Good Works: The Missionaries of Charity

Alay ng Puso (Missionaries of Charity)

Originally based in Calcutta, India, the Missionaries of Charity is a Roman Catholic order established by Blessed Mother Teresa. Based in one of the most poverty-stricken and crime-ridden areas in Metro Manila, the nuns live their lives according to four vows: chastity, poverty, obedience, and service to the poorest of the poor.

At the first locally established branch of the Missionaries of Charity called *’Alay ng Puso,‘ the mission takes care of babies and/or toddlers who were abandoned by their parents, or have no one to care for them. The nuns do their best to convince the parents not to abandon their children completely, and some have returned to claim their children back. There are at least six nuns at Alay ng Puso, and they are also active in a nearby branch of Missionaries of Charity in Tayuman (a larger branch which houses other children, the sick, the disabled and the aged).

What to Do

Initially (while I was there), I was really careful around the babies since I am not used to being around young children. However, we were encouraged by the helpers to carry the babies and toddlers because that’s something they actually need – the comfort of a human embrace. Knowing something that simple could make someone so small so happy was pretty humbling. You’ll see it in the faces of the children as you pick them up, their eyes so happy and their smiles breaking out one by one.

Feeding Time

On the day I visited the orphanage, there were only 2 helpers taking care of the needs of the children. For those who might want to help but don’t know how, I would recommend assisting them during lunch time. Since the children here range from babies just a few months old to toddlers just a few years old, they really need help just feeding the 20 to 30 children in the orphanage.

The babies are fed lugaw (Filipino style rice porridge) with small chunks of kalabasa (squash). Other than giving babies their milk bottles, spoon feeding babies is new territory for me. However, I can say that it was a fun and relaxing experience, and you just need to be careful with the metal spoons and the amount of food you put in their mouths. The babies definitely have good appetites, and you’ll need to keep up with their pace!

After feeding the babies and putting them to sleep, we fed the older children fried chicken and spaghetti from Jollibee (it was their special request). Some of them could feed themselves, but the others needed a little help with their food. The older children were very good and patient though and willing to wait their turn to be fed after the babies.

How to Help 

At Alay ng Puso, food for the children (especially milk, rice, and canned goods) and personal hygiene products (like soap and shampoo) are always needed. Donations in kind can be shipped to their address at 683 Del Pan and San Nicolas St. in Binondo, Manila. If you’d like to donate in cash, you can call them at 242-8496 (between 8:30 am to 11:00 am and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm) and ask for more details on how to transfer funds directly to them (they currently do not have a PayPal account).

(Featured Image Credit: Clipper Monsoon)

* Translation: Sacrifice of the Heart

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