A Little Piece of Heaven in Alabang

Alabang, Muntinlupa (Luzon)

My family and I were in for a surprise when we paid a visit to the TULOY SA DON BOSCO STREETCHILDREN VILLAGE, located right across the Alabang Town Center, along the Alabang-Zapote Road; we didn’t realize that we’d be visiting a strange, yet uplifting, new world in the middle of the city.

Our visit was meant to be a research / business trip, to view prospective models of the Aquaponics technology in the country, so we went to Alabang in the middle of a work week. There was certainly nothing fancy or catchy with the place’s facade  so we really weren’t expecting much as we drove into their gate. But as soon as we parked and started to walk into the village’s reception area, a comfortable sensation of belonging enveloped us as everyone in the place was smiling and welcomed us with what felt like a sincere sense of hospitality. Everyone looked happy and was so polite!

Mr. Ramon Fabie welcomed us and gave our group a short briefing about the history of the Foundation, and how their advocacy was able to change the lives of so many Filipino street children since 1993. The Foundation’s mission is to transform children from the streets into capable young men and women, through education, discipline, and care, eventually reintegrating them into society. What is amazing is that the children are free to choose their own paths, and are not forced to stay in ‘Tuloy’ as students. What is even more amazing is the exponential growth of Tuloy Foundation since 1993, and its reach towards transforming the lives of so many.

We were then introduced to two of the ‘Tuloy’ students, Blessie and Tricia; two very bubbly, cheerful, and makulit teenagers who said it was part of their curriculum to give tours to guests, thus helping the students become more fluent in using the English language. They began the tour around the Aquaponics area, explained the fundamentals of the technology, and we were in further awe when we saw the actual scale of Tuloy’s Aquaponics farm.

When we met Fr. Rocky, as he was directing an expansion site for the farm, he emphasized that what began as a small Aquaponics Project in Tuloy soon boomed into a large-scale project in less than two years. This was a testament as to how effective and potent a tool Aquaponics can be, when done right. Fr. Rocky said that the students of Tuloy are also the ones taking care, hands-on, of their Aquaponics farm, and it has been a true blessing to see students develop a sense of self-worth and discipline within the walls of the Foundation, as they learn real life values and lessons.