Staff Blog

I would like say thank you, not only that Children of Hope School has given me a remarkable honor, but also for the weeks of fear and  anxiety that I have endured at the thought of this big responsibility. The sleepless nights finally convinced me that I can be a speaker once in my lifetime.  Since I had been here for five years as a school teacher, it is a great advantage because I can think that this is a simple reunion. 

I have finally set my heart and mind about what I am going to talk about today. To the graduates, particularly Eugene, Epifanio, Analiza, and Wilmar, today is a day of celebration and thanksgiving. You have all worked hard to make it to this day. It has been a long journey and you have reached this far.

The staff, the teachers and therapists in the school, the house parents, and  the uncles and aunties in the shelter, were all there and have witnessed when you started practicing on holding a pencil, when you were singing loudly the ABC song,  when  you were learning to write  the letters of the alphabet, when you were trying to read the words with care, and when you were tirelessly counting the numbers from 1 to 100 until you have grown up and have improved your abilities like writing your stories and autobiography, performing an experiment in science, solving problems in math, and showcasing your talent in theater, music and arts, and even sports! Above all these, you have grown up with a personal relationship with the Lord. It’s been a long journey to have finished your elementary years in school, to have developed  skills and values, and to grow up rich in spirit. Congratulations, graduates!    

Going back to my own elementary commencement, just like you sitting in the front row, my heart was filled with thanksgiving. At 12 years old, I had already been planning on becoming a teacher and had dreamed of landing a job because, primarily, I wanted to elevate my family's situation. My parents were poor and , thus, I am  poor. Then,  when I was in the 5th grade, my father passed away. But I am blessed that my family stayed strong and had faith in the Lord. Since then, every day is a miracle. Although I am very much acquainted with the hardships in life, I did not use being poor as an excuse not to finish my education. As a matter of fact, with the support of my family, teachers and friends, I had all the motivation to work harder, to do well in my studies, and to give the best version of myself. I am very determined to learn more and even willing to run an extra mile for education.

In the midst of the challenges and hardships in life, I was successful in my academic journey. So, after college, I looked for a job. In June 2009, I was accepted here in Children of Hope School as a shadow teacher of Wilmar and an I.I. instructor for the kids in the afternoon. After a year, I was promoted to a regular teaching job and was assigned in Level B2. Some of you here were once my students then.

So why am I telling you all of this? That day on my elementary graduation, I was young like you, but was very determined to reach my dreams. And now with the blessings of the Lord, I have made some of them come true, like being a teacher and to have done the things that I love to do. Therefore, I want you to be reminded of not giving up on your dreams and to have faith that you will reach your goals. More than that, I am humbled that I was a part of this ministry and learned that life is more meaningful when  it is shared with a cause. My five year stay in this school was one of the memorable times in my life and it was way greater than what I have dreamed of.

 To the graduates, be grateful to the people that have supported you along the way. The CSC staff and supporters, the childcare staff which includes the uncles and aunties in the shelter, the medical staff, the teachers and therapists in school, and the maintenance staff, they were the set of people who DARED to choose you, serving and molding you to become what you are right now. They are the set of people who CARED not about your past, but on where you’re heading in the future. They are the set of people who SHARED their time, effort, love, and prayers so you won’t be left behind. They dared, cared, and shared because you are special. So dear graduates, we need you to make the most of the wonderful opportunities that have been given to you. 

You may not remember everything I’ve said today, but my message to you is that: Do not give up on your dreams and make them all come true. My hope is that you will have the passion, the courage, the faith, and the sense of responsibility it takes so that you’ll be successful in high school and in the next years of your education. Again, congratulations and God bless you graduates. Thank you very much.

Last week the Cebu Children of Hope School students participated in a Art Exhibit at school. They had been working on different art projects throughout the school year in art class. Teacher Jimmer their  art teacher decided to display and sell their work in an exhibit. The evening started off with a ribbon cutting and the opening of the exhibit. People enjoyed looking at the art, visiting with one another and enjoying snacks and refreshments.The kids were proud to display their artwork for all to see.  For the Opening of the exhibit, uncle Paul cutting the ribbon. Teacher Cris, Teacher Jimmer and  uncle Mitch holding the ribbon.  

Dear Wilmar,

Today, you will be marching as a graduate of Cebu Children of Hope School. Congratulations! What an accomplishment! I also congratulate all your teachers, past and present, for all of this would not be possible without their unconditional teaching hearts.

I also want to congratulate your house parents, Auntie Lourdes and Uncle Patrick, and the rest of the aunties at the shelter who have been a great help in your growth. A special thanks to Auntie Teoping for her amazing love; I know she will always have a special place in your heart. A game of basketball and badminton would not be the same without her.

Let me take you back nine years ago when we first met. You were such a cute peanut. You were very eager to learn, be at school and at therapy. It was never a pain working with you because you made it fun and interesting for me. Remember our games of basketball in the therapy room using the back of the ceiling fan as a basketball hoop? (Of course we used a beach ball and a not a regular ball because we didn’t want to get in trouble!)  And dips in the Jacuzzi in the therapy room—why we never turned the air conditioner off is still a mystery to me! You always kept me on my toes. I was “Tin-Tin” to you then, years later I was “Checher Jinks” and then finally became “Teacher Jinkee;” one of the many examples of the progress you have made.

You have always been a performer. Not a day passes by when we do not hear you sing. I am still in awe of how easily you pick up a song after hearing it only once. You have always shared your silly antics at parties and programs at school and the shelter. I will never forget your dance moves. And you never fail to make us laugh.

You have made good friends over the years. Friends who are also classmates, helpers and buddies. Although they sometimes complain about the “noise” you make, there is always a hand holding and guiding you in school activities and programs. That to me is an amazing bond of friendship.

As you march today, let every step you take up to the stage be a representation of your progress and growth, your teachers and therapists, your aunties and uncles, and the staff and friends who have supported you all these years.

I might not be able to hold back my tears—which by the way is very hard to do while writing this—but know that I am very proud of you. I, together with the rest of the people at CSC, will be here to support you in the next stage of your life.

Remember what our friend Dory said? Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim, swim.

Your Friend,

Teacher Jinkee

A little toddler boy goes walking down the hallway during the school day pushing a cart.  It looks cute and some people pause to watch.  If you didn't know the back story, you wouldn't really think twice about it except that he seems a bit young to be at school.  Maybe you'd wonder why he is pushing the cart or why he is wearing ankle weights.  Otherwise, it wouldn't seem all that significant. 

Back up a couple of years.  This little guy had some significant troubles when learning how to walk, so the therapists started physical therapy to help strengthen his legs. The therapists kept working with the little guy and he started to make small gains.  Then, when he had enough strength and coordination to stand and walk with assistance, they had the idea of making a suspension harness.  What a cool contraption!  And the little guy got really good at walking and even running in that thing. 

Now the next step to becoming stronger and more coordinated while walking needed a new kind of aid, something like a walker that old people use sometimes.  So a cart was made just the right size and weight to be able to move around, but still provide some support.  To make the exercise even more beneficial, ankle weights were added to the mix. 

So that's the cute, excited toddler with the blue cart and weights on his legs walking around school each day.  It's taken a lot of hard work and ingenuity, but it's been worth it.  Look at him go!    

I just finished a meeting with our social workers and I was reminded of the work that they do to locate birth documents for our children and, sometimes, their parents. It can be incredibly complicated work, often involving hospitals or community midwives, parishes, local government officials, civil registrars and census offices and other government offices. Often, if our child has no birth document we have to file a delayed registration of birth. This work takes a lot of know-how on the part of our social workers, and a lot of persistance and dedication. Many of our kids do not have any birth record when they  come to live at CSC.  Without a birth document we cannot process adoption papers. And, if a child returns to his or her birth family, or stays with us in our teen home, they will have difficulty in registering for school or finding employment. Its tough to navigate through life if you can't prove you exist!