GUIDANCE COUNSELING AND HEALTH OFFICE

GUIDANCE MONTH ‘08

September 2008

University of Batangas
Hilltop, Batangas City
 GUIDANCE COUNSELING AND HEALTH OFFICE

GUIDANCE MONTH ‘08

The Guidance Counseling and Health Office, ever dedicated to serve its purpose,

has been making significant improvements on its services to better adapt to the needs

of the students. However, these changes and even the services per se still remain

unknown to many students. For this reason, the University of Batangas Guidance staff

decided to hold the first ever Guidance Month last September 2008. The aims of the

said month-long event were to reach out to the students and the other members of the

academe through different activities, to make known the different guidance services,

and to erase the common misconception about guidance counseling—it being punitive.

Hence, the Guidance Month formally started on September 2, 9:00 am through

the Opening Ceremonies held at the Multi-Purpose Gymnasium. The guests include

the university president Dr. Hernando B. Perez who gave the opening remarks, VPSEA

Atty. Jesus V. Mayo who, on the other hand, delivered an inspirational message, VP for

Administration Mr. Alex Ramos, the department guidance coordinators, some members

of the faculty, the peer facilitators, and selected students from the elementary, high

school and the college department. Part of the program was the introduction of the

guidance personnel by Dr. Meynard D. Montalbo, the guidance coordinator. The

highlight however was the Dulce Tira Tira dance number rendered by the staff and,

surprisingly, by the VPSEA. Following this was the launching of The Witan, the official
newsletter of the Guidance Counseling and Health Office. The idea of having the said

publication resulted from the counselors’ intention to get closer to the students. The

affair then culminated with the simple giveaway-mugs for the lucky audience with red

circle pasted under their seats.

A ribbon-cutting by Dr. Perez and Mr. Ramos following the launching ceremonies

officially opened another notable piece of the celebration—the Exhibit. Situated at the

College Department’s Guidance office, it showcased the history of guidance and

counseling in the university as well as the guidance staff through the years. Likewise, it

was a display of on-line personality tests, self-help books, therapies, and pictures of

different activities. The said exhibit ran for one week and certainly, it did not only

entertain the guests but made them more aware of the functions of the guidance office.

Students go through everyday challenges in school which significantly affect their

well-being. However, because of the connotation that being sent in the guidance office

means having done something wrong, only few students visit the counselors to seek

personal help. Thus, they face the probable dilemma of repressed qualms and feelings.

It is for this reason that the Freedom and Responsibility Wall was also made part of

the Guidance Month. Students were given the opportunity to speak their mind and heart

by posting in the large board located in front of the Engineering Building what they

wanted to say about the topic for the week. The themes include Self, Peers and

Relationship, Family, and Career respectively.

The high school department also took part in the event and held the Coffee with

the Counselors at the Patio Café on September 12. This half-day affair was a seminar

about Living Life to the Fullest delivered by the keynote speaker, Ms. Jane Lancie
Holgado. Also, it was an opportunity for the participating first to fourth year high school

students to bond and relax with the counselors over a cup of coffee. Before the session

ended, the participants received a souvenir bookmark and, of course, an assurance that

they have guidance counselors whom they can always count on during happy or sad

times.

Likewise, on September 12, the elementary department had its annual

Leadership Training Seminar for the Grade IV-VI class officers. The said LTS was

carried out at the Multi-Media Center by selected Peer Facilitators and had the theme

The Epitome of an Efficient Leader: His Myriad of Functions and Responsibilities. It

covered topics like the types of leaders, leadership styles, qualities of a good leader,

and other important points to consider about leadership. More so, it was a fun learning

experience for the pupils since they were also given various group dynamics activities

by the facilitators. Aside from this, another activity rendered by the elementary guidance

counselors for the whole month was the guidance class.

One significant part of the guidance and counseling office are the Peer

Facilitators. They are college students who assist the guidance counselors in carrying

out the services of the staff. Hence, they are trained to become responsible and

equipped with the necessary skills to become effective facis. Since more and more

students hear the call of helping their peers, the organization had its second Peer

Facilitators’ Training entitled Facis on Level Up. This whole day activity was held on

September 23 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm at the Heirloom Garden, Pallocan East,

Batangas City. Aside from enhancing the innate facilitating skills of the students, this

training also aimed to welcome the new members and foster a feeling of friendship and
brotherhood among the organization. At the end of the day, the participants’ knowledge

about peer counseling was indeed leveled up.

College is said to be a very important stage for students to finally make up their

mind for a career. Likewise, it is during this stage that they encounter more challenging

experiences which require them enough self-confidence. Hence, It’s your Time to

Shine! Batch 1, a Seminar-Workshop on Enhancing Self-Confidence, was given to

junior college students as part of the guidance month celebration. It was held at the

Multi-Media Center between September 15 to September 26 depending on the colleges‘

schedule. The office decided to facilitate the said seminar to third year students since it

is during such period that they begin to be really molded and polished to face the real

world. The module covered topics that helped the participants assess themselves,

hence, enhance their self-confidence. Such include: Self Concept, Self-Esteem, Self-

Acceptance, Reasons of Shyness, and the 10 Commandments to Develop Self-

Confidence. This batch included students from CAS, CAMS, and CTHM. On the other

hand, the second batch comprising the remaining colleges is scheduled on November.

Since the one of the aims of the guidance month was to promote the guidance

services, the Testing Division also integrated the administration and interpretation of

different tests in the said September event .Such include the PMAT, PNLT, SRA, and

KTS for Technical Education and CAS students; the Standardized Aptitude Test for

BSED students; and the Vocational Preference Inventory and Filipino Work Values for

all collegiate.

Indeed, the whole celebration proved that the Guidance Counseling and Health

office does its function pretty well and has become better through the years. More
importantly, though, it touched the students and made them more at ease with the

guidance counselors and their functions. In the end, the Guidance Month significantly

marked September with its success.

Appendices

Opening Ceremonies
September 02, 2008
 Exhibit 2008
September 02 - 09, 2008

Freedom and Responsibility Wall

Coffee with the Counselors

(High School Department)
September 12, 2008
Leadership Training Seminar
(Elementary Department)
September 12, 2008

Guidance Class
 Facis on Level Up!
Peer Facilitators’ Training ∙September 23, 2008

It’s Your Time to Shine!

Enhancing Self-Confidence Seminar Workshop ∙ September 15 – 26, 2008