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Activities Conducted April – June 2009

A) Organizational:

15th General Assembly

Everyone who attended the 15th General Assembly

(GA) of the Streetchildren Development Center (SDC), Inc. complained of the bad weather. But the scheduled GA had to go on, rain or shine.

Fifteen years in the service of the less fortunate

children is a cause worth living for. The gathering was very simple, but meaningful. The occasion was very informal but the line-up of activities went as scheduled. It was attended by nine (9) out of 13 voting members.

A prayer was offered to the members of the GA,

partner organizations and beneficiaries. Likewise, a special prayer was offered for the eternal repose of the soul of Fr. Jerome, former SDC Chair, who passed away on 17 April 2009. Thereafter, the minutes of the previous GA meeting was read and approved. This was followed by the executive report of Avenida (Niday) R. Mayor, the Executive Director, which detailed the activities of each program. Soon after, the election for new officers was conducted, followed by the oath-taking ceremony. The newly-elected Chair, Atty. Ric B. Lapesura Jr., then presided over the members’ annual pledge of commitment before ending with a closing prayer.

The new officers (June 2009 – May 2010) are: Chair: Atty. Ricardo (Ric) B. Lapesura Jr. V-Chair: Atty. E. (Leo) D. Battad Secretary: Ms. Doris P. Romero Treasurer: Ms. Nora A. Pagador Internal Auditor: Mr. Francis Lambojon Members: Atty. Rosalio (Jun) A. Aragon Jr.

Ms. Niera Valladarez

Summer Intern Who would ever expect that the SDC summer intern

2009 was a former precocious little child who would always tag along with her mom during Board meeting.

She is Frances Jane Dee Romero, daughter of one of our

Board member, Doris Romero. Tata, as she is fondly called, had her first SDC exposure at the age of three. She is now 19 years old and is a third year student of the University of Sto. Tomas taking up Hotel and Restaurant Management. She is also the Captain Ball of the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management Basketball Team. Time passes so fast! Although Tata aims to be a Chef someday, she displays a genuine interest in helping people who are in need. This summer 2009, Tata was a big help to SDC. As an intern, she reported for work from 8 to 5 o’clock from Mondays to Fridays. She did secretarial and technical work (e.g., encoding the SDC Operational Manual, answering telephone calls, operating the fax machine, and paying the bills, including BIR,,SSS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig Fund transactions).

Picture shows Tata as she does her research works and recordings at SDC. She feels at home with her new environment and enjoys her everyday duties and responsibilities.

Picture right shows Fr. Jerome A. Angulo ( center in white robe) with the SDC staff and Members during the SDC family Christmas Party 2008 at Sanctuario de San Antonio Parish in Forbes Park Makati.

The SDC Board of Trustees during the 15th General Assembly held at UP Alumni Center, Diliman, Quezon City on May 09, 2009. Right Photo shows the Oath - Taking Ceremony of the newly elected officers. (L-R) Francis Lambojon Jr., Avenida (Niday) R. Mayor, Atty. Ric B. Lapesura Jr., Doris Romero, Niera Valladarez, Atty. Leo D. Battad and Nora Pagador.

Tata shows her eagerness to do her assigned work –encoding the SDC Operational Manual. She feels at home with her new environment and enjoys her everyday duties and responsibilitie.

Bitter are the tears of a child: Sweeten them. Deep are the thoughts of a child: Quiet them. Sharp is the grief of a child: Take it from him. Soft is the heart of a child: Do not harden it.

- Pamela Glenconner

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Remembering Fr. Jerome By: Atty. Ricardo (Ric) B. Lapesura Jr.

Every visit I

make to a Franciscan Church brings to mind Fr. Jerome C. Angulo, OPM. Fr. Jerome, as we fondly called him, was the Chair of the Board of the

Streetchildren Development Center (SDC), Inc. from ________ until his death last 17 April 2009.

The short stint of Fr. Jerome as Chair of the SDC will certainly go a long,

long way. What with his indefatigable effort to help the SDC to continue providing services to its beneficiaries, specially the street children.

I vividly recall all those times when Fr. Jerome would squeeze us into his very busy schedule and take time off just to meet us, his SDC family, at his San Antonio de Padua Parish at Forbes Park. He would patiently listen and participate in our discussion as we strategize and plan on how to be more effective in our work.

Our last official activity with Fr. Jerome was our Christmas Party last December 2008. Little did we know then that amidst the laughter we shared, Fr. Jerome was already suffering from his lingering bout with his kidney problems. We were so touched to learn later that Fr. Jerome was asking for us, his SDC family, in his deathbed. We are consoled that we have a special place in his heart.

Fr. Jerome, we love you. *Fr. Jerome was the third member of the Order of the Franciscan Minors (OFM) who served as Chair of the SDC. Previous SDC chairs were then Fr. Artemio S. Luaton and Fr. Reu C. Galoy.

Father Jerome, you will always be in our hearts. We will always cherish the times you are with us to support our mission. The SDC family extends its deepest condolence to the family of Fr. Jerome C. Angulo, OFM.

HAPPY DAYS WITH FR. JEROME Those “urgent”, “emergency” times that a member of the SDC had to see Fr. Jerome, for his signature or other business matters, Fr. Jerome was always generous to with his time. Even when he busy with paper works as Secretary of the OFM congregation. Left Photo below: Fr. Jerome (seated), Atty. Ricardo (Ric) B. Lapesura Jr., Avenida (Niday Mayor) R. Mayor, and Atty. Leo D. Battad. The group is in high spirit because the MISSIO funding for VFEP was just approved. Right photo above (L-R) Atty. Leo D. Battad; Francis Lambojon Jr; Don Lapesura Jr, Tata Romero, Little Gabby Romero, Doris Romero, Atty. Jun Aragon Jr. , Niday Mayor and Noemi Labaydan pose for a picture with Fr. Jerome after the Christmas party . The SDC Family Christmas Party was held at the Santuario de San Antonio De Padua, Forbes Park, where Fr. Jerome was parish priest. Despite his very delicate condition, he never showed pain. He led the thanksgiving prayer. Although he remained seated most of the time, he wore a happy face and gave a hearty laugh as he watched the SDC family dance around the big table while signing the bubbly Filipino Christmas song, “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit”. Little did we know, it was to be our last activity with our beloved Fr. Jerome – a warm-hearted person who gave us the inspiration to continue the apostolic work for the street children.

“I expected to pass through life but once,

If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, Or any good thing I can do to any fellow-being,

Let me do it now and not defer or neglect it, As I shall not pass this way again.”

It matters not how long or short Fr. Jerome stayed with the SDC family. He shared his time and wisdom with us, patiently lend his ears to our plans and goals. To the best of his ability, he did what he could to help us realize our mission for the street children. All these, despite his limitations. And that matters most. Like a footprint in the sand, Fr. Jerome will forever be indelibly etched in the heart of the SDC family. Thank you for the chance of working with you, Fr. Jerome. We Love you. The SDC Family

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Programs & Services:

Literacy Session

An average of 10 mothers from Calbayog and Welfareville Community, Mandaluyong were active participants in the on- going literacy sessions. The sessions are conducted every 2nd Saturday of the month and is facilitated by two SDC volunteers, Emily Atienza and Margie Dadovo. The sessions give the opportunity for the mothers to review their reading and writing skills. Everyone looks forward to the next session. The mothers regard the sessions as mental exercise, but they obediently follow the instructions to the detail. They learn new things every session and enjoy every activity they engage. They feel young, energetic, and excited to students again.

V

Volunteers

The two SDC (2) volunteers, Emily and Margie are both

high school teachers at Mataas na Paaralan ng Neptali A. Gonzales (MPNAG), Mandaluyong City. They were SDC’s former beneficiaries of the Girl Child Development Program (GDCP). The two offered to share their knowledge and skills in teaching. Their literacy sessions with the mothers give them opportunity to hone their teaching skills and help empower the mothers who expressed the need to re-learn basic skills in reading and writing and gain new knowledge.

Happy Birthday: KAMPAY

Nerry - April 13

Doris - May 15

Raul - May 26

Above photo shows the parents of Welfareville in high spirits while participating in the literacy session conducted by the SDC volunteers, Margie and Emily. Nanay (mother) Agnes extreme (left, pink bloue,) struggles with her readings, but is grime and determined to lear. She continues to read while the others listens and read silently. It was a snail’s space, but Nanay Agnes is grime and determined. “Take your time nanay, it’s the secret to success!!!”

PhotoaAbove: SDC volunteer, Emily (standing in front, pink blouse) starts the session with an encouraging remark: Go, Go, Go! Mga nanay, kaya ninyo yan! (Mothers, you can do it!). I am here to guide you!!! All of them are inspired by Emily’s opening remarks. They listen intently to the their teacher’s spirited discussion. The parents enjoy every minute of their class hours.

Margie Dadovo (in blue t-shirt) demonstrates how to read the alphabet. Her students obediently follows their teacher and are interested to gain new knowledge from the session.

Emily Atienza (in pink blouse) and her mother, nanay Rose (standing, in blue blouse) is a picture of a happy mother-daughter tandem in one of the literacy classes conducted by Emily. Nanay Rose is so proud of her daughter.

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Special Feature:

My Summer Job at SDC By: Frances Jane P. Romero

In my desire to avoid getting bored during my summer vacation, I tried to find any kind of summer job. In the process of searching, I tried to apply with some fast food

restaurants but without luck. I was

somehow at a loss and bothered how I could make myself productive during summer vacation.

One day, in one of our conversations with my

mom, Doris, she encouraged me to be in a service-oriented kind of work. My mom gave me the idea if I was interested to help at the SDC since after the resignation of the two staff members (Merry and Noemi) the office had yet to scout for their replacement. So then I contacted Tita Niday to ask if it was possible to work with the SDC for summer. Luckily, I was accepted and started at once.

During my summer job, I learned to use the typewriter. Although I was somehow worried because I no longer remember how to use it properly, Tita Niday taught me the basics of using it. I strived hard to learn to use the typewriter. This equipment is very necessary in typing the basic data to be filled up in the Income Tax Return of the SDC. As I went on to use the typewriter, I got better at it and had fewer erasures. The data were perfectly typed into the proper column of the forms. After my typing task, I stripped some old files. These were case folders of the SDC’s former street children beneficiaries, which included visual aids, basic information and progress reports of each child. It took me more than two days to finish them all. After retrieving and stripping the old files, I was next assigned

to encode the revised SDC Manual of Operation. The manual was very thick; I wasn’t able to finish it because I had to attend to a more pressing task -- to go to different government agencies in order to submit yearly reportorial requirements.

My first government agency visit was the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), located along EDSA, near the office of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). I was accompanied by Tita Joy Melliza who guided me where to go and what to do. I also learned the procedure in filing the yearly SEC reportorial requirements like Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and the Income Tax Return duly signed by the BIR officer in charge. We would start falling in line as early as 7 o’clock in the morning to avoid the long queue in the afternoon. Thanks God we were able to finish our task faster than usual! The same thing happened when we went to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to submit the SDC’s year-end Income Tax Return. There were a lot of people during that day because it was the deadline for the submission of financial reports. I don’t know if we were just lucky but we were able to finish our business in less than an hour. Tita Niday told me that the last time Ate Noemi went to the BIR, she took almost half a day to finish the filing of the report.

It was also a great opportunity to be exposed to the banking transaction of the SDC. Tita Niday entrusted me to encash a check. Like any other first timer, I had my baptism of fire - I was not allowed to encash the check because I had only one ID. The disallowance still happened in spite of SDC’s prior notice to the bank officer that a representative from the SDC is going to encash a check. The manager told me that I cannot encash the check because I have only one ID. I called Tita Niday what to do and, in a minute, she called the bank manager. After that, the manager allowed me to encash the check. It was a tedious experience but meaningful.

I can say that I had achieved my dream of having a productive and not boring summer vacation. I thank Tita Niday and the rest of the Board Members and staff of SDC for allowing me to have a summer job in the organization. Through this summer job, I was able to learn a lot of things. I was exposed to different government agencies and dealt with different groups of people. Yes, I did not get bored… Thank you SDC!