"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul"
-Emily Dickinson
The house parents of this orphanage are the hope of Beato Tommaso Maria Fusco Orphanage, most of whom are nuns who dedicated their lives to faith and to the church, aligning their values by making change in the lives of the children in the orphanage. Beato Tommaso Maria Fusco Hope House Inc. Orphanage is a private child-care and social-welfare institution in Bogo City, specifically in Sitio Banta-aw, Bogo City, Cebu, that has been providing genuine care and support to disadvantaged children of society. In the middle of this declining humanity and economy, this orphanage is the hope and source of resilience for these children, giving all the love they can without asking for anything in return.
BTMFO Inc. provides shelter, meals, education access, protection, clothing, and other needs to the children in the orphanage to ensure that the welfare of these young ones is prioritized rather than treated as an option. As a child-caring institution, around 25 children, from about 3 to 14 years old, are cared for by the residing nuns or religious sisters in their everyday life. Psychosocial support and moral guidance are provided to foster mental and emotional health among vulnerable children, along with other essential programs dedicated to them like preventive and protective social services and access to education.
The orphanage provides shelter, daily needs like food and hygiene, tutoring, and social support from the house parents and partnered organizations who serve orphaned children. Since this is an orphanage, the nuns or the house parents always hope for donations to reach them, which is a big help to the financial challenges they encounter from time to time. Volunteers are also welcome to the house for any support and caregiving they can provide, like psychological first aid for traumatized children and tutoring for all children who left school. Food, hygiene kits, clothes, school essentials, rice sacks, and even monetary donations are welcome for as long as they are genuine and intentional, regardless of how big or small they are. You can search this charity on Facebook if you wish to reach out and help.
This orphanage has become known in our town when people in the north of Cebu started to celebrate birthdays and other milestones in the house, which is a big help to the nuns when it comes to preparing meals for the children. Celebrations, even for at least one meal, give hope to the orphanage, as they ease the financial burden they have when thinking about what to eat every day. Aside from food, gifts and tokens are also given by the visitors to show their support and appreciation to them for being a symbol of hope and resilience in the north of Cebu.
What we did there was exactly what others did. We held a birthday party in the house in collaboration with Jollibee Drive-Thru Bogo Branch to maximize their party experience. Jollibee was our best choice and the most convenient partner when it comes to doing very energetic, entertaining, and memorable parties. This is one thing I like about Jollibee: their crews are so cheerful and humanistic in behavior that they can touch hearts and evoke happiness in the children watching them—as their famous slogan says, "In Jollibee, joy is the star."
I, as a child, had always loved Jollibee and its food because it gives me comfort and joy when eating. Until now, I still eat Jollibee, although I shifted to McDonald's a bit, so I know how bringing not only Jollibee food but Jollibee itself to the orphanage will make the kids happy and bring difference to the house even just for a day. When we arrived and the mascot of Jollibee was also there, the kids were running around, jumping happily and authentically, unable to contain their emotions upon seeing their friendly bee. All of them put smiles on their faces, and upon watching them turn the orphanage into chaos as they smiled and screamed with joy, I couldn't help but be teary-eyed. I did not think that would be their reaction, a very priceless one, to our and Jollibee's presence.
Our visit to the orphanage was not simply for them to eat Jollibee food but to create a perfect program to lighten their days in the house and bring hope amidst their situation, and to remind them how loved and valued they are even if they are called orphaned. It was to bring them the joy and light they needed that we wanted to visit them.
We started our program with lunch together, with all the Jollibee food we prepared from chicken to mango peach to sundaes. We made sure to maximize the food they received because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be given blessings and share them with these lovely souls. The Jollibee emcee who joined us was the voice of our group, flowing the program smoothly and successfully. We played games with prizes, sang our composed song after one hour of composing it (just a simple one), and distributed school supplies and clothes for all genders. And while all of it happened, the children were so happy that they couldn’t hide it on their faces even if they wanted to. The smiles would just come out from the thought of excitement and being blessed that day.
It was a wonderful experience not only for us but also for them. We met and had conversations with these children of dreams and high hopes, heard their plans in life, and listened to their words of gratitude for the people who took care of them and helped them up until the present moment. There were also medals on the walls of the orphanage from the kids who garnered honors in their schools, a product of the educational assistance provided by the incorporation. Artworks and pieces were also shown to us, and that was when I believed that these children did not feel anything negative in this home, because they are given safe spaces to express their skills, creativity, and emotions.
Jollibee was also exhausted that day and you can see it in the photos. He was still joyful for sure behind that mascot, but a bit tired from bringing joy to the children. Anyway, he will be recharged, because joy is a good outlet to regain our innermost soul.
In the end of that experience, what stayed with me most was the reminder that hope grows even in the smallest corners and things of the world like this beloved orphanage and souls. These children, with their joy and courage, showed us that love still blooms despite everything they have faced and despite the status they are living. And maybe that is the real meaning of hope. Something quietly present in the soul, always ready to rise again, just like the children of Beato Tommaso Maria Fusco Inc. Orphanage.
