Visions of Hope: Formal Groundbreaking Held for VOH Christian School

Left to right: Lawrence delos Santos, Visions of Hope Foundation, Inc. (VOH) vice chairman; Ramon Rocha III,
VOH trustee; Ruth Uy, VOH treasurer; Ruth Callanta, CCT president; James Tioco, VOH chairman.

A formal groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 19, 2011 to mark the beginning of construction of the Visions of Hope Christian School at the Rose of Sharon House of Friendship in Puypuy, Bay, Laguna. Facilities to be built include a chapel, a two-storey academic building, a three-story dormitory building, a cafeteria, and a six-lane swimming pool.

The VOH Christian School in Puypuy is a boarding school for children from street-dwelling families. It is an offshoot of the Kaibigan Ministry, CCT's ministry to street-dwellers.

The Rose of Sharon House of Friendship is a two-hectare piece of property donated to CCT by board trustee Rosie Chew shortly before she passed away in 2007. The place was Miss Chew's private rest house; it was open to the Christian public as a venue for spiritual retreats and the like.

It is the vision and prayer of CCT to raise the former street children according to Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

VOH hopes to:

see the children develop in character
see the children have a personal and growing relationship with the Lord.
give them academic skills that will prepare them for the outside world as well as develop in them a sense of nationalism and cultural rootedness.

It is hoped that the children will grow up with a sense of purpose, and receive better life opportunities than their parents ever had, and that when they are grown they will in turn give back to the community and help those in situations similar to where they were before.

Opening prayer: Pastor Dave Campanero

Shiera Ondangan leads the singing of Holy Ground: "We're standing on holy ground, for the Lord is here and where
He is, is holy."

"We hope to build a home for hundreds of street children, that they may come out of the darkness into the light,"
says Lawrence delos Santos in his welcome remarks. "Hope with us!"

Stephanie delos Santos, VOH Christian School trustee, describes the facilities to be constructed.

Dance offering: CCT Dance Troupe

Jervie Lumbay shares his testimony: "My father was always out of a job. My grandmother didn't want us to
live with her anymore. My family had to start living on the street. We had to beg for food." Jervie
says he wants to be a missionary someday.

Esmeralda Javines, former street dweller: "Things I cannot give my children, the Lord provides through CCT.

Rose of Sharon children sing: "Jesus is my superhero!"

James Tioco, VOH Foundation chairman, shares a message from God's Word: "There is something for us to
discover in Nehemiah 3. The builders of the wall of Jerusalem were united, they were very dedicated to their
task, they had a sense of neighborhood or community. They were grouped according to their skills or talents
-- we need people with various skills to build God's ministry. They did quality work."
His challenge: "God put us here for a purpose. May his vision for bringing eternal hope truly be fulfilled.
Let us search our hearts for what our role will be."

Mrs. Celia Padrid, wife of Bay Mayor Jose Padrid says: "The town of Bay and my own home are open to VOH people."

Anastacia Erasga, Bay social welfare officer says: "The Bay local council is active in programs for the protection
of children."

Herberto Jose Miranda, schools division assistant superintendent for the Department of Education,
Laguna: "Zero drop-out rate is a medium term development goal of the DepEd."

Dionisio Montalvo, pastor of Grand Harvest Church

James Tioco, Stephanie delos Santos, trustee of VOH Christian School, and Bertram Lim, CCT chairman,
lower a time capsule into the ground. The capsule contains a Bible and a copy of the VOH vision
and mission.