CFC Project ReForm, Couples for Christ's program for the rehabilitation of drug surrenderers, conducted training on counselling for 87 new counselors from Cebu, Bohol and Northern Samar from  March  31  to  April  2,  2017. 

The training was held at the CFC Cebu  Provincial  Mission  Center in Guadalupe, Cebu City. The training  started  with  worship led by Ric Martinez, the head of the event. It was followed by the welcome remarks by Arnel Sacris, Provincial Area Director of CFC Cebu. Orientation on CFC Project ReForm was given by Onnel Tolentino, followed immediately by the training proper conducted by Jojo Apolo of CFC Indonesia. 

On  April  1,  2017,  sessions  started with opening exhortation and worship by CFC Social Development Program Head Arnel Santos. Jojo Apolo trained the participants on the rudiments of Calibration and Editing Sub-modalities, with practical exercises.

By  lunch,  Fe  Barino,  one  of  the founders of SuGOD (Surrender to God), a drug recovery program initiated by the Archdiocese of Cebu, spoke to the participants about how the Archdiocese and  Couples for  Christ  can  work  together to help drug surrenderers in the province. SuGod is the Archdiocese of Cebu’s program or movement similar to the Archdiocese of Manila’s Sanlakbay. The afternoon sessions opened with worship and sharing by Noel Deang of CFC-Rizal and CFC Project ReForm facilitator. 

Apolo shared his knowledge and  skills on  Establishing  Rapport, Overcoming Cravings,  Resolving  Dilemma, Forming Commitment, Creating Positive Anchors and Collapsing Negative  Anchors,  which will  be  the basic technique the participants would use  for their practicum  counseling. The day closed with a prayer by Neil Balite, Provincial Area  Director  for CFC Bohol and an anticipated Mass.

On the last day of the training, April 2, Ace Elevera, fulltime pastoral worker  for Singles for  Christ  assigned  in Bohol, and also a CFC Project ReForm volunteer,  led  the powerful  opening worship. Elevera,  himself  a  former drug user, ministered to the youth in Operation Second Chance while he was a YFC fulltime worker. Apolo continued with the sessions on Removing  Phobia  and Traumas. 

The  participants  then  prepared  for the  practicum  counseling throughthe Healer’s Prayer, composed by Apolo.  After  a  quick lunch,  the participants proceeded to Operation Second Chance, a facility for children in conflict with the law. The facility, located at Bgy. Kalunansan, houses 212 children aged 13 to 19, whose offenses include drug  abuse,  rape,  theft,  human trafficking, and multiple murder.

After the team conducted their practicum counseling, they were inspired to pray over Operation Second Chance Executive Director Merlina  Mitante, former BJMP officer on whose shoulders rest  the burden  of  running  the facility  after it  was turned  over to the city government last year. 

The  experience  brought  a  new sense of commitment to CFC in the Visayas  as  far as  drug  rehabilitation and recovery is concerned. For one, the province has committed to “adopt” Operation  Second  Chance and  help  support  the needs  of the children in the facility, over and beyond ministering to them spiritually. 

CFC Bohol has likewise expressed a desire  to  bring  the  program to  the province via  a  separate  training, which  will  be  scheduled sometime within the second quarter. Moreover, CFC is also looking at collaborating with the Archdiocese in parish-based counseling of drug surrenderers.

The  weekend  has  indeed opened  countless opportunities for CFC in the Visayas to help the Church  in  ministering  to  those affected by the government’s war on drugs. (CFC Global Communications)