Pasay City Youth Homes Days 10-14

May 13,2009
We made them a challenging group dynamics we ever did. We tasked them in groups to make a picture of house, pathway, trees, Sun, using art paper, crayons, glue or tape. The only catch was this. They had to present their items that they have like their shirt, accessories, slippers, etc. for trade just to buy what they need. We gave them a piece of paper that has the conversion rates and the amount of the items they need to use. we had fun doing this. One kid even had to remove his false teeth so that they can have more amount.Hehe. The purpose of this was to find out how they plan their lives and how they can work their plan. We had so much fun that we even extended throughout noon hour. After this, we counseled two kids who will be transferred to another facility in Tanay. We told instructed them that humility is the best virtue they can use so that they may be given pardon so they won't lose hope. The Youth Home is only a temporary shelter for kids who's awaiting a hearing session for their cases. These two kids were already sentenced for their offense.The two will be transfer tomorrow morning. I only pray that the next time we will see them is when they are already released from their sentence.

May 15, 2009
We featured another family-oriented film,"The Homecoming". Though it's an American production, local company proovided a dubbed version of it. We were also visited by our Field Education Coordinator to oversee our area. We were also sad about the two who were transferred to Tanay. But, we will continue to pray for them. Thus,closing our fourth week.

May 18, 2009
On to our last week here at Pasay City Youth Home, we started the day with a singspiration and learning of new songs which we were to use on Friday for our Worship Service. We were led by Ptr. Johnny in our singing. DJ led our morning devotion and I facilitated a “group dynamics”. The youngsters learned cooperation, trust and security. Although today we had some minor issues with one of the boys the staff handled it properly.

May 20, 2009
Last two days of our summer exposure and today we get to watch a film which featured Dwayne “Rock” Johnson entitled GridIron Gang, a story about juvenile kids inside a probation camp which holds them. Dwayne in his role coach the kids into football which taught them discipline, respect and character. We thought this film will make the young men at Pasay relate themselves with the characters and just like what the kids did in the movie (which is a true story by the way) will make them choose the right one also someday. Our morning devotion and our movie reflection was led by DJ.

May 22, 2009
We ended our summer community exposure with a worship service.We invited our Field Education coordinator as speaker and the kids also gave their testimonies of what they have learned and what we also learned from them Then we had a fellowship lunch.

Pasay City Youth Homes Days 6-9

May 1, 2009
We're ending the second week with another film showing. I first gave my reflection before the feature film, Facing the Giants. Though it was in English, we stressed some major quotes that they may draw insights from.

May 4, 2009
The highlight of this visit was that we had games and a group dynamics. We had them made a tower made of straws and only masking tape. We divided them in groups and some of them has many straws and some has no tape and some has less straws. Then, we discussed their work and reflected.

May 6, 2009
We are now exactly halfway of our summer community exposure at PCYH. Yesterday, I got a call from a couple of my classmates who are serving their summer community exposure in Bicol. We were exchanging stories. For Day 8, I gave them a short pep talk and played a game. Afterwards, a group dynamics. We ask them to group themselves in four then gave intructions to secure an egg and make sure it doesn't break and protect it. They only will use straws, scotch tape, masking tape. 2 eggs got broken, 1 egg got it's shell cracked. Only 1 egg survived after two attempts of a fall and a throw. We ask them if they really took care of the egg. Because, they don't really secured it while they were given the eggs. Some made joke attempts of releasing the eggs. We told them if that's how they value some things in life if they were given responsibility. The only girl among the youth there will be released today.

May 11, 2009
Late post.We were informed that we have two new youths there.More like newly back. They were already admitted before.After our activities, we gave them an introduction and recap of what happened so far.

Blind Item

I mentioned in my earlier posts,specifically this one <http://oneiros.multiply.com/journal/item/68/Weird_people_I_encounter_at_work> that I was wrongly accused by a contact in one of the areas I was used to assign. Though the work there still continues, word from another volunteer that the contact is still just as incompetent. Yearly during summer, the youth will also experience to volunteer in these areas because of the lack of manpower of volunteers. I'm glad that my sister was volunteering. The only problem is that the coordinator assigned my sister in that dreaded area in Interior Leveriza near Ninoy Aquino stadium in Manila. I fear that she might be mistreated there. Worse, that coordinator is aware that we're brother-sister. I texted her to assign my sister somewhere else because I still have bad memories regarding that area. No reply. I told her(the coordinator) that I already told my mother and sister regarding that area and that if she doesn't comply ASAP, I will ask my mother to withdraw my sister. The coordinator's response was: "Iba naman ang situation mo sa sister mo. Wala na kasi ibang area sa hapon, para di ka mag-alala, huwag mo na papuntahin sya". I replied back. You should considered that in the first place.If you have respect in me as I have respect in you, you shouldn't done that. OK, you win, My sister will not abandon her post since you lack the volunteers but my mother and I instructed my sister to report if there's something happened to her and the rest of the volunteers regarding that area. The only problem with the coordinator she was too proud to apologize. SHE SHOULD HAVE APOLOGIZE SHOULD HAVE ASSURED ME THAT NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO MY SISTER AND WILL OVERSEE THAT AREA TO ASSURE ME. INSTEAD, SHE LACKS THE DIPLOMACY TO ANSWER THE RIGHT WAY.

Pistang Kristiano

Yesterday,my classmates and I went to Folk Arts Theatre to just look around. I know it was being held yearly by the church who hosts it and I also found out that it was also, Pastor Ed Lapiz's 30th year as the churches pastor. I even got to see the people whom he influenced from celebrities to masses, politicians to high ranking police officers. It was a wonder why my grandma listens to it's radio program. We were joking if we can transfer to worship there instead.