I am Monique, 18 years old and an incoming 12th grader.

I come from a broken family. I used to have hatred toward my family for leaving me here at CMSP. I struggled to resolve in my heart whether my parents brought me here at the children’s village out of their desire to give me a better future or simply a desire to be relieved of their duties to take care of me. I admit that I doubted their love when I was young.

As time went by, however, with the love extended to me by my house parents, the comfort of friends, the generosity and warmth of sponsors, the hatred that I harbored turned into gratefulness. Gratefulness to God for bringing me here at CMSP, for sorrows that He turned to joy, for questions that he turned to answers. And for people who have become instruments of His love and hope – especially you, Para Sayo.

You have taught me to believe in myself, in my capabilities, and in my capacity to dream. Thank you for seeing my potential when it was hard for me to see them myself; for sharing your valuable time when I didn’t think I was worthy of them.

I hope to become a lawyer someday and be a voice for the hopeless just as you have all been to me. I know the road ahead will not be an easy one. Not without pain and loneliness for sure. But I find comfort in your encouragement, inspiration, and the truth of God’s word which says, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Know that your efforts for me and the rest of the children are much appreciated. I promise to make the most of the opportunities I have been given.

Monique, 18

(This speech was prepared by Monique on the occasion of Para Sa Iyo’s 20th anniversary. The original text was written in Filipino. It was later translated and edited by a CMSP staff to be shared to our Japanese friends)