“Dreams Do Come True…”

By CATHERINE JANZ R. SICOY, KIMRO
May 24, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The Social Development Center for street children has already opened its doors to the less fortunate children of this city.  A home for less privileged and needy street youngsters is now proudly standing in the once vacant lot at Barangay 108, Tagpuro, Tacloban City.

“I call this Center a ‘house of friendship’ because I believe that it is the best instrument for all of us to be together”, Mrs. Baltazar, City Social Welfare and Development officer, earnestly stated during her opening statement in the inauguration of the Center.  “Indeed, this undertaking is not an effort of one but of many individuals and other organizations who believe in what the establishment can do for the welfare of the street children in the city”, she further added.

The event started with a holy mass led Rev. Romeo Obach, CSSR.  Among the honored guests were Hon. Alfredo T. Romualdez represented by Mr. Bertulfo Raquel (Executive Assistant Officer); different department heads and employees; lot donors, Mrs. Silvina Cordero Vda de Osuyos and Mr. Beinvinido Osuyos; together with volunteers from he Philippine Association of Social Workers-Tacloban Chapter, Volunteers for the Visayan, Streetlight Philippines (a Norway-based organization) and other NGOs and GOs who in one or the other contributed to the establishment of this shelter.

Happiness and anticipation was evident in the faces of the children as they sat along with other honored guests and visitors of the event. Robert Trinidad, 15 years old, was picked-up along the port’s area of the city, shyly disclosed that he has been in the streets for eight long years now. The boy openly said that he was grateful to all the people who have made this project possible.  Another girl, Jocelyn de la Cruz, 13 years old, who have been wandering the streets for almost six years now, simply said “thank you”, a short word but meaningful nonetheless.

“I am very happy, in my heart I want to help all of them. It is my hope that these children will have all the help they need. ”, Mrs Silvina Osuyos tearfully stated. Her son, Mr. Beinvinido Osuyos shares the happiness of her mother in helping these poor youngsters.

Initially, 28 children, 5 of them girls will inhabit the Center. As part of the program, they will be provided with psychosocial and educational assistance to help them emerge as productive and better citizens of the society.

Finally, as the Hon. Alfredo T. Romualdez would have said, “this undertaking will help ensure a purposeful and meaningful life to these poor ones”.