Married for nine years, starting a family proved difficult for Rico and Jocelyn Manalang of Barangay Wawa, Taguig City,  as they were  unable to have a child despite undergoing fertility work-ups.

At  the age of  48 and 45, respectively, they believed that God had a better plan for them and decided to share their home to a child through Foster Care.

Foster Care is part of the alternative parental care program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development  (DSWD) wherein an abandoned or neglected child is given to the temporary care of licensed foster parents.

It is temporary in nature and can be a short-term (minimum of three months) or long-term foster placement (maximum  of seven years).  The Foster care program’s main goal is to provide temporary family care to a child until his/her return to biological family or prepare him/her for permanent placement through adoption.

In cases where the adoption or reintegration with the biological parents is not possible, the child  stays with the foster parents who initially cared for them for long-term care if they are willing.  If not, the child will be given under the care of other willing licensed foster parents.

“Gusto naming mag-ampon talaga, pero dahil sa nawalan ako ng trabaho nitong January, nag-decide kaming mag-foster muna at i- share ang aming buhay sa bata kahit medyo limited ang aming resources (We really wanted to adopt initially but since I lost my job this January, we opted for foster care to share our life with a child despite our limited resources),” shared Jocelyn or Joy to her friends.

The couple got interested in the Foster Care Program after watching a segment of the program, The 700 Club, where the guest, Ms. Malen Papadapoulous from Operation Compassion, discussed adoption and foster care.

The Manalang couple approached  DSWD to learn more about the program.

They became licensed foster parents on April 23, 2014. As foster parents, they attended a matching activity with foster kids.

Matching

Rico and Joy were matched with AP, 5, who had been rejected twice – by his parents who abandoned him and by the foreign prospective adoptive parents.

AP is a special child who has been diagnosed with Global Development Delay that affects his intellectual and communications abilities. Aside from this, he also has spinal deformity.

Joy said that they were surprised to learn that their foster kid is a special child and had second thoughts about accepting him, but the couple’s desire to have a child conquered their fears.

The Manalang couple expected their life to change with the arrival of AP but they were admittedly caught unprepared by the big change.

Speaking in front of  DSWD officials and employees during the flag ceremony yesterday at the Central Office, Joy shared, “Mahirap pala ang mag-alaga ng bata  (It’s difficult to raise a child).”

She added, “Hindi makatarungan para sa amin ang tanggihan siya dahil iniwan na siya ng biological mother niya at umurong naman ang prospective adoptive parents niya  (We believe it would be unfair to reject him because he had already been surrendered by his biological mother and his prospective adoptive parents had second thoughts).”

Rico and Joy decided to push through with fostering AP for three months, as initially committed.

On May 11, 2014, AP was already placed in their care and their journey as a family began.

“Unang araw pa lang po ay na-realize namin na hindi pala picnic ang pinasok namin. Mahirap po at nakakapagod dahilang baby po namin ay hyperactive, speech deficient, not toilet trained, at fully dependent (We realized on the first day that taking care of AP was no picnic.  It was hard and tiring because our baby is hyperactive, speech deficient, not toilet trained, and fully dependent),” Joy added.

But Joy also said that it was heartening to hear her mother saying that AP kept on improving with every month of his stay with them.

Despite the hardships, Rico and Joy do not regret taking care of AP.

Joy shared, “Ricky and I are happy together. With only the two of us, I can say we are content to be together. But when AP came,  our lives became colorful. There is so much love in our home.”

Three months came too fast. Though hesitant to return AP to Hospicio de San Jose, they had no choice. They are hopeful that their separation from AP would be temporary as they are willing to renew their commitment and take him again in their care.

Joy said that while waiting for the return of AP, she and Rico are making the necessary preparations needed to ensure that they are better equipped to take care of him.

“Sa pagbabalik ni AP, alam namin na mas kaya na namin ang pagbabagong dala niya sa aming buhay (When AP returns, we are sure that we can cope with the change that he will bring to our family),” Joy stated.

Humility

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman lauded the Manalang’s big heart in welcoming AP to their home, albeit temporarily.

“Sina Rico at Joy ay mga modelo ng kababaang-loob, dahil sa pagpapakumbaba nila sa pagtanggap kay AP.  Lalong higit na kahanga-hanga na pinili nilang mahalin si AP na tulad ng isang biological na anak kahit na ito ay may kapansanan  (Rico and Joy are models of humility as they humbled themselves in accepting AP.  Moreover, it is admirable that the couple chose to love AP like their own child despite his disabilities).”

The Secretary also explained that the story of Joy and Rico, a simple couple, is proof that even ordinary Filipinos can help better our country.

“Kaya ng kahit na mga simpleng mamamayan ang tumulong sa pagbabago, basta may sinserong puso para dito (Joy and Rico’s story shows that even an ordinary Filipino can help towards the betterment of the country for as long as they have the heart for it).”

Support

Sec. Soliman emphasized that a foster child is given a monthly subsidy by the government to support his/her needs. The subsidy may be in the form of financial aid, goods, or support services.

Likewise, a foster parent can treat the foster child as a dependent for a particular taxable year. S/he is also given skills training and livelihood assistance, among others.

Throughout the process of fostering, the DSWD and licensed foster care agencies or child placing agencies will be there to support and guide foster families/parents in every step of the way.

For the 1st semester of 2014 alone, 119 children from the National Capital Region are under the foster care of 107 licensed foster parents.  ###