Women's Rights Worldwide
Building Bridges and Relationships with Communities in the Philippines
through the Buhata Pinay (Do It, Filipina) Program
Buhata Pinay, Inc (BPI)
065 Rovira Road, Bantayan 6200
Dumaguete City
Updates….. As of 31 March 2007
Rebecca Quimada-Sienes
Legal Identity
Buhata Pinay, Incorporated is a non-stock and non-profit association registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission last November 29, 2006, Cebu City, Philippines. It is still very young. It is a registered non-government organization in the country for women. It is permitted to exist in the country for 50 years. Currently, the principal office is at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines, Inc 065 Rovira Road, Bantayan, Dumaguete City. It’s email address is buhatapinay@yahoo.com.ph
Structure
Buhata Pinay, Inc is a service-oriented organization. It facilitates the organizing of the marginalized women into a women’s community. In partnership with them, Buhata Pinay, Inc works with the women in four areas, namely (a) economic participation with sustainable environment, (b) education, © health and safety, and (d) building leadership within the broader communities. BPI will assist the women’s groups to become an empowered and stable community and facilitates in the acquisition of their legal identity. These communities are direct beneficiaries of Buhata Pinay, Inc. Buhata Pinay, Inc is governed by a 7-member- Board of Trustees representing the local community, professionals with experience in rural development work, legal mind, and church representation. The newly hired Director runs its administration and implementation.
Buhata Pinay, Inc Funds
The Buhata Pinay, Inc is indebted to her international partners such as the UU Church of Annapolis, Maryland, United States of America for funding in full all the preliminary activities that amounted to $1,410 & 5,000 pesos and funding the proposal on Linkages and Network Establishment (LANE) $5,200 prior to its registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Board is also thankful to the Unitarian Universalist Women Federation of the United States of America for funding in full the proposal on Strengthen the Organizational Set-Up for $5,845. Truly, the Board is extremely grateful to Dr. R. Keith Raney for a generous gift of $10,000 toward its livelihood programs. Buhata Pinay, Inc Philippines is truly grateful to those who shared their time, talents, energy, and resources for the cause of empowering the women in the Philippines. The truth is, by us alone, Buhata Pinay Inc cannot exists; in partnership, it becomes the rays of hope for a better future of the women. This partnership builds healthy relationship in the family, church and in the larger community. Let’s keep the light shining to better the life of the women.
Follow-up Seminar
Beginning the second week of February, Buhata Pinay, Inc started their follow-up seminars to the twelve (12) communities. Two groups of two conducted the follow-up. The first group was composed of Susan Quisel and Ma. Elvira P. Sienes, and they went to Inapugan, Santol, Malingin, Doldol, Benejiwan, Ulay and Cansay-an/Aquino communities. The second group was composed of Rebecca Quimada-Sienes and Lundy Mae Sienes and their communities were San Isidro, Caican, Nagbinlod, Banaybanay and Apoloy. Because Rebecca got sick during one of the travels, Mary Ponsica, President of the UU Women Association took over her place. As of this writing, it is now on its way to the last community. The objectives of this follow-up seminar are the following: - to inform the communities of the legal identity of Buhata Pinay and its benefits - to share the vision, mission and goals of Buhata Pinay and its current activities - to challenge the women to be in solidarity with Buhata Pinay, Inc if they’re interested to facilitate its organization, if they do so request, and - to identify the Point of Contact for each community Of the 12 communities, only 3 (Malingin, Santol & Banaybanay) are not organized yet. They requested for more time to discuss among themselves about it. The Doldol Buhata Pinay Community took a big step by presenting Buhata Pinay, Inc to their Barangay Council to be considered as their program on women’s development, and luckily, the Barangay Council accepted it. Elvie and Susan went back to conduct the same seminar to the larger community of women. There were 70 (seventy) women who came to the seminar. Generally, women have started to share their stories, although those who are most likely abused or battered wives were cautious to express themselves. They could not talk, but just cry. They have lots of fears. As a result of this follow-up, the following are the recommendations: (1) Seminar on Domestic Violence & Philippine Laws on Protecting Women. This seminar is suggested to both: husband & wife. (2) Develop the leadership skills of the local women (3) Strongly encourage the women to talk and share their stories (4) Local women’s association must be endorsed to the Barangay Council so that it becomes a program on women’s development of the Barangay.
Cell Phones
One of the components of LANE proposal is the purchase of cell phones for the community’s contact person. The main purpose of is to facilitate effective communication between National Office of Buhata Pinay, Inc and her local communities. Of the 12 communities, only 7 communities were identified to receive cell phones. The contact persons of the other 5 communities have already their own cell phones. The cell phones will become the property of Buhata Pinay, Inc and each recipient will sign a document of using such property. The following point of contacts will receive a cell phone: Vilma of Banaybanay; Mary of Caican; Roda of Inapugan; Nida of Doldol; Thelma of Ulay; and Mercidita of San Isidro. These cell phones will be given either during the UUCP Annual Convention or during the General Assembly in June.
Director, Buhata Pinay, Inc
Sandy May B. Villagante was hired Director, Buhata Pinay, Inc. She is 35 years old, single, and a professional Social Worker, and started working the first week of April. She has extensive work experience on the areas of rural development through sustainable agriculture, community organizing, research and administration. She has a good knowledge on information technology and responsible. In addition, she is an ecumenical and interfaith person. Her parents are both Ministers of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines.
Upcoming Activities……...
BOT Meeting with Dr. Richard Ford
Together with the Director of Buhata Pinay, Inc, the Board of Trustees will meet with Dr. Richard Ford on April 30, 2007 to discuss the community’s need on water as expressed during the community’s assessment of needs. The meeting will be at 5:00 pm at the UU Church of the Philippines. We look forward to a fruitful meeting with Dr. Ford.
Orientation Seminar, Manila Buhata Pinay, Inc
Manila Orientation & Other Visitation
Saturday May 19 Afternoon: Fly to Manila Overnight at a pension house closer to Bicutan Sunday May 20 8:00-8:30 Group Singing & Knowing Each Other c/o Director 8:30-9:00 Biblical Foundation on the rights of the Women c/o Serge Esquierdo 9:00-9:30 The Status of the Philippine Women Today c/o Inday Koerkamp 9:30-10:00 Philippine Laws on Protecting Women c/o Atty. Arvin Sienes 10:00-10:30 Coffee Break 10:30-11:00 Buhata Pinay, Inc: (vision, mission, goals) c/o Director & Rebecca 11:00-11:30 Defining Relationship: BPI Negros & BPI Metro Manila c/o Serge & Inday 11:30-2:00 Lunch/Break (Other BP Dumaguete may exit; Rebecca attends worship) 3:00-4:00 Worship, UU Community in Manila Monday May 21 8:00-12:00 Conversation w/ Philippine Social Entrepreneurship 2:00………. Travel & Conversation with Women Rural Bank (BUTIL) Balete, Batangas Tuesday May 22 Afternoon: Rebecca, Inday, Sandy May & Serge depart Manila for Dumaguete Friday May 25 Afternoon: Arvin depart Manila for Dumaguete In connection with the idea that international partners (UUCA) are interested with micro-finance project, of which, the BPI Board of Trustees is also in accord, the BOT will visit the office of Philippine Social Entrepreneurship (PhilSEN) in Manila to learn about their program about social enterprise as a new way of doing business. One of the goals of PhilSEN is to uplift the lives of the underprivileged with the local resources as basis for development. Micro-financing is also the business approach they’re recommending. Another group that the BOT will visit is the Women Rural Bank (WRB) in Balete, Batangas. WRB joins hands with e-poor (enterprising poor) through their micro-finance program called BUTIL, a Tagalog term for seed. They have been successful in Balete and is expanding to neighboring areas. Again, the BOT & Director of Buhata Pinay, Inc will maximize their stay in Manila and visit these groups and possibly other micro-finance groups on Negros or Cebu in order to hear their stories of success and failures.
General Recommendations for Buhata Pinay, Inc
Buhata Pinay, Inc must be registered with the: (1) City or Municipality where a BPI community exists. This will facilitate access to Gender And Development Fund of the local government unit. (2) NEGORNET- local network of non-government organizations in the province of Oriental Negros in order to access funds (3) City of Dumaguete and the Province of Oriental Negros for recognition (4) Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD) as a requirement for registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission
Buhata Pinay, Inc
Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros
April 4, 2007
065 Rovira Road, Bantayan 6200
Dumaguete City
Updates….. As of 31 March 2007
Rebecca Quimada-Sienes
Legal Identity
Buhata Pinay, Incorporated is a non-stock and non-profit association registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission last November 29, 2006, Cebu City, Philippines. It is still very young. It is a registered non-government organization in the country for women. It is permitted to exist in the country for 50 years. Currently, the principal office is at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines, Inc 065 Rovira Road, Bantayan, Dumaguete City. It’s email address is buhatapinay@yahoo.com.ph
Structure
Buhata Pinay, Inc is a service-oriented organization. It facilitates the organizing of the marginalized women into a women’s community. In partnership with them, Buhata Pinay, Inc works with the women in four areas, namely (a) economic participation with sustainable environment, (b) education, © health and safety, and (d) building leadership within the broader communities. BPI will assist the women’s groups to become an empowered and stable community and facilitates in the acquisition of their legal identity. These communities are direct beneficiaries of Buhata Pinay, Inc. Buhata Pinay, Inc is governed by a 7-member- Board of Trustees representing the local community, professionals with experience in rural development work, legal mind, and church representation. The newly hired Director runs its administration and implementation.
Buhata Pinay, Inc Funds
The Buhata Pinay, Inc is indebted to her international partners such as the UU Church of Annapolis, Maryland, United States of America for funding in full all the preliminary activities that amounted to $1,410 & 5,000 pesos and funding the proposal on Linkages and Network Establishment (LANE) $5,200 prior to its registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Board is also thankful to the Unitarian Universalist Women Federation of the United States of America for funding in full the proposal on Strengthen the Organizational Set-Up for $5,845. Truly, the Board is extremely grateful to Dr. R. Keith Raney for a generous gift of $10,000 toward its livelihood programs. Buhata Pinay, Inc Philippines is truly grateful to those who shared their time, talents, energy, and resources for the cause of empowering the women in the Philippines. The truth is, by us alone, Buhata Pinay Inc cannot exists; in partnership, it becomes the rays of hope for a better future of the women. This partnership builds healthy relationship in the family, church and in the larger community. Let’s keep the light shining to better the life of the women.
Follow-up Seminar
Beginning the second week of February, Buhata Pinay, Inc started their follow-up seminars to the twelve (12) communities. Two groups of two conducted the follow-up. The first group was composed of Susan Quisel and Ma. Elvira P. Sienes, and they went to Inapugan, Santol, Malingin, Doldol, Benejiwan, Ulay and Cansay-an/Aquino communities. The second group was composed of Rebecca Quimada-Sienes and Lundy Mae Sienes and their communities were San Isidro, Caican, Nagbinlod, Banaybanay and Apoloy. Because Rebecca got sick during one of the travels, Mary Ponsica, President of the UU Women Association took over her place. As of this writing, it is now on its way to the last community. The objectives of this follow-up seminar are the following: - to inform the communities of the legal identity of Buhata Pinay and its benefits - to share the vision, mission and goals of Buhata Pinay and its current activities - to challenge the women to be in solidarity with Buhata Pinay, Inc if they’re interested to facilitate its organization, if they do so request, and - to identify the Point of Contact for each community Of the 12 communities, only 3 (Malingin, Santol & Banaybanay) are not organized yet. They requested for more time to discuss among themselves about it. The Doldol Buhata Pinay Community took a big step by presenting Buhata Pinay, Inc to their Barangay Council to be considered as their program on women’s development, and luckily, the Barangay Council accepted it. Elvie and Susan went back to conduct the same seminar to the larger community of women. There were 70 (seventy) women who came to the seminar. Generally, women have started to share their stories, although those who are most likely abused or battered wives were cautious to express themselves. They could not talk, but just cry. They have lots of fears. As a result of this follow-up, the following are the recommendations: (1) Seminar on Domestic Violence & Philippine Laws on Protecting Women. This seminar is suggested to both: husband & wife. (2) Develop the leadership skills of the local women (3) Strongly encourage the women to talk and share their stories (4) Local women’s association must be endorsed to the Barangay Council so that it becomes a program on women’s development of the Barangay.
Cell Phones
One of the components of LANE proposal is the purchase of cell phones for the community’s contact person. The main purpose of is to facilitate effective communication between National Office of Buhata Pinay, Inc and her local communities. Of the 12 communities, only 7 communities were identified to receive cell phones. The contact persons of the other 5 communities have already their own cell phones. The cell phones will become the property of Buhata Pinay, Inc and each recipient will sign a document of using such property. The following point of contacts will receive a cell phone: Vilma of Banaybanay; Mary of Caican; Roda of Inapugan; Nida of Doldol; Thelma of Ulay; and Mercidita of San Isidro. These cell phones will be given either during the UUCP Annual Convention or during the General Assembly in June.
Director, Buhata Pinay, Inc
Sandy May B. Villagante was hired Director, Buhata Pinay, Inc. She is 35 years old, single, and a professional Social Worker, and started working the first week of April. She has extensive work experience on the areas of rural development through sustainable agriculture, community organizing, research and administration. She has a good knowledge on information technology and responsible. In addition, she is an ecumenical and interfaith person. Her parents are both Ministers of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines.
Upcoming Activities……...
BOT Meeting with Dr. Richard Ford
Together with the Director of Buhata Pinay, Inc, the Board of Trustees will meet with Dr. Richard Ford on April 30, 2007 to discuss the community’s need on water as expressed during the community’s assessment of needs. The meeting will be at 5:00 pm at the UU Church of the Philippines. We look forward to a fruitful meeting with Dr. Ford.
Orientation Seminar, Manila Buhata Pinay, Inc
Manila Orientation & Other Visitation
Saturday May 19 Afternoon: Fly to Manila Overnight at a pension house closer to Bicutan Sunday May 20 8:00-8:30 Group Singing & Knowing Each Other c/o Director 8:30-9:00 Biblical Foundation on the rights of the Women c/o Serge Esquierdo 9:00-9:30 The Status of the Philippine Women Today c/o Inday Koerkamp 9:30-10:00 Philippine Laws on Protecting Women c/o Atty. Arvin Sienes 10:00-10:30 Coffee Break 10:30-11:00 Buhata Pinay, Inc: (vision, mission, goals) c/o Director & Rebecca 11:00-11:30 Defining Relationship: BPI Negros & BPI Metro Manila c/o Serge & Inday 11:30-2:00 Lunch/Break (Other BP Dumaguete may exit; Rebecca attends worship) 3:00-4:00 Worship, UU Community in Manila Monday May 21 8:00-12:00 Conversation w/ Philippine Social Entrepreneurship 2:00………. Travel & Conversation with Women Rural Bank (BUTIL) Balete, Batangas Tuesday May 22 Afternoon: Rebecca, Inday, Sandy May & Serge depart Manila for Dumaguete Friday May 25 Afternoon: Arvin depart Manila for Dumaguete In connection with the idea that international partners (UUCA) are interested with micro-finance project, of which, the BPI Board of Trustees is also in accord, the BOT will visit the office of Philippine Social Entrepreneurship (PhilSEN) in Manila to learn about their program about social enterprise as a new way of doing business. One of the goals of PhilSEN is to uplift the lives of the underprivileged with the local resources as basis for development. Micro-financing is also the business approach they’re recommending. Another group that the BOT will visit is the Women Rural Bank (WRB) in Balete, Batangas. WRB joins hands with e-poor (enterprising poor) through their micro-finance program called BUTIL, a Tagalog term for seed. They have been successful in Balete and is expanding to neighboring areas. Again, the BOT & Director of Buhata Pinay, Inc will maximize their stay in Manila and visit these groups and possibly other micro-finance groups on Negros or Cebu in order to hear their stories of success and failures.
General Recommendations for Buhata Pinay, Inc
Buhata Pinay, Inc must be registered with the: (1) City or Municipality where a BPI community exists. This will facilitate access to Gender And Development Fund of the local government unit. (2) NEGORNET- local network of non-government organizations in the province of Oriental Negros in order to access funds (3) City of Dumaguete and the Province of Oriental Negros for recognition (4) Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD) as a requirement for registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission
Buhata Pinay, Inc
Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros
April 4, 2007