Adopted but treated like own kids

Many years ago for a number of months, I lived in Ermita. There, I would see waifs roaming around the streets vending sampaguita garlands and themselves to local church goers and foreigners who plied the red light district for short time pleasure. And during that time, the feisty Mayor Alfredo Lim has not yet declared war on the “pleasure” establishments of Mabini. Mabini and Malate areas were the places to be as Eastwood, Metrowalk, The Fort, Greenbelt, Rockwell and Esquinita were not yet en vogue.

We are now in the 21st century and more street urchins are being born. And we ask, who would care for these little children? Where do they go from here? Thanks to homes like Kanlungan sa Er-Ma which provides shelter for these little orphans.

Before Christmas of last year, I got a beautiful Christmas card and an invitation to attend the 19th anniversary celebration of Kanlungan sa Er-Ma. I failed to attend the concert which showcased the talented wards of Kanlungan. But I visited them on another day and had an impromptu Christmas party with the kids. On its anniversary souvenir program were messages from Kanlungan management: Dr. Faustino Quiocho, chairman of the board Kanlungan Sa Er-Ma Ministry; Sol Balbero, administrator, among others. Sol’s story of a former Kanlungan ward Jeffrey Fernando who literally grew up with the institution until his death at 29 nearly tore me apart. Jeff was 10 when he walked into the Kanlungan Drop-in Center. He would get in and out of the center looking for his parents and until his death at 29, Jeff never did find them.

There are hundreds even millions of people who are like Jeff — searching for a place to be, yearning for love, searching for their identity, waiting to be cared for and wanting to be home. We are thankful to God for people who have big hearts, for people who find time to care for other people, for people who give their time, love, effort, money, name and power to reach out to help others.

There are a lot of high profile individuals who have used their fame, power and money to touch other people’s lives and to be of service to mankind. Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Madonna, George Clooney, Bono and a lot more are at the forefront of things convincing world leaders and people of the world to take care of one another.

Since 2001 Angelina has been the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). She has visited UNHCR refugee operations in the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya, Cambodia, Thailand, Pakistan and Ecuador, among others. And in the course of her visits to these countries, she has also took in orphaned children with whom she has adopted as her own — Maddox from Cambodia, Zahara from Ethiopia, and Pax from Vietnam. Her influence is such that even partner Brad Pitt has taken on a new cause —  building houses for the victims of hurricane Katrina. Angelina’s name was even floated as one that the farmers of Bukidnon wanted to invite to intervene on their behalf.

Madonna is another celebrity who has used her fame and power to raise awareness of the plight of displaced children in the world. When she traveled to Malawi in Africa to build an orphan care center, Madonna and her husband British director Guy Richie, adopted a baby boy named David Banda. She got interested in adopting the child after learning that there were one million plus orphans in Malawi. However, she has been bashed by critics for using her wealth and power to fast track the adoption process.

Claudine Barretto adopted Sabina. Claudine has taken Sabina like her own biological child. Sabina is elder sister to Santino Rodrigo, Claudine’s son by husband Raymart Santiago. Judy Ann Santos has Yohan, now three years old. Judy Ann is a single parent. Boyfriend Ryan Agoncillo is at her side to give moral support to Judy Ann’s role as a mother.

Meg Ryan has an adopted daughter named Daisy who is from China. Michelle Pfeiffer who is married to producer David Kelly (creator of Chicago Hope and Ally McBeal) has an adopted daughter Claudia Rose. Kate Capshaw and her husband mega director Steven Spielberg have seven children two of whom are adopted. Billionaire producer and creator of Star Wars George Lucas has three adopted children — Amanda born in 1981, Katie, born in 1988 and Jett, born in 1993. Sharon Stone has two adopted children — Laird and Roan.

Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise are reportedly at odds with each other on how to raise their adopted children Isabella and Connor. Reports say that Tom who is a follower of Scientology wants to raise his adopted children the Scientology way. Nicole, however, who is a Catholic, is against the idea. Tom is now married to actress Katie Holmes with whom he has a daughter Suri. Nicole is married to Keith Urban.

“Motherhood is better than anything else I have ever done — even better than starring on Ally McBeal. I absolutely love it,” says Calista Flockhart. Calista has an adopted son, now a teenager named Liam.