Region 1 - RCMB1 had no second thoughts of revisiting the DSWD-managed Home For Girls (HFG) at Agoo, La Union on March 14, 2013 as one of its activities in celebration of the 2013 Women's Month.

The HFG is a place of refuge for girls who are victims of either one or two of the following: incest, rape, abandonment, and/or child abuse.

A lot has changed - from the place to the kids inside the institution - since the first visit the previous year. The panaflex signage hanging high above the perimeter wall nearby the road was moderately swung by the wind with one side being torn by perhaps some rough weather that hit the place before. The building that was under construction is now almost complete and was just painted recently. However, what surprised us more were the kids themselves.

 

There was a significantly different atmosphere. Whether it is due to a change in those who were there or how they are currently trained, or "psychologically cured", there was certainly more warmth and affection coming from those kids - evident of what they should have received from their homes instead of the harsh realities they went through - receiving us with such hospitality.

 

Forty-two (42) girls, previously at 38, ages 6-18, are housed in the institution headed by Ms. Fe Sarmiento. During the visit, the RCMB1 staffs were greeted by nevertheless enthusiastic performances of the girls. Due to some donated musical instruments and equipments, the girls had the opportunity to learn some new skills with the help of the dedicated psychologists.

 

Three "girl bands" were formed according to age bracket. The first one played acoustic music. The other danced to the tune of Shakira's "It's Time for Africa" performed live by the girls themselves and the eldest group played and sung Joan Osborne's "One of Us."

 

It may not be the best performance we hope to see but one can never rule out the pure joy that was very evident in these girls' faces during their entire performance - the same thing that went through the hearts of each of the Branch personnel.

 

The girls were offered a mouth-watering arroz-caldo coupled with hard-boiled eggs, chicken adobo, biscuits and fruit juice. The Branch also donated toiletries to augment their supply of bathroom tissue, bath and laundry soap, sanitary napkins, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, and alcohol.

 

OIC Director Helena R. Flores gave out some clothes to the girls and a few sandals and foot wears. One could easily tell how happy and glad those girls are when they received the gift from Director Flores.

 

When the visit was over, more hugs came to each of us accompanied with grateful words from the kids which made Sr. LEO Corpuz teary-eyed at that. "I just couldn't hold back my tears when they rushed to me and hugged me so tightly," she said.

 

And as we drove away, some from atop the building's deck and some from the gate's railings happily waved their hands shouting "Babay po! Babay po! Maraming salamat! Balik po kayo!"

 

(Lester B. Panem)