Philippines

GFF PHILIPPINES JOURNEY TOWARDS FEBRUARY 2023

FREE COACHING ON PHILIPPINEs CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION

Helping our fellow Aklanon to become eligible to work in the Philippine government offices.

We are very grateful with this program, we won’t do a self-review anymore, thank you for the review materials and the ongoing coaching.

One of the participants, Tito, expresses his thankfulness

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” — This is a famous quotation that also mirrors the Glenn Family Foundation founder, Sir Owen Glenn. This project is created to elevate the employment of our fellow Aklanon in the Philippine Government Office. The Civil Service Exam (CSE), also known as the Career Service Examination, is conducted twice a year by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to figure out whether or not an applicant is eligible to work in the Philippine government offices. With the help of our 7-week Free Review of the examination scope inside the GFF HELPS Office in Kalibo, we can help pass the almost 10 examinees. LP and Stef have been the one conducting the Review to topics like English, Math, Philippine Laws, Code of Ethics, Environment and many more since both are Licensed Teachers. We are looking forward to have 100% passers in the upcoming examination in 26th March 2023.

COMMUNITY PROJECT: Adopt-A-Village

We are very much willing to receive help from GFF HELPS since it will all for the sake of our citizens here. We are willing to have the seminar about Agriculture since most of us are doing Agriculture jobs. – Village Secretary

Doing projects with the community is a great way to increase knowledge, skills and promotes progress to people living there. The PH Team, with the guidance of Mr. Saom has initially make progress in communicating to the Muguing Village, an agricultural village 10 kilometers from the GFF Office to partner and create projects with them through the help of Philippine departments like the Department of Agriculture, the Local Government Unit and other agencies. The PH Team will serve as a catalyst to make this project happen. In January, we started communicating the the officers of Muguing Village, did some data survey so that we could decide which project applies best. In February, we communicated to the Mayor’s Office to request permission for a resource speaker from the Department of Agriculture, the Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO) in Banga, to be sent to the Muguing Village and give a seminar on Agriculture and Livestock. The MAO Acting Officer Mr. Elmar Estanislao were very willing to send a resource speaker to Muguing Village in March 2023. The recipient village, on the other hand, was more grateful for the opportunity that we will give to their citizens.

REMEDIAL CLASSES

Remedial Classes are ongoing in the four schools: Banga Elementary School, Muguing Elementary School, Sigcay Elementary School, and Lapnag Primary School. Progress of the children were witnessed by the teachers and parents. More students were added to our class, and they also manifested progress despite being new. We continue to provide worksheets and focus on intensive learning. Now, there are more than 50 students under the remedial class from these four schools. We are also grateful for the support of our intern in most of our schedules. We are able to teach many kids in just one session.

“We are very grateful with the Remedial Class Project given to my students, they are now doing progressively.”

Sir Ronnie of Sigcay Elementary School

“Assisting students to achieve expected competencies in core academic skills such as literacy and numeracy.”

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK-UP AND WEIGHT MEASUREMENT

Health is one of our priorities. In recent months, we purchased a weighing scale, automatic blood pressure monitor, and glucometer. In every activity that we have, we integrate the health check-up for the participants. One example is the Free Civil Service Examination Seminar where we checked the blood pressure and weight of the participants. All of them were interested to know their weight and their blood pressure. We are planning to hold a seminar in villages about health in partnership with the local government unit and their health workers in the future. For now, we will focus on health check-up integration to each projects that we have.

ARTS DAY

“Promotes Self-Esteem and Self-Expression.”

All human beings are creative by nature. Young children know this in their hearts but lack resources and support. As a celebration of Arts Day, the GFF HELPS Philippines Team brought art materials to Muguing Elementary School. We taught children in Grade 1 how to make animals using simple materials like paper and colored pencils. They made jellyfish and cards out of the materials that we brought. It doesn’t have to be expensive to be creative. The children learned that they could use available materials to create something. Almost 20 kids participated in the activity and proudly showed their work. This activity made us closer to them, and their parents, who are part of the community of Muguing Village. We are happy to ignite their creativity and inspire them to explore their skills.

Joe FisherGFF PHILIPPINES JOURNEY TOWARDS FEBRUARY 2023
Read more

Philippines bridging the gap for education and health

Free Blood Pressure Check-up

The GFF HELPS Philippines Team provided Free Blood Pressure Check to almost 50 people from the mountains of Madalag Town. We communicated and sent Letter of Intent to their Village Leader and after getting the GO signal, we gathered all the materials that we need in that time such as the Sphygmomanometer, the Manual and Automatic BP Machine, the GF HELPS PH Flex, tables and sanitizers and BP Checklist to where the participants write their names and BP results. We needed to ride on a motortaxi from the center town going up to the village It was raining that time but we proceeded because people are waiting for us there. Most of the beneficiaries haven’t taken their Blood Pressure for quite some time because most of them are seniors and cannot easily travel to their clinics. The people living in Mercedes Village in the mountainous area of Madalag are quite humble and happy. We cannot forget how grateful they were while they were in queue observing us getting their Blood Pressure one by one and waiting for their turns. We have interviewed a grandfather who is taking his maintenance due to high blood pressure. He is quite happy for our service.

The beneficiaries and the Mercedes Village council staff headed by Hon. Francisco were very thankful that we have this kind of project for them to be aware of their Blood Pressure.

GFF Helps Philippines

REMEDIAL CLASSES

Remediation is a word that means improving and correcting a situation. Most students in different schools were in a situation of educational stagnation. They are stationary at a level where they can’t even comprehend a simple sentence, can’t read a CVC word, and worst, can’t read their own language Filipino. There have been different theories for this problem, but a major factor is the pandemic quarantine. Without personal guidance from the teachers and with the poor support of most parents, the children were greatly affected. The GFF PH Team is on the move as part of the remediation class. We keep on going to schools regularly, print our learning materials, and communicate with teachers. We forgot the days that passed, and we saw how they improved. From a blank page to ongoing writing, the kids’ progress is unstoppable. It only proves that focused attention to the learners and keen supervision results in academic progress.

Assisting students to achieve expected competencies in core academic skills such as literacy and numeracy.

GFF Helps Philippines
Joe FisherPhilippines bridging the gap for education and health
Read more

GFF Philippines October journey

Reading Workshop & Mobile Library

Projects under the Health Programme is one of the things that we are working hard with. We need to engage with a number of people and organizations involving the medical field like Red Cross Philippines, volunteer nurses and even doctors. As we start to call the attention of the people from the medical field, we initiated the Medical Camp Program where collaboration with the Red Cross Youth Philippines (RCY) was done during their Peer Educators Training: HIV Awareness in Kalibo. After a series of conversation with their President, Mr. Errol Ordines, we were approved to collaborate with them to do the Medical Camp. On October 15th-16th, the Philippines Team went in their venue in Kalibo, bringing our Manual and Automatic Blood Pressure Machine and provided a free Blood Pressure monitoring for the 25 members of the LGBTQ since they are the primary participants of the said training. They were really grateful for such service that they seldom do a Blood Pressure monitor for the few months, and they were glad we have this kind of program. We are planning to continue this Medical Camp: Blood Pressure Monitoring and Blood Sugar Testing in the schools, and the community especially those living in faraway villages, i.e., Madalag Town where villagers won’t able to travel down in the center town or can’t even afford service like the Blood Sugar Monitoring.

We continue to provide reading and arithmetic tutorials to a group of kids living in different towns. The support that we give serves as a refresher class for them. The pandemic made them stationary at home and became stagnant in academic progress. We can see the impact of modular learning when we go to their houses and monitor how they answer their modules. As school reopened and kids have been alternately attending schools by sets, the teachers have a hard time teaching them. The kids that regularly attend our home visit and workshops are noticeably at edge among their classmates in school. The parents thanked us for the worksheets that we provided and the company that we gave to their children. Their emotional and cognitive skills have been improving.

REMEDIAL CLASSES

The Department of Education implemented mandatory remedial classes for students who have low marks and do not manifest academic progress. These enrichment classes are conducted during a specific time agreed by the teachers and parents. The GFF HELPS Philippines Team understood the needs of the learners and offered to be a remedial class teacher. The team is consisting of Licensed Teachers who have expertise in General Education and English. We sent a letter of intent to schools, and there are three of them where we regularly visit and conduct remedial classes. Materials like modules are provided by the school, but we also bring our own resources to reinforce. The support that we give to teachers and students were recognized. Parents have been very supportive of their kids and appreciate our efforts. 

“Assisting students to achieve expected
competencies in core academic skills
such as literacy and numeracy.”

GFF HELPS PHILIPPINES

SCHOOL VISITATION AND SURVEY

School visitation gives us a great understanding of every school’s needs. This October, we began visiting schools where we worked before. Most of them had been a beneficiary of the Digital Learning Program and received tablets to support the learning of their students. As we started the school visitation, we saw the main problem that every teacher tries to mend, the poor comprehension and numeracy of the students. Thus, we provided support by volunteering as remedial class teachers. Some of the schools also reported a lack of teaching facilities, like classrooms, to accommodate students. They are hoping for a makeshift classroom to avoid dividing a single room into two. We are glad to work with teachers and to know the situation on the ground. We will provide support within our capacity.

Medical Camp: Free Blood Pressure Monitoring

Joe FisherGFF Philippines October journey
Read more

Art is the way forward for GFF Helps Philippines

Online Storytelling

Kids have been going to school now, and most of them do not have classes in the afternoon. Our schedule is befitting this situation, and we still maintain the number of attendees. The presentation was changed a little as activities are constructed in a way that they will exhibit their critical thinking. We skipped games and formulated activities based on real-life situations. They spend most of their time thinking and reasoning. Most of the kids are in a higher level already and they liked the activities. The younger ones are coping with the changes but still showed great understanding. We are happy to hone the minds of these kids into thinking critically.

“Gives students the power to express themselves through multi-literacy modes.”

Reading Workshop & Mobile Library

“Enhancing the opportunity of access to library resources.”
“Engaging students in authentic reading experiences”

We continue to visit the students from Capitan Tazan Memorial Primary School located in Ugsod Village in the town of Banga. These kids are related to each other and live in the same neighborhood. The opening of classes already started, and these kids were also going to school for a half-day class. In the afternoon, they spent time with us with activities to enhance their vocabulary. We saw how they improved every day, and this motivated us to collaborate with schools. We noticed that most students in the Elementary level especially in the lower section, are non-readers. The Government implemented Remedial Classes for these kids under their assigned teachers. We understand the work that teachers do every day and how they struggle to juggle all. We sent a Letter of Intent to the School Principal of Banga Elementary School to volunteer as Remedial Class Teachers for a specific section. It was approved and we will begin in the later part of this month. We are always happy with the trust that the schools have in us.

“Enhancing the opportunity of access to library resources.”
“Engaging students in authentic reading experiences”

Group Workshop: Arts and Crafts Day

The Group Workshop was inspired by the Summer Program initiated and facilitated by Willyn and Michael last 2019. It was held in different towns in Banga, Aklan. When the pandemic started, everything was halted. We decided to do it again but in smaller groups. The Episode 2 of this Group Workshop is Arts and Crafts Day. We invited kids from the Town of Kalibo and the Town of Banga. The Flores Family lent us a wide and comfortable place for free in their place in Banga, Aklan. The kids participated in making different crafts made from scratch materials. They also watched informative videos about the different seasons and made a drawing of their favorite ones. We also had a reading workshop outside the Bermuda grass where we sat and read books. The kids showed exemplary skills in comprehension and craftsmanship despite most of them being levels 0-1.

Joe FisherArt is the way forward for GFF Helps Philippines
Read more

GFF PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINES PROGRESSES WITH READING, FARMING AND LEARNING

Let's work together

Reading Workshop & Mobile Library
“Enhancing the opportunity of access to library resources.”
“Engaging students in authentic reading experiences”


There are two groups of kids located in different towns that GFF Philippines visit once a week. This month, Stefany and LPchanged location and visited the students from Capitan Tazan Memorial Primary School located in Ugsod Village in the town of Banga. These kids are related to each other and live in the same neighborhood. The opening of classes already started, and these kids were also going to school for a half-day class. In the afternoon, they spent time with us and do many activities to enhance their vocabulary.
We prepared worksheets for them and they mainly focus on vocabulary and letters. This is a good reinforcement for them after going to school. One of the mothers commented that instead of playing after school, they are looking forward to an after-class workshop with us. They are very happy that their kids had this free workshop something that only privileged children could afford. An after-class workshop that will further help them in their studies, will cost them a good amount, but we are giving it for free. That made them responsible and active. 

VEGETABLE GARDEN PROJECT PHASE 3
“Healthy Meals: Healthy Bodies and Minds”

Mr. Vincent with his family at their wide vegetable garden in Ugsod Village, Banga, Aklan, Philippines.

The Vegetable Garden Project Phase 3 continues to give nutrition and living to our families who are members of GFF HELPS Aklan Workers ’Association  in Banga Town, Province of Aklan. It has been their everyday routine to weed, to water and to involve their children in taking care of the vegetables since Summer Time of this year- wherein some of the seeds got withered but somehow survived and were taken notice by our farmers. Now that the rainy season is coming, most of our farmers are thinking of a solution to where they could still continue planting their vegetables despite unpleasant weather – perfect timing is the secret. Most of them had reserved matured seeds out from matured vegetable fruits that they could plant anytime on a fertile soil. We are grateful that our members are doing their best to not waste any of our seeds.

 

GROUP WORKSHOP
“Teach hands-on skills as it gives learners an opportunity to try out new methods and fail in a safe environment.”

Stifhany, LP, together with the kids holding their reflection paper and mud volcano.


The kids poured ingredients inside the mud volcano under the instruction of LP.

The Group Workshop was inspired by the Summer Program initiated and facilitated by Willyn and Michael last 2019. It was held in different towns in Banga, Aklan. When the pandemic started, everything was halted. We decided to do it again but in smaller groups. Ten students have been selected for this workshop and all of them are living in Tabayon Village in the Town of Banga. Seven kids participated in the activity. The Workshop was divided into 5 days and depending on the available schedule of the kids, we will conduct each day. The First Day of the Group Workshop was successfully conducted. The topic was about Volcanoes, their types, and examples. The kids participated in an energizer activity, proceeded with the discussion, and made their volcanoes. They are monitored and instructed throughout the activity. The kids were assured that a failure to make a volcanic eruption is okay. In the end, they successfully made active volcanoes and were fascinated with the eruption. They wrote their reflection on the activity. Testimonials of the parents and the kids were collected and all of them were satisfied by the outcome.

Online Storytelling
“Gives students the power to express themselves through multi- literacy modes.”

The kids enjoyed reading the funny story of the girl who had her first wriggly tooth. They also shared memories of their first loose tooth.

Kids have been busy preparing for the opening of classes. They will be engage into different setting and lessons. Most of their classes will be half-day and they are not allowed to go out until 12 noon. But, the kids have been hooked into Thursday afternoon that they would still join Online Storytelling. One mother said that Thursday afternoon and the stories have been the only thing that they are looking forward to during the pandemic. Somehow, they got used to the time and the session. We are very glad for our avid attendees. The Storytelling Gala that we will be having soon will be a great opportunity for them to meet children from other countries.

Joe FisherGFF PHILIPPINES
Read more

Safety First for Philippines

Safety First for Philippines

GFF Helps philippines collaborated with

RED CROSS PHILIPPINES for

First-Aid
Training

The GFF HELPS Philippines is delighted with the successful result of the 2-day Occupational First-Aid and Basic Life Support-Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation with Automated External Defibrillator (BLS-CPR with AED)Training 2022 by Red Cross Philippines Aklan Chapter, headed by Mary Joe B. Galeon, the Chapter Administrator in La Felicidad Granja Farm, Lapnag Banga, Aklan last July 14-15th, 2022.

The twenty (20) participants of the said Training came mostly from our GFF HELPS Aklan Workers’ Association Members and School Clinic Teachers who have elderly, children and infants at home and have students whose schools are located far away from the town proper. Their location hinders them to rush in the hospital just in case accidents could happen. The training suits every participants since no one knows where and when the accident could happen. As they were trained as First-Aid providers, they could perform and help the victims while waiting for the Emergency Response Teams to reach them. The training provided them enough knowledge on Bandaging, Carrying the patients, CPR,  and many more.

As Mr. Nelson Tulio has quoted: “The training adds up to my knowledge as a Physical Therapist in town. The Certificate of Completion that I have received from Red Cross Philippines also serve as a proof and people won’t question my credibility in performing First-Aid Training.”

“Providing
safety needs for our GFF HELPS Aklan Workers’ Association Members”

Lady Peace Remaneses, LPT GFF HELPS PH Representative

These are the Head of the families who benefited the First-Aid Training, from left to right: Mr. Simon, Mr.Tulio, Mr.Rebano, Mr. Villanueva

Reading Workshop & Mobile Library

The session of the Reading Workshop with Barrera siblings and their cousins continues. This small group of kids continues to progress, and we always praise and encourage them to do their best. All of them were recognized by their school as achievers and received awards. We are happy to see their growth as well as their parents. We make sure that they receive simple prizes like stickers and small toys after the session. They would always look forward to these prizes and do well during activities. We also developed a strong bond with these kids that they would always give us a hug when we arrive and leave.

Enhancing the opportunity of access to library resources

Stifhany A. Salvador, LPT
PH Mobile Library – Stifhany and LP together with Barrera siblings and their cousins holding their worksheets.


Facebook


Youtube

Online Storytelling

“Gives students the power to express themselves through multi- literacy modes.”

Blended learning has been introduced recently to help the students cope with modular challenges since the pandemic started. In this kind of system, students learn via electronic and online media as well as traditional face-to-face teaching.  We are happy to see that most students allocate time to join our Online Storytelling session despite strict schedule. Most of them were recognized recently by their school because of their exemplary performance. We did not forget to include their pictures in the presentation as our congratulatory gift for them. We are proud that the kids associated with our projects were talented and achievers. As we look back, these kids have been with us for more than two years. We can see how much they grew. In our eyes, they are still the same kids that like to read stories and colorful pictures.

VEGETABLE GARDEN PROJECT – PHASE III

The GFF HELPS Philippines’ Vegetable Garden Project has always been part of  the daily lives of the beneficiaries in the different villages in Banga Town. As we got to visit the participants’ houses on the later weeks of July, we were able to see the growth of the crawling vegetables like squash and string beans. Our beneficiaries are very responsible and hard working in making bamboo fences that would serve as crawling support for these vegetables. They also tend on their vegetable plots most time of their days. Some produce were sold and some were consumed by their family. Junlen, spent almost of his mornings and afternoons in his ricefield that he turned into a beautiful vegetable garden with the seeds given by the GFF HELPS PH Team.

“Continuing
the “Healthy Meals: Healthy Bodies and Minds” aim

Lady Peace Remaneses, LPT

This is LP together with Junlen while he is maintaining the cleanliness of his vegetable garden in Agbanawan, Banga, Aklan

Joe FisherSafety First for Philippines
Read more

SOLAR PROJECT VISIT

Madalag is a landlocked municipality in Aklan. Most of its towns are remote and do not have access to electricity. The people are living through a traditional lamp that lights the whole hut. The GFF HELPS Philippines Team proposed and

Solar Project- One of the beneficiary of the solar project Mr. Victor.

initiated a Solar Project that would benefit the villagers that do not have electricity. By 2020, 100 families received their solar kits. After two years, we visited them and saw the status of their solar kits. Together with Mr. Saom and Ms. Lisa, we trekked mountains to reach each of them, sometimes under drizzles. We stopped by some houses to rest and eat. While on our way, we met the beneficiaries going down the mountain to buy some condiments in the town. We talked to them and asked them about their solar kits. All of them stated that they benefitted a lot from the solar kits. They don’t need to go to the town only to charge their cellphones. They can continue working with their livelihood even at night because the light is not flickering. Their babies can sleep well because the house is brighter. They can carry their solar kits everywhere because it is handy. We are overwhelmed by their statements and grateful for their hospitability.

 

Solar Project -Wearing rain ponchos before riding on a motor-taxi.

 

We are hoping that while they are waiting for the electricity to reach them, our solar kits will light their humble homes.

 

Joe FisherSOLAR PROJECT VISIT
Read more

Mobile Library March 2022

The rotation of books continues in school and among neighboring students. The books vary in level to suit the student’s comprehension. This year, we distributed 30 books to Capitan Tazan Memorial Primary School and 15 books to Sigcay Elementary School. Sometimes, we bring books to the children of our beneficiaries. We are always grateful for the help of the hardworking teachers and the support of parents. One of the highlights of this month is the regular reading workshop that we conduct for the neighboring students of Capitan Tazan Memorial
Primary School. Our hard work was noticed by some parents living in the same community and they expressed their interest. They
also want their children to join and asked permission from the owner of the house where we teach.

One of the mothers prepared a big table and more chairs because she’s expecting more participants. We are overwhelmed by the love that these kids show to us. They would always prepare snacks for us and stay with us until a vehicle pick us up. There’s nothing more rewarding than being loved and respected by your students.

 

 

Stifhany and LP together with kids from Capitan Tazan Memorial Primary School. The kids prepared a big table and more chairs for their new friends

Stifhany and LP together with kids from Capitan Tazan Memorial Primary School.

 

 

“Engaging students in authentic reading experiences”

 

 

 

Joe FisherMobile Library March 2022
Read more

Online Storytelling March 2022

“Teacher, where’s my price?” A usual thing that you can hear every session of the Online Storytelling. Parents said that their kids expect virtual prizes to be real one day. Our Online Storytelling to children ages 9-12 years old from Banga, Aklan, every Thursday and Friday afternoon is always productive.

GFF Helps Philippines have regular attendees that grew with them. They have formed a strong bond with these kids that they comfortably share their personal experiences during sessions. This month’s highlight is the story of “The First Woman in Space” as a celebration of Women’s Month. The children learned the role that women played in history. LP and Stifhany always make sure that stories were taken from reliable online sources and activities were engaging. They wanted to show their appreciation to the avid attendees, and they thought of giving them something. They are planning to make the virtual prizes real. They will purchase fruit bundles and deliver them to the houses of the kids. Everyone seems excited to receive their prizes, a sweet treat for their hard work.

“Gives students the power to express themselves through multi-literacy modes.”

The kids learned about “The First Woman in Space” and the roles that women played in history

Joe FisherOnline Storytelling March 2022
Read more

Mobile Library March 2022

GFF Philippines continue to rotate books in school and among neighboring students. The books vary in level to suit the student’s comprehension. This year, they distributed 30 books to Capitan Tazan Memorial Primary School and 15 books to Sigcay Elementary School. Sometimes, they bring books to the children of their beneficiaries. They are always grateful for the help of the hardworking teachers and the support of parents. One of the highlights of this month is the regular reading workshop that they conduct for the neighboring students of Capitan Tazan Memorial Primary School. Their hard work was noticed by some parents living in the same community and they expressed their interest. They also want their children to join and asked permission from the owner of the house where they teach.

Stifhany and LP together with kids from Capitan Tazan Memorial Primary School. The kids prepared a big table and more chairs for their new friends.

“There’s nothing more rewarding than being loved and respected by your students.”

One of the mothers prepared a big table and more chairs because she’s expecting more participants. GFF Helps Philippines are overwhelmed by the love that these kids show to them. Children would always prepare snacks for them and stay with them until a vehicle would pick them up.

Joe FisherMobile Library March 2022
Read more