A Jollibee Party Comes to Puypuy

Children at CCT's boarding school in Puypuy, Laguna are all smiles at their very first Jollibee party.

Chantielle Labadan, a student at UP Los Banos, celebrated her 23rd birthday with former street children at CCT's Rose of Sharon House of Friendship boarding school in Puypuy, Laguna. "I wanted to celebrate my birthday in a meaningful way this year," she said. She held a Jollibee party with the children on July 6, complete with balloons, games and prizes, a cake, and the Jollibee mascot.

The Rose of Sharon House of Friendship, run by the Visions of Hope Foundation of the Center for Community Transformation Group of Ministries, currently houses 39 children, most of whom were rescued from a life on the street. The boarding school leads them to have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and equips them to become responsible and productive citizens of the country. Here they have an opportunity to get excellent Bible-based education in the classroom and through outdoor hands-on experiences, through sports and arts.

During an earlier visit, Chantielle learned of the needs of the children, so instead of the typical loot bag with candy and gum, she gave each child a small school bag, slippers, an oral health kit, a notebook, a coloring book, a pencil, and crayons.

Her husband, Aloboy Labalan, plans to also celebrate his next birthday with the Puypuy children.

Birthday girl Chantielle Labadan
with husband Aloboy and daughter Mafi.

Tintin (left) and Itay.

Jomenel and Jade (in blue and white dress)
playing in the cup relay.
It was also Jade's birthday.

Titus beams with delight after winning the cup relay.

Riza and Nino play musical chairs.

Ralf (left) and Arvin.

Chantielle, her family, and the Puypuy boys.

Chantielle and her friends.

Ella opens the loot bag...

....smiles happily.....

....and poses for the camera.

Sed gets a big hug from Jollibee...

....and so does Cong-cong.

Congcong and Grace with Jollibee.

Here and below, the children say, "Happy birthday, Ate Shanty!"

 Photos and reporting: Ciara Tan

Arsenio's Testimony

Arsenio, a little boy who used to live on the streets of Manila, talks about how his life has changed and about the new hope he now has. 

Boarding School Grounds

The Rose of Sharon House of Friendship is a boarding school run by CCT in Puypuy, Laguna.  Opened in July 2009, it houses 28 Kaibigan children between the ages of two and twelve years old. Their parents are all part of CCT’s Kaibigan outreach program, based in Manila. 

Most of the children were born on the streets and lived their whole lives there. Forced to eat food out of the garbage bins, they were never taught even the most basic life skills. “Most of the children were physically or sexually abused. When they arrive at Puypuy, they are angry and hostile, they don’t trust anyone,” said Mrs Evelyn Pantoja, the School’s Education Program Manager.

Every day they spend on the streets is damaging. Not only possibly physically, but mentally. Puypuy provides a safe place away from the streets and and begins the long process of rehabilitation. The school is designed to break the homelessness cycle.

They learn personal hygiene, manners and toilet training. CCT helps improve their health, teamwork and instill a sense of responsibility through a sports development programs and chores such as gardening and cleaning. 

18 of the children are taught at the boarding school, undergoing the BLESS reading program where they learn English, or in the case of the toddlers, simple developmental activities. The other 10 children go to a local public school. A larger school and further accommodation for 200 will begin construction in January 2011.

Two ‘House Mothers’ live on the school’s grounds, looking after the children 24/7. Two other teachers, the school’s manager, cook and maintenance employees live nearby.

The children’s parents can visit and usually do so once a month.

“The change is amazing though, even after five months. Most of them now want to be pastors or teachers. When they arrived they wanted to be Police, so they could get revenge,” Mrs Pantoja said.

Janine, a typically healthy and cheerful nine year old at Puypuy said, “I want to be a missionary so I can reach out to other children like me.”

Dining area

Children's sleeping quarters

Administration Building

Classroom

Children singing during class

Staff quarters

Staff quarters

Teachers and students

Vegetable plot

Center For Community Transformation (CCT)

The Center for Community Transformation Group of Ministries is an organized Christian response against poverty and social injustice.  This is carried out through the fusion of social development initiatives and evangelical mission in a uniquely Filipino context.  It serves urban and rural poor communities throughout the Philippines in pursuit of its desire to see changed lives, strong families, and transformed communities centered on the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  

It was founded in 1992 by development practitioners who believe that development strategies could best be achieved by enriching the spirituality of a person.  Over the years, the Lord has enabled the organization to deliver wholistic, sustainable, and integrated community-based programs and services that cater to the needs of the whole family.  These services have opened opportunities for the community partners to grow and reach their full potentials as individuals created in the image and likeness of God. 

VISION

We hope to see Christ-centered faith communities where Jesus Christ is honored and worshiped and where people live in dignity and sufficiency in accordance with God's plan for a just, humane, and caring society. 

MISSION

As followers of Jesus Christ, we join the Holy Spirit in God's work of transforming lives and communities. 

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

• Provision of wholistic and integrated services
• Training of servant leaders who will act as agents of transformation
• Establishment of community-based organizations/institutions composed of the poor themselves which will serve as instruments for action and change

DISTINCTIVE

• We are Christian. We do everything for the glory of God, according to Biblical principles.
• We are Filipino. The Center for Community Transformation Group of Ministries was organized and is funded, governed, and managed by Filipinos.
• We are a Prayerful, Worshiping, Serving, Witnessing, Discipling, Learning and Teaching group

TARGET GROUPS

• Micro-entrepreneurs
• Informal Service Workers
• Street dwellers
• Children and Youth
• B'laans 

Welcome!

Dear Ministry Partner,

Welcome to CCT's online reporting system.

This website is dedicated to keeping you up to date with the building progress of the Rose of Sharon House of Friendship Boarding School. It will be regularly updated with photos, videos and written reports.

We hope you enjoy this new reporting format and that it satisfies your reporting needs. Please feel free to contact us if have any questions or requests.

Thank very much for your support of CCT.

Warm regards,

The CCT team