BB163 CHRISTMAS PARTY!

CHRISTMAS PARTY! The merriest time of the year has come and the whole Bantay Bata 163 Davao has come to celebrate it with a festive gathering of superhero and glittery butterfly masks.


An office Christmas Party would never be the same without each unit displaying their own unique presentations to make the party alive and exciting.

Res. Mob. Team and Production Unit's Presentation: Dancing the "Papaya Dance"

Best in Presentation Award goes to the Admin Unit's!

It was a great chance to mix some genuine fun and camaraderie after a year's worth of hard work. It is the time when everybody goes together to be merry, relax, and have a great time.

Philippine Madrigal Singers Benefit Concert

The world famous Philippine Madrigal Singers, known for their unique ensemble and powerful chorale, came to lend their time and gifts through a workshop for the promising school choirs of Davao City. The Madrigal Singers mentored a three-day workshop to develop and enhance the choral performance of each student singing group.




It was a momentous occasion for selected school choirs of Davao City, as they honed their vocal aptitude and choreography. And, they were given the chance to shine and show what they learned in the workshop at a benefit concert held at the Ateneo de Davao University Ampitheatre.



The concert was sponsored by the Southern Philippines Foundation for the Arts Culture and Ecology, Inc, in cooperation with the Ateneo de Davao Social Work Department, made to benefit Bantay Bata 163 Davao.

Christmas Tree of Hope

Bantay Bata 163 celebrates Christmas in the very spirit of sharing and spreading goodwill… with the launching of the Christmas Tree of Hope…

Proudly standing front and center of the SM City of Davao, the 12-foot tall Tree of Hope symbolizes the efforts of Bantay Bata 163 in building a better future for our children…

The Bantay Bata 163 Christmas Tree of Hope stands at the very heart of SM City Davao

The event was attended by some of Bantay Bata Davao's Board of Advisors such as the prominent Mrs. Patria Montemayor and Ms. Margie Moran-Floriendo, Representative from the City Government of Davao in the person of Hon. Angela Librado-Trinidad , and the Mr. Stanley Lau of Marco Polo Davao.

Left: Board of Advisors Mrs. Patria Montemayor

Center: Stanley Lau of Marco Polo Davao, BB163 Program Manager Ms. Ella Tan, Councilor Angela Librado, Board of Advisors Ms. Margie Moran, ABS-CBN Davao Station Manager Ms. Trisha Corpuz and co.

Right: Mr. Chad Borja performing for BB 163 Davao

The launching was highlighted by performances from the kids from Bantay Bata Children's Home, A song number from Mr. Chad Borja and finally, a series of lively Christmas carols and serenades from famous the St. Joseph Parish Choir of Davao City.

Top Left: Finance Officer Jenny Bendijo, Production Officer Kristine Grace Cutin;
Top Right: Various displays ;
Bottom: BB163 supporters purchasing items

For every Merchandise you buy, ranging from packages worth P200, P300 or P500, you get a free BB163 Christmas ornament that you can keep or place on the Christmas Tree Of Hope. The package may include a Children's Home-made fruitcake / carrot cake / special muffins, a Bantay Bata T-shirt, A "163: Ten Years of Bantay Bata" Bag and various BB163 All-purpose postcards. Surely, a treat to enjoy for yourself or to share with your loved ones.

With the season of sharing and giving well on its way, may you remember the children who need your love and generosity, the children all over the country who call for your attention. With your participation in this activity, you will be making a step in partaking of the nurturing and protection of these children.

As a parting message, Ms. Margie Moran-Floriendo, one of BB163 Davao's prominent Board of Advisors, sends her hope for this joyous launching. "My hope is that everyone who enjoys Christmas who always looks forward to Christmas as a family affair will also remember that there are children who have no family, who have been abused and who are with Bantay Bata and are trying to enjoy Christmas… So in the hope that you will remember those that do not have the opportunity that we have we'll remember to give something to these children."

And with this Christmas Tree of Hope project, we are striving to give the children of Bantay Bata something to look forward to this Christmas!

Principal's Convention General Santos

The Mindanao-wide campaign against corporal punishment is well on its way as it spreads out to the education sector in General Santos City.

Principals from various elementary and secondary schools, as well as representatives from the Department of Education and City Social Work Development in Gen san were invited to participate in a discussion to put an end to using physical and degrading punishments in school.

The discussion revolved on the issue of using punishment as a disciplinary approach imposed by teachers. Especially that there are are few cases in the city of parents complaining about the treatment of their children inside the schools.

The CSWDO chief is optimistic that school administrators and faculty alike will start putting an end to the form of discipline that instills fear in children.


For Ms. Arabeque Tw Batilong, Gen San's CSWDO chief, the amajor thing to be stressed in this forum was the importance of re-orienting the teachers about the current trends in combating corporal punishment, "Mas maganda if maaware ang mga teachers of this Positive Discipline so that yung mga punitive na mga ginagawa nilang forms of discipline magbago ang kanilang pananaw."

FUNRUN 2007: Takbo Para sa Bata

Bantay Bata 163 Davao, together with Davao Sunday Runner's Club has once again hosted TAKBO PARA SA BATA Funrun 2007, BB's fundraising event for the month of October. The activity also marks the 7th year partnership between BB Davao and DSRC.

Takbo Para Sa Bata was held at Victoria Plaza Carpark. The registration of the runners started as early as 4am, with the Funrun proper to start at exactly 6am. There were more than 800 participants who joined, coming from various sectors, agencies and organizations/companies.

Champion, Wheelchair Division

Special Prize: Youngest Runner

Champion, 2k Male

Champion, 5K Male

The route was designed by the DSRC, maintaining the same site for the starting and finish line to make the competition organized.

It was a fun day filled with excitement from the surge brought about by friendly competition.

Participants

Ms. Trisha Corpuz, addressing the Runners.

Principal's Convention Davao City

Davao City has always prided itself for being one of the most child-friendly cities in the Philippines. Despite the title, homes and institutions alike are still haunted by various kinds of violence inflicted to the children.

As a response to the great number of reports of violence and the prevalence of using corporal punishment in schools, Bantay Bata 163 Davao, being a member of the Mindanao Convenor's Group Against Corporal Punishment of Children, targets the school campus and its core authority figures.... The school principals.

The event centered on presenting the campaign of putting and end to corporal punishemtn, a the traditional approach to 'discipline' that has been used as normal disciplinary measures inside the schools.

Ms. Jonas Pyore, Adolescent Health Advocates talks about the current situation of children of Davao City

The traditional method of behavior correction was a big issue in the convention.

Open Forum

Rafting For A Cause!

For its fundraiser for the month of August, Bantay Bata 163 Davao has gone extreme with… White Water Rafting For A Cause!






More than 50 individuals participated in the rafting event. Each participant were provided with their gears and were grouped by 10s to start off the rafting activity at the Davao River in Calinan.

It was an adrenaline-filled activity filled with excitement at every turn, and everybody enjoyed the 13-kilometer friendly race among the white water rapids.

Care Program on Corporal Punishment for Caregivers and Child Advocates

Bantay Bata Staff

The Care Program for Caregivers and Child Advocates was one of the many seminars and activities in line with Save the Children Sweden's ongoing global campaign to end all violence against children. This time, there is a need for change both in policies and practices to strengthen the campaign in handling our children. Residential care centers in Davao City were recommended to fit in with the campaign's focus to stop corporal punishment in handling children.

The 3-day stay-in Care Program seminar at Punta del Sol, Island Garden of Samal involved the whole of Bantay Bata 163 Davao Staff, as well as invited social workers/representatives from BB163 Zamboanga and BB163 Iloilo.

Mr. Belindo Aguilar, from the Terres Des Hommes along with Ms. Ilyn and Ms. Carla from Tambayan Center for Children's Rights were the facilitator for the Care Program seminar.

Ice Breaker led by Mr. Belindo

Each of the staff was introduced to deepening of their understanding of what it entails to care for children, by reflecting on their own childhood experiences. They used visual arts to illustrate their ideas, emotions and memories, along with group sharing to further explain their artworks.
Most of the participants have their own ideas and memories on how they were handled -or mishandled- as a child by their own parents.



The main reason for the Care Program is to examine the various disciplinary practices in residential care facilities, and for the caregivers to assess themselves and how well they can manage to discipline the children without resorting to corporal punishment.

Mr. Belindo guided the group into an understanding of what "PUNISHMENT" and what is "DISCIPLINE", and stressing the difference between the two. And for the deepening on the topic, the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Children was discussed.

One of the Caregivers from the Children's Home remarked, "We all have our own strengths and weaknesses... Even sometimes it's hard for me to keep my anger in check. I need somebody's help, I cant' do it alone. I tap one of my fellow caregivers to help me whenever one of my chikiting is being hard-headed and I feel my emotions reaching its boiling point."

Bantay Bata 163 Davao's policy is rooted in values and principles, governed by the universal Children's Rights in ensuring the best interest of the children

Day Tour For A Cause

Through the support of 89 participants, the Day Tour For A Cause at Pearl Farm Beach Resort could not have been any more successful.

Pearl Farm's beautiful white sand and vast expanse of clear blue waters was a great venue for families and friends to frolick and relax. The participants enjoyed the various activities that lay in store for them.

Fire Dancing Performance

A great performance from a Fire Dancer left the participants in awe as he moved gracefully with the fire, in the rythm of pulsating music. The participants were more than eager to try Poi Dancing, so they were given practice Poi Dancing sets for them to enjoy.


Trying their hand at Poi Dancing
Live Beach Music at its Best

What would a beach party be without food? The Pearl Farm has always been tagged as one of the resorts in the Philippines with excellent food, and the buffet they reserved for BB Davao's Day Tour for A Cause exceeded expectations. The participants lost no time in lining up for their turn to eat a scrumptuous meal.
While eating, BB Davao staff took center stage as they welcomed Pearl Farm's chef extraordinaire, as he presents his culinary talents through a Cooking Show infront of the guests. Afterward, the staff started the raffle, and the prizes included a framed painting done by Kublai Milan and the kids of Children's Home.







The guest were able to sit back and relax, all the while enjoying beautiful island of Pearl Farm resort. Some took the time to lie under the shade, some went around to explore the other activities such as meditation sessions by Brahama Kumaris, a make-over session by Mary Kay... but some went ahead and enjoyed the water!