The Future of the Adolescents

Dumagat youths of San Ysiro, Antipolo, Rizal together with the Porta Coeli staff. Porta Coeli Center helps the Dumagats plan their future through education.

Adolescence and Its Future Orientation

This is part of my report on Child and Adolescence. I hope this can help adults like me understand our youth. This is a result of my research thanks for all the writers and authors of Human development.

Adolescence is a distinct stage of preparation for adulthood. It is also the period of exploration. A time for planning for the future, this emerges as an important developmental task (Erickson). Adolescents develop an extended future orientation in which they are able to think, dream, and plan for their futures. It is a crucial link to the future of a society. It is the period when adolescents either become prepared for or enthusiastic for taking over adult roles or they rebel against the expectations and responsibilities of adulthood.

Future Orientation is a "complex cognitive motivational phenomenon". It has been explored in multiple literatures and related to adult competence, attainment and educational outcomes. It is used to predict behavior, planning and transition to adulthood. Personality, skills and cognitive factors influence the future.

Nurmi described future orientation through three basic processes: motivation, planning and evaluation. Motivation is an essential part of future orientation. Motivation is goal setting. Goals are reference points by which we evaluate our present state of behavior. Planning involves different schemas and cognitive processes. After goals are set motives and values in mind, one needs to plan how to realize them. Evaluation is the extent to which they expect their plans to be realized.

As the adolescents prepare for their future, we adults should help them realized their plans by making pathways available for them to be successful. Some of these pathways are the following:

• Civic Engagement, Government and Inter-Group Relations
• Media and Information Technology
• Research and Scholarships
• Policies and Programs which are tailored for the youth which will keep them at the center

Porta Coeli Center for Continuing Education is doing its share in helping the youth especially the indigenous people like the dumagat tribe of San Ysiro, Antipolo, Rizal in the Philippines. Porta Coeli is a distance education institute which offers scholarships to our youth and adult learners as well.

Adolescence as we have said is the period of exploration. May our youth find the right path to success and be the real hope of the future.

MT. BANAHAW

The aspirations and dreams of our President Sr. Mary Anne Sevilla of giving our poor and marginalized brethren an equal opportunity to college education have become my own. Definitely, I will not let any chances to bring our mission to the poor pass. And so, when it came to bring it to Mt Banahaw of course with the energetic team of Ms Chi and Roy, I grabbed it. I am just very lucky that I have this team who are really passionately in love not only with each other but also to volunteer works. And who can say no if you are smitten by the noble mission of Porta Coeli.

God has been laying the ground for us long before we decided to go out and offer our program outside Antipolo, Rizal.  In December 2011, Dr. Teresita Obusan referred to me the head of the NSTP Program of Miriam College Ms. Joan Tolibas for a possible community works of their NSTP students in San Ysiro.  However it did not pushed through. Then, last summer, I went to Miriam College to look for Community Development Curriculum.  I looked for Ms. Joan Tolibas for assistance however it was Ms. Chi Cammayo that I met. It was God’s plan because that was the start of our good team up with Ms. Chi and Roy. But God has other plans for us and Ms. Joan.  It took more than a year before He revealed it.  And maybe this is the time!



(L-R) Chi Cammayo, Matet Perdigon & Ms. Joan Tolibas

Igabay Kuya Dion, Ms. Joan, Matet, Roy, Chi & Ms Sallie

  Through Ms. Chi and Dr. Obusan, our path crossed again in Mt. Banahaw. The mysticsm of the mountain which has been attracting people for studies, healing and for the experience brought Ms. Joan, Chi, and I together. Miriam College through the office of Ms. Joan Tolibas has been doing community works in the place with the help of IGABAY headed by Mr. Dionisio Pullan. 



with Suprema Isabel Suarez

 There are several communities in the mountain with different religion, sects or cults. The people primarily depend on the mountain for their livelihood. Basic education is available however, tertiary education is just an option for those who can afford the expenses of sending their children in San Pablo City.  And so, Ms. Joan and ILAW AT GABAY (IGABAY) through its head Kuya Dion are interested to offer our program to the people of Bangkongkahoy.  Igabay is an organization of Dolores resident guides who sworn to protect and nurture the sacred mountain. We had an exploratory talk on how we can build our partnership. Ms. Joan is interested to bring our program to all their partner communities. However, they want to have a MOA on the partnership and to launch it formally.                         



Aside from Sitio Bangkongkahoy, we were able to introduce our program with the religious group of Suprema de la Iglesia del Ciudad Mistica de Dios. Ciudad Mistica is a religious sect which is known for uplifting the women as source and holders of sacred and spiritual powers.  It is headed by their Suprema, Isabel Suarez.  The group is widely known for their hospitality.  They welcome people of all walks of life and Brgy. Sta Lucia is one of nine barangays of Dolores,Quezon. It has been a sanctuary not only of indigenous flora and protected fauna but also to many religious devotions and patriotic personalities.

Trekking Mt Banahaw is always a great and mystical experience and what made it more meaningful and memorable is the opportunity to offer hope to its people.  I thank God for the allowing me to be a part of Porta Coeli and experience His wonderful creation.