Children beneficiaries of Forge, role play in a skit during a Children’s Month celebration in Cebu City. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
MIKE (not his real name), was one of several kids from a shelter in Talamban who arrived at Camp Sotero Cabahug for the kick-off of the Children’s Month celebration.
Dressed neatly in long pants with his polo shirt tucked in, Mike said he was excited to attend the program last Tuesday. He even picked his clothes days before the event.
“Ganahan ko kay naay sayaw-sayaw unya makagawas sad mi uban sa akong mga migo sa balay (I like dancing. I like it when we can get out of the house with my friends for this kind of activity),” he said.
At the top of his Grade 4 class in Talamban Elementary School, Mike said he has been working hard to realize his dream to become a teacher so he can see his family again.
The boy likes English and Math subjects in school. He said he enjoys solving Math problems and constructing sentences in class, even at the shelter where he spends most of his time.
Mike said he wanted to go to Japan after seeing a TV show that said there was no violence there.
When asked what he wanted for Christmas, Mike said he considers himself already lucky and only wishes to save more money for a reunion with his family.
“I don’t like toys,” he said in Cebuano.
“I would have liked ed a watch but I need to save money for my family. After getting a job, I plan to bring my family to Japan, since it is more peaceful there,” he said.
During the dance contest which took place after a short parade, a smiling Mike, danced to the tune of “Awit ng Kabataan” performed by more than 20 kids from the shelter.
Elvie Codo, a social worker of SOS Children’s Village in Talamban, said their annual participation in the event strengthens the partnership between the police and social workers.
The activity will also help build the confidence of the kids after years of trauma.
“This focuses more on the developmental aspect since there are also contests to participate in and we can see the talents of these kids despite their experience. At least, they know that something precious is in them that they can show to everyone else which is vital in restoring their confidence,” she said.
The event also allows the children to mingle with kids from another shelter.
“Most of them are abandoned and neglected. We don’t accept cases involving sexual abuse. We have to be selective in terms of age limit and category for their values formation,” Codo said.
She said they only minors who are referred to them by social workers.
The NGO is not able to accept walk-ins since the children in their care are have had their case abstracts processed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) beforehand.