NORFIL Calls for More Foster Families for Abandoned and Orphaned Children

David (not his real name), aged six, was born out of wedlock.

“Right after birth, the mother decided to give the baby away,” says Sheryl Gay Mayol, social worker of NORFIL Foundation, Inc, a child placing agency.

In the case summary report of David, it was found out that he lived in an institutional center, whose staff described him as “difficult to communicate with.” He rarely talked that instead of explaining what went wrong, he would react and responded aggressively.

David is just one of the many abandoned, neglected, and orphaned boys in an institution.

Under the Foster Care Act of 2012, the Philippine government recognizes that neglected, abused, or abandoned children, including those with special needs will benefit more from foster care than institutional care.

“Foster care is the recommended ancillary when the child’s biological parents cannot care temporarily or permanently for his welfare,” explained Angelina Dungog, area manager of NORFIL in Cebu. “We believe that a child should have full-time attention, should experience warmth of a family setting and personal care in a normal and wholesome family setting.”

Pepita and Evelyn: giver of love

Forty-seven year old Pepita Dayonot from Lapu-lapu City is the foster mother of David. She has fostered four children since 2011. For this interview, Dayonot narrates how it feels to take care of a child who grows up with no parents.

“I decided to become a foster parent for me to share my love to children who are in need of parents’ love. I, too, grew up with no parents and it’s not an easy thing,” Dayonot said.

These days, David is receptive to the kindness and love of the Dayonots.

“Ganahan ko dinhi kay naa koy mama, naa koy papa, naa koy ate, naa koy kuya (I like here because I have a mother, a father, a brother, and sisters),” says David who exudes a cheerful aura.

Evelyn Compleza, 53, from Cordova, Cebu a memorable foster phase in her life re-emerges each time she brings home a kid. Compleza has fostered 21 children since 1998. “What I consider most precious is the memory of children whose lives have been restored because of the care and love that we, foster parents, have given to them.”

Dayonot and Compleza are licensed and active foster parents of NORFIL Foundation. The foster care program of NORFIL is now 23 years old in operations. It is the only non-government organization that promotes foster care in Cebu, which is continually developing and maintaining a pool of licensed foster families.

“Our long experience in foster care has enabled us to witness how children grow and develop in the warmth of loving families, a reason why NORFIL actively recruits families that meet our foster parenting requirements,” Dungog said.

To become a foster parent, one must be of legal age; must have genuine interest, capacity and commitment in parenting to provide a familial atmosphere for the child; must have a healthy and harmonious relationship with each family member living with him or her; of good moral character; physically and mentally capable and emotionally mature; have sufficient resources to provide for the family’s needs; willing to be trained to improve his/her knowledge, attitudes and skills in caring for a child; and must not already have children below three years old to prevent child or sibling rivalry.

As of February 2015, the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 has recorded 52 active foster children in Cebu, 33 of which are under the care of NORFIL.

For more information on NORFIL’s Foster Care Program, please call 340-1170 and look for Sheryl Gay Mayol.