ABSOLUTELY every child has the same rights, whoever they mav be. Photo courtesy of Bahay Tuluyan.

MANILA, Philippines — Steve Estopito, Jr. used to roam the streets of Malate in Manila, begging, sniffing rugby, and later on snatching bags and jewellery from unsuspecting people. He grew up in the streets with drug-dependent parents and 11 other siblings, all of them living the life of poor, street dwellers.

“Palaboy ako nun, namamalimos, naging snatcher din po. Ilang beses din po ako nahuli,” recalls 19-year-old Steve.

“‘Yung nanay at tatay ko po gumagamit po ng ipinagbabawal na gamot at namamasura lang po. Sa hirap po ng buhay naisip ko rin pong gawin ‘yun sa sobrang gutom na po. Dun na ako nagsimulang mag snatch tapos minsan po ‘pag walang pera rugby na lang po.”

Fourteen year-old Marjorie Mendez also used to live on the streets of Manila. Her parents are vendors and she has four other siblings. Her parents couldn’t afford to send her to school and so she was given to an organization that supported her pre-school years.

But those were their past lives. Steve is now in his junior year in high school while Marjorie in her first year. All these changes in their lives were made possible by Bahay Tuluyan, a non-government organization that is committed to develop innovative initiatives that support children in need of protection. The organization seeks to promote, fulfill, respect, and protect children’s rights.

Anchored on the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Bahay Tuluyan operates in Manila, Laguna and Quezon and is now on its 23rd year of operation. Steve and Marjorie are just two of the many lives they’ve changed.

Changing lives
Steve first knew of Bahay Tuluyan when he was just seven years old, when the organization was conducting feeding programs in Malate. It was when testimonials from other kids of what the organization could give that he finally joined Bahay Tuluyan.

“Nung 2005 sumama na po ako sa Bahay Tuluyan kasi kung habang buhay akong nasa kalsada wala po akong mararating. Kasi ang iniisp ko po sa Bahay Tuluyan para pong kagaya nga iba ‘yung parang ipapa ampon ka nila. Nung sinabi sa akin na tumira na sa Bahay Tuluyan na ngayon ay may maayos na buhay na po. Una hindi po ako naniwala, matagal ako nag-isip bago sumali sa iba,” he shares.

Steve was brought to the facility in Tiaong, Quezon, which currently holds and takes care of 24 boys. “Doon ko po nakita na totoo ‘yung sinasabi ng iba na dun matututo kang mangarap, makakapag aral ka, makakatulog ka nang maayos, tapos magkakaroon ka ng maraming kakilala at matututo kang makihalubilo sa tao. Sa Bahay Tuluyan tinuruan nila akong alisin ‘yun tapos kalimutan ‘yung mga bagay na hindi ko na dapat balikan.”

He says the organization changed him for the better and taught him how to dream and discover his now love for learning.

“Dun ko talaga naisip na dapat nakapag-aral ka para may alam ka para hindi ka aanga-anga. Malaking bagay na nakapag aral ka para kung saan ka napunta, alam mo ‘yung gagawin mo. Itutuloy ko po ang pag-aaral kasi kapag natapos ako, ako naman po ‘yung tutulong sa ibang bata. Pangarap ko po maging seaman at mapag aralan ang iba-ibang lenguwahe at makatulong sa bata na kagaya ko dati,” he says.

Marjorie realized the importance of education.

“Kung walang Bahay Tuluyan baka po palaboy na ako ngayon kasi talagang dati po tamad ako mag-aral. Simula nung napunta ako sa kanila, lalo na nung Grade 4 and Grade 5 parang naisip ko na may tumutulong sa akin, may nagpapa-aral sa akin at kailangan ayusin ko. Simula noon hindi na ako umabsent at pinagbuti ko na ‘yung pag-aaral ko. Nung Grade 6, 5th honor po ako,” she proudly shares.

Bahay Tuluyan took care of Marjorie when she was just two years old, and was then supported since then. She is now with her mother, living in an apartment along with her other siblings, which Bahay Tuluyan also supported.

“Para sa akin, kung ako sa kanila, dito na lang sila sa Bahay Tuluyan ‘wag na sila sa kalsada. Matutulungan po talaga sila ang galing po ng Bahay Tuluyan,” she says.

Celebrating the rights of a child
Just recently, Bahay Tuluyan spearheaded the celebration of the Children’s Rights Festival commemorating the 21st anniversary of the UNCRC at the Quirino Grandstand.

This was participated by more than 2,500 street children from different parts of Metro Manila. This is the second year Bahay Tuluyan conducted the event.

“Ginagawa namin ‘to para i-celebrate at para maging aware ang gobyerno at ang tao na, nasaan naba tayo? Sa 20 years ng UNCRC ‘yung mga pangako ba o pagkilala sa bata na isang tao na ma respect ang karapatan, ma-protektahan saan na ba tayo ngayon?”says Bahay Tuluyan executive director Lilly Flordelis.

The whole-day event included interactive booths, an advocacy walk, and a concert. Several NGOs, local government units, and other government agencies participated in the event. A total of 700 local and foreign volunteers also helped during the event.

“Sa atin marami pang bata na hindi talaga naeenjoy ang kanilang pagkabata o ang kanilang pagkatao. Gaya ng maraming bata ang naabuso, kasama ‘yun sa ating mga karapatan para ma proteksyunan ang mga bata. Maraming mga bata ngayon ang hindi nakakapasok. Marami ring mga bata ang hiwalay sa magulang, may child trafficking din and marami pang issues,” Flordelis shares.

According to the World Bank Monitoring Case Study, there are more than five million Filipino families who are poor. Also, according to the study, out of every 100 child that goes to school only 73 are able to graduate from high school. That’s more than 25 percent of the whole population of students.

“Mabigyan ng awareness at mabigyan ng halaga ang karapatan ng bata o ang pagkatao ng bata kasi lagi natin,” she says.