VOH-PSC Sports Training Becomes A Community Affair

The Visions of Hope Foundation (VOH), in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) Women in Sports Program, hosted a free three-day sports training in May. The training was primarily intended for the CCT-VOH Rose of Sharon House of Friendship Boarding School in Laguna but an invitation was extended to children in the community, and 120 boys and girls from Puypuy also joined the sports clinics.

The VOH boarding school, located in Brgy. Puypuy, Bay, ministers to children who used to be street dwellers. Out of about fifty children who are housed in the facility, 32 boys and girls who are between the ages of six and seventeen joined the sports training.

PSC Commissioner and former swimming Olympian Gillian Akiko Thomson-Guevarra sent some of PSC's best coaches to give the Puypuy children quality training. Coach Gregory Colmenares led swim classes attended by 41 children, 62 children learned badminton from Coach Dennis Orense, Coach Roy Cortel taught 11 children table tennis, and Coach Jarod Hubalde instructed 38 children on the basics of volleyball. 

The parents from the community were at first hesitant to enroll their children because some of them thought that the boarding school was scouting for students. However, when they learned about VOH’s work and PSC’s community programs, they were happy to let their children sign up, and the sports training became a community affair. VOH children made new friends with their Puypuy neighbors as they learned a new sport together and shared meals in the shade of trees on-campus. Several parents volunteered in keeping the children in order while the sports clinics were ongoing. Barangay officials also pitched in by allowing the use of the Puypuy covered court for the volleyball activities.

The PSC coaches said that several children showed much potential. They gave VOH volleyball and nets, table tennis rackets, and badminton sets so that the children can continue practicing their chosen sport. The campus has a 25-meter long pool where the swimmers can continue to train.

Lala Salili, VOH executive director, said, "Thank God for sports and that through classes like these the children can learn physical self-discipline, find out what it means to work with a team, and develop socially and emotionally."

The sports training was held on May 7 to 9, 2013.

To read a related story on PSC’s Women in Sports Program, click here: http://www.web.psc.gov.ph/index.php/9-news/68-women-in-sports-sa-naga.

Coach Jarod leads the volleyball clinic in Brgy. Puypuy's covered court.

Girls each get to try serving the ball.

Children practice their strokes before plunging into the pool.  

Parents and children from VOH and Puypuy community share meals and stories during lunch. 

58 VOHCS Teachers ‘Step Up to Excellence’ in Summer Training

Fifty-eight teachers from all 30 Visions of Hope Christian Schools (VOHCS) in the country met for the 2nd CCT-VOHCS Annual Teachers’ Retreat and Equipping on April 21 to 27, 2013 at the Rose of Sharon House of Friendship Boarding School in Bay, Laguna. With the theme, “Step Up to Excellence”, they learned together through teaching and interactive sessions how to offer the best possible Christian education to their students as the new school year approaches.

A vesper worship service on the first night aptly opened the week-long training. The following day, the teachers reported on highlights and challenges met for the school year 2012 to 2013. “It was an encouraging time for many because we were reminded of God’s faithfulness and of our part in a bigger community that builds His kingdom,” one of them said. 

In sessions led by Center for Community Transformation President Ruth Callanta and VOHCS Board Member Edmon Ngo, the teachers were affirmed of their purpose and commitment. Meanwhile, guest expert speakers Bgit Tuico, Anna Alegre, Donna Simpao, Fe Mangahas, Malu Garcia, Leo Arnaiz, Rowena Kakilala, as well as the Right Start team led by Arlene Sy and the MGC New Life Christian Academy team led by its principal, Mrs. Helen Villanueva, introduced new knowledge and skills that would enhance the teachers’ capacities and teaching methods. Prescilla Salili and Christina Gellor, along with the VOH (Visions of Hope Foundation) and VOHCS support teams, also facilitated dialogues on policies and procedures that concerned the teachers. 

A tribute to the teachers, which moved some of them to tears, wrapped up the full yet rich training week. Donned in Filipiniana attire, the VOHCS teachers each walked down a red carpet, received a garland from a VOHCS child, and were honored by the MGC New Life team and VOHCS board members. They left the training venue with improved skills, minds full of new things learned, and, hopefully, hearts ready for another year of service to VOHCS children.

VOHCS teachers work in groups to discuss their teaching exercises.

They also get their hands dirty in outdoor team building activities. 

A group of VOHCS teachers lead one of several teaching demonstrations.

Shown here with VOHCS support staff and mentors from MGC New Life Christian Academy, 58 VOHCS teachers
successfully finish the teachers' training for 2013.   

100 VOHCS Children Drink Milk for 40 Days

Super G child Jizelle Hallera from VOHCS Caloocan
gains healthy weight after the milk program.

Seven-year-old Jizelle Hallera used to be underweight but after forty days of drinking milk every break time at Visions of Hope School (VOHCS) Caloocan, her body mass index (BMI) turned normal. Jizelle, who loves the taste of milk like most of her classmates, became two kilograms heavier and one centimeter taller.

In VOHCS Cabrera, five-year-old Jan Senley Enaje was sluggish but since he started drinking milk, he became active in class and gained weight. Jan’s teacher says he belongs to a very poor family that hardly has anything to eat. He and two of his siblings would sometimes share a sachet of chocolate drink for breakfast, so his teacher gave him one box of milk to take home.

Super G child Jan Senley Enaje from VOHCS Cabrera
becomes active and energetic in class. 

Of the 100 VOHCS children who were part of the milk program, Jizelle and Jan were among those chosen as Super G children because they showed the most progress after Visions of Hope’s Super G…in 40 Days milk program. 

“G” in Super G, which stands for gatas or milk, also means ganado (having a good appetite, active, enthusiastic), galing (great), ganda (beautiful), guwapo (handsome), and other words that describe what the children could become at the end of the program.

Super G was initiated when partner organization Kabisig ng Kalahi donated 226.5 kilograms of chocolate flavored powdered milk in January. The milk was distributed to five areas: Cabrera in Pasay City, San Pedro in Laguna, Payatas in Quezon City, Caloocan City, and General Trias in Cavite. VOHCS teachers in those areas administered Super G between January 28 and March 21.

Parents and children from VOHCS General Trias give a thumbs up for Super G. Twenty-six children from
this school, 25 from VOHCS Caloocan, 22 from VOHCS Payatas, 10 from VOHCS Cabrera,
and 17 from VOHCS San Pedro are part of the VOH's Super G...in 40 Days milk program.
   

The 40th day of the milk program was a Super G moment for most of the VOHCS children, teachers, and parents – it was Super Galing and they were Super Grateful. The children’s body mass indexes as well as their behavior and appearance generally improved. Their stamina and appetite increased and they looked healthier, as observed by their teachers. For a number of children, the milk ration filled gaps in their daily food intake because it served as their breakfast, mid-morning snack, or both.