Author Archives: bukallifeministries

CPE Intensive 2011 Graduation Set

CPE Graduation. 9am. Saturday, May 28, 2011. at UCCP-Baguio. Anticipate approximately 23 graduates… most Unit 1, a few advanced units. It has been a busy but rewarding 10 weeks

Medical Mission at Irisan Dumpsite

Doing ministry work at a dumpsite in the Philippines is a touchy thing. In many such locations, well-meaning Christians have created more dependency than growth in people who work and live at these dumpsites. Acknowledging this concern, we felt that we could be of help there, partnering with Mountain of Blessing… a small group that works with people at the dumpsite. The dumpsite has been closed for over a year (at least in the sense of no new garbage being brought in from Baguio City). However, there is still tons and tons of recyclables that are slowly sorted out and collected. Hundreds of people still live and work there.

We did our medical mission at the day care just outside the dumpsite. We were able to treat close to 400 patients. General medical, dental, and minor surgical services were provided. We were surprised at the number of children with infections. We had to go back to our medicine supplier to get more antibiotics and other medicines to cover the greater than expected needs.

We thank the large number of volunteers. Among these include Mountain of Blessing, CEF-Baguio, West Baguio Baptist Church, and local volunteers.

William & Viola Farrell Symposium 2011 Completed

It was a great day. After months of preparation, the first William & Viola Farrell Symposium of Pastoral Care & Counseling was completed.

We had 105 attend coming from churches, NGOs, schools, hospitals and other organizations. The goal of this series is to provide training that bridges the gap between secular and religious counseling. The goal is to provide people from different fields involved with helping people, to empower them to deal with the psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs of their patients/clients.

Dr. Cesar Espineda was the main speaker. He is a Diplomate with the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy. He has graciously taken on a role of mentor for both CPSP-Philippines and Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center. Both of his topics centered on the importance of self-awareness and self-understanding of the counselor.

The first topic was “The Person as a Benchmark for Counseling.” The second was “Transference– Our Un/Conscious Reaction in the Human-Patient Encounter.”

The lectures were also tied to discussions as a whole group, as well as small-group discussion afterwards. Additionally, a cultural performance was provided by Batang, a Cordilleran dance troupe. They did dances from Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Ifugao. Additionally, we had a presentation of artwork by local artist, Rommel Pidaso. The work showed creation of culturally relevant “basura art”, or artwork constructed from garbage. Creation of meaning and beauty from what has been rejected certainly seems to be a relevant counseling metaphor.

We thank all those who attended. Of course we also thank our guest lecturer, our cultural presenters, volunteers, and sponsors.

Special Needs Ministry Training at PBTS

We had a great time with a half day training in incorporating Special Needs children, adults (and their families) into the church and ministry. 70 people attended the training. These included the Bukal Life CPE trainees, teachers from Calvary Baptist Elementary School, and church education leaders. The training was led by Bob and Celia Munson of Bukal Life, and Julie Sibucao, the principal at Calvary Baptist Elementary School.

Special Needs Ministry Training At CBES

Special Needs Ministry Training

Individual Education Training Plan

Upcoming Events

May 9 9am -12pm. Workshop in Church ministry for Special Needs children and adults

May 14 8:30am – 4:30pm. Counseling Symposium with Dr. Cesar Espineda. Baguio City

May 21 Medical/Pagtuli Mission at Irisan Dumpsite

May 28 Last day of CPE Intensive 2011.

May 31 Crisis Care seminar. Dalicno, Itogon, Benguet

Some Thanks that have been forgotten

Sometimes we get busy and forget those who help make our work possible. Of course, we are thankful to our staff and SIT workers. We also appreciate our various partners here. We need to mention them specifically at another time. But here are some other thanks that needs to be made.

A. Volunteer thanks:
1. Dr. Raymond Lawrence, General Secretary of the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy for joining us and training our CPE trainees and Supervisors in Training.
2. Dr. Cesar Espineda, diplomate with CPSP who will provide training for our trainees as well as lead a counseling symposium on May 14th.
3. Russell and Gwen Bowles, and Matt Wall. They will be coming over from Virginia to help us in social ministry particularly with special needs training and VBS.

B. Material Thanks.
1. Terry and Debbie Arndt, with WCA Hospital and Ivory Baptist Church. Medical and Surgical supplies.
2. Carmalita Grant and Gautier United Methodist Church. Hospital blankets, sheets, and smocks.
3. Doug and Cheryl Iverson. Numerous pastoral care and Christian counseling books.

VBS for Special Needs Children

As part of our practical training of CPE trainees, we will be holding a Vacation Bible School for children with special needs. This is planned to be held at Calvary Baptist Elementary School, May 9-12, 2pm -4pm. We will also be doing training with teachers and others interested in working with children with special needs.

This VBS will be led by Mrs. Gwendolyn Bowles (MEd. in Special Education), who has served as a special education teacher (ED, ADHD, LD, MH) in both school and church for 30 years.

To Register or to ask questions, please contact BUKAL Life at 0933-302-0373 or email us at info@bukallife.org.

Inauguration of CPSP in the Philippines

On April 20, we had the formal inauguration of CPSP-Philippines with the formation of the first chapter of the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP)—the Baguio Chapter. The inauguration was held at Riverview Park in Asin, Benguet, Philippines, during a clinical pastoral education retreat.

The formal presentation was made by Dr. Raymond Lawrence, the General Secretary of the CPSP. The Baguio Chapter of the CPSP is only the second such chapter in Southeast Asia, and is presided over by Rev. Joel S. Aguirre.

In addition, two training centers were also announced for CPSP-Philippines. These are Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary and BUKAL Life Care & Counseling Center. Dr. Ryan Clark, professor of pastoral care and counseling at PBTS, and Celia P. Munson, training coordinator at BUKAL Life, represented these institutions at the event. A follow-on presentation of this relationship was made on May 23 with Dr. Joyce Abugan, President of Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary, and Robert Munson, the Administrator of BUKAL Life.

The College of Pastoral Supervision & Psychotherapy is a theologically based covenant community, dedicated to “Recovery of Soul.” CPSP offers accredited training and credentialing for Pastoral Psychotherapy, Pastoral Supervision, Pastoral Counseling, and Clinical Chaplaincy.
For more information, please refer to the CPSP website, www.pastoralreport.com, or e-mail BUKAL Life Care and Counseling Center at info@bukallife.org.