Fifteen ladies graduated from the first run of DCBC’s Adult Literacy Program in simple afternoon rites last March 10, 2007 at the UP Barangay Hall along CP Garcia. All are members of the DCBC Tagalog Service congregation. Six of the ladies were participants of the Basic Tagalog Class. Nanay Day Adriano, Nanay Josie Marfega, and Carmen Raymundo logged in for the first and second semesters (May 20 to October 14, 2006 and November 11, 2006 to March 3, 2007), a period of some 35 Saturdays. Lalaine Foz, Nanay Imelda Gardon, and Ate Annie Tolentino attended classes the first semester only.

There were five graduates for the Basic English Class. Roxanne Marfega attended two semesters, Marilyn Cureg, Nanay Edith dela Cruz, Maria Quinto, and Mia Sumucol, one semester. There were four Intermediate English Class graduates. Nanay Pilar Garlingo and Nanay Amelia Tiburcio completed two semesters;, Jane Espiritu and Nanay Esmeralda Sosa, one semester.

The ladies range from 13 to 58 years of age with more than half of them in their fifties. The majority had only primary education, some are still in or have completed high school, one completed college, while others dropped out after their freshman year. Most (12 or 80%) are UP residents from Krus na Ligas and Sitio Kaingin Dos, Barangay Pansol. Others come from Tandang Sora and Teachers Village.

DCBC church worker Brother Vic Mandalupe led in the singing of several Christian songs before saying the Opening Prayer, then Nanay Imelda Gardon and Ate Annie Tolentino gave their testimonies of how the classes have helped them. Nanay Imelda drew an affectionate laugh from the audience as she gave thanks that she can now read and write… a little. Ate Annie drew more laughter from the audience with the quip that finally, she was getting a certificate in something.

In his congratulatory message, DCBC Senior Pastor Bel Magalit challenged the graduates to use their new reading skills to learn more from Scripture about the Lord Jesus and about true Christian character and behavior towards others.

Pastor Bel stressed the importance of reading both Old and New Testaments to have a true picture of the Biblical Christ. Switching easily between Tagalog and English, even Latin with the term Imago Dei, Pastor Bel urged the gathering to become more and more Christ-like. They were to be salt and light where they lived and worked and studied in loving and holy witness to their housemates, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, kaaway (yes, even enemies).

Pastor Bel, together with DCBC Deacon Armin Alforque presented Certificates of Attendance and Bibles to the ladies. Among those looking on in approval were DCBC Elder & Council Chairman and OMF Literature CEO, Ramon A. Rocha III, who had co-signed the certificates with Pastor Bel, as well as DCBC Elder & Social Concerns Committee Head, Jess Espina. (The certificates were translated into Tagalog by Pastor Bel’s better half, Ate Lety Magalit, and formatted and printed by Nina Danao.)

DCBC Deaconess Nam Ugaddan acknowledged the teachers and volunteers who helped out with the Saturday afternoon classes (held from 2 to 4PM, first at the Employees Village Multi-purpose Hall, then the Bonsai Garden, and eventually the UP Barangay Hall). Jess Espina closed the awarding ceremony with prayer, and the graduates and guests capped the celebration with a simple but delicious merienda prepared by Nanay Edy Yuson.

The Adult Literacy Program was put together by a group of DCBC ladies who were or continue to be connected with the UP educational system. Initiated by Ate Espie Ibañez (retired Assistant Director, UP Admissions Office), the program was eventually taken over by her eldest daughter, Nam Ugaddan (former faculty, UP Diliman, Department of Family Life and Child Development), who planned the Basic Tagalog Classes covering the basics of reading and writing. This class was later handled by Ate Pilar Quiwa (UP MA in Special Education) as Nam focused on administrative and coordinative tasks to keep the whole program on schedule. Volunteers Derf Sibal, Janet Espina, Pastor Chris Canuto, Ate Tess Maliwat, Santi Ugaddan, and Anj Backstrom took turns helping teach this class.

Miriam Alcantara (PhD candidate, Reading Department and Assistant Professor, Department of Family Life and Child Development) handled the Basic English Classes together with Ate Pilar Quiwa, Maquette Alforque, Joy Quiwa, and Sharon Fangonon. The Intermediate English Classes were planned and handled by Ate Liddy Arcellana (UP Diliman English professor and current AVP for Public Affairs with a PhD in English). Nancy Elumba and Maquette Alforque assisted her from time to time as volunteer teachers.

The Basic Tagalog and English classes initially focused on the basics of reading and writing and eventually transitioned into a study of the Book of Genesis. The students were also led in Bible studies based on Bible Study Fellowship International materials. Regular classes were interspersed with special seminars during the second semester: “Basic Nutrition” conducted by Belle Villanueva (Jan. 27, 2007), “Disciplining Children,” by Ate Liddy Arcellana (Feb. 3, 2007), and “Budgeting Your Money,” by Dr. Ken Villanueva (Feb. 24, 2007).

An evaluation and planning meeting is scheduled sometime in May to review the first run of the Adult Literacy Program and lay the groundwork for the next series of classes. Volunteers willing to commit one to two Saturdays a month to help out with the next run are invited to get in touch with Nam Ugaddan or Ate Espie Ibañez.

DCBC intends to go further with the modest but encouraging results of its Adult Literacy Program by opening it to local residents who are not members of the congregation. This way, it hopes to be salt and light for the Lord benefiting the UP residential communities.

SOME RELATED FACTS & FIGURES
Source UNDP Human Development Index (HDI,) 2004

· The Philippine adult literacy rate is 92.6% (percentage of individuals 15 and older that can, with understanding, both read and write a short, simple statement related to their everyday life; it was 91.7% in 1990)
· The youth literacy rate is 95.1% (97.3% in 1990)
· The net primary enrolment ratio is 94% (96% in 1991)
· The net secondary enrolment ratio is 61% (no data for 1991)
· The Philippines is 84th out of 177 countries ranked according to HDI
· Gender-related development indices:
    o Life expectancy at birth:
          female = 72.8 yrs.
          male = 68.6 yrs.
    o Adult literacy rate:
          female = 92.7% ages 15 and older
          male = 92.5%
    o Combined gross enrolment ratio (primary, secondary, tertiary schools):
          female = 84%
          male = 79%
    o Estimated earned income:
          female = P3,449
          male = P5,763