Recently I visited our mission in Baguio City, Philippines for the ninth time. It has been three years since my last trip to this beautiful mountain area in the northern part of the country, so I was quick to take advantage when the opportunity occurred.

Anyone who has been to this part of the world knows it is renowned as the Flower Capital of the Philippines. Since it was summer time, flowers were indeed everywhere; and so were the people. Most importantly, I connected with the children, families and staff who are a part of SOSCFI (Save Our Street Children Foundation, Inc.). This wasn’t as easy as it may seem, since schools were not in session, families live in local neighborhoods (baranguays) that are very scattered, and most homes do not have phones, though cell phones are more in use than they had been in the past. Filipinos who have cell phones “text” constantly!

The new SOSCFI Center is now open and operating after more than three years without a consistent space for meetings, programs, etc. Newly painted and renovated, it also proudly displays a banner with the logo of the organization which can be seen from the main road leading to it. While there, the Board Members of SOSCFI met with Hoover Agyao, the Executive Director, and myself to talk about fund raising, program expansion, staffing and hopes for the future.

Hoover, Sr. Romualda Molon, MSC and I were also invited to attend a local Rotary Club meeting and give a presentation on the work of SOSFI. Not only were they receptive to help us with funds, but a local Rotary in Malvern, Australia is also willing to pledge funds for our mission work in Baguio and Rotary International will match their donations.

You can’t visit SOSCFI without experiencing a program put on by the children and their parents. With great pleasure I enjoyed their Welcome Back performances: various songs, dances, original pieces in tribute to one of the staff members, Julia Guevarra, who was leaving, and native dances done with gongs and sticks. The college scholars were introduced and posed for a group photo.

One of the former scholars who was sponsored by generous donors here in the USA and Australia, is now teaching the Alternative Education Program at SOSCFI. I felt so proud to see this young man, whom I had met when he was a pre teen years ago, now influencing the lives of the youth in his care. You can read more about Dennis Daw-as in a related article on this web site.

We are often blessed to see growth and progress of mission efforts. Whenever this happens I am reminded how it is all possible because people like you care to make a difference. If you would like to sponsor a student’s education, click here.

Thank you for your interest and concern.

Sr. Bernadette Anello, MSC