Ricky Reyes’ Child Haus marks ‘10’

MANILA, Philippines - Ricky Reyes’ Child Haus, which provides shelter for cancer-stricken children, recently turned 10.

Child Haus came to be after Ricky saw the plight of cancer-victims, specifically children seeking treatment at the Philippine General Hospital at that time, and where they spent their hours waiting for the next treatment. Child Haus was established under the Ricky Reyes Foundation, Inc. in 2003. It was called Child Haus with “child” standing for Center for Health Improvement and Life Development.

Child Haus is a temporary shelter for sick children who do not have a place to stay while undergoing medical evaluation and treatment in government hospitals in Metro Manila. It is a facility providing free meals and lodging, transportation and in most cases, medicine, for the cancer patients and their family members.

Ricky is proud to say that in a span of 10 years, Child Haus has already helped around 11,000 cancer patients and their families nationwide. He looks at the milestone as another opportunity to thank those blessed individuals who have been working with him, hand-in-hand, to make the lives of these cancer patients more bearable by showing them love and care.

He cited Hans Sy of the SM Development Corp. and his family for without their help, Child Haus will not have a beautiful home at 19 Mapang-akit St., Barangay Pinyahan in Quezon City, where the shelter transferred permanently right after being uprooted from the PCSO compound years ago.

Ricky said Hans’ help didn’t end with the donation of the location. “He also helps facilitate home programs for the children’s counseling. We don’t want these kids to feel depressed because of their sickness. These programs help them a lot.”

There are other volunteers who regularly go to Child Haus. Miriam College teachers visit every week to tutor the kids, while performers, dancers and singers visit them to cheer them up once in a while through shows and entertainment numbers. Child Haus has also attracted additional contributions from the following guardian angels, as Ricky calls them — Korina Sanchez who adopted the upkeep and maintenance of Child Haus’ dining area; Cris Aquino of Travelpros for the prayer room; volunteers from UERM, UE, Salvation Army, US, Victory Christian Fellowship, among others.

Celebrities who also share their time and resources are Divine Lee, Luis Manzano, Karylle, Angel Locsin, Ogie Diaz, Jenine Desiderio, Daniel Padilla, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Nelson Canlas, Henry Omaga-Diaz, Lhar Santiago and Mario Dumaual. Private individuals worth mentioning are lawyer Art Almajeda, Annie Papasin, Leah San Pedro, lawyer Pedrito Faytaren Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Urbano Burgos, Leo Riingen, Trygve Olivar, Gen. Ceasar Ordoyo, Aiza Mercado, and Celine Clemente.

Ricky looks forward to the next 10 years of Child Haus. Here is one person who just doesn’t get tired of doing good.