Adoption in a New Light

What do you imagine when you hear the word “adoption”?

Is it a lonely child weeping for his/ her ‘real parents’? Is it a family with nothing physically in common? Or maybe a feeling of longing that’s painful and haunting?

These are probably the common notions on adoption. Pain, loneliness, angst, and anger encase the word for ages. It is something closely associated with rejection—of the child that couldn’t belong anymore to a family.

I admit seeing the concept of adoption in this light for the earlier years of my life. It seemed to me that it is tragic to belong to a family that is not ‘truly yours’, and to be with brothers and sisters of a different mother. It seemed to me that if I belong to an adopted family, I would be jealous of my classmates who live to their original parents; and I might run away from home with the little money I have, take a random bus and look for my parents with the little clue that I have—just what I see in the movies.

This is how I felt about adoption until I finally saw its beauty.

At the adoption event that was mounted by DSWD, ICAB and McCann wherein an organized picnic was held at Terra 28 Park, Bonifacio Global City, I have met a number of adoptive families.

I was able to talk to adoptive parents and see them together with their adoptive children. There is no trace of shame or resentment in them as they eat, sing, and play with their families. Their presence in the event is like a shout out that declares, “We are an adoptive family and we are proud of it.”

During the press conference that was held before the picnic, the parents shared how their adopted children mean to them. This brings adoption into a new light.

Mr. Craig Logan, an adoptive parent and participant in the “Love Sees beyond Differences” campaign said, 

“We are always encouraging others that have a desire in their hearts to adopt to go ahead and take that first step.” 

He has built his family with Michelle Logan, also an advocate of adoption. The American couple adopted two Filipino children and welcomed them to their family.

Moreover, Mike Tripp, also an adoptive parent, shared, “When you adopt you really have to accept that you don’t have full control, so there’s a lot of trust, a lot of faith and love.” He is an American who adopted kids of different nationalities with his wife.

As I see the happy faces, the loving caresses, and the tight embraces of the families that I met, I realized the true beauty of adoption. I discovered that adoption is a call for unconditional love. It is the kind of love that gives hope to children all over the world. Adoption is a chance for a child to build a life with a new family who would give him love and care that is nourishing and strong.

Truly, adoption is love that sees beyond differences. 

By Venzerie Bernabe

A Student's Experience with Love Sees Beyond Differences

It is but a great experience to work for McCann Worldgroup; as a novice you don't just pass out on opportunities like this, you get to be in the actual field, to do the actual work, to work with and for the actual people on the industry and to learn more than just the things you discuss on a four-cornered classroom,  so what's the reason to back out?

However, being a part of this project, even just for a day, has thought me so much more than the corporate stuff. It thought me about life of individuals, connection, and love. Life of individuals because you get to know more about people, it just makes you feel that there's so much more than yourself in this world. Love Sees Beyond Differences take a stand that there is a market of this people, families and kids, who found warmth and care through adoption. Connection because Love Sees Beyond Differences open up our hearts that even we are all complete strangers, even if say a couple can't have a kid there is still a chance to create a family that blood isn't the only standard to have a family and home no matter where we came from. Finally love, because there shouldn't be a stigma even if you've adopted, adoption doesn't make you less of a person or a couple but it is opportune to open up your heart to spread love, to be the best parent that you could be.

In conclusion, the campaign Love Sees Beyond Differences has inspired me to give more heart, a touch to the people that will make them move for the betterment of all. Which perhaps in the future I will be generating :) Hopefully.

By Igel Manalo

Heaven Sent

          Despite a series of fertility workshops, consultations with doctors and an operation in the uterus, God planned that Jojo and Janet would have a child. They were starting to lose faith but by God’s design, their child was already born before they even met her. Anna was 10 months old when they first met last February 2010.

She looked so much like Jojo that the caregivers at the Ministries Without Borders Orphanage teased them that they were just reclaiming their child.

“She was ours long before we met her.” – Janet Villa

When they found out that they couldn’t have biological children, Jojo and Janet weren’t ready for the option of adoption. But God wanted them to have a child, and not just any child. God wanted them to have Anna.

One day while at work, Janet was editing an article in Working Mom magazine. It was an article on adoption. She read about Kaisahang Buhay Foundation (KBF) and how they helped families go through the adoption process. She also interviewed some of the families. This helped her understand how precious adoption is.

She and Jojo opened their hearts to adoption. Janet was also encouraged by KBF’s concern and desire for the children to have good homes. Three months after they filed for adoption, their prayers were answered. They had been matched with a child. Without even meeting the baby, they said yes. For them, Anna is God’s gift: a child born, not from their flesh and blood but from their love.

“Others tell us, perhaps we should have adopted when we were younger. We say, ‘then it wouldn’t have been Anna.’ " – Janet Villa

Proud parents Jojo and Janet Villa at the launch of Love Sees Beyond Differences last November 29

Now, Anna is 3 ½ years old. Her parents have created a Happy Box for her to open when the time comes. In the box, they put everything that will show her how much they want and love her, including letters and emails of their friends and relatives, blog posts, pictures, the KBF questionnaires, etc. For them, Anna is perfect, God’s answer to their prayers. She is theirs, and they are hers.

By: Khristin Nicole Rudi

Take The First Step

“We knew that there were many children waiting to be a part of a family.”

Christian missionaries Craig and Michelle have heard their friends’ stories of adoption and how blessed they are with the new additions to their family. After trying unsuccessfully to have children, the couple chose to go down the same road of adoption.

They went first to Chosen Children Village Foundation, and from there, were led to KBF. Once they contacted KBF, they were encouraged and led carefully through each step of the adoption process which they found to be much faster compared to other adoption processes they heard about. All their questions were answered; the social workers were always on top of the paper work and even accompanied them to court and testified on their behalf.

Michelle and Craig sharing their story at the Love Sees Beyond Differences launch last November 29

The couple shared, “when we first found out that they had been matched with a child, we were so excited that we wanted to jump in the car and drive five hours just to our child!”

When they first met their children, they were so happy. They felt so blessed by God that He brought them all the way to the Philippines to be with Justin, 11, and Ashlyn, 2, who, without a doubt, were meant to be with their family. “They must be pretty special for God to arrange a meeting like that!”

The Logan Family: Craig, son Justin, daughter Ashlyn and Michelle

They have never regretted for one day that they adopted. Everyday with their children brings many special moments and makes their home more complete.

“We greatly encourage anyone who has a desire to adopt to go ahead and take that first step…bring an adopted child into your family,” says Craig and Michelle.

It might be, as in Craig and Michelle’s case, God’s way of putting your family together.

By: Khristin Nicole Rudi

Ogie Alcasid, the Voice Behind the Song "I Love You Anak"

Ogie Alcasid sings the song, "I love you anak"

 at the media launch of Love Sees Beyond Differences 

"I Love You Anak" is the official song of the campaign Love Sees Beyond Differences,  the adoption advocacy campaign launched by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in partnership with the Inter-Country Adoption Board and McCann Worldgroup. The song was composed by McCann Worldgroup and performed by Ogie Alcasid. Through the song, the advocacy hopes to encourage more Filipinos to open their hearts and homes to Filipino adoptive children and "soften the stigma on adoption." 

Multi-awarded singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid said,

"I'm glad that they used music as a kick-off for the campaign 

because music is 

very powerful."

 

Alcasid extended his support to the advocacy campaign and added that it is important for him because it is through adoption that his sister would get the opportunity to build her family. He shared during the launch of Love Sees Beyond Differences that his U.S based sister and her husband wishes to adopt a Filipino child. Currently, they're on the process of adoption and had been in contact with the officials of the Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB).

"I also have friends who are adoptive parents and there is no difference from the love that they show to their biological and adopted children," said Alcasid.

Lyrics to the song I Love You Anak:

I love you, anak. I love you

'Di laging magkapareho, minsan 'di magkasundo

But I love you, anak

I love you

Kahit isa'y masungit at isa'y palangiti

Kahit 'di magkasing height ating mga binti

I love you, anak

I love you

Kahit na magkaiba shape nating mga binti

Kahit 'di kasing tangos ilong nating dalawa

I love you anak. I love you.

I love you, anak. I love you

'Di laging magkapareho, minsan 'di magkasundo

But I love you, anak. I love you

Kahit 'di kasing tabain, busog ang puso natin

Kahit less ang patience ko, naghihintay para sa'yo

I love you anak. I love you

Kahit forever kang mas bata at ako'y tumatanda

At kahit 'di ko gets ang jokes mo, generation gap ang say mo

I love you, anak. I love you

I love you, anak. I love you

Di laging magkapareho, minsan di magkasundo

But I love you, anak.

I love you (Repeat)

I love you, anak. I love you.

By Sarah Joy Garlan