Home of Love (Orphanage) in Tuburan Cebu

When we arrived at the Home of Love, at first we were not sure if it was the one, the center was on top of the hill, there was a huge gate that looked like it has seen better days.  I was under the impression that perhaps they have another gate that they use in another part of the center but then we were greeted by a security guard and asked us if we were there to see Sr. Margaret, apparently they were expecting us.  Unfortunately Sr. Margaret was out of town so there was another pink nun that welcomed us.
There was a huge parking space just as you enter. Then there about over 50 steep steps leading to the center.  When we reached the top of the steps, I was panting like crazy as if my tongue would drop.  Haven't had enough adventure of the day? huh! The nun was already there waiting for us with a sincere smile.  Like Sr. Margaret she was very soft spoken and sound very fragile.  I wondered if they all are and I wonder if they ever know how to curse or have they even once in their lives.  I'm crazy to have thought about this.

Sr. Margaret with one of the boys

So, she showed us around. Loquito and I were lead inside.  We were surprised to discover that the center holds about 30+ kids and some rescued women from bars and streets.  Some of them were forced to become underage prostitutes and became drug dependent while some of them were forced to marry at young age and of course had children at 14 or 15 years old.  My god, at that age I was still collecting sandrio stationeries and doing scrapbooks in school while these girls were forced to grow up beyond their age.
We also found out that there was a fence around the center so high that it was impossible to climb if one would think of escaping.  And the windows and doors have grills on them.  At some point I was compelled to ask about it, Sr. Mary ( i thought her name was - i think they are all called Sr. Mary and then another name for example my friend Sr. Mary Margaret), told us that some women and children would escape to go back to their old life.  The center is isolated and there is nothing much to do, so they would run away, some of them were addicted to their life before the center so, about 2-3 months from their rescue they would attempt to run away, hence the fence and grills.  It sounded very sad.

Home of Love children

We were showed their rooms, some ladies with 3 kids and they are sharing in one tiny room like a small family. We saw their facilities, they also have a chapel inside, some classroom and a library with books that have seen better days and some learning tools for both kids and adults.  They also have some collection of cartoon movies for the kids which meant a lot to those little angels, they were so bubbly telling me a summary of fairy tales they saw and I would tell them some part of it, they would look at me wide eyed. One asked me if I also grew up there since I know most of their movies, I smiled and told them that I was once a child like them, so we had the same activities, watched the same fairy tales.  And their smiles were contagious. It was the best picture that I have in my mind that day. The picture of the white beach and blue sky of bantayan island was nothing compared to the picture of these children smiling and giggling in front of us.  At some point they also gave us a dance number which really entertained us most of the afternoon. And then, they were all over Loquito, they all want to be held, he would toss them in the air and catch them like a ball with his huge hands. When we were outside just sitting by the wooden shed, they were all clinging to him like a chinese lucky buddha having to many children all over him.  I was surprised it didn't bother him one bit. There was a joy somehow in his eyes that told me he was enjoying that moment too as I did.  Sr Mary was telling us that the kids always like to play with male visitors, perhaps because they are all women in the center and kids long to have a male figure or a father and we all understood this.
It was 5pm and we should be leaving, we have to drive back to the city, how long? we have no clue.
We said goodbye to the children and promised them that we will be back one day, we also took note of what we can do to help them.

Home of Love children

Sr. Margaret had been in touch with us and shared with us their project which Loquito and I will look at ways how we can help.  They are establishing a livelihood project for the women at Home of Love so that they will be able to stand on their own without subjecting themselves into going back to prostitution.

For any one interested to help for this project, you may visit this link.
Home of Love Livelihood Project
Mary Queen of Heaven Missionaries 




     

Bantayan Island Cebu

For Loquito's vacation in Cebu, we did a road trip around the whole province,  South first and then went up North looking for the best white beach we could set our foot on and perhaps do some scuba diving in the area while we're at it.  The north of Cebu is usually Bantayan Island that would come to mind first, although there are other places along the way and also islands around but Bantayan island is easier to get to and offers more accommodations for those like us that comes without reservations.

farmers transporting coconuts

We drove from Mactan Island early morning so we could get to Hagnaya Pier in San Remegio - almost the tip of Northern Cebu to catch a ferry that would take us to Bantayan Island.  It was like island hopping really...only - we were using a car instead of a boat.  The drive was long, from 8am to 11.30am we were on the road with mostly greeneries and massive sugarcane plantations stretched towards the horizon.  We saw farmers transporting their produce, either vegetables, fruits, sugarcane or coconuts. It was my first time driving there with only goggle map to rely on, as if I really know how to take directions from a map!!! I wasn't really sure if we took the right road most of the time.  Luckily, we only got lost once!  The funny thing was, when we realized we were on the wrong road, we stopped to asked for direction with the only person we saw by the road side and it was an Italian guy who hardly spoke English let alone tell us where we are and how to get to where we should be.  We laugh most of the way, we flipped the car and head back to the main road, and as per goggle we were actually on the right road, little did we know that there were two piers that caters for Bantayan Island.  One with ferry shuttles and one with local pumpboats that you can privately hire.  And we head to the latter, but we realized it soon enough so we took the other road that leads to the right pier for us.

little girls selling budbud (sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves) on the road

When we got to Hagnaya Pier almost at lunch time, the ferry was leaving in 15 minutes and we had to decide whether to take the car or leave it at the pier.  There were covered parking available for P125 overnight as oppose to paying for the car P2,500 each way aboard the ferry, it was a cheap no-brainer decision.  At the pier while parking the car there was an annoying drunk guy trying to help me park the car as if I just learned to drive yesterday, only to find that he wanted  a tip more than 20 pesos for his unsolicited assistance.  Not only he demanded more money but he also asked for imported chocolates, seriously?!! I just glared at the guy like my eyes was barking at him. But at the same time I was worried he might do something with the car, so I let it go without a fight.

on the ferry leaving Hagnaya Pier

We hurriedly bought tickets, there were about 5 men trying to help me get to the ticket booth as if it was the most difficult thing to do and then all of them surrounded me while I was buying the ferry ticket and they told me to pay the pier terminal fee.  I really don't know why they were acting the way they did.  I could have known this easily, there is only one way to get inside and whether you like it or not you have to pay the terminal fee or they don't let you in even if you have the ferry ticket.  We were told that the boat ride was an hour and half - this wasn't true - it took more, the sea was not that rough but it was not calm, however, the ride was bearable except that it smelled like smoke as if the boat was built like belching machine and the sound of the engine was like a steady hammer poking your head.  It was difficult to relax or even read a book so, we decided to stand on the side of the boat to have fresh air and less with the hammering noise.

a ferry at Bantayan Pier

When we arrived Bantayan island it was around 3pm, however since we didn't have a room reservation, we didn't know where to stay. Luckily or unluckily - there were an overwhelming crowd of persistent motorbike drivers and owners that will do anything to get you to rent a bike with them but somehow gave us an idea where to go.  So, we rented a bike from a guy named Kulot (this is a local word for curly hair), although he had a spiky blonde hair but there were some stubborn curls on the side, so perhaps thats how he got his name. After, exchanging phone numbers with Kulot, we drove around the place.

Sugar beach - Bantayan Island

We went to about 4 or 5 resorts before we found one with a room available, we took it without even bargaining for the rate since it was getting dark.  We dumped our bags in the room and drove to Bantayan City proper, it was about 20-25 minutes non-stop on a dangerously dark road with only the light from the vehicle to rely on and it was raining on and off.  We were dripping wet when we got to the city, only to find out there was really nothing else to do.  The place was deserted, locals sleep early and there was no single place for entertainment.  We drove around their Plaza and discovered a bakery that sells the best hot bread with melted chocolate on this trip we ever had - to this day I still dream about.  We drove back to the resort since there was no other place we know or open that serves dinner, as we got back to the resort we were already dried - the rain stopped somehow along the way and Loquito was driving like we were participating in a race. At least we got back to the resort in one piece, not even lost along the way and ready for dinner.