Young Underpaid Professionals

We went to Alay ng Puso and I didn’t pick up a single toddler and treated him like he was my pamangkin or cousin. Or as someone who’d infallibly affect my life in some way.

But I guess I was wrong. I’m here writing about this.

How it all began

Anamer’s birthday gift to herself was a tattoo on her back.

I was there when she got it, but really, I felt no sadistic satisfaction when I saw her trying not to think of the “tolerable” pain she was experiencing. Rather, I was amused. Really amused. But then the Churros con Chocolate washed away whatever amusement I had back then. Looking back, I think I was more surprised than amused. Because a tattoo’s something you’re going to have for as long as you’re still all flesh and blood.

Her other gift (not to herself, I believe) was a trip to Alay ng Puso, a charity down Del Pan in Manila. She had some items like food and pillows for the kids, but what AnP also needed were volunteers. So she asked me and another blockmate, Cris, to go there with her.

That fateful Saturday morning

Cris the prima and I were supposed to meet up around 6:30 am, but not everything in RL goes as planned. So around 7:30 am, we (Anamer and I) met up with Cris. And then we were on our merry way to Emerald along Roxas Blvd. to get the best jumbo siopao ever! (No, I’m not exaggerating. Ask those two.) After 3/4 jumbo siopao, a bowl of wanton soup (also the best wanton soup ever!), and a cup of coffee later, we went to search for Alay ng Puso along Del Pan.

We were armed with a Google map printout courtesy of Anamer, and based on the map, it did look like AnP was easy to find. But then we forgot about how people could pollute and corrupt a place as much as they/we did Manila. So we sort of got lost and ended up in Divisoria. LOL. Seriously. Good thing we didn’t have money to burn and had the fiercest intention to get to Alay ng Puso. So after a couple of detours, u-turns, and Del Pan Police and Manila Traffic Enforcement assistance, we arrived at AnP.

It was already mid-morning and the place had an activity in the afternoon, but Sister Cristeta still welcomed us. I felt awkward. I’m not used to niceties and such. But then that awful feeling faded when we were shown into the three nurseries.

Honestly, what kind of being wouldn’t find this little Congressman cute:

The kids a.k.a. Children of the Corn

There were eight toddlers and three babies in the first nursery we played in: Congressman a.k.a. Joven, Catherine, miracle baby Niña (named so because she was found abandoned at Baclaran Church), Andre, Von Chester (the photobomber), Jamaica, John Ray, Elijah (not sure about the H, but knowing us Filipinos, that H must be there), a four-month old baby, and two three-month olds. I’m shamelessly bad with names, but somehow, these kids’ names proved too difficult to forget. If you stay there for even just an hour, I bet you’ll get to remember their names.

Anamer got attached to Congressman, while Jamaica got too attached to Cris that when he tried putting her down, she started crying her lungs out. Seriously. Andre – who’s already over a year old but still can’t walk properly – got attached to me. Or vice versa, I’m not really sure. The kid just sat on my lap while chewing on his toys, and when I moved he grabbed my arm or leg as if telling me not to go. Or even move.

We played with the kids and Cris and Anamer helped during feeding time. Feeding started around 10 am, and ended around 12 noon. Elijah was the last kid because they said he was the hardest to feed. Which was true. He cried all throughout his feeding time.

As mentioned, AnP had something scheduled that afternoon, so we had to get going around lunchtime. We didn’t get to spend as much time in the two other nurseries because it was already nap time, but we still got to see and talk to some kids there. In the “sick room” were some kids who used to be weak or sick because they were malnourished. They were being nursed back to health so they could join the other kids or so they could join their families again. (I think I forgot to mention that this particular charity not only cares for abandoned or orphaned children but also cares for kids who can’t be taken care of by their own families.) We met Kent Bryan there.

The other nursery had kids up to six years of age. I met a five-year old girl named Elaine, while Cris talked to another five- or six-year old kid named Letlet. Too bad we were only there for a couple of minutes. I would’ve liked to have spent more time with kids who can talk.

Or maybe not. LOL.

But I’m sure I’d love to go back there.

Information

Alay ng Puso (Missionaries of Charity) is located in Del Pan, Manila. It’s easy to find because the place is along a major road. If you want to give baby formula/food or whatever items to the kids there and visit AnP to volunteer, you can contact their Mother Superior Sister Cristeta. Just leave a comment if you need her number.

(All photos from Anamer)

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