Seventeen children are now safe from abuse and neglect after they were turned over to Children’s Village of Bantay Bata 163.

Nine of them were the children of “Lope,” a street sweeper. “Siguro malaking pagbabago na nandito sila, kaysa nandun sila sa labas kung saan-saan nakarating. Mas mabuti nang nandito sila. Ang iniisip ko na lang, pipilitin kong makapaghanap ng trabaho,” Lope said.

Lope is a solo parent of 11 kids. His salary as a street sweeper is not enough to sustain his family. They live on the streets without adequate food and shelter.

The City Social Welfare and Development Office of Quezon City recently turned them over, along with the rest of the second batch of children, to Children’s Village in Bulacan for proper intervention and rehabilitation.

“Masaya po akong nandito ako. Excited po akong mag-aral at matuto,” said “Nel,” one of the children.

“Nena,” who has stayed in Children’s Village since last year, expressed her gratitude to the house parents for molding her and her fellow children to be better individuals.

“Magulo po sa bahay namin, tapos hindi mo po mararamdaman na mahalaga [kami], parang wala ka pong magulang. Pero simula po nang dumating ako dito, lahat naman po ng pangangailangan ko napupunan, tapos iyong pagmamahal naman po naibigay po sa amin,” she said.

The turnover of the children is part of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc.-Bantay Bata 163’s partnership with the Quezon City government to ensure the holistic protection and development of the child. (Story/Photos by: Eva Mae Nares)