By JL Orque “The police officers didn’t even allow our father to attend my brother’s funeral. I begged them but they didn’t budge.” These lines struck me the most during my conversation with Jaime’s sister, *Yna, while we waited for the exhumation of her brother’s remains on January 23, 2023. I learned that not only […]
‘He Begged Them to Let Him See His Son for the Last Time…’ Read More »
By Sandee Alonzo Few know, I got scammed this year. Save you the details. I lost the bulk of my savings and was living on a precious little that’s being depleted every month until now. At first, I was in denial. Late at night, I would get flashbacks of everything my scammer promised, feeling nothing
My Perspective Changed After Getting Scammed Read More »
By Br. Jorem Yap “He is a hard-headed person. If you tell him to do this way, he will do it the other way around.” This isn’t a description of someone endearing, but this is exactly what struck me about Marlon when he first joined the AJ Kalinga Center (KC) beneficiary-volunteer team in October 2021
Drug-Addicted & Homeless. This Is Marlon’s Plot Twist Read More »
By Nirva Delacruz For such fast-paced operations, many people looking from the outside would imagine that the foundation’s daily ground work is ran by someone a lot younger. But AJ Kalinga’s managing director Teresita or Tessam, as she is fondly called, is a year shy of 70. Not looking like she’s slowing down any time
‘Always on Her Toes’: The Grand Dame of AJ Kalinga Read More »
By Nirva Delacruz Many Filipinos are familiar with the issue of extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in the country, one that tragically grabbed the limelight during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. But few people know that the children of the murdered were bullied for having fathers or brothers tagged—sometimes, falsely—as drug pushers and users. This is
How PH’s EJK Widows Are Getting Healed and Empowered Read More »
By Fr. Flavie Villanueva, SVD “Is this for me?” These were the striking words the Holy Father spoke to me during my papal audience with him last month. I had just handed him our signature Kristo sa Kariton (KSK). To others, it may have seemed obvious that the gift was for him, but his eyes
Recognizing the Homeless & the Wounded in the Nativity Scene Read More »
By Vinz Narisma “I felt uneasy; my heart throbbed faster. Parts of my body were shaking uncontrollably yet I couldn’t move. I could no longer utter words consciously in front of my brothers. Tears fell from my eyes because now, I understand myself…” – Christian, on his reaction on the genogram session To fully understand
Genogram: Healing the Homeless’ Family Wounds Read More »
By Nirva Delacruz When someone is given the chance to achieve something totally new, it sets the stage for other remarkable things to emerge. No doubt, the recent graduation of 8 AJ Kalinga Alternative Learning System (ALS) learners on August 30, 2022 at the Sacred Heart Parish in Quezon City is a prime example. Notably,
ALS 2022 Graduates Prove You’re Never Too Old to Learn Read More »
By Nirva Delacruz “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” – Winston Churchill A cross between a stern librarian and your reliable elder sister. This is the initial impression some tend to have of Carmela Estacio or “Ate Baby” as many in the AJ Kalinga team affectionately call her.
Carmela Estacio: The Woman Who Evolved with Kalinga Read More »
By Fr. Flavie Villanueva, SVD “Every endeavor and mission starts with the impossible. But since God took the initiative, all things now become possible.” Of all the four Gospels, only Luke depicts the beautiful mystery of the Blessed Mother’s Annunciation. It is a story of faith amid uncertainty. It is also the story
‘Like & With Mary’: The Story of AJ Kalinga Read More »
