CEBU, Philippines - Officials of the Cebu City Police Office will serve as foster parents to 51 street children from Barangay Mambaling to allow them to experience how it is to celebrate Christmas with a family.
Chief Inspector Enrique Belciña, chief of the CCPO Police Community Relations, said that the Christmas Child program is meant to make the children feel the joy of celebrating Christmas and not to be afraid with policemen at the same time.
The program involves chiefs and deputy chiefs of CCPO who serve as foster parents to the street children in a day from December 22 to 26. The children aged five to 15 years old were carefully selected by CCPO.
“Sila na ang bahala ana kung ilang i-treat, pakan-on sulod sa usa ka adlaw para pud mabati sa bata ang Pasko,” Belciña said.
CCPO acting chief Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa also directed the foster police parents to support their adoptive children until they finish elementary education.
“Dili lang kwarta ang ihatag. Apil na pud ang mga gamit sa eskwela. Gamay ra ang gasto ana pero dako na na nga tabang sa mga bata ug sa ilang pamilya,” Belciña said.
Former CCPO director Senior Superintendent Noli Romana started the program last year after he was inspired by SPO3 Isagani Ceniza. Romana personally witnessed Ceniza reaching out to the children in Mambaling.
Romana then appointed Ceniza to be the designated police non-commissioned officer to supervise the programs and other initiatives of CCPO with regards to extending assistance to the street children.
To lessen the tasks of Ceniza, Belciña said that the foster parents program is institutionalized so that police officers can help in providing the needs of the street children.
Ceniza, who also conducts bible study and distributes snacks to the children, considered the program a good way of helping the less fortunate children.
Junjun, 10, is among the 51 children chosen by CCPO. Junjun said his wish for Christmas is for his fa-mily to have something for the Noche Buena.
At the age of eight, Jonalyn, on the other hand, wants to have a pair of shoes that she could use in school.
The children and police officials were gathered last Tuesday upon the launching of the Christmas Child program at the CCPO grounds. The children presented a song and dance number.
Harry Wad, a 50-year-old Norwegian national and a retired journalist, distri-buted shirts and ice cream to the children aside from the food and gifts prepared by CCPO.— (FREEMAN)