For most Filipinos, family is an essential component of social life, and is also known for having strong and close family ties. We placed high regard and importance on our family before anything else. This article aims to share an inspiring story with all people, especially for young generations, about what and how family is, through the story of Lolo Leon. Lolo Leon, sixty-seven (67), one of those helped by Oplan Pag Abot Program which aims to help the homeless by providing the proper aid that they need. Some of the services offered to Oplan Pag Abot beneficiaries are Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) which provides free transportation assistance under Balik Probinsya Program (BP2) and other Social Protection Services. Lolo Leon was found along Macapagal Road, Barangay 76, Pasay City during the DSWD reach-out operation.
This is the inspiring story of a man who was stowed away from his hometown in Sagada, going to Manila at the age of 7, because of hardship in life. As observed during a one-on-one interview with Lolo Leon, he has a strong personality and talks in a loud tone of voice when talking to people. He shared that he has been on the street since his younger age and has survived the challenges brought about by living on the street. He was also once a resident of Nayon ng Kabataan, but he also found ways to escape as he got used to life in the street. He also survives by working as a stevedore to support his daily needs, but life, according to him, is full of challenges, and one of these is for him to be involved in a crime that was brought to New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa and serving his sentence for how many years after his conviction. His long years of stay inside the National Penitentiary. After his discharge from the said institution, he never had in mind to go to his family in the province because of shame and low self-esteem as an ex-person deprived of liberty (PDL). Lolo Leon was referred and subsequently admitted to GRACES on May 11, 2023.
Prior to his admission to the center, he was confined to Pasay City General Hospital (PCGH) because of a huge infected wound on his right foot. After a few days of stay in the center, he was recommended by the medical officer to be referred back to PCGH because of his health condition brought about by the wound debridement. He was admitted and confined until June 1, 2023, when he was discharged from the hospital with an improved condition and recommended for continuous medication and laboratory work-up before the follow-up, which is recommended after one week.
Initially, per the doctor’s diagnosis, Lolo Leon is suffering from Diabetic foot congestion, congestive heart failure (CHF), and acute kidney injury. With his condition, he has been in and out of the hospital, and a series of laboratory and special procedures were undertaken after the diagnosis that 30–40% of Lolo’s heart was only functioning. Further, one of the valves in his heart is also not functioning.
It has been a continuous journey for him to survive alone, but again, life is full of surprises. His stay on the street was also the reason for him to reach out and be brought to GRACES, which paved the way for his sibling to be traced through coordination with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office in Sagada Mt. Province after Lolo Leon was able to share that his family is from Suyo, Sagada Mt. Province. However, it was learned that the latter’s family, Leon, has already transferred to Brooklyn. Urban, Itogon, and Benguet through the relatives of Lolo Leon in Sagada, were able to give the contact details of one of the siblings.
The chance of reunification has been clear, as all efforts have fallen into place since Lolo Leon’s sister was contacted on June 9, 2023, with the help of MSWDO-Sagada. On that same date, Lolo Leon was able to talk to her sister via video call, and he was emotionally overwhelmed by the happiness brought by the sudden connection with his family. On the other hand, Evelyn, the sister of Lolo Leon, expressed her joy knowing that her brother, whom they have been searching for since he left their hometown, is still alive. With this, MSWDO-Sagada immediately contacted Ms. Teresa Abad of MSWDO-Itogon Benguet and referred the case since all of his siblings are already residing in the said place.
On June 22, 2023, Lolo Leon was visited by his brother Augusto Macario, who was residing in Bauan, Batangas. Since Lolo Leon was still young when he left Sagada, he admitted to not being familiar with any of his siblings, including Augusto, whom he just remembered by his name. But after being asked personal questions about Lolo Leon by his brother Augusto, the latter bursts into tears as he can establish that Lolo Leon is his long-lost brother. That day, they bonded together by having lunch.
Through the assistance of LGU Itogon and FO CAR, Lolo Leon was personally fetched to the center by his sister Evelyn, with the assistance of Ms. Laurie Pangda of MSWD-Itogon Benguet, Ms. Dolly Jacildo from the Rural Health Center, and other personnel from LGU-Itogon, Benguet. A discharge conference was conducted to discuss and endorse the case, particularly the medical concerns including the after-care service. Lolo Leon displayed his excitement at being reunited with his family. Lolo Leon was grateful to all the people who helped and reached out to his family. Lolo Leon was fetched by an ambulance from RHU-Itogon, Benguet. He was happy and excited when he rode the ambulance, and he is looking forward to his complete recovery with the support of his family.
At last, after fifty-three (53) long years of being away, Lolo Leon is finally at his home sweet home… a home where he will feel the warmth of love from his family… a home where he is safe with a feeling of acceptance rather than rejection… a home that will fill the emptiness in their hearts.
The GRACES along with the other offices and people who made this reunification possible were just the instrument in the journey of Lolo Leon to finding his true home with his family despite his health condition, despite the circumstances… he was assured of love and acceptance unconditionally.