1

SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF ABANDONED CHILDREN IN PADRE PIO AND

FIELD OF DREAMS IN DAVAO CITY: BASIS FOR INTERVENTION

An Undergraduate Thesis

Presented to the Faculty of

College of Arts and Sciences Education

In Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Social Work

By

JOSHUA D. MATE

JOVELYN T. CRAIZ

RAYMOND M. BUQUE

October 2018

APPROVAL SHEET
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This thesis entitled “SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF ABANDONED CHILDREN IN

PADRE PIO AND FIELD OF DREAMS IN DAVAO CITY: BASIS FOR
INTERVENTION” prepared and submitted by Joshua D. Mate, Jovelyn T. Craiz,
and Raymond M. Buque in partial fulfillment of the requirements in SW 50 Social
Research II has been accepted and approved and hereby endorsed.

GUILLERMO B. BONGHANOY
Adviser

PANEL OF EXAMINERS

APPROVED by the researcher panel with a grade of __________________________

HELEN Q. OMBLERO, DSD

Chairperson

JEAN AGNES A. PASILIAO, MTSW JENNIFER S. PAYOT, Med-LT

Panel Member Panel Member

ACCEPTED in partial fulfillment of the requirements in Social Work Research

KHRISTINE MARIE D. CONCEPCION, Ph.D.

Dean, College of Arts and Sciences Education

OCTOBER 2018

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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The researchers would like to express our deepest gratitude to the

following professors whose guide and support made our study successful.

To our adviser: Guillermo B. Bonghanoy, Ph.D., our Research

Coordinator: Jennifer S. Payot, Med - LT, our subject teacher: Dr. Helen Q.

Omblero, DSD, as well as our thesis defense panelists, for giving us the

privilege to choose the topic that is related to our practicum and for supporting

us in organizing and conducting this study.

To our respondents, the children of Padre Pio and Field of Dreams, for

their cooperation in the conduct of this study.

To our parents who continued to support and motivate us in our

studies.

DEDICATION
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This study is dedicated to our respective families, teachers, friends,

the children of Padre Pio and Field of Dreams,

and above all

to God, the Almighty.

ABSTRACT
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This study was conducted to provide analysis and monitoring on the social
well-being of abandoned children in Padre Pio and Field of Dreams to serve
as a basis for intervention. The researchers employed a descriptive survey
method and a survey questionnaire was used in data collection. The
questionnaire was divided into nine (9) parts. The first part was the level of
happiness, the second part was the level of cognitive, the third part was the
level of satisfaction, the forth part was the level of engagement, the fifth part
was the level of optimism, the sixth part was the level of perseverance, the
seventh part was the level of empathy, the eighth part was the level of pro-
social, and the last part was the level of self-esteem of the abandoned
children. The questionaire used in the study was validated by the research
coordinator. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to analyze the data.
Sixty (60) abandoned children from Padre Pio and Field of Dreams served as
the respondents of this study. Results revealed that the social well-being of
the abandoned children had a very high efficiency of social welfare which
means that they were genuinely taken good care by their respective agencies.
Moreover, the female abandoned children had a high social well-being
because they were socially interactive and had a higher attendance of
participation compared to the male respondents. Furthermore, the abandoned
children staying at Padre Pio and Field of Dreams for 4 to 6 years had a high
level of social well-being compared to those who were pure "social contract"
with their houseparent and social worker. Further research in the area is
needed for a more complete understanding of the levels of social well-being of
the abandoned children in Padre Pio and Field of Dreams in Davao City.

Keywords: social wellbeing, happiness, cognitive, satisfaction, engagement,

optimism, perseverance, empathy, pro-social, self-esteem,
Abandoned Children, Padre Pio, Field of Dreams, intervention

CHAPTER 1
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THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Background of the Study

The term abandoned child is commonly classified and used to describe a

variety of conduct. First is leaving a child to any other person barring any

strong protections and maintenance for the child's needs, without consistent

intercommunication with the children for more than three months. Second,

creating a minimal effort to guide and organize a child's attitude and

behaviour. And lastly, a parent who does not give strong attention which

creates a detrimental effect on the child’s life in their home. Child

abandonment occurs when foster-parents or real-parents depart or leave their

child to any person who has issues with his/her physical well-being. Also,

there are some abandoned children who lack security and welfare in their

homes. Some instances fail to grant quintessential care for an infant dwelling

under their roof. Unfortunately, deserted kids additionally called "foundlings"

who no longer get their wishes often develop low self-esteem, emotional

dependency, helplessness, and other personal issues (Reuter, 2017).

In the country of Haiti, they are continuing to find and save the lives of

abandoned children. They give new trust and love for these children who felt

lonely. Abandoned children have rights to build their future. Potentially, they

leave and neglect their educational formations. Admittedly, it causes

emotional stress, and the blunt pressure of separation from their own family

and loved ones is less compelling in the quick term. However, the long-term

damage of borrowing from a diminishing destiny to sustain a failing present is

horrific and lasting. Additionally, the young abandoned child in an isolated

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mountain region, some of them it have no infrastructure, has no assets and

has little meals for everyday living. This is the plight of the various orphaned

and abandoned children residing in the rural areas of Haiti. The community

outreach program composed of institutions of volunteers and missionaries are

seeking out to secluded and mountain villages to offer help to the poor and

the needy which are entirely cut off from different useful resource companies

(WordPress, 2015).

In the Philippines, many of these children live in squalid and unsafe

conditions, hoping to find the family they deserve, which is focused on the

country's dismal adoption policies and a system that locks children away from

the families who want them. But it's not enough to shake our heads at the

symptoms of a more significant problem. But, there are some agencies that

provide the orphan, abandoned, unnoticed and tribal children with a loving

environment and a nurturing region which serves as their homes for their

protection, preparation and security. These children are prepared for lifestyles

in their neighborhood as valuable, contributing individuals who show strong

Christian values. Furthermore, these agencies deliver applications and

services to address the needs of the malnourished and unschooled children.

Also, the transmit program will enhance their full achievable closer to self-

sufficiency and independence (Preciousheritagecpphildren & Havingkids,

2016).

In Davao city, they are looking at the root cause of the abandonment of

children. Most of these children are neglected by their parents. Because of

these, there is a growing range of abandoned children who stay in excessive-

threat conditions where violence, poverty, and crimes are evident. These
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children are living on the streets that lack access to care and protection,

education, proper nutrition and sanitation facilities.. Many of them are victims

of maltreatment and abuse, and the majority had to survive on the streets

children who are entrusted to the care of a social welfare agency or institution

for them to have a chance to grow in an alternative family setting and to

experience love and a sense of belongingness (Perez, 2017).

Several abandoned children experience discomfort in sharing their

specific needs such as giving them love and affections, social/emotional

support, and proper teaching of knowledge in residential institutions. The

researchers were encouraged to conduct a study regarding the social well-

being of abandoned children in Padre Pio and Field of Dreams in Davao City

to serve as a basis for intervention.

Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to know the level of social well-being of the abandoned

children in Padre Pio and Field of Dreams in Davao City.

Specifically, this study sought to answer the following problem:

1. What is the level of social well-being of the respondents regarding:

1.1 Happiness;

1.2 Cognitive;

1.3 Satisfaction;

1.4 Engagement ;

1.5 Optimism;
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1.6 Perseverance;

1.7 Empathy;

1.8 Pro-social ; and

1.9 Self-esteem?

2. Is there a significant difference among the respondents when analyzed by:

2.1 Sex; and

2.2 Length of Stay?

3. What action plan can be proposed based on the findings?

Null Hypothesis

There is no significant difference in the level of wellbeing of the

respondents to analyze the sex and length of stay.

Review of Related Literature

In this section, it discusses the social well-being of the abandoned

children with the related literature and the present study.

Social well-being of Abandoned Children. “Every child has the right to

health and a life free of violence” – The World Health Organization and The

International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect opened the

minds of all people that prevention is needed in child maltreatment and invoke

the social well-being of every abandoned and neglected children. Even

though most nations implemented over the years the rights and protection of

children, but in reality, it is not consistent with a child's position in society

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nowadays. The principle stated is the best solution to the problem regarding

the abandonment of many children around the world (WHO, 2006).

In the history, Lloyd de Mause pointed that many children were

abandoned and abused since ancient times. The social well-being of children

is the result of the different perception among parents. In the second half of

the twentieth century, most countries promulgated regulations which were

aimed to respect and protect the social well-being of the abandoned children

(Balahur, 2001).

However, many of children were victims of different forms of abuses and

face of various forms of maltreatment. Abandonment is an extraordinary form

of abuse in the child's development. An extreme form of maltreatment is

causes an unfortunate effects on the social well-being as well as adverse

effects of growth among children. Among these were lack of feelings, actions

of interest and concern towards other people (Muntean, 2011).

Child abandonment is prone to vulnerable environments which are related

to the individual and to the family (Muntean 2013). The parents’ behaviour is a

risk factor which creates negative implications to the social life of an

abandoned child such as unhappiness, depression and anxiety (Muntean

2011).

Children Abandonment. In a study in the UK, child abandonment is a

result when a mother is abandoned by her partner because she also runs

away from her responsibility in raising the child. (Sherr and Hackman, 2002).

The most common victims are the single mothers because of low-level social

recognition. Poor education and lack of awareness in every parent when

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faced with difficulties is one of the common reasons in abandoning their

children.

The researcher developed a theory called Ecosystem that explained the

determinants of child abandonment. The approach is when a family change at

the macro level, that has a great influence on the condition and the process

from the outside of mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem, then macro

social level and adopted strategies could increase or decrease the rate of

child abandonment rate depending on the norms and values promoted

(Mautean, 2013).

Also, the abandonment of children is greatly influenced by cultural, social,

economic, environment and educational factors. In China they believe in their

culture that the male child has a better privilege in the family as they are the

one who carries the family’s name while the female child is not considered in

preserving the family line. Consequently, the couple may abandon the female

child and try to have a male child because of their cultural belief and due to

the one-child policy per family (Johnson, 2004).

In the Philippines, about 1.8 million children are abandoned by their

parents which are equivalent to 1% of the population according to a study by

the United Nation Children Rights & Emergency Relief Organization. Extreme

poverty and displacement of families due to natural disasters and armed

conflicts are the main reason of child abandonment in our country. The

country's adoption system is so forbidding to the vulnerable parents due to

financial difficulties which causes the abandoned child to grow up without any

given responsibility (Kaiman and De Leon, 2016).

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Child abandonment in Davao City is increasing and intervention is

needed. The adoption of these abandoned and abused children could give

them a chance to grow. It is believed that through adoption, these children will

be given an opportunity to develop in a better environment. It means a better

chance for them to pursue their dreams and to grow healthy, both physically

and psychologically (Librado, 2013).

Well-being. In the U.S Census Bureau recorded that one-third of the

children belonged in residential homes are abandoned by their parents. The

abandonment of the children is a type of cruelty that sometimes influences

their emotional growth. They are physically and emotionally vulnerable in their

homes, school, and community. The children who are abandoned were at risk

of abuse because no one can protect and support them in their daily life

(Carter, 2012). Children were abandoned by their parents due to lack of

education, poverty, unemployment, early pregnancy, and unpreparedness.

Parents have a responsibility for the well-being of their children which includes

their emotional, physical, spiritual and intellectual aspects. The fact is when

the children feel the emptiness in their lives, they can be deviant in the society

(Carter, 2012).

The psycho-social development of the abandoned children is affected.

They live in a great trauma that is interrelated to all the critical levels of child

development. The consequences of abandonment can have a long-term

effect on the child's development. These include distorted self-image, feeling

of loneliness, emotional deprivation, low resistance to frustration, lack of

confidence, relationship problems, social problems, degenerate deviant

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behavior, anxiety, depression and the lack of family care in their lives (Fluke

et al., 2012, apud Boothby et al., 2012).

Furthermore, the studies revealed that abandoned children have high

levels of anxiety, depression, and anger (Murray, 2010). Even though they

were given supportive care, it is not enough to manage their anger towards

their parents. The U.S World Service Corps (WSC) give services to comfort

the abandoned children. The WSC interventions to these children include

role-playing, getting to know each other and group activities so that they can

interact and build rapport to other people.

Social wellbeing. In a study, the concept of social problem of

abandoned children noticed their behavorial patterns and conditions in the

society (Weinberg, 1960). The welfare programs and services given to these

children in a particular culture or community may be invulnerable or risk in the

problem (Macionis, 2005). It analyzed the condition of children abandonment

in relation to social problems in national and international level. The neglect in

a child’s psychosocial development prevented the assurance of protecting the

child in the reaction and measures of the society.

Since the researcher was able to calculate the rate of child

abandonment in a country, policies and laws were promulgated by the

government to protect their rights. But even with these policies and laws, the

case of child abandonment has increased including the abandonment of

newborns (Sherr, 2009). These children suffer discrimination and abuses

because of their condition. They developed an attachment disorder towards

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the social worker, house parents and some people who took care of them

because of the maltreatment and trauma they experienced (Dillion, 2008).

However, Padre Pio has many interventions for the abandoned

children such as case management, psychosocial Intervention Socio-Cultural

and Recreational Activities, Educational-Services, and Productivity skills and

Capability Development Training. The purpose of this programs and services

are helping the child uplifts his/her life, therapeutic intervention that uses

cognitive and supportive to relieve pain, provide activities that access to

indoor and outdoor activities to help the children and enhance their

socialization skill, formal education to all residents from grade 1 to grade 12,

enhancement/religious services teaching moral values, and life skill training

and seminar in order that resident acquire technical capability (Padre Pio's

Home for Children 2015).

Also, Field of Dream provide good interventions for the needy,

neglected, abandoned, orphaned and homeless boys. The residential homes

provided with care and love to become a well balanced individual-emotionally,

mentally, physically, and spiritually. Aside of that the institution provides basic

needs, free-education, spiritual formation, values formation, emotional

upliftment, mental development, caring and healing atmosphere and to

empower the boys to be self-reliant and responsible persons (Field Of Dreams

Children's Charity Foundation 2017).

Happiness social wellbeing is characterized in two different ways. First

is to describe cheerful youngsters as somebody who often experience positive

feelings including energy, joy, fondness, pride, and satisfaction. Second is to

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characterize an upbeat individual as someone who often experience positive

feelings and rarely experience negative feelings. Then, the bliss score is

computed based on a child’s adjustment towards a positive and negative

attitude. With this, a child’s inability to meet his or her needs based on

Maslow’s hierarchical needs can be identified. These needs include his or her

physiological need, wellbeing and security needs, love and assets, regard and

confidence needs and self-realization needs (Gregory & Brinkman, 2015).

Cognitive, social well-being. Various techniques were employed to

prevent these children from controlling their feelings, from altering their

perceptions towards certain circumstances and from deliberately stifling their

opinions. Intelligent systems were also used to change their point of views

about their situations with a specific end goal which allow them to move their

enthusiastic reactions. While every procedure can be valuable in particular

circumstances, some are more versatile than the others. For example, if the

individual is in conflict with a companion or accomplice, they expel themselves

from the time that might be useful amidst a warmed contention. Dodging them

is presumably not a viable long haul methodology (Gregory & Brinkman,

2015).

Satisfaction as portrayed in the comprehensive audit of emotional

prosperity hypotheses is believed to be comprised of three parts. First is the

constructive outcome. Second is the pessimistic effect and the third is an

intellectual judgment about how fulfilled an individual is with his or her life,

alluded to life fulfillment. Life fulfillment can be contemplated from a common

point of view or a particular viewpoint (e.g., how fulfilled people are with their

social connections, school life, well-being or work) (Tess Gregory, 2015).

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However, most part demonstrated that fulfillment with various everyday issues

are profoundly identified with each other, characterizing a higher request for

"worldwide" life fulfillment. The worldwide life fulfillment is more exceptionally

recognized with different mental results than any of the space particularly in

fulfillment levels. This was the result of an audit which centered on global life

fulfillment (Gregory & Brinkman, 2015).

Engagement. Alludes to the ability of a person who is concentrated to

what he or she is doing including his or her enthusiasm towards a given

exercise or assignment. The stream can be depicted as a mental expression

that goes with exceedingly captivating exercises where time passes by rapidly

and consideration is wholly centered on the job needed to be done. Conduct

commitment alludes to inclusion in academic, social and extracurricular

exercises at school, and includes carrying on a way that is predictable with

school desires (Sally Brinkman, 2015).

Optimism. Alludes to a propensity towards an uplifting desire for the

future and trust in one's capacity to adapt to challenges and prosperity which

is depicted as "positive mental attributes that may encourage success,

physical wellbeing, and other positive results”. Confidence on the other hand

is to perceive that hopeful individuals tend to assess negative occasions in

their lives as impermanent, outer and particular to circumstances. Doubters,

expect that terrible things will transpire which are translated to negative

occurrences because of fundamental causes and as a significant aspect of

summed up designs as opposed to particular circumstances. With this, there

is a transparent cover between good faith, the locus of control and

development mentality (Gregory & Brinkman, 2015). Higher optimism or faith

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has been connected to bring down rates of gloom and tension, better

academic accomplishment, and more acknowledgment. Positive thinking was

identified with life and school commitments, lower down levels of unfortunate

behavior in school, and scholarly achievement. Positive thinking has been

connected to better physical well-being including lowering the risk of

cardiovascular diseases, mortality rate, formation of tumors and agony levels

(Tess Gregory & Sally Brinkman 2015).

Perseverance. It refers to the capacity to seek after one's objectives to

fruition even with trouble and deferral. Comparative ideas are a center

segment of both disposition and identity speculations. In disposition, the term

constancy is utilized to depict whether the youngster deals with an action for

significant amount of time or has a tendency to lose intrigue rapidly. The

contrasts in this attribute can be observed from the “get-go” behavior of

everyday life and the grown-up identity hypothesis (Gregory & Brinkman,

2015).

The concept of self-discipline is the capacity to start undertakings and

help them through to fruition in spite of weariness and diversion which is

emphatically identified with the idea of constancy. Self-taught people are

propelled to finish errands that they started and are not effortlessly

disheartened when confronted with challenges. In this area, the terms

diligence, perseverance, and self-restraint will be synonymously utilized

(Gregory & Brinkman, 2015).

Empathy. It is defined as having a passionate response to someone

else's excited state or circumstance where he or she is able to experience the

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feeling vicariously as if he or she was explicitly experiencing the

circumstance. Compassion is thought to include both psychological and

emotional parts, wherein an individual needs an ability to comprehend the

other individual's point of view (subjective) before they can experience an

enthusiastic response to the next individual's circumstance (emotional). Also,

compassion has been connected by the experts to social conduct yet the

outcomes have been blended, and it appears to rely upon the sort of full of

feeling sympathetic reaction that the individual experiences (Gregory &

Brinkman, 2015).

The concept of a “pro-social personality” is frequently associated with

inborn, singular contrasts between individuals in their propensity to think and

carry on professional social ways. The tendency to feel worried for other

children and individuals are canvassed in the past segment on sympathy. In

this area, we center on the inclination to carry on an expert social way which

includes sharing books and toys; amusements with other kids; helping other

kids who are debilitated, harmed or disturbed; defending kids who are being

harassed; and endeavoring to stop contentions and battles between other

kids (Gregory & Brinkman, 2015).

Self-esteem. It can be characterized as an abstract sentiment of a

person’s general value. Guardians assume an indispensable part in the early

improvement of confidence with a stable connection to the essential parental

figure which is thought to ingrain a feeling of self-esteem in the youngster. At

a broad level, trust creates through associations with other individuals and

people figure out how to see themselves as advantageous in light of the

constructive responses that they get from other individuals, including peers
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and grown-ups, in social gatherings. While the nature of a parent-youngster

connection is a crucial determinant of a tyke's confidence, the quality of these

connections decreases after some time as the kid develops associations with

peers which turn out to be more imperative. Notwithstanding connections,

belief creates as kids confront academic difficulties in the classroom, and as

they ace new aptitudes and capacities, their confidence and trust in their

particular abilities fabricates (Gregory & Brinkman, 2015).

Theoretical Framework

This study was evaluating the numbers of articles, modules, and a site

that argued in the literature which observed the children’s tendencies in

relation to the mentioned theories. (Stein, 2006) asserts that the theories are

particular empirically driven and dominated with the aid of descriptive studies.

He is writing about ‘getting older out of care' reviews, but his remarks are also

relevant to studies of children in care. Stein indicates three theoretical

perspectives that would underpin studies in this region: attachment idea, focal

idea and idea of resilience (Berridge, 2007).

Similarly, it is suggested that research conducted on “looked after”

child is under-theorized. Trinder quoted that much of the study could be

characterized as ‘pragmatist.' In his review of the education of children in

care, Berridge suggested that the rich inter-disciplinary social science origins

of social work, especially sociology, the literature on health and training of

taking care of abandoned children were being ignored (Winter, 2006).

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The commentaries on a theory about “looked after” children, mentioned

above, have been in the form of discussion papers rather than the application

of the methods they are promoting to empirical research. Wendt and briefly

relate practical work with “looked after” children to a more general discussion

of post-structural feminist theory and social practice (Boylan, 2008).

This review considers that Stein, Berridge and Winter cases may be

over-stated, or as a minimum to have grown to be much less authentic in

current years. In six of the forty-four researches, there was no discernible

theoretical base. Theories or conceptual frameworks overtly named as a part

of the research design and/or discussion of findings or discernible through the

usage of principle-derived language blanketed sociology of formative years,

youngsters’ rights, participative, social constructivism, phenomenological,

interpretive, symbolic interactionism, resilience, attachment, Africentric and

existential philosophy, life-path, ethic of care abandoned development

concept, desire theory, social network idea, and socio-biological (Boylan,

2008).

It might be hypothesized that researchers intentionally aim to include

children’s stories or perspectives in a study design. They will be operating

within a new specific theoretical framework, as a point of view or because of

the character of the study questions. This is in comparison to folks that are

operating with a research layout which includes official statistics, where

theoretical assumptions are much more likely to remain implicit (Boylan,

2008).
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Nonetheless, the theories indexed above display an extensive variety

of epistemological paradigms being utilized in this frame of studies. Determine

1 suggests the conceptual standard displaying the variables of the study. The

primary variable turned into the internal and outside social properly-being with

indicators inclusive of emotional abilities, learning talents, social talents,

college lifestyles, quiet existence, and network existence it is the basis for

intervention in the residential homes (Boylan, 2008).

Conceptual Framework

Main Variable
Social Well-Being

 Happiness
Basis
 Cognitive for

 Satisfaction Intervention

 Engagement

 Optimism

 Perseverance

 Empathy

 Pro-social

 Self-esteem

Figure 1. The conceptual framework of the study.

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The Significance of the Study

The importance of this study is to know the impact of parents’

abandonment to children. This study is concerned about the social well-being

of abandoned children in Padre Pio and Field of Dreams in Davao City. It is

beneficial to the children, not just in the residential area, but also for those

who choose to live at the street.

Field of Dreams. This study may become the basis for designing relevant

programs and services for these abandoned and unfortunate children. (FOD)

offers intervention like counselling, tutorial sessions, and spiritual activities. It

is an excellent opportunity to the abandoned children, especially to the boys,

to be responsible enough to stand by their own shortly.

Padre Pio’s Home for Children. The focus of the study was more on the

abandoned children in the residential area. This study would help the readers

and the students to be aware of the level of social well-being these

abandoned children. It could also create recommendations/actions to become

more realistic.

Moreover, this research will serve as a future reference for researchers

who are willing to study the social well-being of abandoned children. The

importance of this research is to educate all the readers, especially the

parents and family members, about those children, and to become more

aware of what they have been going through.

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Definition of Terms

Abandoned Children. Refers to children who are deserted by their

parents, guardians or person who is in charge of them without any regard for

their physical health safety or welfare and with the intention of wholly

abandoning them or in some instances, fails to provide necessary care for

them.

Social Well-Being. It is the extent to which a child feels a sense of

belongingness and social inclusion. A connected person is a supported

person in society. Lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions,

and beliefs are all critical to a child’s social well-being and quality of life.

Social well-being involves a child’s relationships with others and how that

child communicates, interacts and socializes with other people. It can also

relate to how a child makes friends and whether he or she has a sense of

belongingness.

Intervention. Occurs intermediately when a child comes in six months to

the agency or custody between points of time or events (Merriam Webster,

2013).s
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Chapter II

METHOD

This chapter discusses the research design, research subject, research

instruments and procedures in gathering the information needed.

Research Design

This study employed a survey research design to identify the specific

intervention of the social well-being of abandoned children in Padre Pio and

Field of Dreams in Davao City to serve as a basis for an intervention. This

research method also measures the level of the social well-being of the

respondents. This research aims to describe the particular intervention

needed of the abandoned children in residential homes. This study conducted

a correct and significant survey. The single variable design of the

questionnaire depends very much on the type of study and the target children

and is believed to influence the outcome variable (Shuttleworth, 2013).

Research Subject

The respondents of this study were sixty (60) abandoned children in

selected residential homes in Davao City that were being catered by the Field

of Dreams and Padre Pio. In picking the respondents of this study, the

researchers selected through random sampling method. The selection of

groups of children participating in the study was carried out by the resource

persons from the Field of Dreams and Padre Pio according to the following

criteria: settlement to participate in the survey, awareness of their

 25

abandonment without many details, the inclusion of children of both genders,

and the addition of children in length of stay.

The respondents who constituted the study's subject group have

experiences in this field. But they have different backgrounds; some of the

abandoned children were only given an external need such as food, shelter

clothing, and other basic necessities without providing emotional support and

learning practices. Some of the intervention was a hindrance to the

development of the abandoned children such as giving them punishments.

Research Instrument

The research instrument that was used in the study was a researcher-

made questionnaire. The survey questionnaire was composed of 30

statements. The data gathering instrument was composed of two parts. Part I

consist of the questions regarding the social well-being for the intervention of

the respondents. Included in the questionnaire are the following indicators:

Emotional skills, Social skills, and Learning skills. Part II is comprised of

questions regarding the level of social well-being of the respondents. Included

in the questionnaire are the following indicators: school life, home life, and

community life. The respondents were instructed to answer the questions by

choosing the number corresponding to their answer. The data can be

categorized by the range of means of 0.05-2.49 as low, 2.50-3.49 as average

and 3.50-4.49 as high. The researchers used the basis of interpretations as

follows:
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The range of Mean Description Interpretation

Score in Likert Scale

4.2 to 5.0 VERY HIGH This means that the
social wellbeing is very
high.
3.4 to 4.19 HIGH This means that the
social welfare is high.
2.6 to 3.39 MODERATE This means that the
social wellbeing is
average.
1.8 to 2.59 LOW This means that the
social wellbeing is low.
1.0 to 1.79 VERY LOW This means that the
social welfare is very
low.

Data Gathering Procedure

The procedure conducted in this study involves the following steps:

1. Asking permission to do the research .The researchers wrote a letter

for the approval of the survey to be conducted from the two agencies:

Field of Dreams and Padre Pio.

2. Construction and validation of the questionnaire. The researcher made

the survey questioner for the respondents.

3. Distribution and retrieval of the questionnaire. The questionnaire was

distributed to the respondents to get the rating that served as a basis in

determining the level of social well-being for intervention among the

respondents.

4. Analysis and interpretation of data. The questionnaire gathered from

the respondents after which the data collected were tallied and

analyzed.

Statistical Treatment of Data

 27

The study used the following analytical tools:

1. Mean. This was used to describe the level of social well-being among

the respondents.

2. Standard deviation. This was used to quantify the amount of variation

or dispersion of a set of data values.

Chapter III
 28

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This section presents the analyzed data and the discussion of the

results. The presentation was arranged as follows: Level of Social Well-being

of Abandoned Children in Padre Pio and Field of Dreams in Davao City: Basis

for Intervention.

Level of Social Well-Being Among the Respondents

The table 1 shows the level of social wellbeing of abandoned children

in Padre Pio and Field of Dreams in Davao City: basis for intervention. The

happiness of abandoned children while staying at the residential homes has a

total mean of 4.39 with the descriptive equivalent of very high. This means

that most of the abandoned children who lived at the agency are happy in

their present lives. Meaning to say that the happiness of the children had an

overwhelming advantage that emphasizes on their performances. On

average, a happy child is more successful in life than an unhappy child both at

work and love (Barker, 2014). Even though the children were left behind by

their biological parents, the contentment of the child is stable.

Specifically, the respondents agreed that their cognitive had a very

high result, and this was reflected in the mean rating of 4.24, which was

described as very high. Findings implied that abandoned children were

obedient and tactful regarding following the guidelines and instruction in the

agency, also the resolution of all problems, and absorb the learning inside the

residency. Family origin (Creating A Family, 2014).

Table 1. Social Well-Being of Abandoned Children.

 29

Indicators Mean SD Description

Happiness 4.39 .563 Very High
Cognitive 4.24 .686 Very High
Satisfaction 4.23 .760 Very High
Engagement 4.10 .796 High
Optimism 4.13 .611 High
Perseverance 4.16 .740 High
Empathy 4.14 .687 High
Pro-social 3.94 .769 High
Self-esteem 4.18 .758 High

Also, respondents agreed that their satisfaction has very high numbers,

and this was reflected in the total mean rating of 4.23, which was described as

very high. Finding implied that abandoned children are satisfied with the

programs and services of their center. Findings confirmed to the SOS

Children's Villages have established more facilities and programmed that

aimed to strengthen the abandoned children.

Moreover, respondents agreed that their engagement is high, and this

was reflected in the total mean rating of 4.10. Finding implied that the

abandoned child is active and participative in the agency’s activities. Despite

being a left, the residential institution provides psycho-social support through

activities like self-evaluation, open forum, and group sharing. Their objective

is to the regeneration of strength, activation of resources, improve and

stabilize the mental and emotional situation of the children (MARIPHIL

Children's Village, 2013).

Furthermore, respondents agreed that their optimism is high, and this

was reflected in the total mean rating of 4.13, which was described as tall.

The finding shows that abandoned children are optimistic to overcome their

difficulties in life. Even though their parents left them, they are pursuing and
 30

striving to work out the things independently. However sometimes, when the

children are placed in the unpleasant residential home, they are facing

numerous threats to development because of the exposure to maltreatment

and the foster care experience, and then their optimistic attitude (McAuliffe,

2007).

Undoubtedly, respondents agreed that their perseverance is high, and

this was reflected in the total mean rating of 4.16. The finding shows that

abandoned children were persevered to finish their homework on time

because the agency gives an allocation time to work on their school works at

night. Findings implied that the objective of the agency is to promote a holistic

approach to education which allows each child the opportunity to grow and

learn as suits them best (SOS Children's Villages Tanzania, 2018).

Additionally, respondents agreed that their empathy has high, and this

was reflected in the total mean rating of 4.14. Finding shows that the children

have a sense of understanding of their cowards, classmates, and

houseparent. To be more empathetic and supportive to the abandoned child,

the agency has an intervention to learn to suppress their own emotion which

is known to increase physiological responses to stress (Fox, 2016).

Also, respondents agreed that their pro-social has high, and this was

reflected in the total mean rating of 3.94, which was described as tall. The

finding means that the abandoned children have a consistency regarding

sharing their feeling to their assigned houseparent or social worker. Pro-social

is not just helping, sharing, co-operating, and volunteering, as well just

obeying the rules and conforming to socially accepted behaviors.

 31

Further respondents agreed that their self-esteem has high, and this

was reflected in the mean rating of 4.18, which was described as tall. Finding

means that the confidences of abandoned children are elevated because of

the activity of the agency that could exercise their self-confidence and have a

positive future. Even though the child was left by their parents, they

continuously develop their qualities as one beneficiary of the center.

Table 2. Social Well-being of Abandoned Children when analyzed by sex.

Variables Group Mean SD

Social Wellbeing Male 3.60 .456

Female 3.86 .363

In table 2, it shows the results and the differences of values of Social

Well-being of Abandoned Children when analyzed by sex. The female

respondents have to mean of 3.86 which was described as high. Finding

means that the female respondents have high social well-being because

they're socially interactive, and have a higher attendance of participation

compared with male respondents. Also, females are much less likely to be

seriously at their school or homework, following the rules and regulation of the

residential homes (Ministry of Social Development, 2016). Findings confirmed

by (Jennifer, 2009) in the shelter, they were advocated special programs for a

female like tutorial session and spiritual practice who have special needs. The

purpose of this intervention is to enhance the educational experience of the

children.

Table 3. Social Well Being of Abandoned Children when analyzed by the

length of stay.
 32

Length of Stay Mean SD

1 to 3 years 3.60 .452
4 to 6 years 3.88 .404
Seven years and above 3.85 .232

The Social Well-Being of Abandoned Children in table 3 when

analyzed by length of stay, the mean of 4 to 6 years staying at the residential

homes has 3.88, described as high. Meaning to say, that there is a high level

of social well-being for the abandoned children when analyzed by the length

of stay. The finding implies that abandoned children who stay longer in the

residential homes, their social welfare is increasing. Finding conformed by

(Wexler, 2008) that the child abandonment has pure "social contract" with

their houseparent and social work. The foster parents give unconditional love,

respect, and concrete help to the children; so that they feel that they are

loved, protected and respected. However, (Ali, 2008) not agreed in the length

of stay of the foster children. When the abandoned children stayed longer in

the foster homes, some of them are suffering from social skills, anger

management, and criminal involvement, because of some of the agency who

catered (100) one-hundred clients, they could not be able to monitor and

guide to them to the fullest.

28

Chapter IV

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATION

This section provides the summary of findings, conclusion and

recommendation for this study.

 33

Summary of Findings

This study was conducted to determine the social wellbeing of

abandoned children in Padre Pio and Field of Dreams in Davao City: basis for

intervention. Happiness was the first indicator with an overall mean of 4.39 or

very high in its description. It showed that the abandoned children enjoyed

staying at the residential homes. Cognitive was the second indicator which

had an overall mean of 4.24 or very high in its description. It shows that

children were obedient in following the rule and regulation of the agency.

Satisfaction was the third indicator which had an overall mean of 4.23 or very

high in its description. It showed that abandoned children were satisfied

staying at the agency.

Engagement was the fourth indicator which had an overall mean of

4.10 or high in its description. It showed that the abandoned children were

active and participative in the residences. Optimism was the fifth indicator

which had an overall mean of 4.13 or high in its description. It showed that the

abandoned children were optimistic in overcoming their goals and objectives

in life. Perseverance was the sixth indicator which had an overall mean of

4.16 or high in its description. It showed that the children persevered in multi-

tasking. Empathy was the seventh indicator which had a global way of 4.14 or

high in its description. It shows that the abandoned children had an increasing

level of understanding of one's self. Pro-social was the eighth indicator which

had an overall mean of 3.94 or high in its description. It showed that children

were expressive and had a sense of acceptance. Self-esteem was the ninth

indicator which had an overall mean of 4.18 or high in its description. It

 34

showed that the abandoned children had the self-confidence to have a

positive future.

In the respondents regarding sex, the female has a total mean rating of

3.86 which was described as high, compared to the male which had an overall

mean score of 3.60. It showed that the abandoned female children had high

social wellbeing in residential homes.

Conclusions

Based on the preceding findings, the following conclusions was drawn:

Based on the results the social wellbeing of the abandoned children

regarding happiness, cognitive, and satisfaction had a perfect percentage. All

of the abandoned children were having a good intervention by their

houseparent, executive director, and social workers inside the agency. They

were guided to have a contented life because of the concept of intervention

which was to help them provide an alternative family. There were siblings but

mostly not blood-related and guided by a houseparent who took over the role

of being their birth mother. The family bond and supportive relationship were

developed in every home. Findings implied that the children were able to

create and enhance their social well-being in a positive way while staying at

the selective agencies.

Also, the female respondents had high social well-being because of their

social interaction, self-actualization and higher participation attendance

towards arts, singing, and cultural activities compared with males. Females

were much likely to be serious at their school or homework, following the rules

and regulation of the residential homes. Therefore, the abandoned female

 35

children were easily coming up with the instruction of the agency compared to

males.

Recommendations

As students of the University of Mindanao, we highly proposed the

intervention from Boystown Davao, the Pre Integration and Integration to the

young men, it provides gradually expose to the world of work through

apprenticeship, scholarship for college and on the job training, on this

interference, the boys will be increase their social wellbeing in terms of

engagement, optimism, perseverance, empathy pro-social, and self-esteem.

The young men stands to their own enter the world of work and settle in new

communities (WAFDI-Boystown Davao).

The residential home social workers and houseparent should continue

their strategies and techniques to captivate the heart of the abandoned

children, to help them build their own experiences and interventions inside the

foster care. Also as future researchers, this study is recommended as a

source of information in gathering some related studies.

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