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"A Paradise for the Kids"
Every week in our updates we will give you a little history of one of the children at the home. This week's child is Dave Arlon Manalo.
The parents of Dave and his two siblings were Dennis and Analiza Manalo. Dave's father was a laborer and his mother was a homemaker. His father's income was enough to meet their daily needs.
On August 7, 2007 Dave's father was killed by one of their neighbors. The case was settled through a financial arrangement amounting to $600 being paid by the accused to Dave's family.
After having received the money Dave's mother took him and his two siblings to Manila. After two months the children were brought back to Bugtong to live with their grandparents. Their mother abandoned them and was not heard from again.
The grandparents of Dave and his two siblings became their guardians. In order to survive the children gathered bottles from the garbage and sold them to buy bread. Even though their grandparents were very poor they made sure that the kids were in school.
The grandparents decided to put the kids into an institution because they could no longer afford to support them. None of their relatives could support them either because of their own economic hardships.
When Dave Arlon arrived at the home he was observed to be a smart boy but a little bit of a naughty one. He was quite serious but responded when he was called. He was small for his age. He had a dark complexion and was thin and untidy. He easily forgot his past and adjusted well to his new environment.
Personal Note: I met Dave during my visit to the children's home and remember him well. He was a very happy and out going little boy. He loved to talk to me and spoke pretty good English. I really liked this little guy.
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