Ninoy Aquino remembered/25 years of abuse healing

Aug. 21, 1983 is a date to be remembered by freedom-loving people, particularly Filipinos.

From the Manila International Airport tarmac on Aug. 21, 1983 – 34 years ago – former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino was felled by bullets fired by still undetermined assassins. His martyrdom, said former Sen. Heherson Alvarez at the memorial celebration yesterday, ”radiated the power of our people – that from his suffering and struggles, we have united and exposed a regime of lies, fear and plunder.” The fallen senator’s commitment “changed the course of Philippine history and his martyrdom inspired many oppressed peoples over the world to peacefully march for their own liberation.”

Alvarez continued: “We rose as free men. We crafted a Constitution of freedom and accountability. Whence a power-corrupted president misguided our destiny, we took on the power to judge our leaders and have retraced our road to the rule of law and justice. We affirm our clear memory of that ugly past. We will not forget the abuses inflicted by the Marcos Regime.

“May the blood spilled in this tarmac remain to bind us in an overwhelming love for our country and our people, to build a strong, peaceful, and sustainable refuge from abuses.”

At the brief ceremonies, Medals of Valor 2017 were awarded. The medal  “recognizes the sacrifice of victims of torture and persecution of the dictatorship in jail or in exile as conscientious objectors to the fake rationale of Martial Law declaration of President Marcos.” The 2017 awardees “committed to promote the legacy of truth, justice, freedom, peace and democracy” are Carmen Pedrosa, Father Ben Beltran, SVD, Robert Verzola, Leoncio Evasco Jr. and The Freedom Fighting soldiers in the battlefield of Marawi.

The soldiers were recognized for their heroism and offering of their lives to crush terrorism in Marawi. “Their gallantry affirms vividly the words of Ninoy that “the Filipino is worth dying for,” Alvarez said.

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 ON ANOTHER FRONT: Twenty-five years ago, Martin Infante, a former drug user, chose to dedicate his life to healing others recover from addiction. He started his own program and called it SELF, a fitting acronym for the fundamental value of getting to know one’s self.

Since its inception in 1992, Self Enhancement for Life Foundation has provided services to more than a thousand men and women of various ages (from teenagers to septuagenarians).

In a meeting with media last week, Infante talked about SELF as running a Dual Approach Therapeutic Community (TC) program of Behavior Modification complemented by clinical intervention.

The program not only rehabilitates clients but works toward developing their talents and potentials so that they become empowered members of society, Infante said. The clients are addicted to illegal substances including heroin and shabu, and alcoholic (the latest the hardest to reform).

The SELF Therapeutic community is the only one of its kind in the Philippines. It is a full service residential facility that provides diagnostic, detoxification treatment, rehabilitation and values formation services.

 SELF clients and highly trained motivating personnel live in a quiet community nestled on a ridge in Talisay, Batangas. There they empower each other to heal their addiction through insights derived from group processes and “learning experiences.” In addition to one-on-one meetings with counselors and workshops, they are given household duties to develop discipline (e.g. cleaning and cooking).

To promote further self-discovery, self-confidence and encourage residents to reinvent themselves, the clients go into occupational therapy opportunities like stage presentations, outdoor survival workshops and dancing, mountain biking, walking and running activities. Graduating students engage in an emotion-laden tree-planting activity called “Tree of Sobriety, Trees of Life,” indicating their long struggle toward their spiritual and physical wellness.

The rehabilitation process can take up to two years with clients passing stages of growth and development, such as induction, primary, pre-reentry, reentry, and aftercare.

During SELF’s 25 years of existence, because of its rigorous but caring program, 300 clients have successfully passed the stages and given certifications like clean slates to return to their communities, with a record 89 percent of non-relapse. The graduates make sentimental journeys to their “alma mater” for reunions and sharing of experiences. There are drop-outs, to be sure, and upon their re-entry, they have to start from the beginning of the SELF program.

Infante emphasized SELF TC’s insistence that the entire family participate in the healing process. The families of residents have to attend meetings, counseling, encounters and dialogues.

Two memorable things Infante told us: the emphasis of the treatment program is “spirituality” i.e., residents develop a sense of dependence on and fear of a higher being, and that they are not allowed to entertain “friends,” meaning suppliers of prohibited substances.

Infante has co-authored books published by the Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Program. These are a handbook on addiction and recovery issues; and guidebooks on management of drug treatment and rehabilitation programs in Asia, and on client and family education.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary this year, SELF has lined up a  series of activities in September for the members of the local community, its alumni, present residents and their families, and a distinguished line up of local and international guests.

Leading the silver anniversary events which are focused on the theme “Rekindling Hope and Rebuilding Lives” is a lecture by Dr. Gregory Bunt, MD, an international expert on addiction medicine, and a panel discussion by international practitioners and experts in the therapeutic community approach. These will be held on Sept. 14 at the SMX Aura Function Room 1.

On Sept. 15, SELF will organize a round table meeting with its Council of TC Elders.

On Sept. 12 and 16 there will be a musical show under the direction of Fritz Ynfante and Butch Miraflor at the SELF’s Sacred Heart Auditorium. The show is titled “Self@25, Rekindling Hope, Rebuilding Lives.”

SELF has been giving seminars in schools and coordinating with government agencies as regards the prevention of the use of illegal drugs among the youth.

Individuals and groups interested in attending the seminar on Sept. 14 and other inquiries on SELF, may call Sockie Averilla at 809-3491 or 0928-552-5656.

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Email: [email protected]