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I.

INTRODUCTION
Ricky Reyes was the founder of the Childhaus. The shelter was donated by Hans Sy.
It is manned by project director Dr. Rachel Rosario, medical officer Dr. Erwin Estimo,
three administrative staffers, two janitors, a guard and numerous volunteers that include
nuns, teachers, doctors and lay people. New additions to the CHILD Haus family are
volunteer EENT Dr. Tomas Carvajal and dentists Dr. Edgar Dungo and Dr. Don
Magadia. Childhaus has also attracted additional contributions from the following
guardian angels, Korina Sanchez who adopted the upkeep and maintenance of Child
Haus dining area, Cris Aquino of Travelpros for the prayer room, volunteers from
UERM, UE, Salvation Army, US, Victory Christian Fellowship, among others.Celebrities
who also share their time and resources are Divine Lee, Luis Manzano, Karylle, Angel
Locsin, Ogie Diaz, Jenine Desiderio, Daniel Padilla, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Nelson Canlas,
Henry Omaga-Diaz, Lhar Santiago and Mario Dumaual. Private individuals worth
mentioning are lawyer Art Almajeda, Annie Papasin, Leah San Pedro, lawyer Pedrito
Faytaren Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Urbano Burgos, Leo Riingen, Trygve Olivar, Gen. Ceasar
Ordoyo, Aiza Mercado, and Celine Clemente.

CHILDHaus was built in 2003 with the child standing for Center for Health
Improvement and Life Development. It was first created to be just a halfway house for
sick children from the provinces who sought treatment/chemotherapy in Metro Manila
hospitals. Eighty percent of its residents are cancer patients, while the rest are afflicted
with meningocele, hydrocephalus, biliary atresia, congenital heart disease and other
debilitating diseases. Childhaus is the temporary shelter for sick children who do not
have a place to stay while undergoing medical evaluation and treatment in government
hospitals in Metro Manila. It is a unique facility providing free meals and lodging,
transportation and in most cases, medicine, for the cancer patient and their family
members. Painted in sunshiny yellow, the two-story building has 220 beds for patients,
folding beds for one guardian per child patient, toilets and baths, a central kitchen,
laundry area, a mess hall, library, playroom, prayer room, entertainment room, clinic, a
playground and a healing garden landscaped by no less than Ricky himself. Parents/
guardians divide among themselves the chores that include cleaning and cooking.
The Childhaus is located in 90 Mapang- Akit St, Pinyahan, Quezon, 1100 Metro Manila
where they transferred permanently right after being uprooted from the PCSO
compound years ago. Child Haus has already helped around 11,000 cancer patients
and their families from all over the country.

II. INTERVIEW
The name of the child we interviewed in Childhaus is Lance, he is six years old, he has
a meningocele, and her mothers name is Melanie. Meningocele is a birth defect where
there is a sac protruding from the spinal column, it is a type of spina bifida. According to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year about 1,500 babies
are born with spina bifida, this is considered a mild to moderate form of spina bifida and
is the least common. Treating the meningocele involves closing the overlying meninges
and the skin. Surgery is performed within a day or two of birth, and is necessary to
prevent infection and to protect the exposed area of the spine. Their hometown is in
Occidental Mindoro, her mother is working in the farm. The GMA was the one who refer
them in the Childhaus. They went in Childhaus last July this year. His disease is inborn,
he already has a Meningocele since birth. He is currently studying in grade 1. His father
is still in Occidental Mindoro working also in the farm.

III. REACTION/REFLECTION
The first time I heard were going to the Childhaus I was so excited because its my first
time to go to a place with cancer patients. When the first time I saw those children it
broke my heart because theyre so many infants or children are younger than suffering
cancer, I realized that Im so lucky that Im healthy and normal, can study live my life
comfortably. I enjoy hanging out with those kids, theyre like a friend/family for me, Ill
treasure those memories, I always include them in my prayers, I wish them to have a
happy life and God is always there for them. I enjoy hanging out with my classmates
during baranggay visit, because of the baranggay visit I get to know them more. This is
last NSTP and I enjoy it so much.

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