Reflections and Insights from Maricel M. Taguba , Participant of the 40th Advanced Studies Program

MY PERSONAL REFLECTION

Maricel M. Taguba, YMCA of the Philippines

APAY 40^th Advanced Studies Program

Theme: Cultivating Transformative Leadership in Pursuit of Just Peace

 

At first, I was hesitant and nervous about attending and participating in the 40th Advanced Studies Program. I had many things to consider—my daily work at the YMCA, my community, and most importantly, my children. Am I capable, as a YMCA worker, of participating in this training? How will my children cope with me being away for three weeks? And can I truly express my opinions, experiences, and feelings with my co-participants?

There were so many thoughts running through my mind because the ASP felt like a big challenge for me—my first international training in which I would be personally involved and directly participate. In every training and program conducted in the Philippines, I was responsible for the logistics, working behind the scenes, not part of the actual program.

My YMCA colleagues, friends, and family expressed their joy and encouragement, which boosted my confidence to accept this challenge. They told me that it was an opportunity for me to step out of my shell, become more interested in getting to know people from other YMCAs internationally, fully express my experiences and thoughts about the YMCA, and be more willing to take part in social activities and programs.

On the first day of the ASP, I was truly excited and nervous at the same time. However, the warm welcome from Sunita and Nam, along with their diverse expertise and engaging approach, set a welcoming tone for me. A simple yet vibrant activity was conducted where we introduced ourselves, which surely helped build a connection among us participants.

Hearing about the rich history, mission, vision, and programs of different YMCAs gave me a deeper understanding of how diverse and innovative the YMCAs are, as well as the people involved in them. I realized that after a century of service, YMCAs have contributed to the development of youth and communities, all while staying aligned with the core values of the YMCA. This has allowed them to establish a distinctive identity and build a remarkable reputation as a global association, transforming into a vibrant network of YMCAs around the world.

The action programs we participated in achieved great success, serving as an inspiration for me to work even harder to address the contemporary needs, issues, and concerns of society. Despite the ups and downs, the problems and challenges faced by my YMCA, I have become more passionate, and my commitment to the YMCA remains strong and grows stronger every day.

One of the things I learned in the ASP is the ways to be mindful, sensitive, and conscious when conducting a program: As a leader of today, we need to ask ourselves, how deep is our faith? In the YMCA, the mission and vision are always rooted in the Holy Scripture. We should have a deeper understanding of the triangle, because the inverted triangle symbolizes spirituality, representing the holistic development of an individual—mind, body, and spirit.

Understanding Bible study strengthens my relationship with God. We needed some tools to better understand the messages of every verse.  It is a way to know God more deeply. Through Bible study, we learn to avoid the mistakes, failures, and painful lessons of others. I am reassured by the knowledge of God's will and compassion for all people in the world. We come to understand God's plan for all of creation. Through Bible study, we understand the three facets of life: the mind, body, and spirit. Bible study nourishes our minds with the will of God, commands our bodies to "walk the talk," and strengthens our spirituality, connecting our spirit and soul to God so we can act according to His will and plan. To love God with all our hearts, minds, strength, and soul, and to love others and all creation as ourselves.

Climate Change:

For the issue of climate change, it is one of the most pressing issues of our time, affecting ecosystems, economies, and communities worldwide. Driven primarily by human activities like the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial practices, it leads to rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, melting ice caps, and rising sea levels. These changes threaten biodiversity, food security, and human health, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations. Addressing climate change requires global cooperation, urgent policy action, and a shift toward sustainable practices. Individuals, governments, and businesses must work together to mitigate its effects and adapt to the changes already underway.

YMCA has been responding at different levels. In the Philippines, we have many programs and activities, including the "Green Team" program, where local YMCAs are encouraged to implement initiatives that reduce the impact of climate change. We recently reorganized the Green Team Philippines and conducted a Contingency Planning session on November 9, 2024, attended by 24 general secretaries and program staff. The main objectives of this training were to assess the Green Programs and carbon reduction initiatives of all local YMCAs, develop an emergency response protocol system for the YMCA, and formulate policies, as well as contingency and continuity plans across YMCAs in the Philippines.

War and Peace:

I believe war has no place in our present time. It is an outdated concept that we should all strive to avoid. Wars have caused more suffering than development. Leaders should seek other methods to resolve conflicts, rather than relying on war as the only strategy.

Gender Equity:

Gender equity plays a crucial role in the lives of both men and women. The YMCA of the Philippines conducted series of trainings, seminar-workshop that provides the participants an overview of gender issues in contemporary society, help them to go beyond the males versus female stereotyped mindset, to reflect and live out more inclusive values in their families, church, communities and societies.  It creates a safe space and provides opportunities for women of different backgrounds to improve themselves, participate equally, and be acknowledged by society. Gender equity fosters awareness, empowers women, and encourages meaningful collaboration in society. In the Philippines, women have been given the chance to lead in various government agencies, not just in private organizations or companies. However, not all stories are successes—women still face discrimination and sometimes are treated as a secondary option. Some women are still not allowed to work by their husbands.

Sharing Life Journeys:

Sharing life journeys allows us to pass down our experiences and wisdom to others. It encourages us to become more aware and mindful of ourselves, and the more personal experiences we share, the more we all learn. It fosters a greater appreciation for life. Reflecting on my life story and the stories of others has helped me gain a deeper appreciation for our individual journeys and the people who have been part of them. No matter how small, shared experiences create moments of belonging, offer opportunities to build trust, and strengthen relationships. Collectively, they contribute to the well-being and happiness of everyone involved. Sharing our experiences empowers us, boosts our self-esteem, and enhances our understanding of ourselves and others.

Malaysia's Diversity:

Malaysia is an incredibly diverse country, home to many different ethnicities, languages, and religions. People from each ethnicity have largely preserved their ancestral cultural customs. As a result, Malaysian society accommodates a rich variety of lifestyles, beliefs, and values. Learning about Malaysian culture and context helps us develop respectful relationships with people from this diverse background.

Asia Community Service:

Attending the Asia Community Service made me realize many important things that will be helpful in our work. Through Ms. Aina, I learned three basic approaches to developing community service:

1. We must understand people’s realities, systems, coping mechanisms, and backgrounds.
2. We should approach people with humility, placing ourselves on equal footing with them.
3. We should immerse ourselves in their way of life, participating in their activities and learning to be one of them.

Orang Asli Community Visit:

We arrived safely in the Orang Asli community, a beautiful place with magnificent scenery. Pastor Anis shared information about the area, their stories, and the challenges they face in uplifting the moral values and lives of the people in the community. He told us about their efforts to organize the community and establish the church with the help of the local people. While the community now has access to water and electricity, they still lack schools and health centers. Reaching out to the people in the community was not easy, but their response to us was very welcoming. Playing with the children brought us joy, and despite language barriers, we felt a deep sense of belonging. They embraced us as if we were family.

They face many challenges because they are Christian, but I truly admire their unwavering faith in God. Their dedication and commitment to their families inspire me, and I’m confident they will achieve their dreams and goals in the near future.

Lay-Professional Partnership Development

In the YMCA, both the board and the lay leaders play an important role in the success of the Association, contributing their experience, resources, and skills. However, both lay and professional staff must collaborate on policy formulation, bringing unique insights, experiences, and expertise to create programs and address the challenges involved. While policy determination is the responsibility of the lay leaders alone, policy execution is the task of the professional secretaries. The Association expects its constituencies, particularly its personnel, to adhere to the rules and regulations governing personal conduct, both in relation to themselves and in their interactions with other YMCA members. The management of the YMCA is most effectively achieved through a true spirit of partnership between lay leaders and staff at all levels. The General Secretary will be accountable to the Board for the implementation of planning and policy decisions

YMI sharing

Y’s Men International is the service arm of the YMCA. The Regional Director of Y’s Men International for the Philippine Region is an ex-officio member of the National Board of the YMCA of the Philippines. Their contributions to the local YMCAs have had a significant impact in empowering young people and communities. Most local YMCAs have Y’s Men International members who work in partnership with them.

Youth Empowerment & Meaningful Work- APAY Response

The YMCA is an empowering, creative, and self-determined space where young people can experience life, discover their potential, and develop their talents. The YMCA empowers young people by providing tools for self-development, training in life skills, and education that enhances their knowledge and self-esteem. Through individual involvement and collective action, young people experience a positive impact on their own lives, their mindset, their local community, and the world.

The consequences of an unsustainable society will affect young people and children the most. These challenges disrupt their homes, families, and education, often forcing them into migration. This deprives them of the security and stability every young person needs to build a successful life. It is today’s young people who will bear the brunt of the climate change consequences in the future. This threatens their basic rights to live with dignity.

Yes, we all do many different things in our local YMCAs around the world. But we all share a commitment to youth. We all provide opportunities for young people to develop as individuals, leaders, and contributors to their communities and societies. Our goal is to give youth the platform and tools they need—whatever those may be, depending on each young person’s starting point—to feel needed, trusted, and capable of believing in possibilities. By doing so, we help them trust themselves to lead and believe they can make a difference, ultimately becoming change-makers in the world.

Ecumenism & Ecumenical Movement

The primary concern of the YMCA is youth. It cooperates with other faiths and their ministries but never aligns itself with any one denomination. The YMCA also educates for citizenship but remains non-political. Lastly, the YMCA is a voluntary organization.

The YMCA is a Christian but ecumenical movement. Therefore, our programs and work must be based on our faith, not on religion. We clearly understand that in the YMCA, a mission cannot be fulfilled by serving only itself. We must always practice servant leadership, just as Christ did. The YMCA gave birth to the largest ecumenical movement, symbolizing the spirit of unity and reconciliation. Since its origin, the YMCA has been called to serve, protect, and care for the mind, spirit, and body, nurturing the potential for change through space-transformation-impact for all young people.

Today, the YMCA of the Philippines’ program responses and services cover areas such as physical development and fitness, youth leadership and talent development, community work and social growth, relief and rehabilitation, spiritual growth and concerns, advocacy and education programs, climate adaptation, global citizenship education, migration and gender equity, and global alternative tourism.

Proposal Writing and Resource Mobilization

Learning about the differences between a project and a program reveals that, while they have many variations, they share the same purpose: to help and provide enough knowledge to create an action plan or project proposal. Transforming the YMCA's mission and vision into action and reality involves developing an understanding of how fundraising and resource mobilization are essential for program implementation. These elements help attract prospective donors and establish relationships and partnerships with them. The importance of projects in addressing community needs and the potential for positive change through partnerships is emphasized. An action plan should be precise, clear, engaging, and realistic, using action-oriented language.

MY PERSONAL REFLECTION SUMMARY

WALK THE TALK-TRANSFORMING THE YMCAs MISSION AND VISION INTO ACTION AND REALITY

MS FRAMEWORK PROCESS

Mission Clarity } Social Relevance } Institutional Viability

Hearing about the rich history, mission, vision, and programs of different YMCAs gave me a deeper understanding of how diverse and innovative the YMCAs are, as well as the people involved in them. I realized that after a century of service, YMCAs have contributed to the development of youth and communities, all while staying aligned with the core values of the YMCA. This has allowed them to establish a distinctive identity and build a remarkable reputation as a global association, transforming into a vibrant network of YMCAs around the world.

The YMCA is a Christian but ecumenical movement. Therefore, our programs and work must be based on our faith, not on religion. We clearly understand that in the YMCA, a mission cannot be fulfilled by serving only itself. We must always practice servant leadership, just as Christ did, the mission and vision are always rooted in the Holy Scripture. We should have a deeper understanding of the triangle, because the inverted triangle symbolizes spirituality, representing the holistic development of an individual—mind, body, and spirit.

The YMCA gave birth to the largest ecumenical movement, symbolizing the spirit of unity and reconciliation. Since its origin, the YMCA has been called to serve, protect, and care for the mind, spirit, and body, nurturing the potential for change through space-transformation-impact for all young people.

Today, the YMCA of the Philippines’ program responses and services cover areas such as physical development and fitness, youth leadership and talent development, community work and social growth, relief and rehabilitation, spiritual growth and concerns, advocacy and education programs, climate adaptation, global citizenship education, migration and gender equity, and global alternative tourism and many more.

The action programs we participated in achieved great success, serving as an inspiration for me to work even harder to address the contemporary needs, issues, and concerns of society. Despite the ups and downs, the problems and challenges faced by my YMCA, I have become more passionate, and my commitment to the YMCA remains strong and grows stronger every day.

The limitations of financial resources did not hinder my spirit to soar high with achievements: the youth’s education formation has been revitalized, more socially relevant programs were designed, inactive local members now at the forefront of achievements and local members that rested for couple or more years now are receiving exchange students from international partners and doing relevant programs aligned to Vision 2030.

The define issues, scarce resource of the whole movement, government capacity and well define management system still remained the challenges at hand to the leadership and to the members as well. We are still facing until the moment the challenge of sustainability of the National Movement. However, the issues at hand have no power over the commitment of the Federation’s leaders. The invitation remains, “to hone our spirits and commit to resolve our issues believing in the faith of our predecessors, read our struggles in light of the Gospels and champion our times.”

It is therefore my hope that this condition will eventually transform into a more encouraging mode with the involvement and participation of  YMCA leaders contributing new and relevant ideas, proven models, principles and outcomes from experiences of progressive and visionary leaders of the YMCA. In the YMCA, both the board and the lay leaders play an important role in the success of the Association, contributing their experiences, resources and skills.  The management of the YMCA is most effectively achieved through a true a true spirit of partnership between lay leaders and staff at all levels.

Hence this re-entry plan will help National Office and local YMCAs to direct our energies toward our claim as a relevant and viable Movement of people working for the transformation of communities.