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Our Beneficiaries

Virlanie serves the most disadvantaged and unpriviledged children and youth (12 to 18 y/o) and families living in the streets and in poor communities

Children in street situations are defined as: 

  • children who depend on the streets to live and/or work, whether alone, with peers or with family
  • a wider population of children who have formed strong connections with public spaces and for whom the street plays a vital role in their everyday lives and identities

Mary Jane Balano

Community and Livelihood Beneficiary
"I am Mary Jane Balano, 26 y/o, from Sampaloc Community Program. I lost my job because of Covid19, then I was referred by one of the officers of our Barangay to join in Virlanie Foundation Sampaloc Community that offers Baking Livelihood Program."
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James

Street Program Beneficiary
James is 10 years old. He resides in Aroma, Tondo. With the help of the mobile unit under the Street program, James was able to read and write now. He is currently enrolled in Amado Elementary School. According to James, "I’m very grateful! I hope Virlanie will help other children like me."

Cyrus

Family Reunification Beneficiary
“When I was still in Boy’s Town, I was sad because I always get bullied by other children. Here in Virlanie, I’m happy because they take good care of us. They never neglected me. Before, I didn’t know how to read. But now, I’m gradually learning because of Virlanie.”
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Joseph

Ellah Yallah Beneficiary
"I want to finish college so I can find a decent job. I want to buy my own house so me and my siblings can live together. I know all of these can happen because of Virlanie. They help me and support me in my schooling, they are guiding me and feeding me well. Though it is pandemic, and we cannot go out, I know that Virlanie is doing its best in providing for our needs."
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Louise

Babies and Toddlers Home beneficiary
Louise lost her arm due to an accident when she was much younger. When she was brought to Virlanie, she was very frail, reclusive from the other children, wasn’t able to walk yet at the age of one year and three months, and was undernourishied.
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Juliet

Independent Living Program Beneficiary
“I want to defend people’s rights, especially those who were abused just because they are women or they are poor or they are street children. Victims are usually silenced because other people don’t believe in them. I want to be the one who will listen to them, believe, and protect them.”
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Khasmir

Virlanie Voices and Sponsorship Beneficiary
Khasmir grew up in Isabela City, Basilan and together with his family, they have relocated and resided in Makati City, Metro Manila in 2007 to take a chance at a better life and quality education. Since then, he continued and finished his primary education in Makati and his secondary education in Manila where he graduated with flying colors.
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Carlo

Sponsor Beneficiary and Engineering Graduate
“Sponsorship was a big help because it gave an allowance for my education from Elementary to College, to sustain everyday life and to pursue my own projects. Life in Estero was really hard, which is why even the smallest help is already significant for me. And if Virlanie hadn’t been there, I don’t know if I could even graduate.”
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"The Mobile Unit staff has taught me how to read and write. And I'm now enrolled in Amado Elementary School. I 'm grateful! I hope Virlanie will help other children like me."

James

In the 2015 Population Census by Philippine Statistics Authority, Philippines has 38.36 million children consisting of 19.8 million boys, and 18.5 million girls. 31.4% of them are living within the poverty line which means, they cannot easily access their basic needs.

Approximately

children in the Philippines​
38000000

Approximately

of these children are boys
19500000

Approximately

of these children are girls
18000000

Approximately

are living within the proverty line
1000000 %

Approximately

children in the Philippines​
38000000

Approximately

of these children are boys
19500000

Approximately

of these children are girls
18000000

Approximately

are living within the proverty line
1000000 %

Approximately

children in the Philippines​
38000000

Approximately

of these children are boys
19500000

Approximately

of these children are girls
18000000

Approximately

are living within the proverty line
1000000 %

The situation has been aggravated this 2020 by the COVID-19. According to Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), there are three main child welfare concerns highlighted during the lockdown.

FOOD SECURITY

due to the rise of unemployment rate to 17.7%

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Studies show that 33% of children do not have gadgets, and 38% of them do not have internet access.

ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES

As strict protocols are implemented, mobility is limited making health care services difficult to access for mothers to keep their children well. This includes immunization, deworming, supplementary feeding, pre- and post-natal consultations, etc.

Aside from food insecurity, children’s security within their homes was also highlighted, leading to the reinforcements of child protection policies, handling, and advocates.

These children are more likely to drop out from school and be engaged in high risk behaviors. In the poorest communities, child labor, poor education, malnutrition, child neglect, child abuse, exploitation and child trafficking are rampant. Because of this, the children are considered at risk and in need of special protection.

52%

increase in physical abuse of children within their home

4%

increase in child neglect

8%

increase in sexual abuse

5%

increase in online sexual exploitation of children

Aside from food insecurity, children’s security within their homes was also highlighted, leading to the reinforcements of child protection policies, handling, and advocates.

These children are more likely to drop out from school and be engaged in high risk behaviors. In the poorest communities, child labor, poor education, malnutrition, child neglect, child abuse, exploitation and child trafficking are rampant. Because of this, the children are considered at risk and in need of special protection.

52%

increase in physical abuse of children within their home

4%

increase in child neglect

8%

increase in sexual abuse

5%

increase in online sexual exploitation of children

SOURCES:

  • CNN Philippines, TIMELINE: How the Philippines is Handling COVID-19, 2020
  • Council of Welfare of Children, Quick Data of Children’s Situation during the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020
  • GMA News Online, Increase in Child Sex Abuse Livestreams Observed during COVID-19, 2020
“I took that opportunity to learn something new and generate income though this until today. I am grateful that I become part of Virlanie Foundation, it such a big help for me and my family, the lessons I learned from FS made me a better mother, partner and/or person. I am also thankful because I learn how to bake from livelihood program, the Virlanie allows me to utilize my skills and talent and because of this I can generate income from it up to this day.”
Cyrus is known to many as a jolly, playful, and friendly 10-year-old boy who loves sharing his toys and food with other children. He is affectionate to Virlanie staff and loves hugging and greeting them. However, this wasn’t the case a few years ago when he was admitted at the Boy’s Town Complex. Cyrus’ mother sought the help of the barangay and decided to surrender him and his siblings, as she was sick and no longer capable of supporting her children’s needs. Early last year, Cyrus, along with his two younger sisters, were welcomed in Virlanie for temporary shelter. He is currently residing at Masaya Home and taking Alternative Learning System classes at La Paz Elementary School. Thanks to Virlanie’s Residential Pillar, he and his siblings are well taken care of and given the psychological, health, educational and social support that they need.

Joseph is 11 years old. He has been with Virlanie for several years. Currently, he is in the Ellah Yallah residential home wherein, all the basic needs, health and education are provided to Joseph.

The case management team, together with Virlanie’s medical team, decided to build up her nutrition and health. Through the months, her health gradually improved until she was strong enough to learn how to walk. Louise is one of the cheerful, playful toddlers at Babies and Toddlers Home. On playtime afternoons, one will easily take notice of her because of her playfulness and her right arm. Due to an accident when she was younger, doctors had to amputate her right arm. She was then referred to Virlanie after being discharged from the hospital as her mother was nowhere to be found. When she arrived, Louise was reclusive and frail, unable to walk at the age of one year and two months, and undernourished. Together with Virlanie’s medical team, BTH’s social workers created a program to improve her nutrition. In the time when she was given fortified and formula milk, her nutrition status normalized, and she had gained weight. Later, when her right arm fully healed, she learned how to use her right stump for play and other activities. Because of the health services provided by Virlanie, Louise developed and grew into a social, happy, and healthy toddler who likes to play and build structures with toy building blocks.
For a common observer, Juliet, 19, (name has been changed to protect identity) looks like any other girls of her age. However, she had quite an extraordinary childhood—Juliet used to roam the streets of Metro Manila from a very young age. Her single mother was unemployed, so she was forced to work so she can buy food. Juliet shared, “I used to ride jeepneys and clean the passenger’s shoes hoping they give me money”, the teenager recalls. She pauses. Talking about her past doesn’t come easy. “You know… my mother used to physically abuse me.” She mutters. In the street, she faced more abuse, disease and exploitation. Facing this harsh reality, going to school became optional and finishing her education, a distant dream. “My mom wanted me to come to Virlanie” she says. “When she died, it was written in her will. The Mobile Unit used to come by the area we lived in.” Mobile Unit is one of Virlanie’s Street Pillar projects. It was also Ate Marie, Mobile Unit Coordinator at that time, who convinced Juliet to go to Virlanie so she can finish schooling. Juliet saw the value of education. She knew then that with education, she can have a chance to improve the quality of her life and her brother’s. Upon entering Virlanie, Juliet received preparatory training to help her re-adapt to formal learning environment. While being able to immediately go back to school, she never had proper school records either because as a child, she had been transferring from one place to another or she had been dropping out from school because her mother can no longer afford her education. Because of this, the gap between her age and grade level grew along the years. At school, she had always been the oldest among her classmates. But these circumstances didn’t affect her desire to finish her education. Juliet’s previous experiences in the street inspired her to become a lawyer. She studies well to achieve this dream. She works hard in every subject and because of her strong determination, she has always been a consistent honor student. Now, 21 years old, Juliet is Grade 12 student with academic honors. She plans to take up Philosophy in college and aspires to become a lawyer in the future.

Khasmir joined the Virlanie Choir in 2010 a few weeks after his twin siblings have joined the group. Since then, he has been active member of the group and became a part of the touring group in Bacolod City, Baguio City and several European countries for three summers. Khasmir became a Virlanie sponsored child from High School to College where he studied aeronautical engineering for 5 years. He took and passed the licensure exam last November 2019 and is now a licensed engineer.

Carlo had lived in the shanties along Estero de Magdalena in Tondo, Manila with his family most of his life. Life at the Estero became even more difficult when his mother passed away when he was in first grade. In 2005, Virlanie Foundation Inc. came to Estero de Magdalena to implement its Family Program to assist the poor families living in the community. Apart from subsistence and provision of basic social services, educational sponsorship is also given to these families’ children. In third grade, Carlo became a Virlanie sponsored child until he studied in college. Just last September 25, 2018, he passed the Mechanical Engineering board exam and is now a licensed engineer. His family currently resides in Bulacan as he now works to help provide for his family and his youngest sisters’ education.