Reflection

Paglilingkod: The Filipino Social Worker

in a World Out of Balance

It demonstrates how social workers are always available to offer

support, care, and change in the face of tragedy. The social workers
demonstrate that they undertake their work for the good of everyone who
needs assistance and change, not just for the money.

The film we've viewed demonstrates how social workers assisted those
who were affected by calamities, disasters, and conflict in every war, disaster,
and calamity. The film demonstrates the dedication, creativity, and sense of
challenge that go into the profession of social work.

The social worker's message in the film was one of social change and
resolving conflicts in interpersonal relationships. Additionally, the narrator
mentioned that social service was not a part of Philippine culture prior to the
arrival of the British. In actuality, there is no equivalent word for "social work"
or "social worker" in native tongues.

While watching the film, we discovered the fundamental goal of social

work. To assist people in enhancing their personal and communal wellbeing is
the fundamental goal of the social work profession. Social workers are change
agents, and as such, they work to assist individuals in strengthening and
improving their lives and communities by using the tools that are available to
them.

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 The well-being and quality of life of the most vulnerable populations are
among social workers' top priorities, and they do this by placing a strong
emphasis on the person-in-environment and social justice models. When
working with individuals to evaluate their relationships, families,
environments, communities, and other factors that might effect them and
suggest strategies to assist solve difficulties and challenges, the social work
profession takes into account the individuals' internal and external struggles.

Because they are the ones with understanding of human behaviors and
because their problems and motivations differ from those of others, social
workers play a unique role in our society, as demonstrated by the movie. Social
workers have a wealth of excellent experiences in areas like mental health,
family services, and child welfare that can help someone's life transform. Social
workers are extremely strong and capable of overcoming the many difficulties
that life presents.

According to our perspective, a social worker's role is to better meet the

needs of individuals who are regarded as weak, oppressed, or poor. However,
a career in social work aids a person in making life-altering decisions that
improve quality of life. The ability to fight for individuals who society deems
undeserving is a requirement for the social work profession.

Based on our understanding about the video’s definition of social work,

social work is a career or pastime that focuses on assisting individuals, families,
groups, and communities in improving their own and their community's well-
being. It strives to assist individuals in growing their knowledge and capacity
to use both personal and communal resources to address issues.

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 In return, one is content, those who are spiritually inclined do this to
appease the Almighty. Those who undertake it with the intention of benefiting
humanity consider it their vocation. In the video, there are 12 social workers
that are mentioned together with the institution where they belong or serve.

Rosario B. Dela Rosa

She is the executive director of the Kaisahang Buhay Foundation, as is

evident from the film, and the first social worker to be mentioned. She claims
that with the assistance of the other social workers at her organization, their
objectives, which are family preservation, family reunification, and permanent
placement, can be summed up into three.

Families and children fall within the purview of this organization.

Additionally, they are tasked with enhancing each client's social functioning.
They offer programs including Parent Effectiveness Service, Empowerment
and Reaffirmation of Paternal Ability, and Day Care, as Rosario highlighted in
the video.

Additionally, they offer money help, talent development, and spiritual

counseling. Additionally, they offer foster care services. According to what she
indicated in the video, this service offers children (newborn to two years old)
temporary substitute family care when their biological families are unable to
care for them, either temporarily or permanently.

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Remedios C. Buenafe

At the time, she served as the Veterans Memorial Medical Center's Chief
Social Worker. She claims that the VMMC covers WWII veterans, USAFFE
veterans, known guerillas, retired military officers, and their dependents who
are still living in the nation.

The social workers' job in this setting is to provide social services to

patients who are having trouble adjusting to the routine, rules, and regulations
of the hospital as well as figuring out how to deal with their own personal
family issues, which may have an impact on their illness, treatment, discharge,
or rehabilitation.

The Veterans Memorial Medical Center was once called as Veterans

Memorial Hospital, according to what we understand from the video and what
has already been said. The social workers' primary concerns at the time were
relief and rehabilitation. This facility seeks to give Filipino veterans high-
quality inpatient care, healthcare, and treatment.

Prior to being expanded to include AFP retirees and their dependents,

the patients were initially those who had service-connected disabilities as a
result of their time spent serving in the USAFFE, recognized guerrilla units,
Philippine Scouts, or Philippine Commonwealth Army. It is their duty to offer
eligible veterans and their dependents the best medical care and treatment
available. For veterans and their dependents, comprehensive health services.

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Sr. Edita C. Eslopor

In the video, she is the third social worker to be mentioned. Despite

being the MAKAPAWA Project Director, she visits the areas herself to gather
community health workers, give training, and set up clinics. Her and the other
social workers facilitate the community health workers' training. They cover
the provinces of Leyte and Samar.

They participate in large-scale protests against military and political

assassinations across the country, especially in Samar and Leyte, as she
indicated. Additionally, they are doing it to uphold their rights and fulfill their
civic duty to the populace.

Lualhati F. Pablo

She works for DSWD's General Administration and Support Services

Group as the Undersecretary. Its primary objective is to take the lead in
developing, implementing, and coordinating social welfare and development
policies and initiatives for and with the underprivileged, vulnerable, and
destitute. According to what we can gather from the film, this arm of the
Philippine government aspires for all Filipinos to live in a society that is fair,
just, and peaceful, where everyone has access to opportunities and is free from
hunger and poverty.

According to Lualhati, DSWD is in charge of promoting social

development and defending the rights of Filipinos to social welfare. The DSWD
is also in charge of formulating policies, empowering the weak, disadvantaged,
and impoverished, as well as making sure that social welfare and development

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services are delivered through intermediaries like local governments, non-
governmental organizations, and civil society.

Children, women, the elderly, people with disabilities, young people,

and families are just a few of the groups that DSWD strengthens across the
nation. She also spoke about the KALAHI CIDSS, the DSWD's largest initiative
at the time, which as of its third year of operation served 42 of the country's
poorest provinces and encompassed more than a thousand municipalities and
barangays.

Imelda A. Capili

According to the video, Capili is the Regional Director of Parole and

Probation Administration in NCR. In the video, she is the fifth social worker.
She claims that the institution's mission or goal is to rehabilitate probationers,
parolees, and pardonees and promote their development as integral people by
using cutting-edge interventions and techniques that respect the dignity of man
as well as to promote the reformation of criminal offenders and reduce the
incidence of recidivism and to provide a less expensive alternative to
institutional confinement for first-time offenders who are more likely to
respond to individual.

She claimed that they try to determine whether the issue is with the
person or the circumstance. Interviews are conducted by this institution with
members of the family, neighbors, close friends, barangay officials, etc.
Additionally, they provide clients programs to support their recuperation.

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 We formed the judgment that, given what we know about this
institution, it is their duty to preserve and/or redeem convicted criminals and
inmates who are on probation or parole, as well as to rehabilitate and
reintegrate people on community-based corrections for peace and social justice.

Prof. Judy M. Taguiwalo

Taguiwalo was a lecturer at UP Diliman's Department of Women and

Development Studies in the College of Social Work and Community
Development. According to the video, she is also the President of the All UP
Academic Employees Union.

She claims that the majority of her work as a social worker entails
community organizing and working with underrepresented groups, especially
the rural population. She referred to the All UP Academic Employees Union,
which as part of its campaigning worked to increase funding for social services
and raise salaries for those working in the public sector.

Prof. Alejandro W. Apit

He serves as the Department of Social Work's Executive Director. Apit

and the other social workers support a general or integrative approach to social
work that involves organizing people into social groups, contact with many
social institutions, and participation in large-scale international initiatives.
Because it is under their purview, the Kamalayan Development Foundation
links to several organizations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

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 The National Coalition Against Child Labor and Commercial
Agriculture, which Apit founded with other social professionals, is committed
to the emancipation of all working children and the full realization of their
rights and development. It is their duty to safeguard the youngster against
child labor.

Prof. Rainier V. Almazan

As demonstrated in the film, he works as a Technical Consultant for the

Department of Social Work and is also active in PAKISAMA Mutual Benefit
Organization. The PAKISAMA Mutual Benefit Association's main objective is
to provide social protection to the poor and insurance to the poor because, in
Almazan's opinion, it is the poor who actually need insurance protection rather
than the wealthy.

Upon the occurrence of covered contingencies, the organization that was

specified also provides social protection benefits to members of PAKISAMA
and other people's groups, their beneficiaries, and families. This advances their
financial stability and well-being, as well as the security of their families,
communities, and country.

It is their duty to provide for the requirements of the typical Filipino

family throughout their lifespan from generation to generation. Additionally,
they will make an effort to offer the populace family-oriented, integrated,
reasonably priced, and quick to act in the interests of all parties.

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Rina Anastacio

She serves as the Children's Rehabilitation Center's executive director.

Their main objective is to offer rehabilitation to youngsters who have suffered
from militarization and human rights abuses. Its founding was a reaction to the
issue of children's mental, emotional, and physical health as a result of armed
war, natural disasters, and social chaos.

It concentrates its efforts on helping children and giving communities

instant support. These kids were present when their parents were murdered,
or they were the direct targets of bombings, etc. They offer either one-on-one
or group treatment. They travel to isolated rural areas with heavy militarism.

It is their duty to provide excellent client care, especially for individuals

who have suffered trauma as a result of the militarization at that period. One
of the few organizations in the Philippines that specializes in helping children
who have been the victims of human rights abuses, CRC's well-established
program includes needs assessments, psychological interventions, and kid-led
public advocacy.

Prof. Mary Lou A. Alcid

She is the Kanlungan Center Foundation's Executive Director. She

claims that the organization's objective is to offer direct services to migrant
workers who are victims of unlawful recruitment as well as to those who are
returning to the country. It is their duty to assist foreign women who have
mental health concerns.

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 They picture a really democratic and autonomous Philippine society
where labor migration is just one option among many, and not the only one,
and where abroad Filipino women and men are respected by people
throughout the world within the framework of a fair and equitable
international system. the realization of their vision.

They have a duty to defend the rights and welfare of OFWs and their
families, particularly women migrants, by providing gender-responsive, all-
encompassing, and empowering direct services as well as through advocating,
organizing, and developing capacity.

Luz L. Rodriguez

She is UNIFEM-national CEDAW's coordinator. Innovative programs

and strategies to promote gender equality and women's empowerment are
given financial and technical support. The abolition of all types of prejudice
against women is their aim. Rodriguez is tasked with project management and
facilitating the execution of the aforementioned institution's projects in his
capacity as national coordinator.

Romeo C. Quieta, M.D.

At the time, he served as the University of the Philippines' Dean. He

claims that they encounter numerous difficulties in their work as social
workers, difficulties stemming from the fact that they are required to develop
specialization training programs for social workers. These abilities include
public relations, disaster management, as well as knowledge of migration
difficulties and concerns.

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 He claims that with the aid of these new specifications, social work
education in the Philippines would create new initiatives that will facilitate the
empowerment and training of social workers. This is done so that they can
work with the disadvantaged and disenfranchised parts of our society and
become increasingly reliant on governmental and non-governmental groups.

As a result, we came to the conclusion that the social work profession is

focused on individuals. In other terms, a social work course is one that
emphasizes social change and human growth. As long as they are given the
possibility or opportunities to grow, social workers think that the individuals
they assist, especially the impoverished, are capable of helping themselves.

The needs of the nation's social, political, and economic environment are
addressed by social workers, who practice their profession. They provide
support, care, and assistance to single parents, young mothers, street children,
neglected and mistreated children, poor Filipinos attending social events, and
helping them grow up and become contributing members of society.

Additionally, social workers must labor and provide their services with
the intention of putting others before themselves and abdicating their
obligations to people in need. Of course, social workers also offer services to
individuals in need. Through policies, programs, services, and the creation of
unique projects, they look after the development of individuals. By doing so,
they are able to empower and guarantee the social functioning of the groups
they serve, such as children, women, the elderly, and families experiencing
conflict.

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 The Filipino ethnic language also uses words like tulong, which means
aid, damay, which means compassion, bayanihan, which means helping one
another, and aruga, which means care, to convey the principles of helping and
caring. Social workers must therefore bear obligations and accountability to the
underprivileged Filipinos as members of society.

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