Help Feed and Send to School Poor Kids in the Phil

       Hello!

       I am Abigael and I am 9 years old now. Growing up, I just heard stories about my mother whom I never had a chance to meet. After I was born, she left us. She said that she would just work in Manila but after a year, she had a relationship with a soldier. It did not last long though. My father thought that she would come back in our province. Yes, she did but to another house, not ours. She lived with one of my father’s male friends. My father was so sad but he worked harder for us, his children. He said that he would never marry again; he will just take care of us.

       We lived in the mountains where my father tills the land. We would sometimes help him at work. He receives a very low salary that it becomes harder for him to provide for our needs while we were growing up.

        I was about to start attending school and I want to have lots of snacks so that I can learn well. But when I was at it, I often did not report to school but just played with my friends. My father would not know because he worked away from home the whole day. He would come home late most often.

        I used to be skinny and dirty because all my friends were like that too. They did not attend school because they had nothing good to wear. They were also very poor. At least, I was provided with a uniform, nevertheless, I missed so many classes because I loved playing at the river bank with them. However, unlike them, I do not have a mother who can take care of me. I envied them but I always thought that at least, I have my father.

        I was happy living with my father. He was too, but then he could no longer afford to provide for us. He brought us to the Children’s Joy Foundation, Inc. in 2016 where we were accepted warmly.

       Madami ding bata, kalaro. Masaya ako. Madaming nanay dito at tatay, ate, kuya. At madami ding pagkain. Nag-eskwela din po ako ngayon Grade 2. (There are many children here. They are now my playmates. I am so happy! There are lots of mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers here; and lots of food, too. At present, I go to school and I am in Grade 2.)

      Thank you because I am happy here. There give me many blessings like school supplies that I can use when I study. Thank you so much. I love you all.