Cloud lifts over Child Haus

MANILA, Philippines - People who were touched by ABS-CBN’s Krusada episode about the dilemma of the Center for Health Improvement and Life Development or Child Haus over the holidays will rejoice to know that the new year brought in hope for its 140 residents.

According to Child Haus project director Dr. Rachel del Rosario, talks are underway for the probable transfer of the institution to MMDA Workers Inn on Jose Abad Santos Ave. in Manila.

It can be recalled that the halfway house was in dire straits in the last quarter of 2010 after the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) issued them a notice to move out of their compound in Quezon City where Child Haus has been for seven years now.

Krusada reported that the PCSO building had been condemned by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which apparently makes it necessary for Child Haus to relocate its residents pronto. They were expected to leave the premises after two months until eventually given an extension of six months awaiting their relocation by PCSO.

Even before this dilemma occurred, Child Haus has already been a place of refuge for celebrities who wanted to give back their share of blessings to the less fortunate. Del Rosario and Ricky, who put up Child Haus through the Ricky Reyes Foundation together with several government agencies, have held an ocular inspection of the MMDA Workers Inn and found it to be conducive for the residents, many of whom are children from the provinces who came to Manila in search of help in their battle against cancer or hydrocephalus or other dreaded diseases.

Aside from being provided with free food and amenities while they undergo medical evaluation and treatment in Manila, the residents are looked after along the principles of hospice care, which promotes the concept of holistic care healing through its various programs, services and activities. These include Saturday Night Activity (SNA), Bible studies, grief and bereavement counseling, Nutrition and Hygiene seminars and Pangkabuhayan programs.

But above all, Child Haus shows the residents that every cloud — no matter how heavy and brooding —has a silver lining.