Banaue, Philippines Januaray 24 - February 12, 2007
From the blistering heat of Manila, I made my way north to the Philippine Mountain Province for a three week stay in Banaue, home to the 'eighth wonder of the world' and Noah's Ark home for Children.
Although Noah's Ark is technically an orphanage, most of the children here aren't technically orphans. Because poverty in the Philippines is rampant, many of the children here have families who simply can't afford to feed and care for them. Often there are already too many children for the family to support. Some of the older children are sent here so that they can have a chance to attend (public) school and later on help support the other siblings. But regardless of the family left behind, the children surely find a family here.
A far cry from Oliver Twist or the little orphan Annie, the atmostphere in Noah's Ark is warm and cheerful despite the damp cold climate (reaching a chilling NINE DEGREES during my stay!). A four story white building sitting high on a cliff with a spectacular view of the Banue rice terraces - assuming you can see them through the fog. On a clear day it's probably one of the best views in town.
There are about 37 children living at Noah's Ark in total, with a full time staff of 20 to care for them. All of the children at the orphanage (along with another 100 plus from the surrounding community) are sponsored - given $30 a month - by someone in Canada or America. For the high school kids, if they make good grades and don't get into trouble, Linda (the Canadian Missionary who runs Noah's Ark) will send them to college. This is an opportunity they would never otherwise have. Most of the kids with families don't have much of a chance of ever being adopted. Because, although it is okay to let someone else raise your child in the Philippines, it is extremely shameful to let someone from outside of the family adopt them. A big concern for the families is that if the child is adopted there will be no one left to take care of the parents come their old age.
Although many of the children come from impoverish homes, some broken and dysfunctional, with nowhere else to go, they are constantly smiling and singing. They older ones help take care of the little ones. And the toddlers will climb all over you wanting a piece of your love and affection. Being as cute as they are they don't have to
ask very hard.
At times its heart breaking when you think about the situations they must have come from to eventually find there way here, but mostly heart warming when you become a witness to the community fostered inside the buildings white washed concrete walls.
A view of the Rice Terraces and Valley
Me after a 9 hour winding bumpy bus ride from Manila
Noah's Ark
The Kitchen
Some staff sorting laundry
Working hard at tiling a wading pool for the toddlers and dogs
Elvis and Mama Lechon
babies
Me and dinner (just joking)(Noah's Ark also raises chickens and rabbits and dogs (but the dogs aren't for eating))
The local high school
That's Romaline - 15, one of the Noah's Ark kids
Banaue - in the Market
The poverty
Neil and Fances(Canadian missionaries visiting the orphanage at the same time as myself)
The kids:(Dudes (5), Noah (4), Darianna (3), Jericho (4), Jon Jon (3), Van Chong (2))
Saturdays:
On a Saturday afternoon the kids can be found playing jackstones or jump rope, when they are not working to pitch in around the house. No X-box in site, the nearest shopping mall or movie theater is hours away.
