During the pandemic period, many predictions were made about its long-term consequences, and unfortunately, it seems that in the Philippines, the effects of an extended closure of over two years, increased birth rates, rising unemployment levels and economic distress are beginning to be seen.
Child abandonment is one of these consequences, and it’s the one we find hardest to accept. In just the last two months, five children between the ages of one and a half months and three years have arrived at our facility.
These are children who have been abandoned or separated from their families due to abuse, and they arrive at Isla ng Bata scared and traumatized. Fortunately, they find welcoming arms and a lot of love to overcome any possible barriers.
The first to arrive were the twins, Mhea and Mheca, who are only two and a half months old. Initially, medical checks had indicated a possible heart problem in one of the two girls, but we are proceeding with specialized examinations, which, as of today, seem to have ruled out this danger. They are growing up peacefully and are very sweet and smiling.
After the two little ones, three sisters arrived at the facility, aged 1, 3, and 12, respectively.
Apple, the youngest, always seeks the company of her older sisters, but as the days go by, she’s getting used to being without them, cared for by the staff and the girls from the Civil Service. She is very curious, and one must be very careful not to leave her alone because any object that crosses her path is at risk of being swallowed.
The middle sister, Kakay, is a chatty, always-smiling girl who quickly bonded with the other girls in the Family Home and enchants us with her endless and often incomprehensible speeches. She is very good with her younger sister and, despite her age, she is very independent.
The oldest, Ayen, takes care of the two little ones with love and patience. Like the other two, she also speaks only in the Visayan dialect, which not everyone in the house understands, making communication somewhat challenging at times. However, this has not prevented her from immediately making friends with Princess and Hannah Joy, her peers.
The latest addition is little Vicmar. His story is the most poignant; his mother is only 13 years old and, herself, a victim of violence, leading to her estrangement from her own family. Given her very young age and the trauma she has endured, she has chosen to give her baby up for adoption so she can embark on her own path to recovery. The baby is just one and a half months old, strong and healthy, surrounded by the affection of everyone. Currently, he is the only little boy in the Family Home.
What we hope for these little ones is to provide them with the love and security they have unfortunately been lacking so far and to ensure them a future filled with protection, dreams, and a safe childhood. Welcome to our extended family!