OVG SAMPLE CHILDREN HISTORIES

	Born out of wedlock, Faustina Marie, nicknamed“FM”, was brought to the orphanage 8 days after she was born.  Her mother did not believe she could raise her, so she attempted to throw her into the ocean.  Something stopped her, so she brought the child to the orphanage.  For 3 days, Fr. Galias tried to discourage the mother from giving the baby up, but she persisted.  On the third day, the mother left the child at the orphanage, never to return.
	Clemente’s and Gemma’s mother passed away while their father was seriously ill.  Clemente was homeless at the age of four.  Gemma was homeless at the age of two.  Eventually the children were adopted by an old blind beggar woman.  A year later, the blind beggar took sick and could not go around begging.  Consequently, concerned women brought the children to the Philippine Department of Social Welfare, but they were refused entry due to lack of funds.  Having known of their sad plight, Fr. Galias, along with two SMAHE Nuns, came to the children’s rescue and brought these malnourished and homeless brother and sister to the orphanage.
	Angelo, nicknamed “GemGem”, was 1 month old when he was brought, malnourished and skinny, to the orphanage.  His parents were jobless.  His father was sick and passed away one year after he was brought to the orphanage.  His mother left him for the big city of Manila to look for a job to support her 3 other children.
	These five children, pictured with Fr. Galias, are shown in front of the 8’ X 12’ shack they lived in.  No one else lived there.  Thus, all five children were abandoned.  When Fr. Galias and his staff heard about these children, he immediately instructed that they be brought into the orphanage
	Alexander’s jobless father was seriously ill and his mother could hardly feed him.  Alexander is the youngest of 3 children.  He was 1 month old when brought to the Orphanage.
	Ginalyn (being held by one of the SMAHE Sisters), nicknamed “Lyn-Lyn”, was sold by her parents for $40.00 when she was two months old.  Now a teenager, she is healthy and doing well in her schooling.
	John was eight days old and his single mother wanted to kill him.  Carried to the sea shore, his mother thought of throwing him into the sea.  But the cry of the baby pierced the heart of the mother and held her at bay.  She left the sea shore in haste.  Dropping by a friend, she confided her action.  Her friend advised her of the fear of God and therefore, not to kill the baby, but to save his life for God’s greater honor and glory.  The baby was brought to the orphanage where he has grown healthy, strong, and wise.
	Julius was sick with pneumonia, but nobody cared.  His mother and the family did not want him.  In fact, they hated him because he was not just born out of wedlock; he was the result of a rape.  Eight months old, the SMAHE Nuns took him and brought him immediately to the hospital where doctors declared that the baby would have died had he been brought twenty hours later.  Now he finds security, assurance, and comfort with other children at the orphanage.
	Kevin was 6 years old when brought to the orphanage.  His father, a Filipino Army soldier, fought with the local rebels.  His whereabouts was unknown.  His mother, who could not raise him, gave him up.
	Lizalyn was a neglected child after her mother passed away.  When she reached the age of 7, her wereabouts became known to Fr. Galias.  He brought her to the orphanage, where she has prospered and matured.
	Lou Anthony was eight months old when he was abandoned by his mother.  Brought to the orphanage, he has grown, matured, and is very happy.
	Raul was homeless.  He was 14 years old and in first grade when he was transferred by a social worker from the Philippine Social Welfare Administration to the orphanage.
	Marinel was 13 years old and was about to be abducted by an NPA - a band of Filipino communist rebels, when Fr. Galias came to know of her situation through her mother.  She escaped, with Fr. Galias help, to another municipality on another island where she hid for many years.  It was during this period of hiding that Fr. Galias sent Marinel to high school.  Marinel now lives at the orphanage, is safe, happy, and is attending college.
	Michael comes from a remote Filipino barrio.  His father, a farmer, could not send him to school.  A Nun, who is related to Michael, brought him to the orphanage so that he could go to school.  He is doing quite well in high school.
	Myke, nicknamed “JR”,is the result of a rape by the uncle of his 18 year old mother.  After the rape, the mother ran away from home.  When the SMAHE Nuns heard about the situation, they went immediately and brought his mother with her unborn child to the orphanage.  Both mother and “JR” live at the orphanage.  His mother assists the Nuns where help is needed.
	Rosenda is the young girl in the red dress  Her family was so poor she would go to the sea shore to scavage for food.  She stopped schooling and would spend her time roaming around searching for something to eat.  She was10 years old when brought to the orphanage.  Since then, she has prospered and is doing quite well.