Recently, Ana Maria Escano, our SC coordinator for the Philippines, gave a 2-day seminar at Sacred Heart College in Lucena City, a Daughters of Charity Institution located 4 miles from Manila. The 58 participants of this seminar were the staff of the different Social Welfare Division offices coming from 39 municipalities and 2 cities which form part of Quezon Province. Also included in this number are some fresh graduates of Social Work from Sacred Heart College.  The seminar turned out wonderfully and the government employees were very receptive and open to our sharing on Systemic Change. It has greatly mattered a lot that almost 90% of these government employees are graduates of Social Work from this DC institution. In the coming months, the school will launch a project in one barangay (area) – Barangay Buenavista – in conjunction with the Municipal Social Welfare Division office.  What a blessing to be able to work together with the government in a greater and better service with and for the poor!

Jim Claffey just retired from the St. Vincent de Paul Society on Long Island, where he served as Director of Formation and Programs. Jim currently serves as the executive secretary of the Vincentian Family’s International Commission to Promote Systemic Change.