- Sun Moon
You can read the first part here.
A friend told me about Sun and Moon Home for Children. This is its story:
After its successful opening in London, “Miss Saigon” went on to open in other major cities in the world. Every year since then, Claude-Michel Schonberg became a familiar face in Manila, developing friendships and most specially developing a deep sympathy for the Filipino child.
It was on one of these many trips that he started visiting orphanages and hospices and thereupon developed a strong sense of mission for those abandoned.
Soon after, he gathered some of his closest Filipino friends and form Sun and Moon Foundation, Inc.
The foundation then established the Sun and Moon Home for Children to care for severely malnourished children, who have been orphaned, abandoned, neglected or surrendered.
Okay, it was years ago that Claude-Michel Schonberg told me about Sun and Moon. At that time, I had nothing to give, and I did not know what he wanted me to do for his foundation.
So I did nothing.
This year I decided I would do something – I would visit. And I did, with my daughter and my son and my husband in tow.
I thought when I did this, it would be for the children (cause this time, I had something to give).
How wrong I was.
We were surprised at how beautiful the place was – the lawn was manicured, there was a swimming pool, the playroom (and every room) was clean, and when we looked in, the babies and small children (ages 1-3) were sleeping soundly. When they woke up, they were well-mannered and played with my children and shared their toys. The caregivers looked involved and caring, and had stories of where the children will go and which families are taking them in – a new life, a new future, for babies who were once unwanted.
Elsa (not her real name) is going to Spain.
John (not his real name) is going to Canada.
Manang Tessie, the caregiver who had been with Sun and Moon since its inception, had stories of the other children who left but then came back, some searching for their parents, others just expressing their gratitude at having had a new lease on life. But there were also those who never came back.
She thanked me over and over for coming. I thanked her over and over for having us.
I realized – one does not need great passion to feel, or great wealth to help. Presence and doing something – even if it is as mundane as looking someone in the eye and communicating care, kindness, compassion – make a world of difference. There really is nothing more pure, nothing more honest or trusting than the gaze of a child, and nothing needs protection or love or assurance more.
I looked at my children as they were playing, all innocence and fun and laughter. And I saw that my daughter looked at me, with something like happiness in her eyes. She told me with that gaze that she understood what I am trying to make her understand – that we are here in this world not just for ourselves but for others – to uplift, to give, to cradle and encircle and enfold – because we should, because we can.
No, nothing is more rewarding.
So you see, this visit was not only for the children of Sun and Moon, but for me, for us.
Article by Issa. Photo by Danvic Briones. Copyright 2011.
Website: www.YouWantToBeRich.com
Email: issa@youwanttoberich.com
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