Category Archives: Reports

Reports of what have already happened

We are Moving… a Few Meters at Least

Our ministry partner Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary is giving us a bigger space for our pastoral care center. The new space is right next door to our old one but about 5 times larger. The new space is about 500 square feet (over 45 square meters).

Our hope is to to get some major modifications to the space done. We want to partition off one area as a counseling room. One wall would be permanent and (hopefully) one wall would be a folding partition so that it can be opened up for large group trainings.

Two main doors here are both for the new office. Once we have things partitioned, the left door will be for the office, the right will be for the counseling room.

Two main doors here are both for the new office. Once we have things partitioned, the left door will be for the office, the right will be for the counseling room.

Bukal room 4

View is toward the kitchenette area from the area that will be the counseling area… once it is partitioned.

Storage area in the kitchen section. The present materials (trophies and yearbooks) will be removed.

Storage area in the kitchen section. The present materials (trophies and yearbooks) will be removed.

View to the front from the kitchen area. The left side will be the partitioned counseling room, and the right will be the office and ministry center.

View to the front from the kitchen area. The left side will be the partitioned counseling room, and the right will be the office and ministry center.

The other side would be our ministry office, as well as student ministry center to (as the name implies) help link up seminary students and ministry opportunities (both short-term and long-term).

The back area is storage/shelving, a kitchenette and lavatory (“CR”).

This is an awesome opportunity for us, and is part of the seminary’s goal to greatly expand and enhance its pastoral care training program. We are excited to be partnered in this.

Please keep us in your prayers in getting things funded, modified, decorated, staffed, and effectively utilized.

Three Days in February

Three great activities in three consecutive days.

Day 1 (February 20). Asia Vision-STM invited us to Wood Nymph Restaurant for a planning dinner. AV-STM is a Philippine-based organization that trains Filipinos in missions through training and Short-Term and Encounter missions. AV-STM is committed to proper missionary member care for those who go. We have been working with them with personality evaluation and training. We are presently working with each other to develop a program that meets the needs of AV-STM. Thanks to Jehny and Fhey for taking the lead on developing this program.

Feb 2014 a

Day 2 (February 21). At the invitation of Serving Neighbors Network, we were invited to do a training in Intentional Conversation. We did a similar training at Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary a month before. SNN trains children in Baguio through the ALS (alternative learning system) program. Attendees were teachers and barangay workers. There were approximately 20 in attendance. Bob led the primary training, with roleplay and group discussion work by Celia, Becky, and Cori.

Feb 2014 d

Day 3 (February 22).  We carried out another topic in our series of Mini-Workshops. This training is in Conflict Mediation, led by Dr. Sim Dang-Awan. Doc Sim is an expert in mediation and tribal confict resolution. The training was held at Philippines Baptist Theological Seminary (PBTS) , to a group of around 25. We had a very positive response to this and discussion is underway for follow-ons to this important topic.

Feb 2014 g

2013 Activities

Here are some of our activities over 2013.

January.  Pastoral Care Basics. Led by Celia Munson. At Serving Neighbors Network, Baguio City. Training. 2 days. 8 trainees

February.  ALS visitation and gift-giving at Crystal Cave, Baguio, (12 helped) and Mother and Children’s Health Outreach, San Isidro, Agoo (80 helped). Organized by Angie Gomez.

February 22-23  Life Care Training Led by Bob and Celia Munson. At Sefton Village, Santiago, Isabela. 1.5 days. 20 trainees.

March   AV-STM Member Care Training. Celia: Basic First Aid for STMers.

May. Missionary Member Care. Led by Robert Munson. (2-week Summer module). PBTS.11 trainees

May 23   Stress Management. Led by Dr. Sim Dang-Awan. Dept of Agriculture, Banaue.

May.  Missionary Member Care Trip to Cambodia. Jehny Pedazo. AG Team and AV-STM.

June 8  Crisis Care Training. Led by Celia Munson. At “The Hub” Student Center, La Trinidad. 1 evening. 7 trainees

June 13-14.  Disaster Response,Buguias, Benguet. 100 people. Training and Stress Defusing.

June 25. Formal Agreement with PBTS on partnering on ministry, facilities, and training.

July.   Loss and Grief seminar. Led by Celia. At Trinidad Baptist Church.

August.  Growth Groups. Led by Joyce Gray. August – October 2013. PBTS.6 trainees

September 26.   Solidarity for families and PWDs. AVRC Region 1. Led by Celia.

October 4.   Child Abuse. 1.5 hour lecture by Celia Munson at Benguet State.

November.  Disaster Response/NOVA training, PBTS, 4 hours, 25 trainees.

November.  Crisis Care/Child Traumatic Stress, AV-STM, 4 hours, 15 trainees. Led by Jehny.

November.   Disaster Response, Ormoc and Tacloban. Led by Dr. Nori Lacquian. Alexis joined. Relief work and defusing.

December.   Disaster Response, “Iloklan Team.” Numancia, Iloilo, and Baliguian, Concepcion, Iloilo. Defusing, Relief Goods, Training.

December. Disaster Response, Cebu and Ormoc. Stress Defusing, Training for ministry leaders in Cebu.

December.  Disaster Response, Bilar, Bohol. Relief goods, Defusing, and Training led by Bob, Celia, and Dr. Erlyn Santos.

December 27-28. “Project Leyte” Crisis Debrief/Defuse Training. Organized by PNA-Baguio/Benguet, PGCA-Baguio/Benguet, Zero Distance to the Philippines, and Bukal Life Care. Dec 27/28. Modules led by several including Celia and Jehny.

 

 

2012. Some Activities

  • Jan 5-10 Return to CDO for Disaster Response.
  • Jan CPE-Manila Batch begins
  • Feb 19-20 CPO final evals and graduation
  • Feb 29 Doc Raymond arrives in Manila
  • Mar 2 Doc Lawrence Seminar, PCMC
  • Mar 3 Peer Review
  • Mar 5 Doc Lawrence Seminar, St. Lukes
  • Mar 9 Doc Lawrence departs for US
  • Mar 12 Northridge School Recollection
  • Mar 19 CPE Summer Intensive in Baguio
  • Apr 14 Christian Counseling Seminar with Rudy French
  • Apr 18 Training lectures at CSBC youth camp
  • Apr 30 Graduation of CPE-Manila Batch
  • May 12 Graduation of CPE-Intensive (Baguio)
  • Jun 9 CPE Office dedication in Quezon City
  • Jul 16 Start of CPE-Manila new Batch
  • Jul 31 Rev. Aguirre resigns as Executive Director
  • Aug 18 CPE Orientation in Baguio
  • Sep 1 CPE-Baguio started (50)
  • Sep 1 CPO with CSBC-WMU started (8)
  • Sep 1 Brent Group Training (at Brent School, Baguio).
  • Sep 19 CPSP-PI BOT Meeting
  • Sep 28 Completion of Bukal Life Journal
  • Oct 6 Board of Trustees Meeting. Baguio City
  • Oct 20 Espineda Seminar at CPU, Iloilo
  • Oct 23 Espineda Seminar at PBTS
  • Oct 25 Espineda Seminar at UC Baguio
  • Oct 27 Espineda Seminar in Manila.

2011. Some Activities

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  • Jan 4. Shepherd in Every Classroom training for teachers at Union School International
  • Feb 3. Recollection Retreat for High School students from CCDC, held at Mount St. Paul’s Retreat Center, La Trinidad
  • Feb 12. Parents Training at Immaculate Heart of Mary School, La Trinidad
  • Feb 23. Psychology of the Family Training, Bang-Ar group, Naguilian, La Union
  • Mar 4. Conflict/Confrontation Training, Psychology Group, University of Cordilleras
  • Mar 29. Basic Health & First Aid for Short-Term Missionaries. Asia Vision-STM, at PBTS
  • Mar 21 – May 28. CPE Batch 1. 23 students, 5 supervisors-in-training. Baguio.
  • Apr 20, 23. Inauguration of CPSP-Philippines, and Certification of Bukal Life as training center for CPSP.
  • May 9. Workshop for Special Needs Ministry, At PBTS
  • May 10-13. Workshop/Seminars at Calvary Baptist Elementary School
  • May 14. “The William & Viola Farrell Pastoral Care and Counseling Symposium.” Baguio City
  • May 21. Medical Mission, Irisan Dumpsite
  • May 31. Crisis Care Seminar. Dalicno, Itogon.
  • Jun 14. Parenting Seminar II. Immaculate Heart of Mary School
  • Jun 18. CPE Batch 2 started. 6 trainees. Baguio
  • Aug 6. CPE Batch 3 started. 17 trainees. Baguio/Manila. Start of Bukal Life-Manila.
  • Sep 3. Annual Board Meeting. Baguio
  • Sep 29. Family Day, AVRC-1. Dagupan.
  • Oct 20. Dinner For a Cause/1st Anniversary Celebration. CPE Batch 2 and 3A Graduation
  • Nov 7. CPE Information Meeting, PBTS, Baguio City.
  • Nov 12. CPE Graduation, Bukal Life-Manila
  • Nov. 12. University of the Cordilleras, Commerce Graduating Class. Seminar, Stress and Time management.
  • Nov. 14. CPO class start 1-4pm, Mid-City Christian Church. 17 Trainees
  • Nov. 14. CPE Batch 4A begins. 11 Trainees
  • Nov 28-29. CPO Training with Highlands Convention, UCCP, in Tabuk Kalinga. 25 Trainees
  • Dec 10. CPO class with UCCP, Highlands Convention
  • Dec 16. Christmas Party (Bukal Life-Baguio)
  • Dec 26-30. Disaster Response Crisis Intervention, Cagayan de Oro

Our Latest E-Journal

<div style=”margin-bottom:5px”> <strong> <a href=”https://www.slideshare.net/bmunson3/bukal-life-care-journal-2013&#8243; title=”Bukal Life Care Journal 2013″ target=”_blank”>Bukal Life Care Journal 2013</a> </strong> from <strong><a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/bmunson3&#8243; target=”_blank”>Bob Munson</a></strong> </div>

What’s in a Name

Okay, it is a bit confusing. Some places we call ourselves the following:

Bukal Life MinistriesBukal Logo Small New

Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center

Bukal Life Care & Training Center

Bukal Life Care

Perhaps the following will correct the confusion.

1.  Bukal Life Ministries. When we first formed as a group in October/November of 2009, this was the name that we went by. BUKAL is the Tagalog word for “spring” (as in a fountain of water). We felt the name fit our focus on helping people recover from Tropical Storm Ondoy and Typhoon Pepeng.  Even after our name officially changed, we retained the name “Bukal Life Ministries” for projects that were tied more to social ministry (as opposed to pastoral care or clinical pastoral education). So, in a sense, we never retired the term.

2.  Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center. When we incorporated in June of 2010, we utilized the name “Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center.” The term counseling implied related to our pastoral care and clinical pastoral education work. The term care focused on the social ministry and training work. This has been our official name up until the present.

3.  Bukal Life Care & Training Center.  In November 2012, concerns about the use of the term Counseling Center came up. It was felt by some that the term “Counseling” was inappropriate based on Philippine Republic Act 9258. Based on that, there was a decision to research a name change removing the term Counseling and replace with Training. That actually made sense since it could be said that implied two basic ministries “Life Care” and “Training.”  So we started making changes towards the name change. That stopped based on a reevaluation that we did not violate the Republic Act. <Frankly, the law is quite… curiously…  written. The law professionalizes the use of the term “counseling” but fails to recognize many common uses of this common term, only recognizing  psychoemotional counseling. As such it ignores legal counseling, spiritual counseling, informal counseling, professional/vocational counseling and so forth. The Law also criminalizes the use of the term “center” but doesn’t technically clarify that the such criminalization only relates to psychological counseling organizations. However, one has to appreciate the spirit of the law that seeks to professionalize a noble activity.> Gradually we started moving away from this name.

4.  Bukal Life Care. We often have used this term as the short form or our organization. A number of us have considered the possibility of changing our name formally to this short-hand title. It gets rid of the term “counseling center,” which causes so much confusion in the Philippines. Secondly, it focuses on our main role “LIFE CARE.” Life Care is the term we use for the following sub-topics (both as an activity and as a training are):

Pastoral Care/Spiritual Care

Member Care

Crisis Care

Health Care

 

Our board of trustees will be meeting in a few weeks to come up with a final name. We will let you know what is finally decided.

 

 

 

September 2013 Updates

1.  Clinical Pastoral Education.  Batch 3 completed in mid-August, with 3 graduates. Batch 4 started on September 9th with 6 trainees. One is working on first unit, the others are working on 2nd or 3rd. Batch 5 (the final batch for 2013 is expected to start November or December.

2.  BOT meeting. October will be our annual board meeting. Actual date TBD.

3.  Farrell Symposium. The Annual Farrell Symposium is tentatively scheduled for October 25th at Philippine Children Medical Center in Quezon City. Speakers are expected to be Dr. Cesar Espineda and Chaplain Barbara McGuire.

4.  CPSP. Congratulations to Padi Pinit Caytap as the convener of the newest CPSP Chapter— Resurrection. That brings the number of chapters in the Philippines to 5. A 6th is in the process of being formed in Manila.

5.  Sunflower Children Center. In August we had a nice visit with Fr. Acosta and staff at Sunflower Children Center. They do a wonderful job in helping children in greater Baguio. 6 of our team were able to join a training on DSM-5 as it pertains to children. It was hosted by Sunflower. We look forward to continued opportunities to support each other.

That’s enough for now. But keep checking!

 

 

Crisis Response Trip to Northern Benguet

 

Four members of our team joined members of Benguet State University (led by Professor Marcy Bolona) and the Student Hub, to assist in Crisis Response and Stress Mitigation in Buguias, Benguet. Members of our team at Bukal were Celia, Jehny, Becky, and Serafina. They left early Saturday (June 13, 2013) morning for the 2.5 hour drive along the mountainous Halsema Highway to Abatan. From there, they took a jeepney for another hour of dirt road driving to Buguias.

Our team was invited by the Catholic church in Buguias in response to the month anniversary of a disaster that occurred there. After brunch, crisis care began, working with approximately 100 adults, youth, and children… relatives and friends of those directly impacted by the disaster. The group was broken up into smaller groups based on relationship and age. For the adults, we used the NOVA (National Organization of Victim Assistance) model for stress mitigation. For children, other methods, including artwork, were used to allow for sharing/ventilating of feelings.

We believe that the event was a great time of sharing, grieving, and healing. Some members of the team had to leave late in the day while others stayed overnight, being well taken care of by our hosts. In the morning, on Sunday, after a swim in the hotsprings and breakfast, the team began its return trek to La Trinidad and Baguio City.

It was a great joy to serve in the beautiful community of Buguias surrounded on all sides by the great mountains of the Cordilleras. Our hosts were almost too kind. We greatly appreciate their hospitality feel honored to help their community in some small way.

This trip reminded us of the importance of crisis care, especially as it pertains to community disasters. We will be planning a training session for those interested in some of the methods involved in this type of ministry.

Open House at PBTS

pbts blc agreement 2

Agreement Signing. Dr. Armand Canoy (President of PBTS), and Dr. Bob Munson (Administrator of Bukal Life Care)

We had a great day at Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary (PBTS). For approximately two years PBTS (Baguio City, Philippines) has allowed us to use a space there for our CPE training and counseling use.  However today, June 25th, we formally signed an agreement with PBTS working out the nature of our partnership. We are thankful for the the commitment PBTS has made to pastoral care and clinical pastoral education, and look forward to a fruitful partnership. The signing was done during seminary Convocation ceremonies, by Dr. Armand Canoy, President of PBTS) and Dr. Robert Munson, Administrator of Bukal Life Care.

After the Convocation Ceremony, all were invited to come over to our office for snacks. Over 100 students, staff, faculty, and guests joined us.

We work with a number of schools and denominations. However, we have worked with PBTS on some level since our founding in 2009, so we appreciate the opportunity to work with at the seminary and with the student body there.

Staff Team bStaff of Bukal Life Care during Open House on June 25, 2013

        From left to right: Becky Taylor, Joyce Gray, Celia Munson, Bob Munson, Bart Dela Cruz, Jehny Pedazo