Suggestions on a More Meaningful Training Program on the Application of L.F.S. 
I dont know if some chapters have already initiated this. But these are some programs I have in mind that may make our pledgeship program even more substantive on the aspect of understanding and aprreciating the cardinal principles, and indirectly on the other doctrines found on our tickler. This can also be conducted on freshly ritualized members. Or can be used as a discipplinary action on delinquent brods. This is in terms of social awareness raising, values strengthening/ transformation, and the like.
This is more or less similar to activity design of the 1992(?) APO Congress I attended in Bulacan (?), but is much more intensive and more hands-on (hindi violent na hands on ha). and more chapter or city level.
For the principle of leadership:
A three-day upto five-day, live-in or live-out training on effective leadership. This is not just a seminar-workshop where only a resource person speaks and speaks and consumes saliva. But a hardcore, evocative and highly participative training headed by a facilitator-trainor (like those in the Butuan Convention, e.g. Wilnor Papa of Eta Chap), utilizing case studies of actual scenarios and simulation-type workshops. Topics would include the qualities and competencies of an effective leader, how to be a servant-leader and not a dictator (maraming naging GC na akala nya dictador sya ng isang tropang puno ng goons. Ansagwa), understanding the types of personalities of the people who are under the leader’s responsibility, etc., etc. These could help the young ones appreciate more what it is to be a leader; that leadership is more a responsibility (a burden even) than a privilege or a symbol of status in the campus or area/cluster/etc. or as a vehicle para makarami ng chicks. or para katakutan ng ibang frat. Ambabaw nun, but it was a prevalent notion.
Believe me, i’ve seen more than my fill of leadership seminars. Bitin ako sa lahat. Half-day is not enough. Kung mag leleadership seminar rin lang para makapag compliance sa BAPOR requirements, huwag na. And this type of short cut is a reflection of the leadership of the Prime Chancellor/Master Initiator. At kung susundin ang chain of command, damay pati GC.
For the principle of friendship:
Again, a three-day upto five-day, live-in or live-out training on Conflict Transformation, Conflict Analysis and Conflict Resolution (including mediation). Again, this is another evocative and highly participative training, with workshops and simulations. It is preventing inter-personal or inter-group disagreements into becoming full blown violence. To address issues of conflict peacefully and to preserve and even strengthen the good relationship of the parties in conflict. To understand the nature of conflict and get a few skills on how to resolve them would definitely put substance to a young APhiO member’s or neophyte’s capacities in practicing and embodying the principle of friendship. For the neophyte, mas lalo itong bibilib sa pinasukan nya.
Friendship is not only diplomacy/advocacy (influencing people to agree to your position, if it has merits), which is the common notion of what friendship is. sometimes brods and sis think, friendship is found in the fellowship. I apologize but I have been in more than enough fellowships where brods end up fighting brods and I don’t see any friendship there. Kahit ano pang alibi ang ibigay, walang friendship sa talo-talo na sitwasyon. Besides fraternal brotherhood and sisterhood ang APhiO, hindi tayo “friends” lang.
But diplomacy is also important and has its own type of training.
For the principle of service:
Again, training parin. on Community Organizing and Rights-based approach to Development. Pati narin Human Rights Education. Yes, our service projects are good. and the fellowships afterwards (a.k.a. tagayan blues) are sometimes good and sometimes bad, but why not take it to the next level?
With the exception of some ancient projects that have more long term impacts, or have more sustainability, like Project Oxygen Belt, Dyes for Peace, etc. Most of our projects (I must honestly say) are more of “hit and run”. Meaning, pag may sakit, bigyan ng gamot. Ok good yan. Pero kung magkasakit ulit, pano na? Or kung sira ulit ang ipin? or kung naubos na ang relief goods? Pano na? This is much like giving a hungry man a fish at one time. His stomach will be full for the day, but on the next day, gutom ulit. So why not teach him how to fish? No, we won’t make him into a fisherman, doctor or a dentist (pwera nalang kung magpapa scholarship ka at pumasa sya, aba magaling yun). What i mean to say is “community empowerment”. The people of communities that we are serving have rights. Making the people know these rights, capacitating them how to assert these rights properly to the stakeholders, and making them work together to become self-sustaining and self-reliant communities is a more meaningful service to do.
Maraming mga baguhan noon at ngayon ang nagkalito lito sa dami ng nakasulat sa tickler. Di magets pano maging “living monument”. Madalas, either memorized lang, or selective doctrines lang, or literal lang ang understanding, or one-dimensional lang, or extremist pa nga ang pagkaintindi. But in truth, all the dotrines on the tickler are intertwined and interconnected with one another, forming one consistent mini-ideology. Marami sa atin ang inuna ang APO kesa sa pamilya, or ang APO kesa sa school. I am guilty of these things too. We have violated the hierarchy of loyalty. But these tendencies are wrong. and I am not proud of having done them. Now, it is too late. All I have are regrets. I could have been a productive APO inside my chapter, in my school, with my family, as part of my country, and in my relationship with God, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Sayang. No excuse or alibi can ever justify our sins.
As I understand it now, Frank Reed Horton wanted us to become the best individuals that we can possibly be, given our limitations and our natural inclinations to err and to be tempted by vices and cowardly quick fixes that come our way. All he wanted for us was to be happy with what we are doing in our lives, to love and be loved by our families, and to respect and be respected in our communities.
Sayang, i am almost 20 years away from the campus. I could have piloted this program had I been a resident. Syempre, ayoko nang maging undergrad ulit. Tanda ko na. But I hope our leaders in APhiO will consider these suggestions.
Strong the Circle we.
Tommy Pangcoga
Thumbtacks IV
0624-89-17333
Subscribe to Feed
Email Updates