HFA '86 Quick Assistance to Ondoy Victims

by: Carmen Girlie Lucas Baluyut

October 2009 -- Staying true to form, HFA HS Batch 86 quickly called on all batch mates to step up and reach out to the recent victims of typhoon Ondoy. As a result, there was an outpour of financial donations (including those from our friends at CS- HS Batch 86). After a quick meeting of our officers, it was decided to channel our funds through the relief efforts of Fr. Roger Yambao, parish priest of Candaba, Pampanga.

HFA HS Batch 86 was informed that the immediate need of the victims was nutritious food; therefore our donation was used to purchase ingredients for champorado, arrozcaldo andsopas. Because most of the homes affected were still waterlogged if not submerged, a makeshift soup kitchen was built to accommodate the preparation of the food that was distributed to the evacuees. Our donation fed an estimation of nearly 500 people.

Again, we extend our gratitude to Fr Yambao and the many volunteers for their valiant efforts. We would also like to thank our batch mates both from HFA-86 and CS-86 for their contributions and quick response that helped alleviate in our own little way the conditions of those devastated by typhoon Ondoy.

Little Pleasures at Munting Tahanan of Nazareth

By: Lyn Lumanlan

We arrived at Munting Tahanan of Nazareth located at Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga on the 28^th of February and the children were at the foyer, enjoying the comfort of outdoors.

They are no ordinary children, they are special. They are children with Down Syndrome, abandoned by their parents who could no longer attend to their needs. They watched us with their biggest smiles, as if they were accustomed to us and some of them clapped their hands with amusement.

We started preparing the lunch which we brought along. It was ten in the morning and we were told that they usually take their meal at this time of the day. Those who can walk were led to the dining hall but the wee ones who were fastened in their wheel chairs were taken at the backyard.

The HFA girls volunteered to feed the debilitated. It was really heartbreaking to see them. The children gorged the food as if it was the last meal and some asked for extras.

These children showed pleasure in the little thing we had to give. It made us realized the incalculable blessings we received yet, we fail to recognize.

Some facts about Down Syndrome

Down syndrome symptoms vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe. However, children with Down Syndrome have a widely recognized characteristic appearance.

The head may be smaller than normal and abnormally shaped. For example, the head may be round with a flat area on the back. The inner corner of the eyes may be rounded instead of pointed.

Common physical signs include:

• Decreased muscle tone at birth
• Excessive skin at the nape of the neck
• Flattened nose
• Separated sutures (joints between the bones of the skull)
• Single crease in the palm of the hand
• Small ears
• Small mouth
• Upward slanting eyes
• Wide, short hands with short fingers
• White spots on the colored part of the eye
• 
  

Physical development is often slower than normal. Most children with Down syndrome never reach their average adult height. Children may also have delayed mental and social development. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, most persons with Down syndrome have mild to moderate mental retardation.

Many different medical conditions are seen in babies born with Down syndrome, including

• Birth defects involving the heart such as an atrial septal defect or ventricular septal defect
• Eye problems such as cataracts
• Gastrointestinal blockages such as esophageal atresia and duodenal atresia
• Hearing problems
• Hip dislocation
• Sleep apnea
• Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism

(

Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network)

Our Next Stop: Amsic Elementary School

By: Lyn Lumanlan-Elloso

“Amsic Elementary school has been forgotten by the NGO’s (non-government organizations)", says the school principal sadly. “It seems that we are one of the most impoverished public elementary schools in Angeles City”, Mr. Ronquillo added.

Public schools in the Philippines, though funded by the government, obtain an inadequate share of the annual government budget. This is apparent from the shortage of classrooms, desk, chairs, teachers and books. Unfortunately, due to this deficiency, the quality of education in most public schools is substandard.

Amsic Elementary School, although located in close proximity to Clark Economic Zone, does not receive a lot of grants from its affluent neighbors. The school teaches over nine hundred primary students occupying around ten classrooms. Due to the insufficiency of classrooms, the children are rostered to attend classes at designated times (resulting in shortened learning hours).

This school was handpicked by HFA Batch ’86 or obvious reasons. Whilst education in public schools is free, the students come from the deprived areas in the vicinity and thus, cannot afford to be equipped with school supplies on a regular basis.

The group headed by the batch president Blanca Escoto, brought bags of school supplies and pre-Christmas treats for the preparatory kids and some first grade students. The children were all ecstatic as they rummaged through their bags and presents. The school principal along with the teachers, were appreciative of this gesture as it manifests love and generosity towards the destitute.

This endeavor was made possible by the charitable funding of HFA batch ’86 in the Philippines and abroad. To pursue these benevolent projects, everyone is welcome to share their blessings by sending an e-mail about your intent to atchatan@yahoogroups.com.

Upcoming Event: AMSIC Elementary School Gift-giving

The HFA High School Batch '86 will be giving gifts to 50 pre-school students of AMSIC Elementary School.

Date/Time : November 28, 2008 @ 8:00 - 8:45 am
Meeting Place : Perfect Loaf, Nepo Mart

Watch out for the smiling ladies wearing pink t-shirts!

Special thanks to Mildred Santos and Co. for donating extra items for the prepared gifts!

HFA HS Batch 86 Feeds Street Children

By: Lyn Lumanlan Elloso

Each has a story to tell, but there is one thing they share in common - the soiled clothes and missing pair of sandals revealed that they belong to the streets and they are deficient of the much needed protection from their families.

About 1.5 million street children are loitering in the streets all over the Philippines . The high visibility is smudged with the elevating poverty in the country and the government’s indifference towards a long-term program to stamp it out.

Most of these children work in the streets by vending “sampaguita” flowers, cigarettes and candies. Many have been instructed by their parents to seek alms and forage the rubbish bins for any morsels of food. Some work on such long hours after a brief stint in school. The horrendous truth they all face is that they are likely targets for sexual molestations among pedophiles along with the high risk of drug intake and poor health conditions which imperils their future.

Street children oftentimes fail to take three square meals a day due to their destitution. Thus, a magnanimous effort was planned by Batch 1986 of Holy Family Academy (HFA) to feed the street children of Angeles City.

Last September 19, 2008, the children strutted around the Holy Rosary Parish Hall for a free supper. Despite their weary look, they were so bubbly singing and dancing Christian songs.

The alumni of HFA were equally overjoyed in providing food to over one hundred children and some adults.

HFA Batch 1986 aims to undertake more generous programs for the street children in the future. This will be an ongoing support to the disadvantaged kids.

Solons in the Philippines should make effective legislations penalizing parents for vagrant children. Furthermore, education must be free and compulsory to everyone until secondary school is completed –- thus, admonishing parents for truancy.

The responsibility lies with every member of society, everyone playing a part in resolving these socio-economic problems plaguing the Philippines today.

Feeding Street Children

By: Lyn Lumanlan Elloso

They wore pink, not white. Despite the sultry night, everyone was in high spirits. The children from the streets were equally energetic despite their exhaustive look. I’m really glad I came, not to just bond with the pink ladies. We came out of from our comfort zone and faced reality that there are kids out there who need any help we can give.

 

The angels who came last night were (left to right):

Antoinette “Marnette” Estacio Feliciano
Theresa “Chuck” David
Lyn Lumanlan Elloso and Family
Maricel “Celdue” Due
Katrina “Nina” Baluyut
Blanca Escoto
Precy Roque
Glenda Deang (seated on the left)
Irma David (seated on the right)
Elisa Del Rosario
Noemi Libunao
Ime “Punzi Punzalan
Cecille Garcia
Carmela “mela” Arceo
Trinidad “Tek” Enriquez
Joy Casupanan
Mildred Santos

Did I miss anyone? Please forgive me. Just add your names to the list. The girls were great -— we connected with the street kids. There were pictorials—no we won’t miss that bit. We belched some songs with the kids—Mela and Punzi almost danced at the ledge of the Holy Rosary parish Hall and there was a touch of eighties in their bop.

Great barn dance girls (joke!)

We wished that there were more from our batch who came. After feeding over 100 children, the girls headed to Northern Brew. ‘Missed that part—so marnette, fill us in on the discussions.