ChildHaus turns nine

MANILA, Philippines - “Children suffering from cancer must not be pitied but praised. Young as they are, they enjoy living each day, unmindful that one day soon an angel will come to fetch and take them to heaven,” says Ricky Reyes.

About 10 years ago, Reyes was brought by some friends to the cancer ward for kids of the Philippine General Hospital and was shocked and disheartened seeing young patients and their guardians sleeping on the hospital floor and corridor. Then the idea of providing a temporary shelter for kids undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy and dialysis came to Ricky’s mind.

In October, 2003, the ChildHaus came to being through the joint efforts of the Ricky Reyes Foundation, Fil-Hair Coop, managers of Ricky Reyes Salons, former MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando and then PCSO chairperson Honeygirl Singson. They renovated and furnished an old building at the PCSO Compound. Year in and year out, donors and sponsors help children at the ChildHaus.

On its ninth anniversary last Oct. 28, business tycoon Hans Sy gave the wards a surprise gift that made them happy and feel loved. It is a new ChildHaus situated at No. 90 Mapang-akit St., Diliman, Quezon City.

Watch Life & Style Saturdays at 10 a.m. on GMA News TV for the blow-by-blow account of the celebration.