San Fernando City, Pampanga – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Field Office III recently gathered the successful former residents of its various centers for a Homecoming at SM City Clark.

 The homecoming allowed the former residents to reach out to the children who are currently at the different centers and institutions.

 They shared their stories and narrated how the DSWD helped them reform.

Twelve of those who attended the event were named outstanding former residents.   Among them were Raul, Edna, and Ruben.

Their testimonies reflect the love and hope they found at the centers which once became their homes.

From the streets to a brighter future 

The abusive experience of siblings Ruben, Michael, and Manolo in their very own family drove them to make the streets their home. The three brothers became beggars.

They were rescued and brought to Lingap Center where they stayed until an aunt responded to the correspondence of DSWD to fetch them.  Their aunt brought them to the United States of America to live with her.

Lingap Center is a transitional home for street children 7 to 17 years old, who are abandoned or whose parents cannot provide for their needs adequately.

Ruben later on joined the US Marines, Michael signed up with the US Army, and Manolo became a businessman.

Ruben is back to the country and resides here with his Filipina wife and children.

 “I chose to come back and live here because this is the land of my birth. Likewise, I feel indebted to the people of DSWD, particularly those in the center who took care of me and my brothers,” Ruben expounded.

He said that he will never forget the lessons he learned and wanted to share these to the current residents of Lingap Center.

On the other hand, Edna, a former resident of the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) in Lubao, wasonly five years old when she and her three-year old sister were first brought there.

The RSCC is a residential facility for neglected, dependent and abandoned children zero to six years old including victims of abuse and exploitation, and those with special needs.

During her stay at RSCC, Edna was a model resident, always lending a helping hand to house parents.

They counted on her to do responsibilities just like an older sister in a family. She always had time to do household chores after finishing her assignments. It was natural for her to be an older sister when she was around other clients.

Later on, Edna, then 17 years old, and her sister, then 15, left RSCC and became beneficiaries of the Group Living Project, initiated by the Kaisahang Buhay Foundation, a non-government organization. This project ushered in a new life for both of them.

Determined to succeed, Edna enrolled in a two-year course in Associate Hospitality and Restaurant Services at STI College in Dasmarinas, Cavite. She worked while studying, eager to land a good job to be able to support herself and her sister.

Recently, Edna finished her course, and is now looking forward to a brighter future for both of them.

“Feeling ko buong-buo ang pagkatao ko dahil sa pagmamahal na natanggap ko mula sa mga social workers at houseparents sa center. Hindi ko pinagsisihan  kailanman na lumaki ako sa center (I feel that my personality became complete because of the love I received from the social workers and house parents in the center. I never regretted growing up in the center),” Edna shared during the homecoming program.

Meanwhile, Raul recalled that when his parents died, his desire to survive led him to the streets where he committed petty crimes. He was accused, jailed and abused for reasons he could not fathom at that time. Worse, he was separated from his two sisters.

A social worker from DSWD took Raul to the Lingap Center in Olongapo City.

While at the center, Raul was sent to school where he excelled academically. After completing his primary and secondary education, Raul became a scholar of Columban College in Olongapo City where he finished BS Accountancy. Best of all, he was reunited with his two sisters.

Raul is now married and has three children. He works as Project Development Officer II at the Field Office.

 “It’s time to give back,” Raul stated relating to his choice of workplace.

“We were once hopeless and felt like we will remain in that situation forever. The DSWD social workers, house parents and staff filled us with the love, attention and care that we badly needed, and so now, I am just returning the favor, ” Raul narrated.

For her part, DSWD-Field Office III Director Adelina Apostol shared how “happy and proud” they are of the children who “made good with their lives outside the protective boundaries of our centers.”

“They are shining examples that life can indeed be better.”

Dir. Apostol added, “the children at the center now need help because they are trapped in the same unfortunate predicament that our former residents went through. Some inspiring words from a brother, a sister, a mother and a father will surely soothe pains and renew spirits.”

The work continues

Dir. Apostol emphasized that the “work  in the centers continues  as long as there are children needing the agency’s love and care.”

“We draw strength from the stories of former residents like Ruben, Edna and Raul.”

 Currently, the field office manages seven centers for abandoned, abused, neglected, trafficked children and minors, as well as for children in conflict with the law (CICL), and those with mental and physical disabilities.

These are Home for Girls in Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, Lingap Center, Haven for Women and Children, Accelerating Minors Opportunity for Recovery (AMOR) Village, Haven for Women and Children, Reception and Study Center for Children, and Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY).

They provide different services including home care, protection,  treatment, rehabilitation and livelihood skills to children and youth.

 According to DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, “Institutionalization should be the last recourse.”

She adds, “Our priority as an agency mandated to protect and promote children’s rights is to find loving, nurturing and stable homes for every abandoned, neglected and abused child in our centers and institutions.”

The twelve former center residents all agree that the guidance they received from DSWD center staff was instrumental to their success. ###