[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″ background_color=”rgba(244,244,244,0.97)” custom_margin=”41px||2px|||” custom_padding=”49px|||||” hover_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-134px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”43px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”HUMAN RIGHTS” _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”Roboto||||||||” text_text_color=”#e09900″ text_font_size=”19px” text_orientation=”center” z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\n
HUMAN RIGHTS<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”PROFILE” _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”Roboto||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”20px” header_3_font=”Noto Serif||||||||” header_3_font_size=”26px” custom_padding=”20px|||” z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\n
Elena Sison <\/strong> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”3.29.3″ title_font=”Noto Serif||||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”60px” title_line_height=”1.3em” z_index_tablet=”500″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” title_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” title_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” meta_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” meta_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” meta_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”Roboto||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_3_font=”Noto Serif||||||||” header_3_font_size=”26px” z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\n Elena Sison stopped using drugs two years ago, but she\u2019ll never forget the night that pushed her to give it up.<\/p>\n It was a typical evening at home. The television was on, when her son asked her a question.<\/p>\n \u201cHanggang kalian ka diyan, ma [Until when will you continue that, mom]?\u201d her seventh grade son asked his mother. \u00a0\u201cAnong hanggang kailan [What do you mean how long]?\u201d she replied in bewilderment.<\/p>\n Her son gestured towards the tv, which \u00a0had just aired news of police apprehending drug addicts.<\/p>\n \u201cAyan o, panuorin mo [Look, watch].\u201d<\/p>\n The coming weeks went by swiftly for the mother of six.<\/p>\n Prior to the government\u2019s ruthless crackdown on illegal substances, Elena had been using drugs for twelve years.<\/p>\n She had started due to depression after she was separated from her first family. \u00a0Drugs were her attempt to get away from it all\u2014 to steer her mind towards work\u00a0 instead of the pains of life.<\/p>\n \u201cNung sinubukan ko po mag drugs… Wala akong iniisip, para akong walang problema<\/em>,\u201d Elena recalls. \u201cDi ko po naisip na nakakasama na, unti-unti kasing naaapektohan na sarili ko, yung relasyon ko sa pamilya ko, yung relasyon ko sa kaibigan ko.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n [Translation: When I tried drugs… I didn\u2019t have a care in the world, I had no problems.<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t realize it was bad for me, that it affected myself, my relationships with my family and friends.]<\/p>\n But in no time, police had started knocking on doors in their community like they did on tv.<\/p>\n It was a wake up call for the decade-long drug user, who had to reassess her choices for the sake of her and family\u2019s futures.<\/p>\n As soon as their barangay captain messaged Elena to turn herself into authorities, she knew what to do. \u201cParang natauhan na po ako siguro, katok na po ng nasa itaas<\/em>,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n [Translation: It was like I came to my senses. Maybe it was God\u2019s call.]<\/p>\n When the community started rounding up surrenderees, Elena and her sister were among those who turned themselves in.<\/p>\n What ensued was the beginning of a slow and steady process towards recovering from addiction.<\/p>\n At first, Elena doubted she\u2018d get better\u2014 after all, could a tiger change its stripes?<\/p>\n However, with the support from the barangay and local officials, she and her fellow recoverees found the strength to fight for themselves.<\/p>\n As the city finalized its drug rehabilitation modules, Elena and her batchmates kept themselves busy with diversion activities, including playing sports and cleaning the community.<\/p>\n \u201cSa tulong po nila, sa tulong namin sa mga sarili namin, nakuha naming magbago unti unti. Kasi po napakaganda ng ipinakita samin dito. Inakap kami<\/em>,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n [Translation: With their help, with our help to ourselves, we were able to change little by little. They treated us so well here. They embraced us.]<\/p>\n When the municipality and Diocese of Novaliches finally started Katatagan Kontra Droga sa Komunidad (KKDK), its community rehabilitation program, Elena and her fellow recoverees attended sessions once a week for six months, while her family attended three modules to help her recovery.<\/p>\n Soon after, she was inviting her neighbors to join her.<\/p>\n Now, Elena heads the local network of surrenderees, the Community Volunteers Organization of Novaliches (CVON) and works as a volunteer desk officer for the Barangay Anti Drug Abuse Council.<\/p>\n Elena acts as a bridge and supporter for surrenderees, and goes as far as counseling them when they have small problems.<\/p>\n \u201cBasta po pag usapin ng surrenderees… di ko po pinababayaan <\/em>[When it comes to surrenderees\u2026 I don\u2019t leave anyone behind],\u201d she says.<\/p>\n She says despite bullying from doubters, it was the strength from her KKDK batchmates and her family that helped her recover.<\/p>\n Now, she wants to give back to the program that changed her life.<\/p>\n \u201cBuhay ko na po yung bahay, barangay… Kasi po, dito po ako gumaling eh<\/em>,\u201d she says. \u201cKahit wala akong sabihing sweldo, masaya na po ako sa ginagawa ko kasi di ko na po inisip sa buhay ko na magbabago pa ako<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n [Translation: My life is my home and the barangay… because this is where I got better.<\/p>\n Even if I don\u2019t get paid, I\u2019m happy doing what I do because I never, in my life, thought I\u2019d be able to change.]<\/p>\n She says recovering from addiction allowed her to find confidence in herself.<\/p>\n \u201cHindi na ako nahihiyang humarap sa tao… Masasabi ko ho na kahit sino po yung kaharap ko, okay na<\/em>,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n [Translation: I\u2019m no longer ashamed to face other people… I can say that I\u2019ll be okay no matter who I meet.]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Elena Sison – Graduate of Batch 1 of the Diocese of Novaliches\u2019 \u00a0KKDK program<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":664,"featured_media":1211,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-human-rights","category-impact-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideals.org.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideals.org.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideals.org.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideals.org.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/664"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideals.org.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=688"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ideals.org.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/688\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideals.org.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideals.org.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideals.org.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideals.org.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Graduate of Batch 1 of the Diocese of Novaliches\u2019 \u00a0KKDK program<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/h3>\n
\u2018Inakap nila kami\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Paying it forward<\/strong><\/h3>\n