A Road Back Home

“Alms, alms, alms…. Spare me a piece of bread. Spare me your mercy. I am a child so young, so thin, and so ragged. Do you know my mother? Do you know my father?”
Perhaps we still remember these famous lines of a declamation piece titled ‘Vengeance is not ours its God’s. To this piece of thought, the images that flashed in my mind are those street children that all day and night making a living through alms, those children who are homeless and in dire need. In their early age they should be in school, learning, playing and enjoying their childhood. They should not be in the street asking for something in order to have a little to fill on their empty stomach. They should not be begging and experiencing the burdens of life. They must be enjoying life. How I wish that I have special gift like Santino ( of the character in a soap opera “ May Bukas Pa”) who could talk to Jesus to let these children be spared on these awful conditions of their life. Though even I don’t have, I’m always praying for them.
But it is really unimaginable that sometimes these children have to experience these distressing situations in life but in a true sense, these things are really happening. Even the road will always be rough and crooked, hope will still our means to get into the road back home.
Kuya Center had a vision to restore the home which was robed by misfortune for these little ones so that they may live a dignified and humane life; to shelter them in an atmosphere of a “home” in order to go back to their real home. My connection to Kuya Center and with Br. Rey, sss as the director, made me contribute this short article. This is to express my support and to tell you especially to all the supporters and benefactors of this institution that all your supports are of worth in helping these children. A million thanks! At present Kuya Center is under construction for a bigger space to shelter bigger number of street children and to let them be guided to the road way back home.
Allen Iñigo, sss

I'm Proud to be Their KUYA!

When I was a child I dreamt to become a pilot yet I ended up as a social worker. To be in this vocation is such a fulfilling work, knowing that I’m doing this with untiring dedication and a life giving to others. Kuya Center had made me feel and experienced these higher values in life. Working with these little kids for almost eight years made me appreciate more the importance of human family.
I’m came from a small town of Bicol, married and with a beautiful daughter. My day to day life at KUYA urge me to be more enthusiastic on my work and inspire me to go on my daily battles in life. Aside from my wife and daughter, these kids are my little angels who encourage me to recognize the value of my work.
I’m proud to be their kuya, especially to know that my task here is to bring up poor unfortunate souls, to look after them, to take care of them, to watch them achieving their own dreams they are hoping for.
God was really good and I know that He guides me in everything I do. I just let him put me to where He likes me to take. I am here at KUYA to see the reality of life which enlightens me to become good person and a good kuya. I never ended up being a pilot but then again I feel like one “A pilot of change”. Everyone had given a heart to share the love that is innate in us. Everyone had given a hand to extend our service to others. Let these faculties be of help and support to these little ones.
Kuya Richard

In the Eyes of a Child

One time as I meditate in my room, I switched on the radio and one song caught my attention to reflect about the joys of my childhood. The title of the song was “The Eyes of the Child”. Reminiscing my childhood is such a wonderful moment yet sadness begun to sink on my thought as I remember those thousands of children out there in the streets, homeless and in dire need of food, clothes, of care and of love. Sir, pahingi po….. pambili po ng pagkain.. (sir, please give me money to buy food) these are the little voices that we mostly hear in the streets, knocking the glass windows of our cars or simply passing in front of us begging for money. Sometimes we neglect them, we stare at them with furious faces and annoyed with their filthy appearances. What will I feel if I’m the one in their condition?
Now I am with Kuya Center, a temporary home for these street children; I talked, played and shared with these kids. Their eyes speak so powerfully in my heart, in their eyes “there is joy, there is laughter” despite the condition they have, despite the hardship they had experienced. Their smiles are like sweet candies that will lighten up your day; their laughter is like melodious music that touches the soul. In their eyes, “there is hope; there is trust, a chance to shape the future”. They have hopes and dreams. They need a HOME, a venue to realize their dreams, a shelter that they can play, sing, dance and a haven where they can express their being. They want to feel that they‘re loved and cared and to be visited. We were once a child, we knew all these things. Can we let these stuffs be snatched away in their lives?
I listened to the song until its end, and struck more to the lyrics:

“ For the lessons of life there is no better teacher than the look in the eyes of a child. You’ve found the place to walk the path you’ve chosen. You’ll never miss the world you’ve left behind. When life gives life, it’s happiness unbroken. When you give love, it’s love you’ll find.

“Whenever I see a child, I look in his eyes…there I see God.”