Volunteers settling in at Bahay Pag-asa

As Bahay Pag-asa Bacolod celebrates its 12 Anniversary, the volunteers and I are settling in and beginning our work.  Yesterday we taught our first classes: English, math and science.  Hermes Ruiz is very busy planning, teaching and assessing his students at both high school and elementary level math.  Franklin Munoz and Albert Ahedo are working on English skills for both levels.  Valerie Purcell is developing a health studies unit for the kids here.  And I (Br. Dan) am working with two residents who are at grade level zero since they have never attended school.

We managed to get into town and do some shopping, buying pants, slippers (flip-flops) and shirts for the boys as well as educational materials and supplies.  I joined Ms. Jennysan Lazarito (Director of BPYC) at a consultative meeting of all the mayors on the island of Negros.  Former senator and local government secretary Mar Roxas arrived to hear from all the mayors from both provinces on the island of Negros on the proposed creation of a single "region" for the island.  There was a great deal of media coverage at this meeting which took place at the Provincial headquarters in Bacolod.

Valerie Purcell has been accompanying Ms. Jennysan Lazarito on some of her administrative business trips to social welfare offices and other service agencies.  Valerie, who is about to begin a master's program in social work, is finding the experiences very interesting and informative.

All of the volunteers are getting Ilonggo lessons from Ms. Jennysan so that we are better be able to understand the language of this province.

One of the Bahay Pag-asa "boys" is now a young man ready to graduate from the University of Saint La Salle, Bacolod in October.  He will be a math teacher.  This is a huge turnaround for this young man and everyone here is very proud of him.

A new resident arrived yesterday after spending a month in jail.  His mother and a social worker were with him as he was formally enrolled in the Bahay Pag-asa program.  His mother was overwhelmed with relief seeing that her son would be in a safe place now.  And, as it turned out, one of the current resident knows the boy and was able to help him feel at home.

I spoke to another boy here who spent a year in a local jail.  He says that he is so much happier here at Bahay Pag-asa because it is peaceful here.  He hopes to take courses in culinary arts and would like to work aboard a ship.

The rains are falling now and we are getting cooler, cloudier weather.  We are planning trips to visit the homes of the boys and we will be involved in some events at the university.  Keep us in your prayers and we will bring you news as often as we can get our internet connection working.  Blessings to all of you!

Volunteer Hermes Ruiz helps lead the anniversary celebration along with Ms. Anna Beso-Oberio.