors who are NOT MEMBERS of PGCA, and there are many places all over the country without a PGCA Local Chapter, and thereby were FORCED to become one. See POWER AT WORK! Good, because this was corrected in the 2nd and 3rd batches. I remember having bargained in one of the IPCAP meetings which sounded like a consensus area, that participation in other Guidance Counseling-related organizations' events, e.g., PACERS National Convention or Midyear, the PACC Seminars, should suffice as having complied with the "local" requirement. That's how many made it to get their certificates of active membership and GMC - from PGCA! We were allowed to attend one PGCA (for national) and one other Guidance & Counseling-related organization's event (as local) to indicate active membership. But remember, this requirement is not in Sec. 14. What Sec. 14 wants to be generous about is ACTUAL PRACTICE! And sometimes, actual practice does not mean getting rich enough to pay and attend conventions. And dami nating pro bono counseling exposures that can drain our pockets.
Eto pa! The requirement in the law, Sec. 14 which the Rules and Regulations of the law has stipulated states: "that the 18 units shall have been completed on/or before March 2004" - remember that provision? - led to the proliferation of summer classes and lots of catching up by the succeeding applicants for the Grandfather's Clause to get those required units. I know of many who made the schools richer by attending those classes for the 18 units required and were given the PRC ID. If anyone would like the law followed strictly and to the letter, many would not make it having a PRC ID as RGC, in all fairness! But why would PRC and the Board do that when those licenses were theirs to grant in the first place and I know they have looked into our requirements qite meticulously! But of course, without having given such concessions, how many should there have been licensed now in three batches? Even someone I know who got her PhD sometime after the date stipulated in 2004 was given the license! Is this the case of "it matters WHOM you know, not WHAT you know." Malakas! But I'm not complaining.
For this last batch of oath-takers, I would like to further bargain that this provision should not be imposed any longer! Why? Buking na ang PGCA na di siya APO! In short, there is no APO from where we can get the required certificates! Yes, PGCA is INTERIM, and the task of the REAL APO should not be given to the INTERIM APO. In this period of the Grandfather, i.e., INTERIM period, we need to reckon with the fact that the law (RA 9258 Sec. 14) NEVER REQUIRED ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP in any organization. (How many times must I harp on this point!) The Good Moral Character is already evident in the Barangay Captain's certificate of Good Moral Character, the Parish Priest's/Pastor's/Imam's Certificate of Good Moral Character, the employer's certificate of good moral character. Yes, since these people may not be privy to private matters of the applicant, therefore the NBI and the Ombudsman were added evidences of good moral standing, i.e., the applicant shall not have or be suffering from moral turpitude. All of these are in fulfillment of the requirements stipulated in Sec. 13[b] of the RR and the RA 9258! Therefore, I apologize for writing this thought aloud, but I overheard this said way back 2007 pa pero di ako naniwala: the PGCA certificates of good moral character and active membership appears to be a fund-raising strategy to boost its chances of gaining the APO-hood.
Now, it was only lately, as I studied this regulatory law on the practice of Guidance and Counseling here in the Philippines, that I stumbled upon at the PRC website the PRC Resolution No. 132 Series of 2003, which requires all who are to take the Board exams to secure from any Professional in one's field this certificate of Good Moral Character. Remember, it's not from an organization! The Rules and Regulations of R.A. 9258 promulgated by the Board NEVER REQUIRED this from the Board Examinees! Much less was it required from PGCA! Di ba under the control and supervision ang PRBGC by the PRC? What is this evidence of? I bet the PRC needs to look into itself and the way it runs things! It failed to show the PRBGC this PRC Resolution! And the PRBGC may have acted either in ignorance of this particular Resolution, or, hopefully not, against such Resolution! Ignorance excuses no one, says the pundit, but rebellion and insubordination shall never stop those under the PRBGC from emulating! Di ba ganon 'to? Modeling! But sorry, and sadly, it's poor modeling! Kawawang Guidance and Counseling profession. Hence, I am trying my best to point to all these kinks we need to iron out!
Now, PGCA is texting people to endorse PGCA to PRC as APO. Isn't this the best evidence of admission that indeed it is not APO! After the thousands we have given it, they are telling us that they were not the APO pala? Hah! What a strategy! Naloko kaya tayo, and this is something PGCA, the Board and PRC should account for! Or nagpaloko kaya tayo? The only consolation I have is the fact that at least PGCA has funds to really promote the profession! It should do so because we paid them for it! Imagine the hotel meals they spend when they meet as a Board! They get paid for every Board meeting. P700 na ba per meeting? Mayaman na si Mama! Kaya halika na, sama na tayo ke Mama!
In the race to the APO-hood, PGCA is llamado because every one of the 885 RGC's are all PGCA members! Many are members of other organizations too, and all sum up to 885. But what about those among us who are not as cash-filled as some of us are? There were those who made utangs here and utangs there only to comply. Pero kapos pa rin ang bilang natin. Di pa tayo umabot ng 1,000. Imagine, the last two PGCA National Conventions were both blockbusters, like a pregnant woman about to give birth. Bundat talaga sa dami natin noon. Why should their non-participation in conferences penalize them from getting the coveted PRC ID as RGC for the fourth and last batch? Dr. Guzman herself knows of many cases who simply have no time to comply due to their taxing job demands. I pray the PRBGC and the PRC really look into this motu proprio! The PGCA won't say anything on this matter because it stands to lose the membership and participation fees we will have to spend!
Kakapagod no? Kakalungkot kamo! Nakakapanlumo talaga!
Eto pa: Yes, PGCA AS APO, if they get the accreditation certificate from PRC this time!
Let me now blog in here the letter IN FULL, a part of which I cited before in my previous blog entitled "Open Letter to fellow Guidance Counselors." I know marami ang nabitin about it, even asking in their minds where I got it! Go and check it yourself with the PGCA Office (see their website for the address and phone number). Baka naman sabihin ninyo na tsismis lang yan! If PGCA were to be the APO, it is OUR organization! Our ignorance does not excuse us, the pundits say, di ba? And the PGCA Boards (before, now and in the future) should not continue with the practice of hiding things from the members, or appear favoring its friends. Kawawa naman ang di nila kilala or di pa nagiging kaibigan! Let's be professional! The matters in PGCA, particularly those you will read in here are NOT COUNSELING ISSUES covered under the CONFIDENTIALITY CLAUSE of the Counseling profession! We have every right to know this and to effect the right solutions to these problems. The intensity of the reasonability and necessity of this exposition here is due to the fact that years have passed and these ones appear to have not been fully resolved! So, if those whom we have elected have failed, maybe our knowledge will keep these from happening again! So, before you read this, please remember that after reading, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION! Don't allow yourself to be a bystander. Makialam ka! It's our profession now! And yes, KUNG WALA KANG PAKIALAM DITO, WAG MO NA ITO BASAHIN! Para lang ito sa mga professional ang gawi.
I am not intending to destroy PGCA as some would like to believe or accuse me of, especially those whose ways will be unveiled, ala projected guilt. To tell you honestly, if I were to mention here what Jesus said in Scriptures, "Unless you reform, you shall go their way" (referring to Corazin and Bethsaida, and Capernaum).
I would just like to have an APO that is really capable of doing what is right to friend and foe alike, consistently, professionally, conscientiously. I hope I am acting in the spirit of justice here. If anyone has an answer to these matters below, do please let us know about them, specially about their developments. I really hope we enter into the stage where the APO is one we can all call our own and not simply the legacy of the older ones, or because it is the largest. The criteria for APO rest not in these concerns. It is even best that there is INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY (di ba ito ang theme ng upcoming PGCA Midyear in Cagayan de Oro this October 2008?) in the PGCA, not just in the REAL APO but also in each one of us. Let's make ourselves advocates of transparency and good governance for as Guidance Counselors, we are charged with affecting our clients in helping free the Philippine society from corruption and shady living.
In Family Therapy, one of the principles I've learned and have seen to be very crucial to a positive therapeutic outcome (experiential though undocumented), is knowledge about the family patterns. The more the client family or its members know about these patterns, the better for them in terms of making a choice whether to let these continue or not. The power of choice becomes more intense when one clearly knows about the options! Living in the light is really good, while living in the dark excuses no one from seeking the light. In our latest PGCA National Convention in May 2008, di ba nagkagulo tayo about the non-turnover by the previous PGCA Treasurer? Dr. Nuval was our heroine then! Pero wala pa ring effect! Maybe by letting us know about the following, may we have a better knowledge and act better next time, something we can do whether in PGCA or in other organizations, including the IPCAP! So, eto na!
"July 26, 2007
Dear Dr. Ho,
This is to request for your written explanation on the issues raised in Board Resolution No. 05 (2007-08) dated July 12, 2007. Hereunder are the issues:
1. The title of Unit 1204 Medical Plaza Ortigas, 25 San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City has not been turned over to the Board despite demand;
2. The PGCA Application for accreditation as professional organization at the Professional Regulation Commission is pending due to the submission of the Constitution of 1969 which is not the one in force, as it has already been amended;
3. The dollar time deposit Account No. A218148 in the amount of $1,048.44 and accrued interest in PNB-Diliman Campus was closed by a board resolution dated September 28, 2004 with only five signatories which falls short of the majority (See Attachment A)
4. The unliquidated cash advance in the amount of Php50,000 of Geraldine cavaneyro, former Secretary of PGCA, which you assumed as your accountability has not been fully paid (See Attachment B)
5. There are letters from some members raising issues on your behavior and conduct (See Attachment C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6.)
Please submit your reply within seventy two hours upon receipt of this letter.
Very truly yours,
Sgd. Ms. Maria Lourdes L. Chavez
Secretary
Noted
Sgd. Dr. Rosa Maria I. Llanes
President
UPCOMING CONCERNS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
1. As regards the CONDO TITLE, the Board was given one which needs to be audited and scrutinized. Dr. Luz Guzman mentioned to me that Dr. Villar managed to get the real one last Friday - Oct. 3? How I hope the PGCA website will have uploaded a pdf of this title so that we can for ourselves see the veracity of this matter which has been delayed for how many years - 5 years? - and not just cajole us into believing that this matter has been resolved. And of curse, explanations from the persons responsible, I believe Dr. Villar is not the one I mean here about: (a) What took it so long? Whoever has caused this delay needs also to account for the fact that at the moment since the time it was bought with P1.2M, PGCA has accrued expenses, including the current expenses for an office which should not have been its office in the first place if this CONDO TITLE were turned over soonest. Talk of ACCOUNTABILITY in the upcoming midyear? This is it! (b) Why are there two receipts to this title - one for P1.2M and one for P1.6M? Oh c'mon, the Board knows all of these because we all saw this at the IPCAP Meetings last year. Again, this is not to destroy PGCA nor anybody. This revelation is only to ensure that we don't have an APO that is saddled with such problems, or a future PRBGC Member or Chair who will hoodwink us in corrupt ways! Or another problem like this in the future. If we don't solve this matter, history has a free space to repeat itself because there is no watch dog!
2. As regards the PNB UP-Campus DOLLAR ACCOUNT, the Board Resolution to close it does not have reasons for closing it. All the Resolution states is the fact that indeed PGCA has that account in PNB UP-Campus, and that in a regular meeting of PGCA Board of Directors on Sept. 28,n 2004 at the UP College of Education Rm. 107, it was resolved that it be closed. Ganon lang!? The Resolution carries with it the following signatories: Annabelle Sangalang (Secretary), Zenaida Lapitan-Garcia (Treasurer), Ann Marie Sunga Vargas (Vice-President), and Ligaya de Guzman (Asst. Treasurer). Dr. Leticia Ho signed also as President. Five signatories they were against the following who DID NOT SIGN: Grace Agustin (Auditor), Efrea Uy (PRO), Josefina Donato (Board of Director), Editha A. Peñano (Asst. Secretary), Maripaz Ortiz (Business Manager) and Amparo de Guzman (Board of Director). The Resolution was subscribed and sworn before a lawyer on Oct. 1, 2004. One sees that indeed, there was NO MAJORITY, and yet it prevailed!
The withdrawal of the Dollar Account was also coursed through a Board Resolution (again undated, napansin nyo ba?) by no less than the same persons, and also UNSIGNED by the same persons, and also subscribed and sworn before a lawyer on the same day. And yes, also by a non-majority and yet prevailed! Lakas talaga!
3. As regards the unliquidated P50,000, has it been paid? Why not? Are there any interests accrued to that too? Buhay pa kaya ako pag nabayaran na ito? What is keeping PGCA from pursuing this? There are now courts in the land for claiming debts P50K and below, which do not need lawyers! C'mon, PGCA wake up! It's high time PGCA funds are well accounted for! In the words of one good RGC I know, "when anyone in the Board uses the money of the organization, such is no longer a matter of personal concern so that former Presidents become at odds with one another. It is a moral problem!"
Okey, let PGCA be APO. Why not?
But with these matters unaudited, will it stand the PRC scrutiny? Let's not put ourselves into shame. We've had it once already when the poor Dr. Llanes was shown the PGCA's inability to qualify as APO last year! Believe you, it ached to be told ALL YOU HAVE IS THE LAW! - the you here referring to PGCA. Let me state that in my readings on the legislative history of the law, PGCA was there indeed for the House and the Senate deliberations. And the PAP was represented well too. But what we have now is not a PGCA Law! Bawal ang class legislation!
Let us have an ACCOUNTABLE APO, one which has integrity and clarity of purpose, hindi dahil paborito siya ni Lola. Let PGCA, and the PRBGC then account for its actions in hoarding us all into PGCA while these matters remain unsolved. Let the present Treasurer Dr. Alexa Abrenica do her job! Let the P1,500 we paid for the Oath Taking be accounted for and audited because that's the way it should be! Let's follow the law, or else, no one may have the right to accuse others for not following the law later. Remember the woman caught in adultery - "You who have no sin, cast the first stone."
I have not cast the first stone. I am not sinless like the Blessed Virgin Mary. I am just helping everyone of us in our discernment about this matter. We have been texted to, and we need to respond! I have told Dr. Llanes and Dr. Villar prior to IPCAP's registration process that began in June 2008 - imagine ang tagal nating hinintay ito kasi I respected PGCA's "right of ascendancy to APO-hood" - if PGCA can make it, GO! But if PGCA cannot make it, why should the profession suffer? The Profession of Guidance and Counseling in the Philippines CANNOT STAND HAVING NO APO. So, let not PGCA stand in the way! With all these in the light, and meron pa po! Please PGCA, let's do something. Let's keep everyone knowledgeable about these things so that nobody will do it again. Di ba may problema din about a bank account the amount of which was not turned over to the Board? Why has the Board allowed it to happen? This is one of the patterns which we need to ensure won't happen again! Shall PGCA send to the PRC unaudited financial reports for the past three years, like it did in 2005?
Haay talagang nakakapagod ito!
Where goest thee,
my Guidance and Counseling profession in the Philippines
but to the halls of reform, transparency and integrity
without which we are like horned creatures
fighting in the dark, enslaved in our unrepenting ways!
God save us all!
This is the second time I was told about this text, the first one being last week (Monday or Tuesday?) and this latest was just yesterday, Sunday October 5, 2008 as I drove back from Tagaytay where I gave a marriage encounter weekend (hoy I am not [yet] married ha? aba, nag-eentertain pa pala? Haha pray for me to be faithful). The texter added in the text, saying:
"FATHER, I GOT THIS TEXT FROM A FRIEND. SHE SAID IT CAME FROM A PGCA OFFICER."
CAUTION:
Before you read the rest of this blog, please take note of the following:
1. The matter is strictly for mature and responsible adults only (di po 'to x-rated) because it can be very disturbing and calls for some appropriate action.
2. If you happen to belong to an organization either as member or officer, particularly any of the following: PGCA, PACERS, PACC, PAPSHP, GCC, CDAP, RGS, and FPCAP, please tell them your mind before your Presidents or anyone in your Boards dares to represent your take on the matters here without consulting you! I remember still clearly that in 2004, when PGMA was challenged to resign, the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) met at De La Salle, Greenhills and released a statement calling the President to resign. A certain religious community told its superior who attended the meeting that the said statement appeared to not reflect the sentiments of their community because when their community conducted a survey, majority of the members did not agree that GMA resigns. So be counted, and assert your right to be heard. Yes, talk about the text message you received and discuss with your friends and colleagues your ideas, in the light of the following matters.
Proceed!
Let it be clear that IPCAP has not petitioned the PRC to be accredited as the APO. So, the one (was that a PGCA Officer kamo?) who texted you has spread something that is not true. And just to remind that PGCA Officer who texted you, the IPCAP was endorsed to the SEC for registration by the PRC mismo or else IPCAP wouldn't have been certified by the SEC! IPCAP is a legitimate organization and what we at IPCAP are doing is to open the gates to ALL RGC's for membership and form this organization that shall embody what we truly are at this time that we are governed under the law, the Republic Act No. 9258 or the "Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004."
We are PGCA Members
In requiring all who have been given the license under the R.A. 9258's Grandfather's Clause (Sec. 14) to become a PGCA member, the Rules and Regulations of RA No. 9258 has made us all "captive" now in PGCA. How many RGC's are we now? Our latest count at the IPCAP is 885, including those 84 who have passed the first licensure exams last Aug. 21-22, 2008. Simple mathematics tells us that the PRBGC has licensed for three batches in one year's time only 801! What PGCA did is something that they should even account for: WHY DID THEY BRING US IN WITHOUT OUR CONSENT? Payment of dues was not within our consent because we were constrained to follow the law. But the interpretation of the law appears to be really questionable, and smacks of favoritism by the two members of the PRBGC who are PGCA members!
I have just talked with Dr. Luz Guzman, and have "ventilated" (she used this word to describe my manner of presenting the matter) the following:
The requirement for certificate of active membership and good moral character from (APO) to be issued by the President and two other officers - while a prerogative of the Board - may have effectively flushed out many who have not been able to attend conventions through the years (like the emailer I blogged about, remember?). I do remember that for the first batch, this was absolutely required!
What was required? To get a certificate of active membership, one ought to have had attended two PGCA events, one national and one local. By national refers to either a PGCA Convention (usually in May) or Midyear (Usually October therabouts), while the "local" referred to any PGCA Local Chapter-held event. Of course many complained and failed to meet this requirement because there are more practicing Guidance Counselors who are NOT MEMBERS of PGCA, and there are many places all over the country without a PGCA Local Chapter, and thereby were FORCED to become one. See POWER AT WORK! Good, because this was corrected in the 2nd and 3rd batches. I remember having bargained in one of the IPCAP meetings which sounded like a consensus area, that participation in other Guidance Counseling-related organizations' events, e.g., PACERS National Convention or Midyear, the PACC Seminars, should suffice as having complied with the "local" requirement. That's how many made it to get their certificates of active membership and GMC - from PGCA! We were allowed to attend one PGCA (for national) and one other Guidance & Counseling-related organization's event (as local) to indicate active membership. But remember, this requirement is not in Sec. 14. What Sec. 14 wants to be generous about is ACTUAL PRACTICE! And sometimes, actual practice does not mean getting rich enough to pay and attend conventions. And dami nating pro bono counseling exposures that can drain our pockets.
Eto pa! The requirement in the law, Sec. 14 which the Rules and Regulations of the law has stipulated states: "that the 18 units shall have been completed on/or before March 2004" - remember that provision? - led to the proliferation of summer classes and lots of catching up by the succeeding applicants for the Grandfather's Clause to get those required units. I know of many who made the schools richer by attending those classes for the 18 units required and were given the PRC ID. If anyone would like the law followed strictly and to the letter, many would not make it having a PRC ID as RGC, in all fairness! But why would PRC and the Board do that when those licenses were theirs to grant in the first place and I know they have looked into our requirements qite meticulously! But of course, without having given such concessions, how many should there have been licensed now in three batches? Even someone I know who got her PhD sometime after the date stipulated in 2004 was given the license! Is this the case of "it matters WHOM you know, not WHAT you know." Malakas! But I'm not complaining.
For this last batch of oath-takers, I would like to further bargain that this provision should not be imposed any longer! Why? Buking na ang PGCA na di siya APO! In short, there is no APO from where we can get the required certificates! Yes, PGCA is INTERIM, and the task of the REAL APO should not be given to the INTERIM APO. In this period of the Grandfather, i.e., INTERIM period, we need to reckon with the fact that the law (RA 9258 Sec. 14) NEVER REQUIRED ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP in any organization. (How many times must I harp on this point!) The Good Moral Character is already evident in the Barangay Captain's certificate of Good Moral Character, the Parish Priest's/Pastor's/Imam's Certificate of Good Moral Character, the employer's certificate of good moral character. Yes, since these people may not be privy to private matters of the applicant, therefore the NBI and the Ombudsman were added evidences of good moral standing, i.e., the applicant shall not have or be suffering from moral turpitude. All of these are in fulfillment of the requirements stipulated in Sec. 13[b] of the RR and the RA 9258! Therefore, I apologize for writing this thought aloud, but I overheard this said way back 2007 pa pero di ako naniwala: the PGCA certificates of good moral character and active membership appears to be a fund-raising strategy to boost its chances of gaining the APO-hood.
Now, it was only lately, as I studied this regulatory law on the practice of Guidance and Counseling here in the Philippines, that I stumbled upon at the PRC website the PRC Resolution No. 132 Series of 2003, which requires all who are to take the Board exams to secure from any Professional in one's field this certificate of Good Moral Character. Remember, it's not from an organization! The Rules and Regulations of R.A. 9258 promulgated by the Board NEVER REQUIRED this from the Board Examinees! Much less was it required from PGCA! Di ba under the control and supervision ang PRBGC by the PRC? What is this evidence of? I bet the PRC needs to look into itself and the way it runs things! It failed to show the PRBGC this PRC Resolution! And the PRBGC may have acted either in ignorance of this particular Resolution, or, hopefully not, against such Resolution! Ignorance excuses no one, says the pundit, but rebellion and insubordination shall never stop those under the PRBGC from emulating! Di ba ganon 'to? Modeling! But sorry, and sadly, it's poor modeling! Kawawang Guidance and Counseling profession. Hence, I am trying my best to point to all these kinks we need to iron out!
Now, PGCA is texting people to endorse PGCA to PRC as APO. Isn't this the best evidence of admission that indeed it is not APO! After the thousands we have given it, they are telling us that they were not the APO pala? Hah! What a strategy! Naloko kaya tayo, and this is something PGCA, the Board and PRC should account for! Or nagpaloko kaya tayo? The only consolation I have is the fact that at least PGCA has funds to really promote the profession! It should do so because we paid them for it! Imagine the hotel meals they spend when they meet as a Board! They get paid for every Board meeting. P700 na ba per meeting? Mayaman na si Mama! Kaya halika na, sama na tayo ke Mama!
In the race to the APO-hood, PGCA is llamado because every one of the 885 RGC's are all PGCA members! Many are members of other organizations too, and all sum up to 885. But what about those among us who are not as cash-filled as some of us are? There were those who made utangs here and utangs there only to comply. Pero kapos pa rin ang bilang natin. Di pa tayo umabot ng 1,000. Imagine, the last two PGCA National Conventions were both blockbusters, like a pregnant woman about to give birth. Bundat talaga sa dami natin noon. Why should their non-participation in conferences penalize them from getting the coveted PRC ID as RGC for the fourth and last batch? Dr. Guzman herself knows of many cases who simply have no time to comply due to their taxing job demands. I pray the PRBGC and the PRC really look into this motu proprio! The PGCA won't say anything on this matter because it stands to lose the membership and participation fees we will have to spend!
Kakapagod no? Kakalungkot kamo! Nakakapanlumo talaga!
Eto pa: Yes, PGCA AS APO, if they get the accreditation certificate from PRC this time!
Let me now blog in here the letter IN FULL, a part of which I cited before in my previous blog entitled "Open Letter to fellow Guidance Counselors." I know marami ang nabitin about it, even asking in their minds where I got it! Go and check it yourself with the PGCA Office (see their website for the address and phone number). Baka naman sabihin ninyo na tsismis lang yan! If PGCA were to be the APO, it is OUR organization! Our ignorance does not excuse us, the pundits say, di ba? And the PGCA Boards (before, now and in the future) should not continue with the practice of hiding things from the members, or appear favoring its friends. Kawawa naman ang di nila kilala or di pa nagiging kaibigan! Let's be professional! The matters in PGCA, particularly those you will read in here are NOT COUNSELING ISSUES covered under the CONFIDENTIALITY CLAUSE of the Counseling profession! We have every right to know this and to effect the right solutions to these problems. The intensity of the reasonability and necessity of this exposition here is due to the fact that years have passed and these ones appear to have not been fully resolved! So, if those whom we have elected have failed, maybe our knowledge will keep these from happening again! So, before you read this, please remember that after reading, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION! Don't allow yourself to be a bystander. Makialam ka! It's our profession now! And yes, KUNG WALA KANG PAKIALAM DITO, WAG MO NA ITO BASAHIN! Para lang ito sa mga professional ang gawi.
I am not intending to destroy PGCA as some would like to believe or accuse me of, especially those whose ways will be unveiled, ala projected guilt. To tell you honestly, if I were to mention here what Jesus said in Scriptures, "Unless you reform, you shall go their way" (referring to Corazin and Bethsaida, and Capernaum).
I would just like to have an APO that is really capable of doing what is right to friend and foe alike, consistently, professionally, conscientiously. I hope I am acting in the spirit of justice here. If anyone has an answer to these matters below, do please let us know about them, specially about their developments. I really hope we enter into the stage where the APO is one we can all call our own and not simply the legacy of the older ones, or because it is the largest. The criteria for APO rest not in these concerns. It is even best that there is INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY (di ba ito ang theme ng upcoming PGCA Midyear in Cagayan de Oro this October 2008?) in the PGCA, not just in the REAL APO but also in each one of us. Let's make ourselves advocates of transparency and good governance for as Guidance Counselors, we are charged with affecting our clients in helping free the Philippine society from corruption and shady living.
In Family Therapy, one of the principles I've learned and have seen to be very crucial to a positive therapeutic outcome (experiential though undocumented), is knowledge about the family patterns. The more the client family or its members know about these patterns, the better for them in terms of making a choice whether to let these continue or not. The power of choice becomes more intense when one clearly knows about the options! Living in the light is really good, while living in the dark excuses no one from seeking the light. In our latest PGCA National Convention in May 2008, di ba nagkagulo tayo about the non-turnover by the previous PGCA Treasurer? Dr. Nuval was our heroine then! Pero wala pa ring effect! Maybe by letting us know about the following, may we have a better knowledge and act better next time, something we can do whether in PGCA or in other organizations, including the IPCAP! So, eto na!
"July 26, 2007
Dear Dr. Ho,
This is to request for your written explanation on the issues raised in Board Resolution No. 05 (2007-08) dated July 12, 2007. Hereunder are the issues:
1. The title of Unit 1204 Medical Plaza Ortigas, 25 San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City has not been turned over to the Board despite demand;
2. The PGCA Application for accreditation as professional organization at the Professional Regulation Commission is pending due to the submission of the Constitution of 1969 which is not the one in force, as it has already been amended;
3. The dollar time deposit Account No. A218148 in the amount of $1,048.44 and accrued interest in PNB-Diliman Campus was closed by a board resolution dated September 28, 2004 with only five signatories which falls short of the majority (See Attachment A)
4. The unliquidated cash advance in the amount of Php50,000 of Geraldine cavaneyro, former Secretary of PGCA, which you assumed as your accountability has not been fully paid (See Attachment B)
5. There are letters from some members raising issues on your behavior and conduct (See Attachment C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6.)
Please submit your reply within seventy two hours upon receipt of this letter.
Very truly yours,
Sgd. Ms. Maria Lourdes L. Chavez
Secretary
Noted
Sgd. Dr. Rosa Maria I. Llanes
President
UPCOMING CONCERNS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
1. As regards the CONDO TITLE, the Board was given one which needs to be audited and scrutinized. Dr. Luz Guzman mentioned to me that Dr. Villar managed to get the real one last Friday - Oct. 3? How I hope the PGCA website will have uploaded a pdf of this title so that we can for ourselves see the veracity of this matter which has been delayed for how many years - 5 years? - and not just cajole us into believing that this matter has been resolved. And of curse, explanations from the persons responsible, I believe Dr. Villar is not the one I mean here about: (a) What took it so long? Whoever has caused this delay needs also to account for the fact that at the moment since the time it was bought with P1.2M, PGCA has accrued expenses, including the current expenses for an office which should not have been its office in the first place if this CONDO TITLE were turned over soonest. Talk of ACCOUNTABILITY in the upcoming midyear? This is it! (b) Why are there two receipts to this title - one for P1.2M and one for P1.6M? Oh c'mon, the Board knows all of these because we all saw this at the IPCAP Meetings last year. Again, this is not to destroy PGCA nor anybody. This revelation is only to ensure that we don't have an APO that is saddled with such problems, or a future PRBGC Member or Chair who will hoodwink us in corrupt ways! Or another problem like this in the future. If we don't solve this matter, history has a free space to repeat itself because there is no watch dog!
2. As regards the PNB UP-Campus DOLLAR ACCOUNT, the Board Resolution to close it does not have reasons for closing it. All the Resolution states is the fact that indeed PGCA has that account in PNB UP-Campus, and that in a regular meeting of PGCA Board of Directors on Sept. 28,n 2004 at the UP College of Education Rm. 107, it was resolved that it be closed. Ganon lang!? The Resolution carries with it the following signatories: Annabelle Sangalang (Secretary), Zenaida Lapitan-Garcia (Treasurer), Ann Marie Sunga Vargas (Vice-President), and Ligaya de Guzman (Asst. Treasurer). Dr. Leticia Ho signed also as President. Five signatories they were against the following who DID NOT SIGN: Grace Agustin (Auditor), Efrea Uy (PRO), Josefina Donato (Board of Director), Editha A. Peñano (Asst. Secretary), Maripaz Ortiz (Business Manager) and Amparo de Guzman (Board of Director). The Resolution was subscribed and sworn before a lawyer on Oct. 1, 2004. One sees that indeed, there was NO MAJORITY, and yet it prevailed!
The withdrawal of the Dollar Account was also coursed through a Board Resolution (again undated, napansin nyo ba?) by no less than the same persons, and also UNSIGNED by the same persons, and also subscribed and sworn before a lawyer on the same day. And yes, also by a non-majority and yet prevailed! Lakas talaga!
3. As regards the unliquidated P50,000, has it been paid? Why not? Are there any interests accrued to that too? Buhay pa kaya ako pag nabayaran na ito? What is keeping PGCA from pursuing this? There are now courts in the land for claiming debts P50K and below, which do not need lawyers! C'mon, PGCA wake up! It's high time PGCA funds are well accounted for! In the words of one good RGC I know, "when anyone in the Board uses the money of the organization, such is no longer a matter of personal concern so that former Presidents become at odds with one another. It is a moral problem!"
Okey, let PGCA be APO. Why not?
But with these matters unaudited, will it stand the PRC scrutiny? Let's not put ourselves into shame. We've had it once already when the poor Dr. Llanes was shown the PGCA's inability to qualify as APO last year! Believe you, it ached to be told ALL YOU HAVE IS THE LAW! - the you here referring to PGCA. Let me state that in my readings on the legislative history of the law, PGCA was there indeed for the House and the Senate deliberations. And the PAP was represented well too. But what we have now is not a PGCA Law! Bawal ang class legislation!
Let us have an ACCOUNTABLE APO, one which has integrity and clarity of purpose, hindi dahil paborito siya ni Lola. Let PGCA, and the PRBGC then account for its actions in hoarding us all into PGCA while these matters remain unsolved. Let the present Treasurer Dr. Alexa Abrenica do her job! Let the P1,500 we paid for the Oath Taking be accounted for and audited because that's the way it should be! Let's follow the law, or else, no one may have the right to accuse others for not following the law later. Remember the woman caught in adultery - "You who have no sin, cast the first stone."
I have not cast the first stone. I am not sinless like the Blessed Virgin Mary. I am just helping everyone of us in our discernment about this matter. We have been texted to, and we need to respond! I have told Dr. Llanes and Dr. Villar prior to IPCAP's registration process that began in June 2008 - imagine ang tagal nating hinintay ito kasi I respected PGCA's "right of ascendancy to APO-hood" - if PGCA can make it, GO! But if PGCA cannot make it, why should the profession suffer? The Profession of Guidance and Counseling in the Philippines CANNOT STAND HAVING NO APO. So, let not PGCA stand in the way! With all these in the light, and meron pa po! Please PGCA, let's do something. Let's keep everyone knowledgeable about these things so that nobody will do it again. Di ba may problema din about a bank account the amount of which was not turned over to the Board? Why has the Board allowed it to happen? This is one of the patterns which we need to ensure won't happen again! Shall PGCA send to the PRC unaudited financial reports for the past three years, like it did in 2005?
Haay talagang nakakapagod ito!
Where goest thee,
my Guidance and Counseling profession in the Philippines
but to the halls of reform, transparency and integrity
without which we are like horned creatures
fighting in the dark, enslaved in our unrepenting ways!
God save us all!
Friday, October 03, 2008
Reply ng Emailer
In the R.A. No. 9258, membership in the APO is automatic. BUT PGCA IS NOT THE APO. It is the Interim APO. The law says nothing about the interim APO. It does not even use that status in official documents. Ergo, automatic membership should not be imposed on us! The emailer has provided us the following added information:
Dear Fr. Bernie,
Happy Feast of our Guardian Angels!
I slept very late last night reading your blog. I salute you for that courage to SEARCH and SPEAK the truth! I tried also to think that if PGCA is accredited by PRC how about the other Association of Counselors? Are they not qualified to apply for such accreditation so that the members can ask Certificate of Good Moral Character and Certificate of Membership directly from them?
On the other hand, I am inclined to agree with your proposal that active membership will be demanded after the release of the License in fairness to other associations. Updating will be then part of the requirements in the renewal of such License.
This morning I went to PRC to ask for the application form for registration without examination. I asked the Lady in the office, how about if I am not an active member, is my application be denied? or what must i do? The answer I got was " just look at the list of requirements?" and no more words... so i turned my back.. and later I found myself walking through UST compound and entered the office of PGCA Vice president, and I asked what shall I do to obtain these certificates since I am not a member.. The response is simply.. BE a MEMBER..
I decided to attend the local workshop on Oct. 16 - 17, 2008, and I will still ask my doctor if I can be allowed to travel by plane or by boat for the midyear workshop in Cagayan de Oro City. Since according to the secretary I need to attend both the local and the National level.
I admit that i am overwhelmed by the informations i read from your blog and i can't still comprehend other issues but i can feel that something "mysterious" is happening among us counselors that prompted that Law to be imposed.
Yes, I will pray for you and for all those who are involved in these endeavors of uplifting the professionalism of counselors.
Good Luck and keep going,
Isn't this a little discouraging? People at the PRC don't even know how to answer questions. The Vice-President the emailer mentioned didn't even know how to be encouraging! Mind you I am already a PGCA member. I know almost everyone in the Board, and the problems in there (pwera yabang po). And I disagree in the way this organization is doing things. Does this hint at the possibility that the PGCA Board itself may not have really thought about these things and come up with an answer satisfactory enough and not merely coercive? In R.A. No. 9258, membership in the APO is automatic. BUT PGCA IS NOT THE APO. It is the Interim APO. The law says nothing about the interim APO. Ergo, automatic membership should not be imposed on us! Poor emailer. God help us!
Dear Fr. Bernie,
Happy Feast of our Guardian Angels!
I slept very late last night reading your blog. I salute you for that courage to SEARCH and SPEAK the truth! I tried also to think that if PGCA is accredited by PRC how about the other Association of Counselors? Are they not qualified to apply for such accreditation so that the members can ask Certificate of Good Moral Character and Certificate of Membership directly from them?
On the other hand, I am inclined to agree with your proposal that active membership will be demanded after the release of the License in fairness to other associations. Updating will be then part of the requirements in the renewal of such License.
This morning I went to PRC to ask for the application form for registration without examination. I asked the Lady in the office, how about if I am not an active member, is my application be denied? or what must i do? The answer I got was " just look at the list of requirements?" and no more words... so i turned my back.. and later I found myself walking through UST compound and entered the office of PGCA Vice president, and I asked what shall I do to obtain these certificates since I am not a member.. The response is simply.. BE a MEMBER..
I decided to attend the local workshop on Oct. 16 - 17, 2008, and I will still ask my doctor if I can be allowed to travel by plane or by boat for the midyear workshop in Cagayan de Oro City. Since according to the secretary I need to attend both the local and the National level.
I admit that i am overwhelmed by the informations i read from your blog and i can't still comprehend other issues but i can feel that something "mysterious" is happening among us counselors that prompted that Law to be imposed.
Yes, I will pray for you and for all those who are involved in these endeavors of uplifting the professionalism of counselors.
Good Luck and keep going,
Isn't this a little discouraging? People at the PRC don't even know how to answer questions. The Vice-President the emailer mentioned didn't even know how to be encouraging! Mind you I am already a PGCA member. I know almost everyone in the Board, and the problems in there (pwera yabang po). And I disagree in the way this organization is doing things. Does this hint at the possibility that the PGCA Board itself may not have really thought about these things and come up with an answer satisfactory enough and not merely coercive? In R.A. No. 9258, membership in the APO is automatic. BUT PGCA IS NOT THE APO. It is the Interim APO. The law says nothing about the interim APO. Ergo, automatic membership should not be imposed on us! Poor emailer. God help us!
Thursday, October 02, 2008
AN OPEN LETTER TO FELLOW GUIDANCE COUNSELORS
Colleagues in the Guidance and Counseling Profession,
Peace!
I am writing you because of the situation of the Guidance and Counseling profession which we have all been working in and have dedicated our lives to. As IPCAP Interim Secretary, I feel obliged to communicate with you fellow Guidance Counselors, and you may pass this to others so that something must be done in the light of the conditions we're all in. I believe we cannot stand idle and just look at our fellow Counselors with an indifferent spirit. Let this email then be a Counseling case to attend to. And I appeal for your Boards to do something lest it be too late. Remember, the last date for the Lolo's Clause is March 26, 2009.
The case of Guidance Counselors who cannot attend organizational events, thereby lacking the requirement of certificates of active membership and good moral character.
This concerns an emailer (a nun) whom I blogged (counpsychphil.blogspot.com) about. Right now, as shown in the Program for the 3rd batch of oathtakers under the Grandfather's Clause, the PGCA did not carry with it the title Accredited Professional Organization by the Professional Regulation Commission, something which PGCA has in its invitation letters since March 2007; I have asked them to clarify this matter: have they paid the PRC fees for the APO accreditation certificate? What is its APO number? How long is its effectivity? In the absence of an answer, what has PGCA done? They uploaded PRC Resolution # No. 292 Series of 2005, something which may have been "repealed, superseded or amended by the RR of R.A. No. 9258 (Rule V, Sec. 35 of the RR of RA9258). Rule I, Sec. 3(f) identified PGCA as INTERIM APO or IAPO. But even that title PGCA did not use in the Program. Does this mean that PGCA doesn't even qualify to be such? This then shows the prerogative the PRBGC may have used in a spirit of favoritism since both are PGCA Lifetime Members. Yes, thanks to PGCA, we have a law. But its implementation seems to have been done without broader consideration of the many conditions we may all be in.
1st, why require organizational membership in PGCA? This is the essence of the requirement owing to the fact that even if PGCA is not the APO (remember the PRC requirement papers puts the APO in parenthesis: (APO), it was given the task of certifying us so. Remember that the law is not a "PGCA Law" but an R.A. for all Guidance Counselors! Yet all of us who've taken our oaths, 1st down to the latest batch have complied without complaint. But we haven't even talked about this matter and yet we are forced to get those two documents (Good Moral Character, and Active Membership) from PGCA. How about those who cannot afford the events PGCA has sponsored? Or even join other organizations?
Active organizational membership was never a requirement in the Grandfather's Clause of R.A. No. 9258 (Art. II Sec. 14). What the Grandfather's Clause intends was mentioned clearly, and yet in view of PRC's requirement of certification of Good Moral Character (for board examinees only), the provision in the Rules and Regulations particularly relevant in this case becomes now an obstacle to licensure under the generosity of the Grandfather's Clause. (It sounds like the Grandmothers did not agree!)
In fact, active organizational membership was never a requirement for those who are to take the Board exams. These young people had qualifications which were lowered than the ones we were all told to get: Masters! They were not even required to get a certificate of Good Moral Character (contrary to PRC Resolution No. 132 Series of 2003 uploadable from the PRC website). What PRC Resolution No. 132 required was one which licensed professionals in the field for board exams can provide. But the PRBGC did not do this. Isn't the PRBGC supposed to be under the control and supervision of the PRC?
My suggestion is that since PGCA is not the APO yet, instead of a PGCA-released certificate of Good Moral Character, anyone among the RGC's can provide such a certificate pursuant to the PRC Resolution 132 Series of 2005. Or the school head or employment agency personnel be the one to guarantee the good moral standing of the individual. Anyway, there are other supports to that like the NBI certificate, the Ombudsman certificate, the barangay captain, and the parish priest/pastor certifying. If the individual has participation or membership in any other Guidance & Counseling-related organizations, they too should be able to provide such certificate of good moral character. Organizational membership is not the active practice which the Grandfather's Clause intends to be generous to. Organizational membership shall only become requisite for renewal of licenses since the provision of the APO is a constant element all throughout the law.
There may be Guidance Counselors who never bother to join organizations but did a lot of Counseling like we all have been doing prior to the law, and may qualify for the Grandfather's Clause. I believe that they too must be licensed if the law has to have any meaning at all. The PRBGC will only be wasting its time in the future running after those who never sought to get their PRC licenses simply because they have never known that the (APO) is PGCA, and simply because PGCA is not the APO. I know of some who are willing to DARE the PRBGC to implement the law!
Allow me to quote a portion of the PGCA Letter to Dr. Leticia Ho which the latter never replied to:
July 26, 2007
Dear Dr. Ho,
This is to request for your written explanation on the issues raised in Board Resolution No. 05 (2007-08) dated July 12, 2007. Hereunder are the issues:
1. ...
2. The PGCA Application for accreditation as professional organization at the Professional Regulation Commission is pending due to the submission of the Constitution of 1969 which is not the one in force, as it has already been amended;
3...
4...
5...
Please submit your reply within seventy two hours upon receipt of this letter.
Very truly yours,
Sgd. Ms. Maria Lourdes L. Chavez
Secretary
Noted
Sgd. Dr. Rosa Maria I. Llanes
President
This particular document is evidence that as of last year, PGCA had already known that it is not the APO, and yet went ahead to certify us in the 1st to the 3rd batches. We did not complain because we never talked about this matter openly in public. Thanks a lot to PGCA for this service nevertheless. It was indeed necessary. Didn't the Easter Vigil Exultet say "O necessary fault..."
But as of this time, with this truth as bare as the noonday sun, may I hereby submit the recommendation that PGCA step aside in all humility and avoid doing what it should not do because it is not the APO. Let not PGCA be an obstacle to the generosity of the law in its Grandfather's Clause. Let the PRBGC keep away from favoring one organization; but in the spirit of bonding among us Guidance Counselors seek the help of organizations and institutions to certify truthfully those who may be qualified for the Grandfather's Clause.
I am blogging this letter so that even those who're not in the email list here above may be able to think about this matter and help. We are all new in this stage of professionalizing Guidance and Counseling. It is important that we do what can yet be done including keeping licensed those who are qualified and worthy instead of simply ruling out faking papers. Yes, I am right now trying to gather data regarding an incident of faking papers/documents in order to get the PRC GC ID as RGC. I understand PGCA may not do anything about the matter because it might be self-incriminating in its inability to keep the fraud from happening.
If you agree with the points above, particularly on the generosity of the law (R.A. No. 9258) stipulated in the Grandfather's Clause, let us write a letter to the PRC to look into this matter, and to assure us that the future of Guidance and Counseling won't be as chaotic as it seems it will be. The profession we're into promises a lot for us and our population. We would be better off improving in this field rather than pursuing those who cannot be stopped doing Counseling simply due to the absence of a PRC ID, the reason for which was this problematic requirement that has led many to simply DARE the law! When I shall have had finalized my thoughts and the draft I will forward that letter to the PRC Commissioners and primarily the PRC Chair Nicolas P. Lapeña Jr. You will see it here. And of course, I will pray that our authorities reconsider living in the truth that will set us all free. God bless
Peace!
I am writing you because of the situation of the Guidance and Counseling profession which we have all been working in and have dedicated our lives to. As IPCAP Interim Secretary, I feel obliged to communicate with you fellow Guidance Counselors, and you may pass this to others so that something must be done in the light of the conditions we're all in. I believe we cannot stand idle and just look at our fellow Counselors with an indifferent spirit. Let this email then be a Counseling case to attend to. And I appeal for your Boards to do something lest it be too late. Remember, the last date for the Lolo's Clause is March 26, 2009.
The case of Guidance Counselors who cannot attend organizational events, thereby lacking the requirement of certificates of active membership and good moral character.
This concerns an emailer (a nun) whom I blogged (counpsychphil.blogspot.com) about. Right now, as shown in the Program for the 3rd batch of oathtakers under the Grandfather's Clause, the PGCA did not carry with it the title Accredited Professional Organization by the Professional Regulation Commission, something which PGCA has in its invitation letters since March 2007; I have asked them to clarify this matter: have they paid the PRC fees for the APO accreditation certificate? What is its APO number? How long is its effectivity? In the absence of an answer, what has PGCA done? They uploaded PRC Resolution # No. 292 Series of 2005, something which may have been "repealed, superseded or amended by the RR of R.A. No. 9258 (Rule V, Sec. 35 of the RR of RA9258). Rule I, Sec. 3(f) identified PGCA as INTERIM APO or IAPO. But even that title PGCA did not use in the Program. Does this mean that PGCA doesn't even qualify to be such? This then shows the prerogative the PRBGC may have used in a spirit of favoritism since both are PGCA Lifetime Members. Yes, thanks to PGCA, we have a law. But its implementation seems to have been done without broader consideration of the many conditions we may all be in.
1st, why require organizational membership in PGCA? This is the essence of the requirement owing to the fact that even if PGCA is not the APO (remember the PRC requirement papers puts the APO in parenthesis: (APO), it was given the task of certifying us so. Remember that the law is not a "PGCA Law" but an R.A. for all Guidance Counselors! Yet all of us who've taken our oaths, 1st down to the latest batch have complied without complaint. But we haven't even talked about this matter and yet we are forced to get those two documents (Good Moral Character, and Active Membership) from PGCA. How about those who cannot afford the events PGCA has sponsored? Or even join other organizations?
Active organizational membership was never a requirement in the Grandfather's Clause of R.A. No. 9258 (Art. II Sec. 14). What the Grandfather's Clause intends was mentioned clearly, and yet in view of PRC's requirement of certification of Good Moral Character (for board examinees only), the provision in the Rules and Regulations particularly relevant in this case becomes now an obstacle to licensure under the generosity of the Grandfather's Clause. (It sounds like the Grandmothers did not agree!)
In fact, active organizational membership was never a requirement for those who are to take the Board exams. These young people had qualifications which were lowered than the ones we were all told to get: Masters! They were not even required to get a certificate of Good Moral Character (contrary to PRC Resolution No. 132 Series of 2003 uploadable from the PRC website). What PRC Resolution No. 132 required was one which licensed professionals in the field for board exams can provide. But the PRBGC did not do this. Isn't the PRBGC supposed to be under the control and supervision of the PRC?
My suggestion is that since PGCA is not the APO yet, instead of a PGCA-released certificate of Good Moral Character, anyone among the RGC's can provide such a certificate pursuant to the PRC Resolution 132 Series of 2005. Or the school head or employment agency personnel be the one to guarantee the good moral standing of the individual. Anyway, there are other supports to that like the NBI certificate, the Ombudsman certificate, the barangay captain, and the parish priest/pastor certifying. If the individual has participation or membership in any other Guidance & Counseling-related organizations, they too should be able to provide such certificate of good moral character. Organizational membership is not the active practice which the Grandfather's Clause intends to be generous to. Organizational membership shall only become requisite for renewal of licenses since the provision of the APO is a constant element all throughout the law.
There may be Guidance Counselors who never bother to join organizations but did a lot of Counseling like we all have been doing prior to the law, and may qualify for the Grandfather's Clause. I believe that they too must be licensed if the law has to have any meaning at all. The PRBGC will only be wasting its time in the future running after those who never sought to get their PRC licenses simply because they have never known that the (APO) is PGCA, and simply because PGCA is not the APO. I know of some who are willing to DARE the PRBGC to implement the law!
Allow me to quote a portion of the PGCA Letter to Dr. Leticia Ho which the latter never replied to:
July 26, 2007
Dear Dr. Ho,
This is to request for your written explanation on the issues raised in Board Resolution No. 05 (2007-08) dated July 12, 2007. Hereunder are the issues:
1. ...
2. The PGCA Application for accreditation as professional organization at the Professional Regulation Commission is pending due to the submission of the Constitution of 1969 which is not the one in force, as it has already been amended;
3...
4...
5...
Please submit your reply within seventy two hours upon receipt of this letter.
Very truly yours,
Sgd. Ms. Maria Lourdes L. Chavez
Secretary
Noted
Sgd. Dr. Rosa Maria I. Llanes
President
This particular document is evidence that as of last year, PGCA had already known that it is not the APO, and yet went ahead to certify us in the 1st to the 3rd batches. We did not complain because we never talked about this matter openly in public. Thanks a lot to PGCA for this service nevertheless. It was indeed necessary. Didn't the Easter Vigil Exultet say "O necessary fault..."
But as of this time, with this truth as bare as the noonday sun, may I hereby submit the recommendation that PGCA step aside in all humility and avoid doing what it should not do because it is not the APO. Let not PGCA be an obstacle to the generosity of the law in its Grandfather's Clause. Let the PRBGC keep away from favoring one organization; but in the spirit of bonding among us Guidance Counselors seek the help of organizations and institutions to certify truthfully those who may be qualified for the Grandfather's Clause.
I am blogging this letter so that even those who're not in the email list here above may be able to think about this matter and help. We are all new in this stage of professionalizing Guidance and Counseling. It is important that we do what can yet be done including keeping licensed those who are qualified and worthy instead of simply ruling out faking papers. Yes, I am right now trying to gather data regarding an incident of faking papers/documents in order to get the PRC GC ID as RGC. I understand PGCA may not do anything about the matter because it might be self-incriminating in its inability to keep the fraud from happening.
If you agree with the points above, particularly on the generosity of the law (R.A. No. 9258) stipulated in the Grandfather's Clause, let us write a letter to the PRC to look into this matter, and to assure us that the future of Guidance and Counseling won't be as chaotic as it seems it will be. The profession we're into promises a lot for us and our population. We would be better off improving in this field rather than pursuing those who cannot be stopped doing Counseling simply due to the absence of a PRC ID, the reason for which was this problematic requirement that has led many to simply DARE the law! When I shall have had finalized my thoughts and the draft I will forward that letter to the PRC Commissioners and primarily the PRC Chair Nicolas P. Lapeña Jr. You will see it here. And of course, I will pray that our authorities reconsider living in the truth that will set us all free. God bless
Maganda Ito Talaga
I got this from an email from Dr. Susana Estanislao, our newest RGC at the PACERS and at IPCAP. Thanks Doc Sue. Hope our fellow RGC's and future RGC's will learn the lessons here well for their daily practice. God bless
The famous race of the Rabbit and the Tortoise II
The Story Doesn't End Here
Once upon a time a tortoise and a hare had an argument about who was faster.
They decided to settle the argument with a race. They agreed on a route and started off the race.
The hare shot ahead and ran briskly for some time. Then seeing that he was far ahead of the tortoise, he thought he'd sit under a tree for some time and relax before continuing the race. He sat under the tree and soon fell asleep.
The tortoise plodding on overtook him and soon finished the race, emerging as the undisputed champ.
The hare woke up and realized that he'd lost the race.
The moral- "Slow and steady wins the race." This is the version of the story that we've all grown up with.
The Story Doesn't End Here
There are few more interesting things...it continues as follows...
The hare was disappointed at losing the race and he did some soul-searching.
He realized that he'd lost the race only because he had been overconfident, careless and lax. If he had not taken things for granted, there's no way the tortoise could have beaten him. So he challenged the tortoise to another race. The tortoise agreed. This time, the hare went all out and ran without stopping from start to finish. He won by several miles. The moral - " Fast and consistent will always beat the slow and steady. It's good to be slow and steady; but it's better to be fast and reliable."
The Story Doesn't End Here
The tortoise did some thinking this time, and realized that there's no way it can beat the hare in a race the way it was currently formatted.
It thought for a while, and then challenged the hare to another race, but on a slightly different route. The hare agreed. They started off. In keeping with his self-made commitment to be consistently fast, the hare took off and ran at top speed until he came to a broad river.. The finishing line was a couple of kilometers on the other side of the river.
The hare sat there wondering what to do.
In the meantime the tortoise trundled along, got into the river, swam to the opposite bank, continued walking and finished the race.
The moral - "First identify your core competency and then change the playing field to suit your core competency."
The Story Doesn't End Here
The hare and the tortoise, by this time, had become pretty good friends and they did some thinking together.
Both realized that the last race could have been run much better. So they decided to do the last race again, but to run as a team this time.
They started off, and this time the hare carried the tortoise till the riverbank. There, the tortoise took over and swam across with the hare on his back. On the opposite bank, the hare again carried the tortoise and they reached the finishing line together. They both felt a greater sense of satisfaction than they'd felt earlier.
The moral - "It's good to be individually brilliant and to have strong core competencies; but unless you're able to work in a team and harness each other's core competencies, you'll always perform below par because there will always be situations at which you'll do poorly and someone else does well."
Teamwork is mainly about situational leadership, letting the person with the relevant core competency for a situation take leadership. Note that neither the hare nor the tortoise gave up after failures. The hare decided to work harder and put in more effort after his failure. The tortoise changed his strategy because he was already working as hard as he could.
In life, when faced with failure, sometimes it is appropriate to work harder and put in more effort.
Sometimes it is appropriate to change strategy and try something different.
And sometimes it is appropriate to do both.
The hare and the tortoise also learned another vital lesson. When we stop competing against a rival and instead start competing against the situation, we perform far better.
To sum up- the story of the hare and tortoise has much to say: Chief among them are that fast and consistent will always beat slow and steady; work with your competencies; pooling resources and working as a team will always beat individual performers; never give up when faced with failure; & finally, compete against the situation - not against a rival.
WELCOME TO IPCAP!
The famous race of the Rabbit and the Tortoise II
The Story Doesn't End Here
Once upon a time a tortoise and a hare had an argument about who was faster.
They decided to settle the argument with a race. They agreed on a route and started off the race.
The hare shot ahead and ran briskly for some time. Then seeing that he was far ahead of the tortoise, he thought he'd sit under a tree for some time and relax before continuing the race. He sat under the tree and soon fell asleep.
The tortoise plodding on overtook him and soon finished the race, emerging as the undisputed champ.
The hare woke up and realized that he'd lost the race.
The moral- "Slow and steady wins the race." This is the version of the story that we've all grown up with.
The Story Doesn't End Here
There are few more interesting things...it continues as follows...
The hare was disappointed at losing the race and he did some soul-searching.
He realized that he'd lost the race only because he had been overconfident, careless and lax. If he had not taken things for granted, there's no way the tortoise could have beaten him. So he challenged the tortoise to another race. The tortoise agreed. This time, the hare went all out and ran without stopping from start to finish. He won by several miles. The moral - " Fast and consistent will always beat the slow and steady. It's good to be slow and steady; but it's better to be fast and reliable."
The Story Doesn't End Here
The tortoise did some thinking this time, and realized that there's no way it can beat the hare in a race the way it was currently formatted.
It thought for a while, and then challenged the hare to another race, but on a slightly different route. The hare agreed. They started off. In keeping with his self-made commitment to be consistently fast, the hare took off and ran at top speed until he came to a broad river.. The finishing line was a couple of kilometers on the other side of the river.
The hare sat there wondering what to do.
In the meantime the tortoise trundled along, got into the river, swam to the opposite bank, continued walking and finished the race.
The moral - "First identify your core competency and then change the playing field to suit your core competency."
The Story Doesn't End Here
The hare and the tortoise, by this time, had become pretty good friends and they did some thinking together.
Both realized that the last race could have been run much better. So they decided to do the last race again, but to run as a team this time.
They started off, and this time the hare carried the tortoise till the riverbank. There, the tortoise took over and swam across with the hare on his back. On the opposite bank, the hare again carried the tortoise and they reached the finishing line together. They both felt a greater sense of satisfaction than they'd felt earlier.
The moral - "It's good to be individually brilliant and to have strong core competencies; but unless you're able to work in a team and harness each other's core competencies, you'll always perform below par because there will always be situations at which you'll do poorly and someone else does well."
Teamwork is mainly about situational leadership, letting the person with the relevant core competency for a situation take leadership. Note that neither the hare nor the tortoise gave up after failures. The hare decided to work harder and put in more effort after his failure. The tortoise changed his strategy because he was already working as hard as he could.
In life, when faced with failure, sometimes it is appropriate to work harder and put in more effort.
Sometimes it is appropriate to change strategy and try something different.
And sometimes it is appropriate to do both.
The hare and the tortoise also learned another vital lesson. When we stop competing against a rival and instead start competing against the situation, we perform far better.
To sum up- the story of the hare and tortoise has much to say: Chief among them are that fast and consistent will always beat slow and steady; work with your competencies; pooling resources and working as a team will always beat individual performers; never give up when faced with failure; & finally, compete against the situation - not against a rival.
WELCOME TO IPCAP!
Action to take to help the 4th Batch of Lolo's Clause
The following email further strengthens my resolve to push for the recommendations below. Please, let's do something while there is time or else, it's the whole country that will suffer, first the schools, and then, look forward to the legal cases that will be necessary.
1. Follow up email
Dear Fr. Bernie,
Happy Feast of St. Therese!
Salamat sa prompt response. I can sense you are still the same, with much alive spirit to attend to all you concerns and that of others. I believe you have the inner source of all your energies.. Praise God!
1. The deadline of the application is stated in the application form itself from PRC.
2. I finished my MS Guidance and Counseling last April 1997. (I have a copy of her Masters Thesis - blogger's comment here)
3. Yes, the cedula is still needed, ID and of course the payment. I'm not bothered because I can secure it anytime. I was just preoccupied with the Certificate of Moral Character and Certificate of Active Member of any association of counselors.
4. I planned to go to UST and meet Dr. Lucila Bance as the Vice President of PCGA to discuss this matter and besides my co-sister who is assigned in Japan (also a practice Counselor) requested me to meet her for her own application also.
Thank you also for figthing the plight of all Counselors. Many people today need someone to listen to their cries, desires, dreams,pains and their longing for direction in life.
God bless you for all your endeavors.
2. My Recommendations
At this time, PGCA should humble herself. If she is not the APO, then she should tell everyone, particularly the PRBGC that she is not, unless the PRBGC herself identifies them to be so in the application papers, i.e., lift the parenthesis out and show us so clear as day that PGCA is indeed INTERIM or APO indeed. PGCA should then not be an obstacle to anyone who should legitimately qualify for the Grandfather's Clause and be granted the PRC ID and practice Guidance and Counseling without fear.
This is interesting a stage in the process of licensing because organizational membership has not been a requirement for the Board examinees, something which those to be Grandfathered were so strictly required. And even if they are only college graduates, they took their oath under PGCA, sans an orientation to the organization (other than the little history in the website). And come to think of it, I was only classified two years ago as AFFILIATE, thereby lacking certain rights like voting. But now that I have that license, am I to be classified REGULAR? How about those lifetime and regular PGCA members who cannot be licensed, what shall their status be? By what Constitution does this action emanate? The legitimacy of PGCA then may have become dubious. It's high time to let the government agencies like the SEC know the status and revoke what should be revoked.
Our situation has become like this: in the effort to keep fraud away, we have kept even the legitimate out. When fraud was committed, those involved kept silent, not even finding the way to resolve it. Is this telling us that we now can live with fraud, as in sleeping with the enemy, and not purge it out of the system?
I recommended to the email writer that a letter to the PRC be made so that the PRBGC will be called to task in relation to this matter of good moral character certificates and active membership. It thus looks like the PRBGC may actually be the obstacle here, and PGCA being its tool to effect the rooting of this illegal obstacle.
I just got this line to end this blog entry: With MONEY: You can buy position but not respect. Hope we keep this in mind.
1. Follow up email
Dear Fr. Bernie,
Happy Feast of St. Therese!
Salamat sa prompt response. I can sense you are still the same, with much alive spirit to attend to all you concerns and that of others. I believe you have the inner source of all your energies.. Praise God!
1. The deadline of the application is stated in the application form itself from PRC.
2. I finished my MS Guidance and Counseling last April 1997. (I have a copy of her Masters Thesis - blogger's comment here)
3. Yes, the cedula is still needed, ID and of course the payment. I'm not bothered because I can secure it anytime. I was just preoccupied with the Certificate of Moral Character and Certificate of Active Member of any association of counselors.
4. I planned to go to UST and meet Dr. Lucila Bance as the Vice President of PCGA to discuss this matter and besides my co-sister who is assigned in Japan (also a practice Counselor) requested me to meet her for her own application also.
Thank you also for figthing the plight of all Counselors. Many people today need someone to listen to their cries, desires, dreams,pains and their longing for direction in life.
God bless you for all your endeavors.
2. My Recommendations
At this time, PGCA should humble herself. If she is not the APO, then she should tell everyone, particularly the PRBGC that she is not, unless the PRBGC herself identifies them to be so in the application papers, i.e., lift the parenthesis out and show us so clear as day that PGCA is indeed INTERIM or APO indeed. PGCA should then not be an obstacle to anyone who should legitimately qualify for the Grandfather's Clause and be granted the PRC ID and practice Guidance and Counseling without fear.
This is interesting a stage in the process of licensing because organizational membership has not been a requirement for the Board examinees, something which those to be Grandfathered were so strictly required. And even if they are only college graduates, they took their oath under PGCA, sans an orientation to the organization (other than the little history in the website). And come to think of it, I was only classified two years ago as AFFILIATE, thereby lacking certain rights like voting. But now that I have that license, am I to be classified REGULAR? How about those lifetime and regular PGCA members who cannot be licensed, what shall their status be? By what Constitution does this action emanate? The legitimacy of PGCA then may have become dubious. It's high time to let the government agencies like the SEC know the status and revoke what should be revoked.
Our situation has become like this: in the effort to keep fraud away, we have kept even the legitimate out. When fraud was committed, those involved kept silent, not even finding the way to resolve it. Is this telling us that we now can live with fraud, as in sleeping with the enemy, and not purge it out of the system?
I recommended to the email writer that a letter to the PRC be made so that the PRBGC will be called to task in relation to this matter of good moral character certificates and active membership. It thus looks like the PRBGC may actually be the obstacle here, and PGCA being its tool to effect the rooting of this illegal obstacle.
I just got this line to end this blog entry: With MONEY: You can buy position but not respect. Hope we keep this in mind.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
4th Batch of Oath Takers: Let's Do Something
I am blogging this matter for all RGC's to think about and DO SOMETHING. I have just received the following email which stirred me to seek our collegial reflection and action. After the email, I shall present thoughts that I'd like to propose us to do in response to the situation. I believe that as registered and licensed Guidance Counselors, we have a lot to do, and it starts with the following:
1. The Email
Dear Fr. Bernie,
How are you? I hope you are always in good health and good disposition as you continue to give yourself to your ministry for the sake of the Kingdom.
Upon knowing that there is still slot for the application for PRC registration without examination (Guidance and Counseling - deadline: January 26, 2009), I decided to avail of the opportunity.
The requirements are the following:
1. Original and photocopy of Birth Certificate (NSO)
2. Photocopies of Diploma and Transcript of Records (BS, MS, PhD)
3. Original NBI Clearance
4. 3 Certifications of Good Moral Character (Brgy. Captain, Parish, employer/dean)
5. Certificate of Active Membership and Good Moral Character from (APO) to be issued by the President & two (2) other officers
6. Certificate of Experience (PRC Form 104)
7. Certificate of Employment/ Service Record
I have problem with requirement no. 5 because eversince i am not a member of any of the Associations. The reason that i thought of you this morning when i received the form from PRC. I tried to browse the website of PGCA and i learned that there is a mid-year workshops on Oct. 22- 24, 2008 in Cagayan de Oro City. I thought of joining so as to know the process of membership but i just underwent an ear surgery and i cannot travel this month.
Imee Villar, our teacher before, is the president of the association, and I am a bit hesitant to ask for a membership just because i wanted to apply for registration without examination, though deep down i wanted to be updated of the new trends in Counseling. I will be finishing my term this December, 2008 and I believe i can now concentrate to this field..God willing!
2. Some Comments on the Email and our situation now
The writer has a Masters in Guidance and Counseling from the school that sent its biggest number of board examinees and got a 100% passing during the 1st Licensure Exams for Guidance and Counseling last Aug. 21-22, 2008; the email writer has been doing Counseling all these years (kaya siguro kinailangang mag ear surgery hehe). It is just sad that the email writer did not avail of organizational memberships, something which was not required prior to the law, R.A. No. 9258 anyway . And I'd like to believe that the email writer may have missed out writing the other requirements, namely Residence Certificate (cedula), Passport size picture with nametag (2 pcs), and Application fee of P900.00 which may still be required, or has PRC not required this? Maybe the email writer also has no need to provide Ombudsman certificates since the person is not working in any government.
With the present dispensation, membership in the APO is a requirement to get the license and examinations. In the first 3 batches of oath taking, the PGCA has been tagged as the APO. If the email writer is right, and I believe most of us saw these in the application for license sans the licensure examinations, the APO is in parentheses, and does not specify PGCA. But PGCA was given the franchise to grant the certificates of active membership and good moral character. I believe this is due to the fact that the present PRB have all been allied with PGCA. Dr. Rosales is a PGCA Founder, and Dr. Guzman is one of the Board of Trustees or Directors in the 1998 Constitution that is the only extant Constitution in the SEC registration of PGCA. I hope there is no favoritism involved here, and even if this may be present, our present stage in the professionalization process should have led the organizations to bond together. And come to think of this: PGCA seems to NOT HAVE its original SEC registration papers. I hope I am wrong! But in deference to this oldest organization, no one questioned it. It is really better to have PGCA do the task rather than have none. But with the fact that there are two RGCs now who have faked their papers, thereby getting their PRC licenses, has PGCA done anything about it? PGCA may not have even asked the person complaining to forward a complaint to the PRB because if the person does so, PGCA will definitely be involved for failing to stop the fraud from being consummated. What is this PGCA being (APO) all about? It has not even given us the steps to do when we know a fraud has been committed.
Fact is, already shown at the Oath Taking last Sept. 28, 2008 in Manila Hotel, the Program shows PGCA bearing no title as APO. Yes, the Rules and Regulations of R.A. 9258 has identified PGCA as INTERIM APO or IAPO (Rule I Sec. 3 (f). But the The APO and the IAPO are two different items in the RR (the APO is specified in Rule I, Sec. 3 (g).) Even if PGCA has received a PRC certification way back 2005, fact is they have not been allowed to pay the fees for accreditation as APO by the PRC. Dr. Llanes herself did that and was told that PGCA needs to do a lot of justification for PGCA to be APO, including documentary matters that were shown to be deficient, thereby unacceptable to be APO. Thus, the Oath Taking Program last Sept. 28, 2008 only shows that indeed, the Guidance and Counseling Profession HAS NO APO as I write this blog. If PGCA was INTERIM APO, as stipulated by the RR, it should have had the courage to put that title. But, as it seems, even that was not used, hinting at its possible non-qualifying the PRC certification. Yes, PGCA is duly credited as the organization that worked so hard to make the Guidance and Counseling profession a law, but it has not been given by PRC such a status as APO, as to command our continued allegiance. Yes, the first 3 batches of RGC's under the Grandfather's Clause have sought the PGCA papers simply because we have not really understood what it all meant. And of course, we are only in our first years of the law's full implementation, and a lot of dialogue and communications are necessary, particularly among us Registered and Licensed Guidance Counselors or RGc's. And come to think of it, has there been any forum where the fact of PGCA as APO has been discussed? This is what I would have wanted us Guidance Counselors to have been oriented into, but sadly were not. We seemed to have just went with the flow. Sad huh? Indeed.
3. Anyway, we at the IPCAP shall be meeting on Oct. 1, 2008 2-5PM at the RGS Convent in Katipunan (near the Katipunan LRT II station), and I intend to present a letter for us to send to the PRC to look into this matter. The main point I'd like to be given due consideration is the identification of a legitimate APO in that particular requirement because if indeed PGCA is APO, why not specify it to be so? What has kept the PRC, and the PRBGC for that matter, from clearly stating PGCA as APO? If there is no APO, this particular requirement should not have been written, thereby coercing us to believe something which did not exist in the first place. Something else should have been given the right and obligation in this matter.
4. My suggestion is this: that the certificates of Good Moral Character be given by the applicant coming from RGC's, as PRC Resolution No. 132 Series of 2003 so stipulates, and that active membership in any organization be not required. Active membership should only be required after we shall have had our PRC licenses for purposes of renewal of licenses, and continuing professional education (CPE), something which the Code of Ethics so stipulates. Active membership in an organization is not equal to active practice of Guidance Counseling. The email writer, I believe may have been doing Counseling all these years, and may have not been alerted early enough to help clarify the need for a license. Or is the email writer among those who refused to apply because anyway there was really no APO in the first place? The school where the applicant has been doing Guidance and Counseling work should be the one responsible to certify the applicant's worthiness as shown in the Certificates of Experience and Employment.
5. I shall blog that above letter once we shall have decided at IPCAP to forward it as one body.
If you are an RGC and have read this matter, please pass this to our fellow RGC for collegial action. I believe that many among us shall have felt better knowing that we have not stood indifferent to the situation we're all in. Thank you. God bless
1. The Email
Dear Fr. Bernie,
How are you? I hope you are always in good health and good disposition as you continue to give yourself to your ministry for the sake of the Kingdom.
Upon knowing that there is still slot for the application for PRC registration without examination (Guidance and Counseling - deadline: January 26, 2009), I decided to avail of the opportunity.
The requirements are the following:
1. Original and photocopy of Birth Certificate (NSO)
2. Photocopies of Diploma and Transcript of Records (BS, MS, PhD)
3. Original NBI Clearance
4. 3 Certifications of Good Moral Character (Brgy. Captain, Parish, employer/dean)
5. Certificate of Active Membership and Good Moral Character from (APO) to be issued by the President & two (2) other officers
6. Certificate of Experience (PRC Form 104)
7. Certificate of Employment/ Service Record
I have problem with requirement no. 5 because eversince i am not a member of any of the Associations. The reason that i thought of you this morning when i received the form from PRC. I tried to browse the website of PGCA and i learned that there is a mid-year workshops on Oct. 22- 24, 2008 in Cagayan de Oro City. I thought of joining so as to know the process of membership but i just underwent an ear surgery and i cannot travel this month.
Imee Villar, our teacher before, is the president of the association, and I am a bit hesitant to ask for a membership just because i wanted to apply for registration without examination, though deep down i wanted to be updated of the new trends in Counseling. I will be finishing my term this December, 2008 and I believe i can now concentrate to this field..God willing!
2. Some Comments on the Email and our situation now
The writer has a Masters in Guidance and Counseling from the school that sent its biggest number of board examinees and got a 100% passing during the 1st Licensure Exams for Guidance and Counseling last Aug. 21-22, 2008; the email writer has been doing Counseling all these years (kaya siguro kinailangang mag ear surgery hehe). It is just sad that the email writer did not avail of organizational memberships, something which was not required prior to the law, R.A. No. 9258 anyway . And I'd like to believe that the email writer may have missed out writing the other requirements, namely Residence Certificate (cedula), Passport size picture with nametag (2 pcs), and Application fee of P900.00 which may still be required, or has PRC not required this? Maybe the email writer also has no need to provide Ombudsman certificates since the person is not working in any government.
With the present dispensation, membership in the APO is a requirement to get the license and examinations. In the first 3 batches of oath taking, the PGCA has been tagged as the APO. If the email writer is right, and I believe most of us saw these in the application for license sans the licensure examinations, the APO is in parentheses, and does not specify PGCA. But PGCA was given the franchise to grant the certificates of active membership and good moral character. I believe this is due to the fact that the present PRB have all been allied with PGCA. Dr. Rosales is a PGCA Founder, and Dr. Guzman is one of the Board of Trustees or Directors in the 1998 Constitution that is the only extant Constitution in the SEC registration of PGCA. I hope there is no favoritism involved here, and even if this may be present, our present stage in the professionalization process should have led the organizations to bond together. And come to think of this: PGCA seems to NOT HAVE its original SEC registration papers. I hope I am wrong! But in deference to this oldest organization, no one questioned it. It is really better to have PGCA do the task rather than have none. But with the fact that there are two RGCs now who have faked their papers, thereby getting their PRC licenses, has PGCA done anything about it? PGCA may not have even asked the person complaining to forward a complaint to the PRB because if the person does so, PGCA will definitely be involved for failing to stop the fraud from being consummated. What is this PGCA being (APO) all about? It has not even given us the steps to do when we know a fraud has been committed.
Fact is, already shown at the Oath Taking last Sept. 28, 2008 in Manila Hotel, the Program shows PGCA bearing no title as APO. Yes, the Rules and Regulations of R.A. 9258 has identified PGCA as INTERIM APO or IAPO (Rule I Sec. 3 (f). But the The APO and the IAPO are two different items in the RR (the APO is specified in Rule I, Sec. 3 (g).) Even if PGCA has received a PRC certification way back 2005, fact is they have not been allowed to pay the fees for accreditation as APO by the PRC. Dr. Llanes herself did that and was told that PGCA needs to do a lot of justification for PGCA to be APO, including documentary matters that were shown to be deficient, thereby unacceptable to be APO. Thus, the Oath Taking Program last Sept. 28, 2008 only shows that indeed, the Guidance and Counseling Profession HAS NO APO as I write this blog. If PGCA was INTERIM APO, as stipulated by the RR, it should have had the courage to put that title. But, as it seems, even that was not used, hinting at its possible non-qualifying the PRC certification. Yes, PGCA is duly credited as the organization that worked so hard to make the Guidance and Counseling profession a law, but it has not been given by PRC such a status as APO, as to command our continued allegiance. Yes, the first 3 batches of RGC's under the Grandfather's Clause have sought the PGCA papers simply because we have not really understood what it all meant. And of course, we are only in our first years of the law's full implementation, and a lot of dialogue and communications are necessary, particularly among us Registered and Licensed Guidance Counselors or RGc's. And come to think of it, has there been any forum where the fact of PGCA as APO has been discussed? This is what I would have wanted us Guidance Counselors to have been oriented into, but sadly were not. We seemed to have just went with the flow. Sad huh? Indeed.
3. Anyway, we at the IPCAP shall be meeting on Oct. 1, 2008 2-5PM at the RGS Convent in Katipunan (near the Katipunan LRT II station), and I intend to present a letter for us to send to the PRC to look into this matter. The main point I'd like to be given due consideration is the identification of a legitimate APO in that particular requirement because if indeed PGCA is APO, why not specify it to be so? What has kept the PRC, and the PRBGC for that matter, from clearly stating PGCA as APO? If there is no APO, this particular requirement should not have been written, thereby coercing us to believe something which did not exist in the first place. Something else should have been given the right and obligation in this matter.
4. My suggestion is this: that the certificates of Good Moral Character be given by the applicant coming from RGC's, as PRC Resolution No. 132 Series of 2003 so stipulates, and that active membership in any organization be not required. Active membership should only be required after we shall have had our PRC licenses for purposes of renewal of licenses, and continuing professional education (CPE), something which the Code of Ethics so stipulates. Active membership in an organization is not equal to active practice of Guidance Counseling. The email writer, I believe may have been doing Counseling all these years, and may have not been alerted early enough to help clarify the need for a license. Or is the email writer among those who refused to apply because anyway there was really no APO in the first place? The school where the applicant has been doing Guidance and Counseling work should be the one responsible to certify the applicant's worthiness as shown in the Certificates of Experience and Employment.
5. I shall blog that above letter once we shall have decided at IPCAP to forward it as one body.
If you are an RGC and have read this matter, please pass this to our fellow RGC for collegial action. I believe that many among us shall have felt better knowing that we have not stood indifferent to the situation we're all in. Thank you. God bless
Monday, September 29, 2008
For Those Attending the Zamboanga Oct 13-14, 2008 Event
I got this request from Mr. Archie Siaron, RGC: Pwede nyo iblog na those Registered Guidance Counselors of Region IX can secure the IPCAP Membership Application Form during our Regional Conference. Please contact Registered Guidance Counselor Mr. Archie Siaron himself to get your IPCAP Application Form.
Yes, I gave him copies of the said Form and there were already those who submitted theirs. We are scheduling a meeting in the coming days and will tackle the applications for IPCAP membership. The requirements are all stated in the form under the area reserved for your signature. The bank account where you can deposit your membership fee is also mentioned in there. Text me or email me when you shall have done that, and yes, you can mail in your application form and requirements to the address of IPCAP written at the heading part of the Application Form.
Let's pray for this organization so we can focus on what we need to do as Registered Professional Guidance Counselors organized under IPCAP. God bless and take care.
Yes, I gave him copies of the said Form and there were already those who submitted theirs. We are scheduling a meeting in the coming days and will tackle the applications for IPCAP membership. The requirements are all stated in the form under the area reserved for your signature. The bank account where you can deposit your membership fee is also mentioned in there. Text me or email me when you shall have done that, and yes, you can mail in your application form and requirements to the address of IPCAP written at the heading part of the Application Form.
Let's pray for this organization so we can focus on what we need to do as Registered Professional Guidance Counselors organized under IPCAP. God bless and take care.
When There Is No APO for the Guidance & Counseling Profession
The Program in yesterday's Oath Taking Ceremonies (Sept. 28, 2008, see picture on left) showed PGCA having no title of Accredited Professional Organization by the Professional Regulation Commission which we regularly saw in their invitations since March 2007. I would have loved to see the title included there with the word INTERIM written. But without this word INTERIM there, this shows that there is NO APO now for the Guidance and Counseling Profession? Does this mean that PGCA did not qualify to be either? What is happening now? I hope PGCA gives explanations that can calm our fears. What does this mean now?
Let me share with you some questions and thoughts on the implications when there is no APO identified. Here are some preliminary ideas:
1. Without an APO, or even an interim one, does this mean that the requirements for those applying for the 4th batch of Oath Takers as Guidance Counselors under the Grandfather's Clause of R.A. No. 9258, particularly the Certificates of Good Moral Character, and Active Membership may no longer need to be provided by PGCA?
I have always been of the idea, since the matter on APO-hood was discussed at the IPCAP prior to its certification of incorporation by the SEC as indorsed by the PRC, that only the duly SEC-registered guidance and counseling-related organizations should be the ones responsible to provide both certificates. It is the professional organizations who know best their participants and members. Hence, active membership is theirs to certify. Besides, while the PRB required the fulfillment of the PRC Resolution No. 132 Series of 2003, "Requiring Applicants in Licensure Examinations to Submit Certification/Testimonial of Good Moral Character" (I hope they knew about this then!), it did not require it from those who took the 1st Board Exams. Does this mean that the fourth batch of oath takers will also not be required these documents? If the PRB were to be what it is, "under the administrative control and supervision of the PRC" (Rule II, Section 4 of the Rules and Regulations of R.A. No. 9258), it should have made this a requirement in the light of what has been stipulated in the PRC Resolution No. 132, "Wherefore, the Commission RESOLVED as it hereby RESOLVES to require all applicants in the various licensure examinations to submit a Certification/Testimonial of Good Moral Character to be executed by a registered professional in the same profession starting January 2004.
"Let copies of this Resolution be furnished all the Professional Regulatory Boards, officials and employees in the Central and Regional Offices for their information and guidance, and to all heads of schools, colleges and universities for dissemination to their students who are enrolled in courses requiring the passing of licensure examinations."
This PRC Resolution was signed by Anieta Fortuna-Ibe (Chairperson), Commissioners Avelina De La Rea-Tan, and Leonor T. Rosero. I downloaded it from the PRC website mismo!
I called up Atty. Almelor about this, and all he told me was that it's alright if the regulatory law or the regulatory board doesn't require it. But, again, this shows some concern about the supervisory nature of PRC over our PRBGC. But Resolution No. 132 reads: "WHEREAS, all the regulatory board laws require an applicant for licensure examination to establish to the satisfaction of the board that he possesses the requisite good reputation, or good moral character or he has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude." (Paragraph 3 of PRC Resolution No. 132 Series of 2003) R.A. No. 9258 Article III, Sec. 13 Qualifications for Examination. paragraph (b) states "has not been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a competent court;" The Rules and Regulations of R.A. No. 9258 Rule III Section 13 (b) likewise states the same matter. The spirit of this provision reveals the rationality of the PRC Resolution which seemed waived in the case of the 1st licensure examinees.
With this information, does this imply now that any among us RGC's can provide the required certificate of Good Moral Character? And if anyone is granted by the PRB permission to take the licensure exams but with good moral character problems, anybody who has evidence may just have to go by what the RR of R.A. No. 9258 requires, i.e., write a letter of complaint for them to investigate as mentioned in the law (Rule II, Section 5 (j). But the trouble is we have no information as of now how to go about filing a complaint. PGCA has no word about it, nor the PRB. I have gotten word that there have been some cases (about 2?) that have been duly reported to PGCA to have gotten their PRC licenses as RGC fraudulently (1st batch ata ng Grandfather's Clause?). We have no news from PGCA about it because the person who has reported the matter has not been asked to substantiate the claim. Or has that person done so but has no reply from PGCA! Whooh! What is happening? PGCA may not entertain the matter because it is actually to the PRB that such a matter should have been raised. Remember, it was PGCA who granted us the required certificates. So this may mean that if the PRB investigates the matter, PGCA will inevitably be involved because it may not have had done a more thorough investigation as to the authenticity of certain documents. If this were the case, then what has PGCA become? A stamping pad? Or a collection agency? No offense intended, but simply a statement of possibility if the logic runs so.
2. These nonverbals have a lot inside, as we all know the saying "Actions speak louder than words." Don't we do that in Counseling? We listen a lot to the unspoken. The trouble is that we as members are kept from any "inside information." If this were the case, what are we as members in the organization all about? What are our benefits as registered Guidance Counselors and have taken the oath in PGCA? Is there a way for PGCA to communicate with us about our present status? We are professionals now! If there is something hidden, it will only keep the matter even more pressurized. Remember that septic tanks have lots of methane gas that can be explosive under too much pressure (remember the Glorietta explosion?). I would like to move that we as members be given more than we used to get when Guidance and Counseling wasn't regulated yet. PGCA has taken upon itself as APO, by virtue of PRC Resolution No. 292 Series of 2005 which the PGCA has uploaded in its website. But with the Rules and Regulations of R.A. No. 9258 published and implemented, that said Resolution No. 292 may have already been superseded, amended or repealed (Rule V Section 35 of the RR of RA 9258; Article V, Section 35 of R.A. 9258). In the light of the condo issue (I think this is not a secret anymore although we may have been kept out of the details on this matter for fear of its serious implications), and the court cases that may be necessary, the non-turnover by its previous Treasurers to the current Treasurer, what are we licensed and registered Guidance Counselors to expect from this organization to whom we took an oath? I myself asked the question WHY ARE WE MAKING THIS OATH? I got a text message from a fellow oath taker yesterday using this same line. The oath itself was good, but why before I have been educated about the organization? Didn't I feel obliged? forced? cajoled? coerced? What is the reasonable legal regulatory basis for this? When I took my religious vows, I was taught about my congregation, and I went through a period of discernment so that I was free to make the choice, including the consequences. In this case, while there seems to be no solid basis about PGCA being APO, we were already to make an oath! Think about the cart before the horse! Are we to be saddled by these organizational matters? Or are they Officers' Matters only? We members cannot say anything until we have been informed or educated. But the time is now to keep the members informed or else the future officers may not learn their lessons. Again, we are professionals! So let's conduct ourselves as professionals. I'd like to give the current PGCA Board the chance to prove itself so, rather than connive to keep certain matters out of the members' purview. If they don't, who will not think that they are party to blame with what's happening? I believe they're not. But their silence seems disturbing. Is there a type of friendship that's at stake? Or is this plain and simple neglect? PGCA has nonetheless been given a charge, and all we must do is to deliver. I say WE because I took my oath of membership and have a membership certificate. Did I pay for that? Was that included in the P1,500 we paid for the Oath Taking? That was really expensive huh, and yes, without a receipt. I hope that will be audited. Our organizations have Official Receipts for its activities, get audited and submit Financial Reports to their members, and get penalized by the SEC and BIR if not done. What about this case? Who was supposed to be in charge?
3. By all means I am now an RGC, and a registered PGCA member, having gotten my certificate of membership. I want this organization to serve its purpose well. If there is anything I can do to help make it survive and learn from all these problems, believe you me, I'll give it generous time. I love the people in it. And how I pray that wrongs be righted; that we be transparent. Yun lang. Amen.
God bless
Code of Ethics
In the service of those who've taken their Oath as Guidance Counselors before the 3rd batch, I am blogging this Code of Ethics. This is a landmark document in our professional practice here in the Philippines. The next thing I'd like to do is make a commentary on this Code so that we can properly apply them. At the outset, what I miss in here is on "dual relationships" of Guidance Counselors. Happy reading!
Republic of the Philippines
Professional Regulation Commission
Manila
Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance and Counseling
Board Resolution No. 05
Series of 2008
CODE OF ETHICS FOR REGISTERED AND LICENSED GUIDANCE COUNSELORS
WHEREAS, ETHICS refers to, “A system of moral principles or values; the rules or standards governing the conduct of members of a profession; accepted principles of right or wrong;” and establishes the means of doing what is right, fair, and honest;
WHEREAS, the Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance and Counseling is empowered to “ (i) [P]romulgate rules and regulations including the Code of Ethics for Guidance and Counselors xxx” and “(r) [A]dopt measures necessary and proper for the high ethical and professional standards in the maintenance of the practice of the profession;” “(j) [I]nvestigate violations xxx of the Code of Ethics for Guidance Counselors”; (l) [R]ender decision, order or resolution or in preliminary in inquiry against violators xxx of the Code of Ethics for Guidance Counselors xxxx”; (k) [I]ssue, suspend, revoke, or reissue any certificate of registration xxxx” (Sec 5, Powers, Functions of the Board, Art II of R.A. No. 9258, known as the “Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004”);
WHEREAS, Sec. 24, Art. III of R.A. No. 9258 states, to wit: “Sec 24 xxx. The Certificate of Registration may be revoked or suspended xxx for violation of the Code of Ethics xxxx”;
WHEREAS, “Any unethical practice of guidance counseling as may be defined in the Code of Ethics xxx to be prepared by the Board in consultation with guidance counselors is prohibited”; (Par. Four of Sec. 24, Art III of R.A. No. 9258); and
WHEREAS, the Board, pursuant to the power thereof afore-quoted under Section 5 (i), Art. II of of R.A. No. 9258, drafted the Code of Ethics for Guidance Counselors and submitted the same to the Commission for the approval of the latters as part of the rules and regulations of the “Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004”;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Board resolves, as it is hereby resolved, to promulgate and issue the “Code of Ethics for Registered and Licensed Guidance Counselors” marked as Annex “A” and made an integral part of this Resolution and the Rules and Regulations of R.A. No. 9258.
This Resolution shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the full and complete publication thereof in the official Gazette, or in any newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.
Let a copy thereof be forwarded to the Interim Professional Organization of Guidance Counselors and/or the registered and Accredited Integrated National Organization of Registered and Licensed Guidance Counselors.
July 15, 2008
Sgd. LILY ROSQUETA-ROSALES
Officer-in-Charge
Sgd. LUZVIMINDA S. GUZMAN
Member
ATTESTED TO:
Sgd. CARLOS G. ALMELOR
Secretary
Professional Regulatory Boards
APPROVED:
Sgd. LEONOR TRIPON-ROSERO
Secretary
RUTH RANA-PADILLA Sgd. NILO L. ROSAS
Commissioner Commissioner
Code of Ethics 1
LRR/LSG/CGA/CLE/MVM/JEG
ANNEX “A”
CODE OF ETHICS FOR REGISTERED AND LICENSED GUIDANCE COUNSELORS
Preamble
Guidance and Counseling in the Philippines is now recognized as a profession and as such, it carries with it certain responsibilities and expectation.
The role of the Guidance Counselor is significant in the lives of people. The nature of his work demands competence, excellence, integrity, trust and service. He must be guided by recognized ethical standards, which define his functions and responsibilities which provide guidelines for his practices as Guidance Counselor.
Article I
General Ethical Principles
Section 1. Observance of Principles. – Guidance Counselors shall observe the following basic and general principles:
1.1 Abide by the ethical principles laid down by the Guidance and Counseling Profession.
1.2 Not misuse the professional relationship for profit, power, or prestige, or for personal gratification not consonant with the welfare of his Counselee.
1.3 Realize that his professional time and effort are fully, faithfully, conscientiously, and truthfully devoted to the accomplishment and improvement of the guidance and counseling profession.
1.4 Grow professionally and keep abreast with current trends in guidance work through continuing professional education and affiliate himself with reputable and recognized local, national and international guidance associations.
Article II
Relationship with Counselee
Sec. 2. Counselors’ Relationship with Counselee. – Counselors shall establish and maintain good relations with their counselees, and accordingly, shall:
2.1 Respect the personhood and integrity of the person with whom he works.
2.2 Recognize individual differences
2.3 Clarify his role to the Counselee
2.4 Establish professional relationship with the Counselee
2.5 Explain results of tests and other diagnostic tools in a comprehensive and
constructive manner.
2.6 Give information about the Counselee only to persons who can be of help to the
Counselee and is done only with the approval of the Counselee and/or his parents
or guardian. When revelations may result in possible harm to the Counselee or
to someone else, or may endanger the community or the country, he must report
the facts to appropriate authorities and take emergency measures to prevent any
untoward event or harm to Counselee.
2.7 Recommend a referral when it is indicated that the Counselee does not benefit
from the guidance relationship, but assume responsibility for the welfare of the
Counselee until the guidance responsibility is assumed by the person to whom the
Counselee has been referred.
Article III
Relationship with the Community
Sec. 3. Counselors’ Relationship with Community. – Guidance Counselors shall establish and maintain good relations with their community, and accordingly, shall:
3.1 Establish a relationship between the community and the guidance program in a
manner that is beneficial to both.
3.2 Show sensible regard for and ethical recognition of the social code and moral
expectations of the community in which he works and strives to elevate the
understanding of its social and cultural traditions.
3.3 Attend to the needs, problems, aspirations, and human resources of the
community in order to enable him to give relevant service responses, and to
develop a wholesome community spirit.
Article IV
Relationship with Colleagues in the Profession
Sec. 4. Guidance Counselors’ Relationship with their Peers. – Guidance Counselors shall establish with their colleagues, and accordingly, shall:
4.1 Initiate peer relations and maintain high standards of professional competence
in the guidance and counseling discipline.
4.2 Keep relationships on a professional level by refraining from petty personal
actions.
4.3 Consult colleagues as a matter of professional courtesy, when planning to
initiate a professional activity likely to encroach upon his colleagues’
recognized academic disciplines or researches.
4.4 Give accurate information and avoid any misinterpretation or unclear
explanations.
4.5 Hold responsible for proper permission from and adequate recognition of
authors and publishers of counseling and testing instruments which he uses
and sees to it that psychological tests are administered only by professionally-
trained and competent guidance personnel under his direct supervision.
Article V
Research and Publications
Sec. 5. Guidance Counselors Attitude on Research and Publications. – Guidance Counselors shall undergo research and publications and, accordingly, shall:
5.1 Undertake research to contribute to the advancement of the Guidance and
Counseling profession.
5.2 In conducting research, adhere to the highest standards of research
Methodology.
5.3 In reporting results of researches, reveal the identity of the subjects of
research only with the permission of the subjects concerned and only for
professional purposes.
5.4 Acknowledge the source of his ideas and material in his research as well as in
his publications, and recognize divergent opinions from responsible persons.
Article VI
Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 6. Administrative Penalties. – Any registered and licensed Guidance Counselor who violates any provision of this Code shall be administratively liable under Sec. 24, Art. III of R.A. No. 9258 and Sec. 24, Rule III of Board Resolution No. 02 Series of 2007, the “RR of R.A. No. 9258”.
Sec. 7. Separablity Clause. – If any part of this Code is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provision/s or part/s thereof not affected thereby, if separable, shall continue to be valid, enforceable, and operational.
Republic of the Philippines
Professional Regulation Commission
Manila
Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance and Counseling
Board Resolution No. 05
Series of 2008
CODE OF ETHICS FOR REGISTERED AND LICENSED GUIDANCE COUNSELORS
WHEREAS, ETHICS refers to, “A system of moral principles or values; the rules or standards governing the conduct of members of a profession; accepted principles of right or wrong;” and establishes the means of doing what is right, fair, and honest;
WHEREAS, the Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance and Counseling is empowered to “ (i) [P]romulgate rules and regulations including the Code of Ethics for Guidance and Counselors xxx” and “(r) [A]dopt measures necessary and proper for the high ethical and professional standards in the maintenance of the practice of the profession;” “(j) [I]nvestigate violations xxx of the Code of Ethics for Guidance Counselors”; (l) [R]ender decision, order or resolution or in preliminary in inquiry against violators xxx of the Code of Ethics for Guidance Counselors xxxx”; (k) [I]ssue, suspend, revoke, or reissue any certificate of registration xxxx” (Sec 5, Powers, Functions of the Board, Art II of R.A. No. 9258, known as the “Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004”);
WHEREAS, Sec. 24, Art. III of R.A. No. 9258 states, to wit: “Sec 24 xxx. The Certificate of Registration may be revoked or suspended xxx for violation of the Code of Ethics xxxx”;
WHEREAS, “Any unethical practice of guidance counseling as may be defined in the Code of Ethics xxx to be prepared by the Board in consultation with guidance counselors is prohibited”; (Par. Four of Sec. 24, Art III of R.A. No. 9258); and
WHEREAS, the Board, pursuant to the power thereof afore-quoted under Section 5 (i), Art. II of of R.A. No. 9258, drafted the Code of Ethics for Guidance Counselors and submitted the same to the Commission for the approval of the latters as part of the rules and regulations of the “Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004”;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Board resolves, as it is hereby resolved, to promulgate and issue the “Code of Ethics for Registered and Licensed Guidance Counselors” marked as Annex “A” and made an integral part of this Resolution and the Rules and Regulations of R.A. No. 9258.
This Resolution shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the full and complete publication thereof in the official Gazette, or in any newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.
Let a copy thereof be forwarded to the Interim Professional Organization of Guidance Counselors and/or the registered and Accredited Integrated National Organization of Registered and Licensed Guidance Counselors.
July 15, 2008
Sgd. LILY ROSQUETA-ROSALES
Officer-in-Charge
Sgd. LUZVIMINDA S. GUZMAN
Member
ATTESTED TO:
Sgd. CARLOS G. ALMELOR
Secretary
Professional Regulatory Boards
APPROVED:
Sgd. LEONOR TRIPON-ROSERO
Secretary
RUTH RANA-PADILLA Sgd. NILO L. ROSAS
Commissioner Commissioner
Code of Ethics 1
LRR/LSG/CGA/CLE/MVM/JEG
ANNEX “A”
CODE OF ETHICS FOR REGISTERED AND LICENSED GUIDANCE COUNSELORS
Preamble
Guidance and Counseling in the Philippines is now recognized as a profession and as such, it carries with it certain responsibilities and expectation.
The role of the Guidance Counselor is significant in the lives of people. The nature of his work demands competence, excellence, integrity, trust and service. He must be guided by recognized ethical standards, which define his functions and responsibilities which provide guidelines for his practices as Guidance Counselor.
Article I
General Ethical Principles
Section 1. Observance of Principles. – Guidance Counselors shall observe the following basic and general principles:
1.1 Abide by the ethical principles laid down by the Guidance and Counseling Profession.
1.2 Not misuse the professional relationship for profit, power, or prestige, or for personal gratification not consonant with the welfare of his Counselee.
1.3 Realize that his professional time and effort are fully, faithfully, conscientiously, and truthfully devoted to the accomplishment and improvement of the guidance and counseling profession.
1.4 Grow professionally and keep abreast with current trends in guidance work through continuing professional education and affiliate himself with reputable and recognized local, national and international guidance associations.
Article II
Relationship with Counselee
Sec. 2. Counselors’ Relationship with Counselee. – Counselors shall establish and maintain good relations with their counselees, and accordingly, shall:
2.1 Respect the personhood and integrity of the person with whom he works.
2.2 Recognize individual differences
2.3 Clarify his role to the Counselee
2.4 Establish professional relationship with the Counselee
2.5 Explain results of tests and other diagnostic tools in a comprehensive and
constructive manner.
2.6 Give information about the Counselee only to persons who can be of help to the
Counselee and is done only with the approval of the Counselee and/or his parents
or guardian. When revelations may result in possible harm to the Counselee or
to someone else, or may endanger the community or the country, he must report
the facts to appropriate authorities and take emergency measures to prevent any
untoward event or harm to Counselee.
2.7 Recommend a referral when it is indicated that the Counselee does not benefit
from the guidance relationship, but assume responsibility for the welfare of the
Counselee until the guidance responsibility is assumed by the person to whom the
Counselee has been referred.
Article III
Relationship with the Community
Sec. 3. Counselors’ Relationship with Community. – Guidance Counselors shall establish and maintain good relations with their community, and accordingly, shall:
3.1 Establish a relationship between the community and the guidance program in a
manner that is beneficial to both.
3.2 Show sensible regard for and ethical recognition of the social code and moral
expectations of the community in which he works and strives to elevate the
understanding of its social and cultural traditions.
3.3 Attend to the needs, problems, aspirations, and human resources of the
community in order to enable him to give relevant service responses, and to
develop a wholesome community spirit.
Article IV
Relationship with Colleagues in the Profession
Sec. 4. Guidance Counselors’ Relationship with their Peers. – Guidance Counselors shall establish with their colleagues, and accordingly, shall:
4.1 Initiate peer relations and maintain high standards of professional competence
in the guidance and counseling discipline.
4.2 Keep relationships on a professional level by refraining from petty personal
actions.
4.3 Consult colleagues as a matter of professional courtesy, when planning to
initiate a professional activity likely to encroach upon his colleagues’
recognized academic disciplines or researches.
4.4 Give accurate information and avoid any misinterpretation or unclear
explanations.
4.5 Hold responsible for proper permission from and adequate recognition of
authors and publishers of counseling and testing instruments which he uses
and sees to it that psychological tests are administered only by professionally-
trained and competent guidance personnel under his direct supervision.
Article V
Research and Publications
Sec. 5. Guidance Counselors Attitude on Research and Publications. – Guidance Counselors shall undergo research and publications and, accordingly, shall:
5.1 Undertake research to contribute to the advancement of the Guidance and
Counseling profession.
5.2 In conducting research, adhere to the highest standards of research
Methodology.
5.3 In reporting results of researches, reveal the identity of the subjects of
research only with the permission of the subjects concerned and only for
professional purposes.
5.4 Acknowledge the source of his ideas and material in his research as well as in
his publications, and recognize divergent opinions from responsible persons.
Article VI
Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 6. Administrative Penalties. – Any registered and licensed Guidance Counselor who violates any provision of this Code shall be administratively liable under Sec. 24, Art. III of R.A. No. 9258 and Sec. 24, Rule III of Board Resolution No. 02 Series of 2007, the “RR of R.A. No. 9258”.
Sec. 7. Separablity Clause. – If any part of this Code is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provision/s or part/s thereof not affected thereby, if separable, shall continue to be valid, enforceable, and operational.
The Oath Taking Program
I am putting here some more pictures. If others have theirs, do email me those jpegs and they will find space here in the next blogs. Thanks. Picture #1 is the Oath to the PGCA (what for?). Anyway it was in the program, and I intend to make that a real one. The one who took that picture sat beside me, Mr. Vic Abrenica, my Group Process professor in DLSU. Tatay ko na ba? Pareho kaming may "halo" no? Maliwanag na ba? And yes, the third picture was the most "talked about" cultural rendition by Ms. Dixie Diesta of the UP College of Music. The Program wrote "Special Song Offering" but she sang how many? SOrry but I lost count, maybe about four? Ano ka, kinanta niya Bituing Marikit, completo with coloratura voice (yung kumukulot na boses hehe). Talaga yatang ganon ang Guidance Counselor - Bituing Marikit (hehehe just lightening the atmosphere!). Listening to her brought back memories of the jukebox and the harana sa Aawitan Kita tv special (madami kamming nakaabot sa kapanahunan na yun no?!) The last pic is the trademark PGCA chaos. There should be a way to make things a little more orderly next time. Let's pray we find a better one. In the meantime, PILA!!!!
For us who were at the Oath Taking Ceremonies in the Manila Hotel's Centennial Hall, it was an exhilarating experience. Years of service were acknowledged through the generosity of the Grandfather's Clause of Republic Act No. 9258. Thanks to the Board that examined our documents. Ad multos annos. This Latin phrase doesn't wish for more "multo's" or ghosts to hound them through the years, but a sincere wish for MORE YEARS in their lives of service!
Just to appreciate what was inside, I looked into the list of 3rd Batch of oath takers under the Grandfather's Clause. I saw my name in #96 again. I couldn't believe it, thinking that this is a Program and yet containing the same mistake! Upon taking a second look after the chaos of the occasion, I saw the same name in the same spot I had reported to the PRC: ALCAZAR, Esperanza Magsino, in numbers 11 and 26. AGAIN!!! And if I am not mistaken, I met her, and she's a nun! But in fairness, CARVAJAL, Pepita Tabilon was written only once this time, and GUTIERREZ, Rowena Espiritu appeared this time!
And believe it or not, the title of PGCA did not carry with it the title "Accredited Professional Organization by the PRC." Not even the word Interim was found! For once I saw some honesty here. There will be more honesty to be made in the coming days. I hope there is a way to improve our integrity, which Dr. Esperanza De Gracia coined as "impeccable integrity."
Yes, the Program contained the PRB Resolution No. 05, the Code of Ethics for Registered and Licensed Counselors, which was dated July 15, 2008. For those who took their oaths earlier, I intend to copy here this document so that everyone can read and be taught.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Oath Taking Pics
Here are some of the pictures taken today Sept. 28, 2008 during the Oath taking ceremonies for the 3rd batch of Grandfather's Clause and the 1st batch of Licensure Exams Passers. I have finally met the persons who have been reading this blog, making inquiries that led to answers. Archie Siaron, RGC from Ateneo de Zamboanga and his group in the first picture; then Haidee Arguelles and her husband, both RGC's now, together with Dr. Benny Lascano, former PGCA President, and at the back is Mr. Cesar Cong, current IPCAP Treasurer in the 2nd picture. That's Dr. Eala by my side (hoy, hindi ;ang kaming dalawa ang nanunumpa no? Likot isip n'yo a. Nasa tabi yata niya Nanay niya no? Yung iba sa likuran namin pati namamanata din). Kita niyo Nanay ni Dr. Eala? That's Dr. Susan Estanislao and her Ate at her left, both Registered Professional Counselors now. And of course, the last picture is with Ms. Avelina Mandin, one of the Board of Trustees in the IPCAP.
I met other people of course. Indeed an occasion of camaraderie with fellow professionals. Hope to contact you more through this medium and through email or text.
We were able to distribute the IPCAP application forms. Two have submitted their applications already. We shall steadily grow in number, hoping that this organization shall truly cater to the needs of the licensed and registered Guidance Counselors. Happy viewing!
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