Lola Raga laughs as she shares her happiness in finally finding a home at Haven for the Elderly in Tanay, Rizal.***

When her relatives thought of her as a burden, a 70-year-old grandmother found acceptance in the company of other older persons.

Flocerfina Raga or Lola Raga, who hailed from Leyte Province, used to be a playful and happy child. However, her family’s financial situation pushed her to situations she never thought she’ll experience. From maltreatment to abandonment, Lola Raga endured it all and now, she is able to smile at life and view her past experiences as life-shaping.

Leading to the center

Because of financial situation, Lola Raga was sent by her family to relatives at a young age. In exchange for her schooling, she had to work for them. However, she was not treated well and she was not even sent to school. She ran away from them and somehow found herself in Manila even though she only had twenty pesos in her pocket.

She found a job as a waitress and met a man, who later became her partner and a father to her daughter. The man, however, already has a family of his own.

“Mabait naman siya kaya sumama ako.Sabi niya hindi raw niya ako pababayaan,” she shared.

But despite his promise, she decided that she has to leave. She left her daughter with him in Baliwag, Bulacan and went back to Manila, hoping to find a work to support her child. However, things happened not in her favor.

Volunteering to get help

She started with the drive to earn a living away from her daughter; however, she ended up lying on the grounds of Luneta Park. With no one else to call, she decided to seek help.

“Ako mismo ang nagprisinta na pumunta sa center. Lumapit ako sa DSWD, humingi ako ng tulong. Sabi ko wala na akong matirahan. Hindi na kami nagkita ng anak ko. Pati kamag-anak, wala na ako. Wala na ako lahat,” she shared.

Finding her place, finally

Though in one point she chose to leave the place once, but the warmth of the staff and other residents are too much of a comfort.  To her own self she would say, she found the place where she belongs.

“Masaya ako rito. Hindi na kami nag-aaway-away. Maraming ginagawa kaya nag-eenjoy ako rito,” shared Lola Raga.

Today, Lola Raga cannot hide how grateful she is as a client of the facility. For her, she had not only found her place. She also found acceptance, love, friendship and value in the Haven for the Elderly.

“Maraming salamat sa DSWD. Kung wala kayo, wala akong malalapitan. Matanda na ako, hindi ko naman kayang mag-isa kaya kayo ang aking tinakbuhan. Maraming salamat din sa mga naglilingkod dito. Mabait sila sa akin. Hindi nila kami pinapabayaan,” she ended.***