Sep. 20, 2014 — IN OCTOBER, Child Hause will celebrate its 11th year of making lives much better for about 11,000 cancer patients in the country. The statistics continue show excellent results after charting a total of 58 patients who have been completely cured of their ailments in the last one and half years.

Hans Sy (center) with Ricky Reyes and the children of Child Haus

This was the report of Child Haus founder Ricky Reyes, whose foundation has been managing the institution since its inception. Child Haus has been providing temporary shelter to cancer patients and their families while seeking treatment in the city. Standing the test of time and adverse political climate (at times) in all these years, Mother Ricky said, “we know that what we’re doing here must be good because the children can be declared cancer-free after spending some time with us and they can go back to the lives they left behind before their cancer struck.”

To prove Ricky’s claim, experts say that the measly figure of less than 500 patients who succumbed to the disease out of the 11,000 cancer patients that Child Haus served in all its years of existence is a very good batting average. And to have 58 patients declared healed after a year and a half is a most astounding proof as well. They expect that these numbers will get even better in the future.

Ricky generously gives back the credit of this overwhelming success to all those kind souls, 100 percent private individuals who have answered his call to lend their untiring support and resources to his cause to better the lives of these cancer-stricken children and their families. Ricky says, “after 11 years, Child Haus is not a child anymore. We are actually standing on our own two feet! And this is all because of the help that these people extended to us.”

A concelebrated Mass will be held at the Child Haus today to celebrate the 11th anniversary of the institution. Most of Child Haus’s donors and supporters will be present to share in the glorious occasion. About 38 out of the 58 cured patients will also be coming to celebrate with them.

Hans Sy of the SM Development Corp. and his family, for without their help, Child Haus will not have a beautiful home at 19 Mapang-akit St., Barangay Pinyahan in Quezon City  where they transferred permanently in 2010 right after they were uprooted from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) compound.

Reyes says Sy’s family’s help didn’t end with just the donation of the location. “He does whatever he can to bring these kids simple joys in their young lives. They bring them to treats like shows, or movies. And he does it very, very organized.”

He also narrated an incident recently. “One time, they celebrated the birthday of his grandchild at Child Haus and they saw 11-year old patient Renz. He was to be sent home to his province because his case was already terminal. Renz was looking really gloomy. Hans’ wife Carol approached the boy and asked him what his dreams were, to which the boy replied, “Gusto ko lang po makapunta sa SM.” Ricky said the following day, the Sys sent a chauffeur-driven car to pick up Renz and treated him to the best day of his life—a trip to SM where he had food to his heart’s content, watched a movie and even go shopping—for free!

“It is Hans’ observation that the children at Child Haus recover very well because here in this shelter, they are happy. They find a community of support and they are treated like regular people,” Reyes adds. “We make it a point that their needs are answered. We provide counseling to these kids and their parents so they don’t get depressed or anything. These programs help them a lot,” he said pointing to the fact that a Child Haus kid oftentimes has a happy disposition despite their challenges.

Ricky Reyes, who has selflessly been giving and giving much of himself to help these children, also makes it a point to emphasize to these kids and their families the importance of prayers and cultivating their spiritual lives. “Every Sunday, we hold a Mass at Child Haus. I want all of them to know that Child Haus was built because of answered prayers,” he said.

There are other volunteers who regularly go to Child Haus. Miriam College teachers come every week to tutor the kids on their academics; other foundations go there to participate in the feeding of these children and their families; performers, dancers and singers visit them to cheer them up once in a while by way of shows and entertainment numbers.

Celebrities who also tirelessly share their time and resources, even spending their birthdays at the institution to bring food and entertainment to the children are Zsa Zsa Padilla and her boyfriend Arch. Conrad Onglao, Pauleen Luna, Anne Curtis and Karylle (who spent their game show winnings to treat the children), Divine Lee, Luiz Manzano, Angel Locsin, Ogie Diaz, Jenine Desiderio, Daniel Padilla, Nelson Canlas, and Henry Omaga-Diaz.

Needless to say, Ricky Reyes looks forward to the next 10 years of Child Haus. Here is one person who just doesn’t get tired of doing good. May his tribe increase!