Psychosocial Integration Workshop in Culion
by Klarisse Galido, Gabrielle Diaz, and Yna Reyes
Local community workers from Culion, Palawan participated in a Psychosocial Integration Workshop through Arts-based Approaches on September 7-10 as part of Cartwheel Foundation’s post-Typhoon Yolanda recovery and rehabilitation efforts. The four-day workshop was moderated by psychotherapist Dr. Carmen “Titay” B. La Vina, Cartwheel Executive Director Pia Ortiz-Luis, Education Coordinator Bricks Sintaon, Resource Development Officer Rainey Sarmiento, Volunteer Bambi Gamban, and Cartwheel International Country Manager Coleen Ramirez-Panahon.
Participants together with the facilitating team show their Community Safe Space during the workshop
In the first two days, focus was given to providing relevant information and training for the local community workers to be able to build resilience in themselves, to all the more be better in their service for others. Apart from Cartwheel’s teachers, others who participated were representatives of the Loyola College of Culion, Barangays Baldat and Osmena, La Inmaculada Concepcion Parish, and Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan. Expressive arts techniques were employed to help relieve stress and were shared as simple yet effective strategies for self-care.
Participants role-play what goes on in one’s brain during crisis situations like being in a boat in the middle of a storm and the raging sea
Embodiment is taught as a way to represent one’s strengths and build on inner resilience
In the following days, participants and facilitators touched base with indigenous Tagbanua by conversing with them on topics concerning their issues, emotions, and coping mechanisms. Participants were divided into three guided groups assigned to Sitios Alulad, Chindonan, and Cagait as they first conducted house-to-house visits. The community members were then gathered for an exchange of strategies both old and new – all to help in sustaining personal self-care. Indigenous practices like song, dance, and story-telling were affirmed as healthy and helpful means to manage stress. Simple breathing, grounding, and tapping exercises were introduced as additional techniques that can easily be done with a group or alone.
The family of Gina (leftmost) and Roberto Calix (second from right) in their home in Sitio Alulad is one among those visited and interviewed by workshop participants Teacher Lilia Diaz (rightmost) and Kagawad Enrico Pondevilla (third from right)
Children from Sitio Chindonan follow as facilitators lead the community through deep breathing and grounding exercises
Part of Cartwheel’s objectives for this workshop was to increase the awareness of community members from Culion about their own areas of strength and growth. Not only did the workshop benefit the community workers but also the indigenous Tagbanua who actively participated and enjoyed the activities. Jake, a participating teacher from Sitio Alulad said: “Nakipag-cooperate ang community members sa mga gawain. Ito ay naging dagdag sa kanilang pangtanggal-stress at dagdag-kaalaman sa kanila (The community members cooperated in the activities. They welcomed it as an addition to their own stress-release techniques and as additional knowledge for them).”
Community members from Sitio Cagait enjoy the Duyanan chant as they create action and sounds together
The training participants expressed their gratitude in saying that they will surely apply what they have learned both in their daily lives and in work with the community.