iFoster

iFoster

We offer alternative family care for abandoned, neglected, and vulnerable children to help them grow with God-driven values.

iFoster is a program by Operation Compassion Philippines dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges faced by orphans in the Philippines. The program provides alternative family care for abandoned, neglected, and vulnerable children, nurturing them in a loving environment grounded in God-driven values to help them grow into empowered and compassionate individuals.

For business executive Jose Mari “Butch” Albert, becoming a foster parent is not difficult – one just has to have an open heart and let children feel they are loved.  For him, foster care instills good and positive moral values in children who have no parents to take care of them.

In 2003 when Butch and Maricris were looking for a house, they came across one that had several kids in it.  Curious, he asked a person in the house why there are so many kids in it; he was told they are under foster care. This event inspired him to sign up with a parenting foundation to take care of street children.

Butch and Maricris have taken in five foster children over the last fourteen years, one of whom they adopted, Isabella.

As published in “Alab ng Puso” UPRISING Matchbox

He Sets the Lonely in Families

I’m Joel O. Marcaida 37 years old married to Noelle Contessa Marcaida with two beautiful daughters: Daniella Marie and Divine Miracle. We are Orphan Care Advocates.

September 14, 2007, just one month into our relationship, Noelle was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and had an operation. I remember Noelle’s mother asking me, “What if the two of you cannot bear a child now that Noelle has had the operation?” I told her that if it is the Lord’s will that we do not have our own children, I would accept it. There are other ways to have a family. I meant what I said; though at that time, it was just to ease the mother’s questions and doubts. After four years, Noelle and I got married and dreamed of raising our own family with 3 kids.

DONG :

“The day I met Cherry (not her real name), a tiny little girl with beautiful eyes, I whispered to her ‘It’s okay, we will love you as our own’,” said Rolando Cucio, referring to the two-year old foster child he had taken care of for three years along with his wife Susan and their two children.  The family, likewise, shared their happiness over Cherry’s transfer to a permanent home.  “Cherry is now with the best family God has intended for her…We cannot match the unconditional love of her new family.  I for one cannot give the amount of time her adoptive family is spending with her.  They are investing their whole life for Cherry but I am looking forward to see her again, to kiss and hug her,” he added.

Love Like Jesus: My Foster Care Journey so far

Caring for young kids has always been a part of me. Growing up, I took care of my younger sister, cousins, and neighborhood kids. In High School, I volunteered to teach in Sunday school for kids. In College, I took up Early childhood education. Afterwards, I started teaching Preschool classes.

But it was one conversation with a friend that opened my eyes and my heart for orphans, for the fatherless and for aborted babies. That one conversation turned my world around.

One morning, a friend confessed that she went through an abortion procedure. It was her 5th pregnancy already and economically speaking, she cannot afford to have another mouth to feed. That conversation broke my heart and I went home in tears. That night, I found myself weeping a lot— weeping for the unborn child, weeping for the unwanted child, weeping for all the other children who had no opportunity to be loved… the orphans, the fatherless, the rejected, the neglected, the unwanted. My heart has always been towards taking care of children but never towards the ones rejected by society. For the very first time, my heart turned towards them and a deep burden was laid in my heart. That was the turning point in my journey towards foster care and God willing, towards adoption.

Fast forward to 2021, a child was placed in my care as a foster parent. She is a 4-year- old sweet little girl with a strong and courageous spirit. On her first few weeks with us, she was aloof and always put up a brave front. She was an independent child who knows how to pack away her things all by herself, take a bath by herself, feed herself and do a lot of things without asking for an adult’s help. She was street smart, resilient and self-confident. She did not cry when she fell down while playing, even when she had a sizable wound on her elbow. She did not cry when she fell down from riding her bike. It was a mystery to me, an experienced Preschool teacher and caregiver to see a child who does not cry at all! She also showed a certain stubbornness as she insists on doing things her way and refusing to obey certain rules such as not going up and down the stairs again and again, not turning lights on and off, not opening the refrigerator again and again.

It was nearly a month with us when she cried her first big cry. She picked up a chili from the ground and unconsciously touched her eye. Naturally, the spice caused her to tear up and it turned into one big-loud-deep-long cry where she was calling me, “Mommy Mommy Mommy”. It was the first time that she asked me to carry her, to embrace her , to soothe her and to calm her.

It was also during this period when she asked me, “Mommy bakit ang tagal mo akong sinundo sa Toddlers?* Nagtatago ka lang pala dito sa malaking bahay…” What

profound words from a 4-year-old. I was left speechless. Bakit nga naman ngayon ko lang siya sinundo… If only I can turn back time…

We continued to express our love and appreciation for her and eventually, she bloomed into an affectionate little girl who adorably expresses her love through kind words, affectionate hugs and compliant obedience. Our mornings are filled with cuddles, giggles, tickles and laughter. Our evenings are filled with storytelling time, usap-usap time, more hugs and kisses, prayer and devotional time and more giggles and tickles. One evening, she told me, “Thank you Mommy na sinundo mo ako sa Toddlers. Thank you for taking care of me.” Another time, I asked her why she always like it when we play pretend and she likes pretending to be baby. “Kasi Mommy, hindi mo ako na carry nung baby ako…” Another time, I overheard her crying under the blanket. When I asked her why she was crying, “Nag cry ako Mommy kasi naisip ko baka pupunta ka na sa heaven, magiging sad ako nun.”

I believe the best part about having Mhey with us hearing her sing songs to Jesus while playing, while bathing, while eating, while gardening, while biking… she fills our home with the beautiful music of her singing voice expressing her worship to Jesus. She even likes to invent her own songs for Jesus… “Jesus is powerful and He loves me…” or “Jesus makes me brave, brave sa thunder, brave sa lightning, brave sa storm, brave everyday…” Just this morning, Mhey’s teacher asked her what she likes about her family. She candidly answered, “I love my family because Mommy loves me everyday and always.”

I am on my 10th month as a foster mom and my only regret is not having done this sooner or earlier. My little foster daughter has brought me great joy. Even with the sleepless nights when she got sick, or the battle of wills when she refuses to obey immediately, or the financial challenge of having to stretch our budget… all the sacrifices are worth it to see that she is growing into a loving, caring, compassionate, strong, brave, courageous, silly, smart girl who will one day turn this world right side up. This journey has been blessed also with my supportive parents whom Mhey calls “Tatay and Nanay” and my sister “Auntie Julie” and other extended relatives who has embraced her into our big family. May God’s grace continue to lead me in this journey. May God also open doors of opportunity for me to care for one more child, or even two more children or three more… let His will be done!

Ikaw ang aking paano…

Coming from a big family, I have always wanted to have a lot of kids.  This, the Lord granted in more ways than one.  He blessed me with seven biological children (one of who went home to be with the Lord as soon as he was born) and allowed me to raise a grandson.  He also made me a second mother to many of my students having been a teacher for the past two decades and more.  Being married to a Pastor has also made me the “matriarch” to the church family where my husband pastors.  Saying all this, one will not consider fostering or much more adopting a child.

All this will change in 2012 when we heard about Operation Compassion’s ministry called IFoster.   This was the first time I came across the word “foster” and the prodding in my heart was kindled but not enough to seriously consider personally fostering or adopting.  I was done with child caring and child rearing. However, being a supportive minister, we took on the privilege of supporting this ministry by giving OC the platform to share their vision to our satellite churches and supporting churches. In the Christmas Season of 2016, with the help of one of Operation Compassion’s volunteer, we were introduced to an institution that cares for more 600 abandoned, rescued and surrendered children.  We started ministering to the children and visited them on a regular basis.  It was there I met a 13-year-old boy named Charley.  Our “silent communication” (I say “silent” because we never really sat to talk nor took time to bond) turned into anspecial connection.  Each time I left the institution, I felt like I was abandoning my very own child. Three months later, after much prayer and consideration and dealing with fears and with the assistance of Operation Compassion, my husband and I, together with our children found ourselves bringing home – not just one child, but two.  You see, Charley had a younger brother who grew up with him together in the institution – we will call him “JH” for James Harden, his favorite basketball player ?.  

From the beginning, we started working on adopting the two boys.  However, because of the difficult process of adopting, it took years before we could formally start the adoption process.  In October of 2020, JH was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme IV, a very rare kind or brain cancer. And in January of 2021, the Lord took him home.  

Broken into pieces I asked the Lord, why would he call us into fostering and adopting only to take my child – he was my child, you see – away from us.  I repeatedly asked, how can fostering and adopting can be so painful ang difficult.  I could hear myself loudly say, “I thought fostering and adopting was to give child a better future and a chance at life.  Where is the future now and where is life.”  But I was greeted by an audible voice saying, “This is the precise reason why I placed him in your home:  So, he would know what its like to have a family; So, he would know what it’s like to be cared for; So, he would have a dad and mom and siblings who will walk with him through the most difficult time of his earthly life.”  What I learn and continue to learn about fostering and adopting:  It’s not about me.  Its about that one child (or two).  It’s not charity work.  Its about life.  It’s not about changing the world.  But changing the world of that one child and ultimately changing yours as well. Today, we continue to advocate and fight for the cause of the abandoned.  We are inspired by the memory of our son who left us the resounding message “Ma, balikan mo ang mga friends ko sa institusyon.  Kunin mo rin sila” (Go back to the institution and get them as well.)  I may not bring them into my own home, but have made the promise, with the best of what we have and the opportunity God has given us, to pursue the calling of placing children into families and giving them a place they can call home.

Adoption is a socio-legal process of providing a permanent family to a child whose parents have voluntarily or involuntarily given up their parental rights permanently transferring all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, making the child a legitimate child of the adoptive parents. 

Who may Adopt?

Any Filipino citizen who is at least 25 years old, has full legal rights, good moral character, and has not been convicted of a serious crime can adopt. The adopter must be at least 16 years older than the child, unless they are the child’s biological parent or the spouse of the child’s parent. The adopter should also be able to support and care for the child according to their family’s means.

Additionally, the following can adopt:

  • Legal guardians, after their guardianship ends and financial matters are cleared.
  • Foster parents, in relation to their foster child.
  • Philippine government officials and employees stationed abroad, as long as they can bring the child with them.
  • Foreign nationals who have lived in the Philippines for at least 5 years and meet the same qualifications as Filipino citizens.

Types of Adoption

  1. Regular Case or adoption of a legally available child – pertains to a case of a non-related child who has been issued with CDCLAA (non-relative and foster child.)
  2. Relative Adoption – covers the adoption of a child within the 4th degree of consanguinity or affinity including one’s own non-marital child.
  3. Step-Parent Adoption – covers the adoption of a child of one spouse by the other spouse or the stepparent.
  4. Adult Adoption – Covers the adoption of an adult.

Foster Care Process

  1. Fill-up an application form
  2. Assessment / Home study report by OC Social Worker
  3. Attend Foster Care Forum
  4. DSWD issues Foster Care License
  5. Foster Care Matching Conference
  6. DSWD issues Foster Placement Authority
  7. Placement of Foster Child in Foster Family

Requirements:

  • Photocopy of the birth certificates of all members of the family
  • Photocopy of the marriage certificate of the couple
  • Recent family picture
  • Police or NBI Clearance
  • Barangay Certification stating that the foster parent applicant is a resident of the barangay, the length of residence therein and of good moral character
  • 3 Character references
  • Medical certificate of each family member and household.
  • ITR and certificate of employment
  • Written consent by the children (10 years & above) of the foster parent applicants