"GIVE HOPE TO 40 CHILDREN TO HAVE A BETTER FUTURE"

As of the second quarter of 2022, there are thirty–six (36) children in Tahanan ng Pagmamahal. They were given milk, nutrionally-balanced meals, cared for and safe.

To maintain and ensure their health and well being, older children ages two (2) years old to eleven (11) years old underwent medical and dental check-ups. The children are continuously taking their daily multi-vitamins, and extra vitamin C to reach their ideal body weight and mass index.

The medical coordinator and the center’s cook coordinate closely to check the nutritional content of the kids’ daily meals based on their required needs. They regularly make sure that the kids’ meals are balanced, adequate and healthy.

There are two (2) newly admitted infants in Tahanan. One of them, a month old infant recovered after three (3) days of hospital confinement due to diarrhea. The doctors can only surmise as to the cause of his illness such as: the mother’s health practices while she was pregnant and perhaps the lack of pre-natal care; and when the child was taken in foster care by another caregiver (he wasn’t given the right and adequate dietary sustenance) prior to his referral and admittance in Tahanan ng Pagmamahal.  

Sixteen (16) children are still studying through the distance learning and modular program of the Department of Education for the school year 2021-2022.

Thank you for your continued support and assisatnce in caring for the children of Tahanan ng Pagmamahal. We are truly grateful for your help and your generosity in helping our children thrive and grow in a safe, healthy and loving environment.

The start of 2022 has been very challenging but through God’s generous blessings through you, we have overcome these medical and educational trials we faced in the first two (2) months:

•     Eighteen (18) children had COVID-19 symptoms: colds, cough, and fever. One (1) eight (8) month-old baby was confined due to moderate COVID-19 and paediatric community acquired pneumonia. They all completely recovered after several trips to the doctor for medical check-ups; some required hospitalization; and all were given medicine to treat their symptoms.

•     The adjusted COVID-19 alert levels paved the way for the resumption of the several therapies the children needed. Four (4) children ages 3 -7 years old are now undergoing their occupational and speech therapies. Five (5) children were assessed by a developmental paediatrician and have resulted to; early detection of autism; establishing a baseline for the kids’ nutritional status; hearing tests; and the identification of stimulation activities to improve fine and sensory motor skills (pencil grip, writing), speech and language (body parts and object identification) of the kids.

•     Face to face classes are still not allowed despite the lower alert COVID-19 levels. Twenty (20) children continued with their studies through the Modular Distance Learning Program of the Department of Education

•     We were able to provide forty (40) children with nutritious food and vitamins to further strengthen their immune systems. We were able to provide them with the safety and security in having them under our care and Tahanan ng Pagmamahal is still able to continue its operations.

We thank you with grateful and joyful hearts because you chose to bless us in taking care of these children. Our kids are able to recover, heal, have the therapies and medical care they need. They can continue studying, eating nutritious food, thriving in a loving and protected sanctuary. Thank you for helping us continue in our journey in finding these kids their loving homes.

This update is for the educational development, challenges, academic achievements and milestones the kids have achieved for the school year 2020-2021 (from October 2020 to Aug 2021).

Fifteen (15) children were able to pass last year’s grade level and are now enrolled in the next school level. Three (3) out of these fifteen (15) graduated from Kindergarten.

This school year 2021-2022, a total of twenty (20) children are enrolled under the Modular Distance Learning Program of the Department of Education. We have seven (7) kids in Kindergarten, three (3) kids in Grade 1, two (2) kids in Grade 2, six (6) kids in Grade 3 and two (2) kids in Grade 4. Classes started on September 13, 2021.

The past school year (2020-2021) as well as this current school year (2021-2022) were challenging because most of the kids were able to experience face to face, present physical teaching with teachers and engaged with their classmates socially and interpersonally through physical play and personally learning side by side with their peers in a classroom setting before the pandemic hit. Although the kids were given tablets to aid them in their modules and online classes, the house parents had to learn alongside the kids to strategize ways and means to keep the kids engaged in their online classes and to further clarify and explain the modules to the kids. These strategies had to be employed more in teaching the younger kids (that require extra attention) specifically those who are in the kindergarten level.

House parents who are not really equipped to teach professionally have to adapt and employ supplementary activities such as story telling sessions; arts and crafts (taught online, done in actual at Tahanan); and tutorials after classes. They utilized educational toys to ‘create’ play-based exercises to help the toddlers develop locomotors and psychomotor skills.

Projects for the development of the play areas and sleeping areas have been shelved indefinitely due to the strict protocols that had to be implemented since the children are unvaccinated and only in-house staff are allowed to be with the kids.

Crucial therapies have to be discontinued indefinitely as well. Speech, Occupational Therapies as well as Developmental Pediatrician and Psychological Assessments were the therapies that had to be halted due to this pandemic.

Undeniably, the lack of face-to-face interactions, the shortage of manpower and the lack of social interactions with other people are not just taking a toll on the kids but the staff of Tahanan as well.

Despite and in spite of these challenges, we are very grateful that through your help, we are still able toenroll the kids, and provide adjunctive activities to help them cope and learn during these pandemic school years.

Gav was a new born baby placed in a small bag with small opening when he was found in a vacant lot. His family is unknown.  He was turned-over to the City Social Welfare and Development. He was approximately 10 days old when he was referred to Tahanan ng Pagmamahal on December 2020 since the City Government have no facility for babies like him.  Due to limited birth information, he was   referred and admitted in the hospital for medical treatment because of   suspected Sepsis, COVID-19 and physical jaundice. The child completely recovered and discharged from the hospital.

Gav gained weight and he is a well-baby. He likes to be cuddled most of the time. He is now attempting to roll-over side by side and responds when his name is being called. His developmental milestone is at par to his age of 3 months old. 

Together, we can contiously helping him to grow well and continue developing his potential as an individual.