Month: June 2018

My experience being a replacement in Bahay Aurora.

Hello! I’m Raymond Reyes a former ojt’s here at Bahay Aurora. After I finished my study they gave me an opportunity to work here as a replacement.

My first day as a replacement in Bahay Aurora was great yet felt nervous because I don’t have any experience in parenting. But with the help of my knowledge in my course I easily socialize with them, knew their feelings emotionally and physically.

The kids treated me as their real Kuya, they show me respect, love and sometimes they’re being naughty. But it is okay because there are kids. As a replacement they treated me as a family member of Bahay Aurora especially the staff. I know that I am new in Bahay Aurora but I didn’t feel that I am other people. I would like to say thank you because I got a great experience, unforgettable memories and I learn a lot for being a replacement. I am looking for the next get together with Bahay Aurora Family.

May 19-29, 2018

Part of my education as a social worker was going to Korea in order to experience how organizations are working abroad. Going to Korea has been a great opportunity for me not for leisure but more on life learnings.

Kkottongnae Brother of Jesus, The institution that invited us for this trip to experience their Love in Action School Program. Though it was founded and run by Catholic priest, their social welfare service to the people in the community really amazed me.

Their intervention was literally from womb to tomb. They care much about those children with special needs. Some of them joined in the ASEAN sport competition.  Although abortion is prohibited in Korea still many women are doing and practicing it in different reasons,   some are just left anywhere but this congregation put up a cemetery for the aborted babies so that they will be buried properly fetus were just left in that cemetery.

Abandoned children were brought to the ‘House of Angels’ were children staying there were processed for adoption. The youngest was four (4) months old and the eldest was 7 yrs. Old. We were not allowed to take pictures since children there are for adoption.

Kkottongnae community has a house for children with special needs, on different level. The ratio was 2 teachers for 4 kids.

Some special children who are bigger and finished their high school have the bakery where they bake the breads for Kkottongnae community. Certificate were given to them if they finished equivalent to Philippine NCII.

Another experience that I will never forget was assisting the patients in the hospital. I really admired those people who are doing their jobs in the hospital the care and their passion in taking care of these people. Most of the patient in this hospital were abandoned by their family. The unit where we are assigned was those patients who are just waiting for their time of death but still they were treated very well and they don’t treat them as clients but as a family. Bathing them every day, putting lotion after bathe, fixing their beds and cleaning their rooms is what we did. They have their own columbary for the dead, and those who died on the streets with coordination with the police were also cremated and buried there.

The lesson that I learned from them was their heart for volunteerism and they are all doing this with love.

After a long vacation the bahay aurora kids are now prepared this coming school year they are excited to come back with full of experience and happiness over the last two months, because here at bahay aurora were have a lot of activity during summer such like summer camp, swimming, walk-a-thon, running, educational tour and team building activity.

And now! they are already to face again the reality of being kids to learn and gain knowledge at the school. This year we have two of kids are now going their first step at the kinder garden they are excited to acquaint with new friends and also their teacher at the school.

Before the month of June start we prepared the belongings of the kids like new bag, notebook paper, ballpen, pencil, uniform, shoes etc. Also, we have storage room here manage by Ate Ella our teacher of special children and with the help of house parents the kids needed from school will provided of our supply room, every year we’ll do this to make sure from head to toe their satisfied to the needs and ready their minds before schooling.

We would like to Thank you!, once again to those donators of school supply, and all the best in the good work you are doing for the children of Bahay Aurora.

-Matthew Custodio (Bahay Aurora Staff