ITS EASTER time, the season of renewal of giving and sharing and receiving!!! Halleluia the LORD is Risen and the call is to rejoice!!! The LORD came to save us and indeed HE came to save our disadvantaged, battered and abused children through HIS chosen instruments the Kalipay Negrense Foundation headed by its Founder and President, Anna Balcells.
When GOD creates a new path for you, it may be in the dead of night away from your comfort zone and into the unknown. How you respond to that challenge is totally your choice and by GOD’S grace Anna chose the GOD ordained alley.
It was raining that night when Anna was introduced to an American social worker, his wife and a house full of mostly abandoned children. Anna intended to leave P 1,000 to Phil and Cecilia Seckler but generousity overwhelmed her and left instead a check for P 10,000 and a commitment to help them every month. Two months thereafter, she heard that the couple and their children were losing the house they were renting in Bacolod City. Anna instantly did a “text brigade” to friends – she ended up with pledges, enough to buy the Secklers a house (now known as Haven Home) in Puentebella Subdivision, east of Bacolod City.
Anna heard of more homes that were taking in disadvantaged and abused children and horrified that these homes were run by foreigners with assistance coming from distant shores. It was humiliating that we could not even care for our own especially children who have seen the worst ravages of life. Battered by siblings, raped in infancy by foster fathers or relatives, prostituted at tender ages by dysfunctional parents to sustain an addiction and many more horror stories that we thought were mere backstreet New York scenes from Hollywood movies, are realities that truly exist in our midst.
Haven Home was the start. Anna heard of 2 other homes and that is when the need for a foundation came hence, Kalipay Negrense Foundation was founded. To date, the foundation is supporting three homes in Negros, with two of the homes in Bacolod City: Haven Home has 28 children in Puentebella Subdivision and Calvary Kids Home has 165 children in Handumanan. Recovered Treasures in Bago City has 70 children.
These are truly homes where either kids are brought or rescued. They are not orphanages with a stay term. They can stay forever if they wish. Not only food, clothing and shelter is afforded the children but the most important element of love, love that has been stifled, robbed or deprived these children. Love is the healing factor that metamorphoses these kids to decent, equally loving human beings. Education likewise is afforded them and many have graduated in different aspirations from nursing to education and have or giving back to the homes that have nourished and nurtured them with love.
On March 10 of this year, Anna’s organization Kalipay Negrense Foundation was officially launched on a special night at the La Proa Ballroom of the L’Fisher Hotel. Anna and 8 other members of the Board of Trustees (John Gayoso, Gigi Campos, Bel Tanpinco, Elaine Eleazar, Catherine Caplinger, Jay Abello, Beth Cabuguas, and Lyndon Caña) introduced their foundation to Negros society.
It was a simple dinner to match everyone’s simple elegance but the message that echoed and reechoed the whole evening was the same!!!!!!!!!!!! We cannot just sit by and turn a deaf ear to the harsh realities in our environs. Politicians of different colors came to unite in the evening’s message leaving partisan politics at home or should I say in the streets!!! Yes, indeed, we must share!!!
Blind singer Annie Rose Britania, child singer Paul Ryan Arcolas and the singing group Kulay Pikata entertained the guests with the theme in focus. The children from Haven Home also participated in a special song number by 10-year old Blossom Novero. And of course, the children of Calvary Kids Home, the “Ambassadors of Joy”, performed the finale songs with the members of the Board of Trustees.
As we are in the octave of EASTER, the season of renewal and rebirth, what would be the most fitting gift we can give glory to the LORD than to be instruments of renewal and rebirth into the lives of our very own children. If we cannot heal through our own hands and toil, we can give and share to the Kalipay Negrense Foundation. As the saying goes: “No one is too poor to give or too rich to receive!!!” For more details about Kalipay Negrense Foundation, please contact Anna Balcells at Tels. 63-34-4953500 or Mobile +63917-3003595 OR Ellen Alvarez at #s +639178150307 or +63-34-4570388. You can search for Kalipay Negrense Foundation at Facebook. For inquiries, please email kalipaynegrensefoundation@yahoo.com or visit its website at www.kalipaynegrense.org.