The Resilience of the Selected Male Adolescent Victims of Demolition in Towerville Relocation Area

Abstract

Internal displacement “refers to the involuntary or coerced movement or relocation of persons, families or communities from their areas of habitual abode and source of subsistence within national borders (“Primer on Displacement in the Philippines and the Riglus of the Internally Displaced Persons”, Balay RDIP, Dec, 2000). One form of internal displacement occurs in the slum areas in the urban centers. These involve the urban poor, who usually belong to the working class, who settle in makeshift dwellings by roadsides, riverbanks, dumpsites, or near the railroad tracks. Some of them also dwell on privately owned land. These squatters are displaced by demolitions ordered either by the government or the private owner of the lands. After the demolition, the victims are relocated to certain places near the city. The violent demolition and forcible eviction that the victims have experienced cause them psychological, emotional, physical, financial, and mental problems. Relocation also disrupts long-existing patterns in their lives. Because of this, the victims need support 10 help them overcome the adverse effects of demolition and relocation. The term resiliency is derived from Latin, and means “to jump back” (or bounce) (Silliman, 1994). By definition, resiliency refers to the capacity to withstand, recover and even grow from negative experiences (Banaag, et al., 1996). This study aims to determine the resilience of the male adolescent victims of demolition specifically of the three partner-beneficiaries and 3 non-pariner-beneficiary respondents of BALAY, Inc. in Towerville Relocation Area. BALAY, Inc. is a nongovernment organization (NGO) that works for psychosocial rehabilitation of the demolition victims in Towerville, a relocation area in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. This study has specific objectives such as: (1) to identify the role of parental relationship, peer relationship, and affiliation to an NGO to the resilience of the 3 male adolescent victims of demolition in Towerville Relocation Area who are partner-beneficiaries of BALAY, Inc.; (2) to identify the role of parental relationship, and peer relationship to the resilience of the 3 male adolescent victims of demolition in Towerville Relocation Area who are not partner beneficiaries of BALAY. Inc. and any other NGOs; (3) to determine the level (i.e. high or low) of resilience of each partner-beneficiary respondents and of each non-partner-beneficiary respondents; and (4) to determine if there is no significant difference between the levels of resiliency of the 3 participants who are BALAY partner-beneficiaries and the 3 non-partner- beneficiary respondents. The null hypothesis of this study is that there is no significant difference between the levels of resiliency of the partner-beneficiary respondents and the non-partner- beneficiary respondents. The alternative hypothesis is that there is a significant difference between the levels of resiliency of the partner-beneficiary respondents and the non-partner beneficiary respondents. It is found out in many researches done in and outside the Philippines that resiliency is brought about by cohesive family relationships, positive peer relations, personal characteristics like cognitive ability, and the presence of other external sources of support like a confidant adult outside the family, as well as a caring institution. These factors are well explained in Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory of Child Development. In this study, however, the role of parental relationship, peer relations and the psychosocial rehabilitation being undergone by the partner-beneficiary respondents as a form of help from a caring institution, are studied This case study measures the level of resilience of the 6 male adolescents victims of demolition, specifically, 3 non-partner-beneficiary (NPB) respondents and 3 partner-beneficiary (PB) respondents, through the use of a 32-item resiliency assessment scale, the “Spirit Core Attributes Scale” designed by Dr. Kenneth Johnson. In-depth interviews were also done with the 6 respondents and one of their parents (mother or father) in order to describe the role of parents, peer groups, and BALAY psychosocial rehabilitation (for PB respondents) in the growth of resilience. It is found out that there is no significant difference in the levels of resilience between the NPB and the PB respondents. Using a qualitative interpretation of the scores, this study also finds out that the 3 PB respondents have a high level of resilience while the 2 NPB respondents also have a high level of resilience. The other one NPB respondent has a very high level of resilience. It is concluded that the cognitive ability of this NPB respondent is a factor that highly influences his resilience. This factor, however, is not covered by the study. Impoverished parents are not able to establish a good relationship with their child due to lack of communication and parental affectivity. Their parental guidance and executive control are also often random and ineffective. The peers serve as a venue for adolescents to find a broader domain and with whom they are able to identify with in terms of their psychological, emotional and social development. The psychosocial rehabilitation undergone by the PB respondents plays a vital role in making these respondents become expressive of their feelings and thoughts. The educational assistance that they all receive gives them a sense of purpose from which hope springs.