Today, as I had mentioned, ReaGH of Moms for Moms, Cecile , Candy and I went to visit the Alay ng Puso Orphanage in Del Pan.
Run by the Missionaries of Charity, they have a lot of children there– some orphans, others left by the parents who are financially incapable of feeding them meals. So the wonderful Mother Teresa sisters
as well as the orphanage caregivers are responsible for taking care of them. It was another eye- opener for us.
Rea here is holding Nina, a baby girl who was left in a dumpster in Baclaran some months ago!
I know, it’s pretty heartless of the parents to leave a baby in the dumpster 🙁 They could’ve at least sent her to this orphanage, right? It’s sad. But Nina is growing up slowly 🙂 As of today, she is teething and had a fever some days ago, so is not in 100% tip top shape, but she is a- ok 🙂
This is one of the rooms where the babies are.
All these babies are in playards, donated by different people– moms and the like. Cecile and Candy handled the babies like pros! *Bows to these 2 moms*
Rea plays with this super cute and “chunky” little boy 🙂
Soooooo cute!!!
Cecile holding her little girl
Ugh I failed to take photos of this cute little girl named Jamaika. Her mom passed away from tuberculosis 🙁 She is a beautiful baby, and we all thought she was a baby boy 🙂 We named her John Lloyd (haha for the actor) until one of the nice Manangs told us the baby was a “She”! 🙂
This is Arthur. He is a few months old. Such a sweet baby. Candy couldn’t stop making him laugh earlier. I couldn’t resist picking him up. I love babies especially when they’re this little 🙂
(He was almost falling asleep when Candy took this photo)
There are babies who are just a few months old and some who are already past 1 year old. We had a great time playing with them. What I noticed though is, when we all began picking up the babies, they just clung to us so tight, afraid to let go or to be left. They like being held. And according to Rea (who is like their fairy godmother, really), these babies really need to be held. Since the caregivers have so much on their hands– feeding one baby after the other, cleaning up, washing baby bottles and soiled clothes, etc they are overworked and are not able to spend “quality” time with the children.
Del Pan Alay ng Puso also serves as a nerve center for a bulk of donations from different people and they get channeled to the other orphanages as well. We saw this man repacking goods for dissemination to other orphanages.
Donations are great, but quality time and volunteer work is also very much welcome. This is where we all should come in.
If you peeps are interested in spending time with these little ones, as well as the toddlers and the bigger kids in the other rooms, Alay ng Puso will be so grateful. Rea has been tirelessly working to assist the Alay ng Puso orphanage (as well as Fabella), so we can all coordinate with her as to when we can schedule visits to this orphanage.
When we went to the room where the toddlers and the bigger kids were, the bigger kids were all singing religious songs.
The scene tugs at your heartstrings… They’re all beautiful children.
Some of the toddlers were in their beds. They were so friendly! Waving, smiling children 🙂
Sister simultaneously feeding two toddlers.
Alay ng Puso needs our help. Quality time with each kid. It’s really instrumental to their emotional, physical, and mental growth.
It was really a humbling experience. Rea is coordinating with the Sisters for a Christmas party, so you will definitely be hearing more about this “party” for them as well as for the other kids of the orphanage (in different areas).
We are going to be repacking all the things that have been donated to us in the last few weeks/ months for redistribution to them this coming Christmas. So much needs to be done still. But we all agree that we should help Alay ng Puso. Time is something so precious and intangible, but that’s one thing you can give if you don’t have anything to donate 🙂 We are all hopeful that we’ll find people who can help out regularly 🙂 It’s really rewarding to be with children.
What a way to begin a Wednesday! And again, thank you Rea, Candy, Cecile for today. I am really grateful to share today with you guys 🙂
A Blessed Day to everyone!
x
Mrs.T
