The Agao Kids

 I met the Agao family on April 2000. At that time, both parents were confined in an 8-foot by 8-foot room in San Lazaro Hospital in Manila. They would have preferred to be at home with their five children but their illness and financial situation made that impossible. They were given free accommodation and food in the hospital and some medical attention. The family lived in a slum area outside Manila. By public transportation, this takes about five hours trip to the hospital. Because of the meager $60 per month government benefit the father was getting and about $5 the mother was getting as a laundry woman, the children were not able to visit them as much as they wanted to. When they did, they usually stayed over the weekend with their parents in that one tiny room (picture at the left was taken at this tiny room).

The father died on November 2000, and when I heard that the mother died in October 2001, the first thought that came to me was that they were still strong when I met them; they could have lived a lot longer had they been in North America.

I am overwhelmed with these responsibilities coming our way. What will we do with these children? We cannot just turn our backs on these precious ones.

by Rosalie Memije, Executive Director

Reports from Wilma

" ...We were at their mother's bed side on her last few days. She entrusted to RoNACO her kids and was so thankful for sending them to school and asking to continue to help them finish in their schooling.

Later, Wilma emailed: "I visited the kids and somehow they are beginning to recover from their mother's death. Their auntie is currently the one looking after them. She is also very poor and she is now applying for the kids' parents' government pension ... I know this will take long; and even then, the amount will be barely enough. We need to increase support for their daily needs and food. It is so pitiful seeing these children orphaned at an early age. The youngest is now showing some symptoms of being HIV positive and is under observation."

The eldest, 16 years old and the only girl; seems to be the one hit the hardest by what happened to their parents. She rebelled and got involved with a 'wrong friend' and did not want to continue schooling. With our encouragement, she has agreed to take a course on Caregiving."

 

Translation:

Many thanks for your help especially to RoNACO because we were able to continue our schooling even though we don't have parents anymore.

We are also thankful to our sponsors. We are very glad and thankful to you and we hope that you won't get tired helping us.

May the good Lord bless you.

Thank you very very much.

Agao Family, Jonathan, Romulo Jr., Joshua, Jomar, Joann.

I'm Jonathan, 17 years old. I just graduated from high school and I would like to ask your help again. I wish to continue my school even just vocational course so I could have a job and help my siblings.

I hope you could help us with this request.

Thank you very much for helping us. We'll never forget you.

With utmost respect nd gratitude,

Jonathan Agao.

 
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