ILOILO City – Not a coincidence but a match made in heaven –this was how the Macanda couple described how their two foster children came into their lives.
Sharing their foster care journey, the couple admitted that at first they were not open to adoption and foster care.
However, the difficulty of having a biological child led them to consider and eventually apply as adoptive parents.
“It also dawned on us that many parents are praying for a baby and there are a lot of children out there also praying for parents or family,” said Julie Macanda.
The couple’s change of heart was also biblical, pointing out that the Gospels themselves stated “we are adopted sons and daughters of God.”
“And ma-amaze ka lang because as we started to raise them up, dira man namon nakita ang privilege kag opportunity nga it is really a blessing to have these children,” Rommel Macanda shared.
The couple’s two foster children – girl and boy – are now 15 years old and two years old, respectively.
“We are very blessed nga ginhatag sa amon sang Ginuo ini nga mga kabataan kay ti sa vocabulary sang Ginuo wala sang siling nga coincidence. The children to have us and us to have these children are truly a match made in Heaven,” Rommel said.
Initially, the couple applied for the adoption of a six-month-old baby and while waiting, their eldest Alexa, who was then eight years old, came in through emergency foster care placement.
Julie shared that foster care is something that they have not done before but they are thankful for the support they got from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO) and fellow foster parents.
“We have crash courses and training that helped us prepare as instant parents of Alexa,” she added. “The training really helped us on how to care for and empower Alexa as a child of God.”
Julie emphasized that despite Alexabeing eight years old already when placed under their care and with trauma of the past, they countered it with love and security.
The couple hopes that the age preference of those planning to adopt and foster children will not only focus on babies.
It will be of help for children who are praying to have a parent if they consider different ages, the Macanda couple added.
“Those who are praying to have a child and yet for some reasons there are some delays, may we pray that you consider taking a leap of faith and look for possibilities of fostering a child. There were hesitations on our part but when were able to foster two children, and in behalf of the foster families, I could say it is really a God-ordained family that is unique,” Julie said.
Braving the chance to correct the wrong
Another adoptive mother, Mabel Galas Ganancial, also shared the family adoption journey of their daughter, Ma. Althea Galas Ganancial. It was not easy.
Mabel Galas Ganancial shares that it was in February 2023 when Ma. Althea Galas Ganancial became her and her husband’s legal daughter.
Mabel admitted they did not have any idea how to adopt a child legally and initially had no plan to legalize the adoption of their child.
“We were confident that even if our child was not legally adopted she won’t be taken away from us,” shared Mabel.
Eventually, through a friend, they learned about Republic Act 11222 or An Act Allowing the Rectification of Simulated Birth Records and Prescribing Administrative Adoption Proceedings for the Purpose.
Mabel said she and her husband who is a seafarer were encouraged to take the chance to correct what they have done to the birth certificate of their child.
She immediately visited the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Nueva Valencia, Guimaras to inquire about the adoption process under RA 11222. She was advised to attend an adoption forum.
“After attending the forum, we realized that adoption is not easy since our relationship with our daughter is beyond fourth degree and she needs to be issued with a Certificate Declaring the Child Legally Available for Adoption (CDCLAA) first,” Mabel shared.
After a few months of waiting, their daughter was issued with a certificate declaring her legally available for adoption.
“We never wasted time and immediately processed the required documents until my husband decided to stay for almost a year to ensure that the adoption of our daughter will not be delayed,” she narrated.
They finally received the Order of Adoption and Certificate of Finality in February 2023, and officially, Ma. Althea Galas Ganancial is now their legal daughter.
“We are happy and felt so much blessed. We were given the chance to correct what we did to the birth certificate of our daughter. We are relieved that she can now avail herself the same legal rights and privileges as our legitimate son,” she said.
“For parents in a situation similar to ours, this is your chance to correct the wrong decision you made. Be brave, avail yourselves of the amnesty under RA 11222 and always think of the welfare of the child you love and care as your own,” Mabe added./PN
