Mabalacat City College (MCC) participated in the recently concluded graduation at Bahay Pagbabago last July 4, 2022 represented by Dr. Marie Tessibeth T. Cordova, RPsy, RPm, Assistant Vice President for Research and Extension on behalf of the MCC College President, Dr. Michelle Aguilar-Ong, together with Ms. Josevy A. Taguibao, RGC, Psychosocial Intervention Program (PIP) Project Leader. The ceremony provides an excellent opportunity to discover what it means to be at Bahay Pagbabago.
"Bahay Pagbabago" can have a multitude of interpretations among various individuals and organizations. Reformists, in particular, have witnessed an evolving shift in its meaning from the moment they enter the institution until they are about to leave.
For them, the institution has given way to a new meaning and significance in their lives from Day 1 to their graduation day. Some of them progressed from sentiments of estrangement to feelings of belonging; from weird encounters to camaraderie; and from indifference to appreciation. It is at Bahay Pagbabago where their memories of second chances, newfound home, and hope were rediscovered. These realizations surfaced from their final activity, in which they become consciously aware of their transformation as they celebrate their culminating activity.
For those who are wondering what Bahay Pagbabago is, this facility is a recovery and wellness center for persons who have used drugs (low to mild risks) and surrendered in the city. This Community Based Rehabilitation Program is led by the City Health Office, and one of its strengths is its multidisciplinary team approach, or the City Task Force for Substance Abused Reformists (CTF-SAR), which is composed of various community agencies and partners.
You may also be curious about what happened to them at the Bahay Pagbabago. Inside the center, with a spacious session hall is where reformists completed the holistic program for a month with the availability of resources and support for their needs as participants. They are also receiving various activities ranging from health to nutrition, technical-occupational skills training, as well as emotional, psychological, and spiritual programs from various agencies. The activities were made possible by the dynamic approaches of the various teams, and with each program are comprehensive and relevant learning exercises. Mabalacat City College, meanwhile, is an active member of the CTF-SAR and has been delivering psychosocial assistance through the Psychosocial Intervention Program (PIP) since 2017.
The PIP team is composed of mental health professionals and advocates such as psychologists, registered guidance counselors, psychometricians, educators, and researchers who function as facilitators at the center. They provided attention to their psychosocial needs with skills training to better care for their mental health and wellbeing while encouraging support from their family members. Through numerous activities, the program has supported them in developing healthy connections not just with their co-reformists, but also with the staff, organizers, and facilitators.
Not only does this program have a wonderful meaning for the reformists, but moreover, the entire task force, organizers, and facilitators saw this as an extension of their commitment to community change. Most significantly, it is apparent that the Mabalacat community understands what change is all about. That change is a process, and so graduation was not considered as the end of their change journey but the beginning of their aftercare program.
_1658307012.jpg)
