When a philanthropist understand a fellow business tycoon-philanthropist’s advocacy, a beautiful partnership happens.
It was in 2010 when Hans Sy while watching the news, saw his father’s loyal and long-time building tenant crying over an eviction letter on television. Beauty salon magnate Ricky “Mader” Reyes’ foundation charity, Childhaus, was being evicted from their home inside the Quezon Institute compound in Quezon City.
Childhaus, which stands for Center for Health Improvement and Life Development, is an organization that temporarily houses cancer-stricken children while undergoing medical evaluation and chemotherapy in Manila, usually at Philippine General Hospital.
These children stay at the center with one family member free of charge as they go to and from the hospital for their treatment. The patients also receive subsidies for their medicines, lab tests, and other items like clothes and other necessities.
Volunteers and donors who saw the place and its residents gave and came regularly, like teachers, actors, members of the media, and even salon clients.
When Reyes received the eviction notice from PCSO, which provided his charity a home at Quezon Institute, as the compound was being sold to a real estate developer, it came suddenly, including the cutting of electricity.
When media brought the news to the public’s attention, silent donors came forward, including the wife of a mayor. It was also this time that Dr. Rachel Rosario, an anesthesiologist and pain specialist came on board.
Reyes spent months looking for a place to transfer the center, but, he shared, whenever landlords found out that the house would serve as a transient home for cancer patients, Mader was immediately refused.
While Reyes was looking for a place, Sy was also looking for a house for the center. The scion was able to find one where Childhaus stayed for three and a half years, before finally moving to a permanent place near PGH—the Childhaus 2, a seven-story building at Agoncillo St., Paco, Manila.
Sy used his personal savings to donate the building in celebration of his 60th birthday in 2015.
“In the past years, I would reward myself with something special on my birthday,” shared Sy. “It could be an expensive watch or a painting. Then it hit me.”
He said that while these things made him feel good, they didn’t make him a better person. Putting up this new home is Hans Sy’s way of extending his love and understanding to these brave children who fight for their lives every day.