New Sirib campaign aims to teach volunteers on how to keep peers on track

Members of SIKA are active in cleaning the environment and surroundings. (Alaric A. Yanos)

By Grazielle Mae A. Sales

PGIN-CMO

Laoag City—Ilocos Norte’s Provincial Education Department, Provincial Employment and Service Office, and Sirib Youth Office in cooperation with Sirib Ilocano Kabataan Association (SIKA) will be holding for the first time a peer counseling seminar and workshop to raise awareness about depression and mental health among teens and young adults.

Members of SIKA are seen cleaning the coast of barangay Davila in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte last July. (PGIN Sirib Youth Office photo)

Dubbed as “Sanggir Iti Agtutubo ti Kailokuan” (SIAK), the event aims to create a roundtable of youth volunteers who shall render peer support and coping skills to young Ilocanos in order for them to move forward despite experiencing past or current life changes, trauma or abuse.

“We aim to empower our volunteers to achieve self-mastery and the ability to respond properly and effectively to those who are under emotional pressure,” Joaz Lagundino, Sirib Youth Office spokesperson explained.

This is in line with the ongoing efforts of the Provincial Government to reduce the number of suicides in the province, most especially among teenagers.

“Oftentimes that opening up is the real challenge here. A young person under emotional stress may find it hard to seek help from an adult that’s why we are tapping our SIKA volunteers to be in the frontline,” Lagundino said, pointing out that this setup will provide “a more approachable and comfortable atmosphere” since the counselor and the client are of the same age bracket.

The SIKA members who will successfully finish the peer counselors training shall be designated to a sub-branch which is SIAK after the by-line of the said event.

“We are willing to serve those who do not know where to turn to in times of trouble. We want them to know that we are ready to reach out anytime,” Lagundino added.

The speakers for the said event are licensed Ilocano guidance counselors, namely: Mrs. Maybelle D. Madamba, RGC for Suicide Awareness and Prevention; Mrs. Rosalie O. Lingaling, RGC for Adolescent Psychology; and Miss Majelle V. dela Rosa, RGC for Dynamics Counseling.

The peer counselors seminar and workshop was created in line with a public consultation with the municipal social welfare and development officers in Ilocos Norte last August 2014. It will be held on November 13 at La Tabacalera Function Hall, Laoag City.

Comments

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become...

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said. Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel...

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy. 18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi...

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog