The Assessment, Counseling And Placement (ACAP) Center has been a catalyst for the approval of a new building in Systems Plus College Foundation with the efficient management and utilization of the Guidance Fees of their stakeholders. This has paved the way for a construction of St. Therese Building (Thérèse of Lisieux “The Little Flower” is the patron saint of missions) which will also include a Testing Center and a Wellness Center. The Wellness Center, under the supervision of ACAP, will conduct several programs to employees and students, one of which is Music Therapy.
“It has been a hard path to build up literature about the effects of music to individuals especially here in Angeles City, but fortunately I was blessed with a lot of recognition with my research that made me want to strive harder in order to illuminate the holistic impending beneficial effects of music to individuals” – Prof. Pelayo
The ACAP Center is one of the innovative and creative departments in SPCF both implementing theory and application in psychological approaches to individuals. ACAP is composed of the following fundamental members:
Ms. Shedy Dee Mallari-Lugtu, RPm, LPT
Ms. Claire Ann Pelayo-Capili
Ms. Irene Gabrielle M. Mungcal, RPm
Ms. Abigail B. Wong
Ms. Irish Nicole F. Ticsay
Prof. Jose Maria G. Pelayo III, MASD, MP-MT
The ACAP Center will be welcoming a pioneer in Music Therapy Philippines, Ms. Celeste S. Sanchez, MT, who is also the mentor of Prof. Pelayo in Music Therapy. She is very willing to collaborate with the ACAP Center in their Music Therapy Program.
“I’ve
never encountered anyone who didn’t like music,” said Celeste Sanchez, 82, a
pioneer of music therapy in the Philippines and founder of the Divine Mercy
Mobile Center of Music and Arts Therapy for Special Children and Adults. Even
in the womb, Sanchez said, the fetus already hears music – the rhythm and beat
of the mother’s heart. “I found that music is therapeutic. In music, there’s no
need to talk. The heart dictates (the words).” It’s a calling that must have
been stoked by life experiences starting when she was 4. Sanchez recalled
trying to befriend a hairy child who slunk away, and being puzzled at how
indifferent people were to the little girl. Another time, when she was teaching
piano to three siblings, she saw a little boy peering from the shadows. She
asked if he wants to learn to play the piano too, but the boy was shooed away and
dismissed as feeble-minded. She vowed from then on that she would not
discriminate against anyone who wants to learn music, be they handicapped or
even too poor to pay for the lessons. Sanchez, who took up Piano and Voice and
has a Master’s degree in Music from St. Scholastica’s College.
This will be the first Music Therapy Program in Angeles City that would include the following organizations in their pursuit of making the world better with music: Assessment, Counseling And Placement (ACAP) Center/ Divine Mercy Mobile Center of Music and Arts Therapy for Special Children and Adults/ Music Psychology Center (MPC)/ Music Psychology Research (MPR).
SOURCE: Tripon, O. (2016) Whistling in the dark, hitting the right notes. Lifestyle Inquirer.
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