"Noong napunta ako sa Cribs Foundation, maraming nag bago sa'kin. Doon ko mas nakilala sarili ko na hindi ko nakita noong hindi pa ako naninirahan sa Cribs." -Daniela Peno
Daniela Peno, 20 years old, was transferred to Cribs Foundation 7 years ago as a victim of sexual abuse. She stayed there for 4 years and started being under the Independent Living Program 3 years ago up to this day.
"Yung pagbabago ngayon, mas naging open ako that time, kasi pag hindi kami naging open, hindi kami magkakaroon ng pagbabago sa sarili. If di ako naging open, feeling ko malungkot, lagi kaming nag-iisa."
Daniela Peno stated that there is a lot of help she received from the foundation that welcomed her. From helping her stay in school to study, to the house that she lives in, and to the training she received giving her lessons on how to handle herself on her own.
Daniela Peno now resides in Rizal, along with her are other Independent Living Program beneficiaries. Once every month, they will visit the shelter they used to live in Antipolo City. There they will receive their training on how to manage their money, how to earn money themselves and other training that will prepare them to be independent.
“Para sa’kin importante siya kasi hindi naman lahat ng tao na nasa paligid namin kasama namin hanggang pagtanda namin. Itong Independent Living Program, makatutulong to sa amin para matutunan naming tumayo sa sarili naming mga paa. Importante ito kasi sarili parin namin yung maaasahan namin, ang hirap umasa sa iba lagi, hindi lahat ng tao kaya naming i-please, hindi lahat ng tao maiintindihan kami, kaya maganda ang ganitong program.”
“Hindi habang buhay ang nakukuha namin sa Cribs Foundation, so kailangan ko siyang matutunan (Independent Living Program trainings) na maging isa akong independent, hindi man sa ngayon, pero in the future, magagamit ko ito.”
Daniela believes that the program should be supported not only by the people but by the government as well. She thinks that one reason the country is suffering economically is that youths today rely so much on their families. They do not realize that it is important to learn how to stand on their own two feet. Especially when the time comes that their parents are no longer there to support them.
“Magandang magkaroon ang mga barangay na magbigay ng mga training para sa mga kabataan, kasi ganun ang ginawa sa amin, hindi naman sya biglaan na dapat independent ka na, nag training muna kami, sana pagandahin pa ang mga training at program na ibigay para sa mga kabataan ngayon.”
Daniela sees herself becoming a teacher, she is planning to practice teaching 2 years from now as she finishes college, she also sees herself as someone who will come back to Cribs Foundation, the foundation she belonged to, and teach there, giving back to the place she treated as her home.
“Gusto kong sabihin kay Daniela, kaya natin to self, kasi marami nang pagsubok ang nakayanan, ngayon ka pa ba susuko? Kaya mo yan! Kayang kaya ‘to hanggang sa matupad natin ang mga pangarap natin.”
Quick Links
Get in touch!