CCHN Delivers Happiness to 5-year-old, Anson Rosas

David B. Dario, CCHN Program Director,
Baybay Sapa, San Mateo, Rizal Province 

We were led to a house which seems to be at the far end of the very narrow and dirty alley. As we walked, you will not miss the obnoxious smell that envelops the place. Human and animal wastes are scattered all over.

Eric Rosas, the head of the family, is still asleep at 9 o’clock in the morning. Amy Rosas, the wife, is not at home. The children do not know where she is.

Eric was aroused from sleep. We learned that he has six (6) children and Anson is the fourth child. It is unfortunate that Anson’s elder siblings, ages eleven to seven are not in school. Eric earns his unsteady income as a helper in a cockpit stadium. If any of the players would employ his services, he would earn at least US$7.00 that would take care of the family’s meals for the day.  Amy, Anson’s mother, is a stay-home wife. There are two younger children, ages three and one and a half years old to take care of.

Home is a 2.5x2.5 square meter room that serves as the living, dining and bed rooms. The toilet and bath is located at the back of the house. Water is bought at US$0.03 per gallon and the illegally-connected electricity is at US$4.00 per month.

Anson always looks forward to the Saturday feeding activity. He is always gets excited whenever he sees the hot meals brought in from a service vehicle. With the unstable income that his father brings home, Anson rarely eats a decent meal. Commercialized instant noodles in plastic packs, canned sardines, dried fish are the common fare on the dining area. To serve all of the children, Amy increases the water content for the instant noodles so that every one will have a “soupy” meal.

Anson is happy that he gets to eat nutritious hot meals during feeding time. With his own bowl and spoon, he lines up for the food that would warm his hungry stomach. He would also bring an extra bowl so that he could get for his younger siblings who are very young to come out of their house and line up.

And because he is not in school, he is anxious to sit down together with the other children and listens to the teachers who make them read and sing. He enjoys the fun and the excitement to be with the other children of his age. Anson listens attentively to them and makes sure that he participates in the program for the day.

Anson is only one of the many children of Baybay Sapa who always looks forward to the weekly feeding. Hot porridge cooked with chicken meat, macaroni soup with beef and vegetables or perhaps steaming hot chocolate porridge is what Anson looks forward to every week.

With this weekly feeding, the parents of these children also participate because they are aware of the importance of good nutrition but which they cannot afford to because of extreme poverty and lack of an extra income to bring these children to school.

CCHN Provides Hot Meals to Satisfy the Hungry Stomach

David B. Dario, CCHN Program Director,
Marikina City, Philippines

Alongside with the local government’s thrust to alleviate the plight of the underprivileged within the community, the feeding programs that have been started through Children’s Christian Hunger Network have paved the way for even more feeding programs to be established. The small feeding centers that were originally established in the three depressed areas of Minahan, San Mateo and Tumana, all of which are in Marikina City, Philippines, have recently been grouped together to benefit more indigent children for their supplemental feeding.

Two hundred fifty children, ages 3–12, from these depressed areas, are provided transportation and brought to the center. While at the center, the children are treated to fun, games and camaraderie. As the children come together they are not only provided with hot meals to satisfy their hungry stomach, but also a time of teaching about good manners, right conduct, respect for elders, along with reading of bible stories and sharing of God’s love.

We thank the Children’s Christian Hunger Network for their continued support for the poor children in Marikina City, Philippines. The parents of the children as well, are grateful for the feeding programs and all that it provides for their family.

A Snapshot of Home Life for Dexter

David B. Dario, CCHN Program Director,
Marikina City, Philippines

Dexter, 5 years old, stands 3 feet and 4 inches tall and weights 10 kilos. He has thin-cut hair, slim and fair skin complexion. He has 2 brothers and 2 sisters aged 10, 9,6 and 8 months old. All of them are not receiving any schooling due to extreme poverty.

Dexter’s mother died of blood poisoning in the ovary during her 9 months of pregnancy and his family has experienced very sad moments in their lives since that time. The child’s father however is a very courageous man. He is a hardworking father and has tried his very best to support his family and show his love at all times. He is a construction worker and takes home an average of P 250 ($4.54) a day.

Dexter’s family is renting a 26 sq. meter ordinary room in a squatter area in San Mateo, Rizal, which is made of concrete walls and coco lumber with second hand galvanized iron.  Their rent is P 700 ($12.72) a month. They get their water from a deep well in which they pay P 20 ($ .36) per day for. All other expenses, such as electric and food, average about P 500 ($9.09) a month or P 130 ($2.36) a day. They have a few furnishings such as plastic chairs, and old desk fan, and a single bed.

Dexter’s father works hard to cover these expenses on his own and maintains the cleanliness and orderliness inside and outside their room to protect his children from sickness.

Dexter is a regular attendee of the Children’s Christian Hunger Network’s feeding program. His father says that Dexter is very much interested in the drawings and coloring of different bible characters. He says that someday, Dexter would like to become a teacher.