CHILDHAUS (Center for Health Improvement & Life Development), an organization that helps ease the stress of coping with a child’s life-threatening illness, opened its doors to give hope and life to cancer patients from all over the country to provide the best possible chance of recovery and cure through constant nurturing and unconditional support in an environment that promotes healing and meets the complex challenges of children’s cancers and blood disorders.
CHILDHAUS, founded by beauty master and philanthropist Ricky Reyes, is now on its 13th year and continues to house and support cancer patients while undergoing treatment in various government hospitals. The late Inquirer editor-in-chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc was instrumental in the founding of CHILDHAUS after she invited Reyes to visit the female cancer patients at Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
To date, CHILDHAUS has helped around 14,000 cancer patients and their families from all over the country.
The children-centric organization was built through the kindness of Good Samaritans starting with Hans Sy who took it upon himself to help the kids find a permanent home in the city while enduring all the necessary treatment brought about by their sickness. Sy said he did this as a testament of his love and salute to his father, SM patriarch Henry Sy, Sr., who has always taught them the value of helping the underprivileged.
Reyes believes that when a child is diagnosed, the entire family is really diagnosed. Therefore, CHILDHAUS’ programs and services address the needs of all family members affected.
“Our mission is to help families get through their own cancer struggles. We know all too well the heartache a family faces as their child undergoes treatment. So we give support not just to the patients but to the family as well so they can create precious memories together.” Reyes said.
Most of the children at CHILDHAUS get better because they are happy in the shelter. They are in a community where they get support and are treated like they are not sick. Both kids and their parents are provided counseling so they don’t get depressed despite their challenges. Reyes also emphasizes the importance of prayers and cultivating their spiritual lives among the kids. Holy masses are celebrated at CHILDHAUS every Sunday. At 5 p.m. the kids pray the rosary. This helps them learn to accept, be closer and still be thankful to God for whatever they are going through.
Volunteer teachers regularly visit CHILDHAUS to tutor the kids. Performers, dancers and singers cheer them up once in a while by way of shows and entertainment numbers. Celebrities also tirelessly share their time and resources and the organization continues to attract additional contributions from generous donors.
CHILDHAUS marked its anniversary through a simple celebration, which started with a mass for all the guests. Performers were also invited to give the children entertainment and food overflowed donated by various sponsors. Most of the donors happily graced the simple yet very meaningful 13th anniversary celebration of the institution sharing the happy day with the children who also performed and wrote letters of thanks to Hans Sy during the occasion.
Coinciding with Hans Sy’s birthday is the unveiling of the Tree of Hope ni Kuya Hans where guests happily imprinted their hands on, signifying their support for the institution.
To cap the program, Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales rendered her timeless piece “A Million Thanks to You” to Hans Sy for his undying love for CHILDHAUS.
With a relentless spirit and dedication to improving the lives of every CHILDHAUS cancer patient and their families, Ricky Reyes looks forward to another 13 years of CHILDHAUS.