Elsie Gaches Village: A refuge for children with special needs

MANILA, Philippines – Children of all ages filled rows of chairs at a covered court in Muntinlupa City, patiently waiting for the President’s arrival.  It was a hot Friday afternoon and one would expect a lot of restlessness and noise, but the children of Elsie Gaches Village were well-behaved.

While waiting, some of the older residents chatted with the village’s benefactors and officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). At one point, a young girl on a wheelchair serenaded the crowd with her rendition of popular acoustic songs.

It was a special day for Elsie Gaches Village, the country’s largest home for children with developmental disorders. It had just turned 50 years old, an accomplishment in itself for a facility dependent on government funds and private donations.

DSWD National Capital Region director Ma. Alicia Bonoan called it a “chain of blessing for the children.”

Providing care and rehabilitation services for five decades, the facility is home to around 600 children and adults with development disabilities.

Dominica Godinez, head social worker of the village, said most of the children were abandoned on the streets while some were “surrendered” by relatives unable to support their needs.

Many residents grew up in the village as adults.

Godinez said there were only a few cases of adoption because of the difficulty of caring for a child with special needs.

“If there are any, these are parents who are truly committed and have a heart for the children,” she said in Filipino.

She said independent living is also difficult for them because the “public is not yet very much open [to] hiring mentally-challenged [individuals].”

Nevertheless, the social workers and volunteers of Elsie Gaches village worked hard to teach the children how to care for themselves.

Bonoan said their goal has always been to provide a home and a family for the children.

“No amount of monetary and other forms of incentive could compensate the inner joy and love that our carers feel, especially when they witness how the children learn higher levels of life skills and achieve development milestones,” she said.

“The children might not know you by name. They might not be able to tell stories about how you have touched their lives but surely they will give you an innocent smile that will forever change your life,” Bonoan said during the village’s 50th anniversary celebration.

President Benigno Aquino III, on the eve of his 54th birthday, joined the celebrations.

In his speech, he lauded the work of DSWD and its partners. He also announced that the budget earmarked for the facility this year has increased to P26.4 million from P21 million in 2013.

Aquino called the children an inspiration, especially after learning that their team finished first runner up during the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Football Tournament in Australia.

He emphasized the need to uphold the principle of equality in Philippine society.

Bonoan said among their biggest challenges were to find a real home for the children, through adoption or foster care, and to curb the discrimination against persons with developmental disorders.

“In the end, it’s clear what kind of culture we’re promoting:  We’re one community that treats everyone equally; one society where no one is left behind, no one is ignored, no one is set aside,” Aquino said in his speech.

Elsie Gaches Village was originally a 16-hectare summer villa owned by the philanthropist couple Samuel Gaches and Elsie McCloskey. The two donated the property to the government as an asylum for persons with disabilities.

Its 14 cottages now provide 24-hour residential care services to almost 600 children and adults with special needs. For decades, the facility has been supported by private organizations and individuals, including the Friends of Elsie Gaches Village Inc. and the Sisters of Charity of St. Anne of Bombay.

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