Filipino teachers go to United States for Civic Voices exchange program

Three Filipino teachers affiliated with BESTFED and PSLINK and who actively and successfully met the requirements of the Civic Voices Project were sent to the United States from May 5-14, 2012 as a participant in a U.S. Exchange Program.

These fortunate teachers were Ann Mae Sabado (Zamboanga del Sur), Joe Paz (Occidental Mindoro), and Leoncio Catolos (Rizal). The three passed the rigorous selection process and exhibited extraordinary dedication to the goals of the project, their students and preserving the histories of their communities.

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The program brought together teachers from at least eight nations for a rich and collaborative program of conference sessions, seminars and site visits. The major highlight of the program was the Civic Voices Global Showcase held in the U.S. Institute of Peace based in Washington, DC.  This event was attended by the U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan himself and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, both of whom showed their utmost appreciation of and support for the project.

Aside from participating in the project’s showcase event, the teachers also visited Birmingham, Alabama, particularly the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute where they were trained at the various ways in which the history of the US civil rights movement are being used by American civics teachers.

The Filipino teachers were also provided an opportunity to observe classes in a New York City public school and facilitate learning sessions on EDSA People Power with American students.

Overall it was a really amazing, unforgettable experience for the teachers. They are expected to apply the knowledge and skills they gained from the program in their civics instruction in their schools/communities and ensure the sustainability of the gains of the Civic Voices project in the Philippines. All three have also committed to help PSLINK and BESTFED in their organizing and advocacy efforts in the education sector.

American teachers goes on an Intramuros tour, meets Carlos Celdran

American teachers sent to the Philippines this month were taken to different historical and cultural sites in Metro Manila as part of the Civic Voices: An International Democracy Memory Bank Project.

They also got a taste of Philippine history from the infamous Carlos Celdran.

A tour guide, cultural activist and performing artist in one, Celdran is known for his unique and entertaining way of teaching Philippine history. The American teachers cherished the experience of being part of his Intramuros Walking Tour and remarked that they will integrate some of the lessons in their classes back in the United States.

American teachers observe, conduct classes in Occidental Mindoro as part of the Civic Voices Project

On March 14, 2012, representatives from the American Federation of Teachers visited public schools in Occidental Mindoro which include San Jose National High School, Pedro T. Mendiola Sr. Memorial National High School, and San Jose National Agricultural and Industrial School to conduct Araling Panlipunan class observations and class presentations.

The visit was organized as part of the Civic Voices: International Democracy Memory Bank Project which is being implemented by PSLINK in partnership with the American Federation of Teachers in the Philippines.

Students actively participated during the class sessions conducted by the American teachers. It was for them a unique and incredible experience to have a foreign teacher handle a social studies class and talk about what it means to be an active citizen.

They also appreciated how the American teachers were able to relate civic engagement with Filipino national hero Jose Rizal.

We would like to thank the support of BESTFED-PSLINK union affiliates in the schools visited for their key role in ensuring that the school visit would be a success. Mabuhay po kayong lahat!

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Civic Voices goes to Biñan, Laguna!

Three representatives from the American Federation of Teachers visited Biñan National High School (BNHS), conducted Aralin Panlipunan class observations, and facilitated classroom sessions on civic engagement as part of exchange program under the Civic Voices project.

Held on March 13, 2012, the visit was capped off with a showcase event to promote the gains of the project which was attended by schools heads, teachers, parents, students, media, and democracy activists. Video interviews conducted by students from BNHS were screened during the event impressing all those who were present especially their parents.

We would like to thank Sis. Violeta Fernandez, Vice President of BESTFED, for making the event possible and for her tremendous support to the project. Mabuhay kayo Ma’am Violy!

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PSLINK MRC conducts a 2-day Civic Voices Division-wide training in Sultan Kudarat

PSLINK Mindanao Regional Council organized a 2-day Division-wide training of social studies teachers from various schools based in Sultan Kudarat as part of the Civic Voices: An International Democracy Memory Bank Project.

The teachers were trained on using primary sources, democracy concepts, structuring questions, conducting interviews, and using video cameras.

Held on February 25-26, 2012 in the DepEd Division Office, Sultan Kudarat, Tacurong City, the training is the first of its kind ever in the area and the division officials as well as all the participants were very happy to have been part of such an initiative. It is seen as an opportunity to highlight the democratic struggles of the people in Sultan Kudarat and change the misconceptions (ex. dangerous community) that outsiders have of the province.

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2-day Division-wide training of Social Studies teachers in Negros Oriental and Bayawan

Around 40 social studies teachers were trained in the Civic Voices Division-wide training organized by PSLINK Visayas Regional Council on February 18-19, 2012 in Siaton, Negros Oriental.

Participating schools in strategic areas were provided video cameras, tripods, and other necessary equipment to enable them to implement the project with their students.

We would like to thank the Division offices and the LGUs concerned for their presence and support for the project, in particular Mayor Alberto Ator who came and provided a message of support during the 1^st day of the training.

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Historical and cultural tour of American teachers in Visayas

One of the important components of the Civic Voices: An International Democracy Memory Bank Project is the exchange visit where American teachers visit the Philippines for a 10-day program consisting of historical/cultural site visits, public school immersion, and meetings with program partners.

Last July 2011, the chosen American representatives were taken to historical landmarks such as the MacArthur Landing Memorial. They were also taken to see the beautiful caves in Leyte and were exposed to the “videoke” culture of the Filipinos.

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American teachers visit schools in Visayas and Mindanao

Representatives of the American Federation of Teachers visited participating schools in Pagadian and Tacloban this month to promote the Civic Voices project, observe Aralin Panlipunan classes, and conduct class lectures about civic engagement.

They also got to interact with the teachers’ unions about the state of education and labor in the Philippines.

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The AFT reps were more than pleased about the hospitality of Filipinos. In Zamboanga del Sur National High School for instance, the multi-awarded cultural dance group of students performed various Filipino dances much to the delight of the American visitors. In Cirilo Roy Montejo National High School, Tacloban, the school head handed over certificates of appreciation to the AFT reps for the valuable support of the latter to their school.

Teachers and students really appreciated the school visits particularly the class lectures of the American teachers as it was a unique experience for them.

Civic Voices National Writing Seminar held in Tacloban City

A National Writing Seminar was held in Tacloban City on June 27-29, 2011 among the core teachers who have actively and successfully implemented Civic Voices in their classes/schools.

The teachers came from various schools all over the Philippines.

The said seminar served as a venue for the teachers to share their ideas, experiences and best practices. Lesson plans were developed by the seminar participants integrating Civic Voices. These lesson plans were also made taking into consideration the recent shift in the Aralin Panlipunan curriculum to the Understanding By Design (UBD) approach.

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PSLINK-VRC leads Civic Voices Showcase and MOA Signing Ceremony in Tacloban City

PSLINK Visayas Regional Council holds their first Civic Voices Showcase event on June 27, 2011 at the DepEd Division Office of Tacloban City.

Attended by representatives from the Department of Education, students, parents, democracy activists, and local media, the event served as a means to promote the project in the area and involve more secondary social studies teachers. For the first time PSLINK and the DepEd Division of Tacloban City also signed a Memorandum of Agreement to Support Civic Voices and Quality Civics Instruction.

Select clips from the video interviews collected by students in the participating Tacloban schools were screened during the activity. Parents and the democracy activists present were very proud of the work that the students have accomplished.

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