Dr. Finaflor F. Taylan, the Director of the UP Open University (UPOU) Office of Gender Concerns (OGC) shared her journey as a social worker in celebration of the World Social Work Day. Dr. Taylan served as one of the keynote speakers for the webinar titled “Breaking Boundaries: Women in Power and the Progressive Social Workers” organized by the Junior Social Workers Association of the Philippines of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (JSWAP-PLM). This was held last 23 March 2022 via Zoom and JSWAP-PLM Facebook Page to celebrate World Social Work Day.
Dr. Taylan started her talk with a message “As a social worker, woman, and human we are not superheroes, and even superheroes have weak points but we can do much together with HOPE and an OPEN HEART” emphasizing that she does not like the idea that social workers are saviors. “Wala naman na tagapagsalba, siguro ang maisasalba lang natin ay ang society natin, ang mga marginalized kapag tayo ay nagsasama-sama.”
Dr. Taylan stressed that it is very hard and impossible for social workers and as citizens to just sit down and do nothing when depressing realities are within our fingertips and neighborhood. “We need to do something based on our capacity and what we can share.” She also pointed out the importance of social media as a tool to be updated on the happenings in our country/community.
As the Program Chair of Social Work and Women Development of UPOU, Dr. Taylan shared the positive feedback of the online academic programs of UPOU to her students. UPOU’s Diploma and Master of Social Work contributes to increasing access to Social Work education and equity. She also shares a brief background about how distance learning and flexibility at UPOU helped her students to be able to study, especially to those who are already in the field of social work wherein they are already applying their learnings from the university.
Dr. Taylan shared that she is a Gender and Development (GAD) Advocate and shared her experiences in the past years. Some of these include the changes for the renewal of PRC licenses, her experience in helping during the eruption of Taal volcano in January 2020, the assistance provided in the transition of HEIs to Distance Learning because of the pandemic, and the psychosocial support wherein she received several calls because of gender-based violence.
Other than webinar invitations, Dr. Taylan also shared her self-initiated webinars resource sharing that are free and for all. The webinar can be accessed through the Facebook Page of “About Social Work and Development Concerns” wherein several topics are discussed including circulating issues during this election season.
In closing, Dr. Taylan left a message saying, “We must believe that all of us have the potential for change. All of us, regardless of age, can contribute something” which fits the hashtag of the event #WalaSaKasarianAngKakayahan.
After the presentation of certificate of appreciation, an open forum is conducted with Dr. Taylan.
Sustainable Development Goals
Written by Phoebe May Apostol
Edited by Myra C. Almodiel and Anna Canas-Llamas
Photos from Dr. Finaflor Taylan’s Facebook Page
#UPOpenUniversity
