Seven-year-old Ayesha Labiaga has been missing since Nov. 21. (Photo provided by her uncle, Al Nikko Labiaga)
Al Nikko Labiaga, a 27-year-old kitchen helper working in Greenhills in San Juan, hugged and kissed his seven-year-old niece, Ayesha Mae, goodbye just before going to work on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
He had no idea that Ayesha will go missing.
Neighbors in Barangay West Crame in San Juan, where the Labiagas live, last saw Ayesha playing with other kids at the barangay basketball court at around 5 p.m.
Al said one of his nieces, Mae-mae, was washing the dishes just before 5 p.m. when Ayesha woke up from a nap and ran outside to play.
He said Mae-mae had asked her mother, Al’s older sister Jing-jingto look after the child.
But at around 5:30 p.m., when Al got home from work, Ayesha was nowhere to be found.
“Nakita ko na si Mae. Sabi niya sa akin kanina niya pa hinahanap si Ayesha. Dun ko na nalaman na nawawala na pala talaga [si Ayesha],” Al said in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net on Saturday.
[I saw Mae, she told me that she had been looking for Ayesha. That’s when I knew that Ayesha is really missing.]
Searching in nearby barangays
The family immediately went to the San Juan City Police Station to report Ayesha’s disappearance. But they were told they would need the death certificate of Ayesha’s mom to prove they are relatives.
Al’s brother, Gerald, then sought the help of the San Juan City Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
They also reported her disappearance at the Kamuning Police Station of the Quezon City Police District and DSWD offices in Quezon City and Pasig City.
They left no stone unturned. They went to nearby barangays in Quezon City, including Barangay Socorro, Barangay San Roque, and Barangay E. Rodriguez, posting missing posters printed with Ayesha’s photo and details.
They also tried their luck in Quiapo and Divisoria in Manila and in Mandaluyong and Pasig.
They asked for help from several nongovernment organizations and orphanages, including White Cross Center in San Juan, as well as a radio station where they aired their appeal.
They also tried bringing their appeal to a television station, but they were set aside because of simultaneous news coverages at that time, the uncle said.
All their efforts yielded no results so far – not even a single lead from a concerned citizen who could point to Ayesha’s whereabouts.
Orphan
Ayesha has been raised by Al and his siblings since she was born. She lost her mother, Labiaga’s sister, two years ago, when Ayesha was still five year old. Her father is now living with another family.
Since then, Labiaga has treated Ayesha, who calls him Papa, as his own daughter.
Whenever he would come home from work, Ayesha would greet and hug him and ask for his “popon,” her term for cellphone, to watch Barbie videos on YouTube.
Labiaga has been worried about his niece‘s safety. Did anyone find her? Is she being treated well? Is she eating and sleeping properly?
Ayesha’s speech condition makes him worry more. She does not speak a lot, Al said, because her speech development is delayed according to doctors.
“Sa edad niya pong seven years old, hindi siya ganun [katatas] magsalita talaga,” Al said.
[For her age, she does not really speak a lot.]
According to Al, Ayesha can only say a few words – like “mama,” “papa,” and the names of her cousins. And she does not speak to people she does not know.
Distinguishing features
A concerned citizen sought the help of INQUIRER.net on Friday after learning that another child, Daniel, who had been missing in Quezon City, was found with the help of a story published by the news agency.
The concerned citizen, who preferred not to be named in this report, said she had also informed the security office of Greenhills Shopping Center, which is a stone’s throw away from Labiaga’s home, of Ayesha’s disappearance.
Al is appealing to the public to help them find his niece.
Ayesha was last seen wearing white sando, blue shorts, and blue slippers. She has a scar on her right forehead and shoulder that she got in an accident years before.
“Kung sino man po ‘yung nakakita o nakakakilala sa aming pamangkin, pakibigay-alam lang po sa amin… miss na miss na po namin siya. Sana po matulungan niyo kami na mahanap namin siya,” Al said, his voice cracking.
[Whoever saw our niece, please let us know. We miss her terribly. We hope you could help us find her.]
As the New Year approaches, Al says he has no other wish but to hold his sweet niece again and hear her voice.
For those who have information that could help find Ayesha, you may contact Al Nikko Labiaga at 0946-508-5321, 0946-205-9653, or 0975-061-8070. /atm
This is the notice that Al Nikko Labiaga posted on his Facebook timeline.