Reynaldo “Rey” Buena, 23 years old, Started living his life inside a residential shelter in Antipolo City called Children’s Garden, Inc. in 2013. He’s been staying there for 12 years now and is currently under the Independent Living Program for 3 years now.
Due to extreme poverty and the harsh living conditions of his family, his father suffers from alcoholism, and both of his parents had a hard time finding a job as they did not finish high school. Because of this, his parents weren’t able to provide him with the necessities that a child needs. Although he was able to attend school until his 1st grade, thanks to the support of his Grandparents, he wasn’t able to continue his studies.
Rey lived as a street child, there he met children with the same living conditions as him. He learned how to steal, and snatch mobile phones, and when the night came he learned how to do other crimes.
“Di ko naisip yung hirap ng buhay noon sa kalye. Kasi nasanay lang siguro ako, Sa kalye di ako nakaranas maligo araw araw, isang linggo bago maligo. Kapag kailangan dumiskarte ng pagkain, nanghihingi ako sa mga tao ng pera. Naranasan ko din mag punas ng sapatos, manlimos at mamigay ng sobre, literal na street children.”
When Rey first arrived at the Children’s garden he wasn’t used to the impression it gave him. He recalled and compared the place to the one he used to stay.
“Syempre street children ka nanibago ako kasi dati parang DSWD yung lugar. Nakakulong kayo sa baba tapos yung mga kasama ko dati matatanda pa sakin. Kaya naging mahirap para sa isang street children na magkakaroon ng matitirahan, kase nasanay siyang bilang pagala-gala sa street gumawa ng malaya walang rules, walang nagbabantay kaya ayon nakakapanibago.”
Throughout the years of his stay inside the shelter, he said that there were a lot of things that changed in him.
“Sa matagal kong paninirahan dito sa shelter maraming nagbago sakin, Physical, Mental, Spiritual. Dahil nung nasa street ako walang nagtuturo sakin ng “Mag aral ka, mag church ka”, walang mga kaibigan. Pero nung nandito na ako nagsimula ang pagbabago, natuto ako magbasa, natuto ako manalangin, tapos natuto ako magkaroon ng pangarap.”
“Siguro yung dahilan ng mga pagbabagong nagawa ko sa buhay is yung nagkaroon ako ng pangarap. Kasi nung nasa kalye ako dati walang nagtuturo sakin na “Uy anak! anong pangarap mo?” Mahalaga ang pag-aaral pero walang nagsasabi sa akin ng ganun. “
Rey shared that in Children’s Garden, once you reach 18 years of age, you will have a choice: you will stay and continue being under the Independent Living Program or you will leave. Before this stage, they are taught first and trained how to live, stand on their own accord, and decisions. This is why Rey believes that the importance of ILP is giving the children an opportunity to have something that will guide them.
Rey stated that through the help of the program, he was able to sharpen his mind, be more mature, and be practical in life. Of course, the program taught him how to earn money to support himself and pay his bills. Aside from these, there is also one more important reason that pushed him to change into a better person.
“Importante diyan yung spiritual din kay Lord. Para sa akin mas importante siya kasi natuto ako ng maraming bagay. Mas lalo pa akong nag mature, mas lalo ko pang pinagbutihan pag-aaral ko. Bago palang ako ipanganak, si Lord na nakaka alam ng mangyayari sa buhay ko.”
“Ginamit Nya yung Children’s Garden, may mga nag outreach every Saturday night, doon ko unang narinig salita ng Diyos. Makalipas ang 6 months, nagkaroon sila ng program na kumukuha sila ng bata at isa ako sa napili, kasama ko kaibigan ko na napili, sinundo kami sa street at napunta kami dito, dito nagsimula bagong buhay ko. ”
As Rey recalled his life on the streets, he stated that there are great programs that the government provides. However, he said that the government should still support and give importance to the ILP program that these NGO shelters offer so that more children or youth will get the help that they deserve. Even the shelters should have financial support so that they will get the resources they need to provide for the children inside the shelter.
“Siguro sa mga ganitong organization, kailangan pa rin ng suporta ng gobyerno para matulungan, di lang ang mga bata pati and shelter na magkaroon sila ng ip-provide sa mga bata. Maglaan sila ng budget para sa lahat.”
Rey mentioned how his life now is far different from his life before, he stated that because of the training he received through the program, his growth is evident in the success he managed to be in right now compared to the life he had before.
“Siguro ihahalimbawa ko ang sarili ko, kase diba nanggaling ako bilang isang street children. Doon naranasan ko lahat ng hirap. Siguro masasabi ko rin dahil yung shelter naging hakbang para magbago buhay ko. Kasi kung titignan mo ako dati ibang iba ako. Kapag tinignan mo ako sa kalye, wala akong mararating parang patapon na buhay ko, hindi na ako magagamit ng Pilipinas. Nagkaroon ako ng isa pang pagkakataon para mabago ang buhay.”
Rey sees life as an ongoing journey. For him, life doesn’t stop and must be lived with a purpose. He is now a proud 2nd Year College student studying Hospitality Management, specializing in Hotel Administration Program. Despite what he has been through, no matter how many challenges life throws, Rey believes that as long as he lives, his journey continues to achieve his dreams. Of course, all of these resolutions came from somewhere, as Rey looks back, he says that a lot has changed since then, and the more he ages, the more he wants his future to be better.
“Marami nang nagbago, I think siguro habang tumatanda ka maiisip mo future mo, naiisip ko din mga karanasan ko. Kapag may naranasan ka na mahirap, ayaw mo na maranasan ulit. Destiny lang din talaga masasabi ko, plano ni Lord yung natutupad. Nag aaral pa rin ako ngayon, patuloy pa rin storya ng buhay ko. Si Lord lang din nakakaalam ng mangyayari sa akin, Nagpapatuloy lang ako sa ginagawa ko.”
“Gusto ko sabihin sa aking sarili, na naging matapang ako, naging responsable sa mga desisyon ko sa buhay at congrats dahil nalagpasan mo lahat ng struggle at ang paghihirap. Magiging inspirasyon ka sa mga kabataan na maging katulad mo.”
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