“Ito ang araw ng pasasalamat ng biyaya ng lugar na ito na siyang aming naging tahanan at kumalinga sa amin. Ito ang araw ng aming walang hanggang pasasalamat sa inyong lahat sa inyong walang sawang pagtulong at pagsuporta sa amin (This is the day of giving thanks for this place which has been our home, and has taken care of us. This is our never-ending thanks to all of you who have tirelessly supported us).”
These simple words of gratitude that came straight from Maria Haley, 36, mentally challenged with cerebral palsy, gained wide applause from the audience who attended the celebration of the 52nd Founding Anniversary of the Elsie Gaches Village (EGV) earlier this month. EGV is in Alabang, Muntinlupa City under DSWD Field Office- National Capital Region.
Maria, who delivered the opening remarks during the event, has been at the center for 11 years already. She was rescued from the street by social workers of the local government of Manila, and was taken to the Reception Action Center (RAC) for initial assessment. She was later referred by RAC to Jose Fabella Center and after establishing her mental condition; she was finally admitted at EGV. Based on her mental capacity, Maria is still considered a child.
While at the center, she studied under the Special Education (SPED), which is designed for people with learning disabilities, communication disorders, and developmental disabilities, among others.
No less than Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson Alicia Bala, who was the keynote speaker during the celebration, expressed admiration of how Maria has surmounted her disability as she confidently delivered her message.
She lauded the house parents for their perseverance and patience to care for the children who have special needs.
“Ito ay patunay na ang inyong patuloy na pagtulong kay Maria at sa iba pang kagaya niya ay nagdulot ng pagbabago sa kanila. Marunong na silang magsalita sa harapan ng tao, marunong na silang ngumiti, manguna sa pagdarasal at marami pang iba (This is proof that your continued support for Maria and the other residents here has helped them develop in several ways. They now know how to speak in front of people, smile, lead in prayers, and a lot more),” CSC Chairman Bala, a former DSWD Undersecretary, said.
Nurturing environment
Maria and several others like her were given the chance to lead normal lives because of the nurturing environment at the center achieved through the various programs and services being implemented.
These include paramedical, psychiatric, dietary, and occupational therapy. They also conduct music and art therapy programs, productivity skills training, and sports activities.
To date, EGV has 14 cottages and a halfway house that provide shelter to 607 residents. It has 160 trained staff to ensure that the needs of the special children are met.
For her part, DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman thanked the people who have been supporting the residential care facility whom she regarded as “Friends of EGV”.
One benefactor of the center, Manuel Vergel de Dios, Manager of Wealth Coaches Philippines, also shared how he and his colleagues were inspired to start helping.
“What moved us were the adults in scrub suits who were taking care of the residents, feeding them, prepping them to sleep, giving them medicine as if they were their own children. They are not really caregivers, but they serve as parents of these children. Since then, our group chose to help the center,” De Dios shared.
Sec. Soliman enjoined the public to visit the center to just interact with the children.
“More than the monetary help, the children long for a bit of love and to be part of a family,” Sec. Soliman said.
The only gov’t facility for kids with special needs
EGV is the only government institution that provides care and rehabilitation to abandoned and neglected children with special needs such as those with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, visual and hearing impairment, mental retardation, autism, and other related illnesses.
On February 3, 1964, American couple, Samuel and Elsie Gaches, donated to the government their 16-hectare-lot rest house to be used as shelter for the needy. From then on, the facility has evolved to become what it is today. ###
