A HOME AWAY FROM HOME

UNEDITED SAMPLE FEATURE ARTICLE
By Jezel Christine Nolasco Quevada
IV-Madame Marie Curie


Have you ever imagined having a world where there is no poverty? Have you ever wanted a place where there is no gap between the rich and the poor, a world where doing right is a natural thing to do, a world where each one has his own share of God’s blessings, a perfect world to live in, a perfect world that may only be possible in our imagination?

Having this perfect world is truly impossible yet some associations, federations and organizations are trying their best to make this world a better place to live, if possible, to everyone, even for those who think that this is impossible. One such organization is “Handicapped Center of Lourdes, one of those social service groups under the confederations of Caritas, International, which is located in Pandacan, Manila. This non profit and religious organization houses disabled children who are blind, deaf and mute, hydrocephalic, and quadriplegic who are abandoned by their families.

Caritas or Caritas International, to be more specific, is a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. As a whole and as an individual, they’re main mission is to make a better world especially for the poor and oppressed. Our country is a part of this federation. We call ours as Caritas Manila.

The history of Caritas Manila started with a Cardinal. He was Cardinal Rufino Santos. He was the first Filipino Cardinal and also became the 29th Archbishop of Manila. He became the Archbishop in a post-war scenario where all kinds of unwanted things and events happened - a time when our social and economic growth was decreasing. It was also a time when inequality and critical problems about labor were present. It was to this social order that Cardinal Rufino Santos spoke upon his installation:

“I have thought of organizing a social welfare for uplifting the spirit and soul of these unfortunate members of our community. The Archdiocese will lead in this undertaking with an initial amount of fifty to one hundred thousand pesos. Then I expect the more fortunate of the faithful in the Archdiocese to contribute their help in the amount of 1 peso a month for the same purpose, in order that we may budget some two hundred to two hundred fifty thousand pesos a year for buying food, clothing and medicines for distribution among our poor brethren, and the education of their children.”

The plan of the Cardinal happened a little later, when he appointed staffs to lead the establishment of Caritas Manila (first known as Catholic Charities) on October 1, 1953. From this point of time, another page was added to our history.

Largely, the first decade was a decade of talking to the poor, of giving aid when needed. Programs that develop talents and opened up opportunities were started such as the educational assistance program and job placement program. But it was medical assistance, crisis assistance and emergency relief that reached the most number of clients and became the most on demand program of the organization.

1963 to 1973 was a decade of helping the poor help themselves, whether as individuals or as communities. Skills training and development program were given and other vocational programs were implemented too. In 1972, Caritas was one of the first organizations that responded immediately to the Great Flood of that year. They provided relief goods more over; they have implemented yet other programs that truly helped the affected citizens. “Invest in People” rehabilitation program was their main agenda and mission.

1973 to1983 was their next decade. This decade, more priests and religious people participated in organizing and implementing programs. In this decade the organization became more involved with the poor and oppressed due to the martial law government. In 1975, the newly appointed Archbishop of Manila, Archbishop Jaime L. Sin set a new name for the organization. This is the time when they got their official name; Caritas Manila. By then too, the name “Caritas” had become the international symbol of Christian charity. This decade also focused on children. More programs for children started in this decade than any other decade. “Caritas” had become synonymous with children. Among these programs were the Targeted Maternal and Child Health Program to combat widespread malnutrition. This decade also saw the rise of the first Catholic School for special children as well as the Morning Glory Program, originally a special project designed to help women engaged in prostitution.

In 1983, as a result of the Aquino assassination, People Power Revolution took place. This decade produced the first three-year development plan for Caritas Manila, as well as ended the institution’s dependence on foreign donations. Clearly, for Caritas Manila, the development of the Filipino people should be self-dependent. This decade, special apostolates were expanded to cover programs for persons-with-HIV/AIDS, prison community and drug dependents, among others. In this decade when people empowerment became the key, when calamities devastated houses and communities, when no one paid attention to special sectors such as prisoners and people with AIDS, Caritas Manila was there all along. Caritas Manila has become a time and place where one sees Christ in others, where one becomes Christ for others, where one encounters Christ through others.

1993 up to the present was a set of years where unity and empowerment is visible. Caritas concentrated on the Parish Empowerment Program in the belief that this would increase the reach of its efforts. The challenges brought on by the Jubilee Year and EDSA 3 served as a sign to further expand this program into the Parish and District Empowerment Program, offering assistance and becoming a much stabilized organization.

Caritas Manila is a gift to our nation. It is an organization that will be always there to guide us. An organization willing to sacrifice and do all it can to make our world a better place to live in. After all, we can all make a difference.