2004
Annual Report
Executive
Summary
UP
Manila Pahinungód has been in existence for 11 years now.
Its different programs have evolved into many forms of service
and are continuously evolving to address the needs of the communities.
From six programs in 1994 (Health Missions, Health Training, Summer
Immersion, Tutorial Services, Disaster Management, and Sports
Science and Wellness Consultancy) it now has 11 programs clustered
under four major programs namely: Educational Assistance, Community
Health, Community Social Welfare, and Advocacy. Under the Educational
Assistance, it has the Tutorial Service, Teachers’ Development
Program, Affirmative Action and Gurong Pahinungód. The
Community Health has Health Training, Health Missions, and Emergency
Room Volunteers Program. The Community Social Welfare includes
the Summer Immersion Service Program, Program for the Street Children,
and Hospice Care and the Advocacy Program has the Ang Pahinungód
newsletter, Volunteerism in Action book series, Annual Report,
and other information campaign activities.
At present, Dr. Eric Talens is OPCE director and the sub-programs
have their own chairpersons. The appointed chairpersons are Prof.
Celia Bonilla (Advocacy Program), Dr. Coppernico Villaruel (Program
for the Street Children), Dr. Anthony Cordero (Summer Immersion
Service Program), Dr. Jorge Concepcion (Emergency Room Volunteers
Program), and Prof. Natividad Lacdan (Educational Assistance).
Dr. Eric Talens also chairs the Health Missions and the Continuing
Education Executive Committee.
The Tutorial Services Program handles the National Service Training
Program-Literacy Training Service (NSTP-LTS) under its Service
Learning Option, since Pahinungód has existing linkage
with public schools in Metro Manila. This year, for the second
semester, it has deployed 91 students, conducted 568 tutorial
sessions and served 144 students in 4 public elementary schools.
The Gurong Pahinungód Program has been inactive this year
due to the delays in the renewal of Memorandum of Agreement between
DECS and UP. However, coordination for the Teachers’ Development
Program had been continuous, in preparation for the revival of
the program.
The Advocacy Program has developed to involve volunteers in its
information campaign. Sixteen volunteers participated in its first
advocacy training for volunteers, and three volunteers already
helped in the room-to-room presentations and orientations. There
were 38 orientations conducted this year to some 1,746 students
of UP Manila.
The Program for the Street Children musicale titled “Ang
Buhay Sangandaan” will showcase the artistic talents of
the street kids, at the same time develop their confidence and
self-esteem, and keep them off the streets. The program has 129
active volunteers this year and a total of 200 beneficiaries from
the six street kids institutions in the program. The institutions
are Asilo de San Vicente de Paul, My Father’s House, Sabana-ERDA
Foundation, Childhope Asia Philippines, Sun for All Children,
and Young Women’s Christian Association
The Summer Immersion Service Program deployed 13 volunteers to
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; Buhi, Camarines Sur; Real, Quezon;
and Infanta, Quezon. In preparation for the immersion, they were
oriented and trained, and then monitored for supervision. At the
end of the deployment period, they narrated all their experiences
and gave their insights as they debriefed to the staff.
The Hospice Care Program was just re-launched August. The office
coordinated with Palliative Care, a psychosocial support group
in the PGH Department of Family and Community Medicine. The program
has gathered 40 volunteers, who underwent orientation and screening,
to serve the PGH patients, particularly the cancer patients.
The Health Mission conducted 92 medical, dental and surgical missions
(including site visits, screening, ocular inspections, and follow-ups)
for the year 2004, serving a total number of 19,379 patients in
1,157 communities. More than 561 volunteers were deployed. The
program incorporated health education and health training in most
of its health missions. Thirteen health education and five health
training courses were piggy-backed in these missions to make each
project more cost-effective.
The Emergency Room Volunteers Program deployed 30 volunteers this
year. These new volunteers had an initial orientation followed
by a training course just prior to deployment. Debriefing was
held after the project. The program records 3,133 patients served
in the PGH ER.
The Continuing Education Executive Committee monitored the conduct
of non-degree continuing education activities (NDCEA) of UP Manila
this year. Revisions were made on the existing guidelines in the
conduct of NDCEA’s, particularly regarding remittances and
charges for administrative overhead costs.
Volunteers were also fielded to assist the Department of Pediatrics
in their Cup-Feeding program at the PGH Nursery.
The other activities of OPCE were the celebration of the 11th
Inception Anniversary and the Staff Development activity in Sta.
Cruz, Laguna. A Christmas Bazaar run by volunteers was set up
at the OPCE just before the Christmas vacation.
OPCE became an official member of the national network of Volunteer
Organization Interaction, Coordination and Exchange (VOICE) this
year.
OPCE won the first prize in the poster-exhibit contest of the
Foundation Week of UP Manila. Two of our volunteers also were
finalists in the Best Student Volunteer Search.
Through the persistent enthusiasm of the volunteers and the support
of the UP Manila administration, OPCE continued to be relevant
to the community and consistent with the vision and mission of
UP Manila.
