“In school, I am considered as the second parent of my students and their love and respect are the rewards of my work that I also long to share with my own child.”

Thus, shared Jacinta Palor, a teacher and an adoptive parent to Liza Jane, a Grade 1 student, from Buguey,Cagayan during the Post-Adoption Services Consultation Workshop on May 28-29, 2015 in Tuguegarao City.

The said workshop was part of the observance of the Adoption Consciousness Month annually observed every February. This year, DSWD FO 02 kicked off the celebration  with the launching of an Adoption Help Desk in partnership  with SM Cares Foundation and other institutions on February 27-28, 2015.

Jacinta, who is an elementary school teacher in Maddalero, Buguey, Cagayan, and her husband Fernando, have been trying to have a child of their own but they have not been blessed with one despite heeding medical prescriptions and advice of fertility experts. Then came their decision to adopt Liza Jane in 2013, then 4 years old, after they heard of DSWD’s notice to the public over a radio program on abandoned and voluntarily surrendered child at DSWD’s Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC).

The adoption process, though tedious and lengthy, was a process the couple legally underwent as they believe in complying with the mandates of the law.

“Initially, we thought of adopting a child from any of our relatives. However, we decided against doing the shortcuts and considered the best interest of the child. The meticulous adoption process we underwent bolstered our faith in the integrity of DSWD’s processes,” Jacinta shared.

She also added that the anxieties and fears they experienced, while undergoing the pre-adoption and matching processes which include a series of interviews and counseling, diminished as they were comforted by the assistance and information shared by DSWD’s Adoption Resource and Referral Unit (ARRU) and the Regional Children Welfare Specialist Group (RCWSG).

This sharing of journey towards legal adoption  by the Palor couple was one of the highlights of the said workshop.

“This workshop aims to assess the status of adoptive and foster families such that the Department may be able to provide them with guidance and share with them expert knowledge specifically on adopted-children’s behavior post-adoption,” explained Ms. Rosario N. Corpuz, Focal Person for Adoption and Foster Care Services.

Likewise, Ms. Janet Salvador, Head of the Adoption Resource and Referral Section from DSWD NCR, shared post-adoption services being offered by the Department as a commitment to ensure the best interest of the child.

“I encourage all Field Offices to conduct Family Camp to strengthen family bonding and to conduct  Adoption-Telling Story Activity which is being  done by NCR nowadays to advocate legal adoption,” said Ms. Salvador.

Meanwhile, Isabel, 15 years old and a third year high school student at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila, expressed her gratitude to DSWD for finding her a home filled with love and afforded her the security and comfort that every child deserves.

DSWD FO 02 Regional Director Remia T. Tapispisan, on the other hand, acknowledges the adoptive families who opened their hearts to homeless children and gave them a chance to live in a loving  home environment.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa DSWD sa mga adoptive families na naririto sa pagiging bukas ng kanilang kaisipan at puso sa pagtanggap bilang bahagi ng kanilang pamilya ang mga batang noo’y nasa pangangalaga namin,” Tapispisan expressed.

Legal adoption process involves several steps such as application of interested parents, approval and disapproval of application, preparation of home study report, matching or family selection, pre-placement and placement of child, supervised trial custody, among others. This process would usually take six months to one year. ### By; GELA FLOR R. PEREZ, Regional Information Officer II