One is the PDVBS Team of Matnog National High School which took up the cudgel to cry like a voice in the wilderness against exorbitant tricycle fare charged in their locality.  The other team is the PDVBS Team from Bulan National High School who did not look far and focused their study within the walls of their school zeroing on the school lack of comfort rooms.

The PDVBS Team of Matnog’s UNFAIR FARE

Matnog town lies at the southern most tip of Luzon approximately 580 km south of Manila and is gateway to Luzon from the Samar Islands.  It is a coastal town where residents are mostly dependent on the seas and the farm for livelihood and tricycle is the mode of transportation going around different barangays.  The authorized tricycle fare in Matnog is P7.00 per passenger.  By nightfall, tricycle drivers jacked up their fare to as high as P30.00 per passenger.  Students are not spared by the “unfair fare” so much so that many students walk through the night to their barangays.  This exposes the students to dangers most specially the girls.  PDVBS Team of Matnog National High School brought the case to the attention of the Sanggunian Bayan of Matnog.  During the day of their presentation, members of the team were intimidated and to some extent harassed by officers of the tricycle operators and drivers association right outside the session hall.  But the group persisted and brought to the attention of the Sanggunian Bayan their problem and proposed policies.  Thereafter the Sanggunian Bayan summoned officials of the tricycle operations and drivers association.

The tricycle operators and drivers association in Matnog initially responded by refusing to ferry their identified members of the team but ultimately reduced their fare from P30.00 to P15.00.

The PDVBS Team of Bulan National High School

Ever felt the discomfort of holding off the call of nature?  This is the daily predicament of students from Bulan National High School (BNHS) in Bulan town Sorsogon – southernmost tip town of Luzon approximately 585 km south of Metro Manila.  BNHS is a public high school lying on an approximate 6,000 square meter of land and home to more than 3,700 first year to fourth year high school students.  Like all other public school in the country, lack of facilities and insufficiency of funds is a perennial year round problem.   The school only has three comfort rooms, one of which has been converted for the exclusive use of its faculty and staff.  What remains are one for the boys and the other for the girls to the effect that only one comfort room is available for each group.

Student members of Pomoting Democratic Values in the Barangays of Sorsogon of BNHS choose the lack of comfort rooms in their school as their topic of research.  In their presentation during a dry run prior to the Preliminary Showcase (organized by PCCED and the Provincial government of Sorsogon) they presented the risk of illnesses each of them daily faces specifically renal ailment.  They also highlighted the discomfort, and its negative effect to their studies, of holding off the call of nature and the long queue outside the available comfort rooms.  School Principal Dr Nancy Bajamundi expressed her sympathy and concern, and promised to have one constructed within their limited local funds.  Dr Bajamundi said that ideally considering the school growing population they need ten additional comfort rooms.

At the end of the school year, School Principal Dr Bajamundi had one three cubicle comfort room for ladies constructed at a cost of P53,775.60 from savings of their MOOE.  Dr Bajamundi said she was moved by the presentation of the PDVBS team and their concern for the rest of the students and the school that she made sure that whatever savings they could muster from their local funds will be allocated for the construction of at least one comfort room in their school.  She said that although due to insufficiency of funds they were only able to have one constructed and still far from the ideal ten comfort rooms at the very least it is a first step worth a thousand miles.

For their part, the PDVBS team of Bulan National High School fully aware of the remaining work refused to call it quits.  With the assistance of PCCED, they have embarked on scouting for funding to finance the construction of additional comfort rooms for their school.

– Edgar A. Basares Jr.

The conference featured various resource speakers who are knowledgeable in civic education in the Philippines.  Dr. Clement Camposano, the Director of the Institute of Political Economy at the UA&P, delivered the welcome remarks, setting the tone for an enriching discourse as regards the typical practices in teaching and challenges our educators to be truly democratic in their ways of teaching. Dr. Paul Dumol, also a professor at the University discussed in his talk, the attributes of a democratic citizen-critical thinker and communicator, team worker and leader. He emphasized that there are still obstacles which impede the development of true democratic citizens.

Next, Dr. Golo of the School of Education asserted that the growth and development of teachers as educators and promoters of true citizenship influences the growth and development of students. Dr. Angelito Antonio discussed the Universal Design of Democratic Classrooms which centered on the inclusivity of education.  He explained that all the stakeholders should play a part in creating the inclusive environment of Philippine education.

Prof. Rita Bumanglag-Ruscoe, an expert on curriculum from the Philippine Normal University (PNU), stressed that the hidden curriculum, is a big part in building civic education and awareness to the students. Dr. Ferdinand Pingul with Miss Monica Ang, both board members of PCCED discussed the Project Citizen and the Democracy Camp, respectively. The former explained how Project Citizen (PC), a PCCED organized project, built civic awareness with secondary school students. Miss Monica Ang, on the other hand, gave a discussion on how the Democracy Camp shaped responsible citizenship through the participation of high school students.

Dr. Amelita de Mesa, the principal of Emilio Aguinaldo High School in Manila discussed the Portrait of Filipino Classrooms. She claimed that the quality of Philippine education is declining as exemplified by the current methods used by public school teachers. She adds that constructivism is still not yet fully utilized as classroom activities are still teacher controlled. While the portrait of classrooms was discussed by Dr. De Mesa, Ms Carmen Hicap, together with DepEd Muntinlupa teachers, shared experiences in implementing democratic type of classrooms and their contribution to civic education in their locality. Their experience served as the best practices model of civic education in the Philippines.

Aside from social studies supervisors from different regions all over the country,  the conference also included attendees from various private schools, such as De Lasalle Zobel, PAREF-Southridge and other educational organizations like the Bulwagang Filipino and the Philippine Arts and Culture Educators Society.

At the last day of the conference, the participants had the chance to share their thoughts and comments about the event. The delegates affirmed that the seminar gave them new ideas about democratic classrooms.

-Mark Andrew V. Nimeno

The schedule for the 2010 NCR run will be the following:

Training seminar August 5-7, 2010 Telengtan Hall, UA&P

Preliminary Showcase November 27, 2010 Li Seng Giap Auditorium, UA&P

Final Showcase December 1, 2010 Dizon Auditorium , UA&P

Training materials and meals during the seminar will be provided free of charge. Slots are limited and will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. Please download the confirmation form and fax to 6370912 local 339 on or before July 27, 2010. For inquiry, contact Bea Vergara at (02) 7063918 or 0922-8276087. Email:citizenship.ph@gmail.com

Click here to download Confirmation Form

Project Citizen 2010 NCR Mechanics

1. The competition is open to all public and private high schools in the National Capital Region. It is required that all schools must send teachers to participate in the PCCED training program.
2. One school can send a maximum of two (2) teams with 15-20 students each team.
3. There can be one moderator for the two teams, or one moderator per team. If the school has sent two (2) teachers in the training and would wish to send only one team for the showcase, they should assign only one (1) moderator and can make the other teacher a co-moderator.
4. A members list (where a copy was given on the training) is required to be submitted per team. It should be faxed/ emailed on or before August 20, 2010. The list should contain the following information, in four (4) columns:
   1. Name
   2. Gender
   3. Year Level
   4. T-shirt Size

Fax: (02) 6370912 loc. 339

Email: citizenship.ph@gmail.com (Subject: PC 2010)

• Submission of the members list confirms that the team shall join PC 2010 and will participate in the preliminary showcase.

1. Some schools shall be randomly chosen for the conduct of the pre-program evaluation. Meanwhile, all participants will undergo post program evaluation which shall be conducted on the day of the preliminary showcase.
2. There will be two coordination meetings that would be held. One on August 28, 2010 and another on October 9, 2010. Both meetings will be from 9 am to 12 noon at the Telengtan Hall, UA&P. Lunch will be provided.
3. It should be noted that participating schools should wait for announcements and the go-signal for them to start on the process of Project Citizen. PCCED shall inform the schools by August 23, 2010.

PORTFOLIO

1. A portfolio should consist of four (4) panels, each on a 1 whole illustration board.  (1 Portfolio= 4 panels = 4 Illustration boards)
2. The panels should have no extensions, cannot exceed the borders of the illustration boards and should have no 3 D installations. All decorations and designs must have a flat surface.
3. The portfolio should follow the PC steps: Problem, Alternative Policies, Chosen Policy and Action Plan.
4. There should be one (1) paragraph summary for each panel, briefly stating and describing what that panel is all about.
5. The portfolio should be passed on or before November 23, 2010, 5:30 PM at the 7^th Floor, Institute of Political Economy, APEC Communications Building (ACB), University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P).

SHOWCASE

1. Teams will each be judged simultaneously by a three-person panel composed of two members of UA&P faculty and a student judge.
2. Each team will be given 30 minutes to present their portfolio. The prepared speech will be for 20 minutes in English, while 10 minutes will be devoted for questions from the panel. Answers in that portion may be in English or Filipino.
3. Information on the panels cannot be read during the 20 minute speech by the students although notecards may be used.
4. Only 10 students per team are allowed to present the portfolio.
5. Teams are required to be in their school uniforms.
6. The preliminary showcase will be on November 27, 2010 at the Li Seng Giap Auditorium from 1:00- 5:30 pm.

DOCUMENTATION BINDER

1. The documentation binder should be in an 8 ½ x 11 (letter size) clearbook, which will be provided by PCCED on the first coordination meeting on August 28, 2010.
2. The binder shall contain:
   1. 1 page reflection paper from each student/team member
   2. Photo documentation of the process
   3. 1 page description of every step of own Project Citizen process
   4. Other forms that are relevant (e.g. interviews, supporting documents, etc.)
3. The binder shall have a maximum of 30 pages (20 reflection pages + 10 steps)

IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT

1. Each team shall be given P1500 to cover for expenses in research, transportation, materials, etc.
2. No need for receipts or liquidation the team is only required to finish the Project Citizen process. Non completion of Project Citizen, no support will be given.
3. The support can be claimed on the day of the preliminary showcase, November 27, 2010.

AWARDS

1. Each team shall receive a plaque for their school. While the students individually will get PC merchandise such as t-shirts, caps and certificates of participation.
2. For the preliminary showcase, five (5) teams will be chosen to participate in the Final Showcase on December 1, 2010.
3. Apart from the (5) finalists, PCCED will also give the following special awards in the Preliminary Showcase:
   1. Best Research
   2. Best Presentation
   3. Best Portfolio
   4. Best Reflection
   5. Chua King Ha Award for Women Development- For the team which shall best tackle and provide solutions to women’s issues
   6. Lucio C. Tan Award for Science- For the team which shall best tackle and provide solutions related to science and its branches
   7. Foundations of Democracy Award – Given to the team that made the best link between ideas of justice and project citizen. Teams eligible for this award are those whose moderators attended the PC refresher course.
4. For the Final showcase, all student finalists will be given bags and medals. One team shall be awarded with the Tan Yan Kee Best in Showcase Award, making them the over all winner for the Project Citizen Showcase 2010

IMPORTANT DATES

The three-day activity was intensely filled with topics related to teaching civic and democracy.  A project introduction, overview and rationale was given by Dr. Clement Camposano, Program Manager of PCCED. Resource persons were professors from the School of Education and Institute of Political Economy of the University of Asia and the Pacific.  Topics of the said seminar include: Education for Democracy (Monica Ang); The Philippines is a Nation in Progress & Teaching Philippine History (Dr. Paul Dumol); Connecting with the Students (Dr. Severina Vilegas); Civic Culture: Asian History (Dr. Riza Bondal); The Philippines is a Democracy in Progress (Abegail De Leon); The Case for Democracy (Reynald Trillana); Economic Citizenship (Natividad Gruet); and Democratic Classroom (Mishariff Tillah).

The series of workshops provided an overwhelming participation among teachers in expressing their ideas and insights of the topics discussed.  An open forum was also conducted for the participants to deliberate issues and concerns as well as clarifications on concepts related to teaching social studies and values education.

Participants expressed delight for having participated in such event for they were able to enrich their knowledge and correct some misconceptions in teaching Social Studies & Values Education.  Their moral obligation to integrate the teaching of civics in the curriculum was intensified with the statement of support from Mrs. Norma S. Varquez, City Schools Division Superintendent of Tagbilaran City.  Mrs. Varquez also expressed commitment to support the advocacy and looking forward for a more fruitful partnership between the Department of Education and the Philippine Center for Civic Education & Democracy.

The seminar was indeed intellectually and morally enriching on the part of the teachers as agents of change for the development of our country.

by Yasmin Respecia

PCCED will be holding the National Conference on Civic Education and Democracy on August 24-26, 2010 at the PDLT Hall of the University of Asia and the Pacific, Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The theme for this year’s conference is “Philippine Challenges Towards Nation-building: Multi-Sector Engagement for Civic Education”.

The first National Conference on Civic Education aims (1) to provide a forum for reflection on the need of a multi-sector engagement in civic education as a means to promote in our country both the development of true democracy and the cause of nation-building and (2) to examine how each sector can contribute to civic education.

PROGRAM

Conference Rates

Early Bird registration is until July 15, 2010.

Please fax the Registration Form together with the deposit slip of your seminar fee with your name, tel. no. and branch address of the bank written on it to (02)706-5834 or e-mail it to info@pcced.org.ph on or before July 30, 2010, Friday.

All payments are made through the bank coordinate below:

Bank Name: BPI Otigas Branch; Account Name: PCCED; Current Account No: 3991-0062-21

The Seminar Fee is inclusive of seminar handouts, snacks, meals, flowing coffee, and a certificate.

Official receipts will be distributed to participants during the registration at the seminar venue.

Downloads

Memorandum and Advisory

DepED Avisory

CHED Memorandum

Application

Registration Form

Program

Program

This was proven anew by the top five student team finalists screened from twenty public schools here, following the final showcase of Project Citizen (PC): Promoting Democratic Values in the Province of Sorsogon that was held recently in this province.

Philippine Center for Civic Education and Democracy (PCCED) Corporate Secretary and PC Program Manager Monica Ang said that the Project Citizen helps high school students learn how to express their opinions, how to decide which level of government and which agency is most appropriate for dealing with problems they identify, and how to influence policy decisions at that level.

“The students work cooperatively with their respective team members along with their teachers and adult volunteers as they identify the problem to study, gather information, examine solutions, develop public policy positions and create action plans,” she said.

The results of the team’s work were displayed in a portfolio which they presented during the Project Citizen Final Showcase.

Bagging the top prize was PC Team from Gubat National High School in Gubat town with the team’s desire to save the dying pottery industry of Brgy. Paradijon, Gubat. They propose the active intervention of the LGU by activating a Barangay small and medium enterprise council to assist local potters revive an industry that has long been the pride of their town.

Other finalists were PC team from Barcelona National Comprehensive High School in Barcelona town who took notice of the unfortunate status of the Barcelona Park recommending to the Sangguniang Bayan for the park to be submitted to the National Historical Institute to be declared as a historical site; PC Team of Beguin National High School in Gubat town which brings to the public’s attention the rampant effect of illegal logging; PC Team from Alcoba National High School in Bulan town which takes an active contribution in the global efforts against climate change through proper solid waste management; and the PC team from Matnog National High School in Matnog town which illustrates the sad plight of “Mga Batang Sisid Barya” risking their lives to dive for the coins thrown from ships at Matnog Ferry Terminal and proposes policies that shows compassion for the kid’s future.

Ang said that for young students, learning experiences in democratic participation need not be confined to those associated with governance of classrooms and schools.

“The skills and knowledge needed for competent and responsible citizenship participation associated with government at the local, state and national levels can be taught even at the school levels,” she said.

“Engaging young people in the issues that directly affect them will help them develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be effective citizens throughout their lives,” she further added.

Project Citizen is realized through the partnerships of Zabalketa, Center for Research and Communication, Gipuzkoako Foru Aldundia Diputacion Foral de Gipuzkoa, Philipine Center for Civic Education and Democracy, Department of Education and the Provincial Government of Sorsogon. (PIA Sorsogon)

by Bennie A. Recebido

http://pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p100317.htm&no=83

Democracy Camp Philippines is a program for high school youth leaders, designed to deliver in-depth and immersive training in the critical knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary for effective citizenship and leadership in a democracy. Discussions will be interspersed with practical and real world skills training. The core objective of education in and for democracy for the youth leaders will be achieved through the following activities:

1.Lecture-discussions: The lecture-discussions feature experts and personalities who will provide insights into the deeper issues facing Philippine democracy. The topics to be tackled include the evolving Filipino identity and nationalism, democracy and constitutional liberalism, economic citizenship, and the need for civic culture.

2. Practical workshops: These workshops will provide the participants with practical life skills that they will need int he context of their responsibilities:

-Public Policy
-Consensus-building and Conflict Management and
-Project Management.

3. Solidarity sessions: These will be interactive sessions for participants to get to know each other and encourage dialogue. There will be an outdoor team-building session, a film showing, and a bonfire.

For more information, contact Ms. Monica Ang, Institute of Political Economy, UA&P at tel. no.: (02) 637-0912 local 323, fax no.: (02) 637-0912 local 339; email mcang@uap.edu.ph

Posted in deped advisory

http://depedteacher.blogspot.com/2010/03/democracy-camp-2010.html

Jose Mateo “Joey” Dela Cruz and Marikris “MK” De Guzman, representing the National Union of Students of the Philippines-National Capital Region Chapter (NUSP-NCR), in partnership with Wika ng Kultura at Agham Kabataan (WIKA Kabataan), bagged 2nd place which earned the project Php 50,000, while Johann Joseph “Jay” Del Rosario and Erika Bucog, representing Karatula won 3rd place, worth Php 30,000.

Dela Cruz and De Guzman’s project, “Pagbabago Now Na,” is a project aiming to form a youth agenda in 2010 through a series of discussions on the upcoming election.

“Pagbabago” will use leadership training seminars and alternative classroom learning experience (ACLE)-like intervention programs which at the end are expected to inculcate among the participants civic knowledge, civic skills and civic dispositions. As a culminating activity, there will be a youth summit where the students and youth will craft the Philippine Youth Agenda

The project also hopes to submit the results to the Office of the President.

Del Rosario and Bulog’s project, “Sining Eskuwela: Palihan sa Sining at Demokrasya,” on the other hand, aims to gather the youth not just to participate in the upcoming election but to convince the youth to join  the continuing movement towards social development.

The primary strategy is the formation and activation of balangay, or chapters. The function of the chapters is to empower the youth with knowledge and awareness about social issues through use of arts and literary forms, so that they can take active role in social transformation.

“Sining Eskuwela” hopes to use the Internet to improve effectiveness of advocacy efforts among the youth, whom PCCED has observed to be apathetic with social issues.

With report from Mr Jose Mateo Dela Cruz, NUSP-NCR & WIKA Kabataan

posted Feb 2, 2010 2:59 AM by Ricky Bulalakaw   [ updated Feb 7, 2010 6:11 PM by Information Officer College of Arts and Sciences, UP Manila ]

http://sites.google.com/site/fauraonline/student-news

Through a partnership with the University of Asia and the Pacific, the Philippine Center for Civic Education and Democracy (PCCED) held its first Democracy Camp for high school students from March 30–April 2, 2009. Forty-six student leaders from various schools in Metro Manila participated in lecture-discussions on various concepts related to Philippine democracy including the role of citizens, human rights, the rule of law, and people power. The youth also practiced critical leadership skills such as consensus building and problem solving. In August 2009, PCCED will organize its first Democracy Camp for university students with the support of the Ortigas Foundation.

http://www.civnet.org/contenidos.php?id_secciones=MQ==&c=Tm90aWNpYQ==&ACTION=TW9zdHJhclVuQ29udGVuaWRv&id_contenido=NDgx

PCCED was able to conduct also a civic education seminar for the members of thePhilippine National Police (PNP) in Angeles City, Pampanga. About 30 policemen attended the activity in which concepts like civic virtue and democracy were discussed.

Aside from the new projects, PCCED was able to bring its Civic Education Training Seminar (CETS) and Project Citizen (PC) to more provinces.  In particular, CETS was conducted for public high school teachers of Tarlac and Lucena (Quezon Province).  The former was organized under the auspices of the City government through the leadership of Mayor…

PC, on the other hand, expanded its reach in 2008 to more high schools and even to the college level.  For the high school level, the 2008 run of PC, which was conducted with the support of the U.S. based Center for Civic Education, attracted 23 participating high schools for the Preliminary Showcase.  Below is the list of competing schools and the local community problems that they tried to address through their recommended policies:

1. Andres Bonifacio Integrated School                                                   Underage Smoking
2. Bagong Barrio National High School                                                 Neglected Monument
3. Bagong Silangan High School                                                            “Killer” Creek
Batasan Hills National High School                                                       Overloading
Caloocan City Science High School                                                       Internet Shops Near
Caybiga high School                                                                                 Road Lights
G. Perfecto High School                                                                            Fire Exits
Kasarinlan High School                                                                            Sidewalks
Las Pinas East National High School                                                    Police and Barangay Visibility
Las Pinas National High School                                                             Loitering
Malabon National High School                                                                Flooding
Mataas na Paaralang Neptali A. Gonzales                                            Street Lighting
Maypajo High School                                                                                 Street Lighting
Maysan High School                                                                                  School Uniforms
Muntinlupa Business High School                                                         Illegal Parking
Muntinlupa Science High School                                                            Drainage System
Parada National High School                                                                  Street Crimes
Parang High School                                                                                   Internet Cafe
Pasig City Science High School                                                              Street Gangs
Pedro E. Diaz High School                                                                        Smoking
Sagad High School                                                                                    Truancy
Sta. Lucia High School                                                                              Traffic Management
Faith

Special prizes were given, which included “Best in Research”, “Best in Portfolio”, “Best in Reflection” and “Best in Presentation”. The following schools were the recipients of the said awards:

Pasig City Science High School                                                              Best in Research
Parang High School                                                                                   Best in Portfolio
Las Pinas National High School                                                             Best in Reflection & Best in
Presentation

Apart from the Special Awards, a shortlist of five schools were chosen to compete in the Final Showcase. The five finalists were:  (1) Caybiga High School, (2) Las Pinas National High School, (3) Parada National High School, (4) Parang High School, and (5) Pasig City Science High School.

2008 also saw the realization of the first National Conference on Civic Education for Social Studies Supervisors (CON-CESSS). The participants included 60 teachers and education supervisors from the National Capital Region (NCR) and from the provinces.  The CON-CESSS was held at the University of Asia and the Pacific.