CRIBS–a surfeit of babies, kisses, TLC, a source of joy and satisfaction
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008
by Dine Racoma
“If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle.”
Vincent van Gogh
I should know because I was blessed with 7!
But still I am insatiable, my kids equally insatiable–who could resist the charm and magic that babies bring. CRIBS was the answer. CRIBS is Create Responsive Infants by Sharing, a child-caring agency licensed by the DSWD. It provides temporary shelter and wholistic residential care to abandoned and surrendered babies from 1-day-old to 2-1/2 years old. It is able to support and maintain a maximum of 25 babies at any given time.
Reaching out. My family first went to CRIBS, about 8 months ago after Michael was buried. We donated all of Michael’s supplies. All that we wanted at that time, at least for Angelo’s wife, Caren, was to have a living baby in our arms and chest.
Since then, we always wanted to come back. Not that we did not enjoy the company of our Pia and Cate, it was just that there was the desire to reach out some more. CRIBS is very close to our home, about 15 minutes by car, a few kilometers away from the Ateneo. They allow volunteers to spend 2 hours (9-11 am and 2-4 pm, Mondays to Sundays) with the babies, take care of them, feed them, and let them feel the tender loving care that they normally get from parents and siblings.
Last Sunday, myself, Alan Jr, and Chato joined BA and Josie who have been regular volunteers to CRIBS (read about BA’s experience here). We had a surfeit of babies–10 of the crawlers, 10 of the toddlers and about 5 of the infants. It was such a joy to be in the midst of these innocent, attention wanting creatures of God. The natural tendency was to kiss them, hug them, give them TLC.
Meet the crawlers: Arman, John, Randy, Jun, Linden, Aldrin, Riza, Angelique, Josephine, and Charlotte (not their real names) who was isolated as she was still recuperating from a pulmonary illness.
The babies’ eyes lighted up when they saw us entering the room, some of them already knew BA and Josie. John’s eyes lighted up, he already had his 2 arms reaching out to me. So excited was he that he pulled my hair, held my face and buried his face deep in my neck. At the same time, two more were already grabbing my feet. So I had to sit down to carry 2 and at the same time pay attention to the 3rd.
Chato was so mesmerized with her namesake, Angelique, who has just transferred from the nursery to the crawlers. Angelique has not even had her first step. She was just a tiny tot, 6 months old, in a cute pink dress, wanting to be carried, caressed, cooed and taken care of.
Alan Jr had Arman in his arms, and 2 others by his side. And I have not even seen this show of attention among my 7 while they were growing up. They were playmates, yes, but the big ones were not even given the chance to take care of the smaller ones, as we elder ones thought they might drop the small ones on the floor.
The toddlers. Some of the toddlers were shy, but it took only a little while for them to warm up, cuddle, be carried and seek for a hug or praise. Most of the time, when I put down a toddler, he or she would lock his or her legs to mine so that I would have to continue carrying him or her. Sandy, when we first saw her 8 months ago with the crawlers was already with the toddlers, her pretty lashes still the same as when she was a small tot. She was freely walking around her face and built like a doll. The toddlers were kinda more demanding–as they already knew how to get attention, and be carried for a longer time.
Time to say good-bye. After feeding the babies their lunch of rice and sinigang, by 11 am, most of them have become restless ready to be in their cribs for their milk and sleeping hours. They were so peaceful, so content in their cribs, their peacefulness catching. There may or may not be volunteers in the next shift, but they find company with their care givers–one care giver each for the crawlers, toddlers and infants for every 8-hour shift. They have such big hearts to take care of these babies. They are the only permanent pseudo mothers the babies have until the time that they are turned over to their adoptive parents.
It is so unfathommable to think why or how the parents of these kids could abandon them. So great a sacrifice for them perhaps to even think about it–they may either have no means to take care of their babies, or they simply want the better options for them.
Angel in my arms. We went home, drool, saliva, milk droppings, and food in our clothes, but with deep joy and satisfaction.We can’t help but have the resolve to go back, again and again and again. Chato was already missing Angelique, whom BA named “Angel in my arms”.
Anyone is welcome to be a volunteer at CRIBS. All they need is advanced notice. One can be a volunteer, a sponsor or a donor. CRIBS has a wish list for its Receiving Home Program (for abandoned babies) and New Beginnings Program (for female victims of abuse, aged 7-17).
Contact Details
Address: 30 Major Dizon St., Industrial Valley Complex, Marikina City 1802
Website: www.cribsfoundation.org
Email: cribsnet@info.com.ph
Phone#: (632)681-5921, (632)681-8078
Fax#: (632) 647-1329
Pictures were taken from CRIBS’ website.
This article was published in The D Spot on 19 June 2008.
