In the Beginning
Love The Children Foundation ( LTCF ) had its humble roots in 1999 as a home for abused and abandoned children in the streets of Davao. It started with a dream of Charito Chua ( Cindy ) who gave up her business, savings and, one wonders, sanity, to provide a place of refuge for such as these, educating, training, loving them.
As LTCF grew over the years, it also expanded to be a community outreach centre through the giving of food, educational supplies and medical services offered by volunteers partnering with LTCF.
Feb 2011
I could never have imagined when I first visited LTCF in Feb 2011 that it would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship with Cindy and her husband, Tony, and that LTCF would adopt me into their family.
At that time, LTCF had launched its fledgling livelihood projects, with the older children embarking on peanut brittle ( our local equivalent of "kong tng", only much nicer and doesn't stick to your teeth ) and fresh water pearl accessories. Sales were erratic. The pearl bangles, ear-rings and necklaces sat patiently and forlorn in a glass display case at LTCF, waiting for the occasional visitor to its premises. Peanut brittle was sold at small stands in far-off corners of some shopping malls. Those buying the brittle did not know about LTCF and the people behind it.
I bought some pearl accessories to test out the Singapore market. It took some getting used to, as pearl has this “aunty” connotation. With some tweaks, they took on an edgier look, and I could wear them with more confidence.
I returned to Davao again, this time with GG, A, and our helper, L, to spend Christmas with the folks at LTCF. D was not with us as he was happily enjoying the ski slopes somewhere up north.
Before this trip, the children had sent me their wish-lists for Christmas. I circulated them to friends who passed them on to their friends. ( Good to have friends... ) The wish-lists grew from the desired items to all kinds of stuffs that could be given to those in the Davao villages who could benefit from some glad tidings and gifts during this festive period. In the end, there were 9 Jumbo boxes chock full of goodies, ranging from lap tops, electric guitars, games, toys, books, clothes, shoes and household items, which arrived in time for Christmas.
The peanut brittle sales have improved, with the publication of LTCF brochures accompanying them. The stalls have been relocated from their far corners to a central place in the main thoroughfare of the malls.
S, one of the girls doing the jewelry, has branched into wireworks and is working on her newly acquired skills. The wire accessories that greeted us were fresh, raw and had lots of future potential.
We were given a tour of the new school building that had sprung up, all geared up for its grand opening in Jan 2012. The lap tops, educational supplies and materials would be put to good use. LTCF also purchased a Christian homeschooling educational package and employed a teacher as well as a social worker to usher in a new year of learning opportunities.
Nov 2012 – One Year On
In 2012, Cindy was one of the 12 nominees on Yahoo Davao for those who have made a difference in the lives of people. She did not win, but in my books, she and Tony are my heroes.
Recently, I was back at Davao again with PL, a friend with a penchant for jewelry making. She has been a long-time volunteer at Batam, teaching single mothers skills to make crafts they could sell for a decent living.
At the airport, peanut brittle were prominently displayed and sold by all the shops.
We arrived on a Sunday afternoon at LTCF after the church services were just over, and the merit shop is opening for business. People from the neighboring villages trudge for 20-30 minutes on foot to go to LTCF on Sundays. They are issued LTCF currency after church attendance to purchase items from the Merit Shop. There was a large crowd milling around the Merit Shop and the first items to run out were rice and food stuffs. In the beginning, many would attend church so that they can get things from the Merit Shop. Over time, the Merit Shop gradually ceases to take top priority as the folks get fed on spiritual food.
Over three days, PL taught the 3 girls, S, K and M, to make beaded necklaces, angels, butterflies, and crotchet crosses. The girls learnt the beading at a comfortable pace, but struggled with the crosses they had to bear as it was their first time with the crotchet hook. I did not even venture to try. So while they worked, I did what I do best – feeding and buying more accessories. S has honed her wiring skills to a far advanced level and her creations are beginning to shine. Pizza, I found out, was something which the kids at LTCF crave for from afar. Time for some reality check.
More reality checks hit home when told that some staff at LTCF do not take a single day off as they stay with the children 24/7, and the children rarely have outings. With a sprinkling of some whimsical cheer, the children were whisked off to a day at the swimming pool, with a barbeque lunch and dinner ( their favourite ) and the staff get to do manicure/pedicure/hair on a newly declared day-off.
On a dark and rainy day, Cindy brought me for a visit to the villages. It was something I could not wrangle out of as it was prearranged ( why does it have to fall on such a day as this - few things more yucky than mud on feet ) After stepping into the homes of the villagers, the mud was quickly forgotten(although it clung stubbornly to my sandals and splattered merrily on the feet ) as the scene that greeted me was no more than a rattan platform which doubled up as a bed and everything besides, and up to 6 people could be sharing that bed. There was no toilet or kitchen. Such facilities were either shared or...one can only guess. Whatever else they owned was hung out on the laundry line to dry. One lady was holding out a basket of snacks for sale. Cindy told me that this lady would buy the snacks from another vendor and be out all day, trying to sell them for a profit of 1 peso per snack. I asked Cindy what happens if this lady can't sell. "She has to sell them" was the reply. It was the scourge of poverty rearing its ugly head.
There was a little girl running about naked. It disturbs me that the family cannot even afford clothes for her. What does that do to her dignity and self-respect?
We who live in first world countries are clueless about what our not so distant neighbours live on. "Now you know..." Cindy said after I was quiet for most of the visit.
Moving On
I returned to Singapore with a new found fervor for collecting stuffs to be sent out in Jumbo boxes. Earlier, I did not realize that the things sent to Davao out of our excesses could have such an extensive reach. I am determined to improve the living conditions of the folks in the villages, with some help from friends known and to be befriended. Thank you so much for your barang barangs and do continue to cull and call me for collection. Pass the word to all you know. This karang guni woman collects and delivers all year round.
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