Former deserted child returns to orphanage to celebrate birthday with settlement kids

MANILA, Philippines — A woman from Olangapo City returned to the Manila orphanage where she spent some years of her childhood and recalled how it was to live there.

Rosa Maria Magallanes returned to Asociacion de Damas de Filipinas Inc. (ADFI) orphanage and settlement house in Manila to celebrate her birthday last December 16 with ADFI’s beneficiary children. She narrated to Philstar.com her years spent in the orphanage.

According to Rosa, she was in Grade 4 in the ‘60s when her mom left her in the orphanage’s care. 

“Dito ako iniwan ng nanay ko nang one year mahigit,” she recalled. “Masaya, malungkot, pero marami akong natutunan dito.”

Rosa, like the rest of the house’s orphans and underprivileged children under its care, went to the nearby Paco Elementary School to continue their education.

“D’un ako kinumpilan, d’un ako nag-First Communion. ‘Yung aking ninang ‘yung social worker…” she continued.

Apart from celebrating their birthdays, the orphanage also groomed the kids to star in plays, and also to go on field trips.

“Na-meet ko si Rosa Rosal. Binigyan kami ng regalo, Manila Zoo. Masaya, masaya. Maraming magagandang formation dito. Tinuruan kami ng magandang asal. Up to now, sa pagdarasal, ‘yun ‘yung natutunan ko,” she reminisced. 

“Napakaraming magagandang alaala, natutunan. Natuto ka magluto, mag-alaga ng bata, at saka ‘pag may emergency, nand’yan kami sa slide…” she shared some of her memories, including using the orphanage’s slide, which saved many of the house’s orphans and workers when a devastating fire broke out in 1998.

“Nagpapasalamat ako kay dating pangulong Joseph Estrada kasi nu’ng nasunod ito, talagang iyak ako nang iyak at buti naibalik n’ya ulit,” she said of the fire that razed the then almost 80-year-old wooden orphanage, killing at least 29 babies and children and four of the children’s caregivers.

Life turned out good for Maria eventually. Her mom retrieved her from the settlement house. She went on to marry, have a family, and even move to the United States.

“Nitong couple of months ago, naisip ko na kailangan kong bumalik sa settlement house kasi malaking bahagi ng buhay ko nasa settlement house. So natutuwa ako na in God’s time, in