Amidst this pandemic, self-awareness is imperative to our role as vanguards of the protection and welfare of the community and its people. Knowing ourselves is integral to our decisions, actions and results that are inter-related.
The following are the Linehan’s 14 Values and Priorities which I perceived to be most important to me as of today:
BE SPIRITUAL PERSON, working with a depressed community and sexually abused and exploited children would entail so much maturity, patience, wisdom and understanding. It would sound so easy and straightforward from the others that this is just a “problem-solving scheme”, but in reality you need to have a secure-base connection and faith to God that you can carry the advocacy that He has entrusted to you.
I witnessed firsthand the realities in the community, where abused and neglected children experience the pangs of an empty stomach because of poverty that is escalated by the Covid-19 situation. The task in the helping process is too large and requires collaboration from various sectors to lift these people from the cellar of this awful scenario where social justice is no longer served.
Before, I was too selfish that I only pray for myself but now I understood why we pray for the nation, the people around us and the world that needs so much people to influence and shape the minds of others about the importance of being an instrument of hope and faith.
I always believe that all of the accomplishments which we made were part of God’s unseen miracles. I know He is there for me and for the team I handle during those times that I feel alone and lonely since I live away from my family because of this calling that I pursue. I found my purpose after having a real relationship with God. I learned so much in my journey that God has become the center of the things I do.
I always praise Him and glorify His name especially that I play a huge role in my office and in the community that I am indeed entailed to BE POWERFUL AND ABLE TO INFLUENCE OTHERS.
As the breadwinner of my family after the untimely demise of my father when I was Four years old the only way to survive is to become pro-active or some would say competitive in almost all aspects of my life. I started as a student leader until I became a community leader that honed my ability to speak and to influence others through collaboration and inclusiveness. I consider myself as a developmental and transformational leader that is highly relevant to my profession as a Social Worker.
I was the National Project Coordinator before of the End-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children in the country and now the President of Kiwanis International Bicol, where the main thrust and priorities of my previous and recent organization is for the protection and welfare of children against risks.
With these positions given to me, I was able to use my passion and purpose to target the major strategies which needed to be done in order to achieve the goal. With the help of my team, we were able to enhance the policies protecting the children, rescued children and reached massive number of learners and sectors with the help of “Convergence Approached”. We maximized the existing organizations and groups for our advocacy and resource mobilization activities. These led me to receive numerous awards such as Top 20 National Youth Heroes Awards, Most Outstanding Children’s Rights Advocate awarded by Asia-Pacific Luminare Awards and represented Philippines in the recently concluded Outstanding Young Leaders of Asia of the Asia Youth Council.
These awards are nothing without the support of the people which I believe I have influenced in the process of carrying the advocacy for the Children of our nation. I know that through transformational and developmental way of leadership, I was replicated and my deeds were acquired that leads to CONTRIBUTE TO THE LARGE COMMUNITY.
The value of individuality is important to bear the unique strengths that makes a lasting change and sustainable impact to the others. I always wanted to be known not because of my deeds and awards but because the knowledge I have shared that the people I worked with and have met me would definitely say the life’s lesson I have shared that changed their views in life.
As the President of Kiwanis International catering the needs of the children, we must never cease to our actions hence we must bear fruit of our labor. We never influence a community just by speaking but we can influence them by empowering them through engaging them to become the workforce for this advocacy.
