GEORGE C.

BAYWONG III EDCO 101

09-62076

Reflection on the Guidance Counseling Office (GCO) Services Forum

The forum conducted on September 14,2011 explored the services provided by the Guidance
Counseling Office of the University of the Philippines Baguio. One of UPB’s guidance counsellor, Ma’am
Aurora, explains the importance of the existence of the Guidance Counseling program.
It is obvious that the purpose of the forum was to expose the students of the University of the
Philippines- Baguio to the different services offered by the GCO. As one of the organizers of the event, it
is apparent from the people who attended that neither take for granted the presence and existence of
the GCO. Less people coming for consultation does not mean that the GCO has not been exhibiting a
good job. On the contrary, as Ma’am Aurora stated, this sort of predicament is evidence that students
are able to self-direct themselves and their problems and cope through changes by themselves. With
their mission: to develop the non-academic aspect of a person, the GCO prides itself in the significance
of its testing measures, specifically directed to the Freshman population. However, I thought to myself,
“is this all that the GCO was able to accomplish and provide through the years?” From testing measures,
inventory, interpretation, follow-up, is this all that our GCO been able to provide the students?
In my opinion, the GCO has not been that visible through the years. From personal surveys,
most people do not even know the location of the GCO, let alone the purpose of its existence. In short,
the GCO has not been able to form a deep bond with the students. If only there were some sort of
advertising present in order to affirm the presence of the GCO.
I would like to comment on what Ma’am Aurora pointed out as being another service provided
by the GCO – trainings. On my part, never have I seen any training program by the GCO. As she said,
these training programs were only conducted outside the University. It is a self defeating statement
directed towards the mission of the GCO which focuses on the welfare on the students. I mean, however
shall be able to enjoy and participate in this sort of trainings if in the first place, we are deemed
unaware. On the bright side, I feel glad to note that after the forum, the university counsellors became
more than willing to cooperate with our organization-even considering reinstating our place in the
counseling office as peer counselors. With this reaction, I see that although the Guidance Counseling
Office remains firm in their belief that there is nothing wrong in their means of dealing with the
students, they are still open to suggestions and changes.
By this, I feel responsible to do my part in spreading the significance of the Guidance and
Counseling program. If ever, the plan to reinstate the features of a peer counselor falls into the
organization, I will be more than willing to render my services and time.