PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

Doctor and Society

MedEthics2 Group Paper

Section 2-B

FUECONCILLO, Jamaica
GALURA, Ma. Revelyn
GARIBAY, Mavis Athina
GUCE, Jheff
GUILLEN, Deanna
HILARIO, Mae Florence
HIZON, Sergi Aaron
HUNG, Paul Aldrin
JAPZON, John Kristoffer
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I. INTRODUCTION

In 1985, the Philippine Center for Population and Development period created the Manila Center for
Young Adults (MCYA). The MCYA aims to provide adolescents and young adults correct information, values
formation and services on health and sexuality. It was primarily housed outside school campuses enabling
teenagers and young adults to discuss openly and confide issues and problems regarding growing up,
relationships and sexuality. The center also serves as a hang-out place where adolescents of the same age can
meet up, play games and share growing up concerns.
After 3 years of operation, the youth center was formally transformed into a foundation, thus, the
Foundation for Adolescent Development (FAD) was born. The FAD believes that the period of adolescence and
puberty is a crucial stage in every individual’s life. Faced with physical, emotional as well as psychological
changes, it is a struggle to completely understand and get in track with everything. A fifth of the total Filipino
population, or 16.5 million, belong to the 15-24 age brackets. An overwhelming 30% of all births per year
belong to the same bracket. 25% of first time mothers are at the age of 20. A total of 400, 000 induced abortions
per year are committed by teenagers. 62% of reported sexually transmitted diseases and another 62% of newly
reported HIV- AIDs infections, belong to ages 15- 24. These saddening statistics define the framework of the
foundation. FAD believes that there is a lack of knowledge and social support as well as concrete values to
prevent premarital sex and its consequences. The FAD utilizes an approach usually deviated from the traditional
“safe sex” practices. The foundation encourages the young to review their values, attitudes, situations and
relationships to enhance their decision making regarding their relationships. From the words of Cecilia C. Villa,
executive director of FAD, “we believe that prevention is the best cure, and we give teenagers the information
they need to make decisions”.
The Foundation for Adolescent Development envisions to be perceived as a trustworthy friend of young
adults and as a leading resource center on adolescent sexuality, reproductive health and development. They
strive to help young adults become emotionally secure, sexually responsible and self reliant individuals by
empowering them with adequate information and proper values formation, through initiation and development
of innovative approach and program models which can be replicated and expanded.
The Foundation for Adolescent Development is unique from other organizations for five main reasons.
First, it caters a very specific age group- 15- 24 years old. Second, it does not serve as a crisis center but rather,
addresses education and values formation. Third, sexuality is deemed important and is considered a vital issue in
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the adolescent development. Fourth, FAD serves as a research and development shop in which new innovation
for work effective interventions are marketed and offered to the general public. Lastly, FAD respects and takes
advantage of the role of fellow teenagers in helping one another.
Through the years the foundation has developed a wide range of strategies, programs and approaches
that emphasizes on the preventive aspect of young people’s health and sexuality needs and concerns.
The foundation for Adolescent Development was founded by Aurora Silayan- Go, also the president
emeritus. For 2009- 2011, the board of directors for FAD includes: Anne Catherine Silayan Go, chairperson;
Rosie Go, vice chairperson; Teresa Sierra, president, Erlinda Bartole, secretary; and Eduardo A. Mendoza,
treasurer.

II. PROGRAMS

CAMPUS-BASED PROGRAM ON ADOLESCENT HEALTH, SEXUALITY AND DEVELOPMENT

The Foundation for Adolescent Development Inc.’s Campus Based Program is based on the ground that
the youth of today, most often than not, turn to their friends for information and support. The said program
involves an out of the classroom youth-to-youth approach complementing classroom sex education and school
guidance programs. Students are given counseling skills and correct information and understanding about
adolescent development to facilitate them in helping their fellow teens.
The project was initially implemented in partnership with five schools: Arellano University, Manuel L.
Quezon University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Systems Technology Institute College and
University of the East. One of the activities conducted in connection with the Campus Based Program is the
Student Congress, which provides a venue to create an awareness of the concerns that young people want to
address and the role they can play in it.
“A Youth to Youth Model”, a resource book of documentation of the two-year experience of the five
partner schools, was made as a means of assisting other schools interested in adopting the approach. FAD has
developed simplified training modules to ensure the continuation of the program. This will serve as a teaching
tool for graduating students to pass on to the new leaders.
Afterwards, the Campus Based Project developed the SEXTERS (Socially, Emotionally and Sexually
Responsible Teeners) program in another set of partner schools namely Technological University of the

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Philippines, Mapua Institute of Technology, Philippine Women's University, Far Eastern University and Lyceum
of the Philippines.
The SEXTERS program enables FAD to infiltrate the core of the student population. In every partner
school lies a SEXTERS Corner where teenagers can study, hangout, be informed or just spend their free time. The
SEXTERS Corner has a mini-library, a counseling and “tambayan” area. There are a few selected students who
man the SEXTERS Corner and these are called the SEXTERS Core Group Members. Like the 1st Phase Campus
Based Program, SEXTERS are given special training on peer counseling and group facilitating and also are given
an orientation on topics concerning adolescent sexuality and reproductive health (ASRH).

DIAL-A-FRIEND
The objectives of DAF is to provide immediate, anonymous and professional telephone counseling
intervention to adolescents to help them make enlightened decision through guided exploration of all possible
options and to provide basic information on HIV/AIDS in every counseling session.
This serves as a gauge of adolescent needs and problems. Since 1991, DAF operates in Metro Manila
with four telephone hotlines from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, Monday to Saturday.
Majority of the callers are female (61%) belonging to the 17-24 age bracket (55%); single (81%); college
and college graduate (78%).
A unique feature of DAF is the involvement of the youth to be volunteers. To date, an On the Job
Training is offered to Psychology majors in the University belt area and given comprehensive training on
counseling and emerging patterns of adolescent issues and concerns.
DAF invests in the continuing education and skills development of all counselors such as Monthly Case
Conference, which is a venue for counselors to share their experiences in handling unusual or difficult cases;
Case Consultation, which is intended to enhance counseling skills and technical knowledge on difficult emerging
topics; and Counselor's Care, which is designed to prevent counselor burnout.
To date, DAF is available for free and confidential telephone counseling from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm,
Monday to Friday.

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EMPOWERING PARENTS ON ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY AND REPRODUCTIVE

This project of FAD focuses primarily on parent-adolescent relationship. A large proportion of our youth
today thinks that their parents have little to no concern with their adolescent issues. The same proportion of
youth desires to learn sex and sexuality from their parents and not from anyone else. Through this youth
perception, FAD made this program to act on youth’s concern.
At present, this program is being applied by FAD through the help of its partner school like- Philippine
Normal University, Mariano Marcos Memorial High School, Philippine Women’s University and Arellano
University. Teachers of the said institutions are the one responsible on communicating with the parents.
Teachers give information to parents about adolescence period and how important it is for them to be able to
guide their youngsters properly during this stage. Teachers also explain and discuss to them that it is necessary
that the parents should address their teen’s concerns like- boy-girl relationships, pre-marital sex, substance
abuse, sexually transmitted disease and the like, condom use, teen pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy, solo
parenting, divorce, homosexuality and abuse. This teacher-parent conversation is done during parent-teachers
association (PTA) meeting. There’s a portion in every PTA meeting entitled “Magulang, at Anak…Magkaibigan”
where the topic focuses on empowering parents on adolescent health and sexuality.

LIFE PLANNING EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING

This program of FAD innovated a technique to properly educate the youth on reproductive health.
Instead of giving the usual lengthy boring lectures to them, they have created fun activities that would help the
youth to understand reproductive health. This program consists of nine modules that help the adolescence
answer simple but important questions like- Who am I? Where am I going? How do I get there?
It is in Manila, specifically in the area of Pandacan, Paco, and Sta. Ana, where this program had been first
implemented. Other NGOs had applied life planning education for their youngsters. These NGOs namely, Don
Bosco Youth Center, Families and Children Empowerment Development Inc., Kanlungan sa Er-MA Ministry Inc.,
ERDA Technical and Vocational Secondary School, Leto Christian Care Inc., and Unang Lingap Kapwa Philippines,
Inc.

TEEN HEALTH QUARTERS

Teen Health Quarters (THQ) program just like the other programs discussed focuses on youth’s sexuality
reproductive health and development needs. Adolescences are able to ask their concerns through this program.
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FAD also held medical services that are relevant and focuses to sexuality, reproductive health and development
needs. Age bracket for adolescents is from 15 -24 years old regardless of his/her marital status. In 1994, FAD was
able to implement programs in communities through the help of the Australian Agency for International
Development. They build partnerships with various barangay in Manila and some areas in Cavite wherein they
will conduct their programs.
Through the success of THQ, FAD had think of franchising with an objective of merging income with a
social goal of developing responsible adolescence. This part of the program is supported by David and Lucile
Packard Foundation. FAD made standard self directed learning modules, training video and guide on suggestive
selling, and educational class session plan manual that they offer to the public for purchase. FAD made it clear
that this franchising is purely for operational sustainability and viability and not for the organizations monetary
profit.

INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING OF METRO WEST NETWORK MEMBERS (MWN) IN ADOLESCENT

SEXUALITY AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
The foundation for adolescent development also know as FAD with the metro west network managed to
get 19 NGO partners in metro manila for their new project dealing with sexuality and reproductive health
concerns and issues of children and youth in need of special protection such as the street children. This program
basically consists of a training module for these NGOs on health and sexuality; a continuing education in the
form of lectures; case conferences and case consultations with subject matter experts, orientation on the
referral system, etc. And for its sustainability mechanism FAD also developed a user guide entitled “User’s Guide
on ASRH for Service Providers of Children and Youth in Need of Special Protection.” This said user guide consists
of 8 modules for a total of 21 lessons. Included also in this program is a video entitled kalyeng liku-liko. This
video shows how kids end up in the streets, the life situations faced by street children and the dangers and risks
they face every day. The video will challenge a street child to know his/her rights and that he /she has a choice
to leave the street for a better life.

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND HIV/AIDS CURRICULUM FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH

The Foundation for Adolescent Development, (FAD), Inc. in partnership with the Consuelo Foundation
Inc. constructed a program which aims to educate children about reproductive health and HIV/AIDS. This
program integrated a curriculum called “Reproductive Health and HIV-AIDS Curriculum” in the curriculum of
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technical and vocational courses like Computer Technology; Refrigeration and Aircondition; Building Wiring. The
reason for this program was most adolescents who engage in risky behaviours such as premarital sex have little
knowledge about reproductive health and HIV/AIDS and that most of their information comes from peers who
also have little knowledge about this topic. The curriculum consists of 4 units for a total of 31 lessons and has
benefitted 17 to 24 year old, poor, out-of-school youth of Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong, Don
Bosco Technical Institute in Makati, Don Bosco Youth Center in Tondo, ERDA TECH Foundation in Pandacan,
Tuloy Foundation, Inc in Alabang. The program has been rolled out to other Consuelo partners in Luzon, Visayas
and Mindanao.

III. CHALLENGES

FAD like most other NGOs are donor driven so funding is one of the main issues that it deals with on a
regular basis. Funding, being an essential part of what keeps an organization functional is difficult to come by
these days especially for NGOs like FAD due to Donor Fatigue also particularly related to the Economic Crisis that
has been the trend for most countries lately not sparing countries such as the United States of America.
Although there are difficulties in funding for FAD, they remain adherent to their values in avoiding any
involvement or affiliations with politicians so that their cause won’t be exploited in order that they can continue
their work without being manipulated by the Politician’s self interest. Many adolescents are oblivious to the fact
that there are those that are willing to guide or counsel them which pushes the FAD to expand their network so
that more adolescents would be in the know. Establishing trust with troubled adolescents who do not know how
to cope with the changes taking place in their lives is difficult due to their propensity to shut out others including
their parents from their own personal space especially in times where they make big mistakes (ex. Get pregnant
at an early age) that the society frowns upon to the highest degree thus challenge FAD in reaching out to these
youths that think that the whole world is against them.

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IV. PERSONAL ENCOUNTER (INTERVIEWEE’S REFLECTION)

The Interviewee: Arceli R. Obmerga

THQ Program Manager
Foundation for Adolescent Development, Inc.

1. How did you come to be a member of this organization? What makes it personally fulfilling?
During my college years, I (Ms. Arceli Obmerga) was affiliated with FAD because the old address of
this foundation was near my school. Right after graduation, I considered working here and never looked for
another work. It was because my vision and my love for work tied me to this foundation. It felt like as this
organization grew, my growth as a person continued with it. It was my passion for service and improvement in
the sectors of the society fueled my endeavors for my work. It was also in my own will that in order to be more
productive in this kind of work, I pursued my Masterals and I am expanding my competencies as a social worker.
It was the response from the youth and the people who works behind it that makes it more fulfilling.

2. What are the challenges/difficulties?

Being part of the organization for 17 years, I faced on-site problems such lack of manpower and
mechanism to run some projects. We all know that we gather our finances from donors, which may be unstable
and inconsistent in amount. The project may become smaller because of the limited funds but somehow
managed to keep it running. We find ways to compromise resources that we need but not really downsizing the
output, which is our initiative to disseminate knowledge to the youth. I am also faced with politicians who may
at times not approve our proposals at once. It is difficult to penetrate such locality without support from those
who are in the government. We may have to terminate some centers and relocate to areas which welcomed and
supported our ideals without asking for anything in return. The challenge is to be always updated, innovative in
our approach and upright in our morals in continuing our mission.

3. What are the joys?

There is happiness when we meet the one job that satisfies you as a person. I find my sense of
accomplishment when I know that I educated and guided many young minds in their life. It is a great feeling that
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people would call on our hotlines just to say a heartfelt thank you for a counseling they had days or months ago.
Although there is no statistics yet that we can show to people, it is the very essence that we are still continuing
what we have started proves that we are enjoying what we do and we would not stop until we reached our
goals.

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V. PHOTOS / MATERIALS AND GALLERY

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