LAMA HOUSE, Pugo, Bauang, La Union. Philippines.

Residential Care and Crisis Intervention for boys aged 9 – 19

 

SEC Reg No: 145571

UK Reg Charity No: 1008940

DSWD Accreditation:

Directors: Peter and Lesley Gomez

Tel: 072 7051045

AT THE CLOSE OF 2015 Loyalty Awards were awarded to Jose (15 years service) Rico (13 years service) Jeanette (7 years) and Charis (6 years) – for which we are very thankful. A family atmosphere, stability and a sense of security for the boys are direct results of their dedication and service for so many years!

L-R: Jose, Rico, Peter, Jeanette, Charis.

 

WHAT DID WE ACCOMPLISH IN 2016?

The Annual Accomplish report is an opportunity to highlight the successful events and programs at LAMA House from January – December 2016 and provide information to help set the direction for 2017. Once again we can see God’s hand in all we have achieved – we are workers together with Him!

JANUARY

• Muslim family – the year started with a referral of a young Muslim boy in conflict with the law who needed to stay until his family could be located. We were able to re-unite the family almost immediately after the boys prayed that we find them. We had a good opportunity to minister to him and his family and had a time of prayer together before they went home. An un-expected miraculous start to the year.

   

• Standards Monitoring – We received a favourable response from Mm Mylene Lucero who came to monitor our operations and facilities following re-accreditation. She encouraged us to aim for Level 2 accreditation.
• Trekking – Peter took the boys and some of the staff trekking in Naguilian to start the year’s resolution of being more fit!
• Extension for Girls – We placed two girls with Pastor Ray Duclayan at Christian Praise Fellowship – where the girls will be live temporarily. We plan to set up an Extension for Girls this year to provide for crisis intervention, particularly for siblings of LAMA boys.

• Foster Care Seminar – In collaboration with the DSWD Field Office 1, Adoption and Fostering Unit LAMA House hosted a teaching seminar about How to become a Foster Parent. Only a few pastors attended. It is hoped to do this again yearly to promote awareness about Fostering and open up the possibility of finding foster parents in churches in the region.

FEBRUARY

• Medical Checks – all employees received their yearly medical checks.
• Educational Assistance – Jordan was accepted for an educational grant from a local grant making charity ABNCOI, who will help us provide for his school needs and uniform.
• Regional Adoptive/Foster Parents and Children’s Congress – Our Social Worker Gina and house mother Charis accompanied Jordan to attend the congress in Dagupan City to represent LAMA House as we seek to become more involved in promoting fostering and adoption in the region.
• Sam Lares, Christs Public Accountants Ministries Inc (CPAMI) – Our book-keeper Jeli, Lesley, Sam and Michael attended a seminar in Baguio by Sam Lares CPA about Updated Securities and Exchange Commission requirements and updates for churches and non-profit organisations and Book-keeping for non-accountants. We are pleased to have found CPAMI and have Sir Sam Lares advise us on accountancy, non-profit organisation and tax matters.
• Fun Run – staff and boys joined the DSWD Fun Run in San Fernando City.

 

  DSWD Fun Run

MARCH

• Employee of the Month – we began this year to award a cash bonus of P2000 for the employee with excellent service for the month.
• Seminar, Emotional Disturbance among children in residential centers – our Social Worker Gina attended in Makati City, Manila.
• Vincent’s Father – we have been working towards re-uniting Vincent and his bother Sum with their father next year. They have enjoyed several visits at home and in LAMA House with Dad this year.

 

Vincent and Sum with their father

APRIL

• Individual Attention – Houseparents will be assigned three boys each for their observation reports, while still supervising all boys in care.
• Summer Activities – during the school vacation from end of March to beginning of June there were planned activities for the boys; Zumba fitness daily, basketball, baking lessons, singing and music.
• Night Outreach – the staff and boys went to San Fernando City plaza for night outreach, meeting and praying for any street children or homeless people. The outreach was not continued monthly as a curfew was enforced and the plaza area no longer a place for them to gather or sleep.
• Psychology Interns – we welcomed a small group of interns from Don Mariano Marcos University in San Fernando City, who did group sessions with the boys.
• LAMA’s Got Talent – this was an impressive first season of LAMA’s Got Talent where the boys showcase their singing and dancing skills.

MAY

• Sam Lares, advisor – Maam Lesley, Sir Sam, Michael and Jeli met with Sam Lares CPA in Baguio for advise about tax laws and book-keeping matters.
• Seminar – Gina attended a Capability Building Seminar about Case Management in Baguio City.
• Asnar was discharged – Sir Sam accompanied Asnar home to his mother and sister in Cebu but was unable to turn over the case to the social worker there.

• Consultation Dialogue – Gina attended the National Consulatation Dialogue for Child Caring Agencies in Manila. LAMA was the representative for the whole Region 1.
• LAMA’s got Talent – we enjoyed the second session for the talent show.
• Mothers Day – we celebrated with the mothers who work at LAMA House at Sunset Bay.
• Age Specific Group Sessions – Michael and Lesley did several group sessions with our older boys this year during the long summer vacation – in addition to the regular sessions and devotions with all the boys. Topics were more specific to their age-group, like communication skills, anger management, how to treat a girl, sexuality, pornography, respect for ourselves, respect for others, the importance of church and worship.

JUNE

• Education Program – Jordan, Jay-r and Sum began their schooling as Grade 1 students at Pugo Elementary School. Nenyo, who has learning difficulties, started in Kinder level.
• The Extension for Girls – after a successful meeting with Mylene from Standards, DSWD a Memorandum of Agreement was created between LAMA House and Christian Praise Fellowship while working towards a license from the DSWD. Our social worker Gina will be responsible for their case management and staff (Shane, Jeli, Charis) will visit the girls regularly.
• Accelerated Learning – Joshua, Vincent, Rustom and Bryan passed the ALS exam and were immediately promoted to High School.

 

• The Points System – was reviewed and adapted regularly through the year. The Point System replaces demerits, giving consequences for doing wrong and rewards for doing well, with emphasis on noticing what is going well and the boys attitudes.
• Fathers Day – our fathers on staff celebrated at KinaDocs Resto.
• Summer Outing – staff and their families and the boys had a fun outing at ABCD Resort, Bangar, La Union. The boys also received prizes for acheivements in school and rewards for the Points System.

JULY

• Jess re-united wih foster family – Jess went home to the family who took care of him. The social worker, Flor Tul-an, will help the family obtain a foster parent license and follow up Jess.

   Jesus (Jess) with his foster family

 

• Manila Centers for long term care of boys with Special Needs – the plan to travel to Manila to scout for a suitable facility to transfer Tony and Wowie has not been accomplished as no center has given positive feedback regarding referral, they are all full.
• Saint Louis College – we received a donation from the Chaplain of SLC, San Fernando, La Union.
• Board of Trustees Annual Meeting – was held on the 25^th at LAMA House. The new Policies need to be simplified and further revisions made by Lesley before approval by the board.
• Jerome – one of our former LAMA wards got married. LAMA Ministries helped with the expenses.

AUGUST

• Management – we introduced using sticky notes with instructions or praise from housefathers to encourage the boys to keep their rooms clean and tidy.  Jose made an inventory and better storage of tools and equipment. As part of the new budget in cutting costs powdered soap (wholesale) will replace individual packs of soap for washing clothes.
• Long-term care – after a case conference with the referring social workers Bryan and Nenyo’s status was changed from ‘temporary care’ to ‘long term care.’ Both parents are imprisoned for life sentences.
• Case Conference re Tony and Wowie – following Maam Lesley’s letter to the FO1 Director requesting intervention regarding Tony and Wowie’s cases Field Office 1 sent Social Workers to discuss the case and try to find solutions. Lesley informed the Director that we can no longer accommodate Tony and Wowie who are 19 years old and need a center that is equipped to help them into adulthood and teach livliehood skills. FO1 could not come up with a solution at the conference as all other institutions are already full and not accepting referrals. We were advised to try a new home in Tarlac but they could not accept Tony and Wowie.
• Extension for Girls – we held another conference with Standards DSWD regarding the requirements needed to license the Extension for Girls in which Mylene SW recommended we use the staff house on campus for the project. We are working towards opening this house in March for the three girls.
• Immunisation – the boys in Elementary level received vaccinations in school for measles and tetanus.

SEPTEMBER

• Bench-marking – LAMA House was chosen for bench-marking to showcase our programs and services and management systems for the director and staff of Spirit and Life Missions, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, who are setting up a home for children.
• Restrain and Take down training – our house-parents went for training with Pastor Ray Duclayan on how to safely restrain a violent child or adult. We hope to refresh this much needed training yearly.

 

 

• ALS exam – Diether and Nikko reviewing for their Accelerated Learning Exam.
• Memorial Service – we hosted a Memorial Service for Mark Ardan, a former LAMA House ward, who died suddenly from a heart attack while working in Tarlac. Everyone was shocked and saddened by the news of his death.

 

Mark Ardan as we will always remember him.

• Sam Lares Seminar – Peter and Lesley attended a seminar about Financial Management for the Board of Trustees. Michael and Jeli attended a seminar about Tax Exemption laws by Sam Lares.
• Seminar – Lesley, Sam, Gina, and Michael attended a seminar in Dagupan about How to Handle Difficult People, and Depression through the seasons of life.
• Outing – staff and boys enjoyed another outing to ABCD Resort, Bangar, La Union.

OCTOBER

• Parental Capability Assessment – Gina received the PCA for Red’s mother from the municipal social worker recommending the children stay for long-term care.
• JM’s true age – JM had X-rays of his hands for bone-ageing. The result shows he is 18 years old or above which is contrary to his birth certificate which claims he is 16. We now need to obtain legal documents so he can apply for work and move to independent living.
• Red’s father found – Gina contacted Red’s father through Facebook, he was happy to be in touch with his son again and talked to Red on the phone. Making plans for him to have custody of his son.

NOVEMBER

• 19^TH Anniversary Celebration – we limited the invitations this year to former boys and their families, present staff and boys and trustees. Many former boys could not come as they were at work, but we still had around 100 guests. It was a wonderful reunion, though sad because Mark was with us last year. The present boys led us in a wonderful time of worship and several boys gave thanks to God through testimony. We are thankful for the bond that endures into adulthood between boys and LAMA House. Though we always call them former boys, they are now men! Our present boys led the worship, the first time they have done so together.

• Age Specific Points System – it is crucial to get the Points system right for it to work. We reviewed it again and made some changes to make it age specific and using privileges like ‘use of the computer’ or ‘permission to go out at weekends,’ ‘use of the pool table,’ etc as rewards when they do what is expected or for praise worthy attitudes and behaviour.
• Caring for the Carers Seminar – Michael and Rico attended a 4-day DSWD training in Baguio for house-parents training. They will train our house-parents in the subjects covered next year.
• Hong Kong – Lesley and Ana were invited to attend the 50^th Anniversary celebration of Jackie Pullingers ministry at the Walled City Park in Hong Kong.
• Women’s Correctional Institution, Mandaluyong – Gina and Shane visited Bryan and Nenyo’s mother in the Women’s Correctional Institution where she serves a 12 year sentence. She was pleased to hear news of her children as she has had no visitors. We plan to take the children to see her next year. Gina also followed up the PCA for Red’s father.

DECEMBER

• Staff Training – Michael began training sessions with our house-parents to teach what he and Rico learned at the seminar: Caring for the Carers. The training will continue into 2017.
• Red re-united with father – Red’s father and older brother arrived to pick him up during our Christmas Party on December 17. He went home to Manila with them the next morning.
• Christmas Party – we had a fun-filled Christmas Party with games and gifts and food!
• Local donations – this year we have welcomed donations from several companies and families as the work at LAMA House has become more widely known and as a result of referrals from DSWD based on our re-accreditation. Many thanks to: National Food Authority, Napintas Corporation, Elvis Quitalig and family, Saint Loius CollegeCampus Ministry, LORMA International students, and Dr Nelson Gundran.
• Attorney Caroy – we consulted Attorney Rivera-Caroy (Family Law) who advised us that JM can work based on his birth certificate at age 16 or above with consent from us as his guardians. It would be too difficult to make changes to his birth certificate, though the bone-aging X-ray proves he is 18 or above. The Child Labour Law does allow children age 16 to work under certain provisions.
• Candle-light Service – some of the boys accompanied Lesley and Ana to the candle-light service and Cantata on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the First Baptist Church in San Fernando City.

• Visitors – we welcomed more visitors through-out the year and donations from those who want to help – Michael and Lyn Chambers of Nurses Touch Foundation, Kingsley Armstrong from International Gospel Outreach UK, Rev Ed and Eunice Bercero from USA, Lesley and Peter Van Leeuwen from New Zealand, Steve Pegg and LAMA Ministries UK Trustee David Nellist and wife Gillian.

OUTREACHES :

One of our objectives for 2016 was to give more time to helping and counseling parents of the boys in our care and parents of children in need who we come across on the streets or are referred to LAMA House.

SHIRLEY – we continued this year to counsel Shirley, the homeless mother of 2 girls now at Christian Praise Fellowship. Her husband has been sentenced to life in prison.

ROWENA –  we maintain contact and continue to try to guide Rowena whose children live on the street.

VIRGIE – we supported Red’s mother as she tries to quit her drug addiction with visits, practical help, and prayer and counselling in her home and here at LAMA House.

TWINS – we gave assistance (milk, diapers, clothes) to newborn twins in the barrio who were being neglected and helped to support fostering by a relative.

The newborn twin boys.

MAINTENANCE AND RENOVATION WORK:

This year Peter fixed the plumbing in all the CR’s (an ongoing problem) and made a small ‘dirty kitchen’ outside for barbeques and cooking with a wood burning stove to save on Gasul expenses.

We made better use of the Prayer Room and the Sick Room and created a mini Library in the classroom.  A gym room has been added with fitness equipment for staff and older boys to use.

POLICIES: Lesley, Sam and Michael worked on simplifying the Emergencey Policy and Child Protection Policy so that all staff can understand. Other policies will be reviewed next year for approval by our Board of Trustees.

 

EDUCATION PROGRAMME:

General averages in High School:

Name	1st Grading	2nd Grading
Grade 7
Rustom	80.5	80.29
Joshua	82.9	83.5
Vincent	82.1	81.5
Bryan	81.5	82.5
Grade 8
Ivan	84.3	85.5
Grade 9
Diether	83.4	84.1
Nikko	83.0	83.5
Grade 10
Jeran	84.8	86.7

REFERRALS

Name	Date Referred	Status	Referred By
Risrey	January 8, 2016	CICL	CSWDO-Dagupan City
Joshua	January 18, 2016	CICL-for rehabilitation	MSWDO-Naguilian L.U.
Alex ”Walid”	January 29, 2016	CICL and street child	MSWDO-Bauang L.U.
Charles Edward	March 22, 2016	Child at risk	MSWDO-Naguilian L.U.
Jeffrey	May 6, 2016	Street child	DSWD-CIU
Angelo	September 2015; June 14, 2016	CICL	CSWDO-Dagupan City
Client X	July 28, 2016	Abandoned/Special child	PSWDO-Pangasinan
Client Y	September 22, 2016	Abandoned/Special child	DSWD-CIU
Bernabe	September 24, 2016	CICL	MSWDO-Alcala Pangasinan

ADMISSIONS

Name	Date Admitted	Status	Referred By
Joshua	January 18, 2016	Temporary Shelter and Custody	MSWDO-Naguilian L.U.
Alex “Walid”	January 29, 2016	Temporary Shelter and Custody	DSWD-FO1, CIU
Sum	May 23, 2016	Temporary Shelter and Custody	Rescued in coordination with DSWD-FO1 and CSWDO CSFLU
Jeffrey	May 6, 2016	Temporary Shelter and Custody	DSWD-FO1, CIU
Angelo	June 14, 2016	Temporary Shelter and Custody	CSWDO-Dagupan CIty
John Lloyd	Dec. 2016	Temporary Shelter and Custody	CSWDO CSFLU

DISCHARGES

Name	Date of Admission	Date Discharged	Place Discharged To
Joshua	January 18, 2016	March 22, 2016	His family in Naguilian
Alex	January 29, 2016	February 11, 2016	His family in Marawi City, Cebu.
Asnar	December 10, 2012	May 2, 2016	His mother and sister in Cebu City
Jeffrey	May 6, 2016	May 10, 2016	referring agency DSWD-FO1 CIU
Angelo	June 14, 2016	July 6, 2016	His family Dagupan, Pangasinan
Jesus	December 15, 2014	July 13, 2016	His foster parent in Baguio City
Red	June 10, 2013	Dec. 18, 2016	Manila

MEDICAL CHECK-UP/DENTAL CHECK-UP/PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION

Psychiatric Assessment

Name	Date	Hospital/Clinic	Reason	Status
Nenyo	January 12, 2016	Mary Clifford GomezChild Adolescent, Adult Psychiatry Clinic, Upper Session Rd, Baguio City	Psychiatric Assessment	Prescribed anti psychotic medicine
	April 24, 2016		Follow up Check up

 

Psychological Session

Name	Date	Hospital/Clinic	Reason
Nikko	February 20, 2016	Sunflower Children’s Center, Baguio City	Continuation of his psychological session
JR	May 21, 2016; November 19, 2016	Sunflower Children’s Center, Baguio City	1st psychological session Result of his psychological assessment
Jesus	June 11, 2016	Sunflower Children’s Center, Baguio City	Last meeting for his psychological session
Ronald “Wowie”	July 28, 2016; August 18, 2016	Philippine Mental Health Association, Baguio City	Psychological re-assessment Result of his assessment

 

Medical

Name	Date	Hospital/Clinic	Reason	Status
Alex ”Walid”	January 30, 2016	Municipal Health Center, Bauang	Check up	Remove stitches on his hand and treated. Prescribed medicine.
Ivan	April 11, 2016	De Guzman EENT Clinic	Check up due to nose bleeding and severe headache	Prescribed medicine for allergy
JR	May 13, 2016	LORMA Medical Center	General check-up	All results were normal
Sum	May 13, 2016	LORMA Medical Center	General check-up	All results were normal
Jesus	May 13, 2016	LORMA Medical Center	General check-up for re-integration	All results were normal
Jordan	August 24, 2016	LORMA Medical Center	Check up and laboratory exam	Admitted. Diagnosed with pneumonia
Jose Mari	September 29, 2016	LORMA Medical Center	Bone aging	Age: 18 or older
Nikko	October 11, 2016	Municipal Health Center, Bauang L.U.	Check up to alleged skin allergy/fungal skin infection	Prescribed medicine and ointment
Johndel	November 3, 2016	LORMA Medical Center	Check up due to chest pain	Diagnosed to have heart problem. Prescribed medicine for 2 months
Tony	November 10, 2016	Municipal Health Center, Bauang L.U.	Check up fungal skin infection	Prescribed ointment

 

Dental

Name	Date	Hospital/Clinic	Reason	Status
Johndel	June 24, 2016	Picarda/Dela Cruz Dental Clinic	Permanent tooth filling	OK
Angelo	June 24, 2016	Picarda/Dela Cruz Dental Clinic	One tooth extracted, One permanent tooth filling	OK
Jose Mari	September 29, 2016	LORMA Medical Center	Tooth aging	Age: 18 or older

 

Outreach Educational Program

Johndel Y. Tasani, 20 years old:  2^nd year college Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT)

 

Extension for Girls

Name	Age	Date Referred	Referred By	Case Category	Case Status
Nicole	7	September 24,2013Referred to SHIP.May 27, 2014returned to LAMA House April 2015 Transferred to CPFI	Rescued	Neglected and street child	Long term custody
Nikkaela	4
Jittel	12	May 31, 2016	DSWD Home for girls	Neglected	Long term custody

 

At the end December 2016 we have sixteen (16) boys in LAMA House.

 

ACCOUNTS and BOOK KEEPING:

A difficult part of the year, especially for Jeli, has been seeking and following professional advice regarding our book-keeping procedures, the management of employees benefits and with-holding tax and other issues with SSS (Social Security) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). This is to comply with laws relating to non-profit organisations in the Philippines.

We changed our accountant to Mr. Licup as Mr Octavo retired.

We also opened an additional bank account for LAMA Ministries with Metrobank in Bauang for convenience.

Sir Sam and Jeli (our book-keeper) worked on refining the budget, including several menu revisons for the kitchen, and this year we were able to stay within budget despite a lower exchange rate for UK Sterling/Pesos without sacrificing any of our services.

SUMMARY OF FUNDS (Philippine pesos)

	January – December 2015	January – December 2016
Beginning balance	101,454.44	21,504.02
Funds received from UK Barclays Account	6,426,071.20	4,914,134.30
Donations	5,000.00	206,565.00
TOTAL FUND	6,532,525.64	5,142,203.32

LAMA HOUSE AVERAGE MONTHLY EXPENSES

Percentage of Expenses

(For the Year 2016)

 

FINANCES/ FUNDING:

LAMA Ministries does not publish a list of its donors. Most donations are from individuals and church groups in the United Kingdom. Our financial statements can be viewed on The Charity Commission website, UK. LAMA Ministries, UK Charity Number: 1008940.

The monthly budget for LAMA House has remained at £6000 monthly this year 2016.

Board of Trustees Philippines: Pastor Peter S Gomez, President.Rev.  B. Espana, Vice President. Mrs Lesley  K. Gomez, Treasurer. Mr Temy Patacsil, Secretary. Mr Justo Orros III, Member. Pastor Ezekiel Palcongan, Member. Pastor Domi Capias, Member.

Board of Trustees UK: Mrs Lesley Gomez, Chair.Rev. David Nellist, Trustee. Mr & Mrs Kevin & Inge Hammond, Trustees. Mrs Sarah Jones, Trustee

Email: lesley.gomez@gmail.com              www.lamaministries.org

Posted by Lesley Gomez on Friday, September 7th, 2018 @ 2:14PM
Categories: Latest news