Foreword

Lenore Polotan-dela Cruz

Ambagan: Sama-samang Pagkilos ng mga Tao sa Panahon ng Pandemya (Ang Kuwento ng Parokya ng Sto. Domingo, Brgy. Janosa, Isla ng Talim, Binangonan, Rizal)

Paul Edward N. Muego, DSD

Abstract     Isa ang Simbahan, sa pamamagitan ng mga maliliit na parokya gaya ng Parokya ng Sto. Domingo sa Isla ng Talim, Binangonan, Rizal, ang mabilisang kumilos para tumugon sa kalagayan ng mga tao noong nag-umpisa ang COVID-19 pandemya at ang mga kaalinsabay na mga lockdown. Layunin ng pag-aaral na ito na mailahad, maipagdiwang, mapagnilayan, at hanguan ng aral ang kuwento ng sama-samang pagkilos ng Parokya at ng mga tao sa Isla. Ang paglalarawan, na nasa porma ng isang case study, ay humugot mula sa mga kuwento ng mga taga-Isla ng Talim na nakuha sa pamamagitan ng mga panayam, pakikipagkuwentuhan sa pamamagitan ng mga online platforms at pati na rin sa nauna nang naisulat ng mga mag-aaral ng Pagpapaunlad ng Pamayanan na naitalaga sa Isla bago ang lockdown sa ilalim ng Field Instruction Program (FIP). Ang pagninilay at pagtukoy ng ilang rekomendasyon naman ay ginabayan ng mga piling batayang konsepto mula sa mga Panlipunang Turo ng Simbahan (Catholic Social Teachings) at ng Panlipunang Kaunlaran o Pagpapaunlad (social development). 

Lumilitaw sa kuwento ng sama-samang pagkilos ng mga taong bumubuo ng Parokya ng Sto. Domingo na likas sa mga tao ang paghahangad sa ganap na pagbabago, at makikita ito sa buhay na buhay na pagtutulungan, pagdadamayan, at pagkakapatiran. Makikita rin na ang pakikiisa at pakikilahok, ang karapatan at pananagutan ay mga mahahalagang sangkap sa mobilisasyon ng pamayanan. Ang karanasan ng mga taga-Isla ng Talim ay nagbibigay din ng mahalagang aral sa pamahalaan, na ito dapat ay maging pamahalaan ng lahat at hindi lang ng iilan. Panghuli, makikita na ang mga tao ay hindi nasanay na umaasa sa tulong ng iba para makakain at matugunan ang iba’t iba nilang mga pangangailangan, kung kaya’t ang pagtulong dapat ay umiikot sa dangal ng sangkatauhan (human dignity). Batay sa pag-aaral, mahalaga na ang tuloy-tuloy na pagkilos ng mga taga-Isla ng Talim ay tumuon sa pagtiyak sa kasiguruhan sa pagkain, pagpaparami ng disenteng trabaho at kabuhayan, pagpapalakas ng mga batayang serbisyong pangkalusugan, pagpapaigting sa pamamahala ng pamayanan (community governance), at patuloy na pagpapalakas sa social action ministry ng Parokya ng Sto. Domingo.

Keywords     field instruction, faith-based organizations, community participation, Catholic social teachings, social development, solidarity, COVID-19 pandemic, community quarantine

Sa Gitna ng Pandemya na COVID-19: Pagtugon ng mga Manininda, Tsuper, at Mamamayan ng Pook Malinis sa UP Diliman

Aleli B. Bawagan, PhD, Rose Angelie M. Hernandez, and Celeste F. Vallejos

Abstract     Malinaw na ang epekto ng pandemya dala ng COVID-19 ay dama sa halos lahat ng bansa sa buong mundo, sa halos lahat ng sektor at pamayanan. Isa ang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas sa apektadong institusyon; hindi lamang ang kanyang mga pang-akademikong programa, kundi pati ang iba’t ibang sektor at pamayanan na nakapaloob sa buong kampus.

Nagbuo ang Tsanselor ng UP Diliman COVID-19 Task Force noong Marso 2020 upang bumuo ng mga kinakailangang programa sa pagtugon sa pandemya. Noong Abril naman ay nabuo ang UP Diliman COVID-19 Response Volunteers o ang UPD CRV na binuo ng mga organisasyon at mga indibidwal upang tumulong sa mga sektor na apektado sa loob ng Brgy. UP Campus. Marami ang tumugon sa panawagan para sa mga boluntaryo— mga guro, kawani, mga mag-aaral, mga samahan sa kampus, at iba pang mga indibidwal. Sila ay agad tumugon sa mga sektor na nangangailangan ng tulong at ito ay nagpatuloy sa halos pitong buwang panahon.

Layunin ng papel na ito na maisalarawan ang epekto ng COVID-19 sa mga sektor ng manininda at mga tsuper at sa mga pamayanan ng maralita tulad ng Pook Malinis. Ibabahagi din ang naging stratehiya ng UPD CRV sa kanyang pagtugon na hindi lamang pagbibigay ng relief operations kung hindi kasama ang pagbibigay ng edukasyon sa pamayanan at ang paglalahad ng kanilang mga kahilingan sa mga otoridad sa UP. Pupulot  din ng mga aral mula sa karanasan na ito na kaugnay sa disiplina ng Pagpapaunlad ng Pamayanan at sa usapin ng disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).

Keywords     COVID-19, UP Diliman COVID-19 Response Volunteers, community development

Surviving the Pandemic: Sapang Munti Women’s Stories During the ECQ

Lisa Victoria N. Rosel and Victor G. Obedicen

Abstract     This article discusses the experiences of women leaders and members of the Samahan ng Kababaihan para sa Kaunlaran at Kinabukasan ng Sitio Sapang Munti (SK3SSM) in Sitio Sapang Munti, Brgy. San Mateo, Norzagaray, Bulacan during the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lockdown seriously affected the lives of families in Sitio Sapang Munti. This was most felt by women in the community because of existing unequal gender roles. It put a halt to women’s livelihood activities. Reproductive and care work were felt to be heavier due to limited or no incomes which affected responsibilities in securing food and health care. The women responded to their situation by securing food for their families and going back to farming to augment food needs. Most families were also recipients of different forms of aid from external organizations and the government.

SK3SSM played a vital role in responding to issues encountered by families during the lockdown by taking the lead in conducting a census of families in the community and in the planning and distribution of food packs. Despite the pandemic’s impact on women, it also served as an opportunity for members of SK3SSM to strengthen their leadership roles by actively taking part in decision making, especially in relief work.

The article concludes by reflecting on the importance of recognizing women as partners in resolving community issues, organizing them, building their capacities in disaster risk management, and making organizational processes more gender inclusive and responsive.

Keywords     indigenous women, gender-responsive disaster risk management, women organizing

Seeds of Hope in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Collective Responses and Social Solidarity Building of the MASIPAG Small Farmers’ Organizations

Maria Corazon Jimenez-Tan

Abstract     The COVID-19 pandemic caused a health, food, and socio-economic crisis that impacted most especially the poor sectors in the urban and rural communities. It revealed the deep-seated problems in the public health system and the agriculture and food system, and the absence of adequate and accessible basic social services that have historically rendered millions of Filipinos poor, unhealthy, and food insecure.

In the midst of inadequate state support and the government’s militarist approach in enforcing health and safety protocols, we witnessed communities responding to the needs of sectors hardest hit by the pandemic including vulnerable frontliners. We witnessed the collective action of basic social sectors and grassroots organizations that forged social solidarities in demanding for government’s response to our people’s urgent need for food, health, and social protection during the pandemic; stood with the people to resist and struggle against state attacks on human rights; and amplified the people’s calls for quality public health, sustainable food systems, and fulfillment of basic human rights.

This paper aims to draw lessons from MASIPAG, a network of small farmers’ organizations that creatively responded to this health, food, and socioeconomic crisis. It seeks to gain insights from how these organizations of small farmers and women farmers nurtured and sustained their families, organizations, and communities through agroecological farming practices, organizing and organizational development work efforts, and networking, alliance and partnership building for the common good.  This study hopes to lead to a better appreciation of what social solidarity is, and the critical role of small farmers, including women farmers, in building social solidarity towards the promotion of sustainable agriculture and food systems.

This study is significant as it hopes to show how organized farmers, practicing collective/communal, sustainable, and agroecological agriculture serve as one of the foundations of alternative, people-centered, farmer-led rural and agricultural development and sustainable local food systems. It also shows that the basis of the social solidarity that surges during crises, such as this pandemic, actually results from long years of organizing and advocacy work and social movement building of people’s organizations and grassroots communities towards radical social transformation.

Keywords     organizing, organizational development, social solidarity, care work, agroecological farming, farmer-led development

Network Formation in the Time of the Pandemic: The Experience of the Citizen’s Urgent Response to End COVID-19 (CURE COVID)

Remvert Bryan G. Placido, Louise Jashil R. Sonido, and Judy M. Taguiwalo, PhD 

Abstract     The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines and the imposition of various levels of lockdowns since 16 March 2020 resulted in the loss of already limited income of many Filipinos and an exponential increase in the number of communities and people needing assistance. The pandemic, the prolonged lockdown and health protocols limiting people’s mobility and gathering, and the ensuing economic and health problems required new forms of community engagement and mobilization. Using exploratory case study as research methodology, this paper focuses on the experience of the Citizen’s Urgent Response to End COVID-19 (CURE COVID) in creating and sustaining a network of community organizations, groups, and individuals aimed at building social solidarity in the time of the pandemic.

Keywords      COVID-19 pandemic, network building, militarized response, social solidarity, social media

The Family Farm School Approach to Human Capabilities Building: A Strategy for Community Development

Jiza Mari S. Jimenez

Abstract     This study examines several Individual and Collective Capabilities that were observed among rural community members of Roxas, Oriental Mindoro in School Year 2018-2019. These capabilities relate to notions of self-awareness, personal transformation, self-determination, community solidarity, meaningful participation, socioeconomic well-being, leadership development, health promotion, and sustainable environmental practices. In exploring human capabilities building, this qualitative research likewise reveals the unique features and characteristics of the Family Farm School (FFS) approach and how it contributes to both individual and collective strengthening and transformation.

Keywords     Family Farm School, individual and group capabilities building, community development

Feature Article: Department of Community Development (DCD) – Modified Field Instruction Program: An Adaptive Initiative to Social Solidarity and Partnership in the Time of the Pandemic

DCD-FIP Committee

Abstract     The Field Instruction Program or FIP is the “heart and soul” of Community Development as an academic program. The FIP cannot be substituted by any other activity and student participation in the program is essential and non-negotiable. The continuing and emergent realities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing global, regional, and national response, particularly its impact on poor and marginalized communities, have compelled the FIP to facilitate opportunities for students and faculty to continue to live, work, and learn with them, in creative and multifaceted ways—through the Modified Field Instruction Program. The feature article provides a description of the Modified FIP bubble and remote modes, narrates initial experiences from the ground (and digital cloud), and shares preliminary learning from reflecting on these experiences. The article aims to provide a take-off point for continuing reflection and discussions to inform decisions of CD educators on the choice of methods and technologies that are appropriate to the context while remaining fully rooted on the twin imperatives of learning and service.

Keywords     field instruction, blended learning, service learning

Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this journal are solely the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of the College of Social Work and Community Development.