Last November 12, 2016, the NCR-South Manila Chapter in collaboration with Department of Education organized and sent an invitation for “S.O.P-Unified Basketball Game” at Dapitan Sports Complex .Then five (5) selected residents had a chance to compete and showcase their talent thru playing unified basketball. This is a one day activity and attended by different schools and institutions. The objective of this activity is to promote sportsmanship, camaraderie, and unity.

The program was started at 10:30 A.M followed by Opening Prayer, National Anthem, and Opening Remark by City’s Vice Mayor of Manila. Before the Basketball event, the Referee called the attention of the Coaches per team to discuss the rules and regulation of the game. Mr. Abner Recacho and Marlon Lumukso is the official referee. During the knock out game, the EGV Team showed their skill in Basketball, sportsmanship, camaraderie with collaboration with our Native Mangyan. However, our team was not able to go to the next game and garnered 3rd Bronze.

“Every Child is Special” this quote is the title of a movie. This word of wisdom would be an eye opener to everyone, that every individual “Able or Disable” has the right to gain respect and dignity. This Unified Game is another way to break and fight the stigma thru participation in various sports activities Local or International Games. Various sports also help our Athletes especially on enhancing their self-esteem and self-worth.

The EGV Sports and Development Program Committee is highly recommended this outdoor sport activity for the welfare of the resident especially competing in various games. This is activity also promote not only sportsmanship but improving resident’s social communication skills. Moreover, the Committee perceived this activity as opportunity for the residents to experience community exposure.

“Good Players Inspire Themselves, Great Players Inspire Others”

DSWD-NCR Regional Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson, Assistant Regional Director for Operations Jacel J. Paguio and OIC-ARD for Administration Manuela M. Loza together with the staff of Jose Fabella Center as they receive their Client Service Award during the PRAISE awarding.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) culminated its 38^th year fo

unding anniversary celebration through the recognition of exemplary staff who demonstrated perseverance and unselfish dedication in performing their duties on October 28, 2016 at Unibersidad de Manila (UDM).

Said recognition is under the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) which is a mechanism of the Department to give incentives to the nominated efficiently-performing staff base on the criteria for the following category: Best Center Head; Best Supervisor; Best Technical Staff (Professional); Best Technical Staff (Sub- Professional); Best Social Worker (Technical);Best Social Worker (Case Manager);Best Administrative Support Staff (Professional);Best Administrative Support Staff (Sub-Professional); Best MOA Worker (Professional); Best MOA Worker (Sub- Professional); Pusong Magiting Award; Kapwa Award; Client Service Award and; Career and Self Development.

In his welcome remarks, DSWD-NCR Regional Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson expressed his warm congratulations to the staff who will be awarded on the day and encourages them to continuously dedicate exemplary public service for the beneficiaries and clients of the Department.

The PRAISE awardees per category are the following:

Best Center Head- Ms. Margarita J. Ortega , former head of Sanctuary Center

Best Supervisor- Ms. Judith Basa from Nayon ng Kabataan

Best Technical Staff (Professional)- Ms. Michelle C. Addatu from National Vocational Rehabilitation Center

Best Technical Staff (Sub- Professional) –Mr. Francisco A. Nopuente Jr. from Haven for Children

Best Social Worker (Technical) – Ms. Elvira L. Cruz from Travel Clearance Section

Best Social Worker (Case Manager)-Ms. Marilyn M. Abuso from Sanctuary Center

Best Administrative Support Staff (Professional)-Mr. Iccy Rose S. Amoranto from Institutional Development Division

Best Administrative Support Staff (Sub-Professional)- Ms. Susana  A. Sañada from Institutional Development Division

Best MOA Worker (Professional)- Ms. Ms. Jenelma C. Daet from Haven for Children

Best MOA Worker (Sub- Professional)-Mr. Arnulfo R. Ilan from Rehabilitation Sheltered Workshop

Pusong Magiting Award-Mr. Michael Andrew Calsita from GRACES

Kapwa Award-Mr. Romel E. Sanggalang from Nayon ng Kabataan

Client Service Award- Jose Fabella Center

Career and Self Development – Jerry E. Brenches from Sustainable Livelihood Program

The regional PRAISE awardees will be nominated to the national PRAISE awarding in January 2017 in celebration of DSWD’s founding anniversary.###

In photo are Ms. Hazel T. Militante, Chief of Protective Services Unit (from extreme left), Mr. Joel D. Cam, Pantawid Pamilya Regional Program Coordinator, Dennine Angela Cabarles the 2nd runner-up from Pateros, John Marc Bañares the 1st runner-up from Caloocan City, Angelica Macainag, the winner from Valenzuela City, John Marc Bañares, the 3rd runner-up from Makati City, DSWD-NCR Regional Director Mr. Vincent Andrew T. Leyson and Assistant Regional Director for Operations Ms. Jacel J. Paguio. The people behind them are the relatives of the mentioned children.

Angelica Macainag, a minor-grantee of Pantawid Pamilya from Valenzuela City and the eldest child of her solo parent mom was recently awarded as the NCR’s Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya child who bested the other 14 nominees from the different LGUs in Metro Manila.

At an early age, Angelica already had her eyes widely opened with the responsibilities she has to perform as the eldest child, which for her is not a problem, but an inspiration for her to strive harder to achieve her dreams in life.

Aside from efficiently doing her responsibilities at home such as attending to the needs of her three younger siblings, Angelica also excels in school and other extra-curricular activities.

With the loving presence of her grandparents and the support of the Pantawid Pamilya program in their life, Angelica is determined to help her most beloved mother in the best way she can.

This year, the nominees from Caloocan, Pateros and Makati namely Mark John Remigio, Dennine Angela Cabarles and John Marc Bañares ranked as the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd runners-up respectively. They will all join Angelica in this year’s conduct of National Children’s Congress.

Meanwhile, Angelica will represent the National Capital Region in the 2016 National Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Child which is being led by the Pantawid Pamilya National Program Management.

The nominees of NCR’s were screened by the representatives of the Regional Committee for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) members from Philippine Information Agency – NCR (PIA-NCR), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Philippine Statistics Authority – NCR (PSA-NCR), National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and led by DSWD-NCR.

Being conducted yearly, the Search aims to recognize the Pantawid Pamilya children-beneficiaries who, amidst struggling in poverty, were able to excel in academics and be involved in significant school and community activities that benefited their families, fellow students/ residents in their area.

The Search also intends to highlight the gains of the beneficiaries of the program that facilitate the positive changes in their families towards an improved quality of life.###

The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region opened the weeklong celebration of its 38^th founding anniversary on October 24, 2016 through a motorcade that was participated by the officials and staff from the Field Office’s units, divisions, centers and residential care facilities. The route of the motorcade was from the FO in Legarda Manila passed thru Ayala Bridge, Manila City Hall, Quiapo Church, España Avenue, Lacson Avenue, Nagtahan, Mendiola, CM Recto Avenue, Morayta, then Back to the Field Office.###

The All-Star Sunday Afternoon Party (ASAP) with its segment of LSS (Love Songs and Stories) recently featured the “Happy Project” at the Rehabilitation Sheltered Workshop (RSW) which is being benefited by the clients of the center.

Mr. Tito Ulpindo, a sewer of pouches, aprons and t-shirts as well as a master of his own craft is among the beneficiaries of the happy project. He is the breadwinner of his family. Therefore, because of it, he can somehow provide the needs of his family.

Meanwhile, Mr. Harry Alera, is one of the sales officers of the project. He is thankful of it because he was able to put up a house in the province which is good enough for his family to live in.

The project is being founded by Mr. Patrick Martin which aims to provide livelihood opportunities to Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) through the installation of a retail specialty shop that carries multi-purpose pouches, aprons and t-shirts with printed words of happiness made by the clients.###

A total of four (4) partners of DSWD-NCR in assisting the needs of the clients in Nayon ng Kabataan recently renewed their Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department for the continuous provision of various services  to the children-residents.

Reyes Haircutters, Lions Street Children Foundation (LSCF), Brady Philippines and Mama Mary Trust Resurrection (MTR) chose to continue their partnership with the Department through the renewal of their MOAs.

This partnership initiative is to further promote the enhancement of skills of the clients through the provision of services to them such as skills training and employment facilitation.###

The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region’s staff and officials together with their families recently celebrated the 24^th National Family Week through the conduct of various fun games and activities for a “Family Day” in Nayon ng Kabataan.

Aiming to strengthen unity within the families who participated in the activity, a total of 297 individuals joined in the fun games, contest and exciting raffles during the day.

Regional Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson in his inspirational message encourages the participants to enjoy the activities that were specially prepared for the day and continuously value family ties and harmonious relationship within their fellow family members.

Among the special prizes is the Oldest Participant which was awarded to Ignacia Alcanzarin, 81 years old and the mother of the staff form Human Resource and Development Section while the Youngest Participant is Anniezan Dela Cruz, three (3) months old and the niece of the staff from Records Section.

Meanwhile, the children-participants attended with their best fantasy costumes as their attire for the activity.###

Espartero Family from Caloocan City bested the other 16 nominees in this year’s Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya with a theme, “Matatag na Pamilya, Maunlad na Bukas” in celebration of the 24^th National Family Week.

Though differs in some culture and traditions, Espartero family willingly joined with their fellow beneficiaries of the program in bringing positive changes in their lives through their religious compliance with the conditionalities of the program.

“Malaki ang pasasalamat namin na may ganitong programa ang pamahalaan para sa aming mahihirap. Ang aming pagtulong sa iba ay nagpapakita lamang na malaki ang ipinagbago ng aming buhay mula ng kami ay maging benepisyaryo ng programa,” said by Rosie Espartero, 41 years old.

Romanillo, 43, the head of Espartero family, admitted that before being included in the program, they were previously sacrificing their meals to provide the needs of their children in school.

As a tricycle driver and earning P4,000.00 per month, Romanillo is thankful that Rosie is able to help him in sustaining their financial needs as she is currently sewing and selling clothes.

Model family in their community

Rosie is now an active Parent Leader among the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in their area. She is also a member of Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT) under the Bottom-up-budgeting (BUB) project of DSWD-NCR.

Aside from this, Rosie is also an active volunteer facilitator of Save the Children’s “First Read” project, member of Breast Feeding Support Group in Brgy. 174 health center, volunteer of the Barangay Child Protection Council and President of their SEA-K association.

While performing said volunteerism, Rosie ensures that she does not neglect her duties at home especially in attending to the needs of her children.

Meanwhile, Romanillo is currently the Officer-in-charge at their muslim mosque, an active volunteer for Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) in their community and also a volunteer of Kabalikat CiviCom.

Romanillo is also the one who attends in school activities of their children as he is actively participating in Parent-Tearcher Association (PTA).

Both of their children, Rasmiyah, 12 and Rajiyah, 9 years old, are doing well in school wherein the first graduated in Grade VI as 6^th honorable mention while the latter is always among the top students in her class.

How love binds them

In 2002 Rosie and Romanillo were married through an Islamic wedding after the latter decided to be converted in Muslim religion as during this time, he started questioning some beliefs from his former religion and he eventually found the answers in Qur-an.

Though Romanillo admits that his special feeling for Rosie is not the main reason for his conversion, he is thankful that it paved the way of marrying his wife.

The couple raised their children by setting as good example to them like the expression of humbleness, love, honesty and kindness. They also ensure that they always eat and pray together.

Inspiring others

During the awarding ceremony, Romanillo encourages the nominees to continue in  inspiring their fellow beneficiaries of the program.

“Sa lahat po ng nominees hindi man kayo ang nagsasalita sa harapan, tayo ay panalo sa bawat city nat Conducted yearly by the Inter-Agency Committee on the Filipino Family (RIAC-FF) led by DSWD-NCR since 2010, this year’s validators of the nominees are the representatives from PIA-NCR, NHA, MMDA, CHED, ERDA and POPCOM-NCR

Conducted yearly by the Inter-Agency Committee on the Filipino Family (RIAC-FF) led by DSWD-NCR since 2010, this year’s validators of the nominees are the representatives from PIA-NCR, NHA, MMDA, CHED, ERDA and POPCOM-NCR

in dahil sa atin nagsisimula ang magandang pamilya at sana ay ipagpatuloy natin ang ating pagiging huwaran mula sa ating syudad at papunta sa buong bansa,” Romanillo emphasized.

Since the start of the search in NCR, it is the 1^st time to award a muslim family as Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya which indicates that belief and culture is never a hindrance to inspire and help others who are not in their same religion. This is also a sign of empowerment among the muslim people in urban areas.

Conducted yearly by the Inter-Agency Committee on the Filipino Family (RIAC-FF) led by DSWD-NCR since 2010, this year’s validators of the nominees are the representatives from PIA-NCR, NHA, MMDA, CHED, ERDA and POPCOM-NCR.###