The Kaabag sa Sugbu Intern Experience
posted by Admin under Uncategorized on Jun 3rd, 2011 with No CommentsBy: Nheza Loquinte
My internship at KAABAG sa Sugbo gave me the picture of what society is like in actuality, showed me how certain groups of people work hard to contribute for the good of that society and, of course, introduced me to several personalities from different walks of life. The truth is some things worth remembering are not actually learned by words but by experience.
In my first week at KAABAG, I was sent to observe bidding conferences. Having the chance to experience being a bidding observer, I was able to see and learn how bidding processes in the government are conducted, which was also fun, in the sense that you get to know persons you never actually expected to get along with. At some point, I had come to realize that there are a lot of problems, from damaged roads, electric lightings, healthcare services to access to free education and so on and so forth, which need substantial amount of money to be thoroughly addressed. For this reason, it is crucial to make sure that government funds are spent in righteous and lawful ways. Reality check, it’s unfortunate that considerable part of the country’s budget goes to the pockets of corrupt officials and employees, rather than to hungry stomachs, underprivileged lives, and homeless peoples.
Doing admin works was also part of our training. It showed me the significance of proper coordination, order, and cleanliness inside the office. Come to think of it, how are we going to work smoothly in a scattered and an uncomfortable place? These are small things in life which actually mean big. And the good thing is, the learning doesn’t stop there. It goes with you wherever you are, in the school, in the home, etc.
Representing KAABAG in different meetings is another learning experience. To sit in with other NGO partners and to contribute in the brainstorming activity, like that in the committee meeting at LAW Inc., for the purpose of organizing trainers’ training and whatsoever is fulfilling, that in the success of such activity, somehow, I had a hand in it.
Aside from budget constraints, one critical point why implementation of laws in the Philippines is not as extensive and effective as that in other countries is the simple fact that most of the people it’s supposed to target do not understand it at all. Thus, for them, these laws are no more than pieces of papers and never a blueprint for reality. Many of our laws, which are supposed to promote, defend, and protect the rights of the people, fail to serve their purpose due to the lack of understanding by the targets themselves. For this reason, lawmakers should not just craft laws, but extend their efforts to make the people, especially the less educated and the usual victims of the law itself, understand what they made were all about.
Through the ‘pulong-pulong’ on corporal punishment at Barangay Lorega, though simple and short it was, I became more aware that a lot of parents are really violators of the rights of their children, due to the wrong mechanisms conducted in the name of discipline. I came to realize that wrong way of correcting a mistake is a serious threat, similarly dangerous to terrorism itself. Now, why did I put it that way? Well, because of the adverse impacts that physical punishment, mental torture, and emotional agony on the children as they grow up, chances are, they would likely turn up to become violent individuals rather than righteous and lawful citizens.
Indeed, it is one thing to talk about the inefficiency and corruption in the barangay, and it’s another to actually see and meet the officials in person, giving the best of their accommodations and attention, in gratitude for extending service to their humble place. While it’s true that there are elected officials handling positions in local government units who lack technical know-how and legal fundamentals pertinent to their functions, roles, jurisdiction, etc., these people are also interested and eager to learn, only hindered by the availability of extensive and thorough trainings and workshops. Because of the training at Alegria, however short it may be, I found out a lot about the harsh realities taking place even in the smallest units of this country and realized so many things. But the bottom line is that we, the Filipino people, have a lot of problems than we could ever imagine. Yes, it’s something to critique and to rally in the streets, to the point of blaming, the Philippine government. However, whether we like it or not, the government can’t solve it all alone, because reality check, it has its own internal dilemma to address, which means that participation of ordinary citizens is vital in the movement to lift up the Filipino nation and to preserve our dignity in the face of the international public. While we dream of making the world a better place, why don’t we look around us and see what we can do to make things a little better. And while we plan to explore the world and earn millions, why don’t we think about how our fellowmen, from the lowest sectors of society, would be able to earn a peso. Indeed, I could say a lot of things, but what I’d really want to express is that this country needs help.
For this reason, NGOs, as one of the forces creating positive changes in the most problematic areas of the country, rightly deserve recognition, respect, and admiration. But most especially, they need assistance from fellow Filipinos and from other people and organizations abroad to sustain their operations, to increase their manpower and to continue their service to the poor.
My practicum experience at KAABAG was truly relevant to my course. Once again, it was a reminder how important it is to take things seriously and to learn everything I can while I am in UP. Just as Foucault always points out, ‘knowledge is power’. This is not to say that I want to be in power after my stay at the academe. The thing is, you can’t help make solutions to the problems, even in the smallest units of this country, if you lack the knowledge to do just that. This country is made up of all possible structures and hierarchy, ranked by power, bank status, and influence; and when you have none of the above, your strongest weapon is knowledge, that is, if you want to make a change.
And of course, I saw the real shape of the theories I learned from the previous classes. Most importantly, I had a better picture of what’s happening in the country and how much our people need help. There’s so many challenges waiting ahead of us, I can see that now. But I have to conquer my own challenges first, which is to equip myself with all necessary knowledge and wisdom I could get, to be more mature in dealing with the realities of life and to come out a better person myself, so that someday I could also lift up at least one person’s life.
In the end, I was glad I chose to have my practicum at KAABAG. Not only for the things I’ve mentioned above, but for the fun I had at the office, with our friendly and accommodating officemates. I’m so thankful because I learned a lot from them, just as I learned many during our field works. The time I spent at KAABAG was all worthwhile. Indeed, the best lesson I learned throughout the duration of my internship is that the real standard of success is not how many millions you’ve earned, but how many lives you’ve changed for good.
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