Multilingual education (MLE) is a major trend in addressing education needs of indigenous peoples and communities in the greater margins of many Asian countries. There is increasing awareness of the need for more appropriate education that sustains local culture and that bridges the social gap with mainstream society. Examples can be found in different parts of Asia, but a comprehensive understanding let alone a national strategy in the Philippines are lacking. Most communities are left with their own local initiatives and strengths to persevere, although external support is at times available.

Past and recent flooding and landslide disasters are beckoning Philippine society for a greater social reckoning with the environment and the responses we need to make. The idea of approaching disaster management through a social contract emerged as a key learning from ESSC's work with communities and local governments in understanding the disasters experienced and the inherent risks and vulnerabilities their areas face. And it is a concept of vital importance as Philippine society continues to struggle with disasters and disaster management. Potentially, a collectively negotiated social contract will allow the Philippines move from being a disaster-prone country to one that is disaster-resilient.

During Jesuit Social Services All Staff Day, 12 December 2009, journalist Martin Flanagan interviewed Father Pedro Walpole, SJ, in Australia. Father Walpole shared his experiences working with communities amidst conflict, poverty, and disasters. As Executive Director of Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC), a Philippine-based Jesuit research organization, Father Walpole and his group continuously pursues the use of scientific information on the environment to bring about the social change needed. Click here to view the footage of the interview.

Social reflection is most frequently engaged in through opinion columns that allow us draw a deeper perspective than is assumed by general media and the wisdom of mass communication today. Behind social reflection there is a framework and method. For social analysis that is open to a faith experience it may be deepened with theological reflection.

A number of reflections are shared here: (Click the following articles)

1. Jesuit Scholastics Social Apostolate Summer Program, Mindanao, Philippines
   
2. Reflections on Youth and Peace in Mindanao
   
3. Climate and Compassion: Victoria Fires, Australia
   
4. Kutzuki Village: Reworking of Community Values and Opportunities
   
5. Forest Stewardship in Southeast Asia
6. James O'Brien: Reflections of a Magis visit to the Philippines 
7. Ignatian Conversations: Fr. Pedro Walpole
   

These are the forest cover maps of 2002 in the Philippine uplands (1:250,000) that ESSC developed and are now available for download. Now that this initial work is done, the next steps are to develop from this benchmark the next set of more recent forest cover updates and to focus on the ground where specific actions can be designed and implemented.

ESSC is preparing a publication titled "Rainfall, Landslides, Debris Flow, Flooding: Understanding the Real Causes that Put Lives at Risk."