DSWD_2nd issue-x

Feature:
‘Merrier’ Christmas for
Norman and Erlinda
C
ordillera - Norman and Erlinda* got
married in December 2004. Since then,
the couple has celebrated the Christmas
season with their family and friends.
“Every Christmas, pinupuntahan namin ang
aming mga kapamilya. Sila ang kasama naming
nag-cecelebrate. Sa office naman, during family day
or Chirstmas party, pamangkin ang kasama o kaya
minsan ay wala”, Erlinda narrated.
Though the couples had tried many times,
they remained to be childless. This led them to the
decision to adopt a child. But it took years of praying
before the couple decided to take the first step.
Everything worth having is worth waiting (and
praying) for
Sometime in July 2015, the couple finally
decided to start their adoption journey despite
knowing that the process would not become brief
and easy.
“I went to DSWD-CAR and approached
someone I knew who kindly ushered me to ARRS
[Adoption Referral and Resource Section] in which
I was entertained so kindly and was given materials
regarding adoption, forms of several pages to fill up
and a long list of requirements. I was also told that
the process would take time. At home, while reading
with my husband, it was stressful especially that we
are not used to work on papers. But we started to
accomplish the requirements”, Erlinda shared.
“We worked on all requirements, but the last
requirement we had was the neuropsychological
examination. And here we faced a great trouble.
Typhoon came and there was heavy rain. Our
car tires got deflated and we had no spare but we
had to attend to our schedule and took the exam.
After two weeks of waiting for the report, another
typhoon came which left Baguio City at least two
weeks without electricity. The result has not been
printed yet. The following week, the doctor’s files
were corrupted so she had to make another report”,
Erlinda reminisced.
This led to a month delay in this stage of the
process which would normally take only a week.
But this did not stop Norman and Erlinda from
pursuing their dream of having a child.
“These incidents were discouraging, only that
we have the strong faith. God knows what is best for
us”, Erlinda shared.
Finally, the couple was able to submit their
application on October 2015.
“On January 2016, another set of questionnaires
were given and was validated during the home
visit. The production of the home study report was
delayed due to a family problem encountered by the
social worker handling our case but we understood
The Social Focus
because it was reasonable”.
“This time, our relatives knew about our plan.
Sometime in February, hinahanap ni mama ang bata.
I was shocked yet happy. The withering hope was
watered by mama. She was interested of having her
grandson even by the way of adoption. And I know
that there will never be a problem come my son.”
“Noong una, ito yung isa sa mga rason kaya
nag-push through pa rin kami, pero later on, nakita
namin yung kulang, dadalawa lang kaming magasawa
sa bahay. Trabaho, bahay, trabaho, bahay,
ganoon na lang parati”, she shared when asked what
made them push through.
“Noong time siguro na nawawala na yung faith
ko dahil sa pag-hihintay, pinag-ppray ko na lang siya.
Pray lang ng pray”, Erlinda added.
Trusting in God’s Perfect Time
In April 2016, Erlinda was scheduled to
accompany a relative to Korea. However, her VISA
application was turned down. Not long after, a good
news was received by Erlinda. On that same day, she
received a call from the Reception and Study Center for
Children (RSCC). The RSCC is one of the temporary
residential care facilities run by
the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD).
It provides interventions to
abused, neglected, abandoned,
surrendered, and exploited
children and those with special
needs such as children at risk
and children who are in need of
alternative family care.
“It was supposed to be a sad
day but on that same day was
a call from ARRS that there is a
child that was matched with us.
Profile was sent through mail. We
were looking closely at the child’s
picture and he looked so much
like my nephew. We accepted
him and scheduled to fetch him”,
Erlinda shared.
Matching is a step in the
adoption process where the
preferences of the adoptive
couple are suited to a child
available for adoption or foster
care.
Soon after, Norman and
Erlinda officially became the
proud parents of a two-year old
boy.
“Alam mo, pinagpray talaga
namin siya. Tignan mo ang
DSWD - CAR
binigay sa amin ng Panginoon. May balat siya, may
balat din ako. He is made for me. “Mahirap man
maghintay, in God’s time, you just have to wait for
God’s time. And now that we have him, we are real
parents. We have a little boy who hugs us when we
arrive home after work. We have a playmate. He
makes me a super mom and I try to do everything
for him”, she added.
“Noong una, it was hard. But later on, I realized
na talaga sigurong may mga couples na hindi
mabibigyan ng anak dahil may mga bata na gaya
nila na nangangailangan ng pagmamahal ng isang
magulang” Erlinda shared.
Months after they started the process of
adoption, Norman and Erlinda had a ‘merrier’
Christmas with their son. “On the 25th, we went to
church together and we spent the day as a complete
family. The long waiting has paid off. Having him, joy
is in our hearts.”, Erlinda shared. As for the child, he
is now having a merrier Christmas with the family he
can call his own.
Adoption is the socio-legal process of giving a
permanent home to a child whose parents have given
up their parental rights. The process can last for one
year to one year and a half. This process also upholds
the right of the child to identity.
Individuals interested to adopt may forward
their concerns or visit the Adoption Resource and
Referral Section (ARRS) of DSWD-CAR at SN
Oriental Building, Baguio City near PhilHealth-
CAR.# DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unit,
Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
* Surname withheld to protect the privacy of the family
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