LOOK: Rabiya Mateo visits children’s foundation to spread Christmas cheer

On December 22, 2020, Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo joined the Infant and Pediatric Association of the Philippines (IPNAP) for a quiet and meaningful gift-giving and outreach program at the Brighthalls Children’s Foundation in Dumas St., Makati City.

It’s an orphanage that provides a temporary home to babies and children no older than 4 years old who have been abandoned, neglected, or surrendered to be taken care of by “kind, happy and generous individuals.” 

Prior to entering the orphanage, I asked Rabiya how she felt about the outreach. She said, “My Mom used to volunteer in an orphanage when she was younger. She would tell me so many amazing stories from her visits. I’m excited because I get to experience that today.”

Rabiya went on to say, “It’s really sad that these kids experience the hardships of life at an early age, to grow up without their parents, to be sent for adoption. But I’m very happy that there’s alot of people who are willing to help them, who are willing to sustain them. I also want to be part of this charity. I want to grow with those children. There’s so much innocence in their eyes. I hope that through me I would be able to bless them. Much more than being a helping hand, as much as possible I would really like to embrace them and let them know someone cares.”

According to Evangeline Crobalde, a nurse at the orphanage, there are currently 9 children in their care, with the youngest a 6-month-old who was discovered under a tree. The stories of how the babies ended up at the orphanage tug at the heartstrings. A baby being given up by a mother is difficult enough to comprehend but the circumstances of how these babies were found – wrapped in plastic bags, abandoned at the hospitals at birth, or deserted in outdoor public places, parks or streets – is unimaginable.

While at the home, the children’s documents are put in order to facilitate adoption and foster care. Much more than a shelter, they give these children hope for a better future and an unconditional love that they might otherwise not experience.

At the end of the event, I asked Rabiya how she was feeling after meeting the children. She said, “I’m very happy that I was able to celebrate Christmas with the kids. I’ve heard the stories of these children and what they’ve been through. It’s heartbreaking but because of good individuals and genuine people who are helping them, they are able to have the life that they deserve. I want to go back and I want to help more because I’m privileged enough at this moment.”

Rabiya’s rapport with the children was palpable because the young boys were giving her some of the biscuits they themselves were just given. She said, “That was so sweet. Imagine they don’t have much in life but they have this generosity to share something that they have. Those little acts of kindness, it’s very much appreciated.”

Since her coronation, Mateo has been busy with media interviews, TV show guestings, outreach activities, and training. This Christmas season, Mateo wanted to do more charity work to promote her advocacy. She has always had a soft spot for children, their physical well-being and their education. She believes in the power of education, which has been her main advocacy.

However, she also emphasizes that feeding their bodies is as important nourishing their minds and souls. Mateo’s love for children inspires her to become a pediatrician in the future.

Mateo said, “I love children. I was working with a charity in Iloilo that deals with children who’s parents are basurero/basurera in a dumpsite in Iloilo. What I’ve been doing even before becoming a beauty queen such as the Feed Me, Read Me program is aligned with the IPNAP’s goals of dealing with malnutrition and hunger. So aside from feeding the children, I also want to help improve their learning capabilities.”

It was a serendipitous collaboration and timely meeting between Mateo and the non-profit organization, which works to address the problem of malnutrition in the country. Future collaborations with IPNAP in Mateo’s hometown could foster more charity work benefitting many more children. IPNAP is in the process of building and handling a community in Iloilo.

Following very strict IATF protocols, only a few people accompanied Mateo to the orphanage. Present at the event and spearheading the outreach were IPNAP Executive Director and former Bacolod Congressman Dr. Anthony Golez and his wife Kaye Golez of the Inner Wheel Club of the Philippines Makati 383, the IPNAP team, and myself.

At the end of the activity, I asked Mateo what her Christmas prayer for the children was. She said, “I hope that they find the family that will take care of them. A family that would nourish them, that would guide them because that’s the right of every child. To be supported, to be uplifted, and to have dreams of their own. That’s my Christmas wish because these children are pure, deserve the best of life and I know God will give them what they need.”

If you would like to help the Brighthalls Children’s Foundation, please visit their website at www.brighthalls.org for details on how to donate. In their website, Pen Roque, President of Brighthalls said, “Our name stands for what we believe in – a fighting chance for these abandoned childrend to have a brighter future.” – Rappler.com