Atienza now a father of 470 children with expansion of orphanage

MANILA, Philippines - Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said yesterday he considers himself a father of 470 children after the orphanage that he and his wife Beng set up in 1995 has steadily grown.

Atienza established the Home for the Angels, a crisis center for abandoned babies, when he was still vice mayor of Manila.

The center has cared for 470 babies who were abandoned in health centers, public hospitals, schools and even garbage dumps, the lawmaker said.

According to Atienza, the abandoned babies were nursed back to health, given names and baptized. He and his wife were listed as the children’s parents in their civil registry records.

The center is working with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in screening prospective families that are willing to legally adopt the children, he said.

“We believe that each life is a precious gift from God that should be protected and nurtured. Even if they have been abandoned by their parents, these babies will find a family who will welcome them and love them as their own. As a matter of fact, many of the babies previously cared for at the home have since been adopted and are now living happy and normal lives abroad,” Atienza said.

“They have kept in touch with us and regularly send us letters and photos,” he added.

The center, aside from caring for the babies, also provides counseling services to women, instilling in them the value of life, the lawmaker said.