In the busy streets of Metro Manila, Lanie Amburlac, a beneficiary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pag-Abot program, experienced hardship and isolation.

Growing up far from her siblings and relatives due to the separation of her parents, Lanie faced challenges early in life. As a person with hearing impairment, her speech and communication were affected, making it even harder for her to connect with other people.

In 2023, Lanie was one of the fortunate individuals rescued by the DSWD’s Pag-Abot Program—an initiative that reaches out to children, families, and individuals from street situations and provides them with a package of social protection services corresponding to their needs.

Lanie, along with her 4-year old daughter, was found living on the streets of Marikina City.

Despite her circumstances, Lanie’s life took a positive turn when she was reached out and brought to the Haven for Women in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

The Haven for Women is a 24-hour residential care facility of the DSWD which provides temporary shelter, care, and protection to women aged 18-59, who are victim-survivors of gender-based violence that are in need of protective service, as well as other interventions that will promote healing and recovery.

Angelica Ognilla, Lanie’s sister, said they diligently looked for her and for Lanie’s partner during the time that they went missing.

“Hinahanap po namin siya kasi nga hindi na siya nagpapakita. Pati po ang kinakasama nya ay hinahanap din ng mister ko kasi yung asawa ko lang ang nakaaalam kung saan siya laging pumupunta,” Angelica narrated during an interview with the DSWD’s award-winning online documentary, Mga Kwento ng Pag-Asa at Pagbabago or #KPAP.

Lanie’s stay at the Haven for Women was meant to be temporary, as the program typically provides shelter for up to six months. However, due to the difficulty in locating her family, she ended up staying at the facility for over a year.

“Katulad din po ng ibang residente na nire-refer ng Pag-Abot, syempre iyak nang iyak kasi ayaw nilang mag-stay rito. Sila Lanie po noong una ay madalas nagwawala, galit na galit, may mga concern po with other residents, may mga pagtatalo. Pero, so far, ay naging okay naman po ang sitwasyon ni Lanie lalo na po pag napapaintindi sa kanya na hinahanap natin ang pamilya niya kung saan sya uuwi,” Haven for Women Social Welfare Officer Amza Rose Estigo also told #KPAP in an interview about Lanie.

The social welfare officer said they experienced challenges in finding Lanie’s family for the reason that Lanie has difficulty communicating her thoughts.

“Since si Lanie po ay hindi nakapagsasalita, hinanap po namin ang kanyang kamag-anak through social media. Naging basehan po natin yung kanyang last name which is yung Amburlac po. Naghanap po tayo sa Facebook, pinakita namin sa kanya, hanggang may isa siyang nakita na ate nya. Pagkakita namin sa kanya, umiyak sya nang umiyak. Naconfirm namin hanggang nag-reach out kami. Ayun nga po, kamag-anak nya at matagal na rin syang hinahanap,” Social Welfare Officer Estigo said.

“Nagrequest po agad kami ng Family Capability Assessment (FCA) sa Antipolo City dahil nalaman po namin na taga Antipolo siya. Nagpapasalamat po kami na nagpositive po sya. Ibig sabihin po ay capable yung family na tanggapin sya at yung willingness ng family na i-accommodate sya ay nandoon,” the social welfare officer added.

After over a year in the facility, Lanie was finally reunited with her family. Her sister and sister-in-law came to fetch her from the Haven for Women on December 6, just in time for the Christmas season.

The DSWD provided financial assistance to help her reintegrate into the community. With an initial Php10,000 financial support from the agency, Lanie and her family were able to start anew.

As of December 20, there are 3,880 individuals like Lanie who have been assisted by the Pag-Abot Program, helping them return to their communities and begin the process of rebuilding their lives.

The #KPAP bagged the Public Service Campaign – National Level Award in the first-ever ‘Parangal: Gawad ng Kahusayan sa Komunikasyong Pampubliko’ sponsored by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and held this December. The #KPAP is a joint production of the Traditional Media Service (TMS) and the Digital Media Service (DMS) under the Strategic Communications Group. It is hosted by TMS Director Aldrine Fermin. (YADP)