CHILD’S NAME: Jennifer
CHILD’S AGE: 16 years old
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:
Jennifer is the sixth child of ten siblings. She is under the care and protective custody of Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch since June 28, 2006 because she was raped by her brother-in-law. Her brother-in-law is already in jail and is facing trial. To make matters even worse, her family is fighting her to drop the charges. They don’t understand the terrible devastation she has suffered. They try to place the guilt on her shoulders. With the help of Happy Horizon’s Children’s Ranch, Jennifer has continued her education and is now a second year high school student. Her dream is to become a nurse someday.
QUESTIONS:
1. For what are you most thankful?
“I am thankful for many things. I am thankful that I am here in the safe house of Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch because I was able to continue my education. I really want to finish my studies. At first, I was hesitant to stay at HHCR because I was thinking I won’t be able to study anymore. But I am happy that they sent me to continue my studies.”
2. For what do you thank God for?
“I thank God because He loves me. I thank God because He gives me sponsors to continue my studies and for staying here in the safe house. Though I missed my family, I am happy that I am here. If I am with my family right now, I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to continue my studies.”
3. For what do you thank Mission of Mercy (MOM)?
“I thank Mission of Mercy because they are good to me. I thank God because all my needs are met and I am able to continue my studies. I thank also the staff because they are good to me.”
CHILD’S NAME: Juanita CHILD’S AGE: 14 years old
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:
Juanita’s mother died when she was very young. Her father, a drunkard, distributed Juanita’s other siblings to the care of other people. Juanita was left to the care of the family of Pastor and his wife at the age of six or seven years old. They brought her back to her family because Juanita was unable to do the household work they required her to do. Juanita was brought to Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch by her cousins last December 2006 asking for help because of Juanita’s condition and the possibility that she might have been raped. She appeared catatonic, unable to speak, blink her eyes, and even swallow liquids. The diagnosis of a psychiatrist revealed that Juanita had a mild psychosis disorder. With the grace of God and the dedication of the staff at Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch, Juanita is now studying at Happy Horizons Academy inside the ranch and is doing well. Now, she actively participates in the activities of the school and interacts well with the other children and staff, so different than her “zombie” like condition before!
QUESTIONS:
1. For what are you most thankful?
“I am thankful that I get to know the staff of Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch. I am thankful that they are good to me and that they helped me and cared for me. I am thankful that I have many friends here inside the ranch. I am thankful that I have nice clothes and that I can now eat well everyday. But most of all, I am thankful that I get to know God in my life.”
2. For what do you thank God for?
“I thank God because He is very good to me. I am thankful that He is with me and protects me all the time. “
3. For what do you thank Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch?
“I thank Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch because they care for me and help me. I thank them because I am able to use my talents and go to school.”
CHILD’S NAME: Florencio
CHILD’S AGE: 19 years old
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:
Florencio or Kuya Florence as he is fondly called by the kids and staff at the ranch is the eldest in the family. His parents, who were not legally married, separated when they did not get along well anymore. His father brought him and his only brother to Cebu City hoping to find a better job. He was seven years old and his brother Sonny was four years old when his father dropped them off at the pier in Cebu City, promising to get them back by night fall. But his father failed to return, leaving them on the streets. Authorities sent them to a “Drop-In” center, which referred them to HHCR. Efforts were made to contact Florence’ father by HHCR and it was discovered that he had been detained in jail. In July 2006 Kuya Florence and his brother Sonny together with the staff of HHCR, visited their father who was confined at a hospital in Cebu City due to an inflammation in his right leg and infection. In October 2006, their father died due to respiratory arrest. Happy Horizons took care of the burial arrangements as there were no other relatives to take care of it.
Now, Kuya Florence is studying at Happy Horizons Academy. He has participated in various school and church activities as emcee or program coordinator. He has represented the school in various school contests. He wants to be a pastor someday and share the love he has found in God to other people. Sonny, 15, is in middle school. One of his great loves is music.
QUESTIONS:
1. For what are you most thankful?
“What I am most thankful of? There are many things I am most thankful of; a day is not enough for me to share it to you. But I am thankful that I get to know God above all. I am thankful that I arrived here in Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch.”
2. For what do you thank God for?
“I thank God because He brought me here at Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch where I got to know Him personally. I thank God because he gives me the wisdom to do well in my studies.
3. For what do you thank Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch?
“What can I say to Happy Horizons? Thank you for raising me up and for molding me, and for making me the person whom God wants me to be.’
CHILD’S NAME: “Sheryl”
CHILD’S AGE: 17 years old
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:
Elcita or Sheryl as she wanted to be called is the fourth child of a family of 5 siblings. Sheryl only finished first year high school and has dropped out of second year high school for three times. She was referred to Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch for protective custody and counseling because she is a victim of a “fake marriage” to an American citizen who physically, emotionally, psychologically and sexually abused her.
Her supposed “husband” is already deported back to the United States with the help of HHCR. Sheryl is very optimistic of her future despite her experiences and is now studying at Happy Horizons Academy in order to finish her high school and pursue a career in nursing in the future.
QUESTIONS:
1. For what are you most thankful?
“I am most thankful to all those people who helped me to move on in my life and to all the people who helped me in my case. I am very happy that of all the many abused women out there, I am one of those they had helped. “
2. For what do you thank God for?
“I am thankful to God because He is such an amazing God. He never leaves me throughout my trials. “
3. For what do you thank Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch?
“I thank Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch because they took care of me throughout my stay here. I felt so special and loved. I thank all the staff because they encouraged me. I feel so safe here. I don’t know how to say this because I felt like I win in Lotto, that’s how happy I am here. I may not look that happy but I am so grateful deep inside that it makes me cry.
CHILD’S NAME: Princes
CHILD’S AGE: 3 years old
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:
Princess’ parents never got married. They separated. Her mother left her to her grandfather since she was 5 months old in order to work abroad. But last March 2007, an alarmed neighbor brought Princess to the Police Station because Princess confided to her what her grandfather has done to her private parts through actions and is feeling pain there. Her grandfather was arrested and is now detained in jail. Princess was then referred to Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch. Today, Princess does not show any signs of pain and is a very cute and a very sweet child. She loves to play with the other kids in the ranch. Many times we observed her doing her activities with a big wonderful smile on her face, so different than when she first arrived.
QUESTIONS:
1. For what are you most thankful?
“I am happy that I have nice clothes. I am happy that we eat and drink juice every evening and also milk.”
2. For what do you thank God for?
“I am happy that I have friends and we play always. We have toys.”
3. For what do you thank Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch?
“I am happy that I am here and I have many “ate” or sisters. I am happy because here I can draw and make colors.”
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