Social Work Stories from the Real World (on a Friday Night)
Mood:
chatty
Topic: New
Only one of my professors had class today so I just decided to spend my afternoon book-hunting inside the library. After some time of exposing myself to radiation (yeah, all those photocopying machines), I decided to head for our organization's hangout. I was fortunate to see more people there (it was more than the usual twos or threes that I often encounter). What surprised me is the arrival of an old fratman friend from my previous department and a friend from fine arts. Like me, both of them are "senior members" of the organization (the truth is, they've been there since I joined the organization way back my freshman year and now I am already on my fourth). Fratguy friend told me that an alumna, a social work graduate, will be coming. He asked if I could join them--they have been planning on going out that night. My reply wasn't certain though; I have a party to go to on Saturday night and staying out late might spoil my chances of getting my dad's permission. But I decided to stick with them for a while anyway.
The rendezvous was at a pathway beside the university main library (I wasn't able to step into the Videoke Bar). We waited for company there with some chatting over some cigarettes (of course, most of you know that I don't smoke). It has been a while since I last met my social worker friend. Immediately after graduating, she became the assistant head social worker in a province just outside the metropolis. I asked her how she was and she did. It was with that conversation that I realized once more how idealism gets pinned down in the real world.
Because of the austerity program of our government, much of the executive branches of government has been dissolved and integrated into our Local Government Units (e.g. municipalities and cities). Examples of these branches are the DOH (Department of Health) and the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development); because of that, much of their work now depends on the local mayors. That is what, at least to her, debilitates their department from fully achieving their goals. She told me an instance when she almost wanted to resign from her post because of an anomaly in the system. I can feel her disappointment upon telling me this story:
Because of "Hoy Gising"--a media program that airs citizen's complains--my friend, along with other people concerned, were supposed to save three minors from prostitution. They had the operation all set: In fact, they were actually able to pull the operation off. But when my friend was about to make a report, her head told her to let things be. The owner of the bar happened to be related (not by blood but by the complex `extended' character of the Filipino family) to both the mayor and her head. Having a proven case at hand, the bar was for closure. Unfortunate twisting (real twisting) of evidence made it appear to "Hoy Gising" and to case reports that no children prostitutes were found. The bar continued to operate (and still is operating). She told me she wanted to resign during that moment, but real world took its toll.
Another instance of an `anomaly' is when their mayor instructed her to arrest a bunch of rugby boys who were minors. Knowing that it is unlawful to do so, she deliberately didn't comply. Almost everybody in the right mind knows that `users' should be helped and `pushers' are the ones who should be punished. Having done that, my social worker friend now worries of the report that she was supposed to submit regarding that case.
On the brighter side, there are NGOs which are far better in helping social welfare and development. A couple of my friends work in Children International (hope I got that right). One serves as a field social worker and the other, a writer. Their agency focuses on investment planning--not on dole out actions that most LGUs do. I am not fully saying that I am fully in favor of NGOs, but their case shows that NGOs really do help. Sometimes sponsors can be so generous to their clients that housing as well as other luxury goods are even provided (they even joke that the clients sometimes become richer than them). On the downside, the clients there are not the lowest of low (at least not everybody). My friend told me that the poor lost their trust on other agencies so most of their clients were a notch higher. I just hope that programs like that--especially investment planning ones--will continue to thrive and cover almost everybody here in the Philippines.
Stories from the real world make me think that it is worthwhile to be ideal at least inside the university. At least when reality begins to bite, it will bite on to something before everything gets consumed.
posted by groupblog
at 12:01 AM WST
energetic
lucky
caffeinated
happy
I went to one of our college's faculty colloquia. Once more, I have seen how life as an academician goes. Two of my professors were there to discuss "Religion in the Box". (Like them, I am proud to say that their research work had been showcased in another country.) Contrary to popular belief that the mass media (particularly television) has made people part from religion, television in the Philippines actually--according to their research--has helped reinforce existing religions around.
After that, I had lunch with Kay and my sister. We went on to update each other and joke around on lots of things (thanks to my ever bubbly sister). After ordering some pizza and bottomless drinks, we started stuffing ourselves continuously. One of us was so stuffed that she even had to rest before standing up (you know who you are *wink wink*). I had a great time. I just hope that we won't be too busy next time we plan on going out again.
lazy
a-ok
blue