Category Archives: Reports

Reports of what have already happened

Bukal Life-Baguio Christmas Party

Bukal Life-Baguio had its Christmas Party at the Salas’s on December 16, 2011. (Bukal Life-Manila held its Christmas Party on December 9th).

This was also a sending off and thanks to Tessa Leones for her help with us in CPE and training seminars. Ma’am Tess was head of Psychology at Saint Louis University for many years until her retirement. She joined us for over a year, but is going with her husband to be with children and grandchildren in the US.

We are thankful for her help and have best wishes for the whole family.

Dinner for a Cause-A Serenade (Report)

What a great night we had. Approximately 120 people joined us at the Sangkabalayan Center at Baguio Cathedral for good food, good music, and good fellowship. Several provided music for this event.

UCCP Christian Couples Choir


1. UCCP (Baguio) Christian Couples Choir. They sang opening and closing songs as well as a primary presentation of 5 popular hymns/Christian songs.
2. Brevarian Singers. A trio of young ladies and guitarist that provided two country gospel songs.
3. Singing Priests. Several Catholic priests sang Christian songs that they have been performing together since seminary, including one song written by a classmate who (sadly) died too young.
4. Jeffrey Linang. Local seminarian and pastor who sang two songs, one to start and and one to end the main performances.

The evening ended with handing out certificates of completion for CPE batches 2 and 3A. Batch 3B (Manila) will have their graduation and certificates on November 12 in Manila.

We are thankful to them. We are also thankful to the Sangkabalayan Center for allowing us to use their facilities for free (and to Rev. Fr. German Legaspi in helping us with these arrangements).

We are also appreciative of all who gave generously of their time and money. The Dinner was to raise awareness and money for CPE scholarships for clergy and layleaders seeking to serve God through pastoral care and counseling. If you are interested in supporting some CPE students, please contact us at info@bukallife.org

Annual Board Meeting Part 2. CPE Fees

During the Annual Board Meeting on September 3rd, the following was determined:

There is a need to set a standard fee for all CPE units.

The amount for the 10-12 week program is P15,000. This amount covers tuition and miscellaneous expenses for each of the CPE units: 1, 2, 3, and 4. Among the items it does not cover is food, lodging, and transportation expenses.

The reasons for this are as follows:

1. Previously, so many exceptions and inconsistencies were done with regard to the fees that even the supervisors were not sure of the actual costs.
2. The cost of running the CPE program in 2011 has so far been far higher than the receipts from students.
3. Scholarships were given when the money for the scholarships were not actually available.

With this in mind, the P15,000 fee for tuition and miscellaneous expenses will be consistently applied except where scholarship money is in hand, the trainee is seen to qualify, and the formal approval is given.

Bukal Life Annual Board Meeting Summary (Sep 2011)

On September 3rd, at Villa Cordillera, Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center held its Annual Board of Director’s Meeting. Dr. Sim Dang-Awan, presided.

A. Rev. Joel Aguirre, provided the Directors Report for March-August 2011. A few of the highlights:

  • Summer Intensive Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE 2011 Batch 1) 23 trainees, 5 supervisors
  • Regular Intensive CPE (CPE 2011 Batches 2 and 3). 23 trainees, 5 groups (2 in Baguio and 3 in Manila)
  • Supervisor’s continuous professional education (training through CPSP diplomates): 7 supervisors being trained by 7 diplomates.
  • Training seminars, consultation, advocacy:

-March: BANG-AR Naguilian. Basics of Lay Pastoral Care & Counseling
-April: University of Cordilleras, Conflict Management
-June: Mountain Light AG Church), Crisis Intervention Seminar
-July: School of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Parenting Seminar

<Additionally, held joint pastoral care symposium with CPSP in May>

 

  • Nationwide Expansion of BLCCC. Looking into new branches in Dagupan, Visayas (Western Negros), and Mindanao (CDO). Still in exploratory stage.
  • Financial Report. Cost of CPE and lack of a set policy for charges and scholarships, necessitate standardization.

B. Manual. Bob Munson, Administrator, provided preliminary copies of the Operation and Policies Manual. Board and staff are encouraged to review the policy more fully and provide comments and updates to the Administrator by the end of September. Primary review in the meeting was the proposed organizational restructuring. The board agreed, in principle, to the organizational structure. The office of the director provides day-to-day oversight of the Bukal Life. Bukal Life Centers provide ministry services in their geographic area. Between these are Ministry support made up of four departments: Administration, Budget & Finance, Education & Training, and Professional Services.

C. Additional Matters

  • The board expressed thanks to Delrio Jamandre, CPE 2011 Batch 1 graduate for designing and donating a mechanical seal for Bukal Life.
  • Business card design was shown and approved (with modification) for staff of Bukal Life, as well as a general corporate card.
  • Discussion of some upcoming events including October Symposium (delayed to November or December), October fund-raising dinner, Bukal Life-Manila Launching in November, PABATS Conference, and KCPE trip.
  • Financial viability of Bukal Life was discussed. While Bukal Life is considered by the board and staff to be a ministry, it needs to be financially self-sustaining. Therefore, the board needs to investigate ways of self-funding, and receiving adequate donations.

CPE New Batch 2011

CPE 2011 Batch 3A (Baguio) and Batch 3B (Manila) began this last weekend. The Baguio group has 3 trainees presently, while the Manila group has 4. Both groups may have 1 or 2 added soon. Combining these with Batch 2 CPE Accelerated that is on-going, we are presently having the largest number of CPE trainees at any time outside of our Normal CPE Intensive season (March-May).

Please support the trainees in prayer as they learn through ministering to those in need.

Dalicno Trip. Disaster Response Counseling Training

We travelled to Dalicno, Itogon… a mining community in the Cordillera Mountains of the Philippines. We spent the day there at Mountain Light Church leading training for a bit over 20 in Disaster Response Counseling. Bob led the morning lecture. Celia led the afternoon training and NOVA group training. Juliet led music and assisted with the NOVA small groups. Jehny acted as our host and assisted with NOVA group training. We thank the church and people of Dalicno for their hospitality. It is a beautiful place and had a wonderful time. Some photos are on Facebook.

Photos

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.