Barangay Sicat Christmas Event

On December 30, 2023 Raymund from the Academy of World Healing Foundation
(AWH) attended the annual Barangay Sicat Christmas event at the covered basketball
court packed with people ranging from small children to seniors with everyone singing
and dancing. 

The barangay officials, with volunteer participation, had prepared a nice buffet lunch and
thanked AWH for its financial assistance in support of the event.

Children’s Magical Hour

On December 5, 2023, Academy of World Healing Foundation (AWH) was invited to attend the Children’s Magical Hour event during Alfonso Day celebration at the covered Alfonso town plaza covered court.

Around 300 Day Care centers and Kindergarten pupils attended the colorful event.

Some children gave performances on the stage. 

The children enjoyed their meals from Jollibee (fast food chain in the Philippines).

During the event, a magician mesmerized the children with so many magical tricks. 

Rotary International Multinational Manila (RIMM) and AWH contributed assorted toys for the children’s games.

The children were excited with their new toys. 

Mayor Randy and Gina of Municipal Social and Welfare Development (MSWD) expressed their gratitude to AWH and RIMM. 

Supporting An Indigent Family

On March 9, 2022, a Municipal Councilor of Alfonso, Carol invited AWH to visit an indigent single mother of 6 children residing in Marahan 1, Alfonso, Cavite.
Merly Montealto, 39 years old is renting a shanty near the creek at PHP500 (approx. $10)/month. She makes a meager income as a manicurist. She said that sometimes there is no income at all in a day. She has an unpaid rental balance of about P2,500 due to the pandemic.   
AWH donated a bag of rice and assorted canned goods.
Four of her children reside with her who are in elementary and high school. The other 2 children are staying with her sister.
She has a 4 months old baby from her boyfriend who occasionally drops by her shanty. She did not have enough money to pay for a contraceptive measure and she got pregnant. 
She has agreed to undergo ligation to prevent further unwanted pregnancy. At the moment she is taking an injectable costing P250 per shot where its effect will expire sometime in May. 
Councilor Carol will coordinate with Dr. Sargento about her ligation. 
Despite their living conditions she has kept her place clean and is trying her best to keep her children healthy and observe good hygiene. 
Her children opened up their toys sent through the recent Balikbayan box from AWH members with such excitement. 
Several germicidal bath soaps were also given which were donated by Elai Arevalo. 

Local Council for The Protection of Children

A Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) meeting was held on March 7, 2022 at the Sangguniang Bayan Hall, Municipal Building, Alfonso, Cavite. It was the first meeting after 2 years of COVID-19 pandemic with the occasional strictest Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) declared since March 2020. 
The agenda covered the following:

  1. Presentation of LCPC plan for Children for 2022
  2. Updates on Activities for Children (Survival, Development, Protection and Participation)
  3. Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC)/LCPC Functionality Assessment to conduct this March 2022 

During the meeting Gina Vedan of DSWD relayed her gratitude to AWH for the donation of the double deck bed and bed foams for the Children In Conflict with the Law (CICL).
The CICL children are being taught skills such as sewing and welding among others while their cases are ongoing in the Court.

Christmas Giving Events

The Academy of World Healing Foundation (AWH), working hands-in-hands with Rotary International Multinational Manila (RIMM), conducted Christmas giving events over a  two day span on December 28 and 29, 2021, for indigent families in 4 barangays (villages) in Alfonso, Cavite, having purchased vitally needed food supplies at a cost of P165,000.

In addition, two (2) large Balikbayan boxes filled with good quality used clothing donated by AWH ‘s Japanese guests before the pandemic were also distributed to Barangay Kaysuyo and Barangay Pajo to the most in need.

RIMM conducted  “Responsible Parenthood” events during the Christmas giving events as part of its family planning programs.

We herewith gratefully acknowledge the support of our funding member Dr. Miki Kanaji, who personally donated P60,000 for the events.

There were more than 332 indigent families registered in the master lists of the 4 barangays that attended the 2-days event. More than 637 bags of rice and assorted canned products (corned beef, pork meatloaf, beef meatloaf, sausage and tuna) were distributed to the indigent families. 

Each family with more than 8 children received as much as 6 bags of rice. They said rice is an important food supply to have in the house even without the canned goods. Rice is the primary staple food in the Philippines.  

In addition there were 4 minors under the “Children In Conflict with the Law” (CICL) program who also received sacks of rice and assorted canned goods. These minors are under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and with our assistance, are looking to better themselves. 

Indigent communities in “Squatter camps” such as Usting 1, Usting 2, C-5 in Barangay Luksuhin Ibaba and Camp Hope in Barangay Sicat are supported by RIMM and AWH not only during the yearly Christmas giving activities but also year-round. The young children of the 4 camps again joyfully participated in several children Christmas party games hosted by Honorary RIMM Member Jun Baurile who distributed P20 bills along with stuffed toys donated by past president Betty Vicedo of RIMM. Their parents mainly sell “balot” (a steamed fertilized duck egg and “taho” (a classic sweet snack in the Philippines made with silken tofu, sago or tapioca pearls, and a simple brown sugar syrup) as their primary source of income. The families of these 4 camps migrated from the Samar province in the Visayas to look for better opportunities for their families. 

National Children’s Day 2021

As a member of the the Local Council for Protection of Children (LCPC), Academy of World Healing Foundation (AWH) represented by Raymund  Balicha attended the annual National Children’s Month celebration on November 29, 2021 at the covered basketball court in front of the Alfonso municipal hall.
The theme was “New normal na Walang Iwanan: Karapatan ng Bawat Bata Ating Tutukan!”. (Translation: “Unity under the New Normal. We must uphold the rights of every child!”.)
Alfonso LCPC invited selected local indigent children with their mothers for the gift giving of hygiene kits and Jollibee meals at the venue site.   

Mayor Randy Salamat also awarded the barangays who met the criteria as the most “Child Friendly Barangay and Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Responsiveness”.
The other following activities were also awarded:

  1. Educational assistance for selected indigent children with disabilities
  2. Kid Tiktok Dance Challenge, Draw and Tell, Poster Making and Slogan Contest

Since mas gathering of children under the pandemic is not allowed, LCPC members later distributed hygiene kits and Jollibee meals separately for the following barangays:

  • Amuyong
  • Kaysuyo
  • Pajo
  • Marahan 1
  • Luksuhin Ibaba
  • Sikat
  • Taywanak Ibaba
  • Poblacion 4
  • Poblacion 5

2020 Taal Volcano Evacuation (Updated)

In the late afternoon of Sunday January 12, 2020, Taal Volcano, located on a small island in the middle of Taal Lake, erupted in a 10-15 km (6.2-9.3 mi) high steam-laden ash column, along with lightning and thunder caused by the interaction of the ash particles. Within a short time the low-lying areas surrounding the lake were covered with largely wet ash which inundated villages there as well as smothered the crops. No human lives were lost, but death and suffering of livestock and wildlife was evident everywhere. For example, on Volcano Island itself, a tourist spot for many years despite the history of earlier violent eruptions, only 300 of the approximately 3,000 donkeys were able to be rescued while the remainder died a slow and agonizing death.

Immediately after the vertical ash column eruption, the Alert Level was raised from then already 3 to 4 which means that an immediate explosive eruption may be imminent. This triggered immediate evacuation in the next couple of days in excess of 100,000 people for a distance of 14 km from the volcano’s epicenter, and may be raised to 17km if such an outbreak occurs. As indicated on the map Taal Volcano and Vicinity, which can be used as a reference guide, AWH is located within the 14 – 17 km zone and the Aguinaldo Highway Ridge Road through Tagaytay that provides access from Manila is located within the 14 km zone.

The 14 km circular evacuation zone is based on base surges, their buffer zones and on ballistic projectiles gleaned from updated information of historical eruptions of 1754, 1911, and 1964. Base surges are clouds of hot gases, ash, and rocks traveling horizontally at speeds in excess of 80 km per hour. Ballistic projectiles are large volcanic fragments thrown from the vents during explosions. Since a major portion of the municipality of Laurel in the province of Batangas is located within the most affected watersheds leading downslope to the ocean, their base surge buffer zones extended up to 14 km and were part of the “lock-down” evacuation that occurred in these areas. Unlike the eruptions on the Big Island of Hawaii, fissures caused by earthquakes related to volcanic activity are not expended to produce lava flows.

AWH was fortunate as it only received a very light but fertile ash layer because of the prevailing SW winds, the afternoon upslope winds, as well as the high elevation winds which blew the upper vertical ash column easterly towards Manila. The main concern for those affected by the ash but not living around or downslope of the lake was the unhealthy ash and sulfur dioxide-laden air, and breathing masks were in high demand.

At AWH the power was cut by the next day with the power outage lasting four days while most of the stores in the area also shut down during that time. With AWH depending on its oversized generator, it was able to provide water from its well along with the water delivery from the local Fire Department to its village residents and evacuees. It also served as a cell phone recharging station.

Private and public donations, largely from Manila, poured in uninterrupted on a continuous basis to the public and private evacuation centers and not only caused occasional traffic jams but also an almost unmanageable stockpile of clothing similar to what was witnessed during the Nov. 3, 2013 Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) at Caritas in Manila. At the same time Rotary International Multinational Manila (RIMM) and District 3810 Rotarians, as requested by DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), provided additional immediate needed supplies such as hygiene kits inclusive of 130 water buckets (two to each classroom housing ten families), sleeping blankets, underwear, plastic plates, etc., for the Alfonso evacuation center, local evacuees at private homes, and the Laurel Evacuation Center at Splendido, and expanded such support as needed such as toys and school supplies for the children and youth at the Laurel Evacuation Center, located at the edge of the 14 km evacuation zone. It housed about 491 evacuees including 160 children and youth in the indoor basketball court. While it is only a drop in the bucket compared to the overall needs, it perhaps made life easier and eased the suffering and pain of those that were and are being affected.

AWH and RIMM will continue to assist the community with its long-range planning efforts in permanently relocating residents from areas that have become inhabitable. After the 1754 major eruption, most villages and towns were relocated away from the lake shores. However, new villages were then reestablished because of population pressure to make a livelihood on the fertile volcanic ash soil, from fishing and fish cages in the lake as well as from almost year-round tourist arrivals from nearby Manila because of its scenic location.

While the initial confusion and panic has somewhat dissipated more than 10 days after the eruption and the News Media has now clarified the most important needs for the many evacuation centers, politics and science are still battling with the immediate needs of people. There is still a total lockdown in the most affected areas and residents that refused to evacuate and were/are hiding to protect their homes and livestock are hunted and force-evacuated in handcuffs if necessary. In borderline evacuation areas such as the Tagaytay Ridge where the country’s government had ordered a total shutdown of all commercial business inclusive of markets and restaurants, many have reopened in violation of the orders as the local governor and former mayor of Tagaytay insists that it is required for the survival of the businesses and the remaining residents.

Overall, evacuation was able to proceed safely because the eruption occurred during the dry and cool season. Little rain if any fell in the affected areas for 12 days after the initial eruption, followed by light rains on the 13th and 14th. Based on the reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions and a reduction in earthquakes, the possibility of an imminent violent eruption was reduced to 30% but sulfur dioxide emissions and earthquakes vary day by day. If evacuation lingers into the hot and wet season with Alert 4 Level in effect, some of the overcrowded public and private evacuation areas may become unbearable as presently operated. The best scenario would perhaps be a short and non-violent eruption in the near future with earthquakes, ash and sulfur dioxide emissions largely subsiding thereafter and Alert Level 4 being reconsidered for downgrading. While this would not preclude a future violent and destructive eruption in the near future based on historic eruption evidence, it would provide a window of opportunity for local and regional governments to rezone affected areas and even relocate villages and towns out of high risk areas as had already been done after the 1754 violent and long-lasting eruption.


Updates on Sunday, January 26, 2020

Despite the apparent opposition of some scientists because of the continued venting off ash and toxic fumes from Taal Volcano but with the support of elected officials, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Sunday morning downgraded Taal Volcano to Alert Level 3 from Alert Level 4 “marking a decreased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.”

The Batangas provincial government immediately lifted lockdowns it earlier imposed on 12 cities and municipalities, or on their portions that lie within the volcano’s danger zone. Residents of these places are now given the option to return to their homes although they are still welcome to stay in evacuation centers.

The following are the cities and towns where lockdowns are lifted: Alitagtag, Balete, Cuenca, Lemery, Lipa City, Malvar, Mataasnakahoy, San Nicolas, Sta Teresita, Taal, Talisay, Tanauan City.

However, the following areas remain on lockdown as they lie within the 7-8 kilometer radius of the volcano’s main crater. This means people are still prohibited from entering these places: Taal Volcano Island (permanet lockdown), Agoncillo, Laurel.

The provincial governments stressed that although residents of areas where the lockdown is lifted may already return, Taal Volcano may still erupt. They must be constantly alert and ready to evacuate within one hour of notice, in case Taal Volcano’s activity escalates again and the status is raised to Alert Level 4.

The chance of a hazardous eruption remains, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) when it lowered Taal’s status to Alert Level 3 on Sunday morning. Phivolcs also warned of the likely occurrence of lahar or heavy mudflow coming from areas right beside Cavite province, and in elevated areas in Agoncillo and and Laurel towns in Batangas. Rain or volcanic tremors may disturb stored volcanic ash in these areas, and cause it to flow toward lowlands and waterways. Residents must take care when returning to areas heavily affected by ashfall. Unstable structures, slippery roads, fissures, and the lack of running water and electricity increase the risk of physical injuries (Rappler.com).

The mayor of Alfonso has ordered 30,000 3M N95 (medical grade) masks for its residents in case of a sudden eruption during which it would also be advisable to immediately shelter in place. It is also advisable that all returning evacuees be furnished with masks as continuous toxic fumes even without further eruptions could and will have long-term health effects.

2020 Taal Volcano Eruption

On January 12, 2020 around 4pm, Taal volcano erupted. The ashes were brought toward Manila areas due to wind direction at that time. Small seismic activities were observed frequently after the eruption. Manila airports were closed the next day long.

The electrical posts were affected by the frequent tremors along Aguinaldo Highway and power outage started the following day. AWH had 5 consecutive days of blackout and all the communication lines were cut.

All the guests who planned visiting for wellness program in January had to cancel due to this volcanic activities.

Because of this cancellation, AWH staff went immediately to assist evacuees from Talisay and  Laurel, Batangas province where volcanic activities were intense.

Local Council for Protection of Children Meeting – August, 2016

The Local Council for Protection of Children (LCPC) meeting was held on August 22, 2016 at the Barangay Hall of Lucsuhin Ilaya, Alfonso, Cavite.

The Agenda discussed were the following:
1. Participation of LCPC to Alay-Lakad
2. Planning for Children’s Day 2016
3. Schedule of Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) 2nd Quarter Evaluation
4. Drug Related Problems in Alfonso

No specific dates were set yet for the Alay-Lakad (an Annual Fund Raising Activity of Alfonso Municipal) and Children’s Day held during the celebration of Alfonso Day in December.

The meeting was focused mainly on what the barangay officials are doing for drug addicts and pushers who have surrendered to them as mandated by President Duterte to surrender for counselling and monitoring or face death if they do not surrender.

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April 2016 LCPC Meeting at Luksuhin Barangay Hall

On April 18, 2016, the members of LCPC (Local Council for Protection of Children) along with barangay Luksuhin captain Cynthia and the councilors held a monthly meeting at the barangay hall of barangay Luksuhin, Alfonso, Cavite.

Topics included analysis of children’s (0-17 years old) statistics collected in 2015 and the method of survey on the same statistics this year in barangay Luksuhin.

Dra. Manzo, the municipal health director, stated that DOH (the Department of Health)  will begin distributing sub-dermal contraceptive implants if the Supreme Court removes the temporary restraining order, which may happen in August.
If the temporary restraining order is removed, all the women in this country will be benefited by receiving free birth control implants which is said to be effective for two years or more at each barangay/municipal health center.

Background:
The Supreme Court in July 2015 issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the DOH from “procuring, selling, distributing, dispensing or administering, advertising, and promoting” contraceptive implants after Alliance of the Family Foundation Philippines Inc. (ALFI) appealed to ban the product for its alleged “abortifacient” side effects.

More than P860 million earmarked for the procurement of contraceptive implants was cut from the 2016 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

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