The CRIBS Blog

by Dine Racoma

Here’s sharing with you a Christmas message–A Perfect Christmas, from Kuya G, a hospital chaplain. He sent this mesage through The D Spot.

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I arrived in the Philippines 18 years ago and soon was greeted by Jose Mary Chan (JMC)’s “A Perfect Christmas” on the Philippine air waves. It has been my theme song since then. Of course one can argue that there is no perfect Christmas, especially now that there are more bad news about global recession and what impacts they may have upon us in the coming year. The world was in a  similar mood of gloom and doom when a baby was born in a manger about 2,000 years ago–almost no one cared except a few shepherds and curious foreigners.“Simple pleasures are made special, too, when they’re shared with you..”  JMC croons on the radio, telling us about his idea of a perfect Christmas.

“Looking through some old photographs, watching busy shopper’s rushing about, sparkling lights all over town, children’s carols in the air…” You can make your own list.

How about embracing a child today? Looking at her eyes and find again in our heart the awe and wonder for life, reminding us that God wants to dwell with us, embracing our humanity, and gives us courage and hope?

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by B.A. Racoma

I never really got the hang of leaving the CRIBS home. After 6 months of regular volunteering, you’d think a person would be used to just having only two hours every week of visiting these kids.

But no.

Every week there is something that pinches my heart whenever I bid and hug and kiss the babies goodbye.

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by Dine Racoma

During the past few months that I have been visiting CRIBS, I had one outstanding observation among the crawlers and toddlers–they are not difficult to feed, and they are not really difficult to take care of. Young babies that they are, from infants to 2 years old, or slightly older, they are pretty much different from our pampered children. By pampered, I mean children who are being take cared of by parents, yayas, or relatives.

The kids who are in an orphanage, at least in CRIBS, seem to be by default, a disciplined lot–maybe because they have no choice. Or maybe, by routine, by instinct or by they way they are raised, they know that they have no particular person to rely on, except the caregivers who are here now and gone tomorrow, the volunteers who come and go, and the regular staff who are there but not really interacting with them on a regular basis, like the kitchen staff, admin staff, cleaning staff, nurses, doctors, and caregivers. Read the rest of this entry »

by Dine Racoma

What are these shoes and slippers for? Who own them?

What are they doing in CRIBS’ doorstep? Read the rest of this entry »

by Angela Racoma

My experience in CRIBS is something that I will always treasure and keep with me, as I grow older and even when I already have children of my own. It is an experience, which I can say have helped me become the person I am right now and the person I will be in the future. Ever since I was a child, I dreamt of becoming a pediatrician or a pre-school teacher. With this experience, I became more inspired to continue this, especially now that we are already preparing for college.

Last October 2007, my nephew, who was only six weeks old, died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. At first, we were all shocked and got depressed over what happened. It was like, God sent us an angel whom we did not expect would leave us too soon to fly back to Him. We all know that the moment we were born, we already start dying, but what we do not know is when it will actually happen. How come some children were fortunate enough to live but not fortunate enough to have parents who will take care of them, while some parents are capable of taking care of a child, but not fortunate enough to have one? In the end, all we can do is understand that things happen for a reason that we may not always understand, and not always have to understand.

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by Dine Racoma

Every now and then, when we visit on Sundays, we would hear about this little boy or this little girl who have been taken away from CRIBS by his or her adoptive parents. It’s a mixed feeling among the staff and the volunteers–for we all know that this tiny tot will be in good hands, after going through all the legalities and procedures for adoption. Feelings of joy because this tiny tot will now start a new life–with a real family. Sadness, because we, especially the staff, will miss the tiny tot–who they have taken for a year or two.

These little children have somehow become a part of our lives. What with acting as pseudo parents, feeding them, playing with them, taking care of them. The full time staff on the other hand, stay with them almost the whole day, or whole night in shifts,  bathing them, dressing them up, putting them to sleep, even disciplining them. Oh yes, they get a surplus of hugs and kisses from the staff, both administrative and those directly handling them–nurses, therapists, caregivers, clinicians, doctors, etc. They see to it that the kids celebrate their birthdays, with cakes and all, coordinate with volunteers for the kids’ spiritual needs, and when a child gets sick, give individual care, accompanying him or her to the hospital when confined.

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by: Dine Racoma

What could be a more meaningful way to celebrate 3 birthdays than celebrating it with the staff and wards of CRIBS?

Anna Lissa Payawal, her younger sister Anna Magarita and 9-year old Acusha celebrated their birthdays today in CRIBS.

The elder Anna has known CRIBS since her college days, and promised herself that when she finishes her studies and becomes successful with her career, she would come back.

Now she is back with younger sister Anna and Acusha, who both believe that birthdays are meant to be shared.

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Welcome to CRIBS!Wherever you may be, here in the Philippines or another part of the world, we invite you to pass through our gates, enter our home and share in the challenges, hopes and dreams of our abandoned babies or sexually abused young girls, as well as the people who devote themselves to their care.Join us as we endeavor to heal and rebuild the shattered trust, hope and joy in their lives.

by Dine Racoma

Babies cry for so many reasons—they are hungry, bored, in pain, cold, thirsty, want to be cuddled, not comfortable, or in pain. They cry because it is the only way of communication that they know.  New mothers may be upset and frustrated in the beginning, because they do not yet understand why infants would cry, and continue to cry no matter what they do. But as the days go along, they begin understand their babies better, and with the pattern of their crying on the onset, they would anticipate their needs.

A mother would know if the baby is hungry, tired (yes, babies do get tired, and bored, too), uncomfortable (change of diapers, please), feeling cold, hot, just wanting to be cuddled, and sometimes—sick.  Something may be genuinely wrong if the baby does not stop crying, more so if the crying becomes high-pitched. On the other hand, something may be wrong if a baby who is usually a “cry baby” or normally an “unhappy baby” is unusually quiet. It may mean that something is not right.

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Blogging is a very new, and I would admit, a strange concept to me.  I only got to really know what it was when, a few weeks ago, the principal of my daughter’s alma mater wanted to speak with me because my daughter said something in the blog that seemed to have given a bad impression about their school.  I told myself, this blog thing must be great because it seemed to have a broad reach just in a click of one’s fingers!After I opened the blog created for us by one of our dear volunteers, Dine Racoma, I just knew this was what I want for CRIBS—a space where people can share, exchange ideas and be touched. I am amazed at how dynamic and interactive it can be between and among peoples who may never get the chance to see each other, but be bound by deep and profound experiences brought about by each one’s desire to help our children who are under the most difficult circumstances in their lives—abandoned, surrendered or abused by people they look up to for love and protection. Read the rest of this entry »