By Nirva’ana Delacruz
After first meeting 44-year old Aly Almerol, it won’t be long before you notice how concerned he is that you’re well-fed and taken care of.
The effort to personally feed you is almost motherly.
Despite the grueling shift of cooking 1,000 meals a day, Aly, as one of the Arnold Janssen (AJ) Kalinga Foundation Center volunteers, still finds time to prep a staff member or volunteer’s favorite dish or snack.
Disowned by his own family for identifying as a homosexual, Aly admits he was angry at the world.
It could be raw bitter gourd salad with peppery vinegar and tomatoes or it could be good ol’ Pinoy-style spaghetti—Aly finds time.
“My being able to cook with joy and with my whole heart for some 1,000 poor of Manila is something I consider a grace that God has given me so that I can help my fellow homeless living in the streets,” he shares in Filipino.
For Aly, “every slice and scoop comes with both sacrifice and love.”
Homeless for twenty years
For someone who has been homeless for almost two decades, Aly remains a striking case of transformation among the AJ Kalinga Center volunteers.
Disowned by his own family for identifying as a homosexual, Aly admits he was angry at the world.
“They couldn’t accept that I was gay,” he adds.
This was what forced him to start living on his own.
“I just took all of life’s blows, I became numb and full of anger in my heart,” Aly recalls, who first met AJFKI in March 2020 when he sought shelter at the Paco Catholic School in Manila where the Center started giving away some of their home-cooked meals to the homeless.
Soon the “Kalinga Way” would slowly change him.
He explains: “I’ve been cared for in Kalinga, that’s why I will also care for others with joy!”
Becoming part of the first batch of formerly homeless AJ Kalinga Center volunteers who underwent training and formation, Aly shares that it was also through Kalinga that he learned to love again and forgive.
“Because of them, I learned to dream again. Light shone on my bitter and dark past,” he adds.
New Year’s Eve reconciliation
In December 2021, Kalinga also found a way to reconcile Aly with his family in Sorsogon, who finally accepted him.
At first, his father hurled whatever he found in his hands after seeing Aly again, but soon he would finally find it in his heart to welcome his prodigal son back.
Aly felt the tight embrace of his father while he was cooking their New Year’s eve dinner.
“They shone the light of love on me; they made me feel that I have value, a person who has abilities and dignity, and most of all, someone they consider family,” he adds.
Aly is proof that love heals and love unites.