Pen Power

I read. I travel. I remember.

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Discussion Board 6.1

Who doesn't love Julia Roberts? She's gorgeous, funny, and sophisticated, after all. One of the films that I adored growing up was Pretty Woman (1990). I only noticed the little inaccuracies in the movie after watching it a few times.

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Check out Hanna de Guzman’s comments on the video advertisements of Coca-Cola, Mcdonals, and Jollibee!

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After our kwentuhan, and as I roamed around the community, looking at the sun setting, I realized one thing: IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO SPARK A CHANGE. 

The responsibility, discipline and leadership start internally, and these must radiate to our actions, to how we treat the environment and the people around us especially those who are in need. And collaboratively, people can make a change. And THAT CHANGE STARTS NOW!

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This is how clean and well-organized Valencia. Hindi kapintas-pintas. ‘Yun nga lang, hindi maiwasan ang traffic. But looking at the surrounding, Valencia is a safe place. Every morning, you will see people in uniform, sweeping along the streets, making sure that there are no waste materials and plastics along the sidewalks.

[hjoyzdg]

All of the challenges a usual barangay have were already resolved by Barangay Valencia. Councilor Eugene recounted, 

“Naalala ko, napakahabang panahon na ang nakalilipas, kung paanong mawalan ng bahay ang mga tao dahil sa bagyo. Kung paano mataranta ang mga tao tuwing may sakunang darating. Pero heto ngayon, since 2014, naging napakagandang barangay ng Valencia na sya ng batayan ng mga karatig nitong barangay. Lahat ng mga issues dati, 100% solved na ngayon. Hindi na kami nababahala, iniimprove nalang namin day by day yung mga programang ipinatupad namin para sa mamamayan ng barangay”.

And as you will see above, these are vehicles used in case of emergency. Our team is always on the go! Mabuhay Valencia!

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There were a lot of programs that were materialized because of the great efforts and time the whole Barangay Council put in. SOme of these are under:

*Human Rights and Family Affair, Transportation, Assistance to Senior Citizens, Infrastructure, Livelihood, Youth & Sports, Information Education Communications, Religious, Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council

But what I chose to focus on were Health and Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management.

*Health

     1)Establishment of First-Aid Stations in populated areas of our barangay which provides basic medicines, vitamins, first aid-medications, blood pressure monitor, diabetes testing including nebulizer among other since 2014

 *Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management

      1) Continuing training and seminar of Barangay of Staff facilitated by Red Cross and MMDA

      2)Purchase of much needed equipment, tools and supplies

      3)Purchase of CCTV Cameras, 42 cameras as of 2017, most of which were used to monitor the condition of the people especially during disasters like typhoon.

      4)Purchase of Public Address System, 7 PAs as of 2017

      5)Continuous training of the VALENCIA ELITE TEA (VET), frontliners in case of emergency

These are just a few of the most significant works that was made successful by the council. While walking around, I asked Councilor Eugene of the places where help takes hours before it is extended or places which are usually devastated in times of disasters. He paused and smile. He proudly said, 

“Since 2014, hindi na kami nangangamba kung may darating na bagyo  o kung anumang sakuna. Ligtas ang ating mga kababayan. Wala ng mga taong nakatira sa tabi ng ilog, sapa, at tulay. 100% cleared sya. Gayunpaman, upang makasiguradong walang fatalities or injuries in times like that, we assign people per street usually our VET to monitor the situation of the people”.

 I couldn’t be prouder with what I heard. Looking back at the ambience and the environment of the barangay hall when I interviewed him, people are good-natured and focused on their work. I have also seen cabinets of trophies and plaques of awards because of the progress of Barangay Valencia.

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The Valencia Elite Team (VET)

They are also called as the Barangay First Responder. These personnels are trained by Quezon City-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRMM) to help aid the people in facing the disasters that strike the place. They work 24 hours a day to give their service to the people in need in their area of responsibility. Not only that, they were also trained to give first aid and were trained in martial arts specifically “arnis”.

[hjoyzdg]

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority or MMDA is a big blessing as well to Barangay Valencia as it continues to donate designed materials which helps our barangay tanod especially when there are earthquakes, falling building and or its debris. These materials are put inside a van so when unexpected events happen, the barangay will be on the rescue. Besides the good governance of our Barangay Council and the effectiveness of their weekly meetings, who are the people behind the “success”of Barangay Valencia?

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Sama-sama para sa malinis at magandang Valencia

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I was able to talk to our councilor who is also the chairman for Peace & Order, Anti-Drugs, Youth & Sports Development, Ways & Means. He went so far as to give me flyers, newsletters, and a copy of the successful plans they worked on to achieve a very peaceful, clean, and danger-free community. He is Councilor Eugenio S. Gabor or Sir Eugene for short. We had an hour or two of kwentuhan, most of the stories and revelations made me wonder how these people were able to make a change and maintain an incomparable cleanliness of the environment. 

Knowing how frequent typhoons and fires hit Metro Manila, I asked him how people in Barangay Valencia respond to these disasters and what help does our barangay leaders extend to aid these people. To my surprize, since 2014 people living in low-lying areas or near the rivers were given free “pabahay” in Pandi, Bulacan. Hectares of land were granted, about 45 square meters, of which 95 families were able to transfer. Second, I saw how clean the brooks are and asked him how it was made possible, and he discussed how they perform the “SAGIP-BATIS WEEKLY”. Every Friday, they assign people who take turns in cleaning the brooks, making sure that there are no plastics and wastes floating on it. On top of that, they also have the “STEEL TRASH TRAP”, bars of steals that were built at the side of the water, so it won’t overflow and flood the area. This steal trash trap also helps filter the brook water so no waste would flow from San Juan to the other rivers connected to it.

He also shared that the fire danger zone in Area 1 Santolan Road was already given aid because our Council of Barangay was able to build fire station besides the hall, and men were trained to control the fire in case of emergency. 

[hjoyzdg]

I have always been a fan of my own community. Years of residing in Barangay Valencia, which is commonly known as Gilmore, mean also seeing how the place I live in progress in time. Waste segregation and disposal, street and traffic management, disaster awareness and preparedness, name them all, and our barangay officials are ready. Hand in hand, they act as one. 

As soon as we were tasked to delve in deeper with disaster risk reduction management and to reflect on it as to how it relates with the community where we belong, I certainly knew that there would only be a few danger zones in our place, if none at all. So I decided to finally go to our barangay center and find out myself the condition or status of the people in our area through interviewing one of our councilors and walking around the entire barangay.